Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I had a great christmas here in Colorado with my room mates. We had plenty of presents to open in the morning and Janina cooked up a delicious feast for everyone.

Early morning before the crowds

Long lift lines suck

We found this injured coyote in the bottom of the pipe yesterday. I think it had to be put down. Sad :(

Back in Colorado

Today was my first day riding at Breckenridge this season. The last week or so I've been riding Copper which has been great fun, but I was keen to go and check out Breck's pipe. It was good as always so I hiked for a couple of hours to avoid the huge lift lines of holiday makers. Christmas break is not really a great time to be riding but if your willing to hike you get the pipe almost to yourself.

It was snowing when I woke up this morning and continued lightly throughout the day. Were definitely in need of more snow so hopefully it continues for a spectacular white christmas.

Bex getting rid of the lactic acid after riding 

Picking up some nutritious snacks at Super Target

Up up and away

Tomorrow I fly out to the USA. I'm really sad to leave the Australian summer behind but at the same time I can't wait to get back on snow. Big thanks to Burton and Oakley for my new gear.

Land of the long white cloud

Last week here in NZ we had beautiful sunny skies everyday, but so far this week isn't the warm spring weather we were hoping for. Monday and Tuesday were scheduled days off as the forecast wasn't looking so flash and everyone was in need of some rest.

Today was our first day back up at Cardrona for the last week of spring camp. When I woke up it was wet, miserable and foggy and it got no better by the time I reached the mountain. Despite the conditions I ended up having a great morning riding just working on simple but important things.

 At the top of the pipe, riding into the unknown

The airbag set up and a short lived break from the whiteout

Cardrona Spring Camp

I am back in New Zealand and today was our third day up at Cardrona. They have a great spring camp set up with an airbag, halfpipe and slopestyle course. Yesterday was a whiteout and we only got three runs in before they called it off at 10am but today the weather was beautiful. Hopefully it will stay that way for the rest of my time here.  

NZ take two

Packing again! I'm heading back to NZ for a short spring camp. It should be a soft and fun pipe at Cardrona and it'll be great to ride and see my friends again.

Also Burton have sent me a new board to try out, The Fortress. It's a little stiffer than my Feelgood(which I love), so I'm interested to see how it goes.

Stay tuned for updates from NZ....

Go CATS!!

Malibu lovin

A few months back I asked dad for a new Mal. It didn't take any convincing as he was keen to experiment with a new shape, one that would be particularly good for nose riding.
Not long after "The Brew" was born.

It features:

• At 23" wide and a much fuller nose area (19"@ 12 up) this shape is very stable for walking and provides for longer time on the nose.
• A 3/8" deep teardrop concave provides lift.
• The bottom shape is a combination of roll and vee, with ultra soft rails right through to the tail to drag it down when hanging your toes off the other end.
• A larger than normal fin is essential to eliminate slide and hold the line set for the ultimate noseride.

Walter White & Jesse Pinkman aka Dad & Mawson in the shaping bay

Point Leo glassing factory

Our new boards before they hit the water

Mahalo dad :)

World Cup @ Cardrona

The WC Halfpipe was run this past weekend at Cardrona. Unfortunately it did not go as planned for me. On my first run I made an error and took off early for my front 5 landing on the deck and then bouncing back into the flat bottom 22 ft below. I was unable to take my second run but luckily nothing major was wrong and I'm just feeling stiff and sore now.

Holly and Nate both did well placing 2nd and 4th.

Womens results: 

1. Xuetong Cai China

2. Holly Crawford Australia

3. Ursina Haller Switzerland

Mens:

1. Janne Korpi Finland

2. Yiwoi Zhang China

3. Dimi DE Jong Holland

Sunny Days in NZ

I made it out of Christchurch! Four days of blizzard conditions, hours of standing in queues and many telephone calls later I finally got a flight to Queenstown. Woo hoo! What a relief!

Upon arrival I was greeted with beautiful sunny skies and it hasn't changed since. I've had four days riding now at Cardrona and everyday has been great. The pipe is fun and the snow is good. 

I'm staying in Wanaka with my friend Paula Mitchell, I love it here. NZ is so beautiful(when its sunny) and Lake Wanaka is no exception. Here is some photos from the last few days.

 On the hill before 7am yesterday. Yawn.

Watching the sunrise at Cardrona

Early morning Cardrona pipe

Kelly Marren's birthday party last night. Thanks for the fun and food!

This guy ate appetizers, two large mains and two desserts. Tummy Ache? 

Stuck in a winter storm

Early yesterday morning my dad dropped me off at Melbourne airport for my three hour flight to Queenstown, NZ. It all went smoothly, we made our decent but just seconds before the tarmac the pilot hit the throttle and accelerated rapidly back up into the sky. We were re-routed to Christchurch as it was unsafe to land in the blizzard conditions.

I was re-booked on a flight at 8 am this morning but when I awoke to howling winds and snow I knew it was not going to happen. I arrived at the airport to see all flights had been cancelled. They got our hopes up with talks of shuttle buses but that was impossible with every road into Queenstown closed.

So I'm back in the airport hotel again tonight and most likely tomorrow night as well. I'm hoping for an improvement in the weather but looking out my window now it looks like the 50 year storm :(

This was the highlight of my day.....   Jealous Ellen Trigger?

Sunny days at Hotham

Last week I spent some time at Hotham with my family. Everyday was beautiful and sunny, perfect snowboarding weather. We rode just about everywhere and did plenty of Village Loops(one of my faves). There was a few fun rails and boxes in the Basin Rail Park which I was really enjoying, it's amazing how much fun you can have on such simple things.

Back on Snow

This past weekend I went up to Hotham for the first time this season. You would be excused for thinking it was already the middle of August, with the whole mountain open and plenty of snow coverage. On Monday we woke up to fresh snow and had great powder runs all morning.

The Wild West

Dad and I had a fantastic trip to Western Australia. We snorkeled with more fish than I've ever seen, saw the most beautiful sunsets, star gazed at night and met some great people. You couldn't escape the heat during the day, the bugs were relentless at night, I couldn't surf the fun looking waves and the deserted roads were bumpier than a mogul run, but I loved it.

Crowded camping grounds

Deserted beach

Dead flat day at the Bluff

Cooper & Tyson were bodyboarding down the sandunes

Dad surfing solo early morning 

Some people drove in

Others got bogged and had to walk in

Swimming with an 8 metre whale shark

One of these whale sharks is a man eater but I'm not sure which one

Everyone should experience this, even you

USA photos

 Breckenridge Pipe

Breck Pipe

Copper Pipe

 This day we woke up to over 2ft (66cms) of fresh snow

We hiked out for an epic pow run

 Jarryd & I

I had so much fun with these girls. Kate, Paula & Bex

Paula, myself & Bex in our house uniform

Messing around at Breckenridge hat store

Haha Kate

Do I look better as a blonde?

I love Mexican

Boreal Mtn in Tahoe

The view from our hotel room in Hawaii

This is out front of Magum P.I's house. He swam here in almost every episode.

Take me back there now!