PART 8 - Riding in The Rain :)

Snowboarding, Ski Arena Szrenica, 26.03.2006

Great view, isn't it? Well, that's how the sky looked like when we're on our way back from

the mountains. The whole day was marked by heavy rain and fog. I didn't take many photos,

but we made 4 short films this time, including my riding with an umbrella in one hand :)

If you want to see the films, you can download them here: film 1 | film 2 | film 3 | film 4

I would say it was one of the best snowboarding excursions. No cues at all and perfect

snow conditions. Wish it hadn't been raining all time..

PART 7 - The Weather Was Absolutely Great/I've a New Helmet :)

Snowboarding, Ski Arena Szrenica, 5.03.2006

And so we ended up in Szklarska Poręba again. The weather was absolutely superb :)) 

Blue sky, not many people. All I need is a faster chair-lift...

Lolobrygida ski-run. It's so snowy and soft :)

Here I come. This is the last time when I had borrowed a helmet. I bought myself K2 Ultra

helmet late in the evening on the very same day when we arrived in Wrocław :)

Second part of chair-lift. Marian was carrying my snowboard so that I could take some photos.

He complained that he should have had a glass of beer to put it on my Santa Cruz,

which served him as a table :)

Winter trees :P

Just look at this view! I guess I'll come here soon for the whole  weekend so that

I can stay in the shelter for the night :)

On the way back. Great panorama indeed. It took us less than two hours to get

to Szklarska Poręba from Wrocław, and we had the same time coming back.

PART 6 - Icy and Cold

Snowboarding, Rzeczka, 26.02.2006

Some comments will follow soon. I wouldn't recommend Rzeczka,  the time stopped here

in the 70s and the infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired...

PART 5 - The Hills Are Getting Steeper :)

Snowboarding, Špindlerův Mlýn - Svatý Petr, Czech Republic, 19.02.2006

Špindlerův Mlýn is definitely a place where you can enjoy riding. In brochures

you get when buying tickets, it says "Heaven on Earth". Well, I've tested far too few skiing

areas to know whether it's true or not but it's worth coming here. The weather was

absolutely great,  I've made some two short films >>> film 1 | film 2

It's actually the biggest and the most important Czech ski resort offering 5 chairlifts

(3 high-speed quads, 1 tripe, 1 double) and 11 T-bars/Pomas. Practically speaking

- nearly no queues at all. And the views are superb :)

And here is one of the high-speed quads. I wish we had similar technical standards

in Polish mountains...

On the hills :)

Majestic trees and blue sky. What more can you need?

Olga, Błażej and Kasia.

Here we come: Kasia, Ewa & Olga.

The ski-runs were quite crowded. I met some people who spent 1.5 hour looking

for a place to borrow snowboard!!! The culture of riding sometimes leaves a lot to be desired,

no wonder - too many riders.

I would say that the ski-runs in Špindlerův Mlýn are quite demanding. Didn't have much time

to test everything (only 5 hours of riding...) and checked the roots 1, 2b and 2a. Here is the

link to the map >   http://www.holidayinfo.cz/mapa.php?lang=1&rg=2&loc=3&prg=0

Blue sky hidden in the clouds. It's getting warmer.

Błażej & Kasia :)

I wish I could stay here longer. It doesn't pay off to come here for

one day if you happen to live in Wrocław. The whole weekend or more

is the best solution provided that you've some time and money.

So what comes next? Hm, hard to say. I know what I want - some good ski-runs to ride

and great views. Looks like I'll go to the Alps during the summer :)

Oh, and I have to buy a helmet. Soon.

PART 4 - Through the Night Through the Forest :)

Snowboarding, Ski Arena Szrenica, 11-12.02.2006

This time I spent the weekend in Szklarska Poręba. As for weather conditions,

it was nearly a dream-like state :) and was snowing all the time. There was even some

sun on Sunday :P

What I enjoyed most was the night snowboarding at "Puchatek". I could just turn on

my music player and ride through the forest. The only problem is that the route

is not steep enough :|

Winter in is snowy coat :)

Early and cold Sunday. Peaks somewhat blurred in a distance...

And here comes the sun!

Looking at ski run "Śnieżynka". Lenght 2080 m.

It's really cold up here although the sun came out ot the clouds and

was sending it's sparking reflections to the whole surroundings :)

T-Bar Lift "Ściana". I looked down quite often and didn't see any snowboarders

willing to take this lift :P

Pure pleasure.

"Ściana" ski run for advanced riders. The biggest slope 50.0% "wall".

Maybe next time :P

White, white, white

Foggy again :(

Marian was carring my camera for the whole time. Well, it's good to

join experienced riders who don't fall at all :)

Which ski run should I take huh?

Hill chair-lift. Second section.

"Lolobrygida" - more than 4 kilometers of riding.

Just look at that sky :P

:)

Through the trees :P

And so that's it!

PART 3 - The Story Continues...

Snowboarding, Czarna Góra, 4.02.2006

And so the story continues... This time I joined Tomek and Błażej. All photos below

are a result of common photo sessions throughout the day. There are also 2 short films

prepared by Błażej >>>   film 1    |   film 2

Here we are. Getting ready to start :)

Błażej and his Salomon snowboard. A really nice one :P

I just can't await to start riding :)

Snowpark for freestyle amateurs

It's getting boring. This route is too short :| Besides, just look at those queues!!! :(

Yes, it's time for a lift :)

And here it is :P

Me and my Santa Cruz...

Up up and away!

Why there is fog every single time I go to Czarna Góra??? :|

On the routes.

I think I want to stay here longer :)

Błażej learning some new tricks

:)

Short break :) I do like to sit with my snowboard :P

It's getting crowded so..

.. it's time to go to ski-station to have something to drink

And so we go back home. The riding was really enjoyable but we had

a small accident. Tomek broke his hand :| Hopefully, he will get better soon :)

PART 2  -  My first Santa Cruz :P

Snowboarding, Czarna Góra, 21.01.2006

And so I ended up in Czarna Góra again, this time I joined Tomek. The fact

that there are no photos might be somewhat surprising seeing as I usually

take a whole host of pics. I've chosen here only 1 out of total numer of 6 (!)

to keep some memories of this warm & very foggy Saturday :) There is however

a short film that you can find below. Guess that I need a new section on my

website, just for snowboarding. Well, we shall see.

This time I just simply didn't have time for photography. The reason? I've a

new snowboard & spent the whole day testing my Santa Cruz. Somehow I just

didn't want to do anything else :P Suppose that some people who read this

can understand me :) The pic that you can see here was actually taken while

we're on the lift and there was a short break for some session. We had a lot of

fun, and I enjoyed especially that last two hours of riding with Grzesiek.

As for my snowboard ;) It's absolutely what I wanted!!! Many thanks to Michał

who chose the right bindings & shoes, it matches perfectly well! As for today,

we also did some black FIS routes -  this time with helmets  - and it worked out

:) My Santa Cruz is perhaps a bit too long, but you can get used to that. 

Besides, I'm interested in freeriding and alpine anyway :P

And here's a film, very short, does not show a lot, but can give a hint of

today's riding :) My fifth day on snowboard. It will be cool to watch it again

in the next seasons when my skills have improved :) Click here to download >>> film 1

Picture taken round 16.00, it was very foggy, you could hardly see anything :P

PART 1 - Learning how to ride.

Czarna Góra, 28.12.05-1.01.06

And so the decision was taken and we set out to Czarna Góra on 28th December.

It was only me and Wojtek who decided to go on Wednesday and the rest of the team

joined us beginning from Thursday one after one. The weather was really promising from

the start and that's how it remained till the time of our departure ;)

As for the quality of the pictures - well, it's far from being perfect.

We only took some pics on Saturday and Sunday, mostly in a hurry.

I would say that it also indicates the extent to which I concentrated on snowboarding

- just didn't want to do anything else except from this one thing. Guess it has already become

my new hobby :) Besides, I still can't imagine carrying my EOS while riding :P

So here I am :P I was supposed to try snowboarding during the last

winter season but somehow we didn't have enough time and it didn't

work out. And since recently somebody has told me I could learn it

within half an hour :) I wanted to find out whether I could make it ;)

I can't remember the mark of the first snowboard I borrowed. The

second one was some sort of Oxygen. I used that one three days in a row. 

As for the snow conditions, everything was just perfect. It was probably

the best weather for snowboard-beginners. I can say only one thing

- I should have tried snowboarding earlier!!! Lots of warm regards to

Grzesiek who has shown me how to ride ;) THANKS!

Here I come. Well, it's my fourth day of riding. These pics were actually taken by

Jack on Saturday. Strangely enough, the ski routes were deserted. That was probably

due to the bad road conditions which made quite a lot of tourists stay at home.

I must say that free-riding through the forest is much more enjoyable

than the "traditional style". Again, many thanks to Grzesiek and Ewelina

for our tours through the wood ;P Next time I'll definitely bring my

camera to make some short films. Free-riding through the forest

is something really exceptional. Nearly two meters of untouched snow ;))

You feel as if you were flying :P

I still have some problems with changing from frontside to backside but will work on it ;)

Ski Station on the left. One of those places where our whole team could meet during the day

for beer, sausages and tea.

Winter ;P

It was snowing all the time. Believe me :]

Happy New Year! From left to right: Kasia, Maciek & Ewa, Jack, Wojtek.

Everybody seemed to have good fun. From left to right: Ewa, Jack, Kasia, Wojtek, Robert.

It's still nearly two hours b4 midnight. From left to right: Robert & Emila,

Emila's brother and his girlfriend.

It's time to go back to Wrocław :( I'm already thinking where to go

snowboarding next week. Any ideas?

With Jack, my ice-skating companion ;P

Kasia, Lady Winter. It was a pleasure to meet you ;)

  To be continued... :P