Tuesday 30 June 2009

Inspired for 2010. News for next winter!

Inspired.

My strongest memories aren't just of days like this, honest!

The winter season of 2009 was one of my best ever. The snow conditions were great, but my strongest memories aren’t just about riding deep fresh turns all day, my strongest memories are the days shared with an inspired group of riders all buzzing from an extra special experience.

Sharing experiences like this is what makes it worthwhile!

Whether exploring the basics on the piste, tracking it deep in the Chamonix Backcountry or out exploring new lands on a distant Expedition, for me it is the ability to share the experience, create the passion and inspire the ride that really counts.

2010 is all about being inspired, that’s both for me and for you!

sharing my passion for the mountains and offering you a unique experience!

For me it is about sharing my passion for the mountains and my love of the ride back down. It is my mission to be able to offer you the best experience possible both up and down and on and off the mountain.

The best of the best, a day on the Dome du Miage!

For you it is simply about knowing you’ll be getting the best of the best!

For 2010 you can expect all my usual Tech Clinics, BC Courses and Specialist Trips plus a few important new additions and some great changes both on and off the snow.

The first of the changes for 2010 is all about ‘Quality over Quantity’ and for 2010 I’ll be running only 1 course per week.

That means 1group, maximum 6 places (or 3 depending on the course) per week, thus enabling me to give you a more exclusive and personal service.

This is both more satisfying for me and for you.

We all win!

Everyone is a winner, here Alan wins overall though in Kamchatka!

The second important change for 2010 is with regards accommodation.

In past years we have used hotel accommodation to give flexibility for multiple courses. With a more exclusive and smaller weekly program this season we no longer need this flexibility and can offer you a more up market and comfortable accommodation package that matches the quality of service we offer on the mountain.

You get the full package, I get to come over, splash in the hot tub, watch movies on the big screen, again more satisfying for you and for me.

We all win!

More winners, this time in Norway!

The third new element to the 2010 program, and this is quite an exciting one (I think anyway!) is a new 12 week season long program, which for want of a better name I have called ‘Project Seasonaire’(suggestions welcome). This program is again for a maximum of 6 people and includes an early season Tech clinic, an Off Piste performance clinic, a BC Intro and a BC Freeride course. In between each course there will be free practice time and scheduled refresher/training days.

My ‘Project seasonaire’ is designed to suit the dedicated enthusiast looking to take the next big step, anyone looking to begin a future career out of Snowboarding teaching or for those simply wanting to really develop their riding, learn about the mountains and master the ‘Fine Art’ of riding down them.

Again the accommodation will be the full package as mentioned above.

Finally, although there may be more new additions on the way, we are starting a ‘Chamonix Snowboard School’ to offer both ‘Beginners Courses’ and ‘Private lessons’ to those not attendning one of my courses. (This has mainly come about due to the fact that I’m fed up of seeing people get taught so badly especially knowing that the first few hours on snow are the most crucial!)

Both ‘Beginners Courses’ and ‘Private Lessons’ will be available to anyone staying anywhere in the Chamonix valley and must be pre booked before your stay. ‘Beginners Lessons’ will comprise of 3 morning sessions Sunday/Monday/Tuesday. ‘Private Lessons’ will be Wed/Thurs/Friday and ever available in afternoon sessions Sun/Mon/Tuesday and either morning, afternoon or all day the rest of the week.

Again, these sessions and lessons must be pre booked prior to your stay and can be booked either through our office or through your travel agent or Chalet holiday Company.

I am currently putting together the calendar of courses and so details of these new additions and all my other courses will be available soon on the web site.

This brings me to one last thing before I sign off and get back up Mont Blanc for another weeks work.

Another season of this then please!

Before I put together the calendar and fill my season with scheduled Clinics and Courses, I am giving you the chance to pre book Private Coaching or Guiding dates or Custom Courses (for groups etc) on either on Snowboard or Skis.

I’m putting this offer out now, as I have had quite a lot of enquiries for Private Snowboard and Ski guiding already and as I’m running a more exclusive program this winter I don’t want to fill up the calendar and exclude any specific ‘Custom courses’ that you might have planned with mates.

Mel said to remind you that the ‘Kommunity Summer Camp’ is in a couple of weeks time and spaces are available (18th – 25th) again 1 week, smaller groups more attention to detail.

Also I’m doing the www.GPM10 Chamonix to Nice Bike trip on the 17th Sept with Andy Cook, if anyone else is keen to join us bring it on. We’re going to raise some money for little Arren’s trust fund.

That’s enough for now, thought of some more stuff but it can wait.

Hope you’re enjoying the summer!

Neil.

Wednesday 17 June 2009

You are our inspiration!


If I’ve learned one thing this Inter season its that life is precious and that we should live every moment to he full!

We’ve had some good, bad times, some ups and some downs these last few months but day by day the good times start to shine through stronger and stronger.

The last few days have been good. Andy Cook, friend, client, inspiration and business guru came out to give myself and Mel some help with redesigning McNab Snowboarding (to get some cycling done of course!) and to help us think things through, re-energize us and make sure that we’re concentrating on the right things and getting the right message across.

We had a great and very productive session the other day (after a swift, head clearing, ride to Megeve of course) were we all decided that we need to get back to our roots and concentrate on the quality of the ride rather than the quantity.

For me the winter season of 2009 was one of my best ever. The conditions were obviously great, and that helps a lot, but the strongest memories aren’t just about the conditions and riding deep fresh turns all day, the strongest memories are the days shared with an enthusiastic group of riders all buzzing from a special experience, that for me is something else, something extra special!

Seeing people go through the emotions, hiking out, pushing themselves, arriving at the top of a dream powder descent. The look in their eye and the smile on their face.

Seeing people simply click with the technique for the very first time, their very first real carve, their first flowing descent were their movements flow with the terrain, again the look in their eye, the excitement that something new is occurring, their expectations have changed and there is no looking back!

Seeing people fight through the emotions when facing their first drop off, It looks so big from above! Watching their arms go up as they nail their first landing and ride away, the look in their eye, again expectations have changed from here we only go on, onwards and upwards!

The massive effort of this seasons first heli drop, wading through deep snow to get to the big descent, no one else on the mountain. The deepest turns, the loudest shouts and the and the long tiring hike out. The biggest days but the most amazing experiences. The look of tired satisfaction, something has changed, we know its been a special experience and once again expectations have changed.

Whether its about perfecting the basics on the pistes here in Chamonix, hitting the Off piste for the very first time at La Tour, hiking out to a dream descent in the Aiguille Rouge, Heli boarding in remote Russia, Hiking through mystical lands in Greenland or Norway, there is something really special about seeing peoples expectations change.

One of my strongest memories from this season (a season in which I rode 9 weeks straight of perfect BC powder) is not as you might think a big Backcountry week, but just a moment from the last day off the girls only tech clinic when everything just started to fall in to place.

The conditions were great all over the mountain but we were riding the pistes in Courmayeur and the girls were so determined to get it right. No chocolate breaks! No pee stops! Just run after run of perfecting technique. A million and one questions, draining me for knowledge and then suddenly it just started to fall into place and once it started it happen so quickly and with amazing effect.
Again, it was the look in the eyes, the acknowledgement that something special had just occurred. The sudden confidence in their movements, a sense of achievement spread across their faces and the knowledge that from here on in it would just get better and better. No more questions, no need for talk, now we just ride and we ride and we grin!

These are life defining moments. Memories and turning points that you take away with you and that will be with you forever. These are the moments we share, these are the moments that are special to me and for myself and Mel this is what McNab Snowboarding is all about!

Yep! Everyday has to be special! And after an inter-season of reflection and some help re-focusing from Andy, we can feel the excitement growing once again. We have found our reason to go on and our direction to follow. We are going back to our roots, We will focus only on the great, carry on our amazing journey and get back to living our dreams and creating yours.

You are our inspiration and I’m looking forwards to next winter already!

Expect changes, great ones, the only way is up!

Neil.

Sunday 14 June 2009

Back up in the mountains!


I went up the Midi today and did the Cosmique Arete with a friend of mine, Greame, who flies 747's for BA. Figured I'd take him up for a day in the mountains and then I get to fly a Jumbo for a day, fair swap!

unfortunately due to terrorism and other technical stuff this is no longer a viable option and only real trained Pilots can fly planes now a days. Oh well, worth a try!


It was a great day anyway, perfect weather and great conditions!

Been out on my bike quite a bit lately and seem to be getting better. Did a sprint finish up the Cold du Montets on Wednesday, snapped a spoke and bent my back wheel. I've either got stronger legs or shit wheels. Anyway, I borrowed some real tech aero looking carbon wheels from Mark (GPM10.com) and I'll see if they make any difference over the coming few days.

Andy Cook, (who some of you might know from winter camps) is coming over tomorrow for a couple of days to help out with Business planning and is bringing his bike along. He shaves his legs and everything so must be good and I'm looking forwards to getting out and 'seeing if I can hold his wheel' (this is a tech term I've read about but I'm not sure what it is. I think the idea is to slip stream behind someone but I always seem to find this not so beneficial, me being twice the size of everyone else, so I normally end up in front. Mark reckons its like following a bus! Not sure what that says about my ability though, compliment or not?)

We'll be putting together next seasons calendar pretty soon. Spoke to Jonnie Baird the other day (as he conned me into riding up some monster steep hill he'd scoped out) and we're both keen to get back to Greenland again next season. Maybe do the same sort of trip as before but to a new location with 2 days dog sledding to get out there. A few people are already keen on an Iran trip which is quite exciting and Kamchatka has provisional bookings already although the dates aren't out yet!

We'll be running lots of our Advanced BC courses (ratio 3 to 1 guide) again this season as they proved to be really popular plus all our regular BC Intros, BC Freeride and Tech and Off piste clinics and will be adding some shorter long weekend sort of courses for those that can only get a few days away or need lots of frequent fixes.

Lots in the pipe line as usual and not enough time to get it all done.

I start my first Mont Blanc week on Wednesday and then the summer just keeps on rolling along.

The Kommunity Summer Camps in Les2Alpes is running the 18th - 25th July, for more info check out the Kommunity page on line at www.mcnabsnowsports.com

Should be a good event!

Emough for now,

laters,
Neil.

Tuesday 9 June 2009

Summer Lovin, loving the summer!


We’ve had a couple of beautiful weeks here in Chamonix with amazing weather, warm temps and clear skies. The last few days however it’s been a bit colder again and this morning the skies cleared to reveal the mountains bathed once again in a thick cloak of winter white snow.

I start work up in the mountains in a week or so with my first Mont Blanc so hopefully the weather will clear up and become stable before then, the Gouter Route conditions must be perfect at the moment and I know a friend of mine skied the Grand Mullet route just the other day and scored fresh tracks from the Dome to the Hut.

Its Road cycling season again out here and after becoming a bit obsessed with it last year, I spent most of the winter evenings in my garage, not bouldering as usual but doing squats and leg work in preparation for this summer. This has done nothing for my climbing ability this spring, but out on the bike I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere, my fitness is getting better than ever and my legs are definitely stronger.

A friend of mine runs Road cycling training camps here in the Alps (GPM10) and so I’ve been going out with him a little bit (he leaves me for dust). He’s got a week running Chamonix to Nice in mid September which I might do so if anyone out there is interested in joining me on the bike give me a shout, maybe we can get a McNab group together?

Plans for the Kommunity summer camp are going well and we’re now getting a steady stream of inquiries coming in. (This new snow will definitely help keep the Glacier in good condition).

Pipe star - Dom Harrington at last year Kommunity camp.



Check out the movie from last years camp!

Myself and the usual Pro team will be out there from the 18th to 25th July and we’ll be offering all the usual coaching, basic Freeride technique through to Freestyle madness (catering for all abilities from novice to up and coming Pro) plus all the usual off snow activities.

It should be a great week so if you fancy it give us a call or drop us an e-mail.

We're also planning next seasons Calendar and Voyager trips so if there are any weeks anyone wants to book for Private groups let us know and we'll book them in the program.

Right, out on the bike again now so laters,

Neil.