Marmot

Just Got My New Marmot Swag For 2014

For the last 2 years my outerwear and glove sponsors have been SOS and Hestra through Snowsport In Australia.
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.
Recently Snowsport have decided to change their outerwear supplier, so now seemed like an appropriate time to part ways.
I wish them all the best with their new products.

Following on from that I will now be skiing for Marmot through the NZ importers Allsports.
I am stoked to be working with Marmot, their gear is tech as heck and they stock some mighty nice colours!!
And it fits in nicely with Snowcentre who are a Marmot reseller.


I just received my new Marmot kit and that has me way too excited about going skiing in Europe!
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!

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.
Here are some photos.

Cloud Proof

Mount Sefton Hanging Glaciers

Mum

Hooker Glacier

Hooker Glacier Lake Ice

The Girdlestone, Turoa

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to ski the Girdlestone.
Last week I finally had the chance.
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.

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.


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.
So we donned our crampons and had at it.

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.

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).

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.
So we took a moment to take in the view, clicked in and dropped in from the saddle.

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.

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.

Girdlestone vid

Looking off the back of the Girdlestone

Looking towards the Turoa summit from the saddle

Cam with Turoa behind

Girdlestone summit

About to drop in

Chill Fail Video

By far the best bits from the Chill comps this year.

http://vimeo.com/74796423#signin

NZ Open

This year the open got gnarly.

The comp was held in the Alta Chutes at the Remarkables, as it has been for the last few years.

Alta Chutes

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.

For what ever reason people were feeling extra huckable this year.
I guess it would have to be a combination of fresh snow and the new freestyle movement within big mountain.

Although it always spices things up when you get the big dogs like Charlie lyons and Sam Smoothy over to play.

Photo By: Pete Oswald

Most of the competitors were throwing either big tricks or big cliffs, often attempting both together.
On the outside that sounds awesome, but when you look at the crash rate you have to wonder what happened.

Something like 16 out of 22 crashed, I guess people were just pushing their limits.

You only need to listen to Cam Craigheads commentary in the official comp edit below to understand what I mean:

NZ Open Big Mountain Finals Video

Photo: Neil Kerr

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.

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.
And I did.

Although I stomped my line and finished my run, I took both knees to the face of the big cliff.
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.

I feel like a got lucky there.

Photo: Charlotte Percle

My run awarded me 3rd spot with a score of 8.55 just below Sam Smoothys 8.95.

Greg Tuscher took out the mens division with a mad dog gnarly run and a score of 9.55!
A pleasure to watch.

I feel like I am constantly achieving the goals I set for myself.

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.

Photo: Neil Kerr

Photo: Neil Kerr

Temple Basin Big Mountain

Photo Cred: Mark Bridgwater

The second competition of the Chill Series was held at Temple Basin, in Arthurs pass.

This trip was my first time skiing at Temple Basin and I can honestly say my mind melted.

The terrain surrounding the lift access is some of the most epic I have seen, anywhere.


Day one of competition started slow.
Due to and unstable and extremely difficult to ski snow pack, the venue was moved from the planned
location not long before we were due to start.

Photo Cred: Ace Media

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.
Although the bottom section was an on course inspection the top was visual only.
I scoped two lines which I realised were impossible by the time I was at the top.
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.

Even still skied it solid and fast and was placed 4th at the end of the day.

Day two was held on the same venue and I managed to pick a better bigger line that I was more interested in skiing.

Everything went to plan, I skied fast without hesitation and I stomped all my airs clean.
I won the day and that put me into 1st place overall, my first Chill Series win!

Official comp video from Chill:
https://vimeo.com/73722962#at=0


Results at the bottom of the page.

Excerpt from day 2 write up up on Chill:

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!

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.

I think it is important to thank Stu and Chill for running these comps and giving the Kiwi Big mountain community somewhere to test our skills.
Without them NZ big mountain skiing might not have reached the impressive standard it is at now.

Good job guys!

Cragieburn Chill Series 2013

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.

I think the change is good, as it allows people to compete at both the Chill Series and the Temple Basin Big Mountain

Day one at Craigieburn went really well for me.
I was able to pick a line that I had wanted to ski since first competing in the Chill series a few years ago.

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.

Coming into day two I decided I would ski the same top section and change up my final air to a slightly easier drop.

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.
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.
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.

I finished Craigieburn in 10th over all.

Even though I crashed on day two I am extremely happy with the way I skied up until that point.

Here are the official results from Chill HQ:

The official Comp Edit:
https://vimeo.com/73253415

Excerpt from the official Chill site:

"Day 1 Craigieburn Chill site report:

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.

Day 2 Craigieburn Chill site report.

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.

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."

The Season So Far

This season has been an interesting one.

With the epic snow falls in the first week I figured we could be up for a pretty fly winter.
Turns out we have had a lot of fog and ice.

However all is good.
I've had a lot more work than usual up Cardrona this year, which means more cash but less skiing.

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.

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.


Below is a short edit of the only footage I've taken this season.
It's not much but she'll have to do for now!


https://vimeo.com/72786447

I'm heading up to Canterbury on Wednesday to compete at Craigieburn and Temple Basin.
Following right after is the NZ open and then the Whakapapa Extremes to wrap up the comp season.

I'm getting pretty excited for the comps to start, hoping for a little more snow before then!

Here is a snow blade edit from our TC closing day rehearsal, rehearsal.
https://vimeo.com/72583089


Here are a few photos from the Alta Chutes at Remarkables the other day.

Photos by Pete Oswald