Marco Feichtner checked in with us and shot us some pics of a recent surf trip to Portugal. OK, while I don't see any waves in the pics whatsoever, I'm sure there much have been a swell that came through at one time or another. In any case -- as expected -- Fichtl and the snowboard crew had a killer time with plenty of smiles. Ya gotta love that.

Here's what Fichtl had to say:

hi friends!

how are you doing?! short update!

i'am back from my trip to portugal with the mbm crew! it was a nice trip:  surf was on (the washing machine was on too) - tuff sport! see you soon ocean!
all the best!

marco

Melissa Presslaber is one adventurous freeskier. She recently sent us some amazing photographer of some back country Arlberg action this past season. With terrain like that, I'm sure she was happy to have her back protector strapped on.

We recently caught up with her and asked her a bunch of questions. Here's what she said.

Hometown: Innsbruck/AUSTRIA

Birthdate: 19th June 1980

Quickname: Mel?

Website: http://meltirol.wordpress.com

Best Results:

• 3rd place 3* FWQ El Dorado Andorra 2011, ANDORRA
• 1st place Nature Ride Brand 2008, AUT
• 1st place Quali Snowfever Fieberbrunn 2008, AUT
• 3rd place Nissan Freeride Montafon 2008, AUT (Freeride World Tour Qualifier)
• 4th place Freeride Challenge Schruns 2008, AUT (FWQ)
• 1st place Weißer Rausch St. Anton 2007, AUT
• 1st place Freeride Challenge St. Anton 2007, AUT
• 13th place Skandinavian Bigmountain Championships, Riksgränsen 2007, SWE

About Me:  I love life, nature & mountains and I’ve been skiing since I can remember. In summer I’m out downhill biking and rock climbing, in winter my great passion is freeriding.
In winter 2009/10, I went with five other European freeride girls on a road trip through the Alps. Our journey has been captured on camera and the first Girls ski movie of the Alps "As we are" came out... It has been a great success and my goal is to inspire especially the girls to take up the freeride sport, to motivate them going out and having fun!!"

Films or Publicity Coverage: AS WE ARE – a girls ski movie

Something you think everyone should try in their lifetime: Skiing ?

Age you learned to Shred: 2 ½ years

Craziest Dream: I believe I can fly …

What excites you: Powder, friends, happy people, sunshine ?

Other (anything else to say?): Enjoy life ?

If you're going for it on the mountain, you better take some sensible precautions. Just take a look at this spectacular ski crashes video of carnage!

Balls-out.

Turns out that Marco tweaked his neck on after slamming hard on a massive jump. Actually, this pic was taken moments before the fateful impact. Yeah, his back was spared, but what can you do about whiplash besides not hit ramps like this in the first place?

Fichtl Salivating to Hit that Honker (photo >> stefan schnappberger)

In the end, it's not about IF accidents happen, but WHEN. And when they do -- I don't know about you -- I want to be reasonably protected.

Well, all good things come to an end, and it looks like Marco Feichtner (aka Fichtl) may have had his last day of powder for this season. He was out shooting pics on this killer powder day with Gigi, Björn, Ludsch and Flo, when he got bitten by a landing and twister his shoulder again. He reports that he'll have to spend a good amount of days resting and recuperating.

Check out the sweet pics... he didn't disclose where this is, but I want to go!

Austrian flow master Wolle Nyvelt recently checked-in and told us of the not-so-great news that he tweaked his knee while out on assignment. Pain intense and fearing the worst, Wolle set out to check with a knee specialist.

Much to his surprise, he was told he did not require year-ending surgery, but instead there was enough left of his ligaments to go straight in to rehab. That means, rather than spend 9 months sidelined, he's out only 6-8 weeks. Already looking forward to get on the ride, he's looking to hit it in the summer time already.

I wonder what he's doing right now... maybe popping in videos like this one, reminiscing what it was like to have his body in one piece...

More Snowboarding Videos

I've seen a lot of snowboard and ski action flicks, but this one seems to have something extra special about the cinematography and editing. There's something pretty  damn slick about. Looking forward to seeing the first of 3 installments coming this Fall. Slytech's very own Lisa will no doubt put out some jaw-dropping action. Ohhh yeah...

***UPDATE***
Yale wins the Burton Creative Use of Space Contest! He's $25G's richer and super stoked after a year of showing off his creativity and style. For more details, check it: http://www.minispace.com/en_us/article/burton_cuso_announcement/535/

Congratulations, Yale!

Burton and Mini (Cooper) have put on a contest to see who is most innovative snowboarder at the Burton Tour Stops... Slytech Athlete Yale Cousino is a finalist. If you go and vote for him, you have the chance to win an all-expense paid trip for 4 PEEPS to either New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada or the USA.

Head on over to Mini's Facebook page, LIKE them and then click the LIKE button under Yale's Youtube Video. Word!

>> http://www.facebook.com/MINI?sk=app_182119388479610

Click the Image to Get to Mini's Facebook Page

Slytech's list of athlete's we're sponsoring keeps growing. Welcome Rob Heule from Alberta Canada to the team! Flowin, growin and showin his jibbin' skills in Calgary's Canada Olympic Park...

Here are some more stats on Rob:

• My Sport: Freeskiing

• Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

• Birthdate: 09/04/1991

• Website: http://www.vimeo.com/user483419

• Best Results/ Media Coverage: 1^st Place- World Ski Invitational- Super Hit (Halfpipe), SBC Skier Magazine- Radar Section, Joystick- Hot Lunch (Ski Film)

• About Me (provide a bio): My name is Rob Heule, I’m 19 years old. I have fun in all aspects of skiing; mountains, to halfpipes, to skiing in the streets, I love it all.

• Films or Publicity Coverage: check out this years Voleurz film

• Something you think everyone should try in their lifetime: Shredding powder

• Age you learned to Shred: My mom and dad would take me to the hill in a backpack before I could walk and take me down on their backs. When I was 2 years old, I got sick of that and strapped on my own skis, and have been shreddin’ ever since!

• Craziest Dream: A city full of snow

• What excites you: People that express themselves through a sport. I am very influenced/excited watching people skateboard, snowboard, surf, ski. All these sports are very similar. You can share a lot of ideas from one another.

• Other (anything else to say?): Don’t take skiing too seriously, its meant to be fun! Go shred and be yourself.

Man, technology sure has come a long way. Smartphones, iPads, reverse camber skis, carbon, 2nd Skin Memory Foam, and portable video with GPS...

Marcus Caston gives the Contour helmet-cam a go with this session at Snowbird at which he hit 82 mph on skis. Holy crap... can that be right?