I had grand plans for sunbathing, sunny park laps and lots of filming during my spring shred in Tignes…..but the weather had other ideas. So grabbed the few sunny park days we got and filmed a couple of tricks:)
Tignes Spring Shred from katie blundell on Vimeo.
On Saturday we left Tignes and did the long drive over to Kaunertal in Austria for the annual British Snowboard Test….now known as “SPRING BREAK”
Everyone was there and it was so good to catch up with people I hadn’t seen in ages
I got to ride with the girls a bit which was awesome:)
The first day there was a rail jam on the stair set, here is a pic of the set up:
Then on Tuesday there was the Dragon Method compeition on the hip……Rich won £40 boom!!! I tried to learn methods!!!
This was followed by best trick on the hip……….I did some tail grabs surprise surprise….finale of a double tail grab!!! I just love them. Not many pics have surfaced yet but here is one of Angus Leith I stole from his FB
I really wanted to get some more filming done but the weather was against us again….the only sunny day I was having waaaaay to much fun just riding!!!
But I did join in at the Tie Dye Party on the hill…..was heaps of fun but decided to sack off wearing gloves so had blue hands for 3 days
Had lots of fun this year:) We had to leave early to save the pennies, so Im back in the UK now and its pissing it down!!!!!!! Welcome home! Seriously regretting the decision to have a summer in the UK haha! Need to win the lottery!
So I was in Tignes for the last 5 weeks of the season. After the coldness of Breck I had grand plans to work on my sun tan and take some slushy spring laps in the park!!! But it ended up being such bad weather for pretty the whole time I was there. Which was good as it encouraged me to work more and pay off some debt, but wasn’t so good for filming, park laps and sun tanning!!! Managed a couple days filming, so there will be another very mini edit soon. Here are some screen shots:
We did manage to get another couple of pow days in though:)
Then it was off to Kaunertal in Austria for the British Board Test……..or “Spring Break” as its now called!!!!!
I made it into my local newspaper, on the same page as an article about some local pigs, which is nice!!! SUCH a bad pic though haha!!!
I was lucky enough to get an interview in this months Whitenoize Magazine:) Hope I’m not woffling too much!
At the British Board Test last year, Coven Magazine did an interview with me. They asked me about my “Sketchiest Moment Snowboarding”, so here it is! #alwayswearhelmetskids!!!
Back in January I qualified in Laxx for the PBRJ Finals in Avoriaz. So straight after the Brits I headed over to Morzine
I met up with some of the girls I had met in Laxx, and also my friend Sabrina:)
Again the weather was really REALLY bad, so snowy and misty and freeeezing! But we kept warm hiking. The features were a long long down rail, a double kink, and two flat bars to down rail (gnarly). Here are some pics, sorry they are not that clear!
We got a warm up on the rails, then a long wait in the snow for our heat. There was 2 heats, Sabrina and I had the most amazing girls in our heat, haha I didn’t stand a chance! The heat was 15 mins, best trick on each rail. I rode so badly, was so embarrassed!! So didn’t make it through to the final:(
But our friend Ross did, and here is a nice picture of him:
But I was stoked to make it to the finals in Avoriaz anyway and inspired watching some of my fav rail chicks ride….also got to hang out with one of my besties Sophie Addison:):)
Back in Tignes now, enjoying some chill time and earning some money until the Board Test “Spring Break” in Austria woooooooooohoooooo x
So I flew back from Bear to Denver Friday, spent the night in Denver airport, back to Breck Saturday, back down to Denver Sunday and arrived in Tignes on Monday night…..straight into The Brits on Tuesday morning
So I was kinda tired going into the first event….. Bangers for Cash….The Brits Rail Jam. Tried to get into it but I was def struggling….but somehow managed to get 2nd!
Well done to all the ladies…Becky Menday 1st, Sabrina Burnham 3rd and Tignes local Kate Woods in 4th:)
Here are some pics and a zeach from the day:
After a mellow day riding on Wednesday, it was straight into The Brits Slopestyle on Thursday…..unfortunately, like for the rail jam, it was really really bad weather again
Visibility was so bad and it was so snowy, it was really just a case of trying to land a run and stay on your feet. I managed to get to the final, and stayed on my feet for my runs which gave me first place. Think I was just lucky! My final run I couldn’t see a thing…..decided it would be a great idea to take my goggles off my eyes half way down the run in to the jump……..this was actually the worst idea EVER, was totally blinded by the snow, couldn’t see where the lips were and couldn’t see how fast I was going. But I survived……minus any style on the course (kinda embarrassed by how bad my style was:( ). But was so happy with my placing, couldn’t have wish for more. Again well done to all the ladies….. Nathalie Silkstone 2nd, Kate Woods 3rd…….we battled through some pretty horrendous conditions! Here are some pics……sorry I’m not looking so hot
The BEST thing was….Rich Jonas (my boyfriend), won the Masters devision!!!! He hasn’t done a contest for a few years and it was so nice to actually do one with him!!! Was even more stoked for his result than mine…..theres life in the old dog yet!!! So we have matching gold medals….pretty gay really (his and hers!!!) but I was really happy haha!
Then I was off to Morzine for the European Finals of the Volcom Peanut Butter Rail Jam……………
For the last 5 days I have been in Bear Mountain for a UK girls photo shoot with the Reason Magazine. James North (the best photographer in the world) and Si Belson (one of my favourite people of all time) picked me up from LAX and we drove up to Bear. The views on the way up were amazing!
Bear has always been on my list of places to visit so stoked that I finally made it!
I met up with my friends Orla Doolin and Isy Jones who had been in Bear for the season…..was such a good girly crew:)
Bear was a complete opposite in every way to Breck. When I left breck it was snowing, -20 and mid winter conditions……Bear was hot hot +15, slushy and like summer! I actually kinda struggled getting used to the conditions as they were so diff, but was def enjoying the sun!! I tried to blend in and wore sunglasses and shirts to ride in, but was def not a cool as the locals
We spent the first day and a half shooting pictures and then the rest of the time filming. Really hope I got some good stuff, Orla and Isy literally killed it, feel blessed I got to ride with them:)
Northy and Belson were heaps of fun to hang out with. Northy is the most patient person ever, feel so bad he had to deal with 3 girls haha! Here is a pic of Belson with my board, doesn’t even reach his nipples, gutted!
And the girls with our fav photographer…
After riding in Bear everyone chills out in the sun because its so hot! Ahhhhh its def given me a taste of summer now…..and I want more!!!
So left Bear having had a great experience and with a few more freckles!!! Cant wait to see the article in the Reason Magazine…….
Returned to a blizzard in Breck, -23 freeeeeezing!!! Only here for one night then back to TIGNES!!!!!!!!!
So last week I was at Miss Super Park in Keystone. This was an event I had always watched videos of and was so happy/lucky that I managed to get into it:) There was so many AMAZING girls there, like around 40 of the worlds best ladies, felt a little intimidated for sure! But really inspiring for me:)
The set up was awesome/gnarly, here are some pics, there were another 2 jumps too but didn’t get pics:
I rode with my Austrian friend Anna which was so fun! She def motivates me to be better!
Everyday we got cooked a good lunch for freeeeeeee, always ate lots to try and be bigger for better speed on the jumps!!!!
Met some awesome ladies, lots of which I had admired for a long time! Here is me and Mary Rand:)
Filmed 2 laps the whole time haha #havingtoomuchfun, here are some screen shots:
I was so happy that I managed to get a shot on the last day on Snowboarder Magazine. Hiked it quite a few times and accidentally went over the back of the wall ride one time……. and it was a big drop:/ Good it was all worth while in the end!
And managed to get into one of the edits……..starring moment going up the chairlift with Anna, hahaha!!!
Hopefully I get to go back next year too:)
Now a week left in Breck then a photoshoot for the Reason Magazine for a week…….then TIGNES!!!!!
So I have been in Breckenridge for the last 3 weeks, living the dream! Crashing with a load of Brits this time (actually mainly scottish), its a good crack!
Been riding a lot, mainly Breck for jumping, but then a couple days over at Keystone too
Also been hitting the gym quite a bit and trying to get fit and healthy for my snowboarding! Here’s a pic of me and Charli:)
A big reason to come back to Breck was Woodward….I LOVE this place!! Almost more than snowboarding haha! Made a little edit from the other day, heres the link to it on Vimeo:
And actually finally managed to go upside down on my snowboard, not on snow yet tho:( But this is something I had wanted to do for ages!!!
The weather hasnt been amazing, so not many solid jump days, but fun anyway and trying to learn some new stuff:/
On a bad weather day last week, me and Helen fox went out on a “Lifestyle” photo shoot for Ride Snowboards….the funniest thing ever!!! #notdestinedformodelling………..so look out for some of the pics soon. Here is one of us in the forest:
Miss Super Park starts tomorrow, feel privileged and extremely lucky to have been able to get in, really really nervous as its with some amazing ladies. But it will be so inspiring and hopefully lots of fun! The set up looks kinda gnarly but awesome!
Then after that I’m off (fingers crossed) on a girly photoshoot for a week with Reason Magazine:). Maybe Bear, maybe Utah…….
Couple days back in Breck, then home to Tignes!
And a massive get well soon to my gym/woodward/riding buddy Charli Witts who badly broke her arm, 1 surgery, 2 plates and 13 screws later she is doing better and enjoying the painkillers x x x x
Been going to Woodward quite a bit, really have a nice time there. Here is a small edit from Thursday’s session…..
Trying to do Gymnastics again….Woodward Edit:) from katie blundell on Vimeo.
Unfortunately we only managed to film a couple of times in Tignes in January, so here is a very very mini edit…..nothing crazy but hopefully can get onto some proper filming now I’m in the states:)
So after a couple weeks in Tignes, I packed up my stuff and headed back to Laax, this time for the BEO
I was staying in a hostel with Si, Faye, Isy and Silvia, it was a pretty cool room…..
So I got there on the Saturday, and the girls waited until Thursday in the hope that the weather would clear up and we could compete……..but it was pretty much snowy and windy the whole week, the worst weather!!! The guys managed to squeeze in some of their comp in a small window of good weather, but the girls just weren’t so lucky this time:(
BUT we got some epic POW riding in and lots of hanging out with the girls!
I was pretty gutted the girls slopestyle was cancelled in the end, but I just have to think that it wasn’t meant to be for some reason….
I have just arrived in Breckenridge, stoked to be here! Just want to concentrate on actually riding for a bit and learning some snowboarding! x
After Laax I headed over to Davos for the O’Neill Evolution. I had no idea if I was going to be allowed to ride or not as it was invite only for the girls this year. But I was happy to go and hang out anyway
When I arrived, they told me that a lot of the girls weren’t coming anymore as they were doing the FIS comp in Canada. So I was in!!! Guess they needed the numbers!
I met up with my lovely Austrian friend Isy, Celia from America and Si and Faye (uk crew). As there weren’t many girls there, Isy, Celia and myself thought we would give the pipe a crack……..
Now I am a total novice in the pipe, I mean I maybe venture into the pipe once a season for a laugh…..I have no technique and absolutely no idea what i’m doing or even how to drop in properly!!!! But it was good for TTR points so what the hell!
I had a spare board with me, brand new and still in the packaging. So this would be my “pipe board”. I normally blunt my edges off, but the official pipe riders told me that razor sharp edges were best…….so after a few euro carves with my brand new edges on the piste, off I went….
It was actually pretty fun, I wasn’t even nervous because I didn’t even really care about the result I just wanted to have fun! I finished 10th (wont tell you how many people there was)….my first (and probably last) ever pipe contest!!! But stoked that I actually had a chance to ride a TTR pipe contest
Then it was time for Big Air……
There was an option of 2 different size jumps, then into 2 stair sets or a close out wall ride feature.
The little jump I found pretty whippy, you would be going so fast when you hit it, then with the whip as well it was kinda hard to keep control. I tried some spins off it in practice but it was really inconsistent. The BIG jump was a lot nicer, but huge….well for me anyway. It was 22meters and the biggest jump I had hit for sure. But I actually felt more controlled on this jump so this is the one I used in the contest
I couldn’t believe it when I made it through to the finals, bloody hell! There were 4 of us in the final. I knew the other ladies were waaaay better that me so kinda played it safe as I would be stoked to finish in 4th place. Also wanted to come out in one piece!
So finished in 4th place, so so happy!! Its really inspired me that I want to push my riding a lot more and start progressing on big kickers more, I don’t want to be the rubbish one again next year
Riding in the finals was a complete novelty for me. Having the camera’s there and my face on the big screen, haha!!! And the live streaming so my mum and dad could watch at home! Really just had to pinch myself and remind myself how lucky I was to even be in this situation
I had a great week hanging out with everyone. I met my new team manager for O’Neill, Jan, and loved hanging out with Isy and Celia so much. And I really cant thank Faye and Si enough for looking after me, calming my nerves and trying to boost my confidence….and Simon the dark horse, really impressed me with his skills!
With this comp, I really was just in the right place at the right time and i’m very lucky that it worked out so well:)
Now back to Tignes for a couple of weeks……..
Spare of the moment I decided to head over to Laax for the Volcom Peanut Butter Rail Jam. My friend Charli was heading over anyway and its always nicer when you have someone to travel with:)
The last street style rail I had hit was in Keystone back in December, Tignes/Val didn’t have any street style features set up when I was there 
So was really worried I was going to be pretty rusty
I got there and it was a stairset feature for the rail jam, so straight back in at the deep end haha!
It was a actually such a nice set up and just decided I wanted to have fun and take it mellow. Luckily some tricks came back to me and I did actually have a lot of fun!
Honestly, that standard of rail riding for girls has gone through the roof, it was ridiculously high. Some of my FAVs that I watch edits of were also there;) So that was nice
So happy I managed to get 5th place which also means that I qualify for the PBRJ European Championships in Avoriaz in March, yeeeey!
Thank you to Lauren and James for letting us crash in their pimp pad:)
Then it was off to Davos for the O’Neill Evolution……..
So I left Breckenridge just before christmas, couple days at home with the family and then out to Tignes. I did my first ever season in Tignes so every time I come back here it feels like coming home!
For the whole first week we had so much powder. Never seen so much snow in Tignes, it was ridiculous! So made the most of the powder riding which I never really get to do anymore!
Then it was christmas so enjoyed chilling out and eating way too much food. New years was a blast too. Im still on my no drinking/being healthy/exercising kick, so didn’t get drunk on new years eve. Actually saw 12 O’clock which was a first! Our apartment couldn’t have been any closer to to MASSIVE party….so felt like I was a part of the celebrations anyway, even though I was tucked up in bed like a loser;)
I’m working for Tignes Spirit whilst I’m here to get some extra cash for the season. Been pretty hectic so far with a few 14 hour shifts over the christmas period!! But its a good crack and I’m grateful for the $$$££££. Rich is the manager this season, so my boss!!! hmmmm
The parks are starting to get going here now. They have big plans for the parks this season so fingers crossed it works out. So far just been enjoying some mellow parks laps, filmed a couple runs the other day and hopefully we can get some more done soon:)
Just trying to sort out what I’m actually doing this season. Im the most indecisive person ever, and this season I seem to have to make lots of decisions all the time!!! So need to sort myself out and come up with a concrete plan and stick to it! But should be filled with some comps, trip back to America and some filming….
Ill keep you updated:)
Im sorry I havent posted for a while. I have been in Breckenridge for a couple of weeks now and to be honest I have just been keeping my head down and concentrating on riding! But I have been taking a few pictures to show what I have been up too:)
Im living with my 2 Australian friends Courtney Phillipson and Jess Rich. A proper girly pad…..although we do have a boy staying with us now too! This has been fun as finally I’m actually living with peop that enjoy trashy girly TV like me!!!! First things first, we put up the decorations (15th Nov….too early??!!!)
We also have a family of foxes living near us!!! They seem nice!
Everyone in Breck is super healthy. Inspired, I have been on a health kick too. Been riding, then going to the Rec. Centre…..gym, doing Pilates, Yoga, swimming and eating mega healthy (even cut out sweet foods…..well drastically cut down!) . I have never really done this before, figured snowboarding was enough exercise in itself to keep fit. But now I’m learning that looking after my body and really working on core strength is going to be so much more beneficial for my snowboarding 
Boom!
We have been riding Breckenridge and Keystone. Breck only has 2 jumps and couple of little rails at the bottom to hike. Most people have been hiking the jumps as its been getting so busy and its quicker to hike. Here is a pic of Courtney at the top of the Breck jumps…
But we have actually been going to Keystone more as they have a lot more rails and a way quicker lap. Im loving the rails there, so much fun!! They also opened a triple jump line a couple days ago but they have been soooooo busy, so we have actually just been jibbing more. Then going to Breck if we want to jump!
I have been riding and hanging out with some pretty cool girls. I am definitely the shit one in the group, but I feel so honoured and lucky that I even get to hang out with them and ride with them! Its so inspiring and just being around them motivates me to try and get better Speech over!!!! So thanks ladies!!! Here is a pic of some of them below….
One of my favourite parts of being here is out trips to Woodward. Its so much fun with all the trampolines and everyone keeps saying how beneficial it is for your snowboarding. So I sucked it up and bought myself a season pass, so that means I have to get at least 9 times whilst I am here to make it worth while! Here’s a pic of woodward….
So its fair to say that I’m loving Breck a lot and I wouldn’t mind staying forever!!! Stoked that I get to ride this early as I have never started my season so early before. Hopefully I will get some filming done at some point, but for now I feel its more important to learn better snowboarding:)
Really really happy that I have got a picture in this months Reason Magazine. Please excuse my face……this was my “surprised look”……hence why I didn’t pursue an acting career. Didn’t need to do to much rearranging for the shoot, as this is what my rooms normally looks like………pigsty!!!! Thanks so much to James North for taking the pic and to Ian Sansom for doing the article : ) So happy!!
PS. the bed was actually really big, not me small haha
The Reason Magazine Nov.2012 “Travel Sickness”, by Ian Sansom, pic by James North
1 Minute in Perisher – Katie Blundell from katie blundell on Vimeo.
Some mellow laps in Perisher Front Valley Park this summer, sorry is a couple things are a little sketchy, was trying to learn them!
