Seasonaire Advice: What Is It Like To Do A Ski Season In Australia?

This is what skiing in Australia looks like - they have snow!

When you tell people in the UK that you are off to do a ski season in Australia, most of them will look at you blankly. "They have snow in Australia?!" Yep, they have snow in Australia. 

After a 21 hour flight to Sydney, followed by a one hour flight to Canberra and a two hour bus to Jindabyne, I finally found myself in the Snowy Mountains in Australia. Except it wasn't snowy at all. It was a balmy 10 degrees as I lugged my heavy snowboard bag and two backpacks down the street to our new flat.

The next morning I finally got the chance to explore.

Waking up here sounds like waking up with Jurassic Park outside. The birds don't sound anything like home. They don't have wood pigeons or sparrows here. Instead they have red-breasted pigeons and colourful blue parrots. The most bizarre bird is one that looks like a black crow but sounds like a 1980s robot. Or maybe an old school internet start-up connection.

THE SKI RESORT - PERISHER

View from the top of Mount Perisher

We live in Jindabyne. Unlike Europe, you can't walk to the ski lifts here. The resort, Perisher, is a good 40 minute journey from door to door.

It's a 20 minute drive to Bullock's Flat, a big theme-park sized car park, then a 10 minute ride in the Ski Tube (an old fashioned train - rather like the metro system in Munich) up to Perisher Village.

That's if you've got a car (more on that below). Otherwise you're hiking to the hitching spot or waiting to shotgun a seat in your kind flatmate's car.

The road up to Perisher is through barren fields, rolling hills with cows grazing and a lot of roadkill. "I've seen more dead kangaroos than live ones," says Ed on our first journey up. If you keep your eyes peeled, you'll see live ones. They are often bent over, eating, either at dawn or dusk. Sometimes they venture onto the piste - like this one at Smiggins Hole last week.
 

How To Not Lose Your Buzz After Your First Week Back On Your Snowboard
 

When you've finally managed to get up the mountain, you'll get to Perisher Village. There's a handful of hotels, some staff accommodation and a few restaurants that are mainly open during the day - plus lots of tourists - but very few people actually live up here. Most live in Jindabyne.

With 133 runs and 47 lifts, Perisher is the biggest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere. The terrain is more like the Lake District than the French Alps. Think rolling green hills and gum trees (eucalyptus trees) than towering alpine peaks and pine trees. It's very unintimidating terrain which makes it a perfect resort for beginners. 

The best hot chocolate in the world, served up at the mid-station cafe near Front Valley. It's even got a TimTam on top!

And there are a LOT of beginners. "There are so many more kooks here than there are in Europe," groaned Ed as he battled his way off the chairlift beside two snowboarders who could barely stand upright. He's right.

As you look down the main slope in Perisher called Front Valley, it's a sea of people skidding into each other and face-planting in the snow. Some take lessons, but many just grab a snowboard and head up the hill without a clue what they are doing. The most terrifying part of the day is crossing back across Front Valley on the home run, palming off any out-of-control beginners.

Your best bet is to escape Front Valley as quickly as possible and either head over to Mount Perisher where there's some nice steep off-piste to lap near the Eyre T-Bar or over through Pretty Valley to the Interceptor Chair. Blue Cow is also pretty nice - it can get busy on the weekends but we had some weekdays when the snow was really good condition and the lifts were empty.
 

Is This The Best Place To Work In The World?
 

The standard of park riding here is pretty high - even little 10 year-old kids are throwing down 900s off the big kickers. There are a few different parks - from the mini park with baby kickers for wimps (like me) next to the Piper T Bar to the monster park on Front Valley with big 35ft+ kickers and nowhere to hide from the public if you stack it hard.

Like any ski resort, holiday weeks are BUSY. The main holidays are from the beginning of July for three weeks, so expect long lift queues and plenty of people driving cars around town with chains on (despite there being zero snow on the roads).

You'll see a lot of balaclava wearing, skinny pant clad, hipster park rat seasonaires and Sydney parents shepherding their children up the mountain every weekend for race training in the hope they'll become the next Torah Bright. Oh and lots of Japanese tourists in jeans playing in the snow.

Sunny days up at Blue Cow

THE SNOW CONDITIONS

They get snow here, but obviously not like the French Alps. You have to appreciate Perisher for what it is. When the sun is shining and there's fresh snow underfoot, it's really good fun. There's tonnes of places to explore and mid-week, it's really easy to escape the crowds by moving away from Front Valley.

Last week a polar vortex blew up from Antarctica and 50cm dumped on Perisher overnight, the biggest snowfall in a decade according to local news. We aren't talking waist deep powder, but there was some really nice patches of good snow.

It can be very wet and windy - it's probably the windiest place I've ever been riding. You will find yourself riding on a lot of slush or ice (and occasionally mud. They just keep those runs open, even when the grass is poking through) but Perisher definitely get its hot, sunny, bluebird days too. Like I said, you've just got to appreciate Perisher for what it is.

THE TOWN - JINDABYNE

Pooh Bay, a corner of Lake Jindabyne next to where we live

Set on a huge lake at the edge of the Kosciuszko National Park, Jindabyne is a beautiful town. The lake really sets the tone for the town. When it’s wild and windy, white water waves froth across the surface. Other days it’s totally still, reflecting the surrounding forest like a mirror.

Jindabyne seems to have its own microclimate. When it's wild and wet up on Mount Perisher, it can be dry and sunny down in Jindabyne. Since I've been here, we've had more sunshine than rain. 

In town, there's a main shopping street with restaurants, cafes and many, many ski shops. The main shopping area Nugget’s Crossing is inexplicably styled like the a Wild West style town with faux and wooden carts as decoration. Woolworths isn't a large newsagent selling games and pic'n'mix sweets here - it's a major supermarket chain.

Birchwood Cafe - and a Green Machine juice - the new hipster cafe in town and it is great!

There’s a mix of modern and old fashioned shops that play songs you haven't heard in 15 years - like Pink and Savage Garden - dozens of ski shops, and a hipster coffee house which serves great coffee called Birchwood Cafe.

My favourite clothes shop is Ebony & Chrome - they have nice, non-skiwear and soy candles. I definitely want to try out the Mexican Cocina restaurant as well - they have a bar upstairs serving jalapeno and cucumber margaritas. For yoga, check out the lovely studio I work at - Jindabyne Yoga Shala.

Yoga at the Shala - how cool is that mural?

The street signs, the roads and the buildings are like America but the culture is like the UK. They have Yorkshire Tea and crumpets in the supermarket. Everyone is super friendly - and everyone knows everyone.

If you are stood for more than 10 seconds looking at map, I guarantee someone will offer you directions - and possibly offer you a Freddo. Yes the 10p chocolate bars. They love them here.

There’s one bus from Jindabyne to Canberra each day and that’s in the high season. In the low season, there are three buses a week. So it's not the best connected place on the planet, but hey, you'll only be here for three and a half months and the ocean is just a two hour drive away, so you could surf and snowboard all in the same day.

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE DOING A SKI SEASON AT PERISHER

YOU NEED A CAR

There's no public transport to get you from Jindabyne to the Ski Tube or Perisher. I know, it's mad. Most people buy cheap cars at the beginning of the season, often sharing between a household and getting a three-month insurance plan, then sell the car at the end of the season. Your other option is to hitchhike, which is surprisingly easy and safe, most people are just on their way up to the mountain.

THE POLICE ARE TOUGH

Don't speed in Jindabyne or they will fine you on the spot. Don't drive after you've had a heavy night on the town - there are regular random breathalyser tests on the road. Don't cut corners in the car park or you'll be fined as well. I've even heard there are undercover police on the slopes. You can't escape them. They don't take well to humour either, so best to stick by the rules unless you want to rinse your pay cheque on paying fines.

IT'S NOT CHEAP

Accommodation isn't cheap. I've heard of people paying around $200 (£115) per week for a shared room in staff accommodation. We lucked out (thanks to some savvy Aussie housemates) and we pay $150 (£86) per week each for a room as a couple in a three-bedroom flat with two bathrooms, a well-stocked kitchen plus washer/dryer, garden and view of the lake. 

The season pass isn't cheap either. It cost me $1900 for a 16 week season pass for Perisher including Ski Tube pass (which you can't really do without). You can get it cheaper if you buy before the season starts - the prices will go up without warning. I wish someone had told me this sooner and saved me $1000!

DON'T BOTHER WITH OFF-PISTE INSURANCE

I mean, most people don't anyway, but there is no point spending extra money on adding off-piste cover onto your ski insurance. There isn't really such thing as off-piste here. There are no piste markers, you can pretty much ski everywhere. The resort boundaries are clearly marked - and you won't be heading off there without a splitboard/touring skis anyway.

IT GETS REALLY COLD

This might sound stupid but just because it is Australia doesn't mean it's warm. It's often frosty here in the mornings and temperatures hover around 2 degrees on average.

The houses are pretty chilly - they aren't built for cold weather in the same way houses in the UK are. We've just got one plug-in heater per room and it's not quite enough to warm up a room. Bring extra layers as you'll be wearing all of them inside the house.

IT'S REALLY FUN

I've moaned about the snow, the lack of public transport and the fact they hand out free Freddos (that is nothing to complain about), I know, but it's a really fun place to come and do a winter season, especially if you are looking for a totally different experience to your European winter. 

Oh, and it's great for British ski instructors who want to come teach in their summer holidays (as long as you don't mind skipping summer, but let's be honest, you'll probably get more sunshine in winter here anyway).

Is It Ethical To Visit Aquariums In The UK?

Photo by Talia Cohen

 “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” – Mahatma Gandhi

Aquariums are beautiful places. Giant blue tanks filled with sharks, stingrays, turtles and technicolour shoals of fish. Crocodiles hide behind rocks. Deep sea fish flash with electrical currents in the darkness.

Everyone from toddlers to pensioners can appreciate the beauty of life under the sea. But do we really know what is going on behind the scenes of these aquariums?

In America, Sea World has faced major criticism in the past few years about its orca shows. This came after the release of the influential 2013 film Blackfish, which exposed the treatment of orcas in captivity. Attendance and revenue have declined since the release of the film.

It was a major breakthrough for animal activists, as it captured the attention of millions of people. People really began to talk about the issue and ask themselves whether they believed animals should be kept in captivity.

In the US, marine parks and aquariums are much bigger than we have here in the UK. Sea World is one such example. It features a large outdoor arena with daily whale shows. Georgia Aquarium has a 38,000 m3 tank (the largest in the western hemisphere) with four huge whale sharks inside.

Here in the UK, we have to ask ourselves – where do we stand when it comes to keeping aquatic animals in tanks?

Read the rest of this article on Mpora.com

6 Best Natural Aluminium-Free Deodorants For Sporty Women

I'm always on the hunt for a good natural deodorant. As someone who doesn't like the thought of spraying parabens and aluminium in her armpits, I made the switch to natural deodorants about five years ago.

But the problem with natural deodorants is they don't stop you sweating like anti-perspirants do. As a sporty, active woman, do I go for a natural deodorant but run the risk of smelling at the pub later? Or choose a well-known, sweat-preventing spray that's full of chemicals and aluminium?

After much testing and money spent (natural deodorants aren't cheap!) I've found one that works for me. I've spoken to a few other sporty women to see which are their favourite natural deodorant brands.

SALT OF THE EARTH - PURE AURA DEODORANT

Price: £5.99
Buy it from: Crystal Spring 

"I was feeling pretty uncomfortable about things after reading about parabens and chemicals being used to close to my lady lumps. Someone in a health food store recommended Salt Of The Earth to me. In my experience, it's pretty damn good.

It generally holds up through my (relatively) active lifestyle. I walk about 30 mins to work with a backpack and I find it as effective as a standard deodorant. It also has a dreamy smell - natural vanilla and lavender - which is so much nicer than typical deodorant smells.

The only times I find it doesn't quite cut the mustard is for high impact sports (but you'd shower afterwards anyway) and when there was a heatwave day and I was walking around a lot. But seeing as that happens five days of the year in England, I'm happy to stick with this one and take the risk!" - Hayley Bunn

Another friend, Beth Druce, also recommended Salt Of The Earth. "The original solid crystal version lasts for yonks. I've recently moved to the spray version for convenience as you have to wet the crystal one. It obviously doesn't stop you sweating but totally stops it smelling."

JASON CALMING LAVENDER DEODORANT STICK

Price: £4.99
Buy it from: Jason Natural Care

"My boyfriend and I use Jason Calming Lavender Deodorant Stick. We like it because it is a natural product with non-toxic ingredients. It's scented with real essential oils and doesn't stain our clothes/shirts, plus it keeps us both fresh until the end of the day" - Gandha Shanty

DR. ORGANIC MANUKA HONEY DEODORANT

Price: £5.79
Buy it from: Holland & Barrett

"I have tried dozens of natural deodorants over the years - and this is the only one I've found that works for me. As with all natural deodorants, it doesn't stop you sweating completely - but I've found it stops any odours during the day - whether I'm at work or heading to the gym. I really like the manuka honey smell." - Zoe Johnson

BIOSEN SENSITIVE DEODORANT SPRAY

Price: £2.50
Buy it from: Boots, Waitrose or Sainsburys

I like Bionsen because it's one of the few natural deodorants out there that come in spray form - I've never liked the feel of wet roll-on deodorants under my arms. This one is great because it's a very neutral smell, but really works well at stopping that horrible sweaty smell halfway through the day. It's also a bit cheaper than other natural deodorants on the market.

CRYSTAL ROCK DEODORANT

Price: £5.19
Buy it from: Amazon UK (I couldn't find the exact one Paula uses in the UK, but it can be found in the US here)

"I like the Crystal Rock cause it's made from natural minerals than are supposed to neutralise bacteria. I do a lot of sport and it works well enough to stop me from smelling all the time. Also the rock lasts forever - I probably don't even get through two a year!" - Paula Moss

Freelance Writer Confessions: This Is What It Is Really Like To Work Remotely

Photos by Cathryn Lavery and Lesly B. Juarez

I work from home. In lots of ways, it’s a pretty sweet deal. My commute to work is a three metre walk from my bedroom to the kitchen.

When I finish for the day, I’m already home. I don’t have to get dressed or do my hair to start work. I can squeeze in an hour of exercise before work - then after work go out to the cinema, cook dinner and meet some pals for drinks before bedtime.

"I spend 90 per cent of my time in pyjama bottoms with last night’s curry stain on them"

But working from home definitely has its downsides. I spend 90 per cent of my time in yoga leggings or pyjama bottoms with last night’s curry stain on them. I don’t see human beings all day. Unless you count Twitter and Skype Instant Messenger as human contact. As soon as my boyfriend comes home, I bombard him with questions.

“How was your day? What did you do? So I’ve been reading this article on avocados....This person said the funniest thing on Twitter. What are we having for dinner? Do you want to go for a walk before dinner? I might do some yoga before dinner and then cook... Have you spoken to so-and-so today?”

Errrrr... I have worn something other than my pyjamas for the last 72 hours. Promise. Photo: Bridget Jones' Diary

And this is all before he’s taken his coat and shoes off. The poor guy is dumbstruck while I spout word vomit because I’ve spent eight hours staring at a computer screen with no one to toss the ball of conversation with. He’s tired and ready to hit the sofa with a beer and an episode of Making A Murderer and I’m bouncing off the walls like an over-excited Jack Russell who needs entertaining.

Everyone says to me, “Oh you are so lucky to work from home”. And I know it’s true - but when I’m spending my fourth day in the same sweaty pants, it feels kinda… well, gross. Human contact is actually great. I like the office banter, the in-jokes, the small talk while making a cup of tea. Friday beers aren’t quite the same when you’re sat alone on your sofa.

So, what’s the answer? Well, I’m still trying to work it out. You get SO much more free time when you work from home. I can go snowshoeing for an hour before work with my friends, make poached eggs on toast and still be at my desk, ready to start work at 9am.

You don't get sunrise views like THAT before work when you're tied to an office in London. Photo: Amie Marsh

I wouldn’t want to give up that freedom to do more of the things I like doing - squeezing surf session in at lunchtime, a run after work before it’s dark, cooking some elaborate recipe that requires a lot of chopping. And I’m not exhausted all the time from a two hour commute.

But I miss people. So here are my top tips for surviving working from home:

PUT SOME CLOTHES ON, GIRL

While it’s tempting to just lounge around in your pyjamas (and then quickly hurry to get changed at 4.30pm so your boyfriend doesn’t think you are a lazy slob who lives in pyjamas) get dressed. Don’t wear tight skinny jeans, that’s just self-inflicted punishment. But wear proper clothes - you’ll feel all the better for it.

GET OUTSIDE BEFORE AND AFTER WORK

Again, it sounds dumb, but actually get outside. Exercise is great. Now you can stop putting it off because you’re “too tired after work” and actually force that butt out the front door. Exercise with friends is even better - you can get all that chatting done at the same time.

STICK THE RADIO ON

It’s like a faithful, intelligent friend when no one else is around.

Illustration: Gemma Correll

DO INDULGE YOUR SINGING VOICE

If you've got no one else to talk to, you might as well sing at the top of your lungs. After all, there's no one to tell you your voice sounds like a strangled cat. Everyone wins. 

FIND OTHER FREELANCERS & WORK TOGETHER

Although I've found this can go one of two ways.

Either you’ll team up with a work buddy, only to find they talk to themselves and it drives you insane. This is why you decided to work from home in the first place, right?

The other scenario is working with a good friend. However, inevitably you will end up chin-wagging about the EU referendum and the benefits of coconut oil for three hours, and before you know it, it’s 4pm and you’ve got none of your shit done. If you’ve managed to strike a good balance, let me know how.

BE GRATEFUL

How many of your friends get to work from bed when they are feeling hungover? None. So suck it up, quit your whining and remember how good you’ve got it!

Outdoor Women Shouldn't Worry About Their 'Thunder Thighs'. Here's Why...

It’s rare to hear a woman say her thighs are her favourite part of her body.

She might think her stomach is alright, her face fine but her thighs are rarely something she wants to shout about.

As a snowboarder, surfer and general outdoors lover, my thighs are big. Chunky even. They’ve always been this way. When I was a child, an Italian man told me my legs looked like a leg of ham. Literally, a fat leg of ham.

Last week, I was ploughing through fresh powder on the mountain, charging down the slope until my thighs ached, the last thing on my mind was whether my legs were going to bulge in my jeans tomorrow.

But that’s not always been the case. We recently came across this excellent article on Outdoor Women’s Alliance and it got us thinking about our own ‘thunder thighs’.

Read the rest of this article on Cooler Lifestyle.

Surf Travel Guide: Imsouane, Morocco

High tide in the harbour at Imsouane, Morocco

Going to Morocco is like travelling back in time. Life is lived at a much slower pace. The cities aren't crammed with towering skyscrapers. There's little phone signal and far less reliance on technology. People live off the land and the days are dictated by the tides and the sun.

Instead of heading to Taghazout, arguably the most popular surf destination in Morocco, we decided to stay in Imsouane, a tiny fishing village just one hour's drive south from the city of Essaouira.

Walking down to Cathedrals, Imsouane

There's very little in Imsouane, a few places to stay, a lively harbour and fish market which comes to life in the morning, a handful of shops selling bread and basics such as water and crisps. We stayed in an Airbnb recommended by Charlotte Howells, author of the blog Float Stories. 

It is simply marked off the dirt road by a sign saying CAMPING. It's a large campsite on the edge of Imsouane with surf cabins overlooking Cathedral Point, one of the two major surf breaks in town. It's called Ocean Point and you can book it from just £18 per night for two people.

View from our surf cabin overlooking Cathedrals, Imsouane

All of the cabins overlook the water - some are made from old converted fishing boats. There's a shared kitchen/dining area, a big shower block and a car park behind for vans to park up in.

The campsite is supposedly owned by a British ex-pro windsurfer who we never saw but lived up on a house in the hill and hired a friendly Moroccan guy called Akeem to run the place. It was amazing. Our days went like this...

Catching a nice wave at Cathedral Point, Imsouane

7AM Wake up, head to beach for a surf.

9AM Buy loaf of bread (which cost 8p!) to eat with eggs or Nutella for breakfast.

10AM Sit in the sunshine, chat to other folks at Camping. Read.

Overlooking Imsouane from Cathedral Point

2PM Stroll into town, eat lunch and drink sweet Moroccan tea by the harbour. Buy fish for dinner.

4PM Nap.

5PM Head down to catch the pushing tide. Surf.

Walking the pier in Imsouane (followed by the local stray dogs)

7PM Make our way back to camp. Cook our fresh fish with harissa, vegetables and couscous for dinner.

8PM Drink beer and play cards with the other guests.

10PM Bed. Repeat the next day.

Longboarding for days at Cathedral Point, Imsouane

THE SURF

There are two major surf spots at Imsouane - the Bay and Cathedral Point - with enough variety for beginners right up to advanced surfers.

The Bay is said to be the longest point break in Africa. It's seriously long - we spoke to a guy who rode the wave for 1 minute and 20 seconds. It's a longboarders' dream, a perfect right hander breaking just inside the harbour, creating a super mellow wave.

Courduroy lines coming in at the Bay, Imsouane

Even if you drift towards the beach, there's a second section halfway to the beach where the waves reform. It's a great place to sit if the line-up near the harbour wall is super crowded.

The beauty of the Bay is you don't even need to paddle out back. When you get noodle arms, just paddle in, walk around the bay and hop back in at the harbour wall and you're out back again. The dream.

Local surfer getting barrelled at Cathedral Point, Imsouane

Just watch out when the Taghazout crowds come to town - the water fills up with a lot of people that could do with a bit more surf etiquette guidance. 

Cathedrals is a faster point break to the north of town, opposite our campsite. It works best on a west/north-west swell. When the surf is tiny at the Bay, head round to Cathedrals and it's bound to have a ripple or two.

Cathedrals, Imsouane

There's another gnarlier reef break that only works at high tide when the surf is BIG. Needless to say, we didn't surf there - it's right in front of the town's main surf shops and cafes so everyone can watch the big wipeouts while drinking their tea.

If you've got a car, there are dozens of other surf breaks further down the coast - but if you're only around for a few days, there's more than enough to satisfy you in Imsouane.

We hired our surfboards from Ocean Vagabond in Essaouira. They had a really professional set-up on the beach and a good selection of boards to choose from (not just crappy foamies). It cost us around €80 per board for five days. 

There is a surf shop in Imsouane you can rent boards from, not sure what the selection is like there.

Two-eyed steak for tea in Imsouane

EAT

Let's just say the restaurants in Imsouane aren't exactly extensive. We mainly cooked in the campsite's kitchen - we did a big supermarket shop for all our meals before we left Essaouira in the big Carrefour. This was helpful because the groceries in Imsouane are limited and overpriced. 

We had one dinner out and it was delicious - at the Auberge Tasra hotel, just on the outskirts of town, right next to the campsite. A two course meal of soup and tagine (fish, meat or veg) plus two beers cost around £20 for both of us. Amazingly cheap. 

There's also a surf shack style cafe in town which serves paninis, pizza and Moroccan mint tea called Surf Pizza.

Sunrise over the harbour

DRINK

Morocco is a dry country, so there isn't much of a bar culture out there. You can buy alcohol in the supermarket, it's not cheap - about the same price as it is in the UK. There is a bar in the Auberge Tasra and it's nice, not crazy priced, plus they have pool tables to entertain you in the evenings.

Fish, fish and more fish at the market

REMEMBER

There's no cash point in Imsouane. The nearest is about 25km drive away, so make sure you get plenty of cash out before you leave Essaouira or the nearest main town.

There isn't many petrol stations down there either. Make sure you fill up when you see a legit filling station. We passed two guys who got some petrol off a guy selling it on the street - turned out it was unleaded rather than diesel and it totally messed up their engine.

That famous view of Imsouane harbour

Don't speed on the roads, particularly through towns. The police will fine you on the spot and won't be happy if you only have a Visa card on you - as some unlucky friends of ours found out.

Be respectful of the locals. We found everyone very friendly and accommodating. You don't get hassle like you do in big cities such as Marrakech. Just don't start stripping out of your wetsuit in front of the town mosque and you'll be alright.

New pals made back in Essaouira

As a woman in Morocco, I had no hassle but I was travelling with my boyfriend. It's a personal choice but if you want to avoid stares, I would say avoid tight, skimpy clothing and go for light baggy outfits instead.

Spend a day or two in Essaouira - it's only an hour away and it's pretty old market town with hammams, big hotels and lots of fresh seafood to eat.

We had the best time in Imsouane. Unlike other places in Morocco, we really felt like we escaped the crowds, surfed some amazingly long waves and met a whole bunch of excellent travellers from Sweden, France, America and beyond. Just get there quick before everyone else find's out.

The Bay at Imsouane looking mighty fine

Meet The Hawaiian Spearfisherwoman Who Swims With Great White Sharks & Bites Octopus’ Brains

Photo by Justin Turkowski

In 2013, Kimi Werner was on a shark research expedition in the middle of the ocean, but the group hadn’t spotted a single shark all day. As the day drew to a close, Kimi jumped in the water to go for a swim. Seconds later, she felt her dive partner grabbing her shoulder. She knew exactly what was behind her.

“I saw the head of the biggest great white shark I’ve ever seen about three feet away,” she says. Unprotected by a dive cage, Kimi knew she had two choices. She could try and out-swim the great white shark, kicking and screaming like in a Hollywood movie, or do the opposite and swim towards the shark. “So that’s what I did.”

As a professional freediver and spearfisherwoman, Kimi understands the importance of body language to marine animals. “As soon as she swam towards me, I knew I had to swim right back down towards her. It felt like a rhythm, like a dance.” By swimming towards the shark, Kimi communicated that she was a predator and therefore not on the menu today.

Read the full article on Mpora

Where Can You Go Scuba Diving With Turtles & Octopus In Europe?

Photo by Océano Sostenible

It’s silent as we glide through the water. Algae settling beneath us, fish swimming between us. Suddenly I feel a sharp tapping on my shoulder. My diving instructor David is pointing up towards the surface.

And then we see her, just a shadow at first until she swims deeper into the water. El Puertito, a sandy bay in Tenerife is home to four green turtles, a rare thing to see in the wild in Europe. We just met one of them.

The southern tip of Tenerife is traditionally known for parties and sunbathing, rather than getting up close with wild marine life.

So it was a pleasant surprise to find a group of scuba divers entirely dedicated to conserving the ocean at the heart of a tourist holiday resort.

“The turtle you met has swum all the way from America,” David tells me afterwards. “Turtles aren’t pack animals, so she will have travelled all that distance on her own.”

Read the rest of this article on Cooler Magazine

Snowboarding in Slovakia: Why Jasna Is The Ultimate Cheap Snowboarding Destination

“Bad weather today, isn’t it?” The receptionist has a grim expression on her face. We look outside. Snowflakes are falling thick and fast – thicker than we’ve seen all winter and we live in the French Alps. I nod in accordance, but there’s a smile on my face.

It’s not bad weather at all – at least not for snowboarders. Little did we know tomorrow was going to be the best powder day we would have all season.

Slovakia isn’t your regular choice of destination for a snowboarding holiday, but it is fast becoming a popular destination for Brits looking for fresh powder and cheap deals. Sandwiched between Austria, Ukraine and Poland, Slovakia is mostly made up of wilderness, thick forests and mountains.

Jasná Nízke Tatry, the country’s biggest ski resort, is nestled in the centre of the Tatras Mountains. It’s just two and a half hour’s flight from the UK and only a 30 minute drive from Poprad Airport.

Slovakia gets serious powder in the winter, thanks to its cold continental climate and it is really cheap for us Brits. Pints are around €1.20 and B&Bs can cost as little as €25 per night.

Read the full article on Mpora here

Ski Snacks: How To Make The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Snacks are essential for long days snowboarding. If I don't take something with me, I get very cranky as soon as hunger starts to hit (just ask my boyfriend - if he notices I've forgotten to eat breakfast, he will get very uneasy)

5 Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Everyday Items

When I was working at Cooler Magazine, we made these super simple, no bake, energy balls - and they are delicious! I make a batch of them most weeks, so we can take them up the mountain with us. 

They are perfect because they are small enough to fit in your pocket and it doesn't matter if you squish them. You can also take them with you when you go hiking, climbing or if you need a energy boost before you get in the surf.

How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls a Adventure video by Cooler

INGREDIENTS

Makes approximately 10 to 12 balls

• 1 bowl of rolled oats
• 2/3 of bowl of desiccated coconut
• 1/2 a bowl of organic peanut butter
• 1/2 a bowl of dark chocolate chips
• 1/3 of a bowl of honey
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Make sure the texture is not too dry or runny, otherwise the balls won’t be able to stick.

Let the mixture cool in the fridge for half an hour. Roll the mixture into balls in the palm of your hand. Pop a couple in tin foil, shove in your backpack ready to enjoy later!

ENJOYED THIS? READ MORE HERE...

What's It Like To Do A Ski Season In Australia?

Ski Snacks: Soft Melted Chocolate Chip Cookies