Sitting down on the job

I am lucky enough to be able to ski quite a lot each season. It is something that customers have become accustomed to and the studio Team have become supremely talented at managing projects during this time. I manage to still oversee most of the essential creative work thanks to the wonders of the interweb...!

Anyway, in March
I helped to test a new sitski. This is a device that allows people with spinal or other issues that affect their lower body to experience skiing. You may have seen athletes on the Winter Olympics using a sit ski - exciting stuff indeed!

This particular model is a bi-ski, meaning it has two skis (single ski versions are also available). In the first instance a user will be 'tethered' by an instructor. (you can see the reigns in the photo) This ensures that a beginner can control speed and descent. In my case this was very neccessary!

Sara Jones, an elite adaptive instructor of Alpine Freedom and the SkiCheck academy was kind enough to be the tether on this occasion, giving me guidance on how to use the outriggers (arm extensions with mini skis on the ends - these can be used in 'walk' or 'ski' mode by releasing a cord). The outriggers allow the skier to change direction and aid in balance too.

In the video you can see how I am using my body along with the outriggers to make changes in direction.

Steampunk Ski

During the Bavarian week of "Fashing" it is customary for people to dress up in costumes...these can range from a simple bow tie to a full costume.

This season we saw:

Superman
Batman
Clowns
Fairys
Men in Black
Big wigs
Bears
A huge range of broghtly coloured outfits
and a T-rex on a snowboard...wobbling around in the snow...

Not to let down the British end, we decided that English Gentlemen should be our costumes of choice.

This picture shows Jonny atop the new D link chair in Hochfugen, Austria, sporting his Steampunk Edwardian gent attire.

If you'd like to know more about Fashing or just want some nice designs doing then give us a call on 01332 291141 and we will be happy to discuss this with you.

Getting Back To Basics

I was recently inspired to get back into sketching. Here at the studio we use computers nearly all the time, as such we are somewhat removed from the hand to paper aspect of creativity. In short, I was missing the feel of pen on paper!

As many of you know I often ski guide during the Winter season (as well as occasionally instructing) so it was an obvious choice really -  to do a sketch each day based on something I had seen or photographed during the day. The discipline being, that no sketch could take more than 30 minutes to complete and I was not allowed a second chance..!

So out to Derby I went to purchase some pens and a sketch pad.

After 5 days of skiing on the Hintertux glacier these are the first set of results - a mixed bag I think. The style was getting better as I 'got back into it'.

From the top:
Sara carving with good angles
View from the top of the Tuxerjoch chair
View from top of the Larmstang lift
Little girl vs Krampus (scary but real!)
View of the Marmot chair

I am sure that by the end of the season I should have an ever improving set of around 60-70 sketches, or 'skietches' as I have decided to call them!

I know the team here at PE Creative are all capable of drawing, we all have our own styles so if you want anything drawing or indeed painting then please feel free to call us on 01332 291141 and we will be delighted to help...

Kitzbuhel Krazy

Last weekend I was in Kitzbuhel for the FIS Audi Men's Downhill event. This is the skiing equivilant of the Masters Golf tournement.  The race is held on the infamous Strief course and is known locally as the Hahnenkamm-Rennen. Hahnenkamm literally translates as roosters comb primarily due to its multiple curves and shapes across the mountain terrain.

Many have tried but not many have won. The legendary Franz 'The Kaiser' Klammer is perhaps the most famous winner with four titles to his name. In recent years Didier "the Butcher" Cuche made it to three. With other winners inclusing Alberto "Tomba the Bomba' Tomba and Hermann 'The Herminator' Mayer.

This year we were all expecting a win by favorites Axle Lund Svindall, Beat Fuez or Dominic Paris. Usually the race is won by anyone wearing bibs 1 to 12...however a suprise winner was bib number 19, Germany's Thomas Dressen. You can see his amazing run on Youtube here:

A 360 Degree View of Skiing

Dave and Denise Leatt from 360 Media in Derby are both friends of mine and we often play golf together.

However, Denise wanted to try something different and having decided to try skiing again, she managed to convince Dave to take up the sport. I offered to help them to feel the planks under their feet and gave them both a lesson at the Snowdome.

Denise had skied before and it didn't take her long to find her feet whilst Dave started like all beginners, with slight apprehension (like me he has a bad knee), however after around 1.5 hours he really got it...

They plan to visit Zell am See in Austria in January 2018 and I hope to join them out there for a day. I am sure a week on real snow in resort will do thiwer skiing wonders.

Let's hope it works out!

STOP PRESS!!

We did meet up in Zell am See - The photo below is the photographic proof!