Martin Stefan - Smaertin (Page 4)

Crashing, digging and riding

We have had a few rainy days here in the north of Sweden. When everyone else was either at the EWS in the Tweed valley, the Canyon enduro series in Falun or chilling in Finale (yes, I'm looking at you Spook!) I was hauling boxes from one apartment

Sommar

Surviving Biivouac 2014, the longest one yet

The planning was last minute, but team Martiin actually managed to meet up at Stockholm Arlanda airport last Wednesday for a continued flight to Toulouse via Amsterdam. My energy levels were thoroughly drained by a bad cold, I had been coughing for a week already. In that same week I

Sommar

Back in spring

I got caught out again. Same root in the same corner as umpteen times before. Time to grow some talent I guess. [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/dsc_0327.jpg] Bike on its side, rider on his ass Well, at least its spring in Umeå, trails are all

Vinter

Still hammering

Yesterday was very very wet indeed. Rain from zero to 600 meters, and lots of it. We made an attempt on Andersdalstind but aborted due to wind, visibility and just good old miserable conditions. [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/p1010857.jpg] This is as much sunshine we got

Vinter

Good turns and sunshine on Kvalöja

Yesterday we had our weather window, and we tried to make the most of it. We started by having a late morning and a long breakfast. Way to go! Then we climbed Storstolpa. [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/p1010705.jpg] Mattias, Storstolpa, clouds [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/

Vinter

Daybreak, Kvalöja

[http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/p1010651.jpg] Snow but no wind, and the sun is barely making it through I'm sitting here with the day's first cup of coffee enjoying the silence and waiting for the skies to clear up and for evryone else

Sommar

Pants down, guts out

Not me, but my trusty old Bos. [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/dsc_0302.jpg] Just a pair of empty stanchions hanging there I am in kind of a middle period right now. Last week I was in northern Norway and stood on snow for the first time

Sommar

L'Italia é l'Italia, or recovery done right

Ever since the avy accident this winter has been miserable. A mixed bag of rain, slush, snow and no sunshine gave more or less unrideable conditions both in the mountains for snowboarding and on the local trails for the bike. Not good for a lost soul in need of endorphine

Sommar

The third step, a leap in the air

The engine is humming no more than a couple of meters to my left, and far below me lies Germany. In less than three hours I will be in Nice, in the sun and in the warmth. The bike is prepped, helmets packed and on my feet are a brand

Vinter

The second step

Yesterday the UPS man [http://www.southparkstudios.se/full-episodes/s16e10-insecurity] left another piece in my equipment puzzle. Long, wide, furry and soft. Yes, a brand new pair of BD GlideLite skins! Notoriously hard to find in Europe in 140mm with, and usually expensive to boot. I was lucky and scored

Vinter

The first step

Things are coming together again. The insurance company are doing a great job, and most equipment I need to get back out in the mountains has been ordered. Today I got the first piece of my the setup in my hand, a pair of Dynafit toe pieces. This particular model

Vinter

Kittelfjäll 16th of February, through my eyes

On the 16th of February, I, Andrea and Maria got caught in an avalanche in Kittelfjäll. An avalanche that had all potential to be lethal to all of us, and we made it by luck or coincidence. This is my recollection of the events that day. I guess writing my

Vinter

Starting on the road to recovery

Familiarity brings complacency they say, and that is true. But familiarity also brings comfort. In a safe environment, familiarity soothes a worried mind. I am convinced the road to my own recovery lies in a familiar environment, accompanied good friends and physical exhaustion. The last week has been tough, and

Vinter

A few words in the light of recent events

This post would have been a long "This is not a gear blog" installment about my venture into hardboot splitboarding. In light of recent events, I will keep it short and sweet: That toe edge power is addictive! [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/p1010019.jpg] Nice

Rat

Zach is back!

My favourite blogger and photographer Zach Clanton is back online, and he just keeps getting better. Pictures are to die for, really. http://www.zachclantonphotography.com/blog Those were the good news. Bad news it that Umeå is wetter, slushier and more miserable than anything I can think of. Still

Rat

Today: rice, boots and nylons!

[http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/p1000948.jpg] Snazzy So, let's go through the ingredients: [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/p1000950.jpg] A boot, a home made toecap out of old socks, a pair of nylons and a hockey puck And of course... [http://smaertin.

Rat

I got that t-shirt!

I was just browsing yesterday, and this video [http://www.pinkbike.com/news/NoRWay-Hans-Rey-and-Tobias-Woggon-on-the-Lofoten-Islands-video-2014.html] jumped in my face. Apparently Hans Ray and Tobias Woggon never read this blog, otherwise they would have found descriptions to most [http://smaertin.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/djupfjordheia-our-first-ride-on-lofoten-and-a-rude-awakening/] of the trails [http://smaertin.

Vinter

10 days of skiing, and it's not ever New year's yet

Yay! Today was my tenth day skiing this season, not bad for a weekend warrior with a (sort of) full time job. The first five you have already read about, on Centennial ridge and Cameron pass. Decent skiing, but it was really on day six it picked up. A blower

Sommar

Team Martiin at the Biivouac again! Effin 'nduro all the way

It's finally in print, Team Martiin will be going to the Biivouac [http://www.biivouac.com/millau-2014/equipes-2014/] again. I'm very excited to get to race together with multiple SBR winning Martin again. I think my personal goal is to crash less and have fewer flats

Vinter

Still slogging on in the office

At least the sun is out, and as you can see everything including porch furniture is bigger in 'Murica. [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/p1000085.jpg] Doing that SCIENCE!!! We've been up on the ridge a couple of times, conditions have gone from thin but

Vinter

Two things I like

Back in WY, which is just like it should be. Cars are huge, gas is cheap and people wear sunglasses and cowboy hats. We had a nice day of touring in Cameron Pass on Sunday, maybe a bit cold but snow is plentiful and soft. [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/

Sommar

I know a guy with a camera...

...and he knows how to use it. A particularly foggy, damp and dreary day not so long ago we went to one of my regular lunch ride trails, equipped with a bunch of magic photography stuff like flashes, remotes, umbrellas, lenses and whatnot. I went up and down the same

Sommar

Loose rocks, barbed wire and chapels on Vis

How about an early start, the still cool morning air feels fresh and the cafés along the seafront are still empty and quiet. [http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/p1220286.jpg] Only the morning sun keeping me company on the streets of Komiza The climb is nice and gradual,

Sommar

Dry and hard

Riding this weekend was wet and dirty. Semi-frozen mud makes for slow rolling and mucky bikes and riders. Still fun though. In gear related news, I finally got my nice green Raceface N/W chainring, and first impressions are that it seems to work, just like people say. I now

Sommar

Is it coming?

[http://smaertin.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/dsc_0023.jpg] Patches of wet, patches of white The weather has been all over the place lately, changing between very damp indeed and freezing. The trails cannot make up their mind if its still fall or if winter is actually coming. [http: