Spring Time in Tahoe

The transition back into home life has been a bit difficult. I bet everyone hearing this is thinking, "Oh I feel so sorry for you." Which I totally understand. Though it's where I am at. Coming home to processing taxes, back working at the spa, looking into next years commitments. Life for me continues to be productive, just on a different level.

I am excited to get back in shape. You don't realize what a luxury home is until your on the road for a while. Eating what you want, sleeping in your own bed, excessing regularly, are all key components to my overall well-being. To top it off spring in Lake Tahoe is so incredible. Blue sky and the hot sun inspires my mind. I look forward to days spent on the beach and riding bikes with friends.

I do love the summer months, and yet I can't get my mind off the next available moment to shred powder. It's a funny debate in my head, "I have to head to South America again, or maybe New Zealand... No you have to hang in Tahoe and save money for next winter.."
After a long drawn out conversation, I force myself to stop, live in the present moment, and accept that what will be, will be. Just enjoy being where your at.

The moment is now...So here I am in beautiful Lake Tahoe, bring on the Sun!

Last Week in Europe! Powder and Easter Fun:)

Hello all, thanks for stopping by again. Just a quick upload of some pics from my last week in Europe. I stayed with my friend Nadine, where she treated me like a queen. To top it off, I got a chocolate bunny and Pow Pow before I had to head home.

It has been a really incredible trip, more to come with spring break in Tahoe! Home Sweet Home:)

Austrian Easter Breakfast

FUN!

More Fun

Mikaela hauling ass into an exposed shoot. Snow was incredible.

Duck Lips and Sine Lines

2nd Epic Euro Trip 2013, Yeah Hoo!

I headed to Europe for the last stops of the FWT. Stoked to 

travel with Josh for the first leg of the trip. This made things 

pretty easy going and I was much less homesick while he was 

around. The venue in Austria was incredible. The conditions where 

variable though I managed to find some of the deepest turns thus far this season.

I placed 3rd in FWT Fieberbrunn, Austria, which was not enough to

get me into the finals in Verbier. I went from 2nd in North America to 5th in the

world. My hope is to get another chance at the world

title. I know it’s in me and I will not give up!

After Fieberbrunn I traveled to Chamonix. I have been traveling a bit last minute

and forgot that you needed to book hotels in Europe in advanced. They don’t have

clerks at the desk in most hotels 24-7 like we have at home.  I got worried that I may be

sleeping on the street, when I started chatting with this sweet scottish girl. I told her

my situation and she let me know then that she has a family chalet in Cham, that I

could stay in for free. It was absolutely gorgeous with an amazing view from the

valley floor. On this trip I have experienced many gifts like this. Europeans have proven to me to

be some of the most hospitable and generous people.

I did travel to Switzerland to watch the finals event. Verbier is such a magical place. The

mountains are huge! This seems to be the mecca of freeriding. One day I had the

opportunity to ride the deepest snow of the season in some incredible terrain. The

conditions for the event where great. The snow was moving, which added an even

more intense feeling to the already daunting Bec de Rosses. If you don’t know this

face, look it up. It is absolutely insane, and what the athletes manage to do is mind

blowing.

The woman's face looked beautiful, to be honest I was a bit jealous to not be part of

the event. It was a bitter sweet couple days. If I had to prepare for the event, I would

have missed out on my best day of the season. There is always positive out of

something seemingly negative if your willing to be open. I had a great time spectating, met

tons of incredible people for all over the world, and saw my friends shred the Bec!

Yeah!

From Verbier I have now traveled back to Austria. I will be hanging with the female

ski overall world champion, Nadine Wallner. We have plans to relax and freeride.

Hoping to get some shooting in with her local filming crew. It’s nice to know that the

stress of contests is over and now I get to ride and be creative with my snowboarding

through filming and shooting photos. More from the trip to come!

Thanks again to everyone! This season is slowing down a bit though much more fun to come. Keep

living life to the max. Challenge yourself, to do things that are scary. Don’t waist a second.

Anything you want in life is possible!

Heaven!

Bec De Rosses!

A hero of mine in snow sports, Racheal Burks

Ladies ski podium. The ski woman showed much strength and kept the crowed on there feat! Go ladies!

Mens Podium, Go Laurent!

Backstrom laid it all out there in his winning run, if you have not seen it... watch it! So sick!

I had an awesome season with these ladies:) Woman's snowboard podium.

Little kids:)

Austria: Overcome a Fear With Much Reward

Today was absolutely awesome. I went on a challenging hike. I was not challenged physically but mentally. I have learned recently that your mental strength is just as important as your physical strength. On a knife edge path i walked, with a snow loaded face on one side, and seemingly infinite path of rock on the other, I found strength. With help from a friend guiding me into the unknown, we made it to the top. 

The reward was overcoming my fear, and a beautiful face full of powder! Yeah! 

I finished the day off with a relaxing massage and a great book. Training for the comp isn't so bad.

My hope is that everyone is out there taking risks, overcoming fears, and living life to the fullest.

 Chat soon:) I hope you enjoy the pics!

My guide for the day and head judge for the event, Hugo.

Could not have made it through the crux of the climb with out Lolo.

I made it! On top of the world!

Our plant ceases to amaze me.

Juniors venue, covered in great snow. 

Austria! Freeride World Tour Stop #5

I have been in Austria for just a couple days now. The event is on hold until conditions get better in the venue. At this time the venues snowpack is extremely unstable. We are hoping for a significant change in the next few days!

In the mean time we all will be enjoying the Fieberbrunn resort. Exploring another mountain has been fun! This place has some incredible terrain, which you can see from the pics. We have also been enjoying the festivities. Bib draw was a blast and the party following gave the athletes an opportunity to cut loose on the dance floor.

I will keep up dating my blog through out the event regarding the event and other shenanigans.

We are on our way! Just 11+ hours on this plane:)

Things to keep us laughing.

The venue in Fieberbrunn.

Mud slide in venue, hoping for a ton of snow this week.

FWT has been working hard, check out this impressive viewing sight.

Spectators viewing point.

Josh inspecting venue.

Heli taking start gate to the top.

Sun dog! Storms a brew'n!

The Shred Life!

Life on the road! These last couple months have been a crazy adventure. My season has gone as follows...

Chile and Argentina: for training and to support Josh in the Red Bull Beyond the Line contest.

Trip to Mt. Baker in search for early season Powder

Revelstoke BC FWT 4th

Chamonix Mount Blanc FWT 4th

Rahlves Banzai Kirkwood 1st

Rahlves Banzai Alpine 1st

North Face Masters Squaw Valley  FQT 4*  2nd

Kirkwood Mountain Resort FWT 4th

Rahlves Banzai Squaw Valley 3rd

My season is more then half way over and I still have much more ahead. I head to Fieberbrunn tomorrow and will be in Europe until April. I am really excited to ride some soft snow and explore the mountains in Europe.

 Traveling this year has been a huge learning experience, not only on my board but also with in my self. Last August was the first time I had ever left the country. Learning to have confidence traveling alone and with others. This all can be very challenging at times yet more importantly always an exciting adventure. I am learning that the sky’s the limit. You can do anything you want in life. The only thing limiting you is you!

My partner Josh and I will both be competing in the Austria event. It’s always fun to travel together. He and I have a really easy going relationship.  We laugh a ton and support each other in our dreams and goals.

  

My plan in Austria is to stomp my run and head into the finals. I know the other ladies are hungry too, so I will have to stay positive, relax, see my line, and shred it hard! I am always excited to see everyones lines, from all the male and female, ski and snowboard. Everyone has there own way of showing there creativity and style on the mountain. I have not completed a run clean thus far on the world tour which has been a bit discouraging. That’s all part of the process of growth in life. Stoked to throw down a clean run!

 This season I have been able to practice my interviewing skills. It’s pretty intense at times though for those of you who know me personally, I love to talk. When I finally relax and get going I actually have a lot of fun sharing my story and love for snowboarding.

I hope you enjoy these few videos and links. I will be updating my blog through out my Europe trip. Thanks for the support and following my travels. It’s been  an amazing ride, and I will continue to take full advantage of the blessings ahead!

Kirkwood Banzai, cat track air! Yeahoo! So fun:)

New friends and old at the North Face Masters, Squaw Valley.

Kevin, Josh, and I having a blast shredding Revelstoke.

Banzai action with amazing ladies!

Miss you Sonja! Shred with you soon:)

http://mpora.com/videos/AAddalekymgo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3LXMV_GS9Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM8AJiYfJ-g&feature=youtu.be

http://www.freerideworldtour.com/videos.html?__mr_id=64975

http://www.freerideworldtour.com/videos.html?__mr_id=64977

Daron Rahlves Banzai Kirkwood 1st place!

What a crazy day! I traveled from Geneva, Switzerland, to California. Got three hours of sleep and then drove to Kirkwood to make the Banzai contest. I had a couple looks at the course and then it was go time. The course started at the top of chair 10,which on a pow day is a blast to bomb off the top. Though when it's conditions like we had at the event, I try to avoid that area. I was really scared of the drop in. Not cause I couldn't do it, it was more the way you needed to drop in to make the first gate. To add 3 other people dropping in for the same line, Yikes! In practice I did a sweet cartwheel, to head slide which got me really freaked out. Thankfully when the time came to race, I kept it together.

Being on the Freeride World Tour is really important to me, so I didn't want to put my self in any position to get hurt. Bottom line I played it safe on the start, but it worked out! The other athletes where amazing. It was really interesting how all of us had a different approach to riding this course.

 I am really excited to be in the contest next week at Alpine. Thanks again to Daron for such a fun event, I am so stoked to be part of it!

This month is jam-packed with fun. I have the Banzai at Alpine, North Face Masters at Squaw Valley, and finally the big one Freeride World Tour at Kirkwood. 

Pray for Snow!