Europe

Aug

2012

Golden Ride Magazine

Snowboarder Aline Bock crosses over into the surfing world

I was contacted by a friend of mine, Aline Bock, with the request to do a couple of surfing shots for Golden Ride Magazine while she was down here in Sydney. Aline is a world class snowboarder and Golden Ride were looking to do a story on women who have crossed over and do both surfing and snowboarding. We did the shoot early one morning at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach. The waves were packed even at that early hour in the morning but we managed to find a quiet corner and get a fwe shots done. If you have looked through my blog before you might remember Aline’s name from when I shot with her in Austria and did a profile on her which you can find by clicking here

Snowboarder Aline Bock crosses over into the surfing world

Jun

2010

Fes el Bali, June 2010

Fes el Bali

This month’s calendar image is Morocco’s Imperial city of Fez, or more specifically Fes el Bali, the old walled medina of Fez. The shot was taken from the Merenid Tombs overlooking the old medina. Fez is one of my favourite cities for losing myself in. It is one of those cities where around every corner there seems to be something new to explore.

The medieval capital of Morocco and a great city of high Islamic civilization Fez is Morocco’s third largest city. It is one of the country’s four “imperial cities,” the others being Rabat, Marrakech and Meknes.The sprawling maze of Fes el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has the honour of being the best-preserved old city in the Arab world.No cars or trucks can enter the narrow streets and transports of goods through the Medina is provided by donkeys, carriages, and motorbikes.

The city, founded on the banks of the Fez River by Idris I in 789, was populated by Muslims, Moriscos (Moors of Spanish or Portuguese descent) and Jews. It was a scientific and religious center where both Muslims and Christians from Europe came to study. The University of Al-Karaouine, founded in AD 859, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world.

Fez was a major trading post of the Barbary Coast of North Africa and was at the end of a north-south gold trading route from Timbuktu in Mali. It was a prime manufacturing location for leather goods and its tanneries are today still use techniques used in the middle ages.

For more images of Fez and Morocco click here

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Jan

2010

Candide Thovex, Skiing Magazine, Germany.

A new image in Germany’s Skiing magazine. The shot is of Candide Thovex, taken while skiing around the Rendl side of St. Anton in Austria. The rest of the mountain was a complete whiteout and even down below the tree line the light was very flat, but such good snow. This is a secret little location tucked away in amongst a few trees. When the visibility is poor you need to head to the trees for some definition and contrast.

A shot of Candide Thovex for Skiing Magazine, Germany

Jul

2009

Australia

So here I am back in Australia. Well, I have actually been back here for a while now. Its been an interesting trip back home despite the fact that I haven’t really gone anywhere since I have been back. Its been raining a lot since I have been back this year which is great. If there was ever a country that actually needs rain it is Australia. The water reservoirs have been sitting on low for many years now and that country has been under constant water restrictions. The recent rainfall has bolstered the water supply a little. However if there was ever a country that suffers from mismanagement of its water supplies it has to be Australia. As soon as the level of the dams had risen slightly so too were the water restrictions eased. The levels in the dams were dangerously low, to the point where some of the capital cities had less than a years supply of drinking water left. The people here have become so used to living under water restrictions that surely it makes sense to leave the restrictions in place until the water levels have risen to a safe and comfortable point and there can be no danger in the immediate future. Above you can see a photo from the Hume Dam situated in the Snowy Mountain region. The trees that you see were a sunken forest covered by water when they built the dam and now exposed by the drought.

One thing I do love about being in Sydney is the easy access to its surrounding waterways and the natural beauty. It seems that you never have far to travel in order to get away from the crowds and the hustle and bustle. To the west you have the Blue Mountains, to the south the Royal National Park and in the North is Pittwater and Ku-ring-ai Chase National park. Even closer within 10-15kms you have spots such as Middle Head, North Head and Garigal National Park. Its something I find that a lot of the great cities in Europe lack. I guess that’s the trade off for not having all the castles and great cathedrals like The European cities have.

I have been tossing around a lot of ideas and making a lot of plans for future although nothing is definite yet. I am hoping to get a quick visit in to New Zealand while I am here. Its somewhere that I have always wanted to go but just never seem to get there. My circumstances might dictate that I have to actually get there this year which will be great even if it is only for a few days.

May

2009

Benjamin Herbert, Snowboarder

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 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 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 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

Feb

2009

Fieberbrunn Big Mountain

Yesterday I made a trip out to Fieberbrunn near the Tyrolean/Salzburg border to watch the qualifying round of the Big Mountain Freeride Tour. With a total of 10,000 Euros prize money, the contest has attracted 76 entrants from around the world all hoping for their chance to qualify for a spot on the prestigious ski and snowboard freeride world tour. Though the majority of riders come from Europe the contest has also attracted riders from as far away as New Zealand. The winner at Fieberbrunn qualifies for the Nissan Freeride de Tignes which starts on the 8th of March and has a prize purse of 40,000 USD.

Clouds had hampered the previous day with only 5 riders being able to ski due to the diminishing visiblity. Yesterday the weather was clear and cold with the temperature being around -12° at 9 in the morning. There was a biting wind blowing which dropped the temperatures even further. Conditions were quite mixed on the course and a bit more snow would have been welcome as a few rocks were uncovered after a big landing or a heavy turn. Although the majority of the riders kept it safe there was a few throwing down a couple of big drops. The final will be held between the 7th and the 15th of Feb (weather depending).

I am not sure if I will get to make it back to the final as this week in St. Anton the O’Neill Big Mountain Pro kicks off with some of the world’s top riders but if the chance arises I will definitely be making the trip back to Fieberbrunn to watch the final (and I shall be sure to take a bigger lens).