48 Hours in Russia

I've just returned to Colorado after a super quick trip to Sochi, Russia for the Olympic Test Event.   Unfortunately I had complications with my travel plans and didn't arrive until 11pm the night before my competition. It was not ideal. I missed the two training days beforehand and it was all a bit hectic being thrown into competing having never seen or ridden that half pipe before. However I was still stoked to be there.

Heading up the gondola at 8am it was still pitch black and a little eery, you couldn't see anything but the tops of trees lit up by the moonlight. The sun doesn't rise there till about 9am which was strange but they had super duper powerful lights on the pipe, so seeing that wasn't a problem. 

I fell my first run then decided to just put down a safe run which I knew I would land on my second. I ended up in 27th place. Very average result but considering the circumstances I was still happy to have landed something. My friend and fellow Australian Holly Crawford came 2nd, such a fantastic result especially considering it was the best field of riders I've ever seen. 

The next two days I got to check out what the resort, Rosa Khutor had to offer. The mountain itself was awesome, with so much amazing terrain and great snow up top. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Black Sea. The village was something different, kind of like a movie set. It was all closed to the public and there was still lots of construction going on. Security guards were everywhere and to get on the gondola you had to go through a airport like security check, complete with a scan and pat down. There wasn't a shop in sight but I'm sure by next year there will be a souvenir stand on every corner. 

All in all it was a great experience to check out the Olympic venue and I hope to be back for the real deal next year!

Click photos to enlarge

Top of Rosa Khutor is amazing

Blinded by the lights. 9am morning of comp, still dark

Pipe, aerials and moguls course from the distance

Pipe finals

Start of the Boardercross course

The Village

One of the many security guards, interesting uniform. photo: @tora_saurus

Burton European Open

As smooth as Swiss chocolate

I just had a fantastic week in Laax, Switzerland for the Burton European Open. It was snowing almost the entire time I was there. Unfortunately the weather was shocking for the competition, training days got postponed and the slopestyle had to be eventually cancelled because it was too windy and dangerous to run. The park and pipe(which are both awesome) sit right up top of the mountain where the wind was the worst. However slide down the mountain a little bit and you could escape to a tranquil powder oasis.

Not so lovely at the pipe. Blowing a gale and barely visible

My first day riding, which was to be official pipe training, turned out to be probably the best powder day of my life. The snow had been falling all night and it continued dumping huge flakes throughout the day. I'd say it was the deepest pow I've ever ridden. We were laughing and hooting and grinning from ear to ear.

Being first time visitors to Laax we had no idea where we were riding or what area would be best, but run after run we kept scoring deeeep fresh tracks. There is so much terrain and the runs are very long in comparison to what I've been riding. My feet were definitely burning by the time I got to the bottom.

Burton put on a great show and did their best with the weather situation. Tough call to cancel events but when your hitting 60-80ft jumps you want to feel safe, not like your going to get blown to the moon. Even though some events were cancelled I think everyone still went home happy. How could you not after being waist deep in snow for three days.

Huge congrats to young Mt Buller local, Luke Staveley who came 2nd in the Junior Jam. Great effort! I'm not sure where I ended up, it wasn't good. No excuses though, I rode like crap.

Comp off, pow on

So much snow! There are cute huts like this all over the mountain.

Wooohoooo

Slope course during a break in the storm

Cool shot of Luke Staveley photo: Frankie Chapin

On the road again

Well its been awhile since my last blog update so I will try and catch you up.

I've been pretty busy travelling to comps the last few weeks. First was World Champs in Canada, then back to Colorado for a few days before road tripping to Utah for the World Cup/Grand Prix. I then flew straight from Salt Lake City to Europe. A few planes, trains and automobiles later and I'm now in Switzerland for the European Open.

Here are some photos from World Champs in Quebec, Canada. I placed 19th, unfortunately being unable to put my run down clean in the comp.

Flying into Quebec over the icy Saint Lawrence river

Chateau Frontenac. The worlds most photographed hotel

Fairytale style entrance to Old Quebec

Quebec Parliament

World Champs Slopestyle Course was big, icy and rock solid! 

Yeah, it was cold

Looking out over Quebec City from my lovely room at the Hilton

De-icing the plane before take off

After returning from Quebec I spent a few days training in Breckenridge and Copper before heading to Utah for the World Cup/Grand Prix. I was really happy to land my run of back 5, front 5, front 7, cab 3 but not too stoked on finishing 17th.

Practicing in Copper Pipe, so good at this time of year after the crowds have gone

Breckenridge had an ice sculpture contest happening. This rodeo cowboy was my favourite

There was about 15 sculpture teams in total, all of them were very impressive

Park City comp day with my friend Katie, check her out http://www.ktathletics.com