Season opening in St. Petersburg (snowboard)

I didn't close my wakeboard season and I will not; it just continues and continues, well not indeed in Russia or Finland.
Here in St. Petersburg where I'm shortly staying is possible already to snowboard!!
http://www.zoldol.ru/
Season started here already 2nd of November in Золотая Долина (Golden Valley), when I was still in Philippines.
It's really strange to come from Philippines to this kind of conditions, I have still jet lag and cold makes my body feels pain.))
Anyway I had possible to open snowboard season, what else you can do in this kind of weather?
Here was frosty period and they made snow by snow guns, it looks so strange, there is not snow around at all, but one slope is snowy!!
Unfortunately frosty period was over and now it's raining or fog and + Celsius degrees.
One slope is working, but waiting more winter weather!

Snow guns waiting frost...

...waiting as well!))

Anyway it's fresh air and some fun outdoors!!
Snow wasn't so bad, what I expected.

Thanks Anna for some photos!
 

ZolDol PARK

Произошло долгожданное открытие экстрим-парка в Золтой долине! Не верите???
Смотрите фотоотчет!

Park is open in ZolDol!!!
Here are some photos and words about park.

Photo tour starts from up of the hill!
The first obstacle is simple handrail...

Second is assortment different kind of obstacles... (rainbow, tabletop, handrail etc...)

Couple photos with riders...

This is the view after jibbing obstacles, existing always two lines! (smaller and bigger)

Первые трамплины с обоих сторон...

The first kickers from both sides...

Следующие трамплина с двух сторон...

The second kickers from both sides...

Landing of the last kickers...

В конце склона еще есколько труб, к сожалению фоток нет!

There are still couple jibbing pipes down of the slopes. I have no photos of these!

Парк крут! Трамплины спокойные и длинные, не обязательно ехать с очень высокой скоростью. Размер стола трамплина правильный. Легко кататься на фигурах не задумываясь о скорости. Конечно снег жесткий, особенно если он искусственный

Увидимся в Зол Доле!

Park is good and it's possible to make really varied runs over there. Kickers are peaceful and long, but it's not necessary to ride really high speed, what is nice. Table sizes of the kickers are just right, easy to make different kind of runs, without thinking too much speed problems.

Of course this time of the year snow is hard; especially snow what is produced by snowguns.

Have a good ride! See you in ZolDol!!

Rainbow in Snegpark

On Sunday after weekend riding in ZolDol and Igora I was also testing new rainbow slider in Snegpark.
They had installed also small tabletop. Riding on those was almost like in the summer.))))
Only sign in the front of the temperature degrees was negative, in the summer it's positive. (-25 °C vs. +25 °C)

Frame of the rainbow was still open and quite painful to hit e.g. knee to frame, but there is no problem, you must only to slide until to end every time.))

Couple kicker pictures...

...also if you fall down, it's not necessary to release or loose handle. Just keep it and slide back to starting point.
Smart yeah!!?

Thanks to Oleg Taraban and Anna Moskal for photos!

Calendar 2012 February

Every month I'll publish new page for 2012 calendar. Save it, print it and tape to your wall! ;-)))))

I was the first time trying the Rixen cable in winter. Snowboard runs faster on ice/snow than wakeboard on water and it was difficult to keep tight rope in the beginning. 

Honestly I must to tell that all tricks from kickers are really sad level, if I compare it to real snowboarding. It's difficult to think and get used to this fact that landings of the kickers are flat!!

All flat tricks (e.g railey) are really scary because of hard landing.

I think riding would be really great, if there would be fresh powder snow, but actually riding in deep powder is ALWAYS the best you can do clothes on.)))

Igora Snow Sapiens Contest 28.01.2012

I tried to ride also, but I didn't "feel good" (lot of as an explanation), so I was shooting only.  Afterwards I repented that I didn't participate, but I got some nice pictures.
Thanks for great riders!