Balea: jumps - the apprentices

Neutro sarind in ceatza, sub "privirile admirative" ale lui Mitza:



Mitza, sarind un 123,44 si strivind un ghiocel la aterizare:



Mitza dand bice la un 184,73 grade:



Saqe sarind un 12 grade, cu inshurubare la 45 de grade:



Saqe landing (cu inshurubare cu tot):

Balea: Coman - the Rise and the Fall !

Adica ascensiunea si (de)caderea unui skior cu ratrace ;)

Ready for "iureshhhh" !



Yuppy, Coman da iureshhhh !



The fall, part one:



The fall, part two:



Ouupps ! it wasn't me !!!! (dar unde o fi caciula de iureshhh ?)

The skier, friend of nature:

Sau codrul e frate cu "freerider-ul" :)))

Dar ce o fi avut cu saracul brad ?

Cu ratracul prin padure.

Si ma dusei sa trec la Olt...

Ready for new adventures ! Hope to see you back soon !

Balea: the riders !

Coman - the only one ! (with the skis, of course)



Ursuleatza - freerider-itza



Mitza, the real rider !



Tasty, isn't it ?!



Gore - the free ride is never extrem enough for him ! or looking forward to meet the mountain patrol.



If looks could kill, they probablly will...

Balea: the set up

11 riders from Bucharest, Timisoara and Brasov decided to go to Balea in 16-18 March weekend.
Our first Balea expedition of the year, it was the opportunity to ride again beside my friends, after the St. Anton raid.
The snow was at the rendez-vous.



Meteo guys keep saying about 4 degree avalanches warning.



Strong electricity pole ! Isn't it ?



Balea valley: we did just one ride / day ! The small(old) cabin of 14 persons costs 15 lei: approx. 5 euros/person.

Leaving our lodge on the way up to Doamnei valley:

Hard is the way up, with our big equipment and our small engines:

But easy ride down !

Looking back: Paltinul area.

Grohotis mountains

Mt. Grohotis are near "Cheia" resort, between Mt. Ciucas and Mt. Neamtului. We had a beautiful day in the middle of January, with sun and very few snow. The mountains are very quiet, we had meet no turists, but I've seen a brown bear !

Where the mountaineers go to pray !

I've figured out this photo up in the Postavarul mountain: the wooden rails were covered with frozen snow, modeled by the wind. Many of them had a "cross" like form, the one below impressing me the most.

March snow in Poiana Brasov

Maybe there are the last days with full snow on the slopes of this year. It is very hot outside and the sun shines like in the summer.

The next photo is like a "logo" representing the boarders community:



This is written on the cabin building door. Maybe our russian visitors undestand it. And the english ones are lol :))



Just me in the forrest:

Florinel riding down in the trees:

Jump session in Poiana Brasov

Saturday March 3 we had planned to come back to Poiana Brasov, after the nice taste of snow taken a day before.
The day started very bad: I didn't found my keys, I got late, I got a speeding ticket from the police :( because of a F%&#@&# rally, the weather looked bad and the snow was VERY icy after many hours of rain (instead of snow) the night before.

So, in the morning I have remained on "Bradul" with my "students" Carmen and Bogdan which this time they were moving very nice with the skis and with the board respectivelly. They'we made an impressive progress in just one week ! I have tried different stances on my board: "fakie" is still to be learned, while "duck" stance looked soo easy that almost all the day I have rided in "duck", until I got pain in my knees.

On "Bradul" I had the opportunity to shoot some Jumps of Marius and others...





An noon we have moved up in the mountain, where the snow was softer now, for more jump sessions.



"Postavarul" peak above 1799m.

Milu and Thekla have joined us again this day !

In the evening another jump sesion on Bradul. But not before testing for the first time in my life the ski boards, just one week after the world championships. They are very easy to master, specially if you know how to ski or how to skate. Thanks a lot to Marius for this opportunity !