Goodness me it has been a while! Has been super hectic as we have had a full chalet for a few weeks on the trot, and continue to do so until April – so Jonny and I are rushed off our feet! We had a friend from Uni to stay with her friends, then my lovely parents came to visit us, and last week was half term so it was pretty full on. We only went up the mountain once last week. Seasonaires tend to avoid heading up during school holidays as it can be rammed and you spend most of your time trying not to speed straight into a skiing child! Kept it pretty easy when my ‘rents where here. My mum is not exactly a speed demon; bless her, so I spent a lot of time practising riding switch. I need to get this down in order to start nailing 180’s as it helps to ride into it switch, and then land on your regular stance. It feels like learning to snowboard all over again!
I have also been practising 180’s on the slope, rather then off jumps, just to get used to the motion. My board continues not to let me down and feels as sturdy as ever. We have done a lot less off piste riding the last few weeks because of the circumstances. When we have a few days like this, I try to focus on my technique, rather than learning new things or pushing myself too hard.
Watch the video below for an insight into pulling 180s and also riding with your Mum…
Sorry that there is not an awful lot to report, but we are back to normal this week – should not be too crazy… although saying that we have just had a group of Australians arrive so I am sure we will be in for an entertaining week! Defo going to try to get up the hill as much as possible – and then we will have more exciting stories to tell next week!
Congrats to Jo and Phil back at Surfdome – I hope they are well and overjoyed with their new arrival!
The awesome Razor RipRider 360 Scooter has just polled first place in Channel 5’s Gadget Show poll of the best toys at the London Toy Fair - check out the video below, then click on the photo to buy one from surfdome.com Â
With the surf season due to kick off shortly, we’re all striving to improve our fitness to get the most out the surfing time we can cram in around running Surfdome.com, the award winning online lifestyle store.
One piece of kit that is proving invaluable is the Powerstroke Bungee Cord, which is the closest exercise we’ve found to actually paddling out through bigger surf and gunning to claim the best waves.
Like all good things, it’s a simple but effective solution; the whole unit is about the size of a VHS tape (how old school is that for a reference?) and you can use it anywhere there is something to wrap it around - a banister, door handle, post etc. Used for 15 minutes 3 times a week, the Powerstroke Bungee cord will strengthen the muscle groups you depend on most for paddle power.
Click on the play button below the video to get an idea of how it works. Â
Jonny and I have done a little less riding this week – as we have been fulfilling our days with tricks and making jumps to practise our skills on! The boys have been trying to nail a front flip (which was successful!) Whereas I have been focusing on getting a 180 down… but not quite so successfully.
I need to improve my landing as I am getting plenty of air and the full spin, but not finishing it as slick as I would like. To be fair I have been practising off a 3 foot kicker, which is quite high for a first attempt! Still, it has snowed heaps this week so at least the landings have been soft!
I am pleased to see that nearly everyone I have been riding with this season wears a helmet. I really cannot understand why any one would not wear one. Jonny has the Smith Holt Helmet and I don the Protec B4BC and I do not get on a chairlift without it. Not only does it save your precious head from severe injury, it keeps you warm and protected from any wind chill. If you are wearing a beanie with goggles and take a harsh fall, nine times out of ten your goggles fall off along with your beanie and you end up with a face full of snow. A helmet secures your goggles in place and you can get up from a stack without having to adjust yourself at all, and hopefully in less pain too!
It gives me confidence trying out new tricks and riding new areas, especially off piste, knowing that I am wearing such sturdy and durable protection on my fragile noggin. I would not even know that I am wearing my helmet and the only thing I have to worry about is having harsh helmet hair when I do take it off!
So if you’re not sure which ski resorts in Europe, or indeed around the world have made wearing snow helmets compulsory, do the sensible thing and buy one anyway - you can pack your socks and knickers inside it when you’re travelling, so it won’t take up much space - and if you think you’re a good enough rider not to need one, you’re not pushing yourself to improve.
Our good friend Chris Teague, skier extraordinaire, surprised us all by coming back early from his Travels in NZ this week, so we have been enjoying his presence very much – along with the treat of not having any guests in the chalet. However from tomorrow we have 7 full weeks lined up – so back to the routine!
Torah Bright, Kjersti Buaas, Lisa Wiik and the rest of the Roxy Team are Walking on Sunshine! The girls sing and dance their way through the streets and the mountains of Morocco, America, Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria to put this smile on your face! (And lip sinking the famous tune “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves.)
Visit our Roxy Snow Gear shop for great deals on ski and snowboard clothing.
Backpacks
Powerstroke Bungee Cord - Click Here to buyÂ