New Years Resolution 2017

2016/2017

I hope everyone, family and friends have had a really great start to 2017 and may the year bring lots of awesome experiences and memories.

I have been enjoying a break from the snow and trying some new things which is what I hope to do more of in 2017.

So - yes surfing, really enjoyed my first day and definitely look forward to doing more, plus bigger waves.

Plus shock horror "Dad" - I really enjoyed meeting this fellow and having a great day riding around the countryside.

 Life live to the full.

Mt Harvard, Colorado, SBX Altitude Training.

26th Oct 2016

Loving my SBX life at present - no snow! but these Colorado 14'ers are really enjoyable. No 6 now - Mt Harvard was a long hike, big distance but definitely worth the effort.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Harvard

Rocky Mountains was a serious understatement, some serious big boulders.

Getting into it:-

Half way looking back at lake.

Made it!  Enjoying the view from the top with Jan - ISTC coach who has just arrived over from Czech Republic. Annabel Tudhope picture credit, Ross ISTC on mountain with us.

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Not long now three weeks and we are finally off to Pitzal in Austria for some on snow training, followed by the first World Cup of the season at Montafon. Watch this space. 

Balanced life at present - Studying Hard + Playing Heaps

July 16

I've been super busy getting some studying done - Business Management Course thanks to High Performance NZ Education Grant but also I have managed to do two courses towards my PPL Helicopter Theory exams and 1 for CPL Commercial - thanks to Lois for lending me her apartment in Chch!

It's been tough for someone who hasn't ever been to high school - so it was a fairly big challenge getting ready for the exams. I have to say some of my stress management sports practices did come in handy - pleased to say I have passed all so far.

Took the opportunity thanks to Air New Zealand Airpoints programme to meet up with Dad and the crew in Bluff for an awesome fishing trip last weekend.

So calm the first day,  Dad and I managed to get out past Stewart Island to the West and having been escorted by a pod of dolphins - we scored lots of amazing fish, paua and crays for the freezer. Including the 60 cm plus blue cod. Just shows what the various species can become if they aren't over fished.

West Coast, New Zealand for the Holidays

2nd January 2016

Terrific break away - on the West Coast - Groper, Blue Nose and Crayfish. Plus Great Mates.

Best thing we ever managed to do was get a Westpac Card with both Air New Zealand Status and Airpoints - family puts everything through it - hence I get the chance to get home and save big time on excess luggage.

Feeling very lucky to have the opportunities I have - here's to an awesome 2016.

Splitboarding Overnight Trip, The Remarkables, Queenstown, New Zealand

22nd/23rd Aug 2015

I have to say my first overnight splitboarding trip - through the Doolans out the back of The Remarkables, Queenstown, was terrific. Magic terrain, first day the weather was outstanding - Sunday was a bit overcast but really enjoyable - learnt heaps and pushed my boundaries in lots of areas.

Always great to feel that you a learning and achieving new things. Here's a couple of shots from the weekend.  Totally love being up in the mountains - revitalising!!

St Josephs Primary School Visit, Queenstown - promoting Sports.

21st Aug 15

Had a lot of fun visiting a class at St Josephs on Wednesday - lots of great questions asked by the group.

Took them through a virtual SBX race - lots of pumping, tucks and jumps, got a surprise when the teacher from the downstairs classroom came racing in - she thought the ceiling was going to come down on them because of all the awesome racing going on upstairs!!

I was surprised that the crew - thought 'The Dog' was coming in with me - as you can see he was very disappointed to be left at home, maybe next time?

 Thanks to teacher Debbie - for the event shots.

 

Splitboarding New Zealand 2015

20th June 15

Great day out exploring the mountains - splitboarding - awesome way to keep up the fitness training.

Blue bird day - didn't hit anything too steep as the avalanche risk was high, pow untouched terrific.

Thanks to Adam from Splitboarding NZ for letting me join him for the day.  Lots of laughs all round.

Diving in New Zealand

7th May 15

Really enjoying - getting under the waves. 

Heli Tours, Queenstown

3rd May 15

What can I say - I love flying in choppers, been a while.  Awesome afternoon with Paul http://www.helitours.co.nz 

Dad and the crew are helping Paul with a couple of projects so he had to check out an area for some clients - so we scored the trip - really appreciate.

What a view!!!!  So lucky living here.

Looking down Lake Wakatipu, above Queenstown, The Remarkables on left - Cecil Peak on right

Hiking / Camping Trip - minus DOG!

24th Apr 15

Diving going great - down in Dunedin, did my first night dives on Thursday night and I was really looking forward to getting home to hang with Dog - hike and mountain bike for the weekend.

Got a call from friends inviting me away for the weekend. BAD news - the Dog not allowed to come.

Arrived home - unpacked and then started packing again. Felt really bad - but as you can see Dog was determined not to let me out the front door.  Going to miss him but hey - take every opportunity.

Early Snow in New Zealand

13th/14th Apr 15

Arrived back in Queenstown for a couple of days and now I've headed down to the coast to get started on the practical side of my Rescue Dive course. While I was travelling and competing I completed all the E online theory assignments - so it's time to hit the water.

Unfortunately, I was looking forward to a warm beach experience but didn't expect the snow to hit so soon.  Hopefully a sign of an awesome southern snow season.

Here's a shot of Queenstown yesterday and the drive into Dunedin from the coast this morning.

Diving cancelled today, the major southerly, snow & swell put an end to it. Can't say I was too upset. Off to buy a new pair of diving gloves - using the leather cray collecting ones yesterday but started to loose the feeling in my fingers - seriously cold wind chill when you are wet!!

ISTC New Race Jersey!

18th Feb 2015

Well it's been a tough few days - had a bit of food poisoning I believe, takes it out of you big time. Occupational hazard while travelling - I always try and purchase good high nutritional food to fuel up on but sometimes you get hit.

Ha - had the folks worried with the first shot - but they are happier now the after shots out - what a difference a couple of days make!! and being back on the slope!!

As you can see we finally got our new squad race shirts and being the only Kiwi on the team I got a couple of differences - silver/white front stripe and fern on the arm.  Pretty happy with it - anyone agree! Now to find a race to give it a test run.

Bad v Great! no comp on that. 

                         

Big White, Canada

10th Feb 15

Hi been pretty busy with travelling, prep work and training but enjoyed a few hours free riding on Big White. It was a bit of a white out in places but really enjoyed exploring the mountain.

Found this lookout hut - couple of races coming up and then it is back to Summit for three intensive weeks training prior to my 1st World Cup at Squaw Valley, CA.

Being 18 does have some benefits - had a few great meals out at Canadian Restaurants, previously I would have been back at the room eating sandwiches!! Ha life.

X Games 2015

23rd Jan 2015

Wow, got an invite to spend a night in Aspen with one of the coaches Eric (his home town) which coincided with my birthday and the X Games.

Had an awesome time exploring Aspen with one of their renowned instructors. So much better exploring with a local. Snowmass runs were amazing, Aspen food terrific, hospitality plus.

Then dropped by to check out the X Games at Buttermilk and watch some of the action. Hopefully I'll be able to experience it from a competitor viewpoint sometime in the future.  Really needed the break things can get pretty intense - living and training with the Head Coach!

Now off to Canada: - Denver - Chicago - Montreal - Mt Tremblant. 

Check out my terrific icebreaker jacket - greatly appreciated at -28 c - thanks Aspen great times.

www.nz.icebreaker.com 

Thanks also to Eric's great folks.

Ski Cooper, Colorado - SBX Course

4th Dec 14

Headed up to Ski Cooper to help finish off the SBX Course Build. Lots of B Netting to put up.

When you hit it - it feels like your going down a cheese grater!!

Exploring Glacier Cave Pitzal Austria

Pitzal, Austria - Glacier Cave - Nov 14.

It doesn't look real - just shows how small we humans are against nature! Amazing Colours.

First European Podium - FIS Races Pitzal Austria

29th/30th Nov 14

Wow, had a couple of great days racing. First day there were 128 male competitors and there are no time trials everyone gets to race and you are ranked based on your FIS points.

I have to mention a little encouragement the coaches were using on me.

Ever since I have been in Austria I have been hanging out for some Apple Strudel and Vanilla Sauce!! Awesome, however those same coaches were watching everything that was going in my mouth. IE some of the team are allowed to eat like horses and some of us are still trying to get our ratios down!!!! No guessing where I came into that!

So here was my targets top 8 - I got Strudel, top 4 (podium) I got to have it with Vanilla Sauce - plus if I won!! Jan (coach) was going to personally make it for me.  Pretty tough going on a Kiwi guy who loves good food.

Race 1 - messed up the final race - thought it was a false start - but it wasn't so it was all on 9TH!
NO strudel.

So Race 2  (80 competitors) - I knew I could do better - even with a broken toe strap at the finish line - 2nd!  YES!! I'm off to eat - Austrian Apple Strudel and Vanilla Sauce - before packing to leave for Colorado tomorrow 4am.

Terrific race and training experience here in Austria - quite a few of the european guys were World Cup competitors last season.

Thanks heaps to Ross, Jan and Eric, and I look forward to coming back to Austria again.

Congrats to the other podium athletes 

Jakob Dusek AUT 1st, Tyler Jackson CAN 3rd,  Sebastian Pietrzykowski GER 4th. 

torpedo7 & icebreakernz      

Exercise while travelling

Nov 14

No rest from gym and exercise training even when you are on the road. Here I'm timing a couple of team mates while they use the Trx system in the garage.  Some races this weekend and then back to Colorado where the snow is heavy - I see powder runs in the future!

Bear the Dog! in Pitzal, Austria

23rd Nov 14

Wow, check out this link https://www.facebook.com/duncanshreddernz  - this awesome giant came wondering along as the squad was waiting for the shuttle bus to take us up the slopes.

He came along and said gidday to everyone, then he sat down and waited for the bus to arrive. When the doors opened he walked on board - went up and down the bus getting hugs and a pat from everyone on board - then hopped off - before the driver drove off.

Colorado Summit County - Sunset

12th Nov 14

I put this shot up on instagram etc and a lot of people liked it so I thought I should definitely share it on the web for history. Came out of the gym the other night and this is what it looked like - amazing.

On count down - leave on Monday USA time for my first international training camp in Austria.  Excited to be getting some awesome experience.