tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29233730335905809052024-03-13T03:41:58.103-07:00Sam Lee FreeskiingWake up and smell the mountains.Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-83213132978727122202014-07-18T17:06:00.000-07:002014-07-19T00:45:51.303-07:00The Quest For Buff Knees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Its been four months since I first injured my knee, and I have to say I'm still feeling really positive about everything.<br />
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Six weeks ago I had my ACL surgery which marked the end of the between surgeries "in limbo" stage and the start of the "get buff knees" stage.<br />
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Its much nicer being out the other side of surgeries. Even though I had lots of little week by week goals which kept me motivated, its still a total bummer being put right back to stage one hanging out on couches with crutches. Especially when you have just made it to the point of being able to walk around the house with a cup of tea and a bowl of cereal without slopping it over the edges.<br />
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Things are coming along really well with my rehab, I am starting to do more in the gym and I am swimming every second day. It is a great feeling now having the freedom to go out and do some proper physical training which makes me tired and sore. <br />
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I am expected to be riding my bike on the road sometime in the next 1 to 2 weeks, so until then I will be working hard on a stationary bike. Currently I do about 40 mins a day on the bike as well as a gym session and an exercise session at home. All up its about 2 to 3 hours a day. <br />
I am really looking forward to to getting back out on the road, that will be a very big milestone in my recovery.<br />
It will be a significant step towards having the freedom to be able to adventure on demand.<br />
Until then I have my little goals. <br />
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And the satisfaction of roaming the house with tea and cereal in hand.<br />
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Check out this mash up of all my best skiing in Europe this year.<br />
https://vimeo.com/100550269<br />
<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/100550269" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/100550269">Euro Mashup</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6399529">sam lee</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-72186540361927428682014-03-27T16:35:00.001-07:002014-03-28T22:10:15.939-07:00Nendaz 4* FWQ and Knee Injury<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks ago I competed in the qualification day for the Nendaz 4* in Switzerland.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I managed to qualify into the finals in 6th position with the score from my first run.Unfortunately I injured myself when I crashed badly in my second run. 28 people qualified for the final, so even with a DNS I still ended up 28th overall in the 4* comp out of a field of over 50.The second run was cancelled after my injury and another more serious heli to hospital straight after me. Conditions had become pretty bad.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I have since had an MRI and have talked to an Orthopaedic surgeon, unfortunately the results aren't so flash.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a ruptured ACL, and a bucket tear on my medial meniscus.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will need two surgeries, the first for the meniscus and the second for the ACL. The recovery time after the first operation will be 6 weeks, to make sure my knee is fully mobile and strong before going back to fix the ACL.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The recovery time after ACL is 6 months so all up it is looking like 7 and a half months until I'm back to normal activity and back on snow, which will be too late for NZ but pretty good timing for the northern winter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It will then be another 2 or 3 months after that before I am able to compete again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The plan is to take it day by day and focus on the smaller goals of regaining mobility and strength.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am pretty gutted, but it had to happen sooner or later!<br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Up until now I have never broken or cracked a bone, nor have I had any major ligament damage, so to be honest I think I've done pretty well to stay intact for so long!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although it is unfortunate to have an injury put me out of doing knee dependent activities for a while, my mind is fully set on rehab and recovery. I have had a bunch of good friends around me since the injury so I am in pretty good spirits. I figure the best thing to do is to stay positive.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will be back at it before you can say "oh hey its December already!"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's the important stuff summarised but for anyone who wants to hear the more in depth story of the comp continue reading below.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The format was 2 runs both count.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The face was split down the middle into two sides. We had to do our first run on the left side and our second on the right.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So effectively it was two runs count, same day, two different venues.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I skied my first run solid, opting for the two small drops one big drop approach, which I figured would place me quite high.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I stomped all of my airs and placed 6th after run one, although i didn't find that out until after the day was done.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I went into my second run with a similar approach, my run consisted of one small drop, skiing quickly and keeping my line simple until my one big feature at the end.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The line I skied was a double stage drop.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I dropped in at about 3.30, and as it turns out the ski tracks had frozen where people had skied the soft snow under the first stage of my double. When I landed the first stage something went wrong with my knee, it was a sort of grinding sensation. I knew something was wrong but from there I was too far into the double and going too fast to pull out of the second drop. I went off it less balanced and landed in a refrozen bomb hole from another skier.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew there would be bomb holes and was expecting a pretty heavy landing but I thought it would be softer than it was.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hadn't taken into account that the ski tracks could have frozen.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So basically I landed badly on an already compromised knee and rag-dolled twisting it knee further. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am really happy with my first run and am stoked on the way I am skiing at the moment. I have at least proved to myself that I am capable of qualifying top of the field in the four star events.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">After my results in the FWQ 4* events this season I will have entry into the 2015 Northern Hemisphere FWQ 4* comps.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I have something to aim for, something to be fit and strong for. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to NZ, Land of of the long misty mornings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise flying back to NZ</td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-78535244300498733692014-02-28T12:27:00.001-08:002014-03-03T00:49:25.339-08:00Andorra - El Dorado Freeride FWQ 4* Top 10 Finish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week I went on a really rad excursion down to the tiny Nation of Andorra to compete in the El Dorado Freeride 4* event. <br />
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The comp ran as a two day event with a qualifier day and a finals day.</div>
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I skied a solid smooth run on day one with a medium air at the top leading straight into a tight technical double and then finishing with a bigger cliff at the bottom.</div>
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I really enjoyed my run and was just stoked to have one finally finished clean with no major mistakes.</div>
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Only 9 of the male skiers went through to the finals day, and I was number 8!<br />
We got to ride up to the top of the venue in a heli for our runs, any time I get to fly in a heli is a huge highlight!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heli Time!!</td></tr>
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Standing at the top of the face I was feeling really good, I was totally confident and looking forward to skiing my line, it looked like a lot of fun.<br />
My line started out with a small air into a tight chute which joined onto a bigger chute leading into my first proper air.<br />
The tight chute went perfectly but I ran into a problem on exit.<br />
I didn't plan for the compression I would get due to the angle change at the bottom of the chute and when I tried to shut down and control my speed to set up for my cliff I collapsed onto my back and lost control.<br />
I was lucky I had the presence of mind to try and redirect myself away from the fall line both just before and during my roll otherwise I would have tomahawked off a substantial cliff. <br />
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My final result from the competition was 9th.<br />
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Overall a really positive experience. My confidence is high, my day one run was a good solid finish and getting to ride in a heli will make any day awesome!<br />
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Here is the link to the finals day highlights video - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=717005948332103&set=vb.218152354884134&type=2&theater">https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=717005948332103&set=vb.218152354884134&type=2&theater</a><br />
My crash is at 1:50 <br />
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Andorra is a tiny country in the Pyrenees alps on the boarder of France and Spain and the mountains there are sick!<br />
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I travelled there with fellow NZ big mountain competitor Michael Norrie.<br />
We drove down from Verbier through the France.<br />
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The drive down was pretty focused on getting from point A to B, but on the way back we had a little more time to spare so we went and got our tourist game on and took the long way home.<br />
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We ended up driving one of the more interesting routes home through a bunch of little old towns in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Along the way we had the opportunity to check out a couple of cool sights, an fortified town and castle ruins on a cliff top in southern France and the highest bridge in the world in Millau!<br />
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I am now back in Verbier preparing for my next competition which is a 4* at Nendaz, a resort that is part of the 4 valleys and is accessible by ski from Verbier its self.<br />
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Here is the link to another edit I made recently - <a href="https://vimeo.com/86785428">https://vimeo.com/86785428</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo - <a href="http://nilsjohansson.tumblr.com/post/78033340460/a-great-powder-day-in-our-beloved-verbier">Nils Johansson</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvESAeKnoDc/UxDQwr9TXvI/AAAAAAAABaE/unmZh6NsrjM/s1600/church+mountains.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvESAeKnoDc/UxDQwr9TXvI/AAAAAAAABaE/unmZh6NsrjM/s1600/church+mountains.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A church on a hill in Spain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Viaduct somewhere in Southern France</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pAUeCHFTh1Q/UxDoov7a7eI/AAAAAAAABa0/GNokCKTycZc/s1600/pastel+town+nook.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pAUeCHFTh1Q/UxDoov7a7eI/AAAAAAAABa0/GNokCKTycZc/s1600/pastel+town+nook.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern French Village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FE-r9aCeHNE/UxDjWDIc83I/AAAAAAAABak/pCgLwJ7pmVk/s1600/long+shot+castle.jpg" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Castle Ruins</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M-dnUAt2Twk/UxDsA-gpmnI/AAAAAAAABbA/E-Mh-5XmSKM/s1600/rock+wall+trees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M-dnUAt2Twk/UxDsA-gpmnI/AAAAAAAABbA/E-Mh-5XmSKM/s1600/rock+wall+trees.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omyITXOw_ks/UxDvam3aZ0I/AAAAAAAABbM/hUfiVtn19Tk/s1600/forest.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omyITXOw_ks/UxDvam3aZ0I/AAAAAAAABbM/hUfiVtn19Tk/s1600/forest.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was refreshing to be amongst some evergreens and warm weather in the south of France</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Courtyard </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool Bridge in Andorra</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Ruins Somewhere in the South of France</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself - Getting Upside Down</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joakim Sending a Backy </td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-4162142879411884022014-02-14T12:23:00.003-08:002014-02-15T00:50:42.532-08:00Hochfugen 4*<div class="im">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last weekend I competed in the Hochfugen 4* FWQ event in Austria.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The trip to Austria was amazing and being in Europe is turning out to be exactly as cool as I hoped it would. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The competition side hasn't worked quite how I imagined it would.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hochfugen didn't go too
well for me. I had everything planned out thoroughly and knew exactly
what I was doing but when I got to the top of the venue, unusually,
quite a bit of uncertainty crept in to my mind.
I had a very late start order and there were delays with half the field
crashing and by the time I was in the gate the organisers had closed
the zones I had planned to ride as they were fully ripped out. </span></span><br />
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<div class="im">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I managed to pick my self up a bit before setting off, but I still
wasn't 100%, I aired off a natural snow booter, landed flatter than
planned, side checked, crossed my skis and bailed.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">At that point I was to low for my next air so I skied out and made up
the rest as I went along. Funnily enough with so many others having a
bad day I still ended up 18th.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although the comp didn't go so well, It really reinforced in me the importance of mental prep before a comp. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lesson learnt is plan thoroughly and then from the moment
the hike up begins it can only be positive thoughts from there on out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The comp aside, being in Austria was awesome. The day after the comp
Ruari Macfarlane and myself had an awesome pow day slaying pillows in the
trees at Hochfugen, and that totally fixed all of my problems.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am now back in Verbier skiing as much as I can before heading down to Andorra <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1922008444" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">on Wednesday</span></span> for the El Dorado Freeride FWQ 4*.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innsbruck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NhlT3zIxPI/Uv5pIgnSIiI/AAAAAAAABT0/Tu2gr8Q7AAI/s1600/cold+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NhlT3zIxPI/Uv5pIgnSIiI/AAAAAAAABT0/Tu2gr8Q7AAI/s1600/cold+day.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching Trains to Austria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWEgIQ_JLNQ/Uv5pM5jPfrI/AAAAAAAABUE/c_1Ue9oDH9E/s1600/nuclear.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWEgIQ_JLNQ/Uv5pM5jPfrI/AAAAAAAABUE/c_1Ue9oDH9E/s1600/nuclear.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xWGsDs4SkCI/Uv5pMDEETzI/AAAAAAAABT8/GUdjXMZjEls/s1600/worker+waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xWGsDs4SkCI/Uv5pMDEETzI/AAAAAAAABT8/GUdjXMZjEls/s1600/worker+waiting.jpg" height="291" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching trains </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Across The Valley From Verbier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hochfugen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOrh7LImLJs/Uv5pjYDeMaI/AAAAAAAABUk/JmU6lGj6kDo/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOrh7LImLJs/Uv5pjYDeMaI/AAAAAAAABUk/JmU6lGj6kDo/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fugen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innsbruck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqJvDTM_Dts/Uv5puyLhEqI/AAAAAAAABU0/Z4NG7Qx0xQ8/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqJvDTM_Dts/Uv5puyLhEqI/AAAAAAAABU0/Z4NG7Qx0xQ8/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innsbruck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6CAlmc9FM0/Uv5p78S8H3I/AAAAAAAABVE/Bpfb3gyMwyk/s1600/over+innsbruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6CAlmc9FM0/Uv5p78S8H3I/AAAAAAAABVE/Bpfb3gyMwyk/s1600/over+innsbruck.jpg" height="351" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innsbruck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RLXtMLU9JpI/Uv5qB3NtdpI/AAAAAAAABVM/tTcSTug8Ggg/s1600/ruari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RLXtMLU9JpI/Uv5qB3NtdpI/AAAAAAAABVM/tTcSTug8Ggg/s1600/ruari.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remedy Pow Day @ Hochfugen With Ruari Macfarlane</td></tr>
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Subalpine Submarining @ Bruson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oIW83H9X034/Uv8ppNZaijI/AAAAAAAABWc/CZeCP7wMjUU/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oIW83H9X034/Uv8ppNZaijI/AAAAAAAABWc/CZeCP7wMjUU/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack loving the Subalpine-Submarining at Bruson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKaMnAE_KUQ/Uv5pX8XYOxI/AAAAAAAABUM/1SsUJgky-90/s1600/IMG_0477+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKaMnAE_KUQ/Uv5pX8XYOxI/AAAAAAAABUM/1SsUJgky-90/s1600/IMG_0477+2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up The Valley From Bruson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWKZII10Dw4/Uv5pny0WgYI/AAAAAAAABUs/w03XRGNpXHo/s1600/IMG_0793.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWKZII10Dw4/Uv5pny0WgYI/AAAAAAAABUs/w03XRGNpXHo/s1600/IMG_0793.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Axamer Lizum, Austria</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7XuiYdMJGMM/Uv5qGqJ7gSI/AAAAAAAABVU/k_zL7TuG4nA/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7XuiYdMJGMM/Uv5qGqJ7gSI/AAAAAAAABVU/k_zL7TuG4nA/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere between Innsbruck and Zurich</td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-50172932007216068462014-02-04T13:27:00.000-08:002014-02-13T00:29:21.031-08:00Heading To Hochfugen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have never really travelled by train before, let alone in Europe, so tomorrow is going to be a new experience.<br />
I'm heading up to Austria to compete at the Hochfugen 4* Big Mt Comp. <br />
It
will be my second stop so far this season. I've had a few sendy days
over the last couple weeks so I'm feeling much more confident than I was
before the first comp. Here's hoping I do a better job of it!<br />
The
competition will run on the 8th and is a one day one run format, which is a little less
stressful than the multi day stops. It can also encourage the all or
nothing, just send it attitude in some people, which can end up with
both spectacular runs and equally spectacular crashes. <br />
It will be my first ever European 4* comp, so I am really interested to see how I compare. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with the A-Star, work in progress</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field Testing the Icebreaker Long-Johns </td></tr>
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Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-9070843265721655932014-01-26T08:36:00.000-08:002014-01-28T23:39:59.447-08:00Verbier So Far<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This post is just a collection of photos from around Verbier </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skier - Jess Ounjian</td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-74506094242063616422014-01-19T13:26:00.004-08:002014-01-26T08:32:31.933-08:00Verbier 3*<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verbier</td></tr>
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So the comp ended up being a blow out.<br />
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Conditions were good, there was a bunch of new slightly heavy snow and I picked a fun line that I was sure I could nail.<br />
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The standard of skiing was reasonably high, although the venue was a hard one to pick anything mind blowing in. </div>
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I had a decent cliff right out the starting gate which I aired and
stomped perfectly. That was followed by a couple of fast pow turns.<br />
Things were going well until I got caught up in some heavier snow and did a forward roll. <br />
The lamest crash I have ever had in a comp.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Venue</td></tr>
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That all meant I was lower than I should have been coming into the tighter more technical mid section with two drops close together out the bottom. I was looking forward to skiing the rest of my line so I continued on. <br />
However I ended up creating more sluff than anticipated which meant
I aired off the first cliff of two slightly blind and way back seat.
That ended with me hot tubing on landing and taking a rock to the butt.<br />
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I was skiing on the Collective 105 and in hindsight I think I should have been on the Cyclic 115 due to the amount of snow. <br />
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Not the best start to the comp season.<br />
The positive was I got to ski some pretty damn nice pow!<br />
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Here is the link to a short pow edit from my first couple of days back on snow - <a href="https://vimeo.com/84524151">https://vimeo.com/84524151</a><br />
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Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-82251205434709526742014-01-16T12:41:00.003-08:002014-01-16T12:50:56.489-08:00Europe <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Chable</td></tr>
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<br />
This season I am changing things up a touch. <br />
Instead of following the American qualifier tour, like I have the last couple of years I have opted for the Euro comps instead. <br />
I am currently based in Verbier and will be travelling between Switzerland, Austria and Andorra to compete. The plan is to do four 4 star events and two 3 stars.<br />
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I have had 2 days skiing here so far and all I can say is this place is big and gnarly. <br />
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This trip has been a totally new experience for me so far. Its the first time I have ever been to Europe let alone a to a country that speaks a completely different language to my own. <br />
The language thing OK, It seems like you can mostly get by only knowing hello and thank you, as a lot of the time shop staff or customer service types can speak English well enough to get you sorted. However you gain mad brownie points if you approach them with poorly spoken French greetings off the bat. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day on snow - Bruson<br />
Photo - Charlie Lyons</td></tr>
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The terrain here is amazing, its the kind of place where almost everything you can see from the lift you can ski. <br />
However, it is totally up to you not to die. The majority of epic off piste terrain is not patrolled, I'm not exactly sure the reasons why but that seems to be the case. They bomb and ski cut anything that is likely to slide onto a groomed piste or into a building or lift station, but everything else is left to its own.<br />
This season the snow pack is screwed.<br />
Early season Hoar frost has meant that the super low layers are mighty unstable, so basically the avy danger is at considerable whether there is new snow or not. <br />
So on top of worrying about the stability of the snow that fell over night, you have to take into consideration that the snow underneath might also be unstable. <br />
To be honest, I feel slightly out of my depth. Generally speaking I can figure out how to deal with new snow stability (at least enough to get myself down) but the added old snow factor is something that I have not had to deal with before.<br />
The word of the winter seems to be play it safe. And that's what I plan to do.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scoping lines @ Mont Gele</td></tr>
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My first comp starts tomorrow, Its the 3* event that wraps up the Verbier Freeride week. <br />
This is another first for me as I have never competed in a comp in my first week of skiing for the season.<br />
As a result of that I'm more nervous than I usually would be coming up to a comp. Even still I'm reasonably confident Ill be able to put down something fun.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Venue</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-76287375115409598312013-12-02T11:02:00.000-08:002013-12-03T16:13:06.641-08:00Marmot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just Got My New Marmot Swag For 2014</td></tr>
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For the last 2 years my outerwear and glove sponsors have been SOS and Hestra through <a href="http://www.snowsport.com.au/">Snowsport </a>In Australia. <br />
They have helped me a whole lot in the time that we have been together, the gear they have supplied me has meant more of my own money can go directly towards travelling internationally to train and compete in the FWQ.<br />
Recently Snowsport have decided to change their outerwear supplier, so now seemed like an appropriate time to part ways.<br />
I wish them all the best with their new products.<br />
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Following on from that I will now be skiing for <a href="http://www.marmotnz.co.nz/">Marmot </a>through the NZ importers <a href="http://www.allsports.co.nz/">Allsports</a>.<br />
I am stoked to be working with Marmot, their gear is tech as heck and they stock some mighty nice colours!!<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And it fits in nicely with Snowcentre who are a Marmot reseller.</span></span><br />
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I just received my new Marmot kit and that has me way too excited about going skiing in Europe!<br />
Just a month and a half to go, and until then the gear is in the cupboard while I keep myself occupied with other wilderness adventures!<br />
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Oh and I also went to the Hooker Valley in Mt Cook National Park with my Mum on the way back from the North Island the other day. <br />
Here are some photos. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZa_8wy-WEo/UppVGS9OWDI/AAAAAAAABGc/bNp86CeEe5U/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZa_8wy-WEo/UppVGS9OWDI/AAAAAAAABGc/bNp86CeEe5U/s400/IMG_2456.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloud Proof</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_S0YfO5s_5o/UppW-EhHd_I/AAAAAAAABHI/yblxauORyCk/s1600/blue+ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_S0YfO5s_5o/UppW-EhHd_I/AAAAAAAABHI/yblxauORyCk/s640/blue+ice.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Sefton Hanging Glaciers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3SzXIeuzp4/UppWJpQOwaI/AAAAAAAABG4/PbNG7bEH_Ig/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3SzXIeuzp4/UppWJpQOwaI/AAAAAAAABG4/PbNG7bEH_Ig/s640/IMG_2444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySgiH5zylNg/Up0BQDXg0II/AAAAAAAABHo/H_yY9fSxBI4/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySgiH5zylNg/Up0BQDXg0II/AAAAAAAABHo/H_yY9fSxBI4/s400/IMG_2502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker Glacier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker Glacier Lake Ice</td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-36240861780769583542013-10-30T13:32:00.001-07:002013-11-01T19:47:21.595-07:00The Girdlestone, Turoa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2ODKTmM7iw/UnRmuso-2eI/AAAAAAAABE0/bb1mTcjbk6Y/s1600/17950_2898_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2ODKTmM7iw/UnRmuso-2eI/AAAAAAAABE0/bb1mTcjbk6Y/s320/17950_2898_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />For as long as I can remember I've wanted to ski the Girdlestone.<br />
Last week I finally had the chance. <br />
Its not like its a particularly out of the way climb, or even a particularly difficult decent for that matter, I've just never had anyone to do it with, nor have I had the gear. So until now, its just sat there looking at me.<br />
<br />
The mission came about whilst chatting to Cam McKay about various other ski adventures. The forecast was banger and he said he had some spare gear, so that was that. <br />
<br />
<br />
The hike up called for a bit of extra kit, although it wasn't straight ice, the rime was enough to make you lose your footing in plastic soled ski boots. <br />
So we donned our crampons and had at it. <br />
<br />
The going was safe until the last leg of the hike when, as we had anticipated the heat of the afternoon was causing ice to release and fall down from the rock walls above us.<br />
<br />
For the last section of the climb swapped ski poles for our axes and swiftly scuttled up under the rocks to the safety of the high lookers left saddle (I don't know the name).<br />
<br />
We decided it was too sketchy to continue right to the summit with the amount of ice falling, as the last section is basically fully rimed rocks.<br />
So we took a moment to take in the view, clicked in and dropped in from the saddle.<br />
<br />
Although the snow was pretty difficult for the first few turns, it eased quickly and I was able to open it up a bit and enjoy the run. <br />
<br />
Its nothing compared to what real mountaineers tackle, but for me it was a great intro into climbing with axe and crampons, as well as observing first hand how the rise and fall of the temperature can affect the snow and ice around you.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/78202382">Girdlestone vid</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking off the back of the Girdlestone</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOnldwVItXc/UnRmz0aGX0I/AAAAAAAABFA/0sqkXupdICc/s1600/IMG_0970.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOnldwVItXc/UnRmz0aGX0I/AAAAAAAABFA/0sqkXupdICc/s320/IMG_0970.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards the Turoa summit from the saddle</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7Tf-ZbHLwQ/UnRm64q5FyI/AAAAAAAABFQ/l2zN1gKiM5k/s1600/IMG_0965.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7Tf-ZbHLwQ/UnRm64q5FyI/AAAAAAAABFQ/l2zN1gKiM5k/s320/IMG_0965.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cam with Turoa behind</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5JZ5bdwe-M/UnRm5yj88lI/AAAAAAAABFM/nqRagncxrMg/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5JZ5bdwe-M/UnRm5yj88lI/AAAAAAAABFM/nqRagncxrMg/s320/IMG_0967.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girdlestone summit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to drop in</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-17909631006863603642013-09-18T01:54:00.002-07:002013-09-18T01:55:13.457-07:00Chill Fail VideoBy far the best bits from the Chill comps this year.<br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/74796423#signin">http://vimeo.com/74796423#signin</a>Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-1756645336389012242013-09-08T20:11:00.001-07:002013-09-10T23:01:21.385-07:00NZ OpenThis year the open got gnarly.<br />
<br />
The comp was held in the Alta Chutes at the Remarkables, as it has been for the last few years.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQOevJBynVQ/Ui07CZFY-NI/AAAAAAAABC4/bcRszlafuGw/s1600/1175067_10153192340680650_424695395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQOevJBynVQ/Ui07CZFY-NI/AAAAAAAABC4/bcRszlafuGw/s640/1175067_10153192340680650_424695395_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alta Chutes</td></tr>
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<br />
The venue had a fresh 10 to 15 cm of snow all over, which meant most of the lines on the main part of the venue were on.<br />
<br />
For what ever reason people were feeling extra huckable this year.<br />
I guess it would have to be a combination of fresh snow and the new freestyle movement within big mountain.<br />
<br />
Although it always spices things up when you get the big dogs like Charlie lyons and Sam Smoothy over to play.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erdWs-O9kYo/Ui06yfN6drI/AAAAAAAABCw/1wgPU2R-iFM/s1600/P9050114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erdWs-O9kYo/Ui06yfN6drI/AAAAAAAABCw/1wgPU2R-iFM/s640/P9050114.jpg" width="491" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: <a href="http://www.peteoswald.co.nz/2013/09/06/nz-open-big-mountain-finals-day/">Pete Oswald</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Most of the competitors were throwing either big tricks or big cliffs, often attempting both together.<br />
On the outside that sounds awesome, but when you look at the crash rate you have to wonder what happened.<br />
<br />
Something like 16 out of 22 crashed, I guess people were just pushing their limits.<br />
<br />
You only need to listen to Cam Craigheads commentary in the official comp edit below to understand what I mean:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/73919347"><b><span style="font-size: large;">NZ Open Big Mountain Finals Video</span></b></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XdPVg9U-izA/Ui6y1-QGRdI/AAAAAAAABDk/rTIOMh9LPUo/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XdPVg9U-izA/Ui6y1-QGRdI/AAAAAAAABDk/rTIOMh9LPUo/s640/image+(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Neil Kerr</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I tend to think I ski very safe in comparison to a lot of other skiers and even I got carried away in this specific comp.<br />
<br />
I dropped the biggest cliff I ever have in a competition right into a chute which looking back on it had a fair amount of risk involved, but I was confident I could nail it.<br />
And I did.<br />
<br />
Although I stomped my line and finished my run, I took both knees to the face of the big cliff.<br />
The impact made my vision green for a minute or so and although I don't believe I concussed myself I was pretty out of it for most of the afternoon.<br />
<br />
I feel like a got lucky there.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu6JVyE775A/UjAGH5Q4LII/AAAAAAAABEE/jW6HX3Moxcs/s1600/1236532_10151824121735042_863778291_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu6JVyE775A/UjAGH5Q4LII/AAAAAAAABEE/jW6HX3Moxcs/s1600/1236532_10151824121735042_863778291_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Charlotte Percle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
My run awarded me 3rd spot with a score of 8.55 just below Sam Smoothys 8.95.<br />
<br />
Greg Tuscher took out the mens division with a mad dog gnarly run and a score of 9.55!<br />
A pleasure to watch.<br />
<br />
I feel like I am constantly achieving the goals I set for myself.<br />
<br />
Although tricks are becoming a bigger part of the sport, It still seems that good ol fashion big mountain lines can get you on a podium.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iHMgaRfat-A/Ui6zCl909oI/AAAAAAAABDs/_UUJ3qX2w4c/s1600/image+(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iHMgaRfat-A/Ui6zCl909oI/AAAAAAAABDs/_UUJ3qX2w4c/s640/image+(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Neil Kerr</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3II4rHQR5-o/Ui6zCv-hkTI/AAAAAAAABDw/UO8gSyeEUco/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3II4rHQR5-o/Ui6zCv-hkTI/AAAAAAAABDw/UO8gSyeEUco/s640/image.jpeg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Neil Kerr</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdA5oC8EpuI/Ui07XLP4CSI/AAAAAAAABDA/xyFT45eX2d0/s1600/Screen-shot-2013-09-05-at-3.56.42-PM1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdA5oC8EpuI/Ui07XLP4CSI/AAAAAAAABDA/xyFT45eX2d0/s1600/Screen-shot-2013-09-05-at-3.56.42-PM1.png" /></a></div>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-79833633561135574412013-09-02T18:52:00.000-07:002013-09-08T20:21:29.136-07:00Temple Basin Big Mountain<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7DVdZYqmAM/UiU7u9synQI/AAAAAAAABCU/XQkXm-0Xyes/s1600/ACT_4181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7DVdZYqmAM/UiU7u9synQI/AAAAAAAABCU/XQkXm-0Xyes/s1600/ACT_4181.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Cred: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markbridgwater.co.nz%2Fphoto%2Fgallery-category%2Faction&h=8AQE6yhbd">Mark Bridgwater</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The second competition of the Chill Series was held at Temple Basin, in Arthurs pass.<br />
<br />
This trip was my first time skiing at Temple Basin and I can honestly say my mind melted.<br />
<br />
The terrain surrounding the lift access is some of the most epic I have seen, anywhere.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day one of competition started slow.<br />
Due to and unstable and extremely difficult to ski snow pack, the venue was moved from the planned<br />
location not long before we were due to start.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fyTsEOfKPMo/UiU7sjkfdRI/AAAAAAAABCE/9vQdOI0vRkU/s1600/20130930_AceMedia_BDBigMtnD1_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fyTsEOfKPMo/UiU7sjkfdRI/AAAAAAAABCE/9vQdOI0vRkU/s400/20130930_AceMedia_BDBigMtnD1_13.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Cred: Ace Media</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The day one venue ended up being pretty limited, so I found It hard to pick a line that I was really excited to ski.<br />
Although the bottom section was an on course inspection the top was visual only.<br />
I scoped two lines which I realised were impossible by the time I was at the top.<br />
I had to improvise and pick a new line from the top, so my run was not quite as exciting as I had hoped it to be.<br />
<br />
Even still skied it solid and fast and was placed 4th at the end of the day.<br />
<br />
Day two was held on the same venue and I managed to pick a better bigger line that I was more interested in skiing.<br />
<br />
Everything went to plan, I skied fast without hesitation and I stomped all my airs clean.<br />
I won the day and that put me into 1st place overall, my first Chill Series win!<br />
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Official comp video from Chill:<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/73722962#at=0">https://vimeo.com/73722962#at=0</a><br />
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<br />
Results at the bottom of the page.<br />
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Excerpt from <a href="http://www.chillout.co.nz/black-diamond-big-mountain-chill-series-2013-temple-basin-day2/">day 2 write up</a> up on Chill:<br />
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<i><b>The men’s div saw no shortage of amazing skiing and huge airs, some a little more successful than others. Stand out runs on the day go to Sam Lee, Nick Pascoe and Jamesa Hampton who all sent solid airs with bomber landings!</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Cam McDermid continued his good form and was once again back on the CHILL Series podium. Jeremy hunt had another solid run but Sam ‘Ibex’ Lee crushed it and took out top spot on the podium, much to the crowd’s delight.</b></i></div>
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I think it is important to thank Stu and <a href="http://www.chillout.co.nz/">Chill</a> for running these comps and giving the Kiwi Big mountain community somewhere to test our skills.<br />
Without them NZ big mountain skiing might not have reached the impressive standard it is at now.<br />
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Good job guys!<br />
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-78840416534091783342013-08-31T22:21:00.002-07:002013-08-31T22:49:26.218-07:00Cragieburn Chill Series 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Mmy7YdAN0I/UiLObcJlPhI/AAAAAAAABBY/oeOrRU68oB8/s1600/K2BigMtn-Day-1-25-23.08.2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Mmy7YdAN0I/UiLObcJlPhI/AAAAAAAABBY/oeOrRU68oB8/s1600/K2BigMtn-Day-1-25-23.08.2013.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Chill Series was held as a 2 day comp at Craigieburn this year which is a change from previous years, as the comp has traditionally been run over 4 days switching venues between Craigieburn and Mt Olympus.<br />
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I think the change is good, as it allows people to compete at both the Chill Series and the Temple Basin Big Mountain<br />
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Day one at Craigieburn went really well for me.<br />
I was able to pick a line that I had wanted to ski since first competing in the Chill series a few years ago.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqUyM1Xa0Ys/UiLOb6h0O5I/AAAAAAAABBg/JqLnnYJWaoA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqUyM1Xa0Ys/UiLOb6h0O5I/AAAAAAAABBg/JqLnnYJWaoA/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></div>
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I managed to ski it fast and fluid and stomped all of my airs, that put me into first place at the end of the first day.<br />
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Coming into day two I decided I would ski the same top section and change up my final air to a slightly easier drop.<br />
<br />
As it turned out I was too low after the first part of my line and had to change back to my air from day one.<br />
I took the drop on a slightly different angle which bucked me back seat on take off and I was unable to hold on to the resulting back slap on landing.<br />
Although I crashed and rolled once my skis stayed on and I managed to recover and ski out switch, which meant I still got a score for the day, albeit a very low one.<br />
<br />
I finished Craigieburn in 10th over all.<br />
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Even though I crashed on day two I am extremely happy with the way I skied up until that point.<br />
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Here are the official results from Chill HQ:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6AWAEqgWsQ/UiLVOxkIksI/AAAAAAAABB0/GPBdNeNZ68E/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6AWAEqgWsQ/UiLVOxkIksI/AAAAAAAABB0/GPBdNeNZ68E/s1600/image001.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
The official Comp Edit:<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/73253415">https://vimeo.com/73253415</a><br />
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Excerpt from the official Chill site:<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><i><b>"Day 1 Craigieburn Chill site report:</b></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><i><b>In the male field there were 29 competitors from nine nations. First place went to Sam Lee from New Zealand, second to Jason Waters from the US, and third was local skier Tom Brownlee. “Sam Lee stomped his run today, skiing an innovative line. From the top section there was a steep drop in exposed terrain, and Sam showed he has lifted his skiing to a new level. He took a double drop in the last section to finish his run in style. He was a deserving winner,” commented Charlie Lyons, event judge and FWT athlete.</b></i></span></div>
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<i><b>Day 2 Craigieburn Chill site report.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Another action filled day was a fitting end to the 2013 K2 Big Mountain CHILL Series. Fortunately the weather played ball and the competitors stepped up. With a two run competition (both runs counting) you could forgive the athletes for playing it safe today but they threw caution to the wind and went for it today. There were no shortage of big lines and huge airs, not to mention more tricks than a magic shop.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Overnight leader in the men’s division Sam Lee took a go big or go home attitude and looked to have it in the bag until coming unstuck on the bottom of the course, backslapping on a double drop and washing out."</b></i></div>
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Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-68106844149717321852013-08-19T03:17:00.004-07:002013-09-03T16:36:19.333-07:00The Season So FarThis season has been an interesting one.<br />
<br />
With the epic snow falls in the first week I figured we could be up for a pretty fly winter.<br />
Turns out we have had a lot of fog and ice.<br />
<br />
However all is good.<br />
I've had a lot more work than usual up Cardrona this year, which means more cash but less skiing.<br />
<br />
I don't feel like I have had a lot of good big mt skiing this season, although the days I have had have been great.<br />
<br />
Now that the snow is soft and with the Chill series coming up this week I've been trying to get in as much riding in as I can.<br />
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<br />
Below is a short edit of the only footage I've taken this season.<br />
It's not much but she'll have to do for now!<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/72786447">https://vimeo.com/72786447</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzLQsC8ddylKG-IKOAotDOuyK87bc47tN35Y5dHunPPNifQPSXTxUfPNgx_pXWi9bi6cktI_FuZL_DU7Zx2uA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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I'm heading up to Canterbury on Wednesday to compete at Craigieburn and Temple Basin.<br />
Following right after is the NZ open and then the Whakapapa Extremes to wrap up the comp season.<br />
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I'm getting pretty excited for the comps to start, hoping for a little more snow before then!
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Here is a snow blade edit from our TC closing day rehearsal, rehearsal.<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/72583089">https://vimeo.com/72583089</a><br />
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Here are a few photos from the Alta Chutes at Remarkables the other day.<br />
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Photos by Pete Oswald<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/72583089"></a><br />
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Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-53370038608088871502013-05-16T19:01:00.000-07:002013-05-16T19:01:04.168-07:00crested butte and back to nzThe last comp of my season in America was at Crested Butte.<br />
I went into CB feeling really confident in my skiing, and ready to send it.<br />At first glance the venue for day one was looking rather uninspiring, but after spending a while picking through the options in inspection, I settled on a line I liked.<br />I skied really clean and moved through to the final day in 6th position, along with a nomination for sick bird (which Neil Williman won!).<br /><br />
I went into the finals feeling mighty confident in my skiing.<br />I picked a relatively unique line that I could tell I was going to really enjoy.<br />
The snow on the finals venue was pretty thin and firm for us, but I can tell it would be off the chain with a little more soft stuff!<br />
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My finals run didn't go quite as smoothly as I had hoped.<br />I made my way down to my first feature, a side hill drop into the main chute.<br />As I popped off the lip of my drop the snow collapsed a bit under my feet, which knocked me forward and put me in a bad position to land.<br />I landed on my feet and put down a hand, almost hip checking and got pointed up hill.<br />Although it took me a while to get back on track and sort my self out, I never actually fell and managed to ski the rest of my line as planned, finishing the comp in 12th overall.<br /><br />
A result I am happy with, all things considered.<br />
<br />
Neil Williman deserves a big shout out for his efforts.<br />He put in a solid effort and sent it on day 2 and finished up in second place, aaand he won the title of Sick Bird.<br />Sick Bird is the award given to the person who sent and stomped the biggest, gnarliest drop/line out of anyone in the comp, they give out one sick bird belt buckle at each of the Subaru Freeski Stops in the USA, and as far as Im aware Neil is only the 2nd Kiwi (following Janina Kuzma) to earn that title.<br />
His result at CB also guaranteed him a spot back on the WORLD TOUR necxt year.<br />So congrats Neil!<br />Your a badass!<br />
<br />Crested Butte has probably got the best, most easily accessed in bounds pillow skiing I have ever come across.<br />Massive steep lines with stacks 5 to 10 high, possibly more, closing out into some pretty gnarly trees.<br />
All accessed by a simple traverse off the T bar.<br />The snow was a little unforgiving for pillow skiing while I was there, so I didnt get a chance to immerse myself in the pillowy madness, its definitely a spot id like to return to with some pow!<br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-57296720384173835882013-03-22T15:41:00.002-07:002013-03-22T22:35:39.410-07:00Moonlight BasinI finished up at the Moonlight Basin 4* a few days ago.<br />
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The venue at Moonlight is awesome, its the steepest, sharkiest venue I've competed on and my favourite stop so far.<br />
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The format for Moonlight was 2 day cumulative score with a cut after the first day. </div>
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My line on day one was good, but I skied the bottom half of it pretty loose, even still I finished on my feet and moved through to day 2 in 9th place. </div>
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Day 2 didn't go so well, I stuffed up the run in to my first cliff and went off slighty on the wrong angle with not enough speed, clipped sharks in the landing and crashed out.</div>
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<div>
Its a bummer not to have finished my run, but I learned a lot.<br />
Mainly that I am able to self arrest quickly at the top of a really steep venue after a messy crash.<br /><br />Since Castle mountain I discovered the best technique for dealing with the disappointment of falling or messing up in a comp.<br />
<br />Go be a dick head on either Snow Blades or a Mono Ski.<br /><br />This tactic is guaranteed to fix all bad feelings.<br /><br />
I know this for sure because I have now tested it two times in a row.<br />And both times it has succeeded.<br />
<br />
After Blading at Castle mountain, it was time to try something more ambitious,<br />So I strapped on a mono, and I skied the mountain.<br /><br />Initially its scary as hell. but when you work out its all in the hips, the pole plant and the short turns, your day goes from pretty ait, to cosmically radular!<br />
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I also learned that a 360 on a mono, is a very very hard maneuver.<br /></div>
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I've
got a break between comps now, so I'm hanging in Colorado for a week
before heading up to the Crested Butte 4* for the final comp of my
season. </div>
<br />
Here are my last two edits.<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/62012520">Alta Peow Peow</a><br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/61063730">Jackson Hole Aye?</a><br />
<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-69981272191149017272013-03-22T15:38:00.001-07:002013-03-22T15:38:39.065-07:00Castle Mountain<br />
Castle Mountain was the second of my comp stops this year.<br />It was a 3* FWQ in Alberta, Canada.<br />I crashed in the run out of top air, due to not planning my run out well enough, and didn't get past day one.<br /><br />That made time for some fun on day two.<br />I managed to score some Snow Blades for a day, and as you can imagine..<br />
Shit got wild. <br />
<br />3 Bladers, one mono skier, front flips, coloradoing and getting told to chop down our jump by the Man were but a small portion of the days events.<br />
<br />
One of these days there will be a blade edit.<br />
<br />
But for now, I suggest you watch this 30 second video of Ian Borgeson and myself riding the Fernie skate park:<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/62228073">BC Park Blading</a><br />
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After that day I realised we need to grow the sport of Snow Blading in New Zealand.<br />Im going to get hold of some blades before the season.<br />You should too, then we can get stupid this winter!!<br /><br />
Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-47757983349165605252013-03-04T16:11:00.001-08:002013-03-05T15:42:43.666-08:00First Comp Of The Season<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hey!! here is a link!</span></div>
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Its an edit I just finished full of the skiing I did at Jackson Hole!</div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/61063730">Jackson Hole Aye?</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">---Taos Extreme---</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEq_GCDwh2c/UTU1a37yb0I/AAAAAAAAAM0/kKheqxZ-nAA/s1600/IMG_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEq_GCDwh2c/UTU1a37yb0I/AAAAAAAAAM0/kKheqxZ-nAA/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I just finished up at the Taos extreme in New Mexico, the first 4* FWQ comp of the US season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There were 3 days of competition and the scores from each day were combined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On top of that the bottom 3rd or so of the field was cut after each day, that made consistency a high priority.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">6 weeks ago I knocked myself out and had to spend a night in hospital, so the plan for this comp was to ski within my limits and land all runs on my feet, so the chance of another head knock would be minimal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I managed to stick to the plan and I finished up in 7th over all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A result im really happy with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I cant think of a better way to get warmed up for the comp season than to go straight into a 3 day comp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now that I know how I stack up against the locals Ill be looking to push it harder in the coming stops, the next one being Castle Mountain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am currently sitting in Calgary airport, killing time. 5 hours and ill be on a bus to pincher creek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stayed in the little town of Aroyo Secco which is about 15 mins away from Taos Valley Ski Area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hostel I stayed in was the Abdominal Snowmanison. I like the name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below are some photos of the town in all its adobe goodness.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Snowmansion</td></tr>
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Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-24279801058718766602013-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:002013-02-20T08:06:51.443-08:00Jackson Hole<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKmaC_bIOP4/USEfW7C-EuI/AAAAAAAAAL8/zHQUwXbEnPk/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKmaC_bIOP4/USEfW7C-EuI/AAAAAAAAAL8/zHQUwXbEnPk/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out from Casper bowl</td></tr>
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Ive been hanging out in Jackson Hole with the kiwi crew for about a month now.<br />
The 6 of us have been living together in an apartment half way between the resort and the town of Jackson.<br />
Its been pretty close in here, but the livings been good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_GOBYNmzu4/USEfTa53ZiI/AAAAAAAAAL0/RkA9GN-7Sow/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_GOBYNmzu4/USEfTa53ZiI/AAAAAAAAAL0/RkA9GN-7Sow/s320/IMG_0149.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of Jackson Hole Side Country</td></tr>
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The snow quality has been mostly good, with a few dry spells in between the storms.<br />
We have spent a lot of our time boot packing out of bounds, looking for any left over snow that we can find.<br />
The Jackson Hole side country is a well travelled place.<br />
I was really surprised at the amount of people hiking and skiing out of bounds on a regular basis.<br />
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The terrain at Jackson is amazing, and not a lot changes between the in bounds and out of bounds stuff.<br />
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Its a lot of fun skiing side country, the effort you put in to find good zones really enhances the following ski down.<br />
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Our crew is slowly disbanding and heading home.<br />
And in a few days ill be the only one left, on my way down to Taos New Mexico, to compete in the 4* FWQ competition there.<br />
And then its pretty much back to back comps at Castle Mountain 3*, Moonlight Basin 4* and Crested Butte 4*.<br />
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Im feeling pretty good on my skis at the moment, although I had a long time off snow recovering from a bad knock out earlier on in the trip, and a close call recently has had me skiing a little more cautiously over the last few days.<br />
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Im looking forward to Taos, the opener of the comp season, and a personal test.<br />
The plan is to land on my feet this year.<br />
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Lets see if I can!<br />
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Here is an edit of our crew ripping in the pow:<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/58913481">https://vimeo.com/58913481</a><br />
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A Pow edit from Revelstoke:<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/58153680">https://vimeo.com/58153680</a><br />
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On a side note, Scott palmer and I did a hike in paddle out adventure SUP in the Matukituki valley up towards Kitchener flat just before I left NZ.<br />Here is the edit I made of that trip:<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/57462741">https://vimeo.com/57462741</a><br />
There is more info in the video description.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gytm_k9aHL8/USEfHH5qPwI/AAAAAAAAALs/nmok1xZxD3A/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gytm_k9aHL8/USEfHH5qPwI/AAAAAAAAALs/nmok1xZxD3A/s640/IMG_0148.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw a Moose. </td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-49954949598066587572013-01-22T14:25:00.002-08:002013-01-23T11:07:25.649-08:00Brain Damage on Brain Damage<br />
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My first day on snow at Jackson hole was awesome fun.<br />
Me and Blake spent all morning hunting around for 3 day old unspoiled pow.<br />
We managed to find some sweet zones that no one had been in, and got a bit of the good stuff to our selfs.<br />
Unfortunately for me, my day ended at 2.30.<br />
We had been skiing lines through a single specific zone for the past 3 runs, and after a couple of successes and one fail I decided I wanted to drop the big one.<br />
It was about 20 maybe 30 ft to a pretty flat, but mighty deep landing.<br />
I stood on it for a few minutes deciding how I was going to send it.</div>
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Then I woke up in hospital.<br />
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The story goes that I dropped my line, and on stomping the landing proceeded to take either a my pole or my knee to my chin, which knocked me out cold.<br />
I was out for about 3 minutes before coming to.<br />
From what Im told it was a bit of a mission dragging my concussed self out of there. Sounds like I owe the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol a box of beer for their efforts, which Ill add are greatly appreciated.<br />
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Blake says I got to ride in both a blood bin and and ambulance.<br />
But I dont remember anything until about 6 that night.<br />
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All is good though, my scans came out clear of any bleeding or swelling, but I must say I feel slightly less smarter than before.</div>
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So anyway. Ive been off snow for the last few days, waiting for my brain to sort its shit out.<br />
Hoping to get back on snow soon.<br />
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Oh and you want to know what the best part is?<br />
The cliff I knocked myself out on was called<br />
BRAIN DAMAGE.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brain Damage on Brain Damage</td></tr>
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Go figure eh.</div>
Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-57326659063855641482013-01-22T14:25:00.000-08:002013-01-23T11:07:35.419-08:00Revy to Jackson<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-0MNJkdCPE/UQAy39q3MYI/AAAAAAAAAKw/i26bi4MBZ0w/s1600/Revy+to+jackson+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-0MNJkdCPE/UQAy39q3MYI/AAAAAAAAAKw/i26bi4MBZ0w/s640/Revy+to+jackson+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revelstoke to Jackson Hole</td></tr>
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<br />
Ive been in the great continent of North America for a couple of weeks now.<br />
I arrived in Revelstoke about 2 weeks ago, straight into the middle of a storm which supplied us with deep BC pow by the cloud load.<br />
Its a double edged sword skiing pow from day 1.<br />
Having tones of fresh is the ultimate dream, and as any kiwi knows, POW is more valuable than gold.<br />
So if its there you have no choice but to ski the hell out of it from 1st to last chair.<br />
The flip side of that is that skiing pow is hard work, so you spend the next 4 days painfully trying to your ski legs back, against the best efforts of that old bastard lactic acid.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7_5StACixXs/UQAy5YkScnI/AAAAAAAAAK8/n3bpalokpp4/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7_5StACixXs/UQAy5YkScnI/AAAAAAAAAK8/n3bpalokpp4/s400/image_2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodgers Pass, I think.</td></tr>
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A few days of awesome snow at Revy paved the way for the first stop of the Freeride World Tour.<br />
Blake Lepper and myself spent the day on the spectators ridge opposite the Mac daddy face where the comp was being held.<br />
We took up the role of support team for the southern contingent.<br />
It was a great day, I learned a lot from watching the comp live, Ive gotta say its given me a big boost of inspiration.<br />
It was great to see Charlie Lyons and Sam Smoothy put down some really solid runs, especially Charlie who, in his first ever FWT stop, managed to score a 5th.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunnels in Canada</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CGVaqNMpg4/UQAy5MCQlRI/AAAAAAAAAK4/OjkOsOLrdb0/s1600/image(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CGVaqNMpg4/UQAy5MCQlRI/AAAAAAAAAK4/OjkOsOLrdb0/s320/image(1).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frost inside the car</td></tr>
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After the comp I hit the road to Jackson Hole with Nat Segal and Blake Lepper.<br />
We were able to stop off at Kicking Horse.<br />
I gotta say, that mountain is one of the most interesting I have come across.<br />
The terrain there is great, so many pillows, cliffs and chutes, all falling away from steep easy access ridge lines. I can see myself growing to love that mountain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QO6Ez3GI58w/UQAy2wEjm1I/AAAAAAAAAKo/XIfl41Jf8Q4/s1600/1photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QO6Ez3GI58w/UQAy2wEjm1I/AAAAAAAAAKo/XIfl41Jf8Q4/s320/1photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairway To Heaven @ Kicking Horse</td></tr>
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16 hours (roughly) later and we made it to Jackson.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3XXWA7E_Xw/UQAy7Zx4OoI/AAAAAAAAALU/N2cyn4glP3c/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3XXWA7E_Xw/UQAy7Zx4OoI/AAAAAAAAALU/N2cyn4glP3c/s320/image_3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta Get Gas</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oRBAOcax7oI/UQAy7BLN7zI/AAAAAAAAALQ/ZzqnnbORj8g/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oRBAOcax7oI/UQAy7BLN7zI/AAAAAAAAALQ/ZzqnnbORj8g/s320/image_4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Tomnus (Tom Brownlee) In our backpacker pad @ Jackson Hole</td></tr>
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<br />Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-32450244068887231002013-01-06T20:18:00.001-08:002013-01-07T17:41:47.010-08:00Airtripping Wow.<br />
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January 6th came very fast indeed.<br />
I got up and went for a run, to get a lil bit o last minute Sunday shine.<br />
Then it was back inside to finish up the packing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx9Bz-c5kcM/UOomvIV4QEI/AAAAAAAAAKE/HL5a3Br-dks/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx9Bz-c5kcM/UOomvIV4QEI/AAAAAAAAAKE/HL5a3Br-dks/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<div>
I jumped on a plane in Queenstown at 12 on Sunday.<br />
Blue bird skies meant I got to see the alps in full summer snow.<br />
That almost an oxymoron right?<br />
It was probably 30c on sat, so don't ask me why there is still snow in the mountains.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HD2nzjNH40o/UOomluYUZZI/AAAAAAAAAJs/MD9CIdL3Vhs/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HD2nzjNH40o/UOomluYUZZI/AAAAAAAAAJs/MD9CIdL3Vhs/s640/image+(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Alps getting the best of both worlds</td></tr>
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It was a bit of a tease seeing that out my window.<br />
Im currently in Vancouver where its raining.<br />
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But thats ok.<br />
<br />
Cos someone told me its snowing in Revelstoke, and thats getting me a little bit excited.<br />
Thats where Im heading tomorrow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hl6Fau1rVrs/UOomoZf6JpI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ZdjNcEDqZiE/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hl6Fau1rVrs/UOomoZf6JpI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ZdjNcEDqZiE/s400/image.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woo! Winter!</td></tr>
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On my way through Auckland airport I had to stop off and grab an extra thing.<br />
<br />
A swish new jacket from SOS!!<br />
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Thanks fellows.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ejkbzQQte4/UOompSI2rxI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/LfHST6o5FL0/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ejkbzQQte4/UOompSI2rxI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/LfHST6o5FL0/s400/photo+(1).JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<br />
Ive also got this short video of packing...<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/56885811">Packing</a><br />
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Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-62531944351895913972012-10-12T13:46:00.001-07:002012-10-12T13:48:24.811-07:00Competititition<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-O22q9GqjA/UHd3696mUfI/AAAAAAAAAHc/Q8BNtYI779E/s320/Sam-Lee-Sluffing-it-up-e1345716679988.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Chill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The
last 4 weeks have been pretty epic for me. It was the peak comp season
with four Freeride World Qualifier(FWQ) events of which I did three.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">A whole bunch of travelling and competing, and a few awesome days skiing has made for a pretty top month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I started out with the Chill Series big mountain up in Canterbury, a 2 star event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This year the comp ran as a 4 day, 2 venue, 3 best places count format.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So it sort of ended up being a bit of an endurance comp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The
standard of skiing was really high this year, with a good bunch of
Euros competing and a handful of the Kiwi kids throwing down mad stunts
(Charlie Lyons
cork 3 eat your heart out).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I
had 3 solid days with two 4ths and a 2nd, which put me into 2nd place
overall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">A good way to start the season!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Here are the official edits from Chill:
<a href="https://vimeo.com/48408377" target="_blank">Mt Olympus Day 1 and 2</a> and <a href="https://vimeo.com/48730110" target="_blank">
Craigieburn Day 1 and 2</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">After a mind blowing drive home down the West Coast, it was time for the NZ Open big mountain, a 3 star event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I
was pre qualified into the finals day, which took a bit of stress out
of the comp seeing as I only needed to throw down on one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The finals was meant to be a 2 run, but due to the weather it was capped at 1 run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I
managed to put together a fast clean run with a few nuggets and one big
drop and earned myself 4th place, with only .03 points between me and
Charlie Lyons
(3rd).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">A result I am stoked with!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I competed on a pair of 190cm Head Bonecrushers, good for going fast and dropping big rocks! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The official edit from The Open:
<a href="https://vimeo.com/49131024" target="_blank">NZ Open Finals</a> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Malcolm Pullman</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Another
epic mission later and I’m in National Park, waiting for the clouds to
clear for the Ruapehu Xtremes at Whakapapa, another 3 star.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">After days of waiting for the weather to roll out, we finally got a window and day one went ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The
Xtremes lived up to its rep of having the iciest venue in New Zealand
(and probably the world) by hardening the hell out of LegoLand (day one
venue).</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VY9SAkOQVts/UHd38OOFWNI/AAAAAAAAAHg/9jl_7C2VW6s/s1600/Sam-Lee-men%27s-ski-winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VY9SAkOQVts/UHd38OOFWNI/AAAAAAAAAHg/9jl_7C2VW6s/s320/Sam-Lee-men%27s-ski-winner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Malcolm Pullman</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I
had two really fast, solid runs on day one which put me at the top of
the pile. I did the comp the REV 105, a nice stiff ski with lots of carve. New favourite comp ski.</span></div>
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the end the comp became a one day comp, down from 3 days, with day 2
and 3 being cancelled mainly due to bad the extremely icy conditions on
the venues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So I finished up in 1st spot over all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">A very happy day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The official edit from the comp:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-_cgPAWy0s&feature=share&list=UUu8D_79xl1sFEhWF4MEyUTw" target="_blank">
Ruapehu Xtreme</a>s </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">After
the four New Zealand events I will be leading the Freeride World
Qualifier (FWQ) rankings for the Europe/Africa/Asia/Oceania region.
Best three results
for the May 1 to April 30 year count so with the northern hemisphere
comps to go, and they include some higher point scoring 4 star events,
it’s early days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">There were about 20 European and US competitors here
for the New Zealand comps and 8 of last year’s
FWQ top 20, including me and Charlie Lyons were in the fields so the
standard was pretty high.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">If I can end up top 10 at year end I will be very happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I
will be doing the Canadian and US events which are now part of a
unified world tour. You can get points from anywhere but they count in
your region for overall
standings. The Americas is a separate region. Top four from each
region go through to the Freeride World Tour of about 20 elite riders
including NZs own Mr Sam Smoothy and Mr Charlie Lyons.
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923373033590580905.post-2851586568255681282012-08-31T19:57:00.000-07:002012-08-31T19:57:51.373-07:00<br />
Im back in Wanaka, with the chill series done.<br />
<br />The week went really well, and was a lot of fun.<br />
We managed to hit clear warm weather the whole way through, which was a bonus.<br />
The format for the comp was three best results out of four count. <br />
I skied consistently well throughout the comp with only a crash on the second day, and finished in 2nd place overall!!<br />
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So Im pretty happy!<br />
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My results were:<br />
Day 1 -- 4th<br />
Day 2 -- Crashed<br />
Day 3 -- 4th<br />
Day 4 -- 2nd<br />
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<br />The field was really strong with a bunch of Euros turning up, plus all the Kiwi boys throwing down.<br />
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I've got the NZ open coming up in a couple of days.<br />This year I'm pre qualified for the finals, so that makes for a slightly less stressful comp.<br />
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Here is the official edit from Mt Olympus day 1 and 2,<br /><br />Check it out <a href="https://vimeo.com/48408377">https://vimeo.com/48408377</a>Sam Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04123052749379614466noreply@blogger.com0