April 7th....................A day which was going to be spent riding a sick face backcountry in Austria........  A day which ended in the most remarkable way ever, leaving three people with a story which is nearly unbelievable to anyone that knows the power of the mountains.

Hiking the ridge line and looking down at the face was a bit of a delusion.  It looked big but I heard it was massive.  Some how I think my eyes were playing tricks on me, until I saw the first person drop and with what seemed like endless turns he ended up looking like a defenceless ant in the desert.  Just seeing how massive it was scared me.  I had never ridden such a massive powder field in my life. 

Anytime before you drop a face like this things run through your head, making your heart rate pick up a beat or two.  We all can imagine a small "slide" happening, but an avalanche is something which we all know can happen, but if that was the first thing coming into our heads everytime we left the groomed runs we would be too scared to even enjoy our riding.

My run was amazing, through a small chute and out into an endless powder field.  Nothing even needed to be said as I rode up to my friend smiling.  I turned to then see the next person dropping.  Excited to watch someone experience what I just had. 

One word was spoken over and over, nothing else needed to be said.  When you hear "fuck" more than once you know its serious.  I looked closely then could see it all turning to disaster 1km up the hill in front of me.  The first slide took the rider over a 15 metre cliff at this stage I knew it was serious as we were so far below that cliff to get up there fast, but to see the face then crack 200metres across and fall towards us is something I wont forget. 

 The avalanche seemed to take so long to reach us.  I kept telling my friend to be strong, stay on top were coming to get him once this nightmare stops.  It continued past us over another massive cliff, then silence.  Silence is something that should be enjoyed once your nightmare is over.  In this case the nightmare just became reality.  To pull your piep out to search for a loved one has always been my worst nightmare.  It just became so real.  I felt so crushed, so scared and so alone.  I wanted to curl up into a ball and just cry.  Something gave me the strength to not cry and start searching.

This slide could fit 6 football stadiums inside it.  There were only two of us to search.  The chances looked so slim to pull somone out alive.  You pray, you search and you take life so good damn serious at this moment that nothing can distract you, not even your own crushed emotions. 

 To see my friend scream and race down the mountain through the debris I will never forget.  I then had the first glimmer of hope that something positive was about to happen.  I looked closely and could see a hand out of the snow 70 metres from me.  I took off and had the best run of my life over the avalanche debris getting bumped in every direction.  No powder run has EVER given me that amount of satisfaction.  I got there and couldn't help but kiss him and start crying.  I didn't even think of the shovel in my bag to help shovel him out, till I was told to stop crying and dig.  

That day was the most amazing day I have and hopefully will ever encounter in that way.  To go from being so crushed by the mountains which I love more than anything, to being ecstatic beyond belief.   To dig somone out of this size avalanche uninjured is unbeleivable.  It is a day which effected all three of us in the most positive way ever. 

To look at a picture of this slide and see the three wobbly tracks leave the diaster is unbelievable.  It's not luck that keeps the human spirit strong through times like this its higher.  I can't help but think it was the help of a young guy who the boys were friends with.  Marcus lost his life on the same face 10 years ago.  Thank you so much.x

Tags: snowboarding, avalanche danger, backcountry

Tags: austria, europe, snowboarding, fresh powder, engadine

Winter is on its way(as i say that sitting in Austraila after a 30 degree day in the sun), well it is for the Northern Hemisphere.  Im pretty excited as im taking off to Austria on Christmas Day to see my partner who is going to show me some of the most amazing freeriding from his region(Salzburg) and also compete in the Freeride World Tour Qualifying events.  Im hoping to do well and maybe be lucky enough to gain a spot on one of the Freeride World Tour stops. 

It seems February and March are busy with us travelling from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland then Norway to compete in all the major FWQ comps in Europe.  There will also be lots of small in between ones(and hopefully some rail comps) to do aswell.  It all kicks off start of February so it gives me a month of play time when I arrive.

The first week im off to Kreischburg (Austria) as Alli is building the half pipe for the FIS world cup.  By the sounds of it, there isn't going to be much freeriding there, but the groomers can always be fun at the start of a season, or sitting in a bar trying to speak German to all the beer drinking men perked up there.  Whatever way i will see some amazing riding once the comp starts with riders using it as a qualifier for the Olympics. 

Tags: europe, trips, snowboarding

I was lucky to be part of the resurrection of The World Heli Challenge 2009, in LAke Hawea, New Zealand this year.  It was the the one competition for years I wanted to compete in along side some of the worlds best freeriders and skiiers.

IN the week leading up to the start of the Heli Challenge we were really unlucky in the Southern Mountains of New Zealand with snow stability.  It became extreme for a while with 2 deaths and weather patterns changing from snow, wind and rain on a daily basis.  We were lucky to be getting maybe 3 days a week on the hill because of this. 

A few days before the comp was scheduled to start, thankfully luck came our way.  The stability improved and we were left with powder snow and a blue sky window of 3 days.  This meant fingers crossed we could get our 3 days of competition over in this time, otherwise it looked like maybe we were not going to be able to complete all 3 days of riding.

The first day was going to be the Freeride Day.  This meant we could express freestyle skills on a mountain which was like a natural terrain park.  We had 45 minutes to check out our way down, shaping up hits with shovels to help go that bit bigger.

We had some amazing girls in the snowboard section,  Susan Mol(USA) was placed number 1 on the Freeride World Tour and MAria Kuzma(AUS) who ended up 5th.  I knew for the first day MAria was going to be my main competition.  She is such a good all-round rider who is like a cat.  I dont think I have ever seen her take a major fall, she always seems to land on her feet. 

Maria had a good run which put her into 1st place after day 1, I got 2nd, Susan 3rd.  I was happy with that as Maria seems to have her back three's on lock down over any size jump, and I played it safe with straight air grabs.

The atmosphere in the helicopter on day 2 was amazing.  We came around the corner and in front of us was what any extreme rider dreams about. Fresh snow on a mountain with endless lines and steepness to go with it.  We couldn't get out quick enough and start working out our line down.  You can look for hours from the bottom but once your up the top it is like looking at a new mountain.  Its so easy to get lost and end up where you dont want to be.

Once we got dropped at the top of this mountain I became really nervous.  I had forgotten everything I had seen from the bottom and here  I was dropping off a cornice into no idea.  Pretty much thats how it felt for me.  I got lost and took the wrong chute which was as wide as my snowboard and about 30 metres long and really steep.  There was so much sluff falling through it i didnt know if there were rocks at the bottom. Somehow i got through and made my way to the finish.  On my second run it was going really well.  I had managed to stick to my first line plan and dropped off a nice rock and was riding out towards the finish.  Then I took the best rag doll I have had for a few years.  3 months later im still paying for it with a sore back!!! Some how what was going to be my favourite day ended with me coming last!!! MAria 1st, Susan 2nd Rachel 3rd.

ON our final day it was going to show who had the fastest wax and didn't turn.  It was the VNC Chinese downhill.  All us girls lined up ready to charge.  WE knew Maria Had won the overall comp but it was now between Susan and me.  I was hoping for an equal 2nd overall with Susan.  Coming last on the Big MOuntain Day really put me back quiet a bit.  This meant i had to beat her to get equal 2nd.  I thought on the way down the hill towards the finish I had beaten her, and at the last moment just before the finish it seemed that we maybe had crossed together.  It was a while and a few VNC cocktails later when we found out that she had placed 2nd and I had placed third.  It didn't matter the sun was shining the comp had finished and the VNC was flowing nicely from the ice bar in the mountains.

The fun continued for the next week with riders going bungy jumping, sky diving, surfing and on winery tours.  Some were extra lucky and got some more heli skiing in.   A huge thanks goes to one guy who was able to bring this comp back to New Zealand after quiet a few years of it not being run.  "Harro" your the man that brought so many amazing memories to all of us riders and all of us can't thank you enough.

Tags: heli, snowboarding, competition