Kelowna DH

Next weekend, next race. Time for the Kelowna DH!
The nice windy and wide, open road is in a residential area, overlooking two valleys. And again, we found the most scenic spot to park our RV. At the top of the hill, 50 meters from the start- line.

Unfortunately, this race again started rainy and therefore slow. Racers weren’t too eager to roll down a wet track and the organizer’s idea was to get as many runs as possible with skipping qualifying. Since the heats were set, there was not too much pressure on the first day.
This race- course was a decent bit longer than the races before. Runs take a bit more time, shuttles too. Things moved quite slow again on Sunday and unfortunately, half way through the first round of racing, one of the residents decided to be a dangerous and douche- baggy and had to be taken away from the police. This 2 hours intermezzo was very unfortunate but after that, riders were ready to kick ass! A fast track with heavy winds and more than one corner made it more interesting to find spots to take pictures at and watch people skate! The results for the Kelowna DH:

1. Kevin Reimer
2. Andrew Chapmen
3. Dillon Stephens
4. Patrick Switzer

Women:
1. Elena Corrigall
2. Marisa Nunez
3. Amy Brendon

I am very done with not being able to skate!
Stay safe and go play!

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about the joy of passing on things

When I had picked up my new NJK leathers, there was no more room in my suitcase for my old motorcycle suit. I left it at Loaded & Otang with the quote to pass it on to someone who has use for it!
Only two weeks later it had found a new owner in Toronto!
Thanky you Darren for finding Timothy, a talented Toronto grom! I hope to skate with you some time soon, Tim. Grind the suit down to it’s inner liner.

Toronto_Timothy
Photo by Heidi, Tim’s mom

on the way to Vernon DH 8

Before taking off to Vernon, we made a pit stop at Kevin Reimer’s house. After watching the hummingbirds and observing the squirrel- crazyness, Kevin took me on a tour with his Blue Bird!
Happy to leave the different scales of grey behind us, we took off to the wine country. Home of Mischo Erban and more sunshine: Vernon!

greyscale

blue bird

safety is our business

control panel
All Photos by Tamara Prader

Vernon DH 8 & Summerland

The Vernon DH 8 race, in the driest area of BC started with a very rainy and gray day of practice. The sunday was as sunny as a summerday could be and I got the chance to work on my cast tan again!
Since the event was an IGSA race, things rolled a litle bit slower. Scott Peer and Justen Ortiz battled for an inline title, there was a decent crowd of classic luger and street luger and the ladies had a good crew on the startline too.
I was hoping for Kevin, James, Dillon and Patrick in the finals. Things didn’t work out well for James, he dislocated his shoulder and couldn’t finish the race. One of the local groms made it to the open finals together with Kevin, Zen and Pat.

After the race, we took off to Summerland to ride the Giant! …the closest thing to Swiss freeriding. I cried a little bit, not being able to skate. Being broken isn’t fun.
… but I keep myself busy doing the things that I like but usually don’t find the time to do.

Pat

podium ladies
The Ladies podium: Marisa 1st, Elena 2nd, Anna 3rd

podium open
Open: Kevin 1st, Zen 2nd, Brendan 3rd, Patrick 4th

the Giant

Owl shell

mossy greens

pattern

there goes the balance

walking on air Kopie

What’s a broken skater to do?

… not a question I planned on having to find an answer for! I guess there is always a reason for how things like these come along. At least I had no issues so far with keeping myself busy!

Kevin Reimer is back! A happy winner of the Britannia Classic 2012, one year after he got injured on this track.
Patrick landed in second, Byron Esset in third.

My disappointment about not being able to race was … huge. The first bummer was to realize, that there were only 3 ladies at the Britannia Classic after having a field of 16 at Danger Bay. Quite as disappointing was the level of riding… but I am not to judge this since I was busy taking pictures – not skateboarding.

The organisation of the event was excellent, Lee Cation did a grat job and made the riders happy with good food, two days of freeriding & a good coverage of the event. Way to go Lee!
Kevin is back

Switzer sailing down Britannia

Spencer leaning

Camp fire
Bouldering in Squamish with Audrey & Max
What a magical place!

Bouler - what's a broken skater to do

Pats glove fingers

double slack action

Bouldering with Max and Audrey

hungry chip monk
All Photos by Tamara Prader

Sunshine Coast – Britannia Classic

Before taking off to the Sunshine Coast, we made a visit at Landyachtz where I got myself some rain wheels! Whoop whoop – ready for the Canadian race weather!

Rainwheels
Thanks to Mike at Landy!

Hopping on the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to the Sunshine Coast! I was so excited to skate these races and to get to skate with some of the Canadian ladies.

After what I had heard about the party at the Danger Bay race I was more scared to go there than excited… turned out that even the skaters get a little older and it was no where near as wild as I expected.
The womens division was the biggest one I had skated in. We had 16 ladies at the start-line!
I managed to make it in the finals and had the lead until I got taken out ending up in 4th place.

Ishtar and I didn’t get to skate together at Danger Bay. It turned out we were the only ones racing Jakes Rash. We had a sweet battle down this mellow road with quite some leaning action. And drafting her all the way down, I just had enuogh speed to beat her at the finish line.

After coming back from the Coast, we heded up to Squamish for the Britannia Classic. I was very excited for that one and than very disappointed when I realized that there were only two other ladies registered. May it be this fact or some other reason that I don’t know about yet, I broke my left radius in the first run of the second day. That means if I am lucky, I’ll be able to be back on a board for the Maryhill Festival of Speed.

4th at Danger Bay
1st at Jakes Rash
down at Britannia…

Ferry to the Sunshine Coast
On the way to Danger Bay

We got ourselves a new Housemate. Peppermint at any time!
Carole, the Team Green ‚manager‘ invited a huge crew over for dinner after Danger Bay. What an incredibly beautiful place the Sunshine Coast is!

lake near Carol's
peppermint

Travel Update

Oh, we had to leave California way too early! I collected a few impressions for you…

That City

LA Freeways, Photos by Tamara Prader

Definitely one of the highlights was my win in Avalon at the Catalina Island Classic!

Catalina Money Shot

An unforgettable treat! Adam Colton tried to sabotage us… opening up a little plastic box with the words: „this will change you life!“, I expected the most incredible goody I’ve ever had… it definitely changed my life for the rest of the day.
These balls were made of dates, honey, nuts & the hottest chili in the world, the Bhut Jolokia chili pepper, also known as Ghost Chili.
… I didn’t know food could do something like this to a human body. As I was down sweating with numb arms and feet, feeling nauseous, Adam talked me through a wet and cold forest.

Adams Chili Ball

Adam’s treats, Photo by Tamara Prader

My stomach was mad at me for eating the cili balls so I skipped Surfing with the O-tang crew and played with Pat’s long lens while they gave their best to catch a wave in Malibu!

crabcrab

Surfing hard

Surfing in Malibu, Photos by Tamara Prader

I had an open bill with this canyon road that cost me my PCL last year… time for a pay back! Skateboarding in the Malibu hills with some of the most scenic views and most challenging roads.

The Canyon Road

They have a NOS day

Dane & Patrick had a NOS day!, Photo by Tamara Prader

We flew out of LAX on Tuesday, May 15th. This is a small world as I ran into Corina Parpan, a friend from back home in Klosters at the Vancouver airport.
After the public transportation mission with two HUGE bags and way too much and too heavy carry on luggage… it was time for Sushi!

Sushi

We could finally pick up our RV in Chilliwack, BC! And it works! We have a home on four wheels and start to get comfortable in our ‚Slumber Queen‘. Now, all we need is a name… Ideas anyone? We figured she’s a little bit like an Italian Donna…

Proud Owner

Happy Owner 2
Happy owners!