It’s 5 weeks since I injured my knee and it finally feels ready for snowboarding again. Today I had a few powder turns at Eggalm with my friends. The sun was out, smiles on faces. Simple pleasures, no pain: snowboard times are back.

I decided to piece together a sequence of the jump that hurt my knee. So here I am demonstrating how to overshoot a jump, hurt your knee and execute a NO GRAB: I was going for a back3 but [...]]]> It’s 5 weeks since I injured my knee and it finally feels ready for snowboarding again. Today I had a few powder turns at Eggalm with my friends. The sun was out, smiles on faces. Simple pleasures, no pain: snowboard times are back.

I decided to piece together a sequence of the jump that hurt my knee. So here I am demonstrating how to overshoot a jump, hurt your knee and execute a NO GRAB:

I was going for a back3 but at 360 found myself with half my airtime still to go, so went round for the 5. I then performed a few hefty ragdolls (not shown).

I tried riding at 3 weeks but my knee wasn’t quite up to it. So I’ve spent the last 2 weeks strengthening it. It feels good. Ready to roll.

So instead of riding I’ve been enjoying other activities on offer here in the Zillertal valley. This includes cycling, climbing and sun bathing. In February. Thankyou weird weather. I also went to see Skunk Anansie in Munich. Here I am Ready to rock:

And I’ve been studying. Lately I’ve been covering Peak Oil. Our civilization is in a bit of a predicament. Check this out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I want to start filming again as soon as pos. This year I’m involved with Lipstick Productions, a European girls snowboard movie. Looking forward to riding with those girls again.

And so here is Johno Verity’s edit of the DC UK snow team hitting up some Chamonix backcountry. The boys sent it and I was very impressed. Especially Sam Turnball getting to grips with his first powder landings, and Nate Kern being a general MACHINE! Yeah Nate.

There isn’t much from me as I hurt my knee on the 2nd day overshooting the powder kicker we built. Check out the gore:

Mehr Snowboarden >>

Well, what can I say. I started off January with Pneumonia, and as soon as I was over it I hurt my knee. What does this mean for a snowboarder with competitions and photo trips to do? 3 weeks of frustration that’s what.

So I was ill for the 6*TTR Davos Evolution and 6*TTR Burton European Open, then recovered in time to join the DC UK team (Nate Kern, Sam Turnball and Sam Cullum) in Chamonix for a photo/film trip. [...]]]> Well, what can I say. I started off January with Pneumonia, and as soon as I was over it I hurt my knee. What does this mean for a snowboarder with competitions and photo trips to do? 3 weeks of frustration that’s what.

So I was ill for the 6*TTR Davos Evolution and 6*TTR Burton European Open, then recovered in time to join the DC UK team (Nate Kern, Sam Turnball and Sam Cullum) in Chamonix for a photo/film trip. Here I am traveling on the train:

Everywhere in Europe needs more snow, and Chamonix was no exception. However we were with our team manager James Stentiford, UK’s leading freerider and Chamonix local. He took us up to 2400m and round to some hidden, untracked powder stashes. The first day we found two sweet cliff drops. After hiking at such altitude I thought my poor Pneumonia infested lungs would burst and that I was too weak to hit the drops.

But after a few hours spent in the unseasonably warm winter sun I felt up to it. So I gave the smaller drop a go a couple times. The feeling of airing over a cliff face took my breath away. I was scared, excited, floating all at once. But then came the landing. Bam, white, blue, white, blue, breathe. That’s my experience of rag-dolling. Of which I did quite a bit. I can say I’ve not got used to those powder landings yet. The whole operation was captured on Johno Verity’s video camera, look out for the DC podcast.

The second day we made a powder kicker. Nate Kern is very experienced in this department. His dig hole was deep and precise while mine and Sam Turnball’s sprawled back into the run-in.
Sam in Nate’s hole:

I was a bit apprehensive as we made the kicker – the drop seemed pretty big. But I was with guys who knew what they were doing and who gave me good advice. So I watched the boys hit it a few times, then resolved to hit it myself. “100% commitment” I thought as I dropped in. There was a problem though – I took too much speed and popped too much. I landed a good 15foot below where the boys had been landing, and rag-dolled. This time I hurt my knee, bruising my lateral meniscus.

And so, the following 2 days were spent on the sofa in the DC house in Les Houches. I ate lots of Peanut M&M’s and questioned my snowboarding existence.

I then returned to Mayrhofen where I am now, deliberating over wether or not to ride in the 3*TTR Sista Sessions competition tomorrow. My absolute priority is to get back to full fitness, so I’m just going to see how my knee feels tomorrow morning.

In the mean time I’ve started the 1st module of my long distance Masters in Renewable Energy Development. Alriiiiiiiight.

Click here to view the embedded video.

December started out really fun. I was enjoying lots of minishred in the Penken baby park, had some epic powder days and my mate Darcy let me ride the box he set up in his garden! Fun times, until the party season started and I got ill and it all was put on hold.

Filmed by Terry Huyghe, Claire Frost & Piotr Janosz Edited by Claire Frost

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wow, apologies for my tardy update. I got back to Mayrhofen in early December, sorted myself with an apartment and handy part-time job, then got down to business on my snowboard.

The riding was heaps of fun. Mayrhofen always attracts seriously talented snowboarders from all over the world and I tried to ride with as many of them as possible. This year the Penken Park is under new management and it showed from the beginning. The advanced line jumps were open [...]]]> Wow, apologies for my tardy update. I got back to Mayrhofen in early December, sorted myself with an apartment and handy part-time job, then got down to business on my snowboard.

The riding was heaps of fun. Mayrhofen always attracts seriously talented snowboarders from all over the world and I tried to ride with as many of them as possible. This year the Penken Park is under new management and it showed from the beginning. The advanced line jumps were open in the 2nd week, and all of the boxes and rails are new. In addition, and how could I forget, we were blessed with some epic powder days. What a great way to start the season.


These good times lasted for 3 weeks before I fell ill. Ski resorts get so many people coming in from all over with all their different viruses and bacteria – I always end up getting ill at the start of the season.

Once I recovered it was party time – Christmas and New Year! Woohooo. Fun times:

Christmas Day Shred:

And on New Years Day I even took some kinda cool photos:
“DOOR TO 2011″

“COUPLE”

However, I fell ill again. This time requiring antibiotics and time off my board. I was meant to be in Davos this week competing at the 6*TTR O’Neill Evolution, but had to turn back. I’m currently resting and hoping I will be OK in time for BEO (6*TTR Burton European Open) next week. Fingers crossed!

In the mean time, check out my December edit…

October and November 2010 and I was to be found living in Mayrhofen, riding Hintertux glacier. Waking up to a 80cm powder day in October is good for the soul. Smelling the fresh cow poo they put on the fields everyday is not. Riding the glacier (at 3200m high) involves being exposed to the elements, and after 2 weeks of sun in October we had a dodgy 3 week mix of cloud, snow, wind and sun. Still, I got me [...]]]> October and November 2010 and I was to be found living in Mayrhofen, riding Hintertux glacier. Waking up to a 80cm powder day in October is good for the soul. Smelling the fresh cow poo they put on the fields everyday is not. Riding the glacier (at 3200m high) involves being exposed to the elements, and after 2 weeks of sun in October we had a dodgy 3 week mix of cloud, snow, wind and sun. Still, I got me some park time and classic powder days with friends, and recorded some of the action on my GoPro:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Friday night and I had a decision to make. To party or not to party. I chose party, and so Saturday was a down day. This particular down day turned into a quest up the mountain to behold the Penken Park before the snow comes. And so here it is (that’s the park lift on the immediate horizon): Note the lack of earthworks. Those huge pro-line jumps are made entirely from snow!

This down day also was witness to trampolining, longboarding, [...]]]> Friday night and I had a decision to make. To party or not to party. I chose party, and so Saturday was a down day. This particular down day turned into a quest up the mountain to behold the Penken Park before the snow comes. And so here it is (that’s the park lift on the immediate horizon):

Note the lack of earthworks. Those huge pro-line jumps are made entirely from snow!

This down day also was witness to trampolining, longboarding, and CHILLING. Vive le down day!!

This move is called the triple peril dismount.

I’ve been here in Mayrhofen and riding Hintertux with the British Freestyle Team for 2 weeks.

Most of the team have now gone back to the UK. However myself, Rowan Coultas, his dad and Dom Harrington remain. I’ve stayed behind as I’ve decided to make Mayrhofen my base for the start of the season, and am currently looking for accommodation.

Life With the British Team Team life revolves around FOOD, the VAN, living in each others pockets, and the subtle direction of our [...]]]> I’ve been here in Mayrhofen and riding Hintertux with the British Freestyle Team for 2 weeks.

Most of the team have now gone back to the UK. However myself, Rowan Coultas, his dad and Dom Harrington remain. I’ve stayed behind as I’ve decided to make Mayrhofen my base for the start of the season, and am currently looking for accommodation.

Life With the British Team
Team life revolves around FOOD, the VAN, living in each others pockets, and the subtle direction of our man in black – coach Hamish McKnight.

One morning there was a problem with the smooth functioning of the VAN:

Going snowboarding everyday involves a 30min VAN drive up the valley followed by 40mins on gondalas. Typical scenes from our morning commute are as follows:

After the commute we’d find ourselves on top of the world. There was an insane inversion the other day. Unfortunately it was the only day I didn’t take my camera up with me. Here is a pic my friend Sylvia took of Tini the Destroyer:

When on top of the world we go snowboarding. Pre-season is all about setting the ground work for the season, in terms of tricks. That’s how I’ve viewed it. It’s also an opportunity to get some footage. However this doesn’t occur by evading all cameras, as I have done so far. Check out the DC UK team shredit to see my GoPro in action, though you won’t find footage of me as I spent that day hiking a rail.

So I’m making it my goal to get some shred footage of myself and friends for my next blog post! In the mean time here is a short edit of myself longboarding through Mayrhofen:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’ve been riding the glacier at Hintertux for 3 days now. The weather has been incredible, my body is absolutely shot and my sunscreen is out of date. It seems that no matter how much conditioning you do, nothing is quite as demanding as snowboarding! It certainly has been a shock to the system.

Hintertux park is perfect. The progression from small to medium to large kickers is spot on and the rail line is good too. I’ve mostly been trying to [...]]]> I’ve been riding the glacier at Hintertux for 3 days now. The weather has been incredible, my body is absolutely shot and my sunscreen is out of date.

It seems that no matter how much conditioning you do, nothing is quite as demanding as snowboarding! It certainly has been a shock to the system.

Hintertux park is perfect. The progression from small to medium to large kickers is spot on and the rail line is good too. I’ve mostly been trying to get my tricks back on the medium line. A selection of the world’s best pros are here – David Benedek, Torstein, Peetu, Enni. When I get too tired it’s good to kick back and watch the action on the pro-line.

I’m living and riding with the British Freestyle Team at the moment. After a day on the hill we take a dip in the nearby glacial melt stream to stave off bodily niggles. At first it is torturously cold on the feet and lower legs, then it becomes bearable, and before you know it you’re fully submerged and loving it. After said dip it’s time to dry off in the sun.


























With the weather so good yesterday we decided to have a BBQ and bonfire at Stilluptal, which is a 15min drive up the valley into mountainous wilderness.

This is a time of adjustment, training, holiday and season planning. It is meant to get colder next week, but in the meantime we’ll be enjoying this surprise burst of summer heat, and getting the shred legs back again.

Well, I’ve made it to Austria. My season officially begins tomorrow when I go up the mountain in a cable car and come down it sliding on snow.

The journey here was OK, though I am still reeling from the £100 excess baggage I had to pay to my friends at Easyjet! Ouch.

Here are some photos, from Edinburgh to Mayrhofen:

My last week in Edinburgh was hectic. I had to strip the flat, and pack everything I need for 7months [...]]]> Well, I’ve made it to Austria. My season officially begins tomorrow when I go up the mountain in a cable car and come down it sliding on snow.

The journey here was OK, though I am still reeling from the £100 excess baggage I had to pay to my friends at Easyjet! Ouch.

Here are some photos, from Edinburgh to Mayrhofen:

My last week in Edinburgh was hectic. I had to strip the flat, and pack everything I need for 7months into 3 bags. Easyjet tells me I’ve overpacked, so one mission for my time here is to get rid of my excess STUFF.

I am staying in a big Austrian house with the unofficial British Team and our van. Right now we are myself, Aimee Fuller, Nate Kern, Jack Shackleton, Jamie Nicholls and Rowan. Tonight we will be joined by 4 more mystery snowboarders.

Looking forward to riding Hintertux tomorrow!