Eb Freeski Latest News
•EB Freeski Team updates end Jan / start Feb
Andy Bennett
I am over in Verbier for the winter and we have had the best snow in 12 years! It's dumping again as I write this and I'm going up early tomorrow on the fat skis with the Go Pro for a bit of a shred. Had a fair few powder days so far but mainly tree skiing. I am really looking forward to a sunny day when it's not busy and get up high with my skins and get my hike on! I got an ABS system this year just to up my odds a little in the event of an avalanche as well. Not had to use it yet so all cool! Don't really have any trip planned but I am trying to get a free day to hook up with John Norris to get some pics done somewhere cool. Probably over in Bruson opposite Verbier. As far as memorable days so far this season go my best one is probably tree skiing earlier on in December. I have a short video on Youtube here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCVR0ay-pvA
Chris Fecher
Awesome conditions here at the mo! Chamonix is like the old days, full of snow. Its great!! Business (tinderbox ski school) is going well, we've grown on last year quite considerably!
Mike Wakefield
We had a huge snow fall a few days ago which padded out the snow base. The parks getting shaped as I write this too. The powder was a little iffy as the base was so scarce. A couple of weeks and everything should be perfect. I started an edit last night too, ill send it over as soon as its online.
This season I'm riding at North Star, Tahoe, CA with a few trips to Heavenly in there.
I don't plan on competing this season, my main aim is to get plenty of filming and coverage for myself and my sponsors. I want to have fun this season and enjoy myself. I find its the best way to progress instead of just pushing it all the time.
We only arrived about a couple of weeks ago to resort so we haven't had that much riding time yet from the bad weather. Last week was the 1st time back in the pipe for over 2 years. 22ft of perfection, I have never seen a pipe shaped so well.
Sign up and follow my blog page through the season at http://mikewakefieldski.blogspot.com
Becky Hammond
Currently in Breckenridge Colorado, left all the amazing snow in Europe for GB pipe training in Breckenridge. I have 1 month in Breckenridge then heading to Verbier, Laax, Saas Fee and maybe even Sweden. I have the Aspen Open coming up in February which I'm super excited about. We have had quite a lot of snow fall recently in Breckenridge but due to high winds most of the snow keeps getting blown off the mountain. The pipe is perfectly shaped everyday and I'm hoping for bluebird for the next month so we can get the most out of training.
Dave Young
I'm trying to get a business going at the moment so not been able to commit to anything too much but will be doing some trips next year. So far only skied at Christmas but got first tracks with my girlfriend everyday for a week in Tignes. Knackering but awesome! I should be going to the SIGB ski test, then out to coach some kids in Laax for a week straight after and then off to help Pat coach at the world junior champs.
•22nd June 2011» Rowan Cheshire
Rowan came second in the women's freestyle category at the "Go big or go home" competition at Bearsden this weekend, see pictures.
She has also been picked for the English freestyle development team for halfpipe. She will be doing a number of comps in Europe to gain experience in the coming season.
•29th January 2011» Beanie Milne Home
Everything is mildly manic here before ISPO, but I managed to sneak away for two days to Engadin for the Freeride World Tour Qualifier, 3 star event, and was placed 2nd. I didn't expect it at all, but I am so stoked with the result. Here are a few iphone snaps of Engadin, the venue and some of the spectators.
News from the Freeride World Tour site
http://www.freerideworldtour.com/news-detail/items/results-of-the-fwq-event-held-in-engadin-stmoritz.html
Full list of results from the women’s Freeride World Qualifier 27.1.11
http://www.engadinsnow.com/filearchive/5a5c952bfc617a0ad972593b04594e47.pdf
•24th January 2011» Julian Ball
This is just a little update from the season so far. I did some filming (and awful acting) with my housemate Arran Busk from Cabnine. The first episode of the Ninelives series is online. The link is below. Episode two will be underway shortly.
Ninelives episode 1 - http://www.vimeo.com/18753291
I went over for the Verbier Ride at the weekend and got 3rd in the Big Air Comp. All round it was an awesome few days, great kicker, great vibe amongst competitors and I skied well despite having a cracked rib (it was the fall on that urban rail in episode 1). I'll be looking to head back over there to film in the back country. Here are the links for the write up of the comp and an edit of the event.
http://www.verbierride.com/competition/summary/event_summary_2011.html
Last night I went up to the Avoriaz park for a little sunset shoot with Damian McArthur. I haven't shot with him before but he got some pretty sick shots.
I also got a cover shot (attached) on the front of a local magazine called the Yodel. I'm doing an interview with them this week. I'll let you know how that goes.
I'm registering for a few more comps at the moment. I'm not 100% if I can attend them all because I have a busy Feb and March and it's super expensive but i'll do my best.
•17th January 2011» Becky Hammond
I competed at the Verbier Ride this weekend and got 2nd place. Really happy! I haven't done a big air comp for quite a while, so I was quite nervous. I got a front flip off the jump so super happy. The weather was perfect conditions, blue skies, little wind. There was a good crowd watching too and loads of media.
The weathers looking great for the next week and the resort is very quit.
I've attached a few photos from Saturdays comp.
•3rd January 2011» Becky Hammond
Happy New Year! I've been in Verbier, Switzerland about 1month now. I've been on big back country hikes, busy coaching and skiing loads of back country. The snow has been amazing! The busy period is nearly over now, so for the rest of January I can ski for myself. The park is looking really good and there's a permanent air bag in place which I can use for free. Looking forward to 15th January as I'm entering a European Slopestyle comp- Verbier Ride.
•15th November 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
It has been ages since I did an update and have been travelling a lot. Last time I wrote, I was off to Annecy for IF3, International Freeski Film Festival, which was the first in Europe, lots of people showed and the films were of a ridiculous standard. In TGR Light the Wick, they even had a 3D segment.
Back from this and I had to get my broken wrist checked to see if I needed surgery or not. Yes, no, yes, no and eventually 12 hours before flying to Tarifa to meet my sister I got the all clear to go on my kitesurfing holiday, minus the kitesurfing bit. Tarifa is a great town, we stayed in a cool hotel, Misiana, in the centre of the old town and a short drive to the kitesurfing beaches. Thankfully it wasn't windy everyday so my kitesurfing envy didn't get too much.
Back from Tarifa and work for a bit in Verbier before heading to the UK and a brief visit to the Ski Show catching up with friends and seeing what everyone's been up to in the summer. Home for my cousins wedding before back down to London for the Freeze festival to check out how Faction riders, PC Fosse and Andy Matthew were doing along with more catching up, partying and dancing to good tunes. I also visited my physio Melanie Thompson at Six Physio, who gave me the all clear for my knee, so stoked that everything looks good with it although I still need to work on strength before the winter.
Home to Verbier and finally my wrist cast off, producing a revolting small brown arm - where the tan had stuck from the summer, this washed off down the sink though. Followed by skiing in Saas Fee, my first day back since my knee operation and it felt great, and all with my new Nikita gear - sweet. Since then I have been to Les Diablerets for a mini shred and see how some more Faction riders were getting on in the Glacier 3000 competition. We had lots of snow in Verbier till Thursday, then it didn't stop raining for 24 hours, so things are looking a lot browner again. However it still opened this weekend and winter is getting closer - getting excited to ski some powder.
•29th September 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
So rehab is continuing the same as always, but slowly managing to increase the things I can do and only two weeks until I can venture back on snow. So been concentrating a lot on building bulk in my weaker leg. However, with all the excitement of getting back to full fitness, I have been mountain biking a lot and last weekend broke and displaced my wrist. So, I am now waiting to see if I have surgery next week or if I am going to Tarifa on a surfing holiday with my sister, won't be much surfing either way!
However, a broken wrist is a minimal injury in my books, with recovery at only 4-6 weeks, so all set for winter still. Included are a couple of shots of my x-ray, unfortunately, I don't have any with me strung up to the pulley getting my wrist pulled back into place. Off to the International Freeski Festival in Annecy tomorrow to check out all this years ski movies, which will get me motivated for rehab again.
•27th August 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
It has been a busy August for me in Verbier. I went back to the UK at the start of the month to see my physio Melanie Thompson at Six Physio and my surgeon Jonathon Bell at Wimbledon Clinics. It was good to check in and see that everything is progressing with my left knee, still needs a lot of work to get it strong and to ensure it can absorb impact. Frustratingly though, my right leg has regressed as I have been so focused on my left knee. The past two years, I have had a knee and hip op on my right leg, all the muscles have weakened and I have lost a bit of function, so I have to add my old right leg exercises back in to my already large rehab schedule. However, I know I can get it back to strength so it is alright.
Besides that set back, I was given the all clear to go mountain biking on the blue trails here in Verbier (not very blue, the biking like the skiing is pretty steep). I have happily been biking at the weekends and have already spent a lot of my hard earned cash on bike related goodness - even more expensive than skiing, as everything breaks all the time. There are some amazing runs here, myself and friend, Mike Guest, did the Ultimate trail the other day - 11km of downhill from the top of Pierre Avoir to Martigny. Besides this there has been some play time in the Gooey (lake at the bottom of the hill) on a water trampoline - which was not very successful, as it is a Junior Jumper - and we are not exactly Juniors! It has been great to get out and do fun sports again and in just one month I can start skiing again, slowly, pretty excited by the prospect already.
Also, had my first full article published in Cooler magazine this month about the sled trip I did in Whistler this winter with fellow Scot, Claire Hughes, pretty stoked. http://cooler.mpora.com/magazines/cooler-augsep-10.html
•30th July 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
Physio has become very monotonous with all the same exercises, just increasing weights and unstable surfaces. However, I have been allowed to start jogging, the first few attempts were not a great success with a lot of hopping and swinging on the sides of the treadmill but seem to have got a fairly normal gait going now.
Happy to be in Verbier for physio as at the weekends when the gym is closed have been on some good bike rides and hikes, there is a good crew of ACL rehabbers here so not everyone is having fun on the downhill tracks and can be persuaded into flat bike rides along the valley floor.
Back to the UK to see my surgeon and physio next week so hopefully they will agree that it is all going in the right direction and might let me do some mountain biking, not holding my breath for that one.
•27th June 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
So it has been a busy couple of weeks, I am now back in Verbier and set for a summer of rehab and working with Faction skis, doing social media marketing. I headed back to Scotland, to purchase myself the finest BMW, family and friends were put to work on cutting and polishing her so she looks like new. Down to London, test drive, before heading to the Alpes. A weekend with friends, checking out Borough Market, the bar at Tate modern, boat trip, a Rabbit’s first birthday party, my first manicure and pedicure, eating, drinking, good times basically. Myself and two kiwis hit the road on Tuesday and made it to Verbier a good 18 hours later, not too many glitches with the Beemer and to my pretty plush accommodation for the summer.
Rehab, seems to be going good, my physio has given me a full on programme for the 6-8 week stage and I am steadily working away. It is definitely easier to do, when aqua jogging involves the lake instead of the local pool. As well as good walks up and down Alpes - although my physio may be less impressed by this news, the knee seems to be handling it well. Below is a schedule from the physio.
Week 6-8 ACL Protocol
Goals for week 6-8:
1: Maintain full extension/hyperextension
2: Protect Surgical Graft
3: Right Knee flexion 135degrees
4: Continued Strength building by increasing repetitions and load
5: Protect Meniscal Repair by not loading knee beyond 90 degrees
6: Introduce direct hamstring strengthening
Precautions:
1: Avoid twisting/pivoting
2: Avoid open chain knee extension
3: Avoid dynamic valgus during strengthening and functional exercises
4: Avoid overloading the hamstring too quickly
State of Graft:
1: Graft weakest at this point
2: Graft revascularlisation continues to week 16
3: Cellular repopulation continues through to week 24
4: Collagen structural formation with remodeling starting from week 6
Problems:
1: Stiffness after prolonged rest or in the morning
2: Difficulty to maintain passive extension
3: Difficulty to gain isometric contraction in full extension
4: Decreased propioception
5: Vulnerability of graft versus increasing functional ability
6: Intermittent awkwardness on leg press when not aligning lower limb correctly
•6th June 2010 » Joe Tyler
It's been a wet start here it didn't stop raining for 6 weeks until the other day which was cool as it gave me a chance to go and test out the new water ramps built just outside Innsbruck which was cool and should be good for me to get some summer training in.
•6th June 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
It is nearly six weeks since my ACL reconstruction, which seems like a long time but still a good 18 weeks before I can do everything again. However, my leg is feeling much stronger and the Vastus Medialis muscle, which had stopped working, seems to be back in action. After my right leg surgery, this muscle pretty much gave up for a year, so stoked that the left leg is working. I have just started to move onto fast twitch muscle fibre work, everything up until now has been very slow controlled movements. Fast twitch exercises include, snapping my leg up behind me and doing tiny jumps on the spot, both are proving frustrating as the muscles are so slow to react at the moment, I feel very uncoordinated. At six weeks the graft is weakest, as it has technically died, so it needs to be looked after until it can resurrect itself as a ligament, which doesn't fully happen for 18 months.
Other than rehab I have been keeping busy in much better ways, going to the South of France, where a friend Trev was working. We checked out a 150 million Euro Yacht that a friend of Trev's was working on, it was obscene but amazing to snoop round. Then we headed up to Verbier for a few days to catch up with friends and have a change of rehab, going hiking and eating lots of cheese. Also managed to squeeze in a day trip to Italy where Camilla and I used to work in Aosta, for the best pizza, Franchesina: Brie, Mozzarella and Apple. Back in Scotland for now, but looking to move to Verbier for the summer to do some work with Faction Skis and it will be a great place to do rehab with all the hill walking and biking - once I am allowed.
•24th May 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
May has been a more entertaining month with lots of distractions from Physio. It seems that half of New Zealand has migrated over here, so a group of us headed up north to friend and photographer, Camilla Stoddart's: www.whiteroompictures.com. Nine of us hung out on the loch, bit of kayaking, walking, bbqing. On Sunday, Trev, Dougal and Matt hit the slopes of Cairngorm, we just headed up to check it out, but as it was open and lift tickets plus rental was only £25 it would have been sacrilege for them not to go. They didn't exactly look pro, cruising around in jeans with no gloves, and the rental guys definitely thought they were a bunch of upstarts.
With Physio I have got into a routine of getting to the local gym first thing in the morning for a couple of hours. Where I look a little crazy as I have to walk backwards on the treadmill, then walk up and down the pool: forwards, backwards and sideways, amongst other exercises. Then I come home and push myself around backwards on an office chair. Really missing not being active and want to go out running or biking but still away off. Felt like everything was going well and my leg was strengthening, but saw my physio this morning and seem to have overdone it as the swelling is back. Swelling stops the Vastus Medialis working (quad on the inside) so going to have to take it easier till it goes back down. Shouldn't be too hard as I am off to Pat and Ness's wedding then away to Cannes, to stay with a mate who is working out there, think I now have an excuse to lapse on the physio while I'm away.
•7th May 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
It is nearly a month since surgery now, I have just been back to see my surgeon and he is pleased with progress, but I have to ensure I don't get too keen and do too much as the bone needs to set around the graft. My rehab has been a bit slack over the weekend as I have been down in Wales staying with mates by the sea, swimming, climbing over rocks and walking... alternative rehab. Was then back to London to stay with friends and a day trip down to Falmouth University to have an interview for Design for Sportswear Performance, it is an amazing course, and I got an unconditional offer. However three years, and double fees so not sure I am sold on heading back to uni. Back to Scotland now and back to see my Physio who may not be so happy about my alternative rehab programme.
Some photos of scars - or lack of, all so small I had to circle them.
•24th April 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
So it has been just over a week since my surgery and things are going surprisingly well. I am managing to cruise around home without my crutches, my leg is going straight - something my right leg still refuses to do two years post surgery and the swelling is coming down. At this point two years ago, I was much further behind, I think 6 weeks of prehab and being forced to wait for the surgery has helped a lot.
However, it does not mean I am not already fed up of physio three times a day, and at 70min sessions my life revolves around the next set. During yet another set of wall squats, I was keeping myself entertained by reading an old Fall-line magazine and came across a picture of me in Japan, which I didn't know had been published. Finding the shot was a massive boost and definitely motivational at this point in rehab, when skiing seems so far away and on the third surgery in as many years, it would definitely be a good time to call it a day, but now, all I want to do is get fit and strong so I can ski Japanese powder again.
•19th April 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
I have finally had my surgery, after 6 weeks of prehab and feeling like I could do everything it was fairly frustrating to walk into Parkside hospital with crutches in hand knowing that I would need them to get out.
My surgeon, Jonathan Bell, set to work and tidied up my left knee, meniscus damage and ACL reconstruction. He had also agreed to take out my 10 year old ankle plate, as it was so old it required a bit of bone chipped off it but now I am metal free, well almost.
After surgery I spoke to far too many people and now I have no recollection of those conversations as still fairly out of it from the anaesthetic, do remember the morphine giving me a very itchy nose though.
Staying with my Aunt and Uncle for a few days who always have to put me up for a bit post surgery as a little tricky getting back to Scotland. Having a tricky time with my crutches, as I have had numerous injuries to my right hand side and none to my left, I keep using them for the wrong leg - even more confusing with both legs in bandages. So spending my days convalescing in bed, finally watching "The Wire" and reading the third of Steig Larsson's books. I also have physio exercises four times a day, I feel like my life is never ending physio, but back into the routine of bend, straighten, lift, ice, repeat, repeat, repeat.
Pre-op
Post Op
DVT Socks for 2 Weeks!!!!
•12th April 2010 » Joe Tyler
Just a quick update to let you know what I've been up to lately.
This past week I was filming for Eristoff Vodka here at Snowbombing. They are making 3 short films for virals on the internet - one mainly about the sponsored parties at Snowbombing, another one about me and a guide to the "local only" places on the mountain and the town - a lot of TV presenting but it was fun and cheesy at times! Then the last film is kind of a JT v's DJ Yoda where I showcase my skills on the hill and then I interviewed DJ Yoda and then went on stage with him for his set at the forest party. The film should be out next week - so I'll forward the link on as soon as I get it through. Whilst here, I also did some ski lessons for the journalists from FHM, Huck & the Daily Mirror. As soon as I get anything back from this too I’ll send it through.
I've also got some pretty big plans for next year which are starting to take shape - I'll let you know more once I've finished the proposal...
Hope you are all well and enjoying the sunny weather!
•16th March 2010 » Beanie Milne Home
This is a bit more relevant to the knee and less how I like to travel!
Having just got back home to Scotland, I headed straight back to London to see my surgeon. Jonathan Bell at Wimbledon Clinics, who looked after my right knee two years ago. I was hopeful that as the swelling wasn't too bad I could potentially sneak straight into surgery this week. Apparently not, due to the extent of the damage, Jonathan was not going to budge on his six weeks pre-hab plan to ensure that all the damage had time to settle.
So into London to see my physio, Melanie Thompson, at Six Physio. Melanie had me working really hard last summer to get back to skiing after a hip injury and was a little disbelieving to see me back. Anyway she has given me a lot to work on in the coming six weeks, and reassures me that with all the work we did last summer it is going to be easier to get the left leg back in working order quicker. So post surgery I have a 6 month goal to get back on skis, instead of the nine months that I had for the first knee.
A few days in London to catch up with friends and party a little too hard - not the best thing for the swelling, but I am back on the hill in Scotland behaving and rehabbing now.
