Hello shredders!
Below is a short clip I put together summing up what I do and why I do it. If you have any questions about training with me at Rookie Academy, get in touch. Cheers!
Category Archives: Adventure
Winter buzz | The annual TC slog.
There is a constant layer of frost in my backyard that continues to remind me winter is here to stay. The mountains start opening this weekend and there are plenty of excited people in town anticipating a great season ahead!
7am:
Tom & I hit the road bound for Treble Cone’s access road. Maybe we should’ve ridden from town but our coffees would spill.
7:30:
With a very short warm-up, we ride from the TC arch and start shedding layers…
Contact Epic | The most EPIC ride
Fitness aside, food preparation for a ride like this is critical. After experiencing the early stages of being hangry two years ago, I had to ensure the perfect snacks and lunch was packed for the 125km ride. Wrap ingredients from Fedeli were ideal!
The EPIC ride clockwise day ride around Lake Hawea was my first so it was important to pace myself and spread out my energy. As we jostled for position, staying with a pack of riders with similar cadence seemed to work well. Cheers of support from the friendly farmers and locals made all the difference, especially those at Hunter Valley station!
A great stroll| The Routeburn, Fiordland
Saying we walked the Routeburn sounds so boring… We Strolled the Routeburn and soaked in all her glory! With the size of our packs, we really had no choice … 
It’s been 18 years since I last had the fortune to spend time on this track, well worth the return and the company I had made it that much better. Ashley, Erin and I spent 2 nights and almost 3 days on the track staying in the DOC huts along the way.
The biggest difference I noticed this time was the massive decrease in bird life. The introduced Stoat aka the incredibly well adapted native bird killer were prolific and were the main cause behind the dramatic drop in bird life. Once teaming with a frenzy of bird calls and vibrant bush, we were left with a green paradise left in silence, with only the sound of a booming waterfall in the distance.
To say the DOC staff were oozing with passion for nature was an understatement. Each night they would present a conservation speech to the happy campers.
Each night we rested our legs and reflected on the day of strolling through paradise. Even without the Kiwi, Tui, Kakapo and other natives we were still treated to a gizillion waterfalls, streams, lush bush and springs we could drink from along the way.
Cruising Milford was the cherry on top… We marveled at 140km gusts and what they did to the water over the narrow Fiord. Trickles turned into Gushers and Waterfalls turned into Water-ups!
I hope in another 18 years we can return to the area with the new generation of nature lovers and cherish the native birds once again while we stroll through paradise.
Sting Ray is delicious… | Biking Queen Charlotte Sounds
After spending much of my Summer guiding multi day cycle trips down the West Coast of the South Island, it was time to hit the trails – at my own pace! Tommy Parker, Keith Stubbs and I packed up my truck with the necessities, including a decent rain jacket, snacks & headed toward the Alps. From Wanaka, it was going to take 3.5 hours to get to Frans Josef where there is a 4km loop track, just north of the township. After hearing of the recent deluge there, we were happy to know the track was intact, due to a passionate few local shredders.
Continue reading Sting Ray is delicious… | Biking Queen Charlotte Sounds
Japanuary | Snorkles optional
How can it be so much fun riding through deep snow? The anticipation of a powder day creates a universal energy in a town filled with powder-hounds. The common interest to score that night (night-riding in Niseko is very good) or early the next day is priority, people even leave bars early! Well, the clever ones do anyway.
It’s not often shredders here have the privilege of seeing Mt Yōtie, so when she appears, out of respect, we take the time to enjoy the view. I have yet to climb her, but she’s on the list of things-to-do during my trip here.
I have the pleasure of saying Mum & I are going snowboarding, in Japan! How many of us can say that?!
Westland | Shades of Green
I feel privileged to spend so much time exploring my home country. To some it is an insect sucking, wet & simple part of the world but to me it provides infinite opportunities to explore. The people who I am fortunate to travel with, value a sense of adventure much like me, it is contagious and I love it.
With the wind and sun (sometimes) on me I ride the VBT bike with up to 20 guests down some of the most beautiful highway in the world. I hear the waterfalls, see the tree canopy above me and feel so much more on a bike. Being on tour allows me to balance the food indulgence and physical activity perfectly!
With up to 6 tours a Summer, the time away from Wanaka can be tough. When driving & riding toward Central Otago I see the shades of green fade and the tones of brown remind me of home. It’s great to be back.
I am currently in Hokitika during the 3rd tour of the season and we were just treated to another epic sun-set. Enjoy the shots from the tours so far along with a favorite quote.
Look deep into nature and you will understand ~ Albert Einstein
Keen as for Summer!
It was a fun afternoon charging around the Millennium track with Dom Channon, bikes and cameras. The awesome crew at Icebreaker needed some photos of their new Corespun merino so we found a cool beach and went to work. A huge thanks to Dom for his time & creativity along with Icebreaker for the continued support!
The summer ahead seems like a great balance between sun & snow… There are a couple of bike trips lined up with VBT which will mean plenty of exploring on the West coast of the South Island. We stay in Hokitika, Frans Joesef, Moeraki, Queenstown & Christchurch.
If you happen to be in Japan late Janurary & early Feb, hit me up! I’ll be shredding pow with my Mum (who also rides) in the Niseko area.
It’s a wrap! | Ushuaia, Argentina
It was an incredible week meeting snowboarding representatives from around the globe. Interski gave SBINZ & NZSIA an opportunity to showcase how strong we are as an organisation. We showed strength in our on and off snow clinics and made connections with ski areas from all over the world.
From here we can take information and a fresh insight home to our membership in New Zealand. We look forward to running clinics throughout the country to further enrich our snowboarding.
Check out the latest of our videos and see www.interski.nzsia.org for our other write ups & video.
From here… Sam, Keith and I enjoy a road trip through Chile in search of pow!
Photo: PSIA
Photo: PSIA
Chilling in Chile… La Parva – high above Santiago.
Riding into the Alps | Aspiring Hut bike packing
Few people will venture beyond the sealed road along the Matukituki valley. Especially with a mountain bike! I had ridden this track to Aspiring but before, but this time we planned to stay over night.
Within 2.5 hours we drove out of Wanaka and ridden up the valley while taking photos along the way. Only a few river crossings to tend with which made both driving and riding great fun! Memories of jumping in puddles those years ago flood back to me.
Continue reading Riding into the Alps | Aspiring Hut bike packing
Richie Johnston 