The Life of Sloth

November 2007 - Posts

• New Boots for this Sloth

  After many months of emails and phone calls, finally my new boots arrived yesterday. Fully stoked on getting these! OK, so they're a bit Shaun White, but they're super-comfy, stiffer than my Lashed, light-as, way better laces, stuff and things really. Got to love ThirtyTwo for sorting me out with these - truly amazing customer service.  I'd ridden my Lashed for nearly 2 seasons, one of them had started to come apart near the toe. So I contacted them and was eventually told to send them up to Auckland. Not a lot of boots left at this end of the season, so it was a case of "here's what we've got, take your pick". These Tm-Two's definitely stood out as the ones to go for - a few models up from the Lashed, a bit stiffer being a good thing. Might get them heat moulded before Japan and will have to walk round the house in them for a couple months.   Posted Nov 24 2007, 08:47 AM by le_sloth with 8 comment(s) Filed under: Snowboarding, New Zealand

• Terje's First Descent

  Just in case you'd not seen the film, how about this for a steep one? Puts everything else into context. <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rd8AJdcnw4A">http://www.youtube.com/v/Rd8AJdcnw4A</a></p> View original media here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8AJdcnw4A Terje Haakonsen going down 7601 on First Descent.   Posted Nov 24 2007, 07:10 AM by le_sloth with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Snowboarding, Video

• Jermaine Embroiled in Doping Scandal

  gnarlyboarders.co.uk undercover reporter Colin Lell has uncovered some worrying information concerning South London construction worker Will Gemmel aka Jamroll Jermaine.  A source close to Mr Gemmel has alleged that he has inadvertently become addicted to bodybuilders food supplements whilst trying to fight his way back to form ahead of the 2007/8 snowboarding season.    Gnarlyboarders.co.uk has been sent photographs, taken inside the confines of Mr Gemmel’s 25 Mantilla Road residence, a south London safe house referred to by some as ‘The Think Tank’.  The photographs, whilst grainy and probably taken on a low resolution camera phone, clearly show the extent of Mr Gemmel’s problem.  A vast array of bodybuilder’s food supplements are apparently littering the flat.  Flatmate Rob Evans was said to be worried by the developments but refused to comment further saying only that Mr Gemmel had recently become ‘aggressive’ towards him and also had started to develop a ‘thick neck’.    Current speculation as to the reasons behind this alleged addiction are varied.  Some are pointing the finger of blame towards Mr Gemmel’s business partner Oscar Sangster, a known recreational ‘Creatine’ user.  More likely is that Mr Gemmel (age 47) is suffering from some sort of mid-life crisis and is worried about his failing form on a snowboard.  Rumours suggest that Mr Gemmel is considering a trip to Japan in 2008 to meet gnarlyboarders.co.uk founder Sloth and participate in some kind of ‘Board-off’.  Whilst these rumours are unsubstantiated it is entirely possible that Mr Gemmel feels threatened by Sloth who has recently achieved a snowboarding instructor’s qualification.  One other source suggested that Mr Gemmel was making an attempt on the Mr Universe world title but these were later disproved.  Gnarlyboarders.co.uk is known for taking a very firm line on ‘banned substances’ and if these allegations prove to be true then Mr Gemmel may be ostracised by the very community that supported him in the early part of his snowboarding career.  Attempts made to interview Mr Gemmel have been limited in their success.  The only picture available was taken last week whilst Gemmel was leaving a Streatham gym known to be frequented by competitive bodybuilders.  It clearly shows a rapid gain in size compared to eyewitness reports from earlier in the year.  One reporter did manage to confront Mr Gemmel who quickly became aggressive and shouted ‘I’m not taking f**king steroids, alright!’, he then proceeded to punch the reporter and then run off down the road dressed in a pair of baggy striped trousers and an oversize sleeveless t-shirt.  The Metropolitan Police have advised the public not to approach Mr Gemmel if sighted.  Mr Gemmel has several aliases and sometimes goes by the name of Jarmarl Jermaine.    Colin Lell   Posted Nov 22 2007, 08:57 AM by le_sloth with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Snowboarding, food, randomness

• Lockdown Project's Terminal Ferocity

  This always heralds the start of a new winter up in the northern hemi - Lockdown's new movie. Unfortunately I don't reckon there'll be any of us in it this year (unless they were secretly filming us in Lesley Arcs?). Mr King / anyone, anyone, Bueller - can you grab me a copy and chuck it in the post please, pretty please? As they say in the movies...  Free in TSA stores from this weekend! Lockdown Project's fourth movie, Terminal Ferocity, is available free to all Snowboard Asylum customers from this weekend. As you'd expect from the makers of Proper, Bad Ass Big Airs and Showoffs, this year's flick is full of top notch riding from the UK's best. To find your nearest store visit: www.snowboard-asylum.com   Posted Nov 18 2007, 04:40 PM by le_sloth with 4 comment(s) Filed under: Snowboarding, Video

• Beast of a climb

  Finally i got myself out riding today. 23c, warmest it's been in awhile here. Actually that was almost too warm on the climb up Rapaki.Damn that's a long, tough mission! Bit like riding the wrong way upThe Gap in Brecon Beacons. Ugh. Still, we made it. From there it'ssingletrack climbing to mt Vernon, then the fun begins! Twisty tighttrails all along the top then down into vic park. DH bigger boys stuffon today so had to change routes but eventually popped out at bottomof Bowenvale and rode back home. Think Mildred is due for a bit oftinkering. New tires are good tho. P.s. Where were you lot? Published with BlogMailr Posted Nov 18 2007, 03:05 PM by le_sloth with no comments Filed under: MTB, New Zealand, Mountain Biking, Christchurch

• Dorking Ride in Autumn

  Me @ Dorking Originally uploaded by le_sloth. It was a few weeks ago now, but just found the couple of photos I took on a ride down in Dorking the day before I flew back. Figured it all out and borrowed all my kit + bike off Guy - he had his old Intense back for a bit so rode that for the day. With my old brakes on it too. After the compulsory "where's my socks" type thing, myself, Guy and Ben set off from Holmbury Hill, down the old classics - Bomb Holes, Telegraph, then over to climb up to Leith Hill. Some weird way we ended up getting to the top, barely rideable but somehow we just popped out at the tower. Straight in for cheese and pickle sandwiches. Not too many people around really, despite weather being pretty good. From there, it was over towards Summer Lightning - this has got quite a bit longer and is well bedded-in - sweeeet! Back to the top, down across the road and DH to Holmbury St Mary - yay! For first time managed not to overshoot the corners. Dunno what happened to Ben tho - bit of blood here and there I think! Got myself a bonus ride down to Peaslake, but forgot to turn off on the left and ended up in the Ravine trail - barely rideable at all now, very deep. All in, a wicked ride - great to be back over there. Think that was the first time since landing on my head around 2 years ago. Nice one Guy and Ben - we'll sort that out again - how bout over here in NZ?!   Posted Nov 11 2007, 08:10 PM by le_sloth with no comments Filed under: MTB, Mountain Biking, England

• Bonus Day at Mt Hutt

  Time has slipped by and I forgot to write anything about that unexpected day at Mt Hutt the other week. As far as I was concerned my season ended up Ohau, some 4 weeks beforehand. But unpredictable as the weather is over here, Mr Dumpy came back for an end-of-season special. Got himself all excited and sprayed around 30cm on powder all over the place. Got myself up there nice and early to score freshies, and wasn't disappointed! Summit chair hadn't been open the day before and was pretty much a whiteout, but this day was near-bluebird . Snow was a bit heavier than I like, but you can't have it all this late in the season. Had a wicked few hours' riding, checking out all the parts of the mountain I'd not ridden before - was awesome stuff round off the cat-track to the right - plenty big pow turns. Also plenty of landing on my head -  trying to go bigger off drop-offs, but landing switch in that heavy snow was a bit tricky, especially cos I had my bindings set right back. Very weird riding at this time of year - up there it's all white and blue, thick fog on the way down (listening to All The Ducks Are Swimming in the Water), then out you pop into bright green at the bottom, with new-born lambs everywhere.  Bonus!  Posted Nov 04 2007, 05:31 PM by le_sloth with no comments Filed under: Snowboarding, New Zealand, randomness, Winter 2007, Mt Hutt

• My Winter Season 2007

  Well, that's it all over for another Winter. Boards covered in storage wax (oh, dammit, got to redo the Rome because of that unexpected bonus day at Mt Hutt) and boots sent back to ThirtyTwo. Yeah, there's one - my boots that have been awesome for 2 seasons now had started to come apart near the toe. Didn't think they'd be keen, but after a couple of months of painfully sloooooow emails going back and forth, they said "just send them up to the distributor in Auckland and we'll replace them". Get in! Got a call from them last week and they're out of Lashed, so have got to send me some 306's instead - seems they're a couple of models higher up the range. Hope to get them this week. Sweet as. So what about the season then?   In terms of snowfall it was nothing compared to 2006, but then that was epic! If only I'd got round to riding Ohau and the Canty Clubbies back then...d'oh! There's always 2008...Anyway, so back at the beginning of the season I wrote myself a list of places I wanted to ride - looks like I did fairly well considering the lack of neige: Ohau Mt Potts Remarkables Cardrona Coronet Peak Treble Cone Porters Temple Basin - didn't even manage to open Craigieburn - rope tow fear! Broken River - bizarre season. As of Nov 3rd/4th, they're still open! Methven Heli (yeh, like I could afford 2 heli trips in a season!?) Olympus (only managed to open for a couple of days, BIG avalanche action though - not good) Snow Park NZ - stay away from anything made of metal or plastic or BIG jumps 7 out of 13 - gotta be happy with that. Ok, so I only got 21 days' riding compared to 48 last year, but these were pretty much all quality and the pick of the best conditions. It's all been about roadtrips - twice down to Queenstown, once to Ohau and then that wicked day at Mt Potts. Loving the new board - took a little getting used to, but that Magne-Traction stuff really makes a difference - you don't even need to sharpen your edges - it still grips. Loves the powder, plenty more pop than the poor old Rome, it's all good in the Lib Tech world. Other new kit - gloves are the best I've had - super-warm and having built-in robotic wrists is sorted. Jacket and pants are sweeeeet - clip them together and no snow gets in your ass. Toasty, dry and comfy. Worth getting a Mt Hutt pass? Yeh, defo - riding Ohau for free, discounts almost everywhere else - sorted! Might just stick with mid-week pass next year though as that's only around $275. Weird Weather  So what's been going on with the weather then? June wasn't too good, with most fields opening later than usual. Got some awesome pow in July, a very dry August, but sweet if you knew where to go. September it all started kicking off again, then in October, when everything closes, it all went mad. During October Broken River had 2.25 metres of snow fall, Coronet Peak has had 110cm since they closed (and only 180cm all season). Broken River was still open this weekend, the 3rd and 4th of November - that's like riding in May in the Northern Hemi. Apparently there's another cold front moving up the country tonight, dropping snow down to 700 metres. Wtf? That's it then, all done, roll on 2008...and there's something big in the bag for that one! Watch this space...     [p.s. if you're still watching this space, look away now, nothing to see here.]  Posted Nov 01 2007, 09:08 AM by le_sloth with no comments Filed under: Snowboarding, New Zealand, Winter 2007