20050804 Eventually got to Treble Cone, working again with Brett

Working today with Brett again, easy stuff, sun bathing down all day and lunch on the lake is always sweet. Made it to Treble Cone in the end yesterday, beautiful views up there and even though snow was scarce in some areas, the runs that had snow were huge in width. Hit my chin on some ice and cut myself, blood gushing everywhere. Had an awesome road trip overall despite the breakdowns and setbacks and only getting 3 hours of boarding out of the whole trip.

20050802 Exploring outside Qt

Well its another while since I last wrote an entry, messin up I am. Went on a road trip to Treble Cone ski resort today (technically left yesterday, stayed overnight in Wanaka last night). Didnt actually make it up though, van broke half way up the mountain so spent the whole day trying to get it repaired. James who is a mechanic couldnt find what was going wrong so in the end had to get towed back into Wanaka to get it repaired at a garage. Im writing this from our van parked outside the garage now, about to go to sleep. Ive gotten really bad at updating this journal, dont know why. But summing whats happened over the last week or so: been looking for a job, possibly getting some IT job in the near future, worked as a kitchen hand in Captains restaurant one night. Went for a drive to Kingston, more beautiful scenery on the way there and back, its beautiful out here. Been out again with Alester, the brazilian again, teaching me in the ways of hunting. Cooked dinner together one night, brazilian style, took like 4 hours to cook it. The whole dining and cooking and eating experience is one where you prepare a little, drink and chill a little, prepare and cook some more, and cycle it over and over again till its ready, have to say it was a great experience. Did night skiing on Coronet Peak, immense sunsets, and is a really cool experience everyone should do, having tea at the top of the mountain surrounded by mountain peaks bathed in pink sunlight.

20050731 A drive to Kingston Gallery

20050723 Loosing track & Partying in Qt

Been hiccupping for over 2 hours now, its getting a bit much and Ive tried everything with no improvement. It started this morning at 0530 on the way home from a proper night out in Queenstown and within an hour of waking up it started again. Havent been updating this journal in a while and I guess Im loosing track of whats happening, need to start remembering to write the daily goings on. Been doing a lot of thinking lately about what Im doing next, was thinking of splitting from here very shortly but instead have now decided to stick it out till the snow goes away and then continue travelling on round New Zealand. Last night went out with a mate Alester, a Brazilian guy staying in my house. Had a really good night and hit Buffalo, Winnies, Chicos, Debajo and Tardis bars. Hunting we called it. Headed tonight to Concord Dawn with Kate, hit barup beforehand, nice bar.

20050714-19 Boarding Coronet & Remaarks Gallery

20050710 Big Air!

Went to the Big Air Competition on Coronet Peak an event part of the Queenstown Festival. One of my Japanese friends Ami competed. Was well setup with hip-hop/breaks Dj Endo, stunt planes, paragliders and base jumpers (from the paragliders). Some insane tricks were put on from both the skiers and snowboarders with a lot of wipe-outs. In the end Emi came out with the womens snowboard division 1st prize of $1000. We then headed straight onto Altitude for the competition after party, was semi fun with some fitness. After 2 drinks we headed onto Kojis house to continue the party there, had a super time, partying with them is always cool.

20050708-09 Kayaking on Lake Hayes Gallery

20050704 Time flies in Queenstown

Time is flying here, cannot believe its 2 weeks since I last wrote something, feels like yesterday. Been nearly snowboarding everyday, much easier than looking for a job, though I have been searching a ltttle bit. Ive gotten to a semi-advanced level at it, and can do most anything with the board now. Tackled one of the black runs (advanced) yesterday, had to hike up for 20 minutes then took a near vertical drop of the other side of the mountain, biggest adrenaline rush Ive ever had and gotta do it again soon. It is so beautiful up there; the pictures I think just dont do it justice. Queenstown is a great place to party, have had quite a few awesome nights, one night hanging out with some crazy Japanese snowboarders was extremely cool, and have had so many other great nights with new friends. Got a days work moving rocks around tomorrow for Brett, a stone mason, who lives in my house, should be a fun day. Really trying to figure out what way to do the next few months, whether to stay here, or move somewhere else and work there.

20050612-18 Snowboarding Coronet Peak & Found in Translation Gallery

20050627-30 More boarding on Coronet Peak Gallery

20050701-04 Snowboarding on the Remarks Gallery

20050619 Settling down

Moved into my new house today, my rooms got a view of the remarkable mountains on one side and the Luge bungee jump on the other. Yesterday hit the mountain again, but it was way too icey to learn anything new. Went out last night with Sarah and some people she lives with, went to altitude (like a more modern version of what the palace used be like), then buffalo (nice bar, big fire, $2 a beer), fergburger (for some amazing huge burgers, met ian and claire, who were on the feejee experience), pool lounge (where I won one game and sadly lost the next), debajo (tiny underground club with some nice funky house, though dead) and finally to tardis (very cool, small, hiphop/dnb/breaks bar) where I stayed until 4am and went home with a cold, enjoyable night though.

20050616 Snowboarding improving

Nailed the turning, now doing the M1 (biggest slope open on the mountain so far) without falling. Learned how to ollie the board (jump from flat) from a guy from Oz called Peter (20 year old finance broker). Yesterday met himself and a girl, Sarah from the Uk, she had been slagging me about a fall I had on the 1st day and I saw her on the 2nd day getting her arm stuck in the chair lift and being dragged back down the mountain, so I got her back for that (though it did look quite nasty).Its more fun when you have a group boarding together, laughing at the mistakes.