COLORAD0 ADVENTURES!

Currently I am on my February tour of Colorado.....sounds pretty regal!........

ASPEN

I started off in Aspen, CO with Anna, to meet up with Tess Cook from MountainWatch, Tony Harrington, Boen Ferguson, Charlie Timmins and Fraser McDougall. We got some shred-time in at Aspen and Snowmass, taking shots and watching Ted Davenport bomb a massive money-cliff off 'the wall' at Snowmass.

Waiting for the ski-doo to take us to the backside of Aspen Mountain

We spent two lavish nights at the Viceroy in Snowmass. The room was decked out with a bath- that could be a bed, the first home espresso machine I have seen since arriving in the US, cow pillows 'r' us (made with real leather) and a platter of chocolatey goodness.

bathtime!

We also had a surprise valentine, who sent us the biggest platter of chocolate------ I still haven't recovered.

CRESTED BUTTE: US EXTREME FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS

After many text messages and a few changed plans, I finally found a lift with some Aspen locals to the rocky slopes of Crested Butte.

I am actually staying in Gunnison, a town 30min from the mountain, at a cosy hostel called 'The Wanderlust', which is complete with 2 cats (one of which is 19yrs old) and a dog named Coal. It sports cute bunk rooms, a huge kitchen and lots of comfy sofas to sink into by the fire.

living room

kittty

cute little bunk-room

The 3rd stop of the 2011 FWT was meant to begin this morning, kicking off with the qualifying day at 'Headwall' at Crested Butte.

However, due to bad weather the qualifiers were postponed until Friday......lucky it had snowed around 6inches so I got to go skiing with some of the shred-ladies of Crested Butte, who showed me around the mountain steeps.

The qualifying venue, apparently the most 'open' of those skied in the comp, is a nice big face with some medium-steep slopes centered around a rocky gully (Angle Gully), filled with shark-teeth, drops and some jump turns that could eat the unfocused skier alive.

looking up the skier's right side of 'Angle Gully'

looking down 'Angle Gully' to the finish line--- many rocks are hibernating
under the snow, waiting for unsuspecting athletes.

top of 'Angle Gully'

I have chosen my line and I am getting ready for a clean, aggressive run. My nerves were a little high to begin with, considering this is my first comp in about 6 months, but after having an epic powder day in the back bowls of Crested Butte, I am a little more chilled and ready to ski my little heart out......oh and grab a lil' air.