Landgraaf, Netherlands

I feel like I’m snowboarding at the roller rink; the air inside isn’t much better either. It’s definitely cool, but a little wacky. I can’t really put my finger on it. Part of me loves the fact that we’re in a totally flat country that never receives snow and we’re riding our snowboards, and part of me feels this is a disco ball-spinnin’, hockey smelling nightmare that reminds me of my days at the Bend Roller Rink, wishing only that they’d play a slow song and line the girls on one side and they guys on the other, so we could match-up.When I first looked at the indoor hill from the bottom in my street shoes, I thought to myself, “This isn’t as flat as I thought.” That notion changed quickly as soon as I pointed my board downhill and realized there really wasn’t much of a decline. Don’t get me wrong, I think it probably is a good thing for our sport. There’s more media here than any of our other World Cups this season, and probably second only to the Olympics in exposure. The Snowworld Complex is insane too. Along with maintaining the longest indoor piste in Europe Snowworld hosts an indoor halfpipe, and the most insane gym and spa I’ve seen in Europe. You can ride for a few hours then wreck yourself in the gym and warm up in the spa afterwards.You have to be impressed that all this is possible, but honestly I’ll take grabbing the start handles, taking in a deep breath of fresh air and a mountain view, before pulling out of the start any day over staring into rafters and breathing a yellow fog before racing. That being said I’m riding fast and would love to win here! Enjoy the pics. courtesy of our head coach Peter Foley! I’ll keep ya posted on results from Snowworld in Landgraaf, Netherlands!CK