HAIII DOZZZOOOO

19/02/2010

So so so here I am back again from the land of Ninja’s, Sushi, Samurai’s and deep pow to report on how my epic journey is going. I normally blog in a formation discussing events and socialising, riding, teaching and any other business...but im in a crazy freestyle kinda mood so this can go anywhere! Excited? I am !
So lets talk about the instructing! Its been going well the hours haven’t been mega – we were promised it would be flat out during the Chinese new year (first couple of weeks) of Feb, but it wasn’t overwhealming – I could have worked harder for sure. I am really enjoying teaching the higher end lessons, as I use them as practise time for my exams I have in April in Canada. Its scary how quickly this winter is going and how fast my year out of normality to persue a dream is ending. The goal for the year was to get my CASI 3 and in April the whole focus for the year will come to a pin head and I need to make sure I pass. At the beginning of the winter here in Japan I made an epic CASI Level 3 training manual and I have to read and consolidate everything in that manual so its in my head. As well as this I need to make sure my snowboarding is upto scratch. I feel like I am progressing but lack consistency!
Things in the house where I am living are going ok, when you get 27 people of different ages and backgrounds coming into a house its obviously going to be a bit busy. The house gets messy a lot and that causes a little drama here and there, and occasionally there are personality clashes for sure. I find personally if it gets too much I am getting better at getting away that I was earlier in the season for sure. I find that I am stupid sometimes and let the house and things get to me a little to much and care a lot about what other people do and think. To be fair I don’t really care too much about what people who I don’t care about think – but there have been times where I have let people get to me.
Some amazing news is Moshan Hussain my brother from another mother is visiting for 15 nights and is going to be living with me in the Staff Housing!! Amazing news – basically I approached my manager about this and he said no initially, but after I got a petition signed from the house to agree to him stay – he couldn’t really say no – great news!! He will be moving in with me in my room for 11 days and spend his first 4 sharing in another room. My roomie Kay is leaving at the end of Feb and Tom and Chloe have already left Tom had to go to Uni and Chloe blew her knee off a kicker so had to go home to get it fixed. She did the holy triad MCL,ACL and Meniscus! Sad times!
Riding has been going well – the weather has been a bit inconsistent and the snow hasn’t been as epic as previous winters but I cannot complain with the state the Europe is in at the moment! Been trying to focus on my riding standard for CASI 3 and self analyse through riding and feeling! Its going ok but I certainly don’t think I am there! I will get there! My freestyle riding hasn’t really progressed much but I am trying new things and sometimes they work – sometimes they don’t consistency is key and I just don’t think I have it. I also feel a little bit straight stiff and untidy – needs a lot of work.
In terms of what I have been upto there have been a few notable events. Mike one of our housemates has been having a regular gig at a local bar called Half Note and one of his more memorable gigs was during Australia day! We had a great evening and fun and frolicks were shared by all! Its always nice when the crew get together for a night out!
We hiked the peak of Niseko one day on a clear day and rode the back bowls toward Annapuri – I did this with Pistol Pete, Jemima, Bjoern and Tom Summerville – it was an awesome memorable day – it was sunny there was some spring style fresh snow and the back bowls were super nice and steep – it was the first nice steep run I have done since New Zealand! It was such a nice feeling shredding powder on steeps and the natural gulleys were so much fun. To top it all off there was a fun rail at the bottom of annapuri and Tom, Pete and I sessioned it and had a lot of fun for sure!!
My Birthday was another incredibly epic night we decided to arrange a NomiHodai – all you can drunk at a Karaoke bar in Kutchan. The all you can drink started from 9pm and finished at 3pm – the theme was tight and bright superheros and we had some incredible costumes. I went for a last minute shop and purchased some small female velor trackpants in a hot pink with a green cape. I looked incredible – Tony was on incredible form on the vocals saranading everything in sight. The night was soo much fun – everyone got soo drunk and just sang and were super merry! Best memories from the night – Tammy fondling the random dog, having the entire bar to ourselves, Tom and Bjoern suddenly deciding to take up smoking, Tony loving the microphone and everyone in a generally blind state of mind – good times!
I rode a different side of the mountain on a day off with Claire, Jake, Tony, Bec and Bjoern – its called Moiwa and its a sick little hill – reminded me of Salmo in Canada – 2 lifts accessing loads of fun off piste terrain, trees drops and generally good freeriding. Tony came and saved my day as I was having a little bit of a moment and we hit an awesome 12 ft cornice, it was loads of fun though my knee was sore it had to be done! Definately got mad love for that ginger ninja and despite the fact he doesn’t think so his riding is coming along nicely and with each day on his board he is getting better and better – its awesome to see. Out of everyone here I probably give him the most crap and he puts up with me and is an epic dude – just thought I would give him a shout out and props for always being there when I need a brother!
We went to the Sapporo Ice Festival and it was weird being back in a city! Reminded me of what I was escaping from! The ice festival itself was pretty awesome – the things these Japanese people carve out of ice is pretty epic! I managed to find some bargain basement snowboard boots which will do nicely! 32 TM 2’s for £80!! My current boots are dead! I was so lucky to find something so cheap – luck favours the brave and good things happen to good people –stoked! Highlights include the lion king snow carvings and the epic food we ate – excluding the McDonalds.
Finally just recently I went skidooing for winning employee of the month andit was soooo good! I was soo lucky we got 90 minutes shredding around in fresh snow and there was a ½ freeriding section where they let us do what we want in an open paddock of fresh powder! IT was insane! Such a thrill – such a good time! Life was certainly good at that point in my life for sure!!
Thats it thats all for now folks – I will keep you posted in the near future maybe closer to me leaving to catch up and later you know about my emo state of mind at the thought of leaving Japan, Niseko and NBS – much love!