For the majority of my last 3 years, I have primarily been focusing on my preparation, training, traveling, and competing in the Freeride World Tour qualifiers series. A series of events, ranging from 2* to 3* and 4*, where you compete against some of the best athletes in the freeride world of skiing and snowboarding. The goal is to gain points with your results, which will help you make it to the finals (8 women snowboarders get into the finals – Challenger series) and potentially qualify for the World Tour. 1 woman alone, gets to qualify for the tour. This means you need to win the Challenger series (finals) to advance to the Freeride World Tour.
I have been doing the tour on both the Southern and Northern hemispheres, chasing winter on both ends. Sacrificing my summers, most of my resources, energy, and sunlight. Several podiums, 1st place finishes, and my qualification to the finals don’t speak to how good I am as an athlete, but rather my dedication and determination.
I was never that kid who was extremely good at everything she did. Quite the opposite, I had to work hard to be good at sports, and nothing (maybe climbing) ever came easy to me. Growing up with two brothers, competitiveness was a big part of our childhood, and they are two very talented athletes, let me tell you! Extra frustrating when you are working really hard on a simple backflip, that your little bro lands on his first try.
But it was most likely my brothers that I have made me as competitive as I am today. Being competitive is good for someone like me who is on her journey to pursue a career in professional snowboarding. But nobody talks about the comparison that comes with it. Comparing yourself to other people whose journey, their story, and their timelines are completely different than yours.
It’s tough to see yourself in one place and watch someone else who you perceive as “an equal” progress quicker, or better than you. It destroys your motivation and it can be frustrating.
I have met a lot of girls on tour who have had similar goals to mine, but talking to them helped me realize we are all on our own paths and even though we might be competing together in one thing, we live different lives and different instances, people and places brought us to that exact moment. It actually becomes kind of empowering when you realize that.
Back in August, I witnessed and been a part of, one of the kindest acts a woman can do for another woman in the ski industry. It took me by surprise and I will forever be grateful. I got a new sponsor because another snowboarder recommended me to the manager. I’m not sure why it took me by surprise but it completely changed my perspective on a few things.
It’s simple. Empowered women – empower women.
Jealous, small-minded, and insecure people will only think of themselves, and see everyone else as the enemy.
What does it take to compete on the freeride world tour circuit? It takes resilience, determination, and the ability to self-reflect and take criticism as something positive.
I love this warming soup, it’s just perfect for cold, short winter days!
A warmly satisfying and easy-to-make soup! With only 6 ingredients, this Potato Leek Soup is a perfect any-time meal to warm you up on those cold days. By leaving the skin on the potatoes and slicing the leeks thinly, you get a perfectly rustic, more flavorful soup, and you get to keep the vitamins from the skin! I love this soup for lunch or dinner! Try it, I know you’ll agree!
I like simple stuff, with not that many ingredients 🙂
4 spoons coconut butter (oil)
3 Leeks, halved and sliced
3 cloves Garlic, minced
6 cups Veggie Stock
6 Russet Potatoes, halved and sliced
1 cup Coconut Milk from the can
Salt & Pepper to taste
Freshly cracked Pepper to garnish
Green Onions, sliced for garnish
HOW IS POTATO LEEK SOUP MADE?
Cut off the dark green leaves of the leeks, leaving only the white and very light green section of each leek.
Rinse the leeks thoroughly to remove any sand or dirt.
Cut the unpeeled potatoes in half lengthwise. Slice 1/4 inch thick.
Melt the coconut butter over medium-low heat in a large stock pot.
Add leeks. Cook leeks until soft, stirring often.
Add garlic to the mixture. Cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
Add the stock and potatoes to the pot.
Bring to boil over medium heat, then reduce to simmer for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
Once potatoes are fork tender, remove from heat.
Blend it all with a hand blender (or transfer to the big blender)
Stir in the coconut milk and stir in salt and pepper to taste.
Serve immediately, garnishing each serving with fresh cracked pepper and sliced green onions.
These energy balls are no-bake, vegan, gluten-free, and made with 7 healthy ingredients! They are sweet, and chewy, and taste delicious. This quick and easy recipe is made in just 15 minutes. Enjoy these energy balls for a midday snack, post-workout fuel, or as a healthy dessert! I got inspired by Steph Davis’s recipe, from her blog and made my own freestyle version.
I love these, I take them ski touring or even riding because they’re a perfect pocket snack, full of healthy calories.
– 2 cups total nuts (I like to mix peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, walnuts, cashews, almonds and/or pecans: note that the first four have the highest protein content)
– 6 dates (preferably Medjool, remove pit and cut into a few pieces)
– 6 figs (preferably Calimyrna, cut into a few pieces)
– 1/3 cup unsweetened soymilk
Blend the nuts in a food processor until they are well crumbled (you can either go all the way to powder or leave them a little chunky). Put the nuts in a mixing bowl. Put the dates, figs, vanilla, salt and soymilk in the food processor: I always drape a towel around the mixing bowl at the start in case any of the liquid flies out. Blend well, then scrape into the bowl of nuts and stir by hand with a wooden spoon. Roll small balls with your hands and put into another container. I store the balls in the fridge until I need to take them out with me.
Feel free to add / mix / remove ingredients. Recipes like this are meant to be experimented with 🙂
My breathing was calm, with each breath I allowed myself to let in as much air that I needed. Fresh, crisp air. It was a sunny day, but wrapped in gusts of wind and occasional cloud sneaked around the Cerro Bayo peak… the person responsible for dropping people in on the venue, at the right time listened to the radio. Looked at me and turned around. Without saying anything, he started eating his sandwich. OK. It might be a little longer than, I thought, laying down on the snow. The best part about the back protectors is that you don’t get cold if you’re laying down directly. At the moment, that was the best grounding practice I could think of.
Only a few days earlier, September 10th,’22 we dropped into the 3rd competition of the South American circuit, that started in El Colorado, Chile. I skipped the 2nd contest and spent an extra month in Canada enjoying the summer. Only about a week prior, I flew down to Argentina to continue persuing the dream. I placed 3rd on the 10th of September in Cerro Bayo, which put me in a good overall position for the finale.
Cerro Bayo is a very cute resort in Villa La Angostura, only about an hour’s drive from Bariloche, on the other side of the lake. The competition venue that the organizers chose, was a very good option. Large, north-facing face, full of cliffs, smaller rocks, couloirs, chutes, and trees. Everyone, including myself, had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, after finishing the event, we found out we cannot compete on Cerro Catedral in Bariloche, because the owners canceled the competition. That raised a lot of questions and concerns amongst the community, which was quite quickly calmed. The “Buena onda” owners of Cerro Bayo offered to host the event again, only a few days after.
Good? We had a venue – the same venue as before, which means we all knew what we were getting ourselves into.
Bad? 2 days between two very big competitions are simply not enough!
So here I was, only 2 days and one night of full sleep after, about to drop in, with a different line in mind. Until the last second, I wasn’t sure which way I will go. On Saturday, I played it safe, I chose a line hugging a very technical part of the face, dropped in a smaller chute, and rode down a big open cole until the finish gate, where I lost control for a second.
/…30 seconds…. me dijo..
But today, I felt different. I felt better and stronger. More confident. Maybe because this was the finale run, after this we are finished and I already felt very relaxed.
“3,2,1… Rider dropping.”
I pressed play on my favorite song I always listed when I’m competing, and dropped in. It was well after 12 pm at that point, thank god. The snow has softened a bit and it was fun. I stirred towards the techy section of the face, into a steep couloir. A few turns, a small cliff at the bottom, and zoooooom out. I tried riding fast towards the finish, playing around with some trees, smaller jumps in between, and boom. I was through the gate. I’m DONE. What a relief.
Enjoying the sun, music, asado, hanging out with good friends… the rest was easy. When you finish a series of competitions, things just get easy, that’s the best way to put it. All the pressure from the last month just vapors into thin air. Into fresh, dry Patagonian air. Ah, I love it here. I came 1st that day. It almost didn’t matter, because I was so happy with my run and the atitude that I finished with, the result almost didn’t matter. And 2nd overall, on the South American circuit. Right behind Isi Assler, and absolute shredder from Chile, that I’m now proud to call my friend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CiiY20sOjt0/
Follow me on Instagram @alenkaamali
These things are never easy, and usually there’s a lot of mental preparation, training, visualization and hours of work behind each contest. I like sharing my experience because it helps me to break down each event and process it, maybe even inspire others to go and compete in their sports. We are lucky with the freeride community being so open and supportive, I’ve always felt accepted, especially here in Argentina and Chile.
That’s right. I’m happy. But the result is hardly what matters here. That was a weekend full of riding with friends, shredding powder, leaving clouds of dry snow behind on every turn, sun, and dancing!
At 5 pm on a Tuesday, the day of the competition, the awards ceremony was starting. I didn’t know, I was in my room getting ready to leave.
I’m running like crazy. My friend Coco is texting me to get there as soon as possible. I am jumping into puddles of snow, my Vans are getting dirty, and so are my pants. The muddy road full of day-old snow is wet and slippery. Coco is spamming me with texts. You got second! I will go instead of you. Get here!!!
I arrived too late, but that’s sick. The idea was to come here and attend the event, and I scored the podium. That’s cool too, I think. But I haven’t really had a moment to think about it if you know what I mean. Or feel, whatever you’re supposed to feel after a good result, nothing was sinking in, not yet anyway.
It’s almost worse than a 3rd place, right? the 3rd place, you’re like Yay! I just placed. And the second place is like, Oh, I just missed winning the event…
The awards finished and my friend was leaving, I had to run after her because she had some of my things. I ran back to the house where I was staying and grabbed my board bag, left a bottle of Pisco Sour on the counter, and thanked everyone dearly for their hospitality and I’m sorry but I have to run.
My plan was to hitchhike to Santiago. Taxis were hard to find here and there were no buses. I was solely relying on fate here. A friend saw me on the road and dropped me lower down where the road from Farallones and the road from Valle Nevado meet. They told me I’d have a better chance of finding a ride here. I looked at my phone, almost 6 pm. My flight was at 10 pm, it would take me almost two hours to get to the airport if everything goes well. If someone picks me up, right now, I thought.
What the hell was I thinking, maybe this isn’t a good idea. 10 minutes go by and no luck, cars are driving by and everyone is giving me the face. The “I’m sorry, but we don’t have space/we don’t really want to pick you up but good luck though” face.
A guy walks by, talking on his phone. He signals me to come with him. OK… He looked like a skier, so naturally, I trusted him. He looks at me, and says “We are going to Santiago, but we are flying.” Huh? That’s a joke?
We walk up the road, around a house, and into a closed property. A little bit further, an open area reveals a helipad… with a helicopter and its pilot, getting ready to take off. Nobody is asking me anything. The guy introduces me as a snowboarder who just won and needs a ride to the airport. The pilot smiles and takes my board bag. I get in and buckle up. Nobody is going to believe me. The beautiful sunset light is hitting my burnt cheeks, and wide open eyes, as the pilot starts to warm up the engine. We take off, and I put my headset on. Everyone introduces each other and they congratulate me on the podium. We fly over snowy mountain peaks and they’re showing me the lines they usually ski with their clients. “You should come to heli-ski with us, next time you’re here”.
I laugh because I didn’t have money for a cab, and I am now flying to the airport. This whole thing is crazy but it also makes so much sense. Why not? Those two were ski guides for Stellar Heli Adventures and very accommodating and welcoming people.
I took a chance. I took a chance to fly to Chile, from one day to another. I took a chance to compete at the event, I took one to show up at a stranger’s house, and I took a chance when I went out to the road and put my thumb out to get a ride. Life is funny and full of a series of events that lead you to the exact places, where you need to be at that moment. Following my intuition, & trusting that everything with work always out is the best way I can be. And it keeps on proving itself, over and over again.
What more can I do, rather to just simply trust the moment?
While arriving at the airport early was great, I spent the next two hours in check in. Due to their computer problems, I waited in line for as long as I would wait in the car to get there. The buzz from the competition and the surprise heli ride, was starting to wear off. I was suddenly, feeling it all. The pressure, the stress, the nerves. Everything that I have successfully been buried deep down for the last couple of days, with mantras and meditation, was coming up to the surface. Just how tired my body was, from all the cold, wind and hard training… I didn’t feel it, until now. until the adrenaline was starting to wear off.
I got into the terminal about 15 minutes before boarding, called my partner, and told him I’m coming home. I collapsed on my seat and closed my eyes. I wanted to cry, just a little. The feeling of relief, but not quite yet, because you’re not home yet. I was feeling like the weight of the world was pressing on me. Dozed into a dreamless sleep of constant awakings between the meals and turbulence. Barely recharged, I landed in Miami, at 6 am. I walked out of the plane and leaving the First Class, there’s Maluma. A famous reggaeton raper. What is happening? These last 24 hours have been a rollercoaster. The immigration line at Miami international airport was crazy.
It took me 4 hours, to get through, pick up my board bag and recheck it. I was running on last nerves here. I curled up in a ball next to my gate and tried to nap. Hours later, I boarded my flight towards Dallas, Texas.
This is where things start to go South. Literally. A weather system hit Dalles and all things West. My flight to Vancouver was slowly getting delayed hour by hour, and after spending almost 7 hours waiting around at the airport, it got completely canceled. Alongside the majority of the flights that night. The airport turned to chaos. Everyone was running around, the airlines were not providing… a lot of gates closed, as well as their windows… We were told we can’t get on another flight, so we need to book our own flight out. I managed to get out of the terminal and joined a long snake of a line, in the humid Texas heat, next to all the people waiting for a cab. 2 hours later, I was in my hotel room.
Finally, allowing myself to breathe. A shitty fish and chips meal did it, and a hot shower put me to sleep immediately.
Even though I kept trying to reassure myself at many moments that day, that things will work out, sometimes that’s just so hard to believe. When you are at your last nerve before the breakdown, with no energy left due to poor airplane food or lack thereof. When you are tired of waiting in lines and just spent 3 days in cold winter, training and competing. After that hopping on a plane and starting what turned out to be a 52-hour journey… After wanting so badly, to just be home and fall asleep next in your partner’s arms, without a worry in the world…
This trip was not planned, it was not budgeted for, it just happened, before I even realized what was happening. I made a decision to attend the freeride world qualifiers event in El Colorado, Chile. It took about 20 minutes to really think about it, and a few days later I was on my way. After all of this, I probably spent more time on the airports and airplanes, than in Chile! But what can you do…
In those moments, it’s so hard to believe that it all happens for a reason and that it will all work out in the end.
For most people out there, who dedicate their lives to winter, this time of the year feels like Christmas. And the ski movies, premiering all over the world are the presents under the Christmas tree, reminding us of the feeling that we almost forgot. In the midst of summer heat, we easily wrap ourselves around biking, kite surfing, working long hours to save something extra for the winter season, and dreaming of pow.
If you find yourself keep looking up to the mountain tops, just to catch those first layers of white more than once this week, is probably a good time to start watching ski movies and get STOKED for the winter. The temperatures are dropping, but the movies coming out this fall are HOT.
I selected a few that stood out to me, feel free to comment more titles down below, I’d love to check them out. Big mountain, street, freeride, freestyle, and absolute alpinism. A little bit of everything. Enjoy.
Roots
The Stomping Grounds
Link SAR
The Approach
Tales From Cascadia
The Microdose Series ~ Not a film, but in-depth series, following the begginings of a few legendary snowboarders
The absolute hunger to conquer that peak was the main driver of the decision to do it one single day! Sofia and I met officially a week prior of summiting Alpha and after we came home, we knew exactly how well we work together as alpine partners.
I did debate on writing a trip report for this little coastal mission of ours, but I would much rather just insert a few photos and even fewer words and leave the rest to your imagination. Alpha mountain with my friend Sofia was an incredible day. Pushing our limits, mentally and also physically. Stubborn enough, we decided we will not climb it in two days, a plan that would require us to take on all the extra camping gear. Instead of that, we just suffered for 24 hours, (or had fun for the first 20 and suffered on the last 4) just because that’s how we are.
We met a week prior to summiting Alpha, briefly talked about the climb and instantly decided we are doing it together.
Let’s just say there was a lack of resources, a cougar avoidance and last but not least, very bad karaoke at 4 in the morning.
My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer and a freeride snowboarder. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains, and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
Thanks to POC SPORTS, ORTOVOX, SUNTRIBE & BEAVER WAX for their support!
Two snowboarders. One mission. What could go wrong?
Rethel Mountain is one of the summits of the Wedgemount Lake area. That was not our plan yesterday, not even a plan B (it was closer to the third part of a very ambitious plan A lol). But adaptation is one of those things, that will 100% make you a better backcountry skier or snowboarder. Being OK without accomplishing that mission’s objective is, of course, easier said than done. I should know, it’s a complete mental game for me out there. Thankfully I was touring with a friend who picked up my mood and helped me shift the mindset when the moment came.
The alarm went off at 12.45 am. It wasn’t easy but I was ready. It was one of those moments, where the morning mate fills you with not only caffeine but the euphoric sense of motivation and ready-ness.
Fuelled up with a bowl of Stoked Oats and felt ready to rock n roll.
The gear was packed a few hours before (3 hours of sleep is usually enough isn’t it?) and the car was loaded 20 minutes later. The drive up to Whistler was amazing but sketchy. The stars made it amazing and the little Golf pretty much running on last fumes was sketchy. We filled up the tank in Creekside and continued to the Wedgmont parking lot, just north of Whistler.
We left the car around 3 am. The first part was cruisy, we took a wrong route right at the start (following the typical summer route to the parking lot), since we’d both been there but in the summer! So that was the route we were familiar with. That took us up an FSR and by the time we realized the mistake we were too far in. We decided to boot pack the 100 m vertical difference between the two FSR’s and got up to the lake trail just when it was starting to get bright. It was awesome. The frozen slush from the last hot week was very enjoyable to hike up! The skins were gripping without any issues, the edges of the splitboards were cutting in, we hiked up fairly fast for the distance. Lol/
Isn’t it great? We only had to boot pack twice before hitting the alpine! I love spring. I can confidently say that between the morning boot pack and the boot pack up to our line, it almost felt like I spent more time, strapped to my crampons than on my split board! Ha.
It’s almost like we didn’t even need the ski crampons, thank god we didn’t bring those.
Hiking up to the Wedgemont lake, the sun came out and a beautiful valley opened up to us, hiking between the boulders.
The day was more than beautiful. Sun came out around 6.30/7 but it was just touching the tips of the trees, leaving us in a perfect hiking temperature. The first 1200m vertical to the lake were the hardest, by the time we reached the hut, it was full-on summer. Of course, I found out I forgot my sunscreen AND (!!) my big water bottle.
Boulder fields on the way up, probably potential pillow runs in the peak season?! Need to come back next year…
Rethel Mountain 2408m
Whistler / Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC
From all the trip reports I have been reading on Rethel mountain, most of the people would usually ski the wider and less steep “North couloir” so it was kind of nice, going off the typical path and doing something different. I’m not sure if this line has a name, if not, I’d like to name it something beyond the means of type 2 fun! Like Icey n’ Spicy.
There you go. The couloir has a name.
From this angle, you can see the typically skied “Rethel Mountain North couloir and kind of the angle of our couloir on the right side, coming out between the middle cliff and the right-hand side rock.
The line itself is incredible. Quite narrow but just open enough for enjoyable turns. With good snow, I imagine January/February, this would’ve been an amazing one to ride! We will just have to come back. It was quite good for hiking up but the way down, this couloir was survival skiing haha. Some side slips, some bunny hops over a thick ice crust… no thank you. It gets narrow on top, there is no cornice but some iced-up blocks of snow, covering the rocks above you. Dante got hit by one of those, as they started melting with these hot spring temperatures.
The ride down was amazing! We took the way to the left of the standard hiking route and ended up in very cool gullies with pillows and little drops! What we hated on the way up was now all melted (3pm at this point) and what turned out to be amazing spring skiing! The FSR and its snowmobile tracks were also nice and slushy, making the end of our day more enjoyable than we anticipated.
The sunset for the ride back to Squamish was healing, our feet were done and the faces burnt. Happily, making our way down we came at the perfect timing of a highway closure. Due to an accident on Highway 99, we ended up being stuck there for about 4 hours, resulting in an almost 24-hour trip house to house. You can imagine we were very stoked. Overall, my Strava showed 33km and 2800m vertical. I would hike that distance any day to ski a 50-degree tunnel of ice. 😉
I took some tea with few drops of CBD oil before going to bed, my muscles REALLY needed that. If you are someone who is interested in faster muscle recovery, I recommend trying Resolve CBD. Over the years, many studies have proven the positive effects of CBD oil use for athletes which is why I decided to try it myself. I have been loving and using it for over 3 years now. Canadian-based CBD oil, even better I thought! Use the code RSLV-ALENKIS for a discount!
My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish-based photographer and a freeride snowboarder. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains, and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer and a freeride snowboarder. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains, and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
About a month ago, Protect Our Winters Canada @POW invited us to share how stoked we are for the upcoming season. As you may know, I’m one of those people who are incredibly excited but also super impatient when it comes to waiting for snow.
Hence the double winter vibe and hoping from Northern to Southern hemisphere to get the year-round winter.
My friend Sofia ( @sofia.warrington ) and I decided to not only show how stoked we are but actually go hunt for some white gold. We loaded our bikes and packs on a gloomy Tuesday morning and drove up to the Elfin Lakes parking lot.
Luckily, the parking lot was empty, giving us a free way to bundle up the packs, dress in snow gear and hop on our bikes, without any weird side looks.
To say that we are excited about this winter is an understatement. When Covid-19 hit, we were not only robbed of our season but of all the fun that comes with it! Socializing, parties, jam sessions, contests, traveling, filming, and other projects. It was simply not fair, an unpredictable finish to the season.
Luckily, the backcountry was there for us and did not disappoint.
And after an incredible summer, when the weather starts getting moody in Squamish and the temperatures drop, we seek shelter in the idea of riding powder on a sunny morning, breathing in that crisp alpine air. That idea becomes the drive, that will get us through the fall, though some struggle more than others, we are all patiently waiting, sitting, and marking the days on our calendar, to when we can ski again.
And for a lot of us, that idea becomes a little obsession, watching snowboard movies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (almost) and have that early season stoke as the light at the end of the dark tunnel, that we call fall in Squamish.
The weather that day was just classic. A blend of sun, snow, and rain. It didn’t take us long to reach the snowed-in trails and that’s when it really hit me. Winter is coming and we have so much to look forward to! Snow is here, but also, on the other hand, we need to acknowledge the effects of climate change. This whole challenge was sparkled by Protect Our Winter Canada, with a headmaster Jeremy Jones on the front lines, to raise awareness about climate change.
I’m a firm believer that climate change is inevitable. It is happening either way, with or without us. But everything that we are doing is either going to help lower the risk or push it through the roof. And unfortunately, we’ve been pushing that ceiling higher and higher, with each year to come.
From POW website:
Our mission is to turn passionate outdoor people into effective climate advocates. Protect Our Winters Canada is a passionate community of enthusiasts, professional athletes, and industry brands uniting the outdoor community to address climate change. We believe our love of adventure in nature demands our participation in the fight to save and protect it.
Vote this fall. It is currently the number #1 thing you can do. Vote for the green parties, do your research. The most powerful thing we have is our voice. Give it to someone who can transform the laws and make a change in a good direction. This year has been just crazy, maybe is time to turn it around.
My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer and a freeride snowboarder. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains, and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
The reasons we meditate are as varied as the many ways there are to meditate. In the West, most people are drawn to meditation to quiet the internal chatter of the brain and to reduce stress. Meditation is, indeed, a very effective stress reducer, but its benefits – sometimes mysteriously hidden – are far more bountiful.
Scientists gathering data on meditation have found that a consistent practice not only boosts the mind, but it also bolsters the body. Studies bear out that meditation can help reverse heart disease, reduce pain, and support the immune system, better enabling it to fight disease.
The mind-body connection between stress and disease is abundantly apparent as science is finding that meditation can lower the production of the stress hormone cortisol. This means meditators are better able to adapt to stress in their lives and its common physiologic responses, which can include:
Heart disease
Osteoporosis
Sleep problems
Digestive problems
Depression
Obesity
Memory impairment
Skin conditions
2. Because It’s Good for Our Relationships
Paradoxically, while meditation helps us tune in and turn inward to our true essence, it also helps us detach from our own egos to connect with others in more meaningful ways. Couples counselors have found when they assign their clients meditation, the couples become less angry, more self-reflective, and more loving.
When we become aware of – and honor – our interconnection with other beings, we are able to recast our perspectives, see our worries in a different light, and embrace gratitude, which is the heart’s memory.
3. Because It Can Change Our Lives – reasons to meditate
In a world rife with never-ending fast fixes, crash diets, and get-rich-quick schemes, it’s nice to know there is a proven practice that really can change your life (or at least bring about dramatic effects) in just a little time each day.
Yogis and doctors both agree: meditating – even just a few minutes of deep breathing – relaxes the brain, reduces anxiety, and decreases depression. When we feel as though we can’t afford the time to meditate, the truth is we can’t afford not to.
When you start meditating, pay attention. Notice how you feel as you go about your days. If you find that you have more patience, feel grounded and better able to respond to stressful situations, and are more in touch with your intuition or “gut feelings,” you are experiencing the many benefits of meditation.
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains, and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
I could absolutely not accept the winter is over and spring has very well begun over a month ago already. I wanted to snowboard more. Once more, only once more – I would say to myself, each time.
I’ve researched enough material and websites, to know there was one hut left, I have yet not visited in the Sea To Sky corridor.
Brew Hut – A snippet from the journal
April 20
In the midst of this never seems to be ending quarantine, the mission to Brew Hut turned out to be a solo mission.
I didn’t mind at all, less planning, decision making, and going back and forth. I packed my car in the morning and followed the road I’d usually take to Triconi. The map provided by VOC I found on the internet was really helpful.
On the second split, my car got stuck in the snow. After about an hour of shoveling, I gave up. It is what it is, I said to myself. “It’s quarantine, middle of the week, and the bad weather is coming”. Nobody will come. I left the car parked on the road, strapped my splitboard onto my backpack and started walking.
The first 20 minutes were easy, a light breeze crawled through the valley that I was trying to pass, the sounds of the river flowing nearby gave me a good rhythm, and the fresh air enhanced it.
Looking back, if I would have the slightest bit of an idea, the approach would be what it was, I would probably turn around immediately. And go home. Thank God, I did not, ahaha. The first 5 km up the road which you can usually drive up in the summer, was covered in snow. I followed the snowmobile tracks and listened to Lacy Phillips’ Expanded podcast.
Then the trail took me to the forest (by this time, I had planned I would already be up the hut). The second I took a look at Google Earth, I regretted it. I was only halfway up. The worst thing is having cell service on the approach to the destination. Every 20 or 30 minutes, I would anxiously check my phone and track the progress. I was properly tired, when I saw I have 7 kilometers and 900 vertical meters left, let me tell you that.
“This is crazy, I should just turn around”
But then, another voice emerges from far behind, “You are meant to be here”. I am. I continue, motivate myself and pick up the pace.
After 15 km and 8 hours of hiking, I was finally at the point where I could see Brew Hut. Prayed to God it was open, I almost cried when I got there, opened the door and lay down on a bench. Didn’t bother taking of my wet gear, I was just laying down for 10 or 15 minutes. Bliss.
April 21
I cannot believe how many hours I slept last night. Almost 15, 5 hours of sleep.
Also, I had KD for dinner. And instant noodles. Don’t judge me. “Prvic in zadnjic v lajfu” – that’s how it is.
The hut has been wrapped in a thick fog all day, absolutely no sounds around me, apart from the occasional wind. The complete silence, I love it. Nobody, just me and the mountain.
This hut is amazing, over 60 alpine journals, published by VOC are stacked on the shelf, providing days worth of reading about crazy stories from the mountains. The guitar is sitting in the corner, tuned and ready to play some sweet melodies and wood is safely stacked in the shelf under the kitchen area, to keep me warm in these days of spring cold weather.
I made mate and wrote and read for a few hours. A book caught my attention, Into Thin Air. I am basically swallowing it, the words flow in front of my eyes so easily, I’m already halfway through.
Every once in awhile I step outside and just listen. I am still wrapped in the cloud, cut away from the rest of the world. Even though is silent, I still think I hear sounds from time to time.
I didn’t end up skiing much, apart from the Mt. Brew summit, on April 22, I decided to head back to the car. Way down was fast and efficient, despite the cold rain hitting my red cheeks. It feels good to be laying in the Pemby sunshine again, looking at Mt. Curry and dreaming of lines I would take from the top.
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
When I woke up in the early morning light, I felt a little tingly creature running around my mat and my sleeping bag. The hut is full of mice. We got rid of one yesterday, but there’s more.
Slowly, I make my way to the bottom of Cayoosh hut and started a fire. All the collected wood that the boys gathered yesterday is now nice and dry, in a minute a hut was getting warmer to the sounds of sparkling pine.
The air outside is fresh. There’s silence. I take a walk around the hut and nothing. We are alone here and I love that feeling. the sensation of not belonging to anyone or anything but nature. Snow is falling like it’s falling just for us. Special delivery on this Saturday morning. The area has so much potential. Pillow lines, shoots, steep terrain, and trees. I really don’t mind the heavy snowfall, as this place is perfect for some spring powder.
We got here yesterday, and I really don’t want to leave. No plans, we stay until we run out of food, that’s the only rule. We don’t know what’s going on in the world, staying in a spot with no signal is basically cutting us from all the COVID-19 updates. Is there a complete lockdown? A closure on the streets? Did our Jeep get towed because we’re not supposed to be outside?
Those are all the worries of tomorrow, for now, I am focusing on making pancakes in the hut. An art that I’m yet to master.
In front of the hut, two big avalanche shoots connected the valley with the peak of the first mountain we wanted to summit. The idea was to get as high as possible and get some sort of geolocation and feeling about the place we set ourselves to stay for the week.
Over the creek and up the shoot. The first part was flatter so I decided to stay on the right side of the trees, out enough to have the freedom of movement. After that part, we head into the trees. The first approach ended about half an hour after that when we gave up with dead hopes of good snow.
Sticky wet snow on top of a frozen spring crust. Very unessential to keep going up and continue the climb. The temperature was perfect. Got to change our skins and enjoy the run down. Snow is deep, not paying attention to the condition of it. Short and sweet 5 minutes later we were at the hut.
(At this point, the boys arrive at the hut and I had to spend about 10 extra minutes to walk in snow that was too deep to even make a proper step.)
Kept repeating to myself. “I love snowboarding, I love it I love it.) I do. But there are moments where I really think about how much worth it, snowboarding really is. Not carrying about the run or the snow, we carried on with the day. Shortly after a quick snack, we got ready to hike again, this time to the other side. The pillows behind the hut and everything above that. Staying close to the trees, paying attention to the snow and seeing where it goes. As we were about to leave, our friend Nico from Chile skis into the hut. He came up with us, and we took off. The boys continued to go up for another hour and I stayed just under the tree line, having issues with my skins and not feeling 100% with the snow.
The run down was fine as, but the snow was heavy. The evening rolled in before we knew it. You can really feel the days getting longer, and despite our love for the snow, it is a very good feeling.
Our friend Euge was the next one who showed up. It was rad to have another kick-ass lady to join the team.
The effection and natural teamwork spirit surprise all of us when we hit the point of spontaneously doing things we don’t need to talk about!
Another way of describing how we spend the last week is by simply looking into the moments captured on our (again) handy devices, like pictures and motion pictures.
We had packed on one or two mini-missions around the area of Cayoosh hut. Steep, less steep, trees or open. The weather and it’s spring warmer conditions told us to stay in the trees, why occupy the hospitals who might be flooding with infected covid19 cases. We didn’t want that.
Each day brings more snow, more walking, and more skiing. The pilows run above the hut was everyone’s favorite way to finish the day.
Tremendo. Otra semana lejos de todo.
The third day was awesome.
And on our last day (4th day), I finally had the feeling of accomplishment. The snow was finally dry and fluffy. It snowed a lot on our third night in the hut, as well as the temperature dropped a bit. Riding was more than anything, the best riding of the season. We did two runs of trees and pillows above the hut and I was happy. I was stoked. Didn’t even feel tired, just magnetic.
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
Carving through fresh powder against a backdrop of endless blue sky and crisp winter air—it’s a thrilling, adrenaline-pumping rush that’s familiar to anyone who has strapped boots onto a board at the top of a mountain. It’s one of the most physically demanding sports, thanks to turns that require pistonlike actions in the legs and air-catching maneuvers that have you exploring your body’s full range of motion. And then there are the crashes. Falling is an unavoidable part of the sport, and, just as in yoga’s balancing poses, there’s a certain grace in yielding when you lose your balance.
It took many painful nights and mornings, waking up in a sore, broken body, to realize how important stretching is for snowboarders and skiers. I got my first introduction to yoga when I was 12. My mom gave me a book for my birthday, and the world of moving, stretching and breathing techniques opened up for me.
On and off, I’d been practicing yoga for over 13 years now. Yoga is home. It is something I can always retreat to, but I’m not there all the time. A comfortable place, I can find anywhere in the world. Wonderful things happen and unwind on my mat and I’m really glad to share my yoga journey with others.
Snowboarding is a very demanding sport, taking a lot on our bodies. It requires endurance, flexibility, and superpowers. Nothing easy about becoming a good rider but yoga is definitely something it can help.
Today, I am sharing my favorite top morning stretches that will both, prepare my body for the fun day ahead and give it the stretch it needs so badly.
Good morning sunshine.
Cat-crow pose
Cat-Cow Pose is a great morning stretch for your back. This yoga position opens the whole spine. To get into this yoga pose you need to get down on all fours. While gazing up at the ceiling, you drop your back down toward the floor as you inhale. Then while looking down at your belly button, you arch your back up like a cat and exhale. Try to do this movement for one or two minutes.
Warrior 1 + 2
Warrior One is a standing position that signifies and stimulates strength and power. Start by standing up straight, and then step your left leg back 3 and a half to 4 feet. Bend your right knee so it’s directly above the ankle, and turn your left foot in slightly. Raise your arms directly above you, reaching strongly, and look up. This yoga pose stretches the back and the lower body.
Warrior Two is similar to Warrior One, but the arms are held out to the side with the head looking forward, and the back foot is at a 90-degree angle instead of turned in slightly. As with all yoga positions, breathing is an important part of the exercise, as a matter of fact, yoga without breathing and meditation is just a stretching exercise. You can run through a series of morning stretches in about 20 minutes or you can add periods of meditation and have a morning yoga session that lasts an hour or more.
Camel pose
Camel Pose frees the energy in your throat, chest, and heart. This yoga position is for intermediate or advanced practitioners. It’s important to remember that not everyone can do every yoga pose perfectly, but yoga can be adapted to each person’s abilities. To get into the pose, start in the kneeling position. The upper torso is gradually bent backward until the arms are extended backward, the hands are touching the soles of the feet, and the head is completely extended. Hold for 30 seconds to one minute. For a beginner’s modification, in a kneeling position, simply lean your upper body back, keeping your hands on your hips, until you feel a stretch in your legs.
Powder Power
Some yoga poses emulate the physical actions of a maneuver you’d make on a board. The following poses help strengthen muscles and increase the range of motion you need to keep your moves loose and fluid on the mountain.
The Move: Carving
It requires pistonlike actions in the quadriceps and a strong, stable core.
Lengthens the whole front body and, with practice, can increase range of motion.
Yoga can be done any time of day, but morning yoga is a great way to wake up your body and get your energy flowing. It’s impossible not to notice the change in your mind and your body after a yoga session!
Photos by: @jer.rl
If you are taking a vacation soon, I’d like to invite you to take advantage of this -65$ off Airbnb discount for your next trip! Enjoy it for me as well.
What do you think? Share your moments with me over Instagram! I would love to share them with my stories. And help me spread the word, by sharing this blog post on your Pinterest boards:
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job lately! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainability and crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.”
Snowboarding is simple. It is a simple thing that took over many people’s hearts, including mine. The indescribable feeling cannot compare to anything else.
What I always wanted was to connect to a sport, the way my parents did to climbing. When I started snowboarding, a weird tingly feeling of stoke, pleasure and screaming from the inside took over my body.
I couldn’t control myself, rather embraced it. Embraced the sensation. For the first time, I was comfortable with uncomfortable. It was foreign yet I was fine with it.
Years went by and I found myself searching for more snow. Untouched spots. Untouched powder hunts, checking the forecast 5 times a day, getting more and more into the backcountry, deeper into the sport. Traveling far away, far out.
“Lejos de todo. La mejor terapia.”
Snowboarding connected me to the beautiful Sea to Sky even more than ever. I feel in love with the people, I feel in love with the freedom Squamish and Whistler have offered me. The sport has pushed me more than anything and yet it keeps pushing me every single day.
If you are taking a vacation soon, I’d like to invite you to take advantage of this -65$ off Airbnb discount for your next trip! Enjoy it for me as well.
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job lately! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainability and crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.”
Whenever I think of Squamish, this feeling of mountains closing down on me arises. I got used to it now, after spending so much time here, but it can be overwhelming. Living in Squamish sometimes feels like living in a big bowl, surrounded by giants. It cuts off our sunrise and sunset time because everywhere you look, majestical mountains stand, covered in trees, rock or snow.
And if you are in Squamish because of those, you know how good it feels when you take yourself up and down on these giants. Mountains are where we find peace and tranquility. We are never alone, but still, we get to enjoy a break from the “real world”. The reason why we love our coastal mountains so much is because of the fear factor that accompanies us on every trip and every assent that we take. Fear introduces the adrenaline to the body and pushing our limits, pushing ourselves creates a fraction. It feels good.
I love to live my life in balance. Lately, having 10 drops of CBD oil per day, I’ve been feeling more in line with myself, healthier, my skin and hair are getting better. I truly recommend CBD oil, especially for the adventure lovers who enjoy spending time in nature!
The Tantalus Range wasn’t as meant to be in these last few years. I’ve had a couple failed attempts, due to the bad weather conditions that like to come with living on the coast. There are two ways to get up there, either by walking for 14 hours after crossing the Squamish river or by a 7-minute heli flight. I’ve been to lake Lovelywater 2 years ago with my friends and let me tell you, that was a grind. Luckily flying was an option this weekend and there is nothing better than the luxury of packing up my clothes, a snowboard, climbing stuff, food and a bottle of wine into a big bird.
Today I woke up to a beautiful sunny day and cloudless sky. Drove to Squamish airport and packed up the helicopter. 7 minutes later it feels like we are in a completely different atmosphere. Completely different views. The air is crisp and fresh. There are mountains on the other side that don’t seem to end. Beautiful north face of Sedgwick that I would love to ski one day, Alpha in the clouds and mt. Dione, the first target for tomorrow morning far, far away. Jim Haberl hut is cozy, spacious and built with lots of windows to soak in the views and observe the conditions on this mountain.
The classic Squamish feeling of mountains closing on me was gone. Stillness, warmth, and silence. When the wind calms down, there is nothing for us to hear. Only silence. This other feeling overwhelmed my body, feeling of being above everything, away from everyone. All of a sudden, I don’t feel so little.
June 1st 2019
A moment of confusion flows over my body as I wake up.
Where am I and what is this place? I have to
cover my eyes, pure golden light is pouring through the window, making it
impossible to look outside.
I fell asleep late last night. I’ve been tossing and turning, overthinking about life mostly. The 4 hour afternoon nap didn’t help me be any more tired at night I guess.
I spent yesterday’s »free time« snowboarding the neighbor slopes, and runs around the hut. There is some great terrain that still holds under the late spring snow.
Days are longer here than in Squamish. You go to sleep with light and wake up with light. It reminds me of my days in Yukon.
Today I woke up at 6 but the sun was so high up, I thought it was 9 or even 10 in the morning. The air was fresh. Crispy. And the snow was frozen, which made it easier to walk around on. As I write, I often find myself looking up and turning my head from one big window to another. I get easily distracted by beautiful views. There are a lot of mountains around me. I wonder what they’re called. I see Sedgwick, a popular heli-skiing destination. Alpha and Dione. Mountains after mountains after mountains. Some summits haven’t had any assents yet. Which makes them even more appealing and I want to climb up even harder. Do others ever get enough? My parents don’t, and they’ve seen some big stuff.
Looking towards N/W, these mountains can go on
forever. Jim Haberl hut lays in the heart of Tantalus Range. With Serratus
mountain behind us, we are looking up to Mt. Tantalus and Mt. Dione, when
gazing up North. I want to come back later this summer and climb new routes,
take a dip in Zenith lake…
When the wind stops, the silence is almost deafening. I pack my backpack light and look up Mt. Tantalus. Is it just me, or do peaks look for far away and intimidating, before you reach the top. But once you are up there, none of that really matters because you’re on the top and the hard part is behind you.
I walked for several hours with my snowboard
strapped on my back. 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2. I didn’t want to stop.
Clouds started to roll in as I slowly approached Mt. Dione in the mid afternoon light, gently hugging the peaks of Tantalus giants. Whenever you look towards Tantalus, it seems like there is always something cooking up there, way up high in the clouds. I really didn’t want to get caught up in a storm, or a thick fog for that matter. I fastened my pace. 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2. The snow was getting softer by the minute and every step I took, felt unstable.
I reached the wall of this mystical and to me unknown mountain and looked around. The glacier I was on was several meters thick on the edge, but you can clearly see some potential crevasse opportunities. It was steep, where I stopped so I didn’t want to waste time. I radioed the rest of the group but heard nothing back. I strapped one foot into my snowboard, securing it first so I wouldn’t slide down the hill as I was getting ready. And then put on the rest of the gear, slowly and steadily. With great caution.
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The way down was amazing. The snow was soft and easily ridable. I was screaming with happiness and flying through the cold afternoon air. The views were amazing and I got to the hut way quicker than I’d hope.
I spent the rest of the day drinking tea by the wooden stove, soaking up the words of Jim Haberl and his adventures around Africa, Himalayas, K2, and Alaskan expeditions. There is so much more, for me to learn, I realized. But this is only the beginning.
More about Alenka
My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love shooting nature, sports, sports in nature… underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! I’m stoked. Very simply put, I am a stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for a sunrise, ready to go to the airport and take a random flight… I’m stoked on living and I love what I do for work.
Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainabilty and crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.
The smell of an orange tree, the crack of the baguette, and the mindful coffee stir from a local cafe and the satisfied sigh as the appreciation of the sun rising up in the morning. Strong senses. Passionate conversations. The smell of that strong espresso they love to enjoy here. Slow mornings…
Portugal is a country that took my heart within the first days of me being here. After reading a sucrfers classic, Barbarian Days – recommended by my friend Nick, I knew I had to visit the land of promise.
No other place like the coastal village of Santa Cruz, located on cliffs under which strong waves break, transitioning into a soothing sound to sleep to, at night. Providing a playground for many locals and wave searchers from around the world, during the day.
I fell in love with the fresh air, instantly. Mediterranean food, cheap pastry, and really good avocados. The village of St. Cruz is adorable. Old town brings me back to traveling around Sardinia and Corsica with my family. Little cafes and tranquil vibes, local bakeries on narrow streets and tiny fruterias, as you take yourself down to the beach.
Big thanks to Rui and Andreia, for welcoming me and my brother during our time in Portugal, in their home. A gem on the side of their village is a surf camp they’ve built in the last couple of years. They were kind enough to show you beautiful local hikes, put delicious meals on the table and welcomed us into their world for a while.
I personally recommend getting in touch with Andreia and her husband, if you are planning a trip to this side of Portugal. They are very accommodating, and their guest house is super cozy.
Our days were spent surfing in the beach St. Rita, or Peniche – another surf capital of Portugal! Pastry and short espresso were a ritual after catching waves all day, and trust me, I didn’t say no to my after lunch siesta either!
Stoked to spent some time, watching the WQS Santa Cruz Pro event, with some local and worldwide pros mastering the waves in St. Cruz. That’s always a very exciting experience.
My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love shooting nature, sports, sports in nature… underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! I’m stoked. Very simply put, I am a stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for a sunrise, ready to go to the airport and take a random flight… I’m stoked on living and I love what I do for work.
Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainabilty and crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.
