A chance Street Talk encounter introduced Toni Evans to a man who helped shape snowboarding's early years. Former professional freerider Raphael Bullet has ridden mountains around the world, but says New Zealand still offers his favourite snow. Toni Evans reports.
One of the unexpected joys of writing Street Talk is discovering what a remarkable mix of people we are here in Motueka.
A simple question, "If you could be a professional athlete, what sport would you choose and why?" led me to meet internationally-recognised freeride snowboarder Raphael Bullet, who now calls Motueka home.
When Raphael answered, "I was a professional athlete," it was impossible not to ask a few more questions.
Raphael was part of snowboarding's pioneering years, when the sport was still finding its place alongside traditional skiing. Snowboarding had a reputation as the rebellious newcomer to the mountain, and Raphael was a Big Mountain freerider, descending natural, ungroomed, often remote and steep terrain.
He spent 10 seasons in Switzerland and another in Austria, which he remembers for its outstanding organisation, reliable snow and fun vibe. He competed throughout Europe, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and Russia, and taught himself as a snowboard instructor, a role he was passionate about.
But what Raphael remembers most is not winning competitions.
"It was the camaraderie, and the respect," he says. "There were so few of us that everyone knew each other. There was genuine peace and friendship. We'd support each other right up until it was time to compete."
One memory still makes him smile. During an American event, competitors were flown to the top of a mountain only to discover there was no snow. The day was instead spent hanging out at the hotel.
Snowboarding has changed hugely since those early years. It is now an Olympic sport, with Big Mountain/Freeride set to make its Olympic debut in 2030.
Today, Raphael reconnects with the mountains through snow mountaineering. Yesterday he was climbing Mt Arthur/ Te Ao Wharepapa.
He parks close to a mountain, hikes beyond the snowline with his snowboard strapped to his back, then enjoys an untouched freeride back to the valley. Early spring is his favourite season, when ski fields have closed but longer days and great snow create perfect conditions for his chosen sport.
Raphael believes that New Zealand produces exceptional mountain athletes partly because of the challenging conditions they learn in.
He says, athletes who develop their skills in difficult terrain and unpredictable, changeable conditions, often using basic equipment, build resilience and adaptability.
"When NZ athletes reach more consistent and better conditions overseas, they're often very good - and sometimes, outstanding."
Like many elite athletes, Raphael has lived with injuries. Snow mountaineering has become an important part of his rehabilitation, teaching patience, caution and care.
He says that New Zealand offers something many northern hemisphere riders have never experienced: snow lying through native bush and rainforest.
"It's incredibly beautiful," he says. "My favourite snow anywhere."
