PARK/POW UPDATE_13-14/FEB/2016_DONOVALY,SVK_Finally winter!

3 in a row !



Uplynulý víkend hlásil Iľko kataklyzmu v podobe pol metra snehu. My sme neváhali a obrnili sa trpezlivosťu aby sme z kancelárskych klietok vyrazili v dostatočnom predstihu kým sa brány Donovál nezatvoria nadobro.

///



It was said by local weather forecast to await half a meter of fresh snow alongside with cataclysm on the roads. We didn’t bother with thinking where to head and we braced ourselves with patience to leave our office cages in advance before roads to Donovaly valley will close for good.

"Perfect visibilty"

Katka enjoying some fresh snow 

Rainbow is asking for you

Zobudili sme sa do bieleho rána a po klučkách pomedzi popadané stromy sme konečne stáli na Novej Holi a prašanové radovánky sa začali.



///

We woke up to white morning and after struggling thru fallen trees, we finally stood at the top of Nová Hoľa lift and pow happiness could begin.

Handrail twins

Dexto destroying the local forest



Nakoľko teplota sa pohybovala okolo nuly kvalita snehu nebola taká v akú sme dúfali.
 Rozhodovanie prebehlo expresne a v ridersparku nás čakali jibové prekážky a 3 skoky za sebou. 
Dopady príjemne mäkké, skoky slušnej veľkosti. Na Horičku sa šlo s dvoma zatáčkami, potom brzdiť na druhý a tretí skok len rovno. 


///

Because temperatures were around zero degree, quality of snow was not as we hoped.
 After quick checkup we move out to Riderspark where jib garden and 3 jumps in a row awaited for us. 
Landings were comfortably soft, jumps of decent size. On jump called “Horička” you had to carve 2 turns, few slow turns before second one and straight down to the third jump. 



Gapers charging

Swarming around features

Jibby trpeli predchádzajúcim nedostatkom snehu ale tak či onak sme si užili príjemné jazdenie.
 Kopec prekážok leží ladom a dúfame že pred nastávajúcou akciou v snowparku, riderspark prejde prestavbou

. Každú sobotu shaperi grillujú tak neváhaj a prispej na fungovanie parku, grillovačky, akcie a nové prekážky.

///

Jibbs suffered from previous lack of snow but we had a good time. Lot of obstacles lies around and we hope before next event in Riderspark, shapers got park rebuilt.

 Every Saturday shapers put up a grill session, so don't be silly and donate to park maintenance, grill, events and new obstacles.

/Dexťo & Katka

Photo gallery: 

Pretzlin' on a short street rail

Step-down wide boxes

"Horička"

Second jump

Donkey dick

3rd kicker with straight double-rail

Wallride on shapers hut

There is some snow on Nová Hoľa

PARK UPDATE_5/FEB/2016_Karolinka,CZE_Czech america!

Rails - Jump - Rail - Jump

When we saw on Thursday the pictures of the park that Chose put up on facebook, we were like, we have to check it out and that straight away. Few phone calls and messages and the next day we were on the road direction Karolinka. Partly cloudy and sunny, with few centimeters of fresh snow, that fell down last night, the park laps could begin. 

On the top of park there is a rail platform which includes down box, down flat-bar rail and double-kink (down-flat-down) for the jib-masters. Following this you will find a short warm up jump with table of ca. 3 meters which is really good for practicing switch take-offs.

///

Keď sme videli vo štvrtok obrázky parku ktoré Chose zavesil na facebook, museli sme to ísť čím skôr otestovať a to najlepšie hneď na druhý deň. Pár telefonátov a messages a na nasledúci deň sme už sedeli v aute smer Čechy. Slnečné lúče, trochu oblakov a pár česrtvých cm snehu a shred mohol začať.
Na vrchu parku sa nachádza rail platforma ktorá pozostáva z down box, down flat-bar rail a double-kink (down-flat-down) pre jib-masters. Za tým nasleduje krátky warm up jump s tablom tak ca. 3 metre ktorý je naozaj dobrý na trénovanie switch odrazov. 

Rail platform with first jump

On the third platform you have up-rail a.k.a. cannon with a nice long landing. The cannon is actually pretty high so you don't have to pop up too hard to make 450 out. (According to latest news the cannon is not there anymore due to warm temperatures :/).

///

Na tretej platform bol up-rail a.k.a. cannon s pekným dlhým dopadom. Cannon je dostatočne vysoko takže aj bez nejakého väčšieho odrazu tam v pohode hodíš 450 out. (Podľa najnovších info sa v parku v dôsledku výrazneho oteplenia ale už cannon nenachádza  :/).

Cannon with 2nd jump below

After this up-rail there was the 2nd kicker which was a little bit bigger then the 1st one. Despite the fact that both kickers were quite small I really enjoyed hitting them, because they were shaped really good and had a sweet transitions.

///

Po tomto nasleduje druhý kicker ktorý je trochu väčší ako ten prvý. Napriek tomu že obidva skoky sú celkom malé ja som si ich veľmi užíval lebo sú naozaj dobre shapnuté a majú príjemne transitions.

Marek blunting the 2nd jump

Unfortunately on Friday when we visited the park, the 3rd and biggest jump was still under construction. But the landing looks steep and long so it's going to be great. (according to the park crew the kicker has now table of 12 m). 

At last the park ends with a box/mailbox platform which was my favorite part of the park. Long flat-down box on the skier's left which gives you plenty time to throw there more than one switch-up and a flat-down mailbox with a nice gap in between.

///

Žiaľ v piatok keď sme boli v parku, bol posledný tretí skok ešte vo výstavbe. Ale dopad vyzeral dostatočne dlhý a strmý takže keď bude hotový bude to tip-top. (podľa park crew má kicker teraz okolo 12 m). 

Na konci parku je ešte moja najobľúbenejšia časť a to box/mailbox platforma. Dlhý flat-down box on the ľavej strane ti ponúka veľa času aby si tam nasúkal viac ako len jeden switch-up a flat-down mailbox s pekný gapom medzi jeho časťami.

Both flat-down masterpieces 

Beginner park:
Yes, you reading correctly, there is another park in Karolinka. On the way up on the lift on the left side, behind the tow-rope lift there is another park for beginners with a flat T-Box, small wave-like jump and flat box at the end. This place is really good for people who wants to get their first park experience.

///

Beginner park:
Áno čítate správne, v Karolínke sa nachádza ešte jeden park. Cestou hore na vleku na ľavej strane za lanovým vlekom sa nachádza park pre začiatočníkov s flat T-Box, malou vlnkou na skákanie a flat boxom na konci. Toto miesto je super pre ľudí ktorí chcú získať prvú "park experience".


I mean, two parks in such a small town resort, with main park consisting of 5-6 hits and a small park with 3 hits, both top shaped, are we in Park City Utah or another american snowpark or still in Karolinka? Good work shapers and the whole ski field, keep it up!
(*Due to changing snow conditions and warm temperatures the park setup might change so better check out their facebook page for current updates).

///

Neviem, ale dva parky v takom malom dedinskom stredisku, kde v hlavnom parku máte 5-6 prekážok a v malom ďaľšie 3, pričom obidva sú top šhajpnuté, či sme v Park City Utah alebo inom americkom snowparku alebo stále v Karolínke? Super práca všetci šejperi a celé stredisko, len tak ďalej!
(*Kvôli stále sa meniacim snehovým podmienkam a teplému počasiu sa setup parku môže zmeniť tak pre aktuálny stav radšej checkni ich facebook page ).


/OJ

Karolinka 5/Feb/2016
One mellow run in Karolinka last Friday! (3rd biggest jump wasn't ready back then)///Piatkovy mellow prejazd parkom v Karolinke! (3ti skok nebol vtedy este v prevadze)
Posted by TFT on Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Photo gallery:

Few guys were lapping the park with us

First rail platform

Mind the gap

Big Air v meste 2016

Kremnica night atmosphere

Big Air v meste 2016, one of the biggest freeski and snowboard events of the year went down yesterday. What happened in historic center of Kremnica will tell you following report. 

Strong field of 31 riders gathered on Saturday already for the 9th edition of this spectacular urban show on snow. Jump was bigger than last year (probably biggest they ever had) and so was the run-in tower which was raised by one more floor to the total number of 5 floors. Now the only question was, are we going to see doubles?

///

Big Air v meste 2016, jeden z najväčších freeski and snowboard eventov roka sa konal včera na historickom námestí v Kremnici. Čo všetko sa tam udialo si prečítaj v nasledujúcom reporte. 

Silné štartové pole ktoré pozostávalo z 31 jazdov sa zišlo v sobotu tento krát už na 9tom ročníku tejto fantastickej show na snehu. Skok bol väčší ako minulý rok (pravdepodobne asi najväčší aký kedy bol) a tak aj rozjazdová veža ktorá bola zvýšená o jedno poschodie na konečných 5. Jediná otázka ktorá teraz visela vo vzduchu bola, uvidíme double?

5 story run-in

Qualification:

After warm-up jumps, 15 freeskiers and 16 snowboarders were divided into two qualification heats where they had one hour jam session to prove to the judges that they deserve to make it to the finals. Judged were 3 best runs and advance could only 7 skiers and 7 snowboarders. The only female competitor from the whole field was freeski Natália Šlepecká.  

///

Qualification:

Po zohrievacích jazdách 15 freeskiers a 16 snowboarders bolo rozdelených na dve kvalifikačné jazdy kde mali každý hodinovú jam session aby ukázali rozhodcom že si zaslúžia byť vo finále. Hodnotené boli najlepšie 3 skoky a postupovalo iba 7 skiers a 7 snowboarders. Jedinou súťažiacou dámou bola freeski Natália Šlepecká. 

Unique night show on snow 

Finals:

In finals it was another hour jam session to determine who will end up on the podium. Judged were again 3 best runs and also best trick which had to be chosen from both ski and snowboard together. People saw riders spinning left and right, forward up to 1080 and switch up to 540. In-between there were some frontflips, rodeos, underflips and of course corks. Peter Lengyel was the only skier hitting the jump switch in the finals with stylish switch 540s. Richie Jurečka on the other hand was throwing rodeos both natural and unnatural direction all the way to the parking lot. But top spot went to Juraj Bernát who was spinning like there is no tomorrow including his massive 1080. Nana was clearing the jump with nice 540s. Pretty high quality of riding just no doubles. Well, until Juraj Bernát decided to throw double frontflip which he unfortunately underrotated and landed on his bindings, what looked pretty painful but Juraj got up and seemed fine. Riders, together with supporting program threw an awesome show for the whole Kremnica downtown which everybody enjoyed. Big up goes to the organisation crew for making the Big Air v meste better and better every year. Can't wait for volume 2017.

///

Finals:

Vo finále bola znova hodinová jam session kde sa malo rozhodnúť kto pôjde na bedňu. Hodnotené boli opäť naj 3 jazdy a aj best trick ktorý sa vyberal spoločne medzi ski a snowboard. Ľudia videli jazdcov rotovať doľava a doprava, dopredu do 1080 a na switch do 540. Medzitým tam boli nejaké frontflips, rodeos, underflips a samozrejme corks. Peter Lengyel bol vo finále jediný skier kto si dával skok na switch so štýlovými switch 540tkami. Richie Jurečka tam na druhej strane posielal rodea na svoju natural aj unnatural stranu skoro až do fontány. Ale najvyššie umiestnenie išlo Jurajovi Bernátovi ktorý to rotoval ako keby nemal prísť zajtrajšok vrátane jeho masívnej 1080. Nana prelietavala ponad námestie peknými 540tkami. Celkom vysoká kvalita jazdenia len žiadne doubles. Teda kým sa Juraj Bernát nerozhodol dať tam double frontflip ktorý žial nedorotoval a dopadol na zadnú časť svojho viazani čo vyzeralo dosť bolestivo. Juraj sa ale hneď postavil na nohy a vyzeral že je ok. Rideri spolu so sprievodným programom pripravili super show pre celú Kremnicu ktorú si každý užíval plnými dúškami. Veľký rešpek patrí celej organizátorskej crew ktorý robia Big Air v meste každým rokom lepší a lepší. Neviem sa už dočkať čo prinesie rok 2017.

Results:
Freeski:                                                                Snb:
1. Juraj Bernát                                                     1. Dávid Kordiak
2. Richard Jurečka                                               2. Matej Matys
3. Peter Lengyel                                                   3. Boris Karolčík

Best trick:
Juraj Bernát: Cork 1080 Tailgrab

/Text: OJ
/Photo: Žický

Finals fireworks

PARK UPDATE_31/JAN/2016_Valca,SVK_Jib garden!

From balcony to the basement

Last sunday we didn't want to go far so we just decided to check out local Boardland jib garden in Valcianska Dolina. Ouuuu boy and it was good. Even though the park is very small you have 4 hits in one run and that counts!

The whole garden is basically divided into two lines. Easy line on the skiers right is made of boxes and medium line out of rails - pipes. It all starts with a close-out a.k.a. balcony which can be pretty challenging for beginners. When you survive this you can decide to go to a donkey dick or to a down box. I didnt even go for the box on the right side, because the donkey dick - hokejka was so smooth. Definately my favorite feature in the whole park. 

Filip getting it done on a donkey dick

After that you had a short flat rail and box and the park ended up with long flat rail and wide box on the right side. For beginners there was yet an orange "vrrr" pipe and a massive big tanker. Both were located on the side of the main two lines. 

Bottom of the park with big tanker on the right

If you are a jibber then Valca is the right place for you. You can hike along the features and enjoy many possibilities on the way down.

///

Minulú nedeľu sme sa rozhodli čeknúť lokálnu jib záhradku v Boardlande vo Valči. Park je síce malý ale más 4 hits v jednej jazde a to sa počíta.

Záhradka je v základe rozdelená na 2 hlavné lajny. Na pravej strane je easy lajna ktorá pozostáva z boxov a na ľavej strane je medium lajna kde sú iba rails. Všetko začína balkónikom ktorý ťa môže ale pekne potrestať ak ho podceníš. Za ním nasleduje down box na pravej strane, mňa však najviac oslovila aj tak hokejka ktorá bola vľavo. Jemná a super osadená takže určite naj prekážka v celom parku. Na ďalšej platforme bol krátky rovný box a rovný rail. Celý park bol potom zakončený širokým boxom a dlhšim rovným railom. 

JR waiting for somebody to drop in

Pre beginerov bola ešte vľavo osadená vrrr oranžová rúra za ktorou bol luxusný široký tanker. Ak si jibber tak Valča je to pravé pre teba kedže za kúsok šlapania nahor si užívaś 4 prekážky cestou nadol. 


/OJ

PARK UPDATE_30/JAN/2016_ Gubałówka,POL_Smaczny ser wędzony!

High Tatras

It's 28th of January and we are sitting on social media. Posts are pilling up on the wall like shrooms after spring shower. Shots of snowcats as they set up landings, pipelines stationed, that saudi guys get envy.

Everyone is promising, overdoing who will set up tastier snow park before weekend. Donovaly is promised to have 3 degrees on Kicker scale, Ruzomberok 1. Jasná got 2 degrees last week. Štrbské Pleso is too far for people waking up next day to work, nearest Karolinka is undergoing construction. After brief meeting, quick check of weather forecast, we came up with decision to visit our overlooked neighbours.

Gubalowka location

Funicular to the top

We took the well known road through Orava's hills to Zakopane. On behalf of brother google waypoints, we got the most beautiful road trough side skirts and around unknown corner of Tatry mountains. Like girlfriend's sister, similar but not the same. Under them lies mountain town with 100K beds for accommodation, because now we are in Poland and in Poland they eat altered chickens and they don't give a shit about anything.
We found paid parking lot, got our tickets from wending machine (simpler than those in Bratislava's urban transport) and we sat ourselves to panoramic funicular filled wit tourists, because that's the way it is. At the end of the railroad, we found ourselves engulfed with merchant stands, mountain cottage, bobsled and a 300m lift with snowpark. 

1st platform

2nd platform

Checking the conditions

We got instantly jaw-dropped, we took some photos. Common question, which has risen to our heads was, how is that even possible. In Slovakia you hear only how this can't work, I don't know, I don't care. But we can't comprehend it right now, that we took railroad to snowpark with 4 kickers, bunch of rails, with private lift without gapers, with fabulous view of Tatry mountains.

Panorama with snow

Panorama with sand

At least 30 riders were having video session on two platforms with two kickers each. One line with smaller jumps for beginners, other more hefty. Beside jumps are rails, boxes including doublekink, pipelines, street box with nice transfer possibilities. Bonus line for the smaller ones with two kickers and one box. Lift is spinning, 8 runs in a hour or more.

View from sandy terrace

Shaper's hut is wobbling with music, people having fun. Locals energizing atmosphere, with lines consisting of ollies over waiting skier's skis, living beanie behind and pulling up 7s corked wearing pants as Scott Stevens would. Because of Poland. Considering whether is better to cry or to laugh. An young gun looking 12, getting his double front flip done.

Business

Smaczny ser wędzony!

Tired after riding one of the best snowparks around we head for smoked/grilled sheep cheese and heading home, convinced that we are getting here once more. More about Goobaya snowpark check their facebook page.

///

Je 28 január, a sedíme nad sociálnymi sieťami. Príspevky pribúdaju na stenu ako huby po daždi, fotky ratrakov ako hrnú dopady, osadené ropovody, že arabi blednú závisťou. Všetci sľubujú a predháňajú sa kto do víkendu postaví voňavejší snowpark. Donky sľubujú 3 stupňe Kikrovej škály, ružomberok 1, Jasná už má dva stupňe dávnejšie. Také Štrbské pleso je ďáleko pre tých čo musia ráno do práce vstávať, blízka Karolínka prebiehala popod prestavbu. Po bojovej porade, rýchlej návšteve stránok s počasím, padá rozhodnutie zameniť eura za zloté a vydať sa navštíviť našich opomíjaných severných susedov.

Box, street rail sunbathing

Doublekink, flatdown meltin

Vydali sme sa pre nás už známou trasou cez oravské kopce do Zakopaného. Pretože brat google vyberie vždy najkrajšiu trasu, prichádzame do Zakopaného bočnou cestou a pred nami sa za zákrutou vynárajú pre nás neznáme Tatry. Dačo ako frajerkina sestra, síce známe ale iné. Pod nimi horské mesto s 100K počtom lôžok. Pretože teraz sme v Polsku a v Polsku žerú mutované kurence a s ničím sa neserú.

Where is the snow?

Vychytáme platené parkovisko, zaplatíme za lístky v automate jednoduchším ako v bratislavskej MHD a nasadáme do pozemnej lanovky s presklenou strechou, preplnenou turistami, lebo to tak proste je. Na konci kolají nás čaká chata, stánky, bobová dráha, ďalšie stánky a 300 metrový vlek so snowparkom. 

View from upper part

Otvorená huba, fotky, a nadávky. Najčastejšia otázka ktorá sa nám hrnie do hlavy, ako toto je možné? Naučenými slovenskými frázami nedá sa, neviem, nechcem, ktoré nám v hlavách víria, nám moc nechce pobrať vedomie že práve sme sa doviezli po koľajach do snowparku so štvoricou skokov a niekoľkými prekážkami, so súkromným vlekom bez gejperov, s výhľadom na Tatry.

Asi 30 jazdcov si dáva video session na dvoch platformách po dvoch skokoch, jedna lajna pre amatérov ako ja, ďalšia oveľa viac bucľatejšia. Povedľa skokov raily a bedne, nechýbajú lomená bedňa, doublekink, ropovody, street bedňa s pekným transferom a ďalšie, bonusom sú ďalšie dva mikroskoky na učenie. Vlek točí 8 jázd za hodinu.

View from 1st kicker platform

Zo šejperskej búdy hrá muzika, ľudia sa bavia, lokáli si dávaju potúžené jazdy na snowboardoch štýlom ollie cez lyže spadnutá čapka invertovaná sedma v gaťoch jak Scott Stevens. Lebo Polsko. Nevieš či máš plakať alebo sa smiať. Nejaký sopliak vyzerajúc na 12 si dáva double frontflip. Iný level, iná krajina, iná zábava. Unavený po dni si ideme natankovať po dva grillované oštiepky medzi stánky a cestujeme domov s presvedčením že sa na Goobayu ešte vrátime. Viac o Goobaya snowparku checkni ich facebook stránku.

Good times

/Text: Dexto
/Photo: Dexto and Katka