TuxPow....

First day back shredding in Austria and I got a sick pow day, big overhead sprays of snow, super stoked and I got this sick screen shot from my go pro :D

It's looking super windy up Tux for the next week so doesn't look like I'll get up riding :( but Penken should be opening in a week and going by the snow I woke up to this morning, if it keeps dumping like this all week then it'll be be an awesome opening day!! :D

Scottish Freestyle Dryslope Champs....

Mid Backside 360 - Thanks to Wully Donald for the photo!! :)

Yesterday it was the Scottish Freestyle Dryslope Champs held at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre. I'd entered it due to people saying I should since I was home anyway and I'm glad I did!! I had gone down to the slope on Wednesday night for some practice as had not ridden dry slope for a year and I made some entrance my first run down and all I hear is Gnarly Natalie is back, hahaha!!!!

Each run got progressively better though and soon enough I was spinning off the kicker which I have not done in 3 years!! The spinning was effortless just on landing I would skid out cause you can't use edges on dryslope, hahaha but I started to get used to it, then when the wind picked up I moved to practicing on the rail and box. It was a real fun session and love riding with the guys there many of them I have coached and always stoked to see how much they've progressed since the last time I saw them/ rode with them :)

I have to admit I woke up yesterday morning nervous for the day ahead. I have ridden in many comps over the years but I hadn't for a while and with not having ridden dryslope for a year too although I was coming into it from a good session on Wednesday so I knew I could do it I just had to stomp those landings and stomp them I did!! It's weird over the years on entering the comps it has always made me step my game up and I just go for it and land so it's good to know I can perform under pressure like that!! There were 2 other girl snowboarders riding and they were awesome, was rad riding with everyone!!

It was a fun comp a fun day and I'm stoked on the tricks I did and actually landing them. I had one of the fellow snowboarders surprised at how good I was riding after not having ridden on plastic for a year as he said after one day riding on snow at the Cairngorms it takes him a while to get used to it again!! I also surprised myself big time in how well I rode and I guess just highlighted to me how good and strong a rider I have become to be able to adapt to different conditions like that and normally that is not something I would admit to myself or say out loud but for where I'm wanting to take my riding I need to start believing in myself more, stop comparing myself to other riders cause I am at the level now where anything is possible on my board the only thing preventing me from doing it is having that self doubt so I guess this season is all about believing in myself more and the skills I have on my board and developing them even further!! 

BASI Common Theory Course....

Working towards being a BASI Level 3 snowboard instructor means doing many courses one of which being the Common Theory course which is always held at Glenmore Lodge in Aviemore, Scotland. So I headed home from Austria to do this course, which was good meaning I could spend a week at home in Aberdeen too and catch up with family and friends :)

I'd heard many things from different people about this course, mainly that it was pretty boring etc. But I came away from it feeling inspired having learnt so much on it. Sure it is mainly ski related and when the trainers speak being more from a ski background themselves they relate it all to skiing throwing in the odd reference to snowboarding for the handful of snowboarders that are on the course. Although we did have some snowboarders taking us for sessions which was really good and was stoked to see my friend Ben up there taking us for intervals training and circuits!! I'd say I got a lot out of the weights/ gym/ intervals and circuits sessions as I have done a lot of that in the past for when I trained for running but I was unsure how to adapt it for snowboarding and what workouts would be relevant to working the right muscles for snowboarding but now I know so I can now make a training schedule that I can do over the winter and look forward to training more and seeing how it helps improve my riding by making me stronger and more flexible, etc!!

Also everyone seemed to think I was Canadian cause of my unique accent, haha!! The course coordinator specifically thought Quebec because I am quiet but confident, I'm not in your face and when I speak he can tell I know what I'm talk about, haha!! I guess it's pretty cool when no one can guess where your from, I'm so used to it now, it's mainly people think I'm American, Canadian or Scandinavian but no I am Scottish!! :)