For those who don't know, Snowboarding is one of my 'things'. I first went boarding in 1998 at Mammoth Mountain in California, it was a momentous thing, as it changed my future.....my last 2 winters I have spent teaching boarding in the States, at a resort, Sunday River in Maine (near Boston), which is incredibly ironic because my first ever experience on snow (skiing) was on a school trip to Sunday River in 1997!! Who knew 8 years later I'd be teaching there, definitely weird how the World works and more than enough proof that we are capable of more than we can imagine.
Last year when I first visited Sweden, I ended up at Stadium in Stockholm (exactly this date- well last weekend but a year ago) and randomly stumbled across a big ass jump built in the middle of this Stadium (it's called Stadium as well so it's not just me being retarded). Turns out the top pro's were there (minus a few Americans) as it's an event on the FIS World Cup...kinda like a league of Snowboarders etc who tour around the globe and compete in these events.
Last year I saw the likes of Risto Mattila, Andreas Wiig, Antti Autti and the legendary Stefan Gimpl (The names prob don't mean much to you I know...but amazing athletes and known globally to the snowboarding world!) but unfortunately I missed it this year!!!Aaaaahhhhh.....ok, not as bad as it seems, I was watching a Queen musical in Globen with my lovely fiance, but yes I did have the odd moment of 'kinda wish I was there' (I'm not saying I didn't have a great time!!) especially as last year it was pissing down with rain and last weekend was clear skies and great conditions. I managed to catch it on TV and even watched the skiing big air, including seeing Simon Dumont (from Sunday River!) who came 3rd.
The Finns dominated the Boarding, Janne Korpi came first....he is just immense, pulled a cab 10 (look it up if you don't understand!) with a nose grab. So I will leave you with a pic of last years and hopefully the video will work. For those who have no interest in Boarding or Skiing, I beg you not to just pass up on either, you'll be amazed how much fun (and how easy it is too) you can have, it opened up my life, let it in to yours-I promise you won't be disappointed!!
p.s. It really isn't about doing stuff like this, you just appreciate it more when you know how to ride/ski properly!! Check out a short vid of some clips from this year
