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!

doing that skateboarding thing now!

Oh, I have a feeling this could be the time of my life!
I landed in Los Angeles last night, got picked up from the airport and driven straight to the Newport Filmfestival where I was just a little too late for Drop, My Life Downhill… all skate style, being late for things…
My NJK leathers are just being finished right now! Too stoked on that one! And in a little bit, we’ll take off to Avalon where the Catalina Island Classic is happening this weekend. We are 6 ladies at the startline! The road looks like a lot of fun and I am sure, my jetlag will kick in just in time.

travel map small
being bored in the air, by Tamara Prader

 

Catalina Island Classic 2012

LAX
Catalina

Avalon
Catalina Island – the view from the startline, Photo Tamara Prader

I got to Los Angeles, straight to the Newport Beach Film Festival, picking up my brand new NJK leather suit and then heading out to Catalina Island!
What a start!

its a squirrel
Fitting at NKJ, Photo Pat Switzer
We were convinced, the race action would start with some freeriding on saturday. After we had found out that we’d only get one day on the hill, the party became a lot better.
And the Mexican guy behind the bar made some very generous Margheritas! …guess I should have gone for one more Dollar Taco.
The Catalina Island Classic was held back in 1977 the last time. It was a great pleasure to meet one of the ladies competing in the race back than! She and her sister both did race and they still enjoy the island life, getting Sophia, Karens daughter, ready for some downhill action.

flying sesh with graham

Flying away with Graham, Photo Pat Switzer

rider meeting
Rider meeting! Photo Tamara Prader

It is about an hour from Los Angeles to Avalon, the tiny capital of Catalina. Avalon is a very pretty place where skaters usually wouldn’t spend too much time. Only one funny story about this place, they have buffalos there because a film crew simply left them on the Island after they were done filming.

The race day started early and on time. Three runs, that was it for practice on a pretty technical hill. The heats were set. No qualifying.
There were six ladies at the start line! We got to do an awesome amount of runs thanks to the point system we ran the race on. Thank you Dubes!
The guys had some gnarly heats down the narrow race track! James Kelly won the race, Patrick Switzer came in 2nd and Alex Tongue took 3rd. Pam Diaz took 3rd in the womens division, Christine was in 2nd and I won my first race! Whoopwhoop!

Prader Catalina 3

CheckCheck

…for some more skating!

We had to leave this extraordinary place on monday to go back to Los Angeles and a different scale of city again. Seeking for some more and different adventures!

There is one high rise!

It is always astonishing to see how pragmatic, straight forward and without any prejudice a child’s world works.
My godson came to visit me in Zurich again. He’s been asking for weekends in the city since he was four. …And I hope we can do this for another few years since spending time with little people is awesome!

Livio und der turm
Livio and the one! Finding out about how high 126m are. „If I’d put 126 Livios on top of each other, the last one would hit his head on the ceiling here.“ he observes on the top floor. Photo by Tamara Prader

those two
Self portrait at the bottom of the Prime Tower. Composition by Livio Prader

down to top
zug

lilio und mara

schnick schnack for miss sophie

Sophie Friedel asked me to create a blog log for her page where she shares thoughts, design and art related things on her digital platform for the art of living sideways!
With the innocence of a fawn, Sophie seems to walk through this world without any prejudice, source of never ending energy, protecting the good and the colourful things in this world!
She was living and working in Kabul for the Skateistan project which is still animating children to go to school and skate.
It is wonderful to have inspiring and openminded people around us!

120409_Flausen im Kopf_2

based on wood – about girls in longboarding

My skate buddy Gloria Kupsch published an article in the Australian Heelside magazine that is worth reading! Yes, it is about ladies in longboarding again. Just better than what you read until now.

Here’s the link to the article!

Just like Gloria, I had talked so much about women in boardsports that I almost forgot about what this actually is… it is about skateboarding!
Thank you Frau Kupsch – and now let’s not talk but skate.

new spectacles

How awesome is it to have an optometrist who is stoked enough about downhill skateboarding to support this years adventures!
I got new Paul Smith nerd glasses and super light, flexible and hopefully pretty undestryable Mykita sunshades.
Eagle eye is ready for the skate trip.
Thank you very much <a href=“http://www.fred-optiker.ch/“ target=“_blank“>Fred</a>!

Oaul Mykita

Chasing the sun

The forecast was miserable for this years Easter weekend. One wonderful fact, in Switzerland you’ll always find a spot where the sun is shining.
Chasing the sun, the Swiss Skate Van made it’s way to the Wallis. A valley of vineyards and fruit trees, all in bloom! At times, snow was falling on the pink blossoms but the road was dry for most parts. Mmm… what a good skate trip!

ostern

oster morgen

Oakies

über dem wallis

 

7Sky Magazine Interview

Here we go! The interview I did with the 7Sky Magazine is now ready to be read.
Check it out here.

I feel honored that I got an interview published in the latest <a href=“http://www.7skymagazine.ch/“ target=“_blank“>7Sky Magazine</a>! <i>Silence</i> is the title of this issue and I am very happy that downhill longboarding made it’s way in there.

Thank you very much Coco Tâche!

86_cover 7sky
7Sky Skate 1

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Portrait 2 PS Urania
Thank you for being ready for any mission, Patrick! Photo by Patrick Switzer