Adam’s Apples #8 Take a bite of snowboarding knowledge
Hey, my name is Adam Bowcutt and I am a snowboarder. Welcome to this week’s tasty round-up of snowboarding blog posts, articles and forum topics from around the world.
Aotearoa is the Maori word for arguably the most beautiful country in the world. New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud is a snowboarders mecca during our summer. NZ riders are gifted with having a home winter to push their skills. Talented Kiwi Kendall Brown recently won the 5 star TTR Burton Canadian Open halfpipe event in Calgary giving her a huge boost before the Winter Olympics. Kiwi pride for its snowboarders is gaining height in a country of fiercely patriotic folk. A good Kiwi friend Sam has a map of her beloved country tatooed on her back!
Read the article HERE courtesy of snow.co.nz
Other Kiwis worthy of a mention are Christy Prior and Charlotte Trundle. Both girls are causing a stir in Canada on the comp scene. Auckland native Christy won her first Canadian railjam at the Norquay night series and New Plymouth resident Charlotte took home a giant sized cheque for her 3rd place spot on the Pro category at the Tremblant You Look Good Riders cup in Quebec. There is certainly some talent coming out of New Zealand.
Check it out HERE at NZsnowboard.com
Jake Koia is one of New Zealand’s best known riders. A humble beginning shredding at his local Queenstown hills of Coronet Peak and the Remarkables lead him to world class pro rider status. As well as scoring numerous snowboard magazine covers in the southern hemisphere Jake has filmed with Canadian film crew Sandbox. Along with fellow Kiwi Nick Brown, Jake contributed a credible video part. Exposure like this is great for showcasing Kiwi talent on an international scale. It also keeps their sponsors happy as it’s rumoured that NZ riders can have difficulty in securing and maintaining solid sponsorship deals due to the minimal market share in this relatively small country. Essentially, top class Kiwis generally don’t get top level support. Perhaps Jake Koia and his stylish riding can change this ?
Follow his snowboarding HERE via JakeKoia.com
The NZSBU was initiated by Kiwi Pro rider, broadcaster, entrepreneur and all-round cool guy Robett ‘Holler’ Hollis. Holler noticed a lack of direction, funding and promotion of NZ snowboarders on a wider scale. The New Zealand Snowboard Union aims to push the interests of Kiwi snowboarders by providing coaching support, sponsorship opportunities and a solid progression structure to feed New Zealand with its future athletes. The squad is growing in talent and already comprises of some heavy hitters such as Jake Koia.
Read more about the NZSBU team HERE courtesy of snowsports.co.nz
New Zealand is an amazing country. If you are a snowboarder you owe it to yourself to jump on a plane and experience this place and its people. It may be a difficult task and the means to travel this distance may be limited. However, if you do manage to somehow make it a possibilty you will not be dissapointed, guaranteed!
Check back next week for more…
