Sunday, 9 October 2011

*Important*

Hey everybody, this blog is now defunct and will no longer be updated since access has been compromised.
It will stay online for information purposes only so feel free to have a browse through previous entries.
Please do not send any more emails to blog[at]huegelherzblut.de as these will no longer be picked up, please send your message to contact[at]gravityispink.com instead.
Thanks for stopping by, see you on a hill!

Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Vienna Workshop

Summer's been great, will try to post up some pictures at some point, as always life's busy with lots of things in the pipeline, speaking of which - if you are in Vienna come skate with us and pick up some tips:

Saturday, 2 July 2011

Back from the dead!

Sometimes life's a bitch, sometimes life gets in the way but either way we're back from oblivion, and last weekend we went to the Houyet freeride in Belgium...

It's Friday 5.30pm and after a smooth transition from my office chair into the driver's seat we're set to go – destination: Houyet, Belgium.
Friday night rush hour = nightmare, it takes us about 2h to get out of town from West London but we make it, pick up Kami the flying Frenchman on the way and arrive in Dover well in time for our 10pm ferry. Said ferry's delayed and I'm tired, so trying to get some much needed sleep since we've still got another 270km to go on the other side. I'm surrounded by screaming children and the sound of angry birds on some dude's phone, so zzzzz isn't really happening. Whatever. By the time we get off the ferry in Dunkirk, France, it's dark and raining. Driving on what is the correct side of the road for me (since I'm from the continent) in a vehicle that's got the steering wheel on the wrong side is...by far not as weird as I thought it might be, whew. I'm really tempted to just stop over somewhere and get some kip as I am starting to go cross-eyed but fuck it, I'm putting my foot down and eventually we set up camp in Houyet at around 4.45am on Saturday morning.
Part of me is already starting to accept the fact that I probably won't be skating very much on Saturday simply because I'm completely shattered. Poosticks.
Surprisingly enough, I manage to wake up pretty early – to the sound of rain. Half gutted, half not bothered since still half asleep I get up to see what's going on and decide to hang around and see what the weather's doing while enjoying watching carnage in the wet at one of the corners.
Since it's pretty warm the track is drying up quite quickly once the rain's stopped, so I have a little power nap after lunch before gearing up. On the way to the track I spot Fee who I've been waiting for all along, together with 2 of her friends who also made it. Awesome.
All of a sudden it's already about 3pm or so, so only have a couple of hours riding left in the day. I'm taking it easy having lots of fun with Fee and Yvi and the UK DH crew. Happy times!
With the evening comes the hunger and I'm oh-so-glad I brought my own food since the first thing I make out on the camp site's restaurant menu is frog's legs followed by snails. I DON'T THINK SO. Being a vegan on tour = difficult, thank fuck for tofu, alpro soy and the nearby Belgian version of a chippy.
Once food's been sorted Saturday night's got it all, from bum techno to twatted teenagers oh yeah!
I fall into my tent at about 11.30pm, my body's simply given up for the day. As I open my eyes on Sunday asking myself if I really need to be awake, I see the sun, FUCK YEAH! An absolutely lovely day, I can't wait to get on the track.
In the morning we decide to don our leathers which quickly get way too hot so back to pads it is for the rest of the day.
Less words more images, have a look at some of the awesome footage here, thank you so much guys to those who filmed, yes that's you Rob, Olivier and Aidan.



Wallonhill 2011



Houyet Freeride 2011 (Wallonhill) - Team 360 Edition



We're meant to go back to Blighty on the 8pm ferry but the weather's too nice and too much fun is had so screw it, we're staying on. Somehow I manage to get us back to London and I'm home in my bed safe and sound at around 2.30am. Bliss.....and all of a sudden it's Monday morning again and back to the grind it is but I don't give a shit, Im still smiling (on the inside, yawning on the outside).
A truly amazing weekend, a massive thank you, dank u & merci to the whole Blütcher crew and all their marshals and volunteers who made this event run so smoothly, all the UK guys with whom great times were had, Alex for being an awesome co-pilot and keeping me awake and of course the wonderful Frau Fee, plus everyone else I haven't mentioned! Picture credits go to Jon Steel, Sick Boards, Michael Claessens/Beatrijs Berré and yours truly:



You bet I'm back there next year, in the meantime I'm getting excited about summer road trippin', first the KnK Longboard camp, a much anticipated first-time event in Slovenia followed by Gioasteka in Switzerland, the mother of all freerides which will see a few of us girls get together again so watch out for the pink (and be there)!

Saturday, 5 February 2011

Christie Aleixo from Brazil

*Sorry, diesmal gibt's keine deutsche Version, wer sich das Interview übersetzen möchte - schau mal rechts in der Menüleiste, da ist ein Link zu Google Translate ;-)*

Today we're bringing you Christie Aleixo from Brazil, make sure you check out her videos at the bottom of this entry!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Who is Christie Aleixo?
I am a woman, mother, wife and true skater who, for the past 5 years, has been dedicating herself to downhill skateboarding. I'm from Rio de Janeiro, "carioca de gema" and have been living in São Paulo for 4 years, so as to be able to work in skateboarding and to live it more intensely because in Brazil, São Paulo is the main hub for all things skateboarding. I consider myself a skater through and through as I skate on different terrains and in different disciplines.


2. How long have you been skating? And what got you into the sport?
I started off young, during my childhood actually. Together with my bike, my skateboard was one of my toys. It wasn't until just around the time of my 16th birthday however that I started to develop a keener interest. After I'd become a mum, I discovered sliding and haven't stopped since.

3. What’s your favourite discipline?

I started out like everyone else, down some hills, just letting myself go and praying to get down to the bottom safe and sound. The sliding followed shortly thereafter as a maneuver for better control and so downhill sliding became my first choice. Then the speed and slalom came naturally, with the development thereof here in Brazil. After I moved to São Paulo, I got access to skate parks so I'm having lots of fun in bowls and on banks.

4. How long have you been competing? What’s your top ranking?

For me, competition was the only way to get to ride with other girls. We'd gather at events where we could share our techniques. I have been competing since 2003. As far as placement goes, I've been everywhere on the list, but in the last few years I've been in the top 3 in sliding, downhill and slalom in Brazil.



5. What's your favourite event and why?

I love all the events, but perhaps the RDH Rio Downhill 2006 in Rio de Janeiro has been the one that marked my life by making me realise what an opportunity downhill could give me in terms of travel and the chance to meet other people.

6. How often do you skate and how do you practise?

I skate almost every day. I work, have a home, son and husband, so I have to organise myself well enough to keep on top of everything and still have time to practise. But as I work in skateboarding, it may be easier for me to fit in sessions than it is for others. During the week I skate 2-3 times and at the weekends all day.

7. Do you skate alone or with friends?

I don't mind going sliding on my own, but we always end up meeting people at the spots. At the skateparks it's the same thing. Downhill requires more safety precautions, so always with friends!

8. What makes you move in skateboarding? And how do you search for that evolution?

Firstly, respecting my way of living, what I like to do on my skateboard. To slide on my longboard, I use harder wheels that slide better and a deck with nose and tail that allows for some tricks and carvy trucks, but they must be light. Here I deviate a little from longboarding rules, as I use 149mm trucks, which I always ride because sometimes tricks come out unintentionally...and never forget about the fun regardless of the focus you have in skateboarding.



9. Who's supporting you this year?

Since 2008, we've had a governmental incentive for high-performance athletes in all sports here in Brazil and I am part of this great program of the Brazilian Ministry of Sports. Beyond this benefit, I have the support of Moska Wheels, Crail Trucks, Gravity Boards and New Skate.

10. What do you expect from these partnerships?

I think in a very professional way. Skating, with friends, for fun, I will always do, but if I want to develop a project, attend major events and evolve technically, I need money, cause everything is very expensive, tickets, food, keeping fit, cutting-edge equipment, health insurance ... so I try to keep everything organised in order to continue living the lifestyle in a profitable manner.

11. Do you make a living from skateboarding or do you work on the side?
These days my skating pays for my development in skateboarding. But even so, and thinking forward in time, I have to work as well, however I work in the skateboarding industry, which makes things a little easier.

12. We also know that you are a very active person in the scene and have organised several skate events. Tell us a bit about these experiences.

Yes, I have done many events, some on the hills, others focussed on girls. Always with the perception of evolution, showing the growth of women in skateboarding. 2010 however has been the year of me, Christie Skater. Next year, the projects will return full steam ahead.



13. In addition to skateboarding what are your favourite hobbies?

I don’t have many things outside of skateboarding, as everything is connected to it. But I love swimming, going to the beach ... and then everything leads to skating... skating at some friends' house, new skateparks, new hills… it's always like that... skating 24 hours ... (laughs)

14. Favourite food?

I'm “boa de boa”, as we say here in Brazil, which means she who likes to eat. I never say no to salad in my meals! And for the rest, I like everything, but I avoid fried food.

15. What kind of music do you listen to?

LOTS of music all day. My favourite rhythm is rock'n'roll, but I listen to other musical styles too.

16. What do you think about the level of women’s longboarding in Brazil?

In recent years, the level has gotten a lot better, we have longboard slide circuits already defined and follow well-defined lines of championships, this way the female category has evolved a lot in so little time. Girls now learn as their first trick what took me 3 years to pick up. I travel to various places in and outside of Brazil, and honestly we are well advanced in comparison.



17. And in the world in general?

In addition to sliding, downhill, slalom and downhill sliding, which are some disciplines that we define as categories, there are women with a high technical level like Brianne Davis, Dasha, Bettina ... Canada, Switzerland... very good! Argentina also has a lot of women who are into speed, too.

18. How do you see the girls' scene in the future?

People will always be riding with numbers going up every year, but without competitive events there’s no way of defining real growth. We must do more videos, photos, seek better relations with the skate brands, especially longboard brands. We have a market which is already self-sustainable and we need to create lines of work for a more technical level and good events always happen!



19. Do you have a dream?

Live LONG, well, and keep riding tillllllllll I’m very old ... but next year I want to do trips that I have not done yet.

20. A message to all of us...

Girls, continue living this freedom, this option of simply skating. We don’t need to be the best, champions, none of this, we must be true to ourselves first. The skateboard liberates the soul and has to be part of our lives just like the food we need! BOMDROP! To all the girls who have a skateboard in their heart!
Kisses
Christie Aleixo


More videos from Christie

Sunday, 12 December 2010

More prizes in time for Christmas!

That's right, you've got the chance to win again, just about in time for Christmas to make it that little bit sweeter... !

1st Prize: The Hügelherzblut Classic die Kurze, sponsored by Hügelherzblut, your new favourite companion to take you around town, cruise mellow hills or go sliding with.


2nd Prize: A set of brandnew Nersh Candy wheels, fresh on the market, sponsored by Link Distribution. 70mm diameter, 76A duro which makes rough and uneven road surface a breeze.


3rd Prize: Get some PINK in your life! A set of pink Crail 180mm trucks, perfect for carving, cruising or if you want to point your deck Downhill - a lovely allrounder and most certainly the pinkest truck there is...sponsored by Layback Distribution.


4th-10th Prize: Goody bags containing T-shirts, flip flops, beanies etc etc, wait and see! Sponsored by Reef, Femipleasure, Insight, Trasher, Sixxa.


All you have to do to call one of these babies your own is to tell us what longboarding means to you. Closing date is the 31st of December 2010, all emails to the usual address blog[at]huegelherzblut.de please. Oh, and as always legal recourse is excluded ;-)

A massive Thank You goes out to our lovely sponsors!

* Link Distribution (Nersh, Trasher, Sector9)
* Black Distribution (Reef)
* Layback Distribution (Crail)
* Hügelherzblut
* Sixxa
* USP Distribution (Femipleasure)
* Insight

And now get writing!

Gewinnspiel die Zweite!

Yep, ihr habt richtig gehört, ihr könnt schon wieder was gewinnen und zwar einiges - pünktlich zum Weihnachtfest um euch den Advent ein bisschen zu versüssen!

1. Preis: Der Hügelherzblut Klassiker die Kurze, gesponsert von Hügelherzblut,
deine neue liebste Begleiterin für Stadt, Hügelcruisen oder zum Sliden.


2. Preis: Ein Satz brandneue Rollen zum Reinbeissen Nersh Candy, ganz fresh auf dem Markt und gesponsert von Link Distribution. 70mm Durchmesser mit einem 76A Duro, damit sind auch holprige unebene Strassen kein Problem.


3.Preis: Get some PINK in your life! Ein Satz pinke Crail 180mm Achsen, perfekt zum Cruisen Carven oder falls es doch auch mal bergab gehen soll...ein super Allrounder und mit Sicherheit die pinkeste Achse, die es gibt...gesponsort von Layback Distribution.


4.-10.Preis: Je ein fettes Überraschungspaket mit T-Shirts, FlipFlops, Beanies und und und...gesponsert von Reef, Femipleasure, Insight, Trasher, Sixxa.


Alles, was ihr tun müsst, um einen dieser Hammerpreise einzuheimsen ist uns zu schreiben, was Longboarden für euch bedeutet. Einsendeschluss ist der 31. Dezember 2010, bitte schreibt wie immer an die übliche Adresse blog[at]huegelherzblut.de. Achso, der Rechtsweg ist natürlich ausgeschlossen ;-)

Ein dickes Dankeschön an die netten Sponsoren!

* Link Distribution (Nersh, Trasher, Sector9)
* Black Distribution (Reef)
* Layback Distribution (Crail)
* Hügelherzblut
* Sixxa
* USP Distribution (Femipleasure)
* Insight

Viel Spass beim Texten!

Saturday, 4 December 2010

And the winner is.....

...Anni from Switzerland! Congrats on bagging yourself a lovely Sixxa outfit, we hope you'll love it as much as we do!


Paula and Ana are sharing a tie second place:





And the honourable Nr. 3 goes to Amy from New Zealand:


Thank you to all the girls who sent us their entries, it was a tough choice!