Traveling to a strange country to snowboard.

After a week of training at the always beautiful LAAX. Jeremy, Thijs and I flew over to Turkey for the Youth World Championships. Nobody of us has ever bin to this country. We first flew to Istanbul to get our flight to Erzurum. When we landed at Erzurum airport it was al white. Never imagined to go snowboarding there, but there definitly was snow. We got transported by a van to our hotel. It apeard to be the worst hotel of them all. The rooms were good though. But the food was bad especially at breakfast. We had the first day off to chill a little bit and to take a look on the mountain. There was nog that much snow but still enough to have a decent pipe. The next day we got our first training day. The pipe was short and there where a lot of bumps which sucked. They were trying to get the pipe in perfect shape that evening for the next day. That day I had a good training and I was happy about everything. The day of competion went well but it was not good enough for the semi’s. The day after we watched the final and it was pretty intens. Seeing young guns doing back to back 10’s, crazy.

So it was all or nothing on the Slopestyle. Kickers were sketchy with speed and landings. Rail section was fun. Alot of people were falling pretty hard the first day. They build a kicker you see in the picture on the left. If you jumped that you will be dead. So sketchy. Luckely the made one wide kicker from the right smaller kicker which was still pretty big. Competion day was going pretty good until the last training run. Jeremy landed on his back on the first kicker a few runs earlier. My run was going as planned Bs 7 on the first kicker and Fs 9 on the second kicker that’s were it turned really bad for me. I thought I had the good speed and rotation for the Fs 9, and when I was in the air I saw I was going a little further than planned. I thought I will still stomp this one. But when I landed I felt a real bad pain in my right knee. I felt down and I couldn’t get up for 2 min. I walked away with a lot of pain. I realised that there was something really wrong in my knee. So I couldn’t start the comp. Next day I would fly to Prague for a World cup in Spinderluv mlyn. I had so much pain, my trainer rebooked my flight to Amsterdam together with Jeremy. I went to the doctor straight away the next day. He said there were some tears in my ACL. SUCKS! The monday went to the doctor I went to ViaSana in Mill to check it with a specialist. 1 Hour later I was already undergoing an MRI scan. They concluded I needed a new ACL. A week after visiting ViaSana I had my surgery. Everything except my ACL looked perfect. I will be recovering for 9 months, and I hope to be back on the snow after that as soon as possible.

If you are on Instagram, just follow me for alot of snowboard picture’s: Astonegelmeers

 

I want to thanks my sponsors for the big support: 686 Outerwear, Monster Energy Drink, Frends Headphones, Flow Snowboards, Adidas Eyewear, Pow Gloves, NXTZ, Amplifi Gear and last but not least BigAirBag.

Eurotrippin.

At the starting of 2013 I left Holland for comps and training in Switserland and France. We drove to Davos, when we arrived there was a lot of snow. Next day we had a competition. But we used it as training for the upcoming Eurocup. After a few runs it felt good and I could stick my run straight away. I made it to the Finals and finished 16th and the day after I finished 7th. On the 7th and the 8th of Januari there were 2 Eurocups. I finished in 10th and 9th place. We drove to Les Deux Alpes the day after the competition. First we had a week of training before we had the competition. There should be 2 Halfpipe EC’s and 1 Slopestyle EC. Unfortunaly only 1 halfpipe ec could be ridden. The last 2 days it was to snowy and windy to do the competitions so they got canceled.

Trip to Colorado

The 26th of November the Dutch team left to Colorado. First we flew to Chicago Airport to get our transfer to Denver Airport. We got through customs really quick so could pick up our bags and drop it off again. We had lunch and chilled in the lounge for a while. The flight to Denver was full so that was really dissapointing. I was really tired so I slept for the entire second flight. We arrived in Denver on schedule, Tor (one of our trainers) was already there for 2 days. We did meet Jonte (trainer), Steve and Cheryl there cause they had another flight then the rest of the team. When everybody was there we picked up the cars and drove to our house in Frisco. After a 2 hour drive we arrived at the house. Everybody went straight to bed. Woke up the next morning and the weather was perfect so we headed for Keystone. Jumps looked good, lots of rails and short lift line. We left early cause everybody had a jetlag and wanted to rest for the afternoon.

The next 5 days where good aswell and everybody was having good times. On the rest day we had, we went to Denver to do some shopping. Rocco, Cheryl and Steve bought an RC plane at a local RC shop. Looked pretty rad. Next day they went for a flight, it was pretty windy. Cheryl and Rocco had a RC plane at home so they knew how to fly. It was Steve’s first time to Fly an RC plane. Exiting! Cheryl threw up the plane and she flew pretty steady and nice. So Rocco did the same. Steve tried it aswell but didn’t work out that good but the plane was still able to fly. So he tried it again and again.

The second week I went to Copper to get the pipe feeling back for the first EC competion in Davos in Januari. Felt pretty weird the first couple of runs and I needed to work hard to get it back. After 2 days it felt normal again and I started to spin and go higher. I was really happy about  how it worked out in the end cause I really needed to get back. Had alot of fun there aswell.

The last week it was back to the kickers in Keystone. They got the big line ready. Looked really nice. Long take off, smooth, nice landing but not that big. Not like last years kickers. But still enough for 10’s and doubles. First 2 rails then a kicker. Unfortunaly not 3 kickers. The kicker felt good so I did al tricks I did before. The last few days I didn’t feel well so I took it really easy. It begun to snow really heavy so everybody was scared they closed the tunnel to Denver but the didn’t.

On the early morning of the 18th we flew back to Holland, it was a really comfortable way back almost slept all the way.

Have  a look at my Video page aswell I uploaded a new video from Colorado.

I want to thank: Flow Snowboards, Frends Headphones, Monster Energy, Adidas Eyewear, 686 Outerwear, BigAirBag, Pow Gloves, Amplifi Gear and NXTZ for this great year. Thankyou

 

FIS VW Big Air Antwerp + FIS Europecup Landgraaf

Just 2 weeks before the VW Big Air in Antwerp, my trainer mailed me that I was on the list for competing in Antwerp. Which made me nervous and stoked at the same time. It was going to be my first World Cup Big Air ever. Antwerp was the perfect start for riding Big Airs. What made me stoked as well was that I just got my new bindings before the Big Air. So on the 9th of November I drove to Antwerp. Took me like 1 hour to get there. Arriving at the Big air was really impressive. It’s such a big structure. The nervs were coming up by seeing the Big Air and to imagine to stand on top that night. I prepared myself and got al my stuff together and walked to the venue. It started to get dark when the training started. Lights turned on and the first one was ready to drop. I looked at a couple rides going down the Big Air. It looked really smooth and I was really nervous. Than I got over it and strapped in. Roope Tonteri dropped before me so I looked at his speed. Than it was up to me. Sliding down 2 meter and than I pointed my board straight down. Going through the transition and it felt really good and landed sweet spot. After one more straight air I felt comfortble enough to spin. First I did a FS 3 and after that a FS 7. The training was over. I did watch the battle between Belgium and Holland after my training and went to the hotel to sleep. I woke up the next morning and it was raining. Rocco had to qualify in the first heat. Joris, Jesper and me were in the second heat. I got a good breakfast and packed my stuff and walked to the venue to see Rocco riding. He fell on both his runs. Than it was my turn to show what I’ve got. I was really cool to stand on top with all the people screaming for you. I dropped in and did a FS 7 Tailgrab as my first run. Stomping it and getting an 58 as score. Not that high but it was good for 12th place after run 1 in my heat. I went up again. Looking at al the other riders who were riding really strong and consistent. It was my turn again. Dropped in and did a FS 10 Melon. Not a real clean landing. That was a bummer but still I was happy about my riding at the first Big Air ever. Really stoked. Which got me in 16th place in my heat. Joris did really good and made the semi finals. He did good in semi finals as well so he was in the finals. Fell on his first run doing a BS 10 double cork. But landed that on his second run. In his last run he tried a FS 10.

On Sunday we traveled to Landgraaf for the Europe cup on Wednesday. I took a day to rest. Monday was the first official training. The course was looking really nice. 2 kickers and 3 rails in one run. I was feeling the course right away so started to think about my run. Did the same on Tuesday. On Wednesday it was on! Did my first run with Cab 5 Mute, Fs 7 Melon, Fs 270 gap, Back lip and ending with a fs lip 270 out. Got the first place after run one so that promised alot. My second run was Bs 7 Indy, Fs 7 Melon, Fs 270 gap, Back lip and ending up falling on the last box which sucked alot. I got in to the finals.

There I did those same 2 runs ending up on the 8th place. Big up to Jesper Kicken for winning and Joris Ouwerkerk for getting second and to al the other dutch guys who made me proud to be dutchie.

For Thursday till Saturday we still trained on the EC Slope. And had fitness training, meetings and al kind of other cool stuff.

I would like to thank: Audi, Europeeshe verzekeringen, Lotto, Flow Snowboards, Monster Energy Drink, 686 Outerwear, Frends Headphones, BigAirBag, Pow Gloves, Nxtz and last but not least Adidas Eyewear for making this al possible.

 

Summer Shredding in Saas Fee.

On 9 sept I left for a trip with the Junior team to Saas Fee. I was pretty stoked to go to the mountains again. After a 10 hour drive we arrived in Saas Fee. The next day it was bluebird and everybody was really motivated to ride again. When we arrived up on the mountain the park and the park looked amazing. We just had fun the whole day riding a little bit of everything. Every afternoon we did some core exercises and some stretching. On Tuesday it was sunny again. We had a good day except that Thijs Ottens made a really nasty crash when doing a bs 360 on the last big kicker. He pulled a muscle in his shoulder. He was brought to the hospital in Visp. That afternoon he was allowed to leave the hospital. For the rest of the 2 weeks we had awesome weather and alot of fun. I learned alot of new stuff in the pipe. Bigger airs, high FS 5’s and nice FS 7’s. I really enjoyed riding the pipe in Saas Fee. It was perfect. The last 2 days they changed the kicker and it was better and smoother. I really liked it and I was feeling the kicker really good. I got back al the tricks I did before and that made me pretty stoked. It’s gonna be a really good season for me! 

Camp of Champions

I am back after 2 weeks of Camp of Champions and 2 weeks of vacation in Italy. On the 1st of July I left Holland to go to Camp of Champions. Last year I was there aswell and I had the best time of my life. We arrived in Vancouver after a 9 hour flight. Chilled a little bit cause we had to wait for Jonte. When he arrived we rented 2 cars and drove to our house in Whistler. The next day we went up the glacier but we were unlucky cause it was snowing. It was good to explore the park for the next 2 weeks. Everybody was stoked cause the sun was going to come out soon and it will stay like that till the end. On Wednesday the sun finally came out and the park was perfect. Bluebird, good park, sick rides and a the best vibe ever. Everybody was throwing down sick stuff. Everyday after we got down from the mountain we chilled at the lake, it was cold but refreshing. On sunday we had a day of and went to a bigger lake a little bit further from Whistler. We played soccer, chilled and had a nice swim. The park was fresh and reshaped on Monday. It was bluebird for the whole week again. Everybody had a blast and learnt new tricks. On Tuesday I fell with a Fs 900 and hurt my back. I went to the physio on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday morning my back felt a little bit stiff but I wanted to snowboard, so I went up. I did a couple of simple lines through the day. Saturday was the last day on the glacier, everybody was trying their last tricks the wanted to land that trip. I filmed through the day because my back didn’t feel that good. That evening we packed our bags and the next morning we droge back to vancouver to walk around in the city. On monday we flew back to Holland. I HAD A GREAT TIME!

Slopestyle Masters in Snowworld Zoetermeer.

Saturday there was a competion organised by my national team mate: Sean Taylor named Slopestyle masters. That morning I helped the Dutch ski federation with the Rookie team selection day. It was fun to see the little kids go for it and try to do their very best. I also helped with the conditional part. When I came back in Snowworld, you can inscribe for the contest so I did. Then i helped shaping with Sean. The kicker was looking so tight and smooth. We had an our to train on the course with an upper unit: Downrail and a Double kink. And than the nice kicker. I made it to the finals. I had so much fun with everybody riding and stopping sick tricks. Steve Krijbolder stickt a sick BS 9 and a Cab 270 gap on the double kink. He won, Jeremy Gerritsen got 2nd and I got 3rd. I was happy about that result but it was not going the way I planned my run in the finals but still I was stoked.

I want to thank my sponsors for this awesome season: Flow snowboards, Monster energy drink, Frends headphones, NXTZ, Pow gloves, BigAirBag and Adidas eyewear. 

Youth World Champs and Dutch Champs.

On 23th of March I left to Sierra Nevada, Spain. For the Youth World Champs. First we had the Halfpipe and at the end of the week we had Slopestyle. So the first 2 days we trained in the Halfpipe but the weather was not that good, it was raining and cloudy. On Monday the half pipe qualies were going down, I did land my run but it was not good enough for the semi’s. I got 38th after all. The next day I chilled a little bit and watched the Final, the level of riding was pretty high back to back 9’s and even back to back 10’s. On Wednesday the Slopestyle course was opened for training, it was really smooth and long. There were like 7 rollers. 3 nice kickers, and 4 rails after that. The first day didn’t go that good but still we got one day of training left. On Thursday al lift staff in Spain campaigned. But the managed to open the 2 lifts we needed to get on top of the course. We were al alone on the whole mountain. That day went pretty good, landed my run pretty early in the training. Cab 5, Bs 7 to Fs 10. Friday was the day of the qualies, I landed both runs but the second was better. 75 points got me 3th in my heat which got me in the semi’s. So I have gone down to the hotel early to rest. The next day I had the Semi finals, I did land the same run as the day before but not clean enough for the Finals but still got 20th. On sunday afternoon we left to Granada to catch our flight to Zurich. I got to sleep at 2 in the night. On Monday we got the Dutch slopestyle champs. It was sunny, good vibes and good riding. We had 45 min of training on the BEO course which was really good shaped. I landed my run in the qualies and got in the Finals. In the Finals I chose for a safe run which gave me the 4th place. I was really happy about that result. The next days gonna be bad weather the weather forecast said, and it was nothing else like that. On Tuesday I filmed with Erik Bastiaansen, Ziggey and Jazzley van Bouwhorst. We had fun and landed some nice bangers. The edit will be online soon. On Wednesday I checked out the Big Air kicker because Halfpipe was canceled. It was a good and smooth kicker. Landed my trick really soon so went for some runs with Erik that afternoon. Big Air was on Thursday, it was foggy, new snow and raining. We had training and land my Fs 10 but in the quali the conditions were bad so I decided to do a Fs 7. After all it was to foggy to go on with the contest and we only got 1 run which put me in 5th place. The last day I was really tired of the 2 weeks of hard shredding. Tim Schiphorst asked me to go film with Cees Wille, Joey van Essen, Steef van der Meer, Lenn Verjans, Robin van Heel and Rachida Aouladelhajamar. The first thing we saw was the roller coaster box, we got the idea to ride it sideways al the way. Max de Vries came by and was the first to try it. It looked ok so everybody started trying. Robin was the one that got it al the way. I was close but fell down on the landing. Than we filmed the Curnius run down. And we called the end of the day. Went down and chilled. Edits gonna be online soon.

Peace Out!

Gamer01 SSX review met Aston Egelmeers

http://gamer01.nl/videos/123-Videoreview-SSX

Indoor Dutch Championships

This weekend the Dutch indoor championshisps were going down in Snowworld Landgraaf! On friday Monster Energy picked me up and we drove to Landgraaf. I did train the whole night for slopestyle. That night I helped with shaping till 3 o’clock. The next day the slopestyle contest was going down and the park was so good. I was competing in the Open Class! My first run didn’t go that well! I stomped my second run. I was in the finals. I landed both runs and got the 1st place. Jazzley van Bouwhorst got 5th ,Ziggy van Bouwhorst got 3rd and Erik Bastiaansen got 1st in the Rookie Class. You guys did kill it!
After that there was a party. Sunday big air was ONN! Danny shaped the kicker really good. I finished the shaping. Everybody liked the kicker and killed it all day. I did ride good and stomped a big fs 7 Melon. That put me on the 1st place again. Erik Bastiaansen got 4th and Ziggey van Bouwhorst got 2nd in the Youth Class. Jazzley van Bouwhorst got 2nd in the Rookie Class. Sick riding guys.

Thanks to Flow Snowboards, Monster Energy, Adidas Eyewear, Big Air Bag, Frends, NXTZ and Pow Gloves