Friday, May 23, 2008

Sasa-Boo-Boo

Well,

What can I say. The season has been awesome, and the closeout was nothing less than delicious. We rolled into sasabune for the awards ceremony.


Payne doesnt like nori, so I got an added bonus of eating my rolls and his rolls at the end. worrrrd. We talked about plans for next season. I wanna hit 30 days. and it's possible. At least I think it is. We'll see.




This is the part we've all been waiting for. The bill. HaH! Next year we may have to up the stakes....

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Victory Lap

The Victory lap at Mammoth.

Bethany and I closed out the season and the WIN last weekend. I found my camera charger, and was able to document the trip. It was the first time I've gotten to ride my new board, which has recently been stamped with the cadillac symbol of luxury.







My old board was a Burton Baron 162. Wide board for my long feet. This new one is a 159. Shorter by 3cm, but what a difference. The board is about 15% stiffer, so I'm able to cruise pretty good on it, but it's WAY lighter than the baron. It felt like the board was about half the size of the other one. I was whippin' that thing everywhere. Still glad I got it on deal, cause the board still sells for $649.

Anyway, Mammoth was sweet. Half the mountain was closed, so it was main lodge and the mill. Eagle and canyon were done. Kinda sad, cause then we miss out on most of the other side of the hill. Crowds however, were sweet. We didn't wait once for the lift. Riding solo in the gon-DOLA pretty much every time. It was sweet. Bethany was taking the main face down since chair 14 was shut down for a "special event". She's really come a long way this season.







Everything was so easy. Since it was just us, we'd stop whenever we wanted, take breaks, have beer or just keep riding. It was our mountain. The crazy thing is we would get there at about 8:00am and then be done by 1:30 cause it was straight riding. No waiting for anything or anyone.









After riding on saturday we made reservations at the Alpenrose Grill. It has "become" our favorite up there, cause it's easy, has good wines and some more taste.






After Dinner we went to the movies. haha.. It was a real dinner date with the movie included. Iron man is sweet by the way.





Sunday was even more empty than Saturday. Bethany got a little bit of the leg burn and had to take a break.



She wasn't really as sad as she looks.



So this is the end of the Season. It began and ended in the same place with the same girl. :) word up. 21 and 1/2 days. I gotta get at least 30 next season. Especially now that the whistler thing is gonna be an annual event. I'm not counting my 13 days riding at camp (even though) toward this season or next, cause I feel like it's more training than anything. I will definitely be bloggin about that. Oh, I also will be getting a video camera, so look out for some sweet music to accompany my midrange snowboard skills. Oh, and dont forget about the sasabune. That will take place next week. One more word up for the road!




WORD UP!


The snow is gone, but the mammoth still gleams (like the cube)

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Summer already?

.




Oh summer. Warm days, sunny weather and YES. Snowboarding. I'm going to camp this year. Back in the days when I was skating, I wanted to go to woodward PA for skate camp. I couldn't pay and my parents weren't able to either. Times have changed though. I have a refrigerator, I have reynolds wrap. Now snowboarding is my friend. I have the money, I wanna go and my parents can cheer me on, since I sign my own waivers now :) I did some research and ended up in whistler once again... Camp of Champions. Its gonna be SOOOOO good. I wish everyone was going with me, but I'm goin solo on this one. 2 weeks in july. Say word, son.




A park just for us campers. Afternoon activities and plenty of annoying spoiled children that cant wait to make fun of my old ass. Haha... I dont think there are gonna be campfires and sing-a-longs, but I'm hoping at the very least for a karaoke bar somewhere. I wasnt looking last time I was up there. I'm VERY excited. Especially since I just got that new ride. I'm literally training for it right now. 2 weeks of straight up park riding is sure to be tough on me.




But not too tough I hope. This year they're gonna have the bagJump. Its basically a "high-fall" stuntman bag that the dudes in the movies use when they jump off buildings. Someone turned it into a snowboard landing pad. Straight cane sweetness.


Anyway, I was supposed to go up to mammoth this weekend, but it's not lookin good because my foot is hurting just a little. I'm takin it easy. I'm also pretty sure mammoth isn't lookin too good now anyway. (I just keep telling myself that, I have no research or info to back it up) As it stands I am set to win the contest. And enjoy it's raw delicious spoils.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Eyes on the prize

It has been decided. Sushi sasabune is the prize for the winner of the Snowboarding Championship. Delicious sushi and lovely company as Payne, Gladys, Bethany and I dine on the loser's dime. Here's a little info:




Sushi Sasabune is a Japanese sushi restaurant located in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Previously housed in "Little Tokyo West" on Sawtelle Boulevard, this authentic sushi gem now has a more spacious home. Choose between table seating and a seat at the busy sushi bar where you can see Sushi Sasabune's chefs at work. High-quality menu items include sushi, crab rolls, salmon, and much more. For an adventurous experience, try the omakase (chef's menu). The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Dirt McGirt



So it turned out to be the last week of STOKED snowboarding. Kevin rolled out, and ripped it. He hit jumps, went down a black diamond and got stuck in the super slow super slush that we had that day. There was dirt everywhere.




Speaking of dirt, Mookie came out as a volunteer. HAaha. It was pretty sweet to have him up inthe mix. Him, Joel and I ended up hangin with most of the boys of the crew, and he had a really good time, despite hating waking up at 5 Am to go catch the bus.










Kevin getting some taste in the family fun park.





Back to LA.


So that Closes out the Stoked era of snowboarding for this season and puts me at 19 1/2 days riding. I'm gonna hit Mammoth once or twice more before it's all said and done. Hopefully Payne doesnt come up with a last minute victory...






Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Arms Race

So my camera charger is gone, so I have no pictures of this weekend's snowboarding with the Stoked crew. However, my birthday passed this week and I got some new gear to celebrate.


Joel hooked me up with this Sweet AK jacket I had my eye on a few weeks ago.
I really didnt need it, but what can you do but enjoy a great gift. :)
I also hooked up a new ride for myself. Got the burton Custom X Wide 159. My current board has seen a lot of action, and it is time for a new one. (kinda) Anyway, I got a SWEET end of the year deal on it. It retails for $649.00 and I grabbed it for $350. WORD UP to that...
Here's the nerdy info:



The peak-to-park weapon of choice for DCP, Frederik K., Marko Grilc, and Kazu, the Custom X™, now also available in wide sizes, is the ultimate upgrade for those ready to ride at higher levels. Heli-accessed pillow lines, shit-your-pants Alaskan gnar, stadium kickers, or World Cup superpipes—dissect all elements with surgical precision, warp speed, and second-nature agility. With the X, next-level freestyle is yours for the slaying.





Pretty close to perfect, all it needs is one of these....







So back to snowboarding, I am a little sad to see the warmer temperatures. So far it's been an amazing season, and I've really learned some stuff. I cant complain cause I had some pretty real days, but I want more. It's crazy because you can do something for years, and then all of a sudden fall completely in love with it again. This year has been a blessing. From Mammoth to Utah to Whistler to teaching kids how to love snowboarding, It's been AWESOME. But it aint over yet, despite my nostalgic tone of conclusion. I gotta find that charger.....

Monday, March 24, 2008

Family Mamm

YES. Another trip to Mammoth. Since Stoked took a holiday for the weekend, we planned mammoth family moves part II. Once again it was awesome. Some changes to the line up, since Radfcliffe, Sabrina, Yas and Chianne didnt make it out. We rolled up there this time with with Me,Bethany,Joel,Priscilla,Angie,Danny,Nico,Russell,Payne,Gladys,Brittney,Braiden and of course Klimaximus.

On the ride up, 5 of us went in Joel's superRacingTruck. Bethany Klimey and I in the back. I brought some movies to watch which really helped pass the time.





Lovers in the front




Cozy in theback





Watching movies is the BEST.



This time we were some of the last people to get there. Payne, Gladys, Brittney, Braiden, and Russell all left super early on friday, so they got to ride all day. We all met up at the grocery store to stock up on supplies for the weekend.



Bethany hooked up the peppers, I overcooked the sausages, and Nico represented on the guacamole tip.

The guacamole tip.





Saturday morning riding was awesome. The weather was super warm, and I ended up with no jacket at all. Ahh... Springtime. Bethany did really really well. I didnt realize how fast she got over the course of this season.





Angie, Nico, and Danny (not pictured)




Love in an elevator? Nah. More like a gondola.




After some runs we met up for lunch. I've been going light on the food during the day. Did I need to say that? No. But then again, Do I need to make this blog? Probably not, yet here it is. Anyway, lunch was good. Riding was better. At the end of the day I took a few runs with Angie, Danny, Nico and Klimey through the park. Second time through I landed my first REAL frontside three in the park off a real jump. Word Up. AAAHH.. It was ugly, and I didnt grab, but it was real. I'll get the steez on it soon.







For some reason there's a giant gap in my photos from saturday night. I did, however get a lovely shot of Payne's Minty ass pants he bought that match his socks and boots. He is the slopestyle Fashioniste.





HE is risen! Word up. Easter Sunday.
We got a shot with the easter bunnies and Wooly (The Mammoth).






I spent most of the day riding with Bethany. She's getting really good. we went down a couple of really crappy blacks, and she wanted to hit them again. After lunch, I took one too many runs with the boys and ended up a little short of perfect timing for the last few runs with my lady.


Plotting.



The last run brings a tear from time to time.



So that was pretty much it. Except I didnt say how awesome it was. No one got hurt (well not hospital hurt) Everyone had fun, and we got out and home safely. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. WORD UP!





Klimaximum comfort


Sunday, March 16, 2008

Dimentor

So sunday came and kevin didn't. It was a bit of a dissapointment, cause last week was so awesome. This week it actually snowed the night before, and we got 6 fresh inches of snow. Six inches at bear means chains. We ended up having to put snow chains on the bus. And when I say "We", I mean me and Joel on our backs underneath the bus, on the ground putting chains on the friggin bus. Sweet. Hey, at least the dude had chains, otherwise we would have had to turn around.

Anyway we made it up, and things were lookin good. It was colder than last week, and helmets arent warm. I'm not feelin the helmet. Neither is joel.



Leti wasnt feelin the cold. Or maybe she was. :)



So no lesson this week. We went straight to riding, which was nice. Selvin was able to hang after a couple of runs. He missed last week. Not too much trouble for him to hang either which is awesome.





The day went on, more riding and more laughing. Payne ended up going on his own and we saw him up there. Speaking of payne, he hasnt been posting his days, but they're still getting tallied into the scoreboard. NExt Stop, MAMMOTH!!! one more time :)

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Stoke you UP!


Week 2 of stoked snow. This week's theme was Visualization.

Like I have visualized me winning this contest with Payne. I have already seen the victory. I can almost taste the delicious prize that we haven't decided on yet. :)



Anyway, week two was awesome. Last time we hiked the bunny hill, this time we're cruising down blues. Kevin learned to link turns really quick. No falling leaf at all. Word up. I'm glad, cause it gave us both more time on the hill riding than sitting, or waiting. Plus the weather was better. No rain. It was warm enough for no jacket. Blue sky and sunshine. So Cal at its best.



We started the day with another lesson to get everyone refreshed. Once again, we impressed the teacher with our collective s-Kills. After the lessons, we busted up to the top and went for it.





Selvin wasnt there, so Joel was helping Emmanuel and Hector. We rolled all day with our crew and started getting bold in the family fun park. I did my first frontside 360. (it was about 1 foot off the ground) It's a start. I need some focused practice. We've got another week of Stoked snow before the break. And the Mammoth family trip part II.