NZSnowboard.com - The home of New Zealand Snowboarding

5th February 2009

Hey crew,
I departed NZ with Bevan Hall and Connor Harding 2 weeks ago heading to the USA. Once we arrived our buddy Dick Schultz picked us up and took us from San Fran to Tahoe. Cheers Schultzy!!

Packed up and ready for a winter in the states

Flying up to AK on the way through to San Fransisco, USA

After picking up biggie-grommie Joram Makuru from South Lake Tahoe our crew was set. Over the next few days we rode Boreal at night and checked out Northstar's park - pretty fun with lots of features and good flow. Then it was to LAS VEGAS to the last SIA Snow Trade Show held there after 37 years so it was set to be a big one.

Welcome to North Lake Tahoe, CA, USA - Our first night riding at Boreal

The best Mexican I have ever had - Taco Jalisco's in Truckee, North Lake Tahoe

Joram Makuru takes a burn on the NZsnowboard.com Staff Sled.. haha

Along for the mission to Las Vegas was photographer Jake Mein who was helping getting the shot. Cheers Jake! The grommies Connor and Joram loved Vegas and were frothing off the place, the people and all the rest that Vegas has to offer. The trade show was insane with thousands of people, a million types of fashion and more ego than you could throw a stick at. We even caught up with Rider of the Year Shelly Gotlieb, Aussie Kiwi Callie Conaghan and Nick Brown who crashed with us at our hotel.

Welcome to Las Vegas - The MGM grand on the strip

Connor lays victim to Vegas after a solid grommie beat down

Bevan Hall and Joram Makuru in front of one big aquarium

The New York, New York Casino - We went on the rollercoaster and it was HEAVY!!!

The Eiffel Tower in Vegas??

The statue of liberty at New York, New York

I ended up winning $2000NZ from my blackjack and roulette efforts so was more than stoked. All the others except Browner walked away in the Red too so overall it was a successful effort. Well, after 4 loooong days of doing the Vegas thing we all more than happy to leave and chill out a little.

Back in Tahoe and we found the heaviest triple kink I've ever seen!!

Blair looking over South Lake Tahoe on the sled mission

Back in Tahoe and I went out sledding on my new snowmobile with my buddy Blair McLeod who showed me some new spots down in South Lake. The snow was still really good up top so was stoked to get some freshies. EPIC!!!

Yesterday we went to shoot up at Squaw Valley with Connor, Joram, Pooch, Bridget with Jake on the snap machine. The jumps were perfect and the grommies were taking to it like there was no tomorrow. Connor threw the dopest front 9 off his toes, Joram had the smoothest back 7 and Pooch threw a swicth back 5 front flip looking thing too which I have never seen anyone do. We also shot a jib in downtown Truckee which was an experience to the say the least. Me and Pooch got the shot.

Anyways, the one and only Leroy Christensen gets into town today so we're off to Reno this afternoon to pick up the 'lil maori'. I smell trouble.......








- Holler, NZsnowboard.com