Early warning, but Stylewars is back on at Falls Creek starting from the 24th of August. The warning is not so much for you guys, but for the groomers that are going to have to back up that 150ft monster that got so much airplay last year. This is a bit of a worry because in the press release, they claim to have enough snow to build 3 of them. Some of the confirmed names include Travis Rice, Mikkel Bang, Torstein Horgmo, and Chas Guldemond. I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty serious.

For those of you lucky enough to have 314 channels of Foxtel at home, make sure you keep checking Fuel TV (516) because they are currently screening one of our alternate edits for ‘Two Weeks In…’. The one that Fuel is airring features a heap of behind the scenes action, in effect, chronicalling what it takes to make a snowboard film (trust us, it takes a lot). If you don’t have Foxtel, you only have to wait a week or so longer until Issue 10 is out with the cover-mounted copy. That will also have a bunch more content, and as usual, will be totally FREE(dom).

We’re hearing rumors from several sauces (that’s right, the ketchup told me) that ACP have sold Australian and New Zealand Snowboarding to Wolseley Media - the investment fund that swapped Rolling Stone for Waves and Tracks a few months ago. According to the rumor, Wolseley picked up Auz/NZ Snowboarding along with a ski magazine. If it’s true, this is a good addition for Wolseley and a better fit for Aus/NZ Snowboarding as I personally found ACP… ahem, shall we say, a little difficult to deal with. I’ve asked for comment from ACP with no response at this point - I’ll let you know if I hear anything more.

Well as quick as it began (bullshit, thanks airlines) its over (not true, double fuck you airlines). Well not yet. I’m writing this from a hotel void of wireless internet in Christchurch, can you believe that? An airport hotel without wireless. Ridiculous.

How am I supposed to close million dollar deals in Singapore without my internet?

Speaking of million dollar deals, let me tell you about captain cockface. Now when I am at the airport at it goes bad, I am very relaxed, I don’t get mad, I keep my cool. It may not seem that way on here, but this is my space to rant so back the fuck off. Anyway, at Wanaka airport we were informed that the plane we were supposed to go on had broken down. Nearly everyone in the place (about 16 people in a tin shed, one of the best airports ever) was now going to miss their original and connecting flights. Everyone was obviously a little pissed, but hey whatever…

Old mate George was doing his best and I’m pretty happy not to be in a broken plane. Everyone was dealing with it fine. Except captain cockface, there he was with big fat mouth (and body) spitting chips about his multi million dollar company in Singapore and blah, blah, blah. Good old George was taking it all in stride, he had organised everyone a bus transfer to Queenstown and had it under control. I mean George let me behind the counter at the airport to use the phone and his internet. Legend.

Captain cockface had finished giving everyone a serve and organised himself a helicopter to get him to Queenstown super fast, even though we were supposed to go to Christchurch. Good riddance wanker. After he left George had good laugh because the dickhead left his Emirates tickets on the counter, good guys always have the last laugh.

The bus was cool, some lady had cookies for everyone. I got to sleep a little and we drove through the hills, it only takes an hour so it was fine. I had already come to terms with the fact I wasn’t going home on this particular day. I was given a hotel room for the night and everyone got on a connecting flight. Pain in the arse, but nothing you can do. My mood got a real boost though when cockface rolled in after the bus posse, only to join the end of the line. His several thousand dollar helicopter flight got him there slower than the cookie bus, and just to top it off, no more seats. The wanker got put on stand-by. That’s what you get when you are tosser. Suck turds.

Back to Snowpark

Days 5, 6, and 7

Day 5 was mellow, pretty much rode solo all morning. In the afternoon I caught up with Jye Kearney who was talking runs with young French Canadian ripper Sebastian Toutant aka Seb Toots. When I told Jye I had made Nate, Tiene and Koia famous in my previous blogs, he jumped at the chance to perform manoeuvres into front of the ixus.

First run antics, Jye Cab270

Seb, BS180 Half cab out.

After a chairlift review of footage and seeing a crazy Jap guy stomping a double back, Jye was certain he could perform better. Not the case…

This is Jye cutting his balls. I shouldn’t have stopped filming but I felt terrible, that is ones of the worst things that could possibly happen to any man (or woman with testicles). After a bathroom review, he confirmed there was in fact some blood. Get well soon.

Seb couldn’t be stopped. If you haven’t heard of Seb, you should have. He won the Empire Shakedown at 13, and stopmed at double cork back 10 at Superpark this year. He charges. Here is some of his mini park handywork.

Back one thriller, half cab out.

Little jib line.

After Jye cut his nuts, he was over it and the day wound down. That night I went to the Billabong house to have a BBQ. I learnt a few things today. For example, if you drink alcohol after having a massage you can die. Your blood flows better after a massage and when combined with the blood thinning effects of booze, small clots in the blood can be moved around the body into places like the heart and brain. Not good.

Robbie Walker throwing caution to the wind.

Dan Himbrechts doing his best Jamie Oliver

Nick G and Woody, Strictly Business.

So much better than the beef jerky and apples I have been eating all week (I didn’t have a fridge).

Those lucky bastards are all off to fly some whirlybirds around shooting the new Billabong Outerwear catalog. Have fun.

Day 6

No on hill photos, but I met up with Billy from Burton who is over here organising the 2010 catalog shoot. I thought there must have been a reason so many heavy hitters were in town. I even saw Jake Burton cruising around today. Billy told me about some of things they had on the go and it all sounds pretty sweet, but it will be about another year before we see any of them. We cut a few laps with Danny Davis and Keegan Valaika, another day of being reminded how terrible I am at snowboarding accomplished. Thanks for the ride Billy.

Last look at Snowpark, I’ll be back.

This is how dirty your stuff is after coming down the hill, it was the first time I think I have ever had to wash snowboard gear.

Saturday night I went to a local ski movie premiere in Wanaka. I don’t really know shit about skiing but I guess it was pretty good. People were freaking out about jibbing the clock tower Cardrona, I didn’t understand why considering Travis Parker and I think Devun Walsh hit it over 5 years ago. Anyway it was a good vibe in there, lots of hooting and a capacity crowd, all you need for a good premiere.

Crowd inside, lots of Oakley gear. Tanner Hall was there.

Day 7.

If you read the start of this blog, you will already know what happened when I tried to leave Wanaka. So instead of telling you again, here are some photos.

Lake Wanaka, scenic

Even toilet spokespeople are cool in NZ

Southern Lakes skyline

In summary, NZ in general and Snowpark are amazing. Not too expensive, amazing terrain, great people, and just a nice relaxed part of the world. I wish I had more time, better accommodation, and  hopefully spend less than ¼ of my time in transit. There is always a next time.

Thanks for reading.

Hey all, thanks for reading the first part, had a few comments so I thought I better do another.

Unfortunatley for you guys, my trip isn’t exactly a mystical trip into the unknown, quite the contrary. I wake up at in my cell(if you don’t know what I’m talking about, read here) at 6.45, roll into shower block where it’s a heart-warming 0 degrees, brush my teeth, then walk into town to have a sandwich and jump a bus. That said, everyday when the bus pulls in the car park I get just as excited as day one(day two actually). Day 3 looked like this…

Clouds left about 15 minutes after this photo.

I rode mostly by myself on day 3, which made it a bit hard to get motivated. It also made it a bit hard to take photos without looking like a wanker. I guess this made the internet blog gods pissed, because at 2 p.m. Snowpark handed my ass back to me. I was going a little slower in the arvo crud, drifted a little and knuckled the first table at about 450. It sometimes hard to tell if you hurt or in shock or whatever, but when I woke up after sleeping on the bus home, my shoulder felt jacked. It was hard to take my clothes off. Whatever, I’ll be fine.

That night I went to visit the Billabong guys who are in town doing their new catalog stuff.  Cool to see a bunch of guys i haven’t seen in a while. Dan Himbrechts was there and I think he should write a blog, he just returned from a heli trip at Mt Potts, good times.

Day 4.

It really doesn’t get any better than this…

My shoulder felt sort of alright, so I took it easy for the first few runs. Then Billabong posse arrived. Now don’t get me wrong, I love snowboarding with friends, but snowbarding with these guys is hard. Not that I have to impress any of these guys…

Nugg (about 2 minutes before Ryan Tiene attempted to give him a 50kmph haircut). Or…

Dan Himbrechts.

But you do feel a certain obligation to at least try a little harder around these guys. Needless to say I belted myself again, hurt my shoulder a bit (boo-fucking-hoo). That was good enough time for me to eat another sanga and maybe try a film a little or take happy snaps.

Some of the Snowpark crew at work, they shred hard too.

Ryan Tiene, killing it lately, be ready for his part in the new Sandbox film.

Nate Johnstone, casual BS 7 mute. Nate is currently 10th in the TTR world tour rankings. Yeah buddy!

After that i put my camera away and did some jib runs. Before you know it, it’s 3.30 and i have to jump a bus. One more look before you go home and pass out.

Beautiful isn’t it?

Tonight I might go hang out with some friends if I can escape from prison. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Out for now.

I didn’t really want to post that many teasers because a million other websites do the same, but this is definitely worth a look. We posted the first teaser here a while ago, and that was pretty good, but this one is a bit gnarly. Apparently filmed on the Oakley Red, the production value looks amazing. I’m skeptical on the soundtrack at this point, but I’m not worried. With the exception of this guy, triple backs are next level. Premieres are soonish, so we’ll let you know.

Last week I told you to drop what you doing and watch the live webcast of the Burton New Zealand Open. If you didn’t listen, which is most likely the case, the friendly people at the TTR World Tour have provided this tasty little video so you don’t miss a beat. Looks good huh? Lucky for me, after a measly 14 hour trip, I am in Wanaka and will be at Snowpark tomorrow. Hopefully I can bring you some action from this week as the next contest to grace Snowpark is the Billabong Snowstock, there will be plenty to see over here. Stay tuned.

Transworld is reporting some major team changes happening at Burton. Danny Davis, Mason Aguirre and Kevin Pearce have all moved up to the global team along with a host of new names. Names apparently no longer on the global list include Romain De Marchi, DCP, Keir Dillon, Ross Powers, JP Solberg and Anne-Flore Marxer. Check a full list of list changes over here.