Stumbled upon Mike Benson and his snowboarding production company while surfin the net. The level of creativity put into these videos is obvious from the get go. That being said  I haven’t seen a snowboarding videos as creative as these in a long time, and it is truly refreshing to witness . There are far too many videos for me to post them all so here are the few that I thought were ultimately the best.

It’s been pouring since I woke up this morning. And Spencer has been on the move trying to find that content. He found this which is rad. It’s an episode from Tracking Eero which is pretty much no filler and all bangers. To learn more about this show go to www.trackingeero.com

Photo Courtesy of CtotheJL.com

Hemp is the original “green” material.  What’s better than hemp?  Purple hemp of course.  These kicks are hot!  Based on the popular Grasshopper model, the low top Mantis offers a removable support strap, vulcanized rubber sole and triple stiching in the toe and forefoot.  In need of new skate or casual sneaker than put these on your Christmas list.

Find a dealer at IPATH.com

Glorious Pam learns how to shred that pink mammoth box!

Playing in the snow

The city of Snowmass village is best known as the location of the Snowmass ski area the largest of the four nearby ski areas operated collectively as Aspen/Snowmass.  The four mountains include Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk.  The mountains usually open for snow activities in late November and stay open until mid April.  On average these areas see 300 days of sunshine per year, which is only one of the reasons over 70% of it’s visitors return.  During the summer the mountains keep alive by attracting visitors for camps, fishing, hiking, concerts and recreational paintball games.  If you’re looking for somewhere you can be active during the day and cuddle up next to a warm fire at night Snowmass village is the perfect vacation spot for you.

My distractions have led me away from the dreams I have sought to transform, and my attention span testifies to its betrayal. But really, they are mine, one and all, because I lead temporary passions by a short leash until I see another sparkling orb of the unfamiliar and choose to follow it instead. Positions in and around fate are constantly changing, and I am subject to them, losing places as often as I lose myself. Regret is a fictional parade, and moves nowhere.

The West pulls at my heart as magnetism pulls me east, and understanding of this phenomenon eludes me, as does Focus. As a tumultuous result, inspiration tosses me about in ragtime, but I seldom bite back, or chase it – or always. Disappointment is legion, and only intentional breath levels me. For lifetimes I have retained the irritating inability to voice what it is I want regardless of expectation. Priority is a façade, and reflects only the bonds of responsibility. These I will not abandon, for they are mine, and belong to me, like truth does. More importantly, it and they belong to those around me, and I can affect them. I will affect them, because I gave my Word, and I pretend that means something. Somewhere, it does. To someone, whom I may or may not know yet, it does.

Escape is mine, and we have been friends often – but I have escaped the things I love, for reasons I can detail sonically only to myself, and it is my wish to discontinue this pretension, this flight, this grand alighting I have made ceremonious. Impossibility does not exist, and walking on the sun taught me that, while standing on mountains, walking away from that lake underneath the cliff – remember that? I do, and I have banished that memory for its happiness, for its contentment, and I have disputed my deserving of that day. But it, too, is mine, and is yours, too, if you want it.

Winter beckons. The snow and cold calls, and my dreams feature those lost to me. I intend to find that Focus, though we have never encountered one another – and there is only one place it resides, and this location claims no borders on any map, is not kept by governments, not managed by corruption, unlimited. I am boundless and do not know it, or it is taken for granted, not appreciated, not loved, and this is irreverent, depraved.

Presently, I make no oath to the god of change, unless he is me, and I am him. Perhaps we are, and I do. This line of breadcrumbs and featureless terrains I have followed in hopes of some fortunate event ultimately befalling me ends here, now. Faultlines are now marked, I have been down that road, thinking it was the one less traveled, that my passion and patience would reward some sacrifice, and I was mistaken. And maybe I will be again, and again after that, but to learn is my ambition, to inspire my infinite hope, and I cannot achieve these without Truth, or the pursuit of it. My capabilities are limited only by doubt, counterfeit instinct.

And I’ll heed no more of that, if I can help it.

Despite having just written up a bunch of goals for the season, I had absolutely no goals set for the day besides get out onto the snow and getting back into the flow. I was carpooling, and I met up with two skiers under I-5 in downtown Seattle. It was pretty sketch, but it seemed like everyone was still passed out since it was an early Sunday morning (not the skiers…the homeless people that live under the freeway). If you are going to be leaving your car at a Seattle park and ride, I’d suggest meeting somewhere with less of a chance that you’ll get back to find a broken window and your car picked clean.

It was my first time in the Burton Emerald boots and I was super excited to try them out— I was hoping that they would be better than my beat-up snowboard boots I had been riding for years. The heel lift in the old boots was starting to get to me.

Forest Queen

In the morning, we kicked around the mountain. Not everything was open and there was some visible rocks, so we had to stay in the groomers. It was OK, but it wasn’t everything I was hoping for. I’ve ridden groomed trails for years and am so ready to move on. There are only so many ways you can ride down packed snow. Two hours in and I was wishing I had gone to Baker.

Then there were the moguls. Ugh. I don’t know about you, but I am not a fan. At all. Some people can ride them, like to ride them…I am not one of those people. (Actually, I’ve never met a snowboarder in person who liked moguls. Have you? I’ve only heard about them, but it seems like I’d sooner come across a unicorn.) I was talking about my mogul aversion on the lift ride up, and I was told that when I get better I’ll be able to go down them. Yeah, not so much.

Tinkerbell: The Bunny Hill

I was tired of riding the same runs over and over, so I sucked up my pride and hit up the bunny hill to work on riding switch. I just said hi to the lifties when I caught the chair, but what I really wanted to say was, “Really, I know how to ride–I can charge–I’m just practicing my switch.” But the chair took me up the hill before I had the chance.

It had been years since I had ridden switch and it was a little awkward. I gave a little nod to a couple at the top who looked cold and sore and irritated with each other and took off down the slight hill from the top of the lift. Turning heelside? Easy. Turning toeside? Mental freak out. Figuring out how to lift my edge so it didn’t catch and push back with my leg to initiate the turn was nearly impossible. It was like trying to write upside-down. I instantly felt bad for the couple at the top of the hill. This was also when I noticed some heel-lift in my boots. Nooo!

I did a couple laps, getting a teeny bit more comfortable. At least the snow was slushy and soft when I fell. Then I started to work on my 180s. They went OK, although I did manage to fall a couple times and one time I landed on my bum and I swear I could feel my brain shake in my head. Weird. I was starting to get them down, but I still want to work on getting more pop out of my ollies and doing a solid 180 degree turn, not just almost 180 and then ride out. After I had done ten laps practicing my 180’s it was raining and getting dark. I was wet, but pretty happy that I had a couple hours in on the bunny hill.

These past few days I’ve realized how truly lucky I am to have such

amazing people

in my life.

Thursday morning came like any other, except this time… my morning was greeted with a buzzing phone, flowing with happy birthday messages.  I was completely overwhelmed.

It’s been several years since I’ve really “partied” for my birthday. My friend, Ashley Longshaw, suggested doing a weekend in Banff for the big 2-6.

Right off the bat, this threw me right down memory lane.

I remember my first trip to Banff. I was 17, and I drove up by myself , 9 at night.  I rolled up to Banff Avenue.  The Aurora.  Instant nostalgia.  I’m convinced that place is like the fountain of youth for me.  Everytime I’m there, I’m instantly 18 again. As you can imagine, this can be a really great thing, but when i wake up in the morning, feeling like my head is in a vice….  I pull out my list of regrets and jot down “drinking like you’re 18 again”.

I decided to spend the next few birthdays driving up to banff with some of my closest buds, for a wild weekend of snowboarding, the aurora, and the Inns of Banff.  This lovely hotel has been the host for all my nights in Banff.  Good rates, great staff and we were only kicked out once. This was also the same year that my friend Ben ended up in the drunk tank, and we were tabogganing on dinner trays down a snowdrift off our balcony…. . The eviction was completely justified. We were reckless teenagers.

I’m pretty sure there was some feeble attempt at convincing the manager that we were going to smarten up.  There’s no doubt that this plead came from a 19 year old with a mickey of something fierce in hand. As much as we ticked them right off, they still let a few of us back in.  I’ll be a customer til the end of time.

20th Birthday was the last one I spent in Banff.  6 years later, I decided to reignite that wild crazy flame.

When i started to suggest the idea to some friends, the response was awesome.

Before I knew it, November 20th rolled around and we were en route to Sunshine for day 1.

Amazing Human Being…== the kid belo ==

Sunshine Village greeted us with tons of fresh snow, and sunny skies.

Think of…The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe… that scene when they step into the wardrobe, and enter a completely different universe that resembles this immaculate winter wonderland…

That’s what it feels like sometimes.

Calgary is deprived of any indication that it’s winter, so it’s a little mind blowing when you look West and see these frosty mountains in the distance.

Once you get past Banff, it’s like you’re passing this barricade.  Not only are you leaving a whole other season it seems, but you are also leaving the confines of every day life.  It’s funny how that works.  I’m not sure when it is… but I’m pretty sure it’s as soon as I jump off that gondola that I take the deepest breath ever, and this giant shit eating grin just takes over my face.

Why do I love being out here so much?  I can’t define it. I just go with it and love it.  It’s this incomprehensible feeling. Like I’ve won some sort of life lottery over and over.  It’s baffling.

The back door hike at Sunshine was undeniably one of the best hikes I’ve ever experienced only a few weeks into the season….

Hiking the Back Door…

Cha Ching!

Sometimes it’s torturous to have a perfect mountain view from my work.  Monday through Friday. There they are. With the odd exception of vacation days and flex days that I generally only take during the winter, I watch them.  The transition from September to November is unreal.  From a slate gray, to a crisp white… it would make any mountain  habitué a little green eyed.

One of the best perks of this lifestyle, is the Après-ski

photo by David Brunning

Post shot. NOT good.

Some other fantastic perks?

The amazing people.

I love it when I can talk to people who can relate to this feeling.  Getting all wide eyed like a kid in a candy store when you see all the fresh snow on the reports.  There’s this site called Untracked Guides, and it’s full of posts from other outdoor buffs who  love nothing more than a fresh line down the perfect snow covered glade.

I’m always watching these snowboard videos where these guys and girls are dropping into this powdery abyss, and it just makes me want to get out there and do the exact same.  Initially they started this site to compile bits for a guidebook.  That guidebook was successfully published and I highly recommend you pick one up…. Dream Season: Worldwide Guide To Heli & Cat Skiing/Boarding.  There is also the slightly updated version, The Untracked Guide to Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding.

Currently they are working on their second guidebook which is due to be released next fall. I love checking out their weekly Articles of the most current sweet spots to shred some new snow.  You can also peep them on Facebook, Twitter, and on the website.

This is really living…

Easy Livin……

♥♥♥

This year’s winter vacation will be to Park City, where I am seeking revenge for the whiteout blizzard and ensuing rainstorm that befell me in January, 2005.

Five of us will be renting a condo in Park City, a few blocks off Main Street for the week of February 15 through February 21.

I did finish an 8-mile run last night, but it takes a lot of conditioning and training to prep for 3,300 vertical feet, all day long, for a week (I did four days back-to-back at Tremblant last February and lost 8 pounds). We’ll have 5 full days on the slopes, and if we play our cards right, will be able to enjoy Twilight session at PCMR on Monday night. Fact is, none of us are Ninjas, and we’re all on the wrong side of 25, so I’m thinking that 3 or 4 days is the most we’ll take on the snow.

I’d like to spend most of my time at The Canyons, but I do plan on taking a shuttle to Sundance at least for one day out of the week, and if it’s possible to find some of that chest-deep powder at Alta, I’ll suffer the hour-long bus ride for that, too.

Airfare is hella-expensive right now, and I’m hoping it comes down a little bit, but the deal we got on the condo more than makes up for it. Now if only I could find a way to avoid paying $85 for lift pass at PCMR. To top it all off, I’m in desperate need of new snowboard boots…

“After months of negotiation, list-making and packing, the day finally came when the first part of my journey was to begin. That winter morning I kissed my family goodbye, closed the door on the warm house and walked away under a sky the colour of dull lead. Slowly, I felt the weight of the city begin to lift” (P10, The Snow Tourist, C. English, 2008)

A search for the world’s purest, deepest snowfall reads the description on the front cover. I spontaneously picked up this book while looking for a different travel book in the local book sellers. In hindsight, having just spent the last few days thoroughly engrossed, I’m happy the other book wasn’t available.

At its most descriptive level, The Snow Tourist is a record of one man’s experiences as he attempts to find the best snow in the world. However, after reading the first few pages it becomes clear that this is a more than just a simple record of events. Filled with the history and science of snowfall, English uses snow-related art and poetry to expand certain points and feelings, and ultimately expresses his almost childlike passion for snow, the world over. By combining the incredible events he experiences on his quest, with the culture and history that surrounds snow, it is hard not to find yourself yearning to pack a bag and enjoy snow for all it is worth. Fortunately in 10 days time, I am.

What I feel I enjoyed most about this rare gem was the discovery that my personal affinity for snow is something that is clearly shared with countless others.  On a physical level, Snow is just the end product of combining cold with water. In reality, of course, it is so much more. For the Inuit it is a means of survival, for the winter sports enthusiast it is the substance that forms an adrenaline-filled winter playground. While it may at some times be a hindrance to certain areas of the world, it is a hindrance that the world should put up with. If all the speculation surrounding global warming is proved to be correct, it seems snowfall is a dying luxury. Let’s all enjoy it while we can. As English so succintly describes it:

“Beauty fades, people die, civilisations rise and fall. Our lives, like those of snow crystals, are transient moments within a succession of other transiences. We resemble those crystals in another way, too. Like them, we are made mostly of water. When we die, the water in us will find its way to the sea, where in time it will be lifted up by the sun, to fall again as snow.” (P58, The Snow Tourist)

This really is an enchanting read. English’s easy narrative style and his clear fascination for snow, be it fearful or loving, creates a travelogue full of wonder and intrigue. His clearly heavy level of research, driven by passion, helps to give the book an informative tone throughout. A thought provoking tale of one man’s quest to explore snow becomes overshadowed by a struggle to truly understand the forces that drive him. If you enjoy snow you will enjoy this book.

The Snow Tourist

By Charlie English

(Portobello Books. £8.99)

This past Friday Teton Gravity Research rolled into town for the NYC premier of their latest film, Re:Session at the Highline Ballroom in the heart of NY’s meat packing district.  The event was a legitimate sell out, bringing out over 1,000 frustrated New York skiers and snowboarders looking for any outlet to feed their early season stoke. 

With no shortage of big mountain destinations, sick lines, pow and carnage Re:Session didn’t disappoint.  Although mainly a ski film, Mark Carter turned in an impressive, all be it short part, holding it down for the snowboarders.  Noticeably absent were TGR regulars Jeremy Jones and Victoria Jealouse.  Although the trailer for Jones’ new TGR film Deeper played before the feature and it looks sick!

Re:Session is the latest 16mm HD film from Teton Gravity Research.  Re: Session documents the true wealth of the mountain experience.  It follows the crew as they score in one of Alagna, Italy’s deepest seasons on record. Check out forbidden powder in Poland, massive wedges in Colorado, new gap jumps in Utah, and seven weeks of epic riding conditions in Alaska. Re: Session brings the most talented athletes in the sport together into one must-see film. The all-star roster includes TGR regulars Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Seth Morrison, Jeremy Jones, Kye Petersen, Ian McIntosh, Dana Flahr, Dylan Hood, Erik Roner, Wiley Miller, and Dash Longe rounded out with the fresh faces of Tanner Hall, Sammy Carlson and Callum Pettit.  Shot on location in: Jackson Hole WY, Alagna Italy, Last Frontier Heli-Skiing, Poland, Slovakia, Haines AK, North Cascade Heli-Skiing, Colorado, Stevens Pass WA, Utah, Montana, and Pemberton B.C.

Visit: www.tetongravity.com/re_session to see the trailer and while you’re there don’t forget to enter into the raffle to win an Alaskan Heli-Skiing Adventure or all expense paid trip to Jackson Hole.

It’s a good weekend when you can say that you went both mountain biking and snowboarding. But that’s just how we shred in Western Washington. That is, when it decides only to mist one day in the lower elevations, and then dump pounds of snowflakes in the higher-ups, the next. After taking what might have been my last ride of the season on the SX Trail at Tokul with Billy and crew, I made a solo mission up to Snoqualmie Central on Sunday to slash my first tracks of the snow season.

The Cascades have been pummeled with storms for weeks now: Baker has a 100-inch base; Snoqualmie’s is growing at 42 inches. And Alpental opens Friday! It’s a special bond you share with a mountain. Anyone who’s spent time exploring the intricacies of a mountain’s form–the pleasing surface aspects, the stimulating surprises and intoxicating secrets–knows the intimate connection one can feel with their home hill, Alpental being mine.

Northwest cement–thick, wet and heavy pow. I forgot how hard it works the legs, the entire body. The moisture laden atmosphere seeped into the mountain on Sunday. The trees heaved under their white burdens. The packed powder on the runs captured up passers-by with sticky mockery. The Northwest rider is a unique one: unspoiled by sunshine or champagne pow; hardened by the cold; and stoked to shred in blizzard conditions…What?

With flat light and very low visibility, my first run took me through a steep channel of high moguls, sweetened by some soft pow in the trees and then slick fast groomers down to the new Silver Fur quad. Amid the slight chaos, I fell in love all over again with my sport.

Ghostly shapes marked the scene that afternoon–a haunting preview of snowboarding in this region. It was as if these conditions lay like a veil between this unusually early season snow and the riders who ventured to explore it, and the rest of the winter with its fair-weather patrons. The intensity was beautiful and engulfing.

Twas a weekend of woods, tracks, trails and pow–all in raw Northwest fashion. My passions were obliged…for the moment.

It’s quite ironic, but I couldn’t seem to get this piece published anywhere. 

Now I know what you’re thinking – oh wow! A struggling writer turns to a blog to get her work into public discourse, the ingenuity! But give me a break, Im only 19.

Anyway, here you go – the piece no-one wanted. Let the blogging begin.

Australia’s got cold feet

Citius Altius Fortius – you know, faster, higher, stronger; it’s the Olympic motto. We all learn it in primary school, and every four years even the most inactive of Australians cannot help but be entrapped by it. Sitting in our front-row armchair seats, we cheer on our nation’s athletes to victory in distant lands. You have to love that kind of patriotism – well for the Summer Olympics anyway. See; add that white sheath of precipitation and suddenly, most of us lose interest.

12/02/2010- it’s the day that the 21^st Winter Olympiad begins in Vancouver, Canada. And before you ask, yes, I am counting down. Whilst my enthusiasm is clearly an extremity, it concerns me that no-one else in this country seems to display even the slightest bit of excitement for this upcoming cultural festivity! Quite simply – our nation has no care for the Winter Olympics.

Sure, everybody knows about ‘that guy’ who managed Australia’s first gold medal after his competitors conveniently stacked it on the finish line (Steven Bradbury, men’s 1000m short track speed skating, Salt Lake City, U.S.A 2002). Perhaps for some, the name Alisa Camplin will also ring a bell for her success in the same year (if not for her skiing, then the follow up ‘Extra’ gum commercials should do it). But do you know who Zali Steggall is? How can it be that such a self-confessed sport-fanatic nation loses all momentum for the highest of competitive forums – the Olympics?

The answer is actually pretty obvious – a clear lack of success, most of our country consists of desert and the highest Australian mountain does not allow for sufficient training facilities. Do not let this fool you, the Winter Games are undervalued. It is my intention to convert the masses. From this very moment, I urge you to jump on board the Vancouver bobsled. Channel our Jamaican friends from Cool Runnings (1993) and “feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme”, come on now – it’s winter time!

At this point, you may be questioning my unusual infatuation for this spectacle. It’s just snow, right? Well, I like to think of the Winter Olympics as being similar to Eurovision – an unconventionally entertaining geography lesson, which sometimes gives you the giggles, and sometimes makes you nod your head in approval. For me, the interest began back in 1998. Although I was only in Grade Two at the time, every night I would sit up with Sandy Roberts and Gary Wilkinson in Nagano, Japan, and be bewildered by disciplines I didn’t know to be humanly possible, set against the bright image of an arctic landscape. Bit of a romanticised reflection, but I’d never seen snow before and additionally hooked by the Olympic hype being generated for the then upcoming 2000 Sydney games, I was an instant fan.

 t is in our nature, as a modern Pacific island, to mock these sporting cultural norms of our foreign counterparts, and one would assume that this unfamiliarity is a key reason behind disinterest. Yet, it is for this same disparity that I believe we should embrace the Games with curiosity. Until 2006, I had never been skiing. Even then, I was frequently passed by French toddlers, as I struggled to just remain upright for more than five minutes! My point is, alpine sports are not intrinsic to Australian people (nor a natural skill) and for two weeks once every four years, it provides a great contrast to observe winter experts at their (and the summit’s) peak.

Let me give you a bit of context – the first ‘official’ Winter Olympiad took place in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Technically, it was not recognised until a year later, and at the time was celebrated as “International Winter Sports Week” (see – undervalued!). This, however, was not the first infiltration of icy events to the games. 1908 saw the inclusion of figure skating in the London program, and the 1920 Antwerp competition added Ice Hockey to this list, for which, unsurprisingly the first gold was awarded to Canada. Whilst we now expect that the Summer and Winter Games alternate every two years, this ruling was not stipulated by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) until 1986. Prior to this, the Olympic Charter had declared both competitive forms to be held in the same year. With the exception of St. Moritz (1948), Australia has participated in each Olympiad since 1936.

Like any sporting festival, the Winter Olympics have not been without intriguing highlights. Forget Steven Bradbury, in the 1994 Lillehammer (Norway) games, the final of the men’s 1000m short track speed skating, finished with the awarding of just two medals; going to Koreans who remained standing after an extreme amount of disqualifications and falls.

Skiing, skating and bobsledding have long provided the platform for the Winter Olympic program, but in recent times there are a few other unique sports which, in essence, only give you more incentive to switch into Vancouver this February. Snowboarding sees the ‘cool kids’ of the snow come out to play. Australian, Torah Bright finished 5^th in Torino (2006), but will use her goofy stance to start as a real medal hope next year, having won 6 of the last 8 major titles she has competed in. The need for speed is intense on the luge (feet first) and skeleton (head first) tracks, where tenths of a second can be the difference between finishing on the podium and finishing last. Did you know that the biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting? But nothing can compare to the inevitable marvel at the sport of curling. Using a large broom (that’s its official name), competitors move large stones down the ice, in a lawn bowls-like attempt to get it as close to the centre of their team’s ring as possible. My friends, this stuff is gold!

It was always my intention to go to the 2010 Vancouver games. However, thanks to the fact I didn’t win Tattslotto’s $90mil (or rather, my inability to save), this dream won’t be. But you can join me in generating the Olympic spirit here in Australia! Get ready to befriend Miga, Quatchi and Sumi (the Olympic mascots) in Canada, and sit back for some better late-night viewing than Gunthy-Renker home shopping (the time difference will most likely see the broadcast in such hours).

Oh and by the way, Zali Steggall took home Australia’s first ever individual winter medal, earning herself a bronze in the Women’s Alpine Skiing Slalom; fittingly, in 1998 at Nagano.

Northeast or Northwest? Killington rises out of the fog.

The 2009/2010 snowboard season has been a little slow to get started to say the least.  It seems like just when it looks like we’re starting to make progress, Mother Nature bitch slaps us two steps back again.  Throughout this meteorlogical rollercoaster only two eastern resorts have been holding strong, fighting the good fight and keeping the lifts turning. 

Sunday I was finally able to get up to Killington to see the fruits of their labors for myself, and for once I wasn’t greeted with the all too familiar “Man, you should have been here yesterday”.  As luck would have it Sunday turned out to be the better of the two riding days.  A wicked temperature inversion brought warm temps and sunny skies to the peak, while the fog in the valley must have scared many away because surprisingly there were no lift lines.  Conditions felt more like the end of the season then late November, with soft corn snow, mashed potatos and the occasional dirt patch to ollie.  Rosey and the parks crew had an early season rail park set up on Rime with 4 features; flat rail, flat box, down rail and down box.

All in all, it was a great way to spend a Sunday and it was well worth the trip just to be back on snow again making turns after the long summer hibernation.  Much thanks go out to Killington and their snowmaking team for all their efforts in providing us with the only riding option in southern New England.  It looks like snowmaking temps will be returning to the northeast this week and I’m sure “The Beast” will be roaring into action every chance they get.  Get up there and check it out for yourself.

For current news and conditions visit Killington.com

By: Press Release

Donner Summit, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2009)- Uniting some of the nation’s best amateur skiers and riders with the authentic, all elements brand of the hip hop culture, the renowned 3rd Rail Jam is making the rounds again for 2010. Expanding the urban edge to five resorts across the nation, 3rd Rail will showcase some of the best in snow sports with a series of winner-takes all rail jams, slope side graffiti art, MC battles, hip hop music and live performances by Grammy-nominated British-American rapper Slick Rick.

The grassroots snow competition kicks off Jan. 9 at Mountain Creek in Vernon, NJ, continues Jan. 23 at Beech Mountain at Beech Mountain Parkway, NC  followed by a Feb. 6 jam at Raging Buffalo in Algonquin, IL, then Feb. 13 at New Brighton Mountain in New Brighton, Utah and wrapping up March 6 at Mountain High in Wrightwood, Calif.

Creating its own pocket of culture inside snow sport culture, the 3rd Rail Jam brings aspiring amateur riders to resorts nationwide. Up to 150 riders per stop will take part competing for cash prizes and a limited edition Launch Snowboard designed by graffiti legend Pose2. In addition to the rail competition, there will be live painting by some of the most notorious graf crews in North America. If that’s not enough, check out “The Battle Below Zero”, a freestyle MC competition pitting 8 local MCs against one another- something that has never been held on snow before. Additionally, Under Armour, Skull Candy, Turbine, and Kangol will be on hand to show everyone the every finest from their new lines and giveaway product to lucky attendees.

To top off the high octane event, Slick Rick will follow each rail jam with pulsating after-parties that include fashion shows and break dance crews. Originally from the U.K., the Grammy-nominated rapper, Slick Rick, set the tunes for Snoop Dogg who covered Ricks hit song, “La-Di-Da-Di,” and is popularly known for his song, “Children’s Story,” often heard on the dance floors of many night clubs, in addition to his role in Jay-Z’s, “Girls, Girls, Girls.”

Named after the most lethal rail on the Subway in New York City, the 3rd Rail Jam founders Timmy Grins and Pat Hession always work to create the most grimy contest set-ups, rarely seen at resorts. Their mix of skier and rider competitions complete with hip hop music, graffiti and MC battles, work to bring out the very best in talented young skiers and riders throughout the country.

The competition is open to three divisions- 15 and under, all girls and best of breed. For more information, or to register go to 3rdrailjam.com

The forgotten blog.

 Well not forgotten just under used.

 I’ve not posted in a while for a few reasons, partly I have been ill, partly I have been snowboarding (I did make it up despite being full of cold) and partly as I have been in a bad mood.  I think that blog venting is good on occasions, but my posts would have just been sulky and let’s be honest sometimes it’s best NOT to share.

Turns out I have to go get some surgery done on an old issue, nothing serious but it does mean that I will miss a few weeks of the season, which is bollocks.

On the plus side I watched For Your Eyes Only the other night for the first time in years, gotta love 80’s Bond.

Rogger '007' Moore

In just three days, I will be able to whip out the shred stick and get slappy on the mountain. Here’s what I’m looking forward to:

New Natural Snow: 0
New Snow Last 7 Days: 0 In
Total Season Snowfall: 0 Inches
Surface Conditons: Machine groomed
Snow Depth: 8 to 12 Inches
Snowmaking: Off.

Ok, so there’s only a foot of snow available.  That’s one foot of pure love that I can’t wait to experience! Super pumped!

You heard me. I’m moving on. and it’s to bigger and better pastures…

oh, me? no, not me personally…I”m staying in Denver.

Its just that part of Bleeding Senses will be moving on to a more appropriate venue — specifically the blogs on WESTWORD.COM!!!

http://blogs.westword.com/ontheedge/

yes, yours truly is now an official and REAL (read: underpaid) blogger for an actual publication (and a damn cool one at that)

Now hopefully this first blog post doesn’t get my season pass revoked…

I present to you: Sin Your Way Through Ski Season
(oh, and i’m clearly not Joe Tone… though hopefully the byline has been corrected to say my name by the time anyone reads this)

http://blogs.westword.com/ontheedge/2009/11/seven-deadly-sin_your_way_thro.php

–

Otherwise, I plan on staying up as your normal, less-than-frequently-updated source for all second-hand news about phish and the Denver jamband scene… afterall, where else will my loyal seven get their news?

Hannah Teter, 2006 gold medalist snowboarder from Vermont, has become the first athlete to be apart of a Ben and Jerry’s themed ice cream. This ice cream, which will be called Maple Blondie, will benefit Teter’s charity Hannah’s Gold, with all proceeds going to her projects in Africa: http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/11/ben_jerrys_hono.html

Big thanks to Kei photo for the super  shots!

Absolutely loving it! First good toe side turn of the season.

Hayato lays into a heel side

The host of the TV show Matsui.

Check out this shot.  The gondola running just for the 8 of us.  Wide open course, all powder, first day of the season, snowing hard!  It does not get much better!

Takamasa hands behind his head, sleepy heel side.

My favorite shot, me coming out of a turn already setting up for the next slash with the spray from the last turn still in the air.  Thanks Kei you made my season!  It is not often that I get to ride without a backpack and to get a nice photo taken is a real pleasure.