So it's been 2 years since I did my level 2, I have done 4 seasons since then as well. I'd thought long and hard about whether I was ready to give the level 3 tech a go as know how hard it is to pass and the level of riding expected. The thing is you only really know what to expect once you've done the course, nothing else can really prepare you for it. I came to the conclusion that my riding has constantly been getting stronger and stronger and if anything this would give me the push I need to bring it to the next level as I'm ready for it!!
I had the training week first with Ben and then assessment week the following week and I was in Neil's group for that. Was cool getting 2 different but same perspectives on my riding and input into how to improve it to get it to the level their looking for. Neil is very technically minded therefore likes to talk a lot more which I think is good as fully makes you understand things but I think if you went into the course not really knowing this stuff it might go over your head, luckily Ben had gone over this stuff the first week in a simpler method of teaching and more showing and doing and then having Neil's input the following week really helped me get my head around it all and I'd say Ben and Neil complement each other for such a course!!
Seeing the other riders on the course I knew I would have a lot to work on but at no point did I feel like I was out of my depth. One of the other guys Paulo I did my level 2 with so I knew him and the others I got to know quickly and got along with them all and then the other group that joined us the second week who I was with were also cool and real good riders so was fun riding with them too. We had Aymeric Tonin a pro rider doing it too, he should become a professional bumps rider the way he flys through them regular and switch, haha!! Cool dude though.
I had things to change with my posture and got that fixed just need to keep working on that to make it stronger, also various other tweaks which I felt the benefits of straight away. After week one I was feeling strong, did some riding over the weekend with the others and went into the second week/ assessment week just looking to keep riding hard and do my best. Neil picked up on the things Ben had and I continued to work on these things. Mid week we got told where we stood and although I was not expecting to pass it still came as a blow hearing that your not at the level, I don't know why but I guess you get caught up in the whole thing and you really want to pass and do well even though you know your not or something. So yeah I was pretty upset Wed night and Thurs morning, then I started to ride good, things clicked into place and Neil was noticing this and saying so so I had this new positive lease of life and just went with the mentality of enjoying the last 2 days and my riding relaxed, I felt a lot better and as I saw people getting stressed I was not feeling like that at all!!
What meant the most to me over the 2 weeks was all the trainers noticing how different a rider I was, Si didn't recognise me when riding and was impressed then realised it was me, haha!! Ben was real impressed as I don't think he expected me to be riding like I was and Neil even noticed too, at the end when he said I hadn't passed he did say I was the most improved rider and he does not normally give out compliments unless they are really deserved or something so when he does then he really means it and the last 2 days he'd been giving me a lot of them so it shows I'm heading in the right direction, I know what I need to work on and I just got to keep on riding and engraining all these new techniques into my riding!! But I am proud of where I have taken my riding in such a short space of time without any formal training since my level 2 and the main drive being me wanting to change the type of rider I am for the better and get away from being called a dry slope rider, yes that's my roots and where I learnt but I want to be a snowboarder who can rip it up all over the mountains anywhere in the world on any terrain or feature!!
It was a tough 2 weeks very tiring early start leaving from the Hoff with my friend Bri who was doing her level 2 and passed :) Left just after 7 and sometimes not getting back till around 7 at night so just enough time to eat then go to sleep ready for the next day.
I knew how the others were feeling when they were told they didn't pass on the Friday as that is how I'd felt on the wednesday and I'm glad I went through that mid week than the last day. Everyone rode well but they are looking for you to be riding constantly to a high level as this is the highest level for snowboarders in the BASI system so they got to be brutal about it and that's what helps strive us to be the best we can be. I met and rode with rad riders learning from them, I love watching how others ride and you could tell who were the strongest, it was a pleasure riding with them all and who knows maybe one day we'll shred again!! :)
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