Lake Placid Log #5

It was my last day today. Brendan put me on a slightly steeper run, he wanted to see what happened. It was a blue run (Green being the easiest followed by blue then black). We realised that I work better on the steeper runs as I can feel the slope better under my feet. Also had Channel 9 present.

Overall had a great time at Lake Placid and would like to thank everybody who crossed our paths during our time there.

Lake Placid Log #4

End of day 3, had an interesting 2 hours on the slope as I was trying to avoid the different camera crew who were desperately trying to grab some footage of me coming down the slope in style however I was never standing long enough for this to happen. Channel 3 and 5 were present. Also I think I may have made it to the front page of the Lake Placid News!

Lake Placid Log #3

2nd day of training was really progressive, I began learning the ‘s’ turns. However, the best part was learning how to turn my board 360 degrees while coming down the slope. I tried this trick on one of the runs down and it worked beautifully up to the end where I lost control and ended up a foot away from the fence in about a foot of snow!

Lake Placid Log #2

First day of training has come to an end together with my freezing fingertips and I could swear my nose must have fallen off as I can't feel it any more! Obviously fell many times including one close encounter with a pole. Whiteface resort provided me Brendan, who is a qualified instructor and had a fantastic attitude to adapting his training methods for me. Whiteface also fully kitted me out with a snowboard, helmet and the worlds most comfortable snowboarding boots.

Lake Placid Log #1

In the car with Anthony and Doug driving from New York City to Lake Placid . Anthony is the kind camera man/ production man/comforting sage with a cool attitude. Doug is a marketing guru and an extreme sports junky with a funky car. I am the scared lad sitting in the back excited by the idea of November next year when I will be ready to exit a helicopter and snowboard down some of the most challenging terrain a snowboarder can ride.

Lake Placid New York

Since I will be in New York for business purposes in December, I will take the opportunity to begin my training. It will take place at Lake Placid (New York) on the 19th of December till the 22nd. This should be a lot of fun and consist mainly on my bottom!

Sponsors in New York

• The White Face Resort Lake Placid has provided complementary ski lift passes and access to an instructor for 4 days.
• The Hilton Lake Placid has kindly offered to provide accommodation for the 4 nights I will be there.

Welcome to "Feel The Edge"

"Thousands of survivors have still not been reached. Some communities have told Oxfam that they have already started digging graves before the earth is hardened by the winter. It is a race against the onset of appalling weather – but success is still possible if the relief operation is scaled up now."

My unusual fundraising quest to assist in the aftermath of the South Asia Earthquake is to snowboard down a mountain, taking a route that is accessible only by helicopter and traversable by the fittest, most experienced snowboarders in the world.

Though at this point I should mention that I’m not extremely ‘fit’ and when it comes to snowboarding ‘experience’ most of mine is on my bottom. Many would say I need years more experience to successfully negotiate this task. Perhaps even more extreme, is that the ultimate challenge is not just the snowboarding itself, but the fact that I am blind!

Nevertheless, a gruelling snowboarding schedule coupled with your support through donations and kind words will prepare me for the heliboard and reach our target of £50,000 which will be used immediately to prevent further people losing their homes and lives in South Asia.

Why?
According to officials, at least 73,000 people are feared dead in northern Pakistan and more than 1,300 in Indian Kashmir. The devastation affected 3.3 million people and left 2.5 million in ruined homes.

By choosing to take a small risk on a mountain, I am hoping to draw attention to the risks encountered everyday in the mountainous regions of Kashmir.

If we don't act now:
Due to the harsh landscape the approaching winter is already taking many lives and thousands are expected to die (please note, these deaths will not be from another earthquake but from the lack of funds from the international community).

How you can help?
Please Please do make a small donation even of £1 will help towards saving lives right now. And please continue sending me your comments and kind words: twistedkilt@hotmail.com.

I don't just want people thinking I am doing a great project, I want people to help save lives.

Online donation:
To donate please sponsor me online through http://www.justgiving.com/adil/. It's the most efficient way for me to raise funds for the charity appeal!!! If you are a UK taxpayer your donation will be increased by almost a third at no cost to you, please check the ‘gift aid’ box when donating!!!

Cheques (checks) donation:
Alternatively please send cheques (checks) payable to Adil Latif to:
Suite 13, 38 Queen Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom, G1 3DX

Who makes up DEC:
The 13 DEC member agencies are Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision. Visit www.dec.org.uk for more info.

What your money can buy:
£15 will buy 7 blankets
£42 will buy a family survival kit helping for at least 20 days
£90 will buy a winterised tent for a family
(£1 = roughly USA $1.73, up-to-date exchange rates can be found at www.xe.com)

A donation of any amount is appreciated.

(Please note, any money you donate on this site will not go towards my training. I am endeavouring to keep costs low by having companies offer their services and products for free or else paying for it myself!)

Training Schedule
Just to reassure you that I don’t have a death wish, I have found a competent, fellow Scottish, instructor who is registered with BASI and has offered to train with me for free! The only catch being that he is in France!