Moving Forward – Trailer – YouTube.

I remember back in January while talking to my fiend, Moss, hearing about Danny. Moss had been with him while they were filming in Montana and was telling me how the day was good until a stock trick went horribly wrong. Theres few things worse than knowing you’re gonna bail badly on a trick you’ve done a million times – watching your friends do it takes the cake.

Danny had suffered a TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury, and was in pretty bad shape. This video trailer came out a few days ago showing Danny’s truly triumphant recovery.

As riders we know that what we choose to do on a snowboard is usually pretty dangerous. Whether it’s throwing ourselves off 50+ft jumps, dropping huge cliffs, or boosting 30ft out of the pipe – we’re always putting our bodies in danger – so why wouldn’t we protect it as much as we can?

I’ll admit, when first started riding about 15 yrs ago, I was “too cool” for a helmet. After doing an unintended front flip to my dome on a down rail and splitting my head open – I came to realize that cool or not – I was wearing a helmet. Now I don’t strap in without it.

It makes me sad that pro’s and friends don’t even consider wearing a helmet until something to this extreme happens right in front of them.

Bottom line – WEAR A HELEMT. I rock one and still look like a babe no reason you can’t too.

Over the months, Danny has kept friends, family and supporters updated via his blog, www.dannyisthebomb.com, and YouTube page. Feel free to check out the video updates and keep your eyes peeled for the full length to drop January 10th, 2012

shred hard – shred safe

The last two weeks in New Zealand were amazing.

…

I can’t really say much more. My friends are probably what I miss most but I will see them soon. There were ups and downs – getting hurt once again and boy drama – but what trip isn’t made interesting with a few bumps along the way.

I am already planning my trip to go back next summer for what I’m thinking will be a 6 month trip instead of a 1 month. That way I can travel around a bit more and FINALLY make it to Puzzling World . My last days in Wanaka were filled with more riding at Cardrona, running into more friends from Mammoth, more food and coffee, and obviously HEAPS more photos. I really can’t put into words how amazing this trip was for me as a snowboarder and as a young adult. I say young adult because I’m not just a person, I’m a person doing amazing things during a crucial part of my life and this trip shined some light on things I’ve been hiding away in the shadows and spotlighting things I was iffy on before.

All I can really express is if you want to do something. Do it. If you want something. Take it. Don’t let your insecurities or self doubt hold you back from achieving or obtaining exactly what your heart wants.

“I’d rather have a life full of oh wells than one full of what if’s”

When I started writing this I didn’t think it would go this direction, but perhaps as much as it’s opening my eyes – it will do the same for whoever reads it.

I really wish I could figure out how to make an EPIC video/slideshow of photo’s and video’s from the trip (I’m still in the process of figuring that all out – any help is appreciated) so that I didn’t have to post the chincy photo blocks – but enjoy some of my favorites.

The 13hr flight from LAX to MEL wasn’t AS BAD as I expected it to be. I kept myself fully entertained with movies, music, and Bejeweled 2…oh yeah. I ended up watching seven movies and then turning new ones on just so I had something to sleep to. Thanks to all the long nights and days of just sitting and watching Netflix till the sun came up – without that training I don’t think I would’ve made it.

The two kids behind me who alternated in kicking my seat though – I could’ve done with out.

When we landed in Melbourne, my layover time had been cut down by about an hour and a half since we took off later from LAX which I was totally ok with. Skyped my mom while sitting on the floor next to the outlet, let her know the long leg of the trip was over and I lived – no final destination nonsense… although my tray knob didn’t work…kind of freaked me out.

When I had checked in back at LAX the guy had told me I had window seats both ways – which I was happy with. First flight – got some good shots. Second flight…I had a wall. I was pretty much force to smoosh my camera between it and the seat in front of me to try and get some shots.
The older couple I was sitting with were locals just flying home. They lived just past Wanaka and were telling me interesting little tid-bits of info. The man was really nice. He used to be a sheep shearer, which I had totally forgot about the sheep and the instantly just thought of Babe.

So that flight went well, got questioned through customs about being a snowboard instructor, it being ski season and me claiming that I’m not going to work. Totally understandable. I just explained to them that teaching was the LAST thing I wanted to do right now and that this trip is for me. They stamped my passport and let me go. Pretty sure I have more problems through security just when I fly back and forth to Seattle.

And finally – found Katie right as I exited the baggage claim and looked around and found Basti asleep in a chair – where he’d been waiting for me for SIX hours…what a guy.

Still kind of hard to believe that I’m IN New Zealand. For instance being here at Katie and Sophie’s house is somewhat surreal. But the driving on the other side of the road – THAT is scary shit.

Basti and I leave this morning around 9am to catch our bus down to Wanaka. It’s now 5:35 am on Friday here and 10:35 am on Thursday back home in Cali. I’m gonna be up late for a few night…
I figured I have a few hours before I need to shower and get ready to sit on a bus for another 6hrs so I might as well get a blog post up.

Another one will be up as soon as: A. we get to Wanaka and B. we find Internet – which I hear isn’t the easiest to come by especially with all the snow. So we shall see.

But nonetheless – keep posted

Our first day started a bit rough. After waiting over an hour hitch hiking. My binding broke. Needless to say I was bummed. We finally got picked up by this Japanese guy named PJ. He was stoked to find I was from California and instantly asked me if I’d ever seen Snoop Dog and how to correctly use the word ‘hangover’. This drive up was pretty entertaining to say the least haha.

After we got our passes I had to go and rent a pair of bindings and since I know how to use a screwdriver and didn’t let Tony do all the work he cut me a whooping deal of $5. Stoked.

We rode for about four hours cruising all over. The snow was super dry and really good to cut into. Had a blast slashing around the hill. Since I had lagged and not bought travel insurance yet AND it was our first day we decided no park. Which was probably a good thing. We still had a super good time. It’s crazy to be riding around and not have trees, that wasdef the first thing to catch my attention. That and how I feel like I’m out in the middle of nowhere haha.

Bing newbie’s at the whole hitchhiking thing we decided to en the day a little early incase the time frame turned out to be the same as this morning.

When I went to pick up my binding there was another guy working and my money is on he’s some sort of awesome. Not only does he look at my bindings and have the exact same idea, of how to fix them, as me but he does it. Sooo stoked. When I asked him how much I owed him he asked where I was from and I replied, ‘mammoth’ and he said, ‘ahh nothin you’re all good’. So I drop him a ten and told him to add it to the beer fund.

We ended up catching two rides back down to town, came home and crashed out.

Not a bad first day if you ask me

Firstly, I was stressing about the weight of my bags. My checked bag and board bag together could weigh 70lbs. Thank God I bought a luggage scale. Pretty much saved me $100. Then it was a matter of what I was stuffing into my pack pack and if I could bring snacks. Turns out I can and I experienced the easiest walk through security of my life.

Now I’m sitting here next to a bunch of Aussies assuming and hoping that I’m at the right gate which reads alaska/horizon and not V Australia…. Fingers crossed.

Down in NZ there’s a ‘superstorm’ accruing and Wanaka is getting dumped on. Which is Bad for our ride from the airport in christchurch, she’s stuck on the mtn, but luckily ww have a back up haha.

Basti reported ro me this morning as I was driving to LA that he made it and was on his flight to Singapore.

So far so good. Hopefully it just gets better.

Yep, thats right, I’m finally going to New Zealand and guess what – THE BLOG IS COMING BACK TO LIFE!

It’s like the magic elixir that brings life back to things once believed to be dead. Classic, right?

Anyways, I leave on Tuesday, arrive on Thursday and will be documenting every step of them way. From getting lost in Melbourne airport and trying to make the bus down to Wanaka to losing everyone and trying to find my way home after an epic “WELCOME TO NZ” night out on the town.

It’s gonna be like you’re right there with me – oh the power if the internets.

I’m going to be traveling alone until I get to Christchurch where I’ll be meeting my friend from Germany. Sebastian ‘Basti’ and I will be spending the next month gandering around Wanaka but mainly riding every day at Cardrona and occasionally SPNZ.)

I can’t believe I’m finally coming to NZ – still blows my mind. All my friends are stoked. I’m stoked. Basti’s stoked. It’s gonna be a month long stoked trip.

So keep posted and keep your fingers crossed I don’t somehow die along the way :

Here are the results:

Results

1. Ryan Paul $3000
2. Scott Stevens $2000
3. Forest Bailey $1,000
4. Jake Kuzyk $750
5. Ted Borland $500

Zumiez Destroyer Award:

Johnny Lazzareschi $1,000 + power tools

Here’s just a sampler of the fun we have…

priceless.

Last season these guys put out How the Northwest Was One… if you missed that premier psh…well bummer for you. Tons of North-westerners came out to EVO here in Seattle to support the boys.

This season, they decided to go a different route (as I’m sure they will every season). Saturday Night Ride – I’m sure there will be some pretty sweet punches…err slashes…tonight on the big screen.

Check out the teaser and then go hurry and buy your ticket! They sold out last year and Im on my way right now.