New Website Announcement

Greetings,

On several occasions I've heard friends asking me "where can I find your videos online?" Well my friends, I've created just the site for you... I would like to announce the release of my new website: www.andrewmatthews.ca! On the site you will find my videos, photos and more, on one convenient site. I'll be updating the site throughout the year so make sure to check back.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew's August Sports Highlights

Ola amigos. To mix up the blog, I decided to do a post about some inspirational sports stories. Let me know what you think :)

This month there have been several huge events in the world of sport. 23 year old Usain Bolt broke the world record in the 100 meter when he ran a 9.58. It looked like he was hardly trying! Remember when Donovan Bailey ran a 9.89, times are a changing. I wonder if Bolt will eventually crack the 9.5 seconds...the guy is not human.

On the other hand, it turns out that Tiger Woods is human after all. He lost his first major championship when leading after 3 rounds. I was watching the last few holes and it always seemed like he would pull it out somehow like he always does. Tiger has an amazing mental game that I admire. I guess even the best have to lose once in a while. To his credit, Y.E. Yang made an amazing approach shot on the 18th to clinch the victory.

OK those 2 first stories were pretty awesome, but chances are if you ever watch Sports Centre they're old news to you. This last story is about a sport that does not get as much mainstream coverage, about a little known snowboarder named Shaun White. While competing at the Burton New Zealand Open (which I competed in a couple years ago), Shaun landed the first back to back double cork spins. A double cork is essentially 2 flips, off access. I hadn't even seen one in the halfpipe before this. I thought that the progression of snowboarding in the pipe had slowed down; in the last few years there have only been a few tricks that have really pushed the bar. Then out of nowhere Shaun pulls out back to back double corks! I was blown away when I saw this. Check out the video!

Quote of the month: The difference between ordinary and extraordinary...

is that little extra.

Cheers,

Andrew

Mountain Bike Madness

Buenos dias!

I've been busy running my camp, Mountain Bike Madness Camp, for the last three weeks. We had a good turnout this year with one week being full. It has been a lot of fun and the kids wanted to keep going all summer! We had some epic games of capture the flag, man hunt, the circle game and battle ball. We had some awesome rides; I was impressed that kids at such a young age can handle tough trails like the Frame Lake Trail.

The circle game: no feet down kids!

Me showing the kids how to do it

OK, Kylar is actually showing them how to do it

This is the slideshow that I put together to give to all kids in the second week of camp.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. We finally have some nice weather in Yellowknife so (if you're here) get out and take advantage of it!

Adios!

Andrew

Ender bender

Why hello there!

In the last couple of weeks I've returned home to Yellowknife. It was sad to leave the snow and Whistler, however, it is nice to be home with my family and friends. It's also nice to give my body a break from the high impacts it takes when I throw myself off massive snow obstacles everyday. I've been training at Body Works as well as my newest sponsor, the Taiga Yoga Studio. Thank you both for your support!

When I look back on my year, I'm really happy with how it went. There are so many great things from the year but here are a few that stand out: I put a lot of effort into my athletic development this year and I made a lot of progress, particularly in spins on the backside wall of the pipe. I also had the opportunity to shoot with some awesome photographers and may even be in an article in Snowboard Canada next year. Another highlight was being invited to and competing in the Telus Festival Grenade Games Grand Finale. Since the first time I watched the Telus Festival Big Air in Whistler it's been a dream of mine to compete in it. It was amazing to have the opportunity to ride with the likes of Danny Kass, Ikka Backstrom and Daryl Mathes in the competition.

Photo by John Scarth

I feel like my skills are continuing to snowball, from the early days of riding at the Latham  Island Park to my first full season in Calgary to my current training with Whistler Valley. I'm building on and fine-tuning my basic skills and developing more complex ones. Snowboarding is amazing because you can keep pushing your personal boundaries every year, and I love doing that. It doesn't matter if you're learning a 180 or a 1080, when you finally get it, you're stoked! That's what keeps me excited year after year.

Pat King Photo

I'm already looking ahead to next year, planning and getting ready. I'm organizing another trip to New Zealand to get back on the snow with heaps of sweet as conditions bru! I can't wait!

Rob Picard Photo

The amount of support that I received this year from my sponsors in Yellowknife as well as Whistler/Vancouver was amazing. I would like to extend a huge Thank You! to all of my sponsors for making my snowboarding year possible.

Cheers,

Andrew