South America – Part 1. Chillin in Chile

August 12th I got off the plane in Santiago at 6 am. After 30 hours of traveling I was stiff and tired and worried about what was going to happen next. Knowing how things can operate in South America I half expected my bags to be gone. On top of that, I was traveling on the word that I would get “hooked up” if I made it. So with zero plans or expectations I dragged my bags along until I noticed a short man with a white paper that had my name spelled wrong. I smiled, everything was going to work out! Pablo drove me to cozy spot right off the slopes of La Parva. Eight of us made up the sweetest  house ever, casa de no name! It was Kent, Norte, Jess, Chuck, Drew, Ben, Alex and myself. Pretty much a bunch of super nice, very rowdy people, who happen to like skiing and partying A LOT. Money and room was a bit tight for everyone so things like eating at home every night and using dish soap in the shower were part of a daily routine. The first day we hiked around a bit and ended up hitching a ride up with some patrollers who showed us a fun little chute to ski. It felt so good to be hiking in the cool air and skiing again. I was so stoked to be with my friends skiing in the middle of summer!

The next couple days were full of blue skys, pisco and fondue. We weren’t skiing pow, but we were having an amazing time shredding around hitting random features and pretty much skiing as fast as we could. We did a couple random photo shoots so we could continue to get free passes from La Parva and El Colorado. We also did some filming while we explored these chutes and caves at La Parva. Those will be pretty entertaining. After partying and messing around for 4 days it was time to start concentrating on the competition we all few around the world to do.

I would like to take this time to thank Rodrigo Medina and Jota Hernandez. Thanks to them I actually did get “hooked up” and had the most amazing time in Chile.

Indonesia

I spent a lot of my summer working; working to pay off hospital bills, working so I could travel, and working on my physical therapy for my shoulder. Things were going great until October 11^th, the day before my vacation, I broke my elbow.  Although I was frustrated, I didn’t let it hold me back. I still went camping in the deserts of Utah, flew to Seattle to visit family, then departed to Indonesia for a month! Even though I couldn’t surf, I still experienced Indonesia to the fullest. I partook in plenty of dancing, snorkeling, trekking, elephant rides, parasailing, jet skiing, swimming, running on the beach, and spa treatments. I also ate amazing food for cheap, explored beautiful art, met awesome people, and embraced the Balinese life of gratitude, kindness, laughter and LOVE! Here’s a rhyme I wrote dedicated to my Rime Knit Family!

The perfect white sand that falls through my hand, brings me to my past and the time that I skied last.

It was time for me to learn when my life took a turn. In anger and sadness I soak when my heart and body broke.

At first it didn’t make sense and my pain created a fence, but after those hard times my story created new rhymes.

There was something I needed to know besides my love for snow. Indonesia was something new, so across the world I flew.

I observed their life of gratitude and it changed my negative attitude. They taught me how to see, the importance of being free.

They appreciate what they’ve got, although it’s not a lot, like a rhyme knit keeping you warm in a winter storm.

So when it’s time to ski it won’t be about me. I’ll share my passion with others as if their my sisters and brothers.

I think a Rime Knit should make you focus on the good, and on every head should sit a handmade rhyme knit!