NZskier.com

22nd January 2010

Hello World

So basically il be bopping around the european alps, skiing, competing on the Freeride World Qualifier Series (FWQS), filming with various projects, shooting photos, smiling, laughing, indulging and basically getting stuck in. Come along for the ride and I hope my scribbles from the various floors that I find myself on bring you a touch on the fun and games out here and stoke you up for another NZ winter.

Peace

Rambling Man

So Im back!

But before I get too excited and just start spinning yarns a little bit of background is necessary in brief hopefully, to avoid dwelling on the past.

I returned to NZ after a reasonably successful campaign in Europe an equally reasonably destroyed man. I had attempted to stay in europe and pay some debts via super yacht work. I guess I cant complain, I did make it home in one piece after escaping the dodgy mitts of my almost employer who turned out to be a belgian gangster specialising in all manners of illegal excesses.  The NZ winter was spent paying off as much of the outrageous levels of debt I had as possible. The NZ Freeride Series was part of the FWQS so I did my best with as minimal amounts of time on snow an away from work as I could manage. A 2nd at NZ OPEN, 5th at Chill Series and a victory finally at the most excellent Export Xtreme kicked my northern season of well, helped with the debt so small end either. Hanging with my Cromwell boys on the lake an working hard had me a happy an hopeful camper, a signing to Volkl skis international team had me over the moon, the town shook as we rampaged, reasonably of course! A english mate put me onto a mate and before I could say later mate was off to Wennington, UK to patch up a damaged river bank via the traditional method of willow spilling, a fast learning curve on all matters nothern england to boot.

A quick fire meet, greet, ski, shoot, flash and crash with the Volkl team in Chamonix before a troubled drive over yonder mountains.

So here we are up to date, with somewhat surprised me back in Verbier training hard in a true big mountain arena, complete with its usual insane mix of bullfighters, gunslingers and clowns.  To go with my Volkl deal, I am signing with Dalbellos international team and will continue on with Sessions outerwear Europe and POW gloves NZ.

Today was a pretty rad day considering the fairly tracked conditions here, good ol hard and fast kill ya legs type set up sliding stuff. I hiked for a while along this ridge up Mont Gond, the location of the Nendaz Freeride final face and also where Hamish Acland, Beanie Milne Home and I had a pretty massive avalanche scare 2 years ago. Maybe not super smart my going alone this time but it had been skied an stable for a while. So after paying my dues and respects to the mountain I skied down safely in the failing light.

A few long runs to tucker my pins had me running into total legend Phil Meier in the Mont Gele funispace. He was out getting his head in the game for the first stop of the FWT in Russia so we set about skiing some super fun, yet exposed lines on the frontside, very near to Dunbars infamous line in the 06 Verbier Ride, giving some ambitious ideas for filming once RJF productions arrive in a few days. But for now back to hanging with the swedish crew that have been super generous in letting me stay a few nights, with last night spent outside to test my new sleeping bag!

First day of Filming

So! Greetings from the couch, which is where I shall be pondering from for the next week I guess. Yesterday was the first day of filming, Nic Watkins from RJF Productions had arrived and so had some fresh snow. Time to crank out some more gold, so off we trot to show him a few lines I had picked out, an a rough plan was decided on. I cruised along a high traverse near the top of Tortin, while Nic set up below. I had picked out this double stager I had looked at for years, but not with clear eyes it seems. I pulled on my brand spankin black full face helmet an matchin black mouthguard, trying to prevent a McDougall Mangle Moment and dropped in. A couple of nice cold pow turns lead me to the lip, with the camera below the next thing my eyes could see. Sweet, sweet hangtime before touching down on the pad and flying back into space, watching the landing fly by I went all the way to pancake flat, whipping my neck severely into my chest before riding up to Nic. Not my favourite impact but we joked about and headed to the cafe.

Not thee jump to flat but a something to add some drama

Things started to stiffen up quickly and the pain was going up every minute, so down the funispace. By the time I got off things were deteroirating fast and as I stuttered up to ski patrol I got the shakes. He took one look at my and very slowly moved me to the couch, fastening a neckbrace firmly around my neck. A chopper was called in and I was strapped into my first intimate moment with a bloodbath. The usual questions asked, a cathater inserted into my hand to aid my morphine embalmment, much to Nics discomfort. A couple of medical trials for cash in CHCH had killed off my fear of needles years ago.

After some hours alone a lone nurse I had yet to meet walked in and told me in halting english to sit up, you are ok she stammered out. So clothes back on, a more comfortable brace fitted an enough drugs to keep a biker gang happy I was sent to the front desk to sort my insurance details. Waiting for Tony, Markus, Andy, Bungle and Nic to pick me up i happily installed myself behind the desk, though did not quite manage to admit any other unfortunates.

So back at Markus for some amazing swedish hospitality I will be taking things very easy for a while, except maybe on the darts board, the only sport Im fit for at the mo, hmmm fit for darts seems like an odd state considering some of the players size on TV. But anywho, a massive thank you to the superb ski patrol, nurses and doctors at Sion hospital, the gang for getting me an helpin me here and to whoever invented morphine derivatives, brilliant.

Peace.