Today we watched the competition face in Hochfügen, it is looking good, lots of snow and lots of cliffs and steep terrain. Sunday is competition day. I am starter number 4, looks like I gone have lots and good pow pow. Look for wards to a ride the face. I have a super nice and fast line in mind.

Because I won this competition last year day put pictures from me at the gondola.

Sunday evening I came back from Chamonix and monday I was guiding a group from Ripstar. Even with not the best snow and weather conditions we had a fantastic week. Hiking through sun and snowstorm, riding fresh pow pow, ice and steep couloirs, technick training and avalanche safety training. All conditions in one week.
Ten pictures from guiding, the last four still from Chamonix.

I’m happy about my run in Charmonix, my run was as I ride normally I think. 4t Place is not bad but I’m not satisfied. My overall ranking is place 8 and I need to get at place 7 to ride again next year.

I learn a lot about what the judges wanted to see and I learn a lot about how to choose a line. But here I still have to learn a lot, it is so hard to see a face and imagine the best lines. Often you can’t see how steep the landing is ore if it is flat or a spine on top of a cliff.

I hope to make place 7 overall and start next year with more experience and make a podium place.

The day after the competition I ride the Valle Blanche, from 3800 meters till almost 1000 meters. Super beautiful.  pictures later

We had a nice & sunny competition day, so the helicopter could bring us up to the start and pick us up from the finish. Me and lots with me hoped to ride the competition face from last year, a real big mountain face. But we ride a new face with steep entrance and flat second part, good for freestylers.

Because I started almost as last I did an originally line, at least in the steep part, so I had more change at good snow.

The steep part I did well, the flat part was a little more flat and deeper snow as I aspect. I lost speed, mist one hit and didn’t get speed to do my bs 360 big. I got place 10. Comment from the judge; more speed and you got up to top 5.

Day after contest Max Zipser, Steffan Hausl, Tom and went touring to ride the face from last year.

Today we go to Charmonix for the next competition, hopefully on Saturday if the weather is ok.

This view I had from my room:

live webstream from courmayeur tomorrow!!!
skiers starting at 10am, sowboarders at 11.45am, I start around 12h.
www.freerideworldtour.com

Weather days probably till Monday. We had face inspection; it is nice but not my favourite one. There are lots of sharks in the steep part and sugar snow. I start as 45, one before the last. Gone be hard to find snow. Courmayeur is a nice village, surrounded by beautiful mountains.

Here some pictures of the face, and action picture from Michiel Rotgans in ‘Mini Alaska’ Arlberg. The story behind these pictures you find in snowboard magazine Taste.

Thanks a lot for all the people how donate at http://wepowder.nl/weblog/4052/9e-plaats-Irian-in-FWT !

I travelled 57 hours to come back home. Pfff. While waiting at the airport in Calgary I friendly got too sneak in a luxury hotel and took a swim.

Today riding in Arlberg again and ride maybe my best line I ever did in Arlberg. Spines, pillows and cliffs top to bottom covered in good packages off powder. Never seen there a line before, 6 years I have been looking at this face. It is mostly too dangerous to ride. Today was the day, I had that feeling already this morning, and after a little face check we did it, even twice. I’m so stoked, you can’t believe 🙂 🙂 🙂

Tomorrow I drive to Courmayeur, Friday face inspection, Saturday competition day if we have good weather.

http://wepowder.nl/weblog/4052/9e-plaats-Irian-in-FWT

Was not good to starting in the middle of the face, snow was hard there. Then I did not land properly. But not fallen and my line was ok I think. Will try to show bether next time. Soon in Courmayour.

Yes, my board is repaired. The boss of the shop repaired it for free, people are super friendly here.

Today I have been waiting in the clouds for hours to see the face. Too bad I still did not see the face. I’ll take a steep line with a double cliff. Gone be hard to manage the sluff. I’ll take the lift up 6:30 h to see the face. We have to hike up to the top. 9:40 h I start.

80% of the people drive a pick up as you see at the picture. Sorry for my bad English but you will understand.

I took a hot bad and a cold shower, will go to sleep soon. Wish good wether for me, so I can see the face tommorow before riding it.