Mindful Monday: Winter Blues x Move!

I have to admit that I haven't worked out since weeks now, I think it's been two to three weeks. Why? Well, a big lack of motivation as well as uni-stress and being sick for a whole week weren't helpful. And how come that I've did it today? 

I've wanted to do something for my soul, being alive again since I had a 'depressive' week before. Being thoughtful is okay, but DON'T SUCK IN THE NEGATIVITY. MOVE AND TAKE ACTION. Knowing this didn't really help. I've told myself on and on: I'll do it tomorrow, but haven't done anything. So, I was struggling with motivation until I sat down and asked myself, what do you like about jogging? I love the feeling afterwards, having accomplished something, being able to push harder and just move on. I've pulled out my running gear, left it next to my bed, prepared for the next day and it helped me to remind me of 'Oh, I've wanted to go for a jog today, no excuses'.

During the jog I kept talking to myself: You can do it, just move and move and don't look back. Don't have judges, someone might pass you, but you don't know their background, they might be a marathon runner and you've just started. No judges, focus on yourself. Push yourself through it, you already know how it feels to finish. Speed doesn't matter, consistency is key!

And these words kept me running and moving on. I just LOVE what exercising does with me, those words wouldn't have such a big effect if I weren't exercising. Starting to jog back in the U.S. gave me so many life-lessons :) So, this wasn't it! I want to keep on doing, you can always start, but you have to keep on doing every single day. Do what you love and love what you do, more of it everyday! What about you? Do you exercise in Winter?

Tip: A friend just said: It's never too cold, there are just bad clothes. No excuses. So get yourself prepared for the winter months and buy some high quality winter gear!

Mindful Monday: Vision Board

 

I remember that one of my American friends from college suggested me to do a Vision Board. She said that she did one in class and told me how amazing it was to pull out this piece of paper after several years, and then realizing that most of the things have happened to her. This motivated me to make one as well. At the beginning of this year I sat down and pulled out all my fashion magazines to create a Vision Board. A collage of all things I've wanted to do or to achieve this year and as you can see I haven't finished since then. 

My thought was: Often you have ideas, dreams and goals, but you never write them down and then these ideas will pass away. This little thought or dream is then not real anymore, well, was it ever? Besides putting in words, it's far more easier to put your thoughts into pictures, actual visualizations. So, sit down, think of what you really want in life or for the next year and cut up bits and pieces which equal your dreams. Put your Vision Board away and maybe pull it out half a year later, it's super interesting to see whether or not these special events or 'dreams' occurred :)

My goals for this year 2013 were: 

Enjoying: Yes, I still try not to overwork myself and take time to really slow down and enjoy life. Beach: For now, the Baltic Seas it was. Still thinking of vacation though-Tenerife? :) Dancing until the rising of the sun: Check @Cookies Berlin during Fashion Week this summer. Eating healthy food: It's a process :) but doing good, I guess. Fit like never before (muscles instead of fat): Not the case, but won't give up on that aspect. My fittest year ever was the year in the US :)

Soul: Slow down, sit back, meditate. Working in Berlin turned out as an internship! Taking care of myself and drinking lots of water: still doing so. Having a romantic relationship: What a coincidence, but yes, indeed ♥ Yoga: Trying to incorporate as much as possible, but looking for a class to get deeper into it. 

And as of now, almost at the end of this year I'm thinking: Yes, this is still such a great year and I've almost achieved everything I've wanted to :) The idea of a Vision Board works wonder, don't know how but I believe that once you write or sketch it down, you visualize yourself doing something, and then it becomes reality! Next year is coming up, so sit down and make your next Vision Board ;-)

Movie Review: Let it ride with Craig Kelly

The German all Girls Boarding Magazine Golden Ride had a raffle these days for the Heroes by Nature series by Red Bull, in which they show extreme sports movies (once a month in more than 40 cinemas throughout Europe). This month it was all about Snowboarding and yes, I was lucky enough to win some tickets :) 

Never heard of Craig Kelly and the movie 'Let it ride' before, I was really curious about it. It's a 90min. movie, in which they display the history of snowboarding and how the ProSnowboarder has shaped this sport. The producer Jacques Russo combined film materials with interviews from Kelly and his friends and family, so this movie is really personal and makes you think about this sport with its risks and competitions. It was released in 2006 and since then has influenced many snowboarders and leaders to come.

In this movie you'll also get an insight of how the industry has changed: the rivalry between Burton Snowboards and Sims Snowboards, from Slalom riding to Halfpipes (Contests) and back to Freeriding in the Backcountry. Furthermore you'll see what snowboarding is actually about. 

The pure fun of powder and the journey to freedom.            

                                                                                                                                             

The 2nd movie that night was 'Peace Park' by Burton with the present Team Riders. After Peace Pipe in 2012, they created a Peace Park in Lake Tahoe between Nevada and California and wanted the riders to be creative. It was just fun watching them and omg, there was a 13-year old in between!!! Check out the trailers and get inspired! 
Cannot wait until my very first snow-experience :)

Recap: How would you style to a Longboard Contest?

Melanie Golz from Cologne,  1st in the Women's category of the Eurodance. Washed Jeans, T-Shirt, skated-off sneakers: 

Perfect way!

Guleed Yussuf from the Netherlands, awesome style in skating and fashion! How to describe in one word?

Unique.

 Lotfi Lamaali from France and Esther Suave from Berlin, being serious and childish! What's that? 

Authentic and skaters by heart.

 Are you ready for Peter Markgraf from Berlin, 

the skate-pirate? Arrrr :)

Just don't give a fuck and have fun =D OR go all into it and create your own style, be it sporty or extraordinary. Found these shots from the Eurpean Longboard Dance Contest 2013 back in August, maybe I can do some more style shots at future contests, would interest me how 'longboarders' style themselves ;-)

Best of Berlin: Sports

Feeling alive, being active, love, passion, soul.

Bouldering at Ostbloc Berlin

One week ago, my friends took me to a Climbing, bouldering place in Berlin. They wanted to show me one of their hobbies and I have to say: OMG! It was sooooooooooo much fun :) Haha, first I was really afraid of the height but after managing the easiest routes, I really wanted to go further and do the next step. The colours of the stones on the wall have different meanings, so yellow would be the easiest one and then blue, red and green. I tried to do one blue route and it took me awhile.

This sport was so much fun and it's so aesthetic! People there are all looking good and are so much in shape! I was kinda, sorta jealous =D but anyways, I think it's not about looking good but more of having fun with friends and people showing one another how to improve their techniques. At the end I tried and tried, but didn't reach the last stone, still, I was super proud of myself that I tried the next colour, which was more challenging. I hope that I can do this at home as well :) 

Trying out new sports is so exciting, especially when you have that high of doing better the more you try! It was like: Oh my, I really want to reach the last stone, achieving my goals and stuff but sometimes not achieving your goal is okay, too. You just have to admit that you're not strong enough, YET :)

What sports did you try out and want to do more often?

1st European Longboard Dance Championship

What a wonderful weekend full of new impressions, Europe's best dancers, amazing people and so much passion and love behind it. When Fränky, the owner of the longboard shop Funky Summer Berlin, came up with the Eurodance and that he still needed helpers, of course I was all in. I was very much looking forward to this event and I was curious about the international skaters and the atmosphere.

Everyone already met up on friday night  for the Eurodance Beachparty just to get to know each other a little bit. We took the usual route like tuesdays and headed to a beachlike area. This was a BBQ and Chill Out thing, so after taking a few pictures and hanging out with the ten-year old super sweet Johanna and her family I shortly left.

Saturdays, the first day of the competition, I arrived around 1pm at the Velodrom Berlin and everything just has started. There were three categories: Men, women and kids until the age of 15. That day the competitors had two rounds to earn points and then to qualify themselves for the finale the next day. I would say that there were about 50 men (+/-), exactly 14 women and two boys. Skaters and longboard friends came from France, the Netherlands and other countries. I was just super excited to meet some internationals and to see what Europe has to offer in the longboard scene. Everyone showed off his talents and tricks. Towards the evening, we removed the bar and helped cleaning, the participants had the chance to take a shower and then come back for the 'aftershowparty'. It wasn't a party, it was more of a: everyone can do whatever she/he wants, be it skating or paddling with your board like surfboards (what my friend and I did >>so much fun, though!!!) or just sitting together and enjoying some acoustic music from Loaded ambassador Lotfi Lamaali.

On sunday, after this lovely night of singing and playing, I had to get up early for my morning shift. Haha, arriving there, there were exactly two people waiting. One of the judges and a french participant. I was like: Okay, where is Fränky? Shouldn't he be here to prepare everything so the participants can start at 10? Well, whatever, he arrived an hour later and we started by noon :) That day the competitors had another round to earn points. In the afternoon the judges counted these and the finale was set. 16 men, 8 women and the two kids made it into it.

 

Peter Markgraf, the skate pirate.

Lotfi Lamaali.

Femke Bosma from Utrecht.

Melanie Golz from Cologne.

Loaded Ambassador Laurent Perigault from France.

The finale started with the kids, and Simon the eleven-year old was actually the only one attending, but just before the contest started another boy came up: Konrad. From now on, it wasn't counting points anymore, it was just the battle between the competitors. It was about flow, technique and combos.

The girls competed until the judges decided for the finalists: Femke and Melanie. Among the men Lotfi and Jeff made it into the end. Due to rain and bad weather forecasts, we had to interrupt the contest and changed the spot of the finale. We went downstairs to the roofed spots and I have to say, it was actually more fun, more exciting and more thrilling.

The girls started and oh my gosh, you had to see Melanie, she was really stunning and super stoked in her element. I hope I'll find a video of her! Femke was also really really good, considering that she's only 15 and she made it into the European's best two! I cannot imagine how good she'll become when she's my age. Melanie danced backwards, jumped around and landed most of her tricks, which brought her the title European's best female Longboard dancer!!!

Jeff Ellis.

Lotfi and Jeff had another super interesting race. The french Loaded ambassador showed his signature tricks like the 'propeller' and jumped over a stick making a full twist. That was just amazing! Unfortunately I have to admit that I did not show as much attention to the other contestant Jeff, but watching him now and then was so much fun. I think he showed way more variety, which is why he nailed it and won the competition.

Jeff, Melanie, Konrad and all the others, you were superdupermega stunning! Congratulations about the titles and for showing your talents!

fränky and Lotfi Lamaali.

Furthermore I want to thank every single one who came to watch, to dance, to skate, to just hang around, to help, to organize, to drive and to make this crazy, lovely, warm, exciting, fun event happen. 

I was totally stoked by the tricks and passion the dancers put into their work, but I think that this wasn't about work or hard training, it was more about having fun, dancing and just being there to meet this longboard community. And YES, these people can really dance their names! Now, I'm super motivated to skate more often and to just enjoy this community, which has opened up. It's like: WOW, there's a whole new world to explore and everything just happened by sharing a hobby, a passion, a love for skating and dancing. 

Stay tuned for more impressions of the last weekend's event and a lovely interview with one of the most amazing people I've ever met. So get out there and go skating!

Love,
 

Minh