Spring day in February!

COP was sooooooooooo good today. Hot hot hot! In addition to riding, I was able to get a few pics. Blue Bird!

2010 Mission Girls Rail Jam

Big congrats to my girl Jenna Mae for winning the Missions Girls Rail Jam at COP tonight.

Check out the rest of the pics on Flickr.

Ladies 16+

Under 16 (Hi-Fives all round)

Top left: Jenna Mae  Top right: Nicole

Bottom: Jordana

Killing it!

New old Camera!

Of course I love my dSLR and in no way am I becoming a film SLR purist. But check this out. My new old camera.


Let me introduce you to the Canon T50. This camera model was first released in March 1983 and in the same year won the Good Design Award from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Features include and are possibly limited to manual film rewind, powered by two AA batteries, camera shake warning, built in electronic self-timer with beeper!! For full specs check out the Canon Camera Museum.

Billabong Posts Result on Billabong.com/Flauntit & SBCWomen

Mount Norquay Results are posted on the Billabong site & Snowboard Canada Women site, along with photos:

http://snowboarding.transworld.net/1000118103/girls/girls-features/billabongs-flaunt-it/

http://www.billabonggirls-usa.com/event/28/billabong-flaunt-it-slopestyle--rail-jam

http://www.sbcwomen.com/hotbox?news_id=390

E-Interview with Christy Prior

Name: Christy Prior

Hometown: Hibiscus Coast, Auckland, New Zealand!

Age: 21

Number of years riding: 5

Sponsors: Undergroundskate, Mountain Dew NZ, 686, Northwave, Drake,Bakoda, Skully Candy, Madwax, Helensville Fitness Centre

Board Length: 148

Stance Width: To tell you the truth, I have no idea and I’ll be dammed if there was a measuring tape in this house... but can assure you its O.G jib steez wide with 

angles 15,15 :)

Stance: Goofy

Favorite Resort: So far from where my travels have taken me... Snowpark NZ, Treblecone NZ and Mayrhoffen Austria!!. But, definitely my favourite resort/town/people the whole package has got to be Banff, Canada!! so good!

Favorite song(s) to listen to while riding: What is on your playlist right now- quite the selection from.... Fleat wood mac-edge of seventeen right through to whirlwind thru cities by Afu-ra... so good.

Number of days riding this season (09/10): I got about 50 days in New Zealand and just arrived in Banff 2nd of February and had at least 10 days. But with 3 months left here, I have high intentions to demolish that number!! :)

Favorite Trick: half cab nose press nollie back 180 out!

Hardest Trick to learn: hard way back 180 onto street rail....

Favorite Snowboarding Video: Black Winter

3 things people should know about you:

- I am a sucker for sushi or any Japanese!!

- Snapped my ankle 3 years ago on a 70 foot booter and got the fear-hence why I’m a jibber!!. but getting back into now-and I’m addicted!!

- I contradict my self as I am aware and aim for a healthy lifestyle looking after my body, eating, exercise etc... but at the same time if partying was a profession- I would have my PHD!!

 3 things people don't know about you:

-I am organized!!.... I swear?....

- I was actually born in England... and only a permanent resident in NZ (moved to NZ at 18 months old) one day I’ll apply for my citizenship.... :)

- I can't spell to save myself!!

Where I find my inspiration: Riding with crew is always inspiring, the Rude Boys throw down ALWAYS and I’m constantly observing/stealing their tricks, technique and style. Then there is BSA represent!! And from my home town our Underground Skate crew-best team trips ever!

Person I look up to: all of the above...

What I would do if I had more time: Go study fashion design and marketing at school. I really want to create my own clothing label. At the moment all my time is spent snowboarding and all my spare time I’m working my arse off to have enough money TO snowboard... so for now, when my body gives up on me-that is the day I’ll go back to school!!!

3 things I never ride without: 

- My ipod (believe it or not complete with head phones)

- Lunch on the go (crushed up muesli bar in my pocket!!)

- My helmet. Cool kids wear lids!!

Snowboarding road trip! Where I would go:

You mean, where would I start!!! mmm, Seriously, any road trip where friends, snow and new places are I’d be there with bells on. But.. I’d definitely give my little jib stick the ride of its life and hit the powder highway around BC (British Columbia) CANADA!!

I wish people would take more notice of: Snowboarding in general. Say for example, rugby players back home earn some big money even as reserves or even in lower teams. If snowboarding had that much exposure, I wouldn't be living on the floor in my mate’s storage room right now! Ha ha... but, we love it!

Ideal night out: Some casual beverages with the crew turning into some not so casual beverages..... ONNNN!!! oh and every Tuesday for riders night at Hoodoo's, always a dangerous commitment to make!!

Ideal night in: After a sick day shredding and an awesome hot shower, my flat mate Guilaume bringing home from work bucket loads of chocolate from the Fudge Factory and just sinking into the couch for the night, with no peer pressure, text's or phone calls saying come party!!... hahaha

A common misconception of me: If I say I’m going to do- ill do it!

A phrase I use too often: sweet as.... aye. haha seals the deal, I’m definitely from kiwi land!!

How I get motivated: of course a quick glimpse at a snowboard dvd always gets my stoke level up, but...putting on a banging playlist works every time!

Favorite gadgets: be lost without my computer... and my to do lists!

Words to live by: eat, ride, sleep, repeat.

But on deeper level.... Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined. Which brings me back to my first quote..... eat, ride, sleep, repeat!! ohhh, I love my life!! :)

Over and out!

Christy Prior

Want more from Christy? Check out her blog here:

http://www.undergroundskate.co.nz/blog/?p=1975

Christy Prior's Rider Recap of the Billabong Flaunt it 2010

Check out the Rider Recap on the 2010 Billabong Flaunt it contest from Christy Prior.

http://www.undergroundskate.co.nz/blog/?p=1975

Women's Boarder Cross . . . GOLD for Canada!

Congrats to Maelle Ricker who just won Gold in Women's Border Cross just minutes ago!
Olympic Fever is everywhere. Just to give you an idea, I was downtown Calgary at the bay to pick up a shirt to wear to work (therefore allowing me to wear jeans versus business attire) and everyone in Calgary had the same idea. So if you are at the store and you have your size, don't put it down!

COP sporting the Olympic flag.

2010 Billabong Flaunt it - Mt Norquay more and more pics!

So I went through more of the pics and was able to post a second batch from the event. Check them out:

Billabong Flaunt it - Mount Norquay - Pt 2 on Flickr

Rail Jam Results:

1st Christy Prior

2nd Brooke Voigt
3rd Marie-Andree Racine


 

SlopeStyle Result:
1st Marie-Andree Racine
2nd Sara Niblock
3rd Christy Prior
4th Karen MCnab

Dakine Best Trick- Kim Wiersma - Back flip 180

Stand out Rider of the day- Adriane Cairns

2010 Billabong Flaunt it - Mt Norquay

Saturday February 13, 2010 

 Billabong Flaunt it at Mount Norquay 

How can I sum up the contest that just went down yesterday . . . Pure Awesomeness! These ladies were seriously pushing the level of riding to new heights and motivating each other along the way.
If you were watching the slope style portion you would be oohhh'ing and aaah'ing over the steezy grabs, 180's, 360's, 540's, a 720, can't forget the switch tricks and back flips.
The Rail Jam was insane, with tail slides, frontsides, 180 on/ off, 270 on's 270 out's, switch ups . .  you name it and it was thrown down in style

So picture wise, this is what I got from the contest. Ladies if you like what I got let me know, we'll set something up to get some of these pics out to you. If you don't see any pics of you here check out my flickr site or email me or FB and I will see what I can find.

And just remember to be kind and remember the photo credits.

-Katherine Calnan

katherinecalnan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/katherinecalnan

P.S. Also check out Jan MacMillen for even more photos on the event: Jan's Flickr

Thanks to Billabong, the judges (Char!!), and the commentators.

Jenna Mae 

 

Christy Prior, Rail Jam Winner. Watch out for this for lady!  

First place Slope Style prize, along with the big $700 chq, travel bag and billabong goodie bag.

Living the Dream

The other day I read this interesting write up on Jon Versteeg (new favorite rider with the best style), and the article talked about how he saved his money working as a supervisor at an icecream shop in order to compete. And good for him he got second last weekend at the Canadian Burton Open:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/2010wintergames/snowboard/cream+vendor+scoops+silver+snowboard+meet/2534898/story.html

This blog goes to dedicated athletes from all walks of life. Let the games begin!

2010 Burton Canadian Open

Friday February 5, 2010
Slope Style Semi-Finals

Jon Versteeg. Seriously, amazing style.

Craig Beaulieu another Canadian with great skill.

Saturday February 6, 2010 
Half Pipe Finals
Absolutely gorgeous day with the sun warming up the pipe. 

                                          Iouri Podladtchikov

HP Men's Finals

1. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI )

2. Justin Lamoureux (CAN)
3. Markus Malin (FIN)

HP Women's Finals

1. Kendall Brown (NZL)
2. Sarah Conrad (CAN)
3. Mercedes Nicoll (CAN)


Sunday February 7, 2010
Slope Style Finals
Where did this weather come from? Such a difference from the past two days of sun and blue skies. The fog rolled in or shall I say frosty fog, and made viewing and photographing kinda difficult, not to mention cold as well. Check out the results and the pics (attempted pics).

Womens's Finals 
1. Enni Rukajarvi (FIN)
2. Lisa Wiik (NOR)
3. Sina Candrian (SUI)
4. Breanna Strangeland (CAN)

Men's Finals
1. Brett Esser (USA)
2. Jon Versteeg (CAN)
3. Robby Balharry (CAN)
4. Mark Sollors (CAN)

For full final results check out the Burton Open site:
http://www.opensnowboarding.com/Home.aspx?openid=CNO

Pictures Part IV

Last but not least, my favorite pic from the trip. Why you may ask? Because we were on our way to pick up fish & chips and a Kabab. Ya that's right, all in one night.

Pictures Part III