Hey folks, I’m über excited with the result on my 1st race in Germany: a well fought 2nd place! There was also luck involved, as it’s many times the case in Snowboard Cross —ANYTHING can happen on the race course. And so it did: the Chinese I was chasing took a turn too sharp and went down in front of me, so I was able to pass him with a few feet to the finish line! With that I was able to...
Hello guys, I’d like to share good news today; the races in the indoor “ice box” in Landgraaf, Holland, went extremely well and I collected two gold medals!! Super pumped, I surprised myself w the fact, but also would like to share the details on that. Because last season I ended up only doing one race (which I didn’t do well), I lost most of my points and downgraded to the “entry level” race —the European Cup of Banked Slalom (and not...
Hi friends, I’m here training in the Netherlands at this state of the art compound with an indoor ski facility where they built a beautiful banked slalom course. It’s pretty awesome, you’re wearing shorts one minute, next you suit up and get inside this “freezer box.” Super grateful to be here, it’s my 3rd time, and I was thinking I’ve come a long way in snowboarding. I never needed to prove anything to anyone, but since I had my accident, I’ve been...
Howdy folks! Like I mentioned previously, I’m getting ready for my upcoming season. Hopes are high, the body has been constantly sore, I’m getting in the zone where I’ll be feeling ready. For sure, with social media these days, you’re always comparing yourself to other athletes. “Oh, these guys are on a training camp doing this & that.” “Oh, that guy already had 50 days of snow training on his belt,” and so forth… Myself? -this is what I have, I train and do...
Hi guys, Thought I would share this story, otherwise I may forget in the future. Sometimes things go so wrong it’s almost funny, but not in the moment… It was February 2023, I had a photoshoot for Adidas in Portland, Oregon -exciting stuff! A great storm aligned w my trip, so I went earlier to get a day of snowboarding in Mount Hood (about 1,5 hs drive). I’ll take every opportunity to train I can get, specially with this new board I...
Hello team and supporters, I’m just back from an adventure in Finland. My second time there, a place in the Arctic Circle, in Northern Finland called Pyhä. It’s magical… and this time it wasn’t so cold, it’s been quite an off winter for European standards. Last time I was there I had a hard time on this race course and it was very humbling. That’s exactly why I came back, to get stronger as an athlete. It was very positive...
Hello friends, Today I was thinking about the training & racing that happened in Big White, Canada, prior to flying to Beijing for the Paralympics; then thought I would tell the story… My coach Mancha flew in from Portugal and we met in Canada. First days were laser focused for the races at hand (2), which in themselves were incredible. 1st race I got an unexpected 2nd place (!) —anything can happen on Snowboard Cross. That gave me so much confidence for...
My season is bit different, in a way that my races run mostly during the northern hemisphere winter. Even though I blogged every month, it’s worth mentioning that this was the most meaningful sports year / season of my life: I made it to the Paralympics!!! The amount of work that went into me making it to winter Paralympics in Beijing 2022 shouldn’t be overlooked, it took years of hard work, sweat and money. Racing around the world is not cheap. Equipment...
Hello fellas,I was thinking these past few weeks how I got where I am and how I’m grateful for everything I’ve done, and everyone that help me get here. My trajectory in snowboarding was much shorter than it had been in triathlon, but it was not by chance or out of nowhere. It took work to get there. Just as it took work to get where I got in triathlon, and one thing lead to the other. It takes passion....
Hello everyone, I’m here to share this experience that is up there as one of the highlights of my life. First, before the races started, we learned we wouldn’t be attending the Opening Ceremony (besides 4 people from our Federation) because of Covid concerns. We were all shattered, as we felt like that was one of our rights as athletes. But we moved on. Then we all raced, had an immense amount of fun, adrenalin, nerves, anxiety, all that comes with competing in...
