Out with the old…….but to where?

Out with the old…….but to where?

Finally, I have got a new computer. It has been a long slow painful wait for it to arrive but arrive it did and now I am trying to get myself back on track again. Not being a computer expert I am not quite sure what happened to my old one. I’m guessing the warranty had run out It’s usually around this time that everything starts to go wrong. It started with  the keyboard falling apart, first the left click button and then the letter ‘o’  just ceased to work anymore.  Then my processors didn’t seem overly happy to be working,  taking around about 10 minutes  to open up a photo never mind trying to edit it. To top it all off the drivers that ran the graphics started playing up and kept crashing my screen. I am sure there is someone out there who will read this and go “oh that sounds like a classic case of blah blah blah and all he really needed to do was blah blah blah and all would be right again.”

So far the only problem that I find with my new computer is the keys. After using a European keyboard for so long I tend to keep mixing up the Y and the Z button. All in all though i am enjoying my new toy. IMG_2180

You should expect to see lots of new photos on my website soon as I make a desperate attempt to catch up now that I have fallen so far behind. It’s really quite amazing how many little shortcuts and passwords are on your computer that you suddenly miss.

On an interesting note my local councils in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney have decided to stop collecting E-waste such as computers television and so on. This is an environmental initiative in order to stop the leaching of chemicals from resistors and chips as they break down in the land-fill areas. The councils believe that if they stop collecting the e-waste then the onus will fall upon the producers to stop creating said chips and resistors and replace them with environmental friendly ones instead. Although it seems like their hearts are in the right place there seems to me to be a few flaws in the councils plan. The companies that produce the computers and such are not based in my local. Sure there is a few offices nearby but the head are all in some other country and no doubt, at this early stage of the initiative, completely oblivious to the councils attempt at strong-arming them into action. The councils have offered no replacement for the collection of e-waste which means instead of being collected and stored together things will now just be dumped in bush, by the side of the road, wherever people can get rid of things.  Surely if you remove a service like rubbish removal then it should be replaced with a solution and not just a statement to say “we are not going to collect it anymore”  fullstop.

It is possible to recycle a large amount of E-waste. Granted not all. When then instead of refusing to collect it not set up a recycling plant or initiate a plan whereby it will be sent to be recycled. I think that instead of fixing the problem they have just washed their hands of the whole thing and that the best that we could hope for is that consumerism and wanton waste of such product would go decrease.

Posted by Richard in What's going on, 0 comments
Heli-skiing Steep Faces in St Moritz

Heli-skiing Steep Faces in St Moritz

Mattias Haunholder, Switzerland.

Mattias Haunholder throwing down some big turns near St. Moritz in Switzerland.

Last weekend was spent down in St Moritz skiing around Corvatsch and heli-skiing on the border with Italy.  The mountains down this way are beautiful soaring peaks with long steep faces.  I was graciously invited to go on the trip in order to shoot with big mountain skiers Martin “McFly” Winkler and Matthias Haunholder.  Martin and Matthias certainly stepped up and put in some great lines. The snow stuck beautifully to the faces allowing them to ski some steep lines.

Posted by Richard in Skiing, Sports, What's going on, 0 comments
Benjamin Herbert, Snowboarder

Benjamin Herbert, Snowboarder

Ben Herbert, Sonnenkopf, Austria.

Ben Herbert, powder turn, Sonnenkopf, Austria.

Australian born Ben Herbert is a dedicated board rider. Whether its on the big peaks of Alaska or the pounding surf of the Mexican pipeline in Puerto Escondido he is always pushing himself to go bigger and better. His travels in search of adventures have taken him all over the world but it is the Austrian town of Innsbruck that he has come to call home.

Date of Birth:
01.10.1973

Nationality:
Australian with an EU passport

Ben Herbert, Langen, Austria

Ben Herbert tearing through the trees near Langen Am Arlberg,Austria.

Home Mountain:
I live in Innsbruck and have the Regio card which offers access to a number of great mountains. Arlberg has been home for many years, as well as the Zillertal, so as a home mountain goes I have a huge backyard. Let’s just say Tyrol.

Sponsors:
Black Flys Eyewear, Never Summer Snowboards, Beyond Snowboard Bindings, Berghaus Clothing, Pull-in Underwear

Favourite board:
I love the never summer boards, they are so responsive and reliable. I’d say my 163 wide is my allrounder,and 168,or the rounded pin 172 for the deep powder days or the steep long lines.

Favourite spot:
Favourite spot is hard to answer. Anywhere in steep waist deep powder with friends around.

Ben Herbert, Sonnenkopf, Austria.

Ben Herbert tracking the untracked, Sonnenkopf, Austria.

How did you get involved in snowboarding?
I was living in Colorado in a place called A-Basin and it was freeriders playground. I was skiing at the time. I had a friend come from Australia and convince me to try the board and, well, never really looked back. After the season I then went to Europe and worked in St Anton, also a freeriders heaven, and fell in love with snowboarding.

Favourite Country:
When I’m not here in the mountains I’m always thinking of surfing somewhere warm and exotic ,the last years were spent in sumatra and .phillipines ,i enjoy the ocean very much,diving ,spear fishing ,and surfing .also in the mtns .biking ,climbing and rafting.

Influences:
I’ve been inspired by many great people from all corners of the globe; Chris McAlpine, Russell Holt, Brodox, Steve Trainor, Jeremy Jones, Tom Burt, Nicolas Muller, Alaskan Heli-skiing Company, Cats Trading, Tommy Brunner(RIP) and my awesome girlfriend Chistl.

Ben Herbert, Langen, Austria

Ben Herbert tearing through the trees near Langen Am Arlberg,Austria.

Motivations:
I get highly motivated when planning trips for each year. I love to travel and to combine this with the love of snowboarding is only a bonus.

Best Moment:
Too many to try to describe. Dropping into my first line in Alaska was exhilarating and words cannot express it. Everyday in the powder with friends are some of the best days of my life. Being on the mountain and sharing these awesome experiences with friends is priceless……cheers .

Worst Moment:
Injuries have and will always be a pain in the ass. I had a friend who broke his back many years ago. I was first on the scene and it was heavy. After two operations he was told by doctors he would not walk again,although the operation was successful. After 15 months he was walking again and after a few years was back on the board and surfing. For sure one of the worst moments I’ve experienced but with a happy ending.

Last Words:
I’ve enjoyed being in the mountains most with motivated people with the same interests and willing to push the limits,its been a pleasure. Thanks.

Click here to see photo gallery for Ben Herbert

Black Flys Never Summer
logo-berghaus Beyond Snow
Posted by Richard in Portraits, Skiing
Spring Ski Sessions

Spring Ski Sessions

Spring time has arrived in St Anton which means its back-country kicker time. The weather has been warm and our generous snow-pack from the season is disappearing rapidly. The warm slushy conditions has made for some great kicker sessions. The kickers have been built up around St. Christoph Am Arlberg. It’s a great slope for building on. It catches the afternoon sun and has some great views down the valley and over the town below.

The next few days are supposed to hold a bit of rain which means some downtime from the mountain and a chance to catch up with a few projects which I have had planned for sometime now. 

Posted by Richard in Skiing, Snowboarding, What's going on, 0 comments
Candide Thovex

Candide Thovex

 

Candide Thovex, Cab 900 Stuben Am Arlberg, Austria

Candide Thovex, Cab 900 Stuben Am Arlberg, Austria

Over this last week I have had the pleasure of shooting the talented Candide Thovex. Candide was here in the Arlberg for about 1 week to do some filming for his new project Candide Kamera. The majority of the days were snowfilled powder days as the snow continues to fall here. A couple of days were spent out filming and shooting in Sonnenkopf and the rest at the deep snow paradise of Stuben.

For the blue sky days the Stuben gap jump was built up by Nick Francke of Empire Parks. Once again a big thanks goes to Skye Darden of Line Skis.

 

 

Posted by Richard in Skiing, 0 comments
Generation Flinga

Generation Flinga

The last few days I have had the pleasure of shooting with a couple of Swedish girls known as Generation Flinga as they travel around the world in search of adventure and snow making an all-girl skimovie.

Sara Orrensjö and Janette Hargin passed through the Arlberg with cameraman Marcus Hansen in tow. Together with Nick Hayter and Adam Widen we spent a couple of days shooting around St. Anton and Sonnenkopf. Their timing here was well blessed with one of the best snowfalls that we have seen here this season. The girls certainly put the fresh snow to use with a few big drops and some beautifully deep powder turns.

The girls adventure will continue on Monday as they head off to Japan. You can follow their travels at www.generationflinga.com and be sure to watch out for the movie “Catch Us If You Can” when it comes out.

Posted by Richard in What's going on, 0 comments
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