Gearing up for the World Tour again.
Last year was the third year for the IFWA World Freeride tour, and my first year on tour. It was a truly amazing year for me, when all was said and done I wound up second out of the. After winning the opening round in Portugal, finishing a disappointing 5th in Spain, and second in France; I left Europe one point out of first place with a good shot at the title. However heading in to Brazil last September our skis were held up in customs (where they still sit to this day almost 6 months later.) We were sure the skis were going to show up as late as the day before the contest, but it was not to be. I rode a ski provided for my good friend Mike Serlin, which unfortunately broke ever time I rode it. I think I wound up something like 10th in that contest, and found myself tied for in the points chase. The final round was in the US, and the incredible guys at Blowsion built me an incredible boat at the last minute! I was knocked out in the quarter finals by the eventual winner Taylor Curtis and wound up 5th. Not the best showing on my home turf, but good enough to secure second overall.
The tour will begin again this April and will start in France this year. I am riding the redesigned 2008 SuperJet and am working on getting used to the new boat. The 08 has a redesigned hull and setback pump which makes it a completely new boat...better but still quite different. We are a couple months out at this point, and I am working on trying to figure out some new stuff this year. Pierre Maxient (the current and 3x World Champ) is still on another level when it comes to aerial tricks, and this year we will hopefully have Taylor Curtis with us who is without question the best surfer on a ski there is today. Plus, at each stop there are at least 10 other guys who can easily win... Federico Bufacchi, Aurel Mejan, Max Baroero, Zach Waddle, Gill Bernier, Marc Sickerling, Xan Sampaio, Ivo Sehn, Henry Charlet, Jeremy Phillips, and I am sure I am missing some. All of those guys have what it takes to win...
The only thing I can think of to do in an attempt to win is train. And that is what I have been doing...lots of time in the gym, and on the ski. Plus I have been doing a bit of R&D for Blowsion on the new boat. Thanks to JSU, Blowsion, Hydro-Turf, and UMI Racing, I will have the very best equipment out there this year and I am determined to do all I can to give myself the best possible shot at the title..
