The crowds came out in warmer weather than expected. Last year we were here it was full on winter, and this time there were no funny furry tank driver hats, but they were still drinking lots of vodka! It’s really fun to do these shows in Russia towards the end of the season. After all my practicing and touring around the USA and Canada, it’s refreshing to still see excited and happy faces. We did two shows that went off well, but there was some trouble on the horizon brewing, literally.

As anyone who hasn’t had their head in a hole knows by now, Iceland had a major volcanic eruption this weekend, and the resulting ash cloud has put a serious dent in European travelers plans, myself included. There are worse things than being stranded in Europe, but hanging out in airports gets old after awhile. Regardless of how frustrated I was, I knew there were thousands of other people trying to get home as well, so I relaxed and had a beer.

I would also like to thank everyone who asked questions on Facebook. I have copied and pasted the answers below.

What mods do you guys do to your sleds so they are ready for freestyle?

I usually put a skidoo mod engine kit on my sled. I also put on a freestyle seat, Fly mini-moto bend handlebars and a Fly 3 inch handlebar riser.

How hard was it to become what you are today? And what are some of the things you did to get where you are?

It was a lot of work there were a lot of years were I had a lot of fun but there was no money and it was very hard for me to pay my bills. I practiced and I love what I do so i just kept working hard and keeping my eyes on the main goal.. winning Winter X games.

How did you start sledstyle and how often do you hurt yourself doing it?

I started because I wanted to be a freestyle motocrosser but I couldn’t make the cut when I was younger. I have been hurt a bunch I broke my left leg tibia and fibula three times. My left ankle three times, dislocated my right elbow and shoulder, broke my jaw, broke my right heal, broke my back, collapsed my lung, and broke three ribs.

What is it like the very first time you hit the ramp? What should I start first, freestyle fmx or snowmobile?

I was really scared to hit the ramp the first time because there had only been three other people in front of me and they all crashed… I started on my bike doing tricks, it was easier to find jumps than ramps at first.

Are you filming for Slednecks 13?

We filmed some in Idaho for X Games and are going to be working more this season on my segment.

02/06/10

I hear people say “We’re not in Kansas anymore” all the time and never really understood what it meant until tonight. The people here are amazing and welcome you in like family and that is exactly what they did tonight at the Intrust Bank Arena for the Gravity Slasher FMX riders. Julian Dusseau kicked things off for us looking to make a second straight trip to the finals from the pole position. He put together a solid run that included a flip nac but was only able to muster an 83.9. They next guy out was Nick “Six Guns” Dunne and as always he played to the crowd, drilling an excellent back flip combo and his signature trick the Captain Morgan in his opening run earning himself a spot in the finals with an 88.7. Keith Sayers wound up the folks at the Intrust Bank arena next and added a nac flip to his run as he keeps making progress coming back from an injury sustained early in the season. He scored an 84.5 and thanked the crowd for their rousing ovation. Derek Burlew rolled out smoothly next and made a full lap before heading to the top of the double landing ramp for a little one on one time with the crowd. They gave him a big yell and that was no doubt part of what helped him on his superb run that included a candy bar to saran wrap combo and an 88.3 which was good enough for the last transfer spot to the finals. Shawn Connors looked much more rested tonight and went big on his dead body, showing the folks in Wichita what the east coast rider was capable of. The “Redneck’s” 84.3 wasn’t enough to get him into the finals but he had a huge smile plastered on his face and gave props to his fellow riders for being so talented.
The second set of qualifiers kicked off with the high flying Rich Kearns and he looked comfortable in the saddle ripping off a codova and a one handed back flip. His 85.0 was a little short of the mark for the finals but you can see Rich getting back to form and he will be a force the rest of the way. The very cool and collected Drake McElroy made his way to the floor and showed off his smooth style for all 60 seconds. He didn’t advance to the finals but the crowd didn’t seem to mind as they gave him as big a cheer as anyone for his phenomenal whip nac. Dustin Nowak fired his big throaty four-stroke up next and flipped, whipped and stretched his way to an 88.5 and the third qualifying spot for the Alefs Harley Davidson finals. The Big Man himself Greg Hartman rode out to the Man in Black and unfurled his 6’4” frame for a super flip and a two hand look back Hart attack, but was only able to score an 88.2 which left him on the outside looking in. Brody Wilson was our final qualifier and he breezed into the final with a series of flip tricks and a Rock Solid that was out of this world. His 90.4 was the top number from the prelims and had him in the Cat Bird seat heading into the 80 second set.

Following intermission we brought back the four riders from Friday nights’ show for a rematch in the whip contest to be judged by the crowd. Wilson and Dunne put up some big air, but the contest tonight was between Drake McElroy and Derek Burlew. DMC tossed out his patented whip nac and the crowd ate it up, but Burlew had the last laugh with a near upside down whip. He also went to the left with everyone else going right and I think that tipped the scales in his favor as he regained the Whip title for the week.

Our Alefs Harley Davidson finals were led off by Derek Burlew fresh off his whip win and he carried that energy to an 88 even. McElroy eased out next and even though he threw in the guitar hero lazy boy he was unable to replace DB atop the leader board, because he was only able to garner an 87.7 from the judges. Nick Dunne had his run dialed until his final trip to the tunnel where he had a little trouble making a clean turn and had to short his run by one trick. He did enough to get in front of Burlew by scoring an 88.3, but with Brody Wilson waiting in the wings that didn’t look like it was going to be enough. Turns out he was right to be worried with “Bro D” pilling up the big tricks including a Holy Grab they had him suspended in the air for what seemed like an eternity. Wilson came to the landing ramp for his interview and was smiling ear to ear knowing he put together a great run. The folks deciding on the score agreed and gave him the win with a 91.8.

Before the encore we called X-Games Gold Medalist Heath Frisby to the floor on his Ski-Doo rocket sled to show the fans in Kansas what the top dog on snow looks like. He brought along a couple of friends in the form or Keith Sayers and Nick Dunne and they hit the ramp three times in unison. The first jump was a dead sailor for all three, followed by a triple up of super cans and the last trip was a flip sandwich with two bikes on the outside and Frisby in the middle. It was an awesome sight and the crowd erupted in the loudest screams of the night.

As the bikes took their final laps and soaked up all the good karma in the building it was obvious the Gravity Slashers left their mark on the Intrust Bank Arena and all the great people in Wichita. We look forward to seeing everyone when we get to a town near you. We will be in Little Rock Arkansas next week so pick up you tickets and come see us. Like I always say, check us out on Facebook and make us your friends. Throw down a post and let us know what you are thinking, all the riders and crew read and post regularly.
- David Kinsley

It’s always good to get out and get in front of the camera but this one ended up being an interesting one. As I was ripping around a tree, a branch got jammed in my sleds throttle, unleashing everything she had into another tree. I ended up fine but did a number on the sled. Needless to say I have been tough on sleds this year and it’s only early Jan! Luckily, I was able to hop on my buddy Tobin’s sled. Thanks bro!

Now It’s back to Bozeman to kick it with the boys at SCS Unlimited and do some final training before X. Crunch time is here.

- Friz

Thanks to The Boston Foodie for the footage, I had a great time yesterday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M60UyVTxd90

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cglLJJ0Czo8

As some of you know I am in California for a few days escaping the cold of Montana. Driving around the L.A. area has been quite an experience for me, especially trying to figure out the different freeways etc. Good things are coming soon that I can’t quite talk about yet, but there are three new sponsors I will be working with. Between video, clothing and optics I will be styling going into Winter X.

Practice has been going really well, and thankfully I have nailed down some new variations on some solid tricks. I am looking forward to getting home and riding in some deep snow, not on the dirt! As the holiday season approaches I would like to bring up a sad subject, but one that everyone should pay attention to, avalanche safety.

Everyone has a snowmobile with plenty of power to get into and out of scary situations, and most riders wear beacons along with shovels and probes. Everyone should carry this equipment when heading out riding anywhere to be safe. Yesterday a good family friend of mine passed away in a avalanche while riding. Joel Barrie was 24, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, he will be missed. Please take a look at sites like Avalanche.org and take some safety classes.

Needless to say, my trip has been cut short and I am heading home. I would like to thank all my friends and family in this stressful time, as well as my sponsors like Red Bull for standing behind me. Have a safe weekend.

Heath

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
Hey guys so it’s a go, I’m shipping off to Boston! On new years eve Red Bull and SCS Productions will be putting on one hell of a show for you to bring in the new year. The event will take place at the Boston City Hall right in the heart of the city, so if you are anywhere close you better be there! Between this event, X Games and a ton of riding coming up in the next few months, should be pretty epic. Super stoked to head back east and get to put on a show like this in such a rad city. Until I see you in bean town here is a little teaser to get you drooling.

Late,
Friz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIqfwxmtV_A

Winter has arrived, the workouts are intensifying, and I am fully prepped and ready for the upcoming competition season. With temperatures here in Butte dipping below zero at night I have begun thinking about those blower powder days and the smell of two stroke fuel burning. I have been flipping and riding a ton this summer and fall and feel confident that my skills are in place  for the big show, Winter X.

I was looking through photos from last winter and thinking about what is to come from the winter ahead. One thing stuck in my mind from last winter, is our trip to Russia. The shows we performed behind the iron curtain with the SCS Crew were mind blowing. One of our close friends and sponsors, Montaqua Dave, not only produces the best tasting water in all the west, he also has written a nice little synopsis of our events in Russia. So thanks Dave, I wanted to share this piece with the fans to get everyone excited about our next trip to Europe!

Excerpt

Some people hibernate during the winter but others live to play in the snow. The SCS Sledstyle Crew does more than play, they continually push the sport of freestyle snowmobiling to new heights. Most winters are pretty crazy for these guys but the last 4 months might just top them all…

Anticipation for X Games 13 had been persistently building since the close of last year’s event. The SCS Crew trained and planned diligently for the last 12 months getting ready to show the world how their sport was evolving. The preparation intensified in December & January when a practice facility was built in Idaho and white powdery flakes began to fall.

Fanatic spectators ascended upon Aspen in record numbers for X Games 13 to watch the world’s greatest extreme athletes defy the laws of gravity. The SCS Crew was in full force building the sickest freestyle course in the competition’s history and then dominating the medal podiums. SCS’s founder, Steve Miller, engineered and built the course while SCS Riders Heath Frisby & Joe Parsons won medals.

The X Games had barely come to a close when Heath Frisby received a call from Travis Pastrana. With the SCS Sledstyle motorhome loaded with sleds & Montaqua, the group headed south to meet up with Travis & his zany crew of top action sport athletes. Frisby had been invited to Utah to personally coach Pastrana on flipping a snowmobile for the Nitro Circus show on MTV.

With that in mind, I plan on bringing you the best content I can generate this winter, whether it is through social media, my new HD helmet cam from Vholdr, or through photos from all my friends and fans. I will soon be going to California to train at the Red Bull Facility and will have some awesome footage to go with it. Thanks to everyone for their help, and let’s get ready to rock this winter and make some history!

Cheers

Friz

Yesterday was the long drive home from Winnipeg and I wanted to show off my new trailer. After all these trips around Canada for the New Rock Live Tour, I needed to pull it together and by a enclosed trailer to work and travel out of. It is insulated, fits all six sleds, and will soon be heated. Not to mention it is secure and locks! This will be mobile command during the X Games and other events this winter. I also threw down and bought a new truck a month or two ago since I will be traveling so much this year. 402hp makes towing a lot more fun!

Later

Friz