Interlude - 4 months

So it's all over - for now. In the jet-plane, just left Geneva, destination Christchurch. For the past 20 minites as we cruisin over the alps, I have been gazing out the window at the sun setting over switzerlands haizy snowcapped peaks. A final cruel reminder of what I will be missing out on over the last couple of months of winter here as I head back to school in New Zealand.

Lake Geneva

Lack of snow aside, this has been yet another trip of a lifetime. I have had the chance to ride New hills in Sovakia, Italy and France, aswell as the same old favourite spots around Switzerland. Many a roadtrip to catch up with friends around Switzerland, the south of France, the north of England and Scotland. And of course one of the highlights of chilling in Verbier is all the amaizing people you get to hang out with. Old mates, lots of new ones, some skiers, some snowboarders, many neither but all good party-ers, allowing for few quiet nights.

No Snow - Verbier Feb 2011

Although as noticeably from up here as down on the ground are the shocking snow conditions plaguing europe! I don't think I have ever seen the hills anywhere near this bare mid season. Coming all the way from New Zealand to play in a bit of powder, I have obviously been a bit unfortunate this season. I could count the number of powder days I have had easily on both hands. In fact I had heard a day or 2 ago that Verbier has had the past 47 days of straight sunshine.

Back in December

Annoying, but sometimes it how it goes in this game. Just gotta make the most of it when the conditions are good!! The powder gods didn't turned up to party with us as much as we would have liked this season, but I know they will be back and I will be waiting. First up, on the New Zealand hills in a few months. Until then, the plan is to get sorted with a skateboard and fill some time at Uni before the NZ season kicks in.

Lausanne with Claire, Mathieu and Ian

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make my last 11 weeks so epic. Look forward to winning powerball and seeing you all again next year. Can't wait to catch up with the boys and girls back in NZ and go riding as soon as the snow starts falling over there!

Happier Days!

A few more snaps from Dec - early season when we had far more snow that we do now in Feb. Frustrating season!

Engadinsnow FWQ 3*

Dan vinny chris, and a bunch of snowboards strapped to the roof. St-Moritz watch out. Despite europes lack of snow the conditions in St-Moritz were actually really good. The face was clean and at the cold weather had kept the snow nice.

Top of the comp face

 My aim for this comp was to stay on my feet and at least get a result, which I nearly did. Got a tad lost at one point and had a slightly sketchy landing on my last drop, but my line was deemed good enough for 9th postition. Was happy to finally crack the top 10 in europe this season, and if only I hadn't stopped and had stomped clean it would have been much better. Flo Orely did just that, taking a similar line to mine and won!

Dan 9th, Vince Ray 14th, Mr Southwell 23rd. Better luck next time boys.

Unfortunately for me this will be my last competition of the 2010/2011 season as I have to jetplane it back to uni in NZ in a couple of weeks. It has been epic following a few competitions around this season in europe and in NZ, and I am currently sitting in 16th position on the FWQ rankings. I imagine this will slip a by the end of the season as I will miss a bunch of competitions in the second half of the season, giving others the chance to get good results and overtake me. Hopefully I can give it another shot next season, which will start with a few comps in NZ in this coming winter. Can't wait.