Anyone can ski..its true.

One of the maxims of DSUK (Disability SnowsportsUK) is that anyone can ski.

We are delighted to be partnering with DSUK in order to help them to improve thier image and graphics. PE Creative will be working closely with the DSUK team to help curate their new website, visual appeal and customer facing literature.

This little DL flyer represent one of many graphical items that we look forward to helping with throughout the course of 2019 and beyond.

DSUK will help anyone no matter what their physical or mental ability is, to experience snowsports - to find out more visit their website here .

If you or your marketing team want any help with your creative needs then why not give us a call on 01332 291141 and we will be happy to help.

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!

Kitten DuBois Visits Derby

HR Director and avid ski buff Kitten DuBois visits Jonny for a weekend of fun and foolish conversation. Kitten will be skiing yet another season in Whistler with her friend Dragan (ex Serbian Mogul champ and real life action hero...) We just love to see Kitten and Dragan what great names to conjour with!

We all wish Kitten the best of luck with her Candian instructor courses and hope her shoulder and neck doesn't flare up again...

Good Luck DuBois!

The Jump - Live!

What a fun night, to be invited to watch Channel 4's "The Jump" and to see the final live!

Described as the most dangerous show on TV, the Jump is filmed (mostly) live in Kuhtai deep in the Austrian Tyrol. Many participants have become injured attempting to overcome various ski related disciplines.

On the night, the crowd's favorite Lewis Smith only managed second place - but he had been the he bookies choice. He was beaten marginally by Spencer Matthews (apparently a 'socialite')?

Davina McCall did a good job reading the auto cue - she is a true pro...

Anyway, the pictures shows Jonny and genuine achiever Olympian Louis Smith sharing a moment in the snow.

If you want to know more about the Jump click here

Perfect Posture...but it looks so flat!

This dynamic (yeah right!) image shows Jonny on a black piste in Kaltenbach - and yet it looks so passive, but I can tell you it was around a 43 degree steepness. The main point being how photography can be so deceptive. On TV Formula 1 cars look slow, FIS skiers look slow, and people look bigger.

Its quite amazing how the eye can be fooled.

Meeting an Olympic Gold Medalist

It is often surreal to meet someone who has reached the pinnacle of their careers. They seem so much more human and fallible not to mention smaller than anticipated.

There are a few exceptions (I once played golf with Sir Henry Cooper for a week and and he was huge!).

But last week in Austria on the Penken side of Mayerhofen I was lucky enough to meet Anna Fenninger-Vieth, the Olympic gold and silver medalist and Nicole Hosp her Austrian teammate and multiple
winner on the FIS tour.

Not only is Fenninger a superb athlete but also has a real charisma. Seeing her attach the Super G downhill course with no apparent fear traveling at 70mph is something to behold up close. It is simply amazing how she edges the skis.

To see Anna's Olympic run watch here

You'll Never Ski Again...

It is almost two years since I had my knee injury and was told I'd never ski again. I had ACL, MCL and PCL replacement and have lost most of the meniscus on my right knee.

But here is some video of me last week skiing down to the Wedelhutte in Hochfugen. Admittedly my technique is a bit suspect, but my balance is ok and I am able to manage piste skiing with no real issues. Just light pain on some sharper turns.

The proof is in bumps, moguls and off piste. Which I intend to address in 2017 after building up some more muscle mass...

I am wearing a brace on my right leg similar to the same used by Lindsay Vonn and a few other FIS participants. It basically gives some leg support until my muscles are strong enough.  It also helps to protect the leg and gives stability during recovery.

This movie was seen by Dragan Lausevic - the Serbian Mogul ski champion and his comments (I kid you not): "He's good, I thought he was just a recreational skier" High praise indeed apparently coming form the Serb... until I read further to see that he then said "his left leg is fucked though"...clearly a reference to the extra work its having to do to compensate for my damaged right leg!

No matter, I am very happy to be back on planks and sliding about...regardless of style!

Don't blame me...

Picture the scene:

February 2015, Austria.

Jonny is out with some friends enjoying a live music gig at Kosi's bar in the picturesque Tyrolian village of Fugen.

I am Joined by Hans (the ski guide for the day) we are all enjoying the live music and the apres ski atmosphere. Its busy and everyone is in chilled fun mood.

Apart from Hans.  He is a little bit shy (unusual for a Dutchman!). So, typically me being me decide to do some matchmaking for him.

"What about her, she looks nice?" I ask.

Hans agrees. So not a moment to spare, I go right over and introduce myself to Nicole. I explain that my friend is a little bit shy and that he fancies her. All a bit of fun really. The result is I get them chatting and the evening continues with even more gusto...

I only see Hans a couple of times throughout the rest of the week and think nothing of the evening.  We bid farewell at the end of the week. I never expect to hear from him again - which is pretty usual for a ski holiday. On my next trip skiing I had my accident and had to have extensive knee surgery so no more skiing for me in 2015...

Anyway, fast forward a year to March 2016  -  my first tentative ski trip on my newly rebuilt knee. As expected, no Hans this year. He had obviously moved on. However, in my hotel room was a hand written envelope addressed to me. Inside was this lovely message for Hans and Nicole announcing the birth of their baby son Ben. I could not believe it!!

So I am happy to have been (almost) directly responsible for this new life and a very happy couple.

If you need any help matchmaking then give me a call on on 01332 291141. I can't promise a baby but I can promise quality creative...