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BLOGFebruary 21 - 2017
Warm weather, low snow, exposed rocks, and some rain low down on the venue made the conditions for the Chamonix competition in Andorra a bit tricky. Nonetheless, I managed to stay on my feet and bring home my first podium finish on the Freeride World Tour. Epic. I can't wait for the next comp to determine whether or not I make it to the homeland, for the competition in Haines, and the finals in Verbier, Switzerland. No matter what, it continues to be such an amazing journey with people I never thouht I would have the chance to meet and much less ride with! Here is the link to my run for Chamonix, staged in Vallnord Arcalís, Andorra:
http://www.freerideworldtour.com/event/swatch-freeride-world-tour-chamonix-mont-blanc-2017-staged-vallnord-arcalis-andorra/replay?tag=4446 February 13 - 2017
After and epic early season getting buried in pow between Mt. Baker and Revelstoke, it was a hard choice to bite the bullet and get the plane ticket for Chamonix, knowing that they had very little snow. Still believing that the tour stop could be held, I headed over. Unfortunately, we had to delay the comp for lack of snow and an abundance of rocks in all of the possible competition venues. Having delayed the comp in hopes of snow and looking far and wide, the guides could still not find a face suitable for us to compete on. Time in Chamonix consisted mostly of croissants, coffee, and a bit of groomer riding. I attended my first autograph session sitting behind the same table as my heroes growing up! Really stoked to kick off the seasons first comp last week with pretty close to perfect condidtions. That being said, competitors didn't know which venue we would be competing on until the morning of the event. At appreoximately 10:00 AM we had a confirmed face - Smoothy's Garden. Last minute venue changes made for quick inspection for an unfamiliar slope. Open communication between riders and feeding off each others ideas and views makes choosing a line your stoked on a bit more easy. My first cliff on the first run of my Freeride World Tour career (this may have ended in a huge buttcheck, but still a cool picture)
Its always important to have a fresh wax, sharp edges, and no (well, minimal) holes or scratches in your base. Tune kit is courtesy of Boardworks Tech Shop.
Our first venue of the season in Valnord Arcalís, Andorra - "Smoothey's Garden"
December 26 - 2016
This season has started off with a BANG! The ole' 98' 4Runner is still running strong at a whopping 312,00 miles! Already, it's gotten me down over 3000 miles of highway since I left Homer at the end of November. I made record time on the ALCAN to Bellingham in just 3 1/2 days. Welcomed into town with Boardworks Tech Shop's annual Box Jam session rowdy as ever it's always sure to be a blast...even though it was pouring down rain this time. Since the Box Jam, I've acquired a Mt. Baker season pass, and practically have been living at the hill, subsisting off of a combination of the $4 lodge baked potatoes, a healthy portion of pocket beef jerkey and fruit bars, and absolutely loving it. So far the snow has been falling in epic proportions, devided by small breaks of clear sunny skies, making for an ideal practice ground for the FWT. I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday season! Let it snow! A glorious cold morning in Toad River, Canada along the ALCAN.
My first season pass to Mt Baker, stoked!
Day 1 at Mt Baker noodling out a method grab - shot by Sam Kenegy
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