the powder room

19th August 2006, 11.24
On the sofa, desperately trying to rehydrate myself

Was supposed to go out last night, but was totally exhausted so went to bed instead. I’ve decided it’s because I’ve not been drinking enough water, so trying to make sure I drink plenty today.

Anyways, this week has been a great week for riding, a couple of little things have clicked into place and I feel much more confident about my riding. Neil’s been a great coach and helped me to stop thinking so much and just get into a flow and rhythm. I spent the whole of yesterday focusing on my breathing and timing – made a huge difference and has really helped me to relax into my riding more rather than get swamped by “am I twisting the board enough? am I flexed? have I broken at the waist? where am I looking? have I pulled the board through properly?”. Still got some things to work on, but getting there.

Also managed to exorcise my freestyle demons by riding through the park, getting some air off the rollers and nailing a box without trashing my knees! It was the smallest, lowest and easiest box (for those that don’t know what one it, check out the photos on the TC website), but totally stoked, cos I didn’t have a repeat performance of my last attempt (see ‘Big Crunch’).

Forgot to update on the board situation too – after trying a couple (and really loving the K2 Darkstar), I fell back in love with my Custom – now that we’ve learnt to really move the board and flex it, I’ve accepted that it’s me, not the board! Plus by bending it more, it’s starting to mellow out a bit and get easier.

As for the Stage 1 exam, it’s another 5 day jobby, starting on Wednesday:

• Wed AM – Rider improvement and review of 4 movements
• Wed PM – review levels 1 and 2, review Movement Analysis

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• Thu AM – Rider improvement – skidded turns (lots of switch riding here)
• Thu PM – Level 3 progression, movement analysis practice
• Thu NIGHT – Movement Anaylsis exam practice

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• Fri AM – Rider improvement – edged turns
• Fri PM – Level 4 progression – strong edge. Practice movement analysis

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• Sat AM – Level 4 progression – freestyle. Practice movement analysis
• Sat PM – Practice teach
• Sat NIGHT – Movement Analysis exam

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• Sun – Teaching exam – we’ll get a 30 minute slot to teach in.

Then it’s all over and we get a presentation at 5pm on Sunday where we find out if we’ve passed or not. We’re continually assessed on our riding, which is a bit of a stress, but just need to focus really. Jim and Dan will be our examiners, which is a mixed blessing, but at least it’ll be nice ot have familiar faces.

Another storm cycle is passing through, which is great for snow, but yesterday was pretty crappy. Lots of rain and wind, so we were wet through by 3 o’clock and called it a day early. Still pretty nasty now and looks to stay that way for a while – let’s hope it clears for the exam!

14th August 2006, 20:30
Alpine Resort

Well, another week, another training group. This week I’m with Claire, Nicole and Chelsea with Neil as our trainer (Pete joined us after lunch). It’s the first time I’ve ridden with Neil and I’m really enjoying it. I feel like I made a bit of a breakthrough with the completion of my heelside turns (which is where my big problem is) – it’s not perfect, but I know what it needs to feel like, so it’s just a question of practice.

Feeling a bit more confident about Stage 1 now, still a lot to do, but getting there. We’ve got to do some lesson planning tonight and then tomorrow we’ll have a proper slot to practice teaching. Looking forward to it, cos it’s what it’s all about.

9th August 2006, 13:47
Alpine Resort, sitting outside in the sun

Day off today, but decided not to go up the mountain – feeling crook again, some sort of cold thing, need a day’s rest methinks. Anyways, this week has been better, we’ve swapped groups again, this time I’ve got Dan as our trainer in a group with Chew, Jen and James. We’re working on the teaching element again, which I think I’ve got a good grasp of and really quite enjoying. Feel like my freeriding has improved and I’m beginning to address my heelside problem, but really need to work on my freestyle. We had our introduction to movement analysis the other day, this is the core of instructing and is about spotting where people are going wrong and figuring out how to explain it and correct it. I seemed to get on OK with is, so fairly relaxed on that front – got a week and a half to go before the Stage 1, so just need to focus on riding.

On the job side, I’ve been lined up to go to Winter Park (in Colorado, USA), but still struggling to find jobs for Jen. Spoke to the team from Snowshoe Mountain, which was the most promising resort, but alas, they don’t have any jobs for Jen – the problem is to do with visas, basically we need a H2B visa and the jobs that we’d seen were for US citizens.

There are some H2B jobs at Winter Park, so we’ll see how those go. I’m sure it’ll all work out somehow and someway.

3rd August 2006, 18:00
Alpine Resort, after an exhausting day

Today was a bit cloudy and the sunrise was awesome but as the day rolled on, the clouds rolled in and visibility dropped. The cloud was kinda mid-level so the very top of the Saddle was nice and clear, but from about halfway down, it was pretty much zero!

Not to worry though, cos Tom decided to hike us up to the summit of Treble Cone – totally awesome! Mindblowing views as we looked down on top of the clouds!

After tip-toeing around and getting a bit giddy, we dropped off back into the Saddle, snow was a bit scratchy, but lots of nice powder patches – well worth it!

6th August 2006, 18:00
Alpine Resort – exhausted and happy

Despite last night’s celebrations, struggled my way out of bed and crawled to the bus for a day’s riding. Glad I did, cos it was well worth it and got to enjoy another perfect sunrise over TC.

I’ve been so lucky over the past few weeks to have so many moments of sheer pleasure and beauty. This place just blows me away – every morning we are treated to the most spectacular commute you could wish for, with a different range of colours spreading out over the horizon in the most perfect of sunrises. Even on the bad weather days, the cloud makes for a spectacular lightshow.

Then we get 5 hours of training with some of the best snowboard trainers in the world and some of the most fun people to be around that I’ve ever had the priviledge to meet.

After all that, we get to come home to luxury apartments, maybe have a few drinks or just chill with mates and watch the sun set over a perfect day, safe in the knowledge that it’ll all start over again in the morning.

Yeah it’s hard work, mentally and physically challenging, exhausting at times and far from home, but a bad day on the slopes still beats a good day in the office hands down!

5th August 2006, 18:00
Alpine Resort

Wow. What can I say? One of the most amazing experiences of my life. After two weeks of waiting, we finally got the go-ahead for heliboarding.

So we bundled onto a coach and headed down to the staging area in crystal clear blue skies, where we were briefed on heli safety and using avalanche transceivers. Then it was onto the heli before being whizzed off to the North Harris Mountains and our first run down pristine powder!

I was in a group with Ryan, Kristine, Nick and a random Taihitian guy called Michael. Laetitia was our guide. We crouched low around a pack as the chopper arrived before cramming into the small 6 seater and taking off.

As we came in to land, we could see the first group setting off and you could feel the adrenalin rise. Seconds later, we were coming in and crouched low as the heli took off. Then there was silence as we peered off into the distance and gathered our kit together.

Laetita gave us a quick brief on snow conditions and headed off – the first run was a little crusty, but still great and a good warm up!

Then we were off again, for a spot of filming – I got a bit over excited in my quest for fresh and lost sight of Laetitia’s tracks, ended up heading down a great line, but realised my mistake about halfway down and had to traverse off to catch her – got a little (and well deserved) telling off, but it was a great line!

We stopped for lunch mid-way through our third run, the guides had dug a little table out and laid out a fantastic spread – better than my normal lunch! Some of the boys got busy building a kicker (a jump for those not up to speed in snowboard parlance) so I took advantage and got ready with my camera. Got into a great position and shot my first ever sequences! Think they worked well, but are a little out of focus (damn!). Will put the photos up when I get a chance!

Then it was off again for our last run, all over too quickly, but left with some great memories of a perfect bluebird day, thumbs up and smiles all round – off for a few bevvies tonight upstairs, then out to Woody’s again. This is what it’s all about – love it!

4th August 2006, 18:00
Alpine Resort

Had a good-ish sort of day today – the trainers had a chat with us about our progress so far – they reckon that I’m not good enough to pass Stage 1 just yet, but if I improve at the rate I have been then I might be alright for the exam. Basically, it’s going to be really tough few weeks and I’ve got to put a lot of work in if I’m to pass – they said that I shouldn’t be surprised if I don’t pass.

As for the BASI exam, I’m even further away! It was better than I expected, but I know it’s going to be a big challenge. Just need to knuckle down and get on with it really!

On the plus side, I’m going heliboarding tomorrow. Just got back from stretch class – really good, feel much more relaxed now. Heading off to watch a DVD and chill out round at Ros’ place. The others have gone to the Burton Open to watch all the pro snowboarders, but I decided I could do with the stretch and a gentle night!

1st August 2006, 18:00
Alpine Resort, after a stoked day!

Hurrah! What a birthday, woke up this morning with some presents sent from Jen and great snow. After our warm up, Tom took us (Steve, Rob, Mark and I) over to the Saddle Basin. Just as we got to the top, the Motatapu Chute opened up, so we raced over and got first lines down! Absolutely amazing! The downside was the 30 minute hike out of there, but well worth it!

We’ve got a meeting tonight about jobs in the States and then we’re going for dinner at the White House (thanks for the recommendation Jane!), before a few cheeky bevvies at Woody’s. Can’t wait!

Decided to treat myself too, so just about to head out to buy myself a new jacket – got to look the part! Plus we’re going heliboarding tomorrow – top that for a birthday!

28th July 2006, 22.49
Alpine Resort – in bed with sore knees

New group again today – with Jim again and Pete, Claire, Kristine and Steve – good crew and glad to have Jim as a trainer. All the 13 week boarders were together for the first few runs and we had a bit of video. Jim explained that they’re taking stock of our riding now with a view to assessing our suitability for doing the dual NZSIA/BASI qualification.

Bit of a key point then, if the trainers don’t feel we’re up to it, then they’ll recommend that we focus on one qualification only – mixed feelings about that – I’d be gutted to not do both, but then it would be nice to have just one focus. Anyway we’ll see how things pan out.

The other big crunch I had today was trying some freestyle – hitting a kicker and trying a box. Both went abysmally wrong and ended up knee planting twice in quick succession. What made it worse was that Jim caught it all on video – certainly the most interesting and cringe-worthy feedback session I’ve had!

Still, I know what went wrong and was so close to pulling both off. I’m determined to nail them by the end of the season!

27th July 2006, 21.25
On my bed having just come back from Swiss Ball class

Fun day today – we had a new trainer, Dan (great name!) and I’m in a group with Claire, Kristine and Ryan. Spent the afternoon trying out freestyle stuff – nose rolls, 180 ollies and buttering. Dan’s a really great freestyle coach and took us through a gradual progression that had us all buttering by the end of the afternoon – result!

On the downside, I’m coming down with something – just a cold type thing, but feeling all feverish and have a sore throat. Irritating more than anything – I’m fed up of feeling tired/injured/sick!

Anyways, could be worse, lots of people up at Cardrona are coming down with a nasty gastroenteritis thing – a few of our skiiers have got it now cos they’re doing their CSI there. Hoping to avoid that one!!