POW UPDATE_3/APR/2016_VRATNA,SVK_Spring jumps over anything!

Mountains are still white above Terchová

Jar je tu a to znamená slush lyžovačka, teplé počasie a úžasné výhľady. Nedeľa vo Vrátnej to mala všetko a my sme radi že sme mohli byť pri tom.

Potom čo sme prežili saunu v kabínke cestou nahor a že nám nesfúklo lyže zo stojanu, sme sa konečne dostali do Snilovského sedla. Na tejto strane hôr ešte všetko biele, ale zvyšný pohľad dookola, po snehu ani stopy. 

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Spring is here and it means slush skiing, warm temperatures and amazing views. Sunday in Vratna had it all and we are glad that we could be part of it.

After we survived the boiling point in gondola going up and didn't loose our skis due to strong wind we finally made it up to Snilovské sedlo. Still white on our side of the mountain but the rest of the view around, sadly no more snow to be seen.

Marek demonstrating spring turns

Prvá jazda nadol po ľavej strane od kotvy bola trochu trvdá a hrboľatá tak sme sa rozhodli ísť smerom na východ pod Chleb. A tam to bolo výborné. Sneh bol mäkký a slushy, ale aj dosť rýchly tak si si to mohol páliť dole v slušnej rýchlosti. 

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First run down the slope on skier's left from T-bar was quite hard and bumpy so we decided to head to the east direction Chleb. And there it was great. Snow was soft and slushy and quite fast so you could fly down at a decent speed.

Bado boosting down east of Snilovské sedlo

Aj keď sme nenašli žiadne postavené kickre, objavili sme aspoň pár prírodných dropov a hipov kde sme si mohli užívať polet ponad kosodrevinu alebo ležiacich kamarátov. Najlepšie sa skákalo z hrán žĺabov v Chlebskej mulde.

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Even though we didn't find any built kickers, we discovered some natural drops and hips where we could enjoy air time over mountain pine and lying friends. Best jumps were off the chute edges in Chlebská mulda.

In Vrátna you can jump over anything (part 1: friend)

In Vrátna you can jump over anything (part 2: mountain pine)

Pri traverzovaní na východ si si vychutnával nadherné vyhľady na Malú Fatru a potom si sa mohol spustiť dole kde sa ti to najviac páčilo. Žiaľ okolo 14tej už sneh prestal byť snehom a začal byť veľmi pomalý a ty si sa k nemu skoro priliepal. Preto keď prídeš nabudúce tak doobeda lyžuj a poobede sa už len opaľuj.

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When you were traversing to the east you could admire the spectacular landscape of Malá Fatra and then drop down at any point where you thought it was the best. Unfortunately around 2 pm the snow got pretty slow and you were literally being stuck in it. So make sure when you come next time, that you are skiing in the morning and sun-shining in the afternoon. 

Traversing east

Dúfame že Vrátna ostane otvorená ešte pár víkendov, lebo snehu tam je dosť a aj ľudí ktorí chcú stále lyžovať. Tak hybaj nahor kým sa to všetko nerozpustí. A nezabudni si zobrať opaľovací krém.

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Hopefully Vrátna will stay open for another few weekends, because there is still a lot of snow up there as well as people who want to keep on skiing. So head up there before it all melts away. And don't forget to take your sun cream with you. 

/OJ

Photo gallery:

In Vrátna you can jump over anything (part 3: gondola station)

Posers

Secret spot view of Roháče and Malá Fatra

PARK UPDATE_27/FEB/2016_JASNA,SVK_Fun zone - 5 minute laps!

Top part of the park

Snowpark v Jasnej je rozdelený do dvoch častí, "Snow park Jasna" v spodnej a "Fun zone" vo vrchnej časti zjazdovky Vrbická pod kabínkou Grand jet. Dnes sa pozrieme bližšie do Fun zone a jej ponuky prekážok. 

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Snowpark in Jasna is basically divided into two sections. "Snow park Jasna" at the bottom and "Fun zone" at the top of Vrbicka slope under Grand jet gondola. Today we will have a closer look at the Fun zone and its features. 

1st platform with a down box

Na prvej platforme na ľavej strane nájdeš krátky jednoduchý box a malý hip na pravej takže ak nemáš rád železo, choď na hip. Ďalej nasleduje druhá platforma ktorá pozostáva z veľmi príjemného nízkeho flat-down boxu a malého kickra s tablom okolo 2-3 metrov.   

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On the first platform you will find a short simple box on the left and a little hip on the right side so if you don't like metal go for the hip. Following this you will approach a second platform which consists of very mellow flat-down box and a small kicker with table of 2-3 meters.

Rado tailgrabin' on the first kicker

Ako ďalšie je v parku roller/vlnka s dobre kicknutým odrazom a dlhým dopadom ktorá je super na skúšanie buttrov a handdragov. Následne sa ocitneš priamo pred štvrtou platformou ktorá ma dlhý down rail vľavo a 3-4 metrový kicker vpravo.

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Next there is a hip/roller with nice kicked take-off and quite long landing which is perfect for trying butters or hand-drags. When you stomp this you will head straight to the fourth platform which has a long down rail on the left and a kicker with 3-4 meter table on the right. 

Down rail on the 4th platform

Na nasledujúcej vlnke si môžes vybrať či dopadneš vpravo a pôjdes chytiť vlek a dáš si celú Fun zone odznova alebo pôjdeš dole do Snow park Jasná čo trvá dlho ako dole tak aj nahor. A toto je tá najlepšia časť vo Fun zone lebo môžeš používať vlek C5 Brhliská a lapovať park hore dole dokým vladzeš, lebo jedno celé kolečko trvá iba 5 min. 

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On a following roller you can choose, either to go to the right and catch a "poma" drag lift and do the Fun zone park again, or head down to the Snow park Jasna which takes a long time both going down and going up. And this is the best thing about Fun zone because you can use the lift C5 Brhliska and lap the park at 5 minutes rate up and down until you have enough. 

Bottom of the park with platfrom no. 4

Ale týmto Fun zone nekončí. Na záver je ešte ski cross sekcia kde je zopár bumps na ktorých možeš rotovať do nekonečna a 4 klopené zátačky ktoré dokážu byť dosť nepríjemné ak sa ich rozhodneš ísť na switch. 

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But the Fun zone is yet not finished. At the end there is a ski cross section with several bumps where you can spin left or right endlessly and 4 banked turns which can be pretty challenging if you decide to ride them switch.

Ski cross section with banked turns

Aj keď Fun zone nemá veľké skoky alebo technické raily je to dobré miesto kde môžeš trénovať rotácie alebo železá na svoju unnatural stranu alebo si dávať celú jazdu na switch. Plus máš k tomu ešte "súkromný vlek" takže môžes jazdiť park bez strácania času v gondole alebo na zjazdovke!

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Even though  Fun zone doesn't have big kickers or massive rails it is really good place if you want to learn how to do rails or spin your unnatural way or how to do your runs completely on switch. Plus you have that "private lift" which allows you to lap the park without wasting your time in gondola or on the slope!

/OJ

Photo gallery:

                               

Park views are not bad up here

Booken on fire

Low boxes won't hurt you (maybe)

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.

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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.



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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. 


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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.

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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.

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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 :/).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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?

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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