FSC Architects & Engineers steps up sponsorship to Crystal Globe!

FSC Architects & Engineers continue to amaze me! For the third year in a row they have sponsored me at my highest level to help ensure that I have adequate funding to follow my training schedule for the year. When I added the Crystal Globe level to my sponsorship package this year I wasn't sure if anyone would even consider sponsoring me to that extend - however, this level of support is now crucial for me to progress in my athletic career as the costs of training and traveling continue to escalate. I'm very thankful to have the amazing support of community leaders like FSC to help me achieve my goals!

Me standing with FSC partners Kevin Hodgins, Jerry Jaud and Warren McLeod

 To view the official press release regarding the sponsorship go to the Sport North website. Here it is below:

News Release

FSC Architects & Engineers Announce Top Level Sponsorship for High Performance Snowboarder Andrew Matthews

November 22, 2010 - FSC Architects & Engineers have announced that they will continue to support Andrew Matthews in his high performance athletic training again this year, increasing their sponsorship to his new ‘Crystal Globe’ level. The new sponsorship will allow Matthews to continue to pursue excellence in his sport. It will allow him to participate in training camps and competitions that would have otherwise been too expensive for him to cover.

“When I added the Crystal Globe level to my sponsorship proposal this year, I wasn’t sure if anyone would even consider supporting me to that extent,” acknowledged Matthews. “FSC continues to amaze me with how supportive they are of high performance sport in the North. This funding will make a huge difference in allowing me to train and compete at the elite level that I need to in order to make it to the next step of my athletic career. When Warren told me that FSC was going to step up to the Crystal Globe level I was at a loss for words, so I just gave him a hug. Crystal Globes are very prestigious awards presented to athletes that are on the very top of their game and win the annual World Cup Tour. FSC continues to lead the community in high performance sponsorship and they are definitely on top of their game!”

Warren McLeod, a principal at FSC said that the company feels strongly about supporting high performance sport in the North, “FSC believes that supporting highly visible athletes from the North encourages the development of healthy communities by inspiring other youth to follow in their footsteps.  Andrew has and will continue to be a positive role model for all Northerners and we are more than happy to help him as he pursues his dreams.”

Andrew has recently moved into the Whistler Athlete Village, which will be his base for training this winter, and started back on snow training. He heads to Copper Mountain, Colorado this Wednesday, November 24^th, for some early season halfpipe training. This will give him a competitive edge over many Canadian riders who won’t be able to train in a halfpipe until late December.

Matthews’ first major competition is the Burton Canadian Open Global Series which will be the first week of February. He is hoping on improving on his last year’s performance where he made it to the qualifying round in slopestyle. “I’ve set some high goals this year, and for the next four years,” explains Matthews. “With the help of community leaders like FSC, I believe I have what it takes to achieve these goals.”

For more information visit:

www.andrewmatthews.ca

www.andrewsnowboarding.blogspot.com

www.fsc.ca; or contact:

NWT Boardsport Association                            Warren McLeod, P. Eng., Principal

(867) 920‐2997                                                                 (867) 920‐2882

Exploring, Adventures and Snowboarding!

As I mentioned on Friday, Whistler mountain opened!! It's been a long wait over the summer but really... why wait? Since I arrived in BC I've been super busy exploring, getting settled into my new place and going on adventures. There is so much to do in BC! Kyle Thomas (my new roomate who's been my good friend and training buddy since I met him riding in my first snowboard club 6 years ago) and I decided to take advantage of the short time we had before the hill opened to head out to Tofino for a surfing trip.

Heading out on the Ferry

November in Tofino is cold, I have to get the photo without the hood though!

On our second day in Tofino we were exploring a trail to South Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park. We were out on the beach trying to find a way to get onto this big rock by the ocean, little did we know that a black bear cub was hanging out on the same beach. We were so oblivious until we got within 20 feet of the bear and Kyle mentioned something along the lines of "Hey I think that's a bear." I look up and my heart starts racing. My immediate thought was to get as far from the cub as quick as possible in case we were between the Mom and her cub. Kyle had to remind me that running probably wasn't the best thing to do (I'm probably faster than him so it would have been fine for me, haha). Once we got far enough away we watched the cub for a bit with no sign of Mom before heading down the trail. Further down on another beach we almost ran into more wildlife, this time a beached seal. I've never seen a live seal before so it was cool but I felt bad for the guy, he wasn't moving much.

Such a cool bridge!

The other 2 days we spent surfing. I've started to really, really like surfing. It's a similar feeling to floating over powder on your snowboard (which is one of the best feelings). On the first day I met up with some good friends from Yellowknife - Kelsey, Josh & Danielle for a fun surf session. Josh and Dani had to catch a bus so they only got a taste of the surfing but it was great to see them nonetheless.

I should really start reading signs...

I'm going surfing!

Getting the picture like a true tourist

Hello black bear! You can see our tracks on the bottom right. Scary!

Poor seal :(

Kyle checking out the rain forest

Kyle's ride!

These photos are from a hike we did just down the highway from our new place. You don't have to go far to see some pretty spectacular nature in Whistler.

We want you!...to be as goofy as us!

Freestyle hiking

Ali & me

The new pad, in the Athlete's Village. Couldn't ask for a better place

Opening Day on Whistler would not be complete without a super early morning, followed by huge lines of skiers and boarders eager to get back on snow. Every in Whistler was in a great mood after getting their fix of snow in for the day. We had a blast riding some fresh snow, jumping off every little bump and even riding the mini snowboard park they have set up.

Me, Kyle and Chase - stoked on our first day!

Fresh track are awesome!

Yeah Snowboarding!!!

Chase Harley's Edit

Today was opening day for the winter on Whistler! Early morning, long lineups, burning legs - so much fun!! More on that later but first: I met up with my buddy Chase today for some laps and he mentioned this snowboard edit that he made of my friends and I from last season. He has some serious skills in the editing and filming departments. I was pumped on it, check out this video!

Dryland Training Video

In the past couple months I've been in YK pushing it with my training. Here's a video of one of my recent training sessions, getting creative at the YK Racquet Club. I've been able to balance on these balls for a while and I've been thinking about trying this since I read about a bmx rider doing it.

Now it's one of the most exciting times of the year for me. I just moved into the Athlete Village in Whistler. I've already met a bunch of my neighbors, one of which is Thomsen d'Hont, among lots of other high performance athletes. It's going to be awesome living here this year! There is tons of snow on the mountain and there have been rumours that it might open next week. Awww yeahhhh!!!

TC Group of Companies Continue Support for 3rd year!

I am pleased to announce that TC Group of Companies will be sponsoring me for the third year in a row at the Gold Level! TC continues to play a huge roll in allowing me to pursue my dreams. I'm very excited that they are continuing to sponsor me and give me the best chance of achieving my goals. True to their slogan, they are allowing me to 'Build for the Future'. I look forward to representing them throughout the year.

I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Tony and Elaine for their continuous support!

TC Group of Companies, whose principals are Tony Chang and Elaine MacDonald-
Grundy, is a diverse real estate organization with residential and commercial properties
across Canada. For more information, please visit TC Group's website: www.tcent.ca.