I'm an ELK-AHOLIC


I just wrapped up a week long shoot with Sims Snowboards in Crested Butte, CO.  This is my third shoot with Collective Licensing out of Denver and easily one of the best.  I huge thanks goes out to Marc, Carly, Gabe and Chris (along with the entire team) for taking care of us all week and helping create another successful shoot.  Also, a huge thanks to Tom Sims for...well being Tom Sims.  Tom is the man, and it never gets old making turns with him and hearing his endless vault of stories from the good old days.  Next stop Silverton for another week long shoot.  This time with DC and Roxy.  Looking forward to it!  Stay tuned....

Cool Boarders 2010

Idaho is a wrap.  After sessioning one of the bigger jumps I've seen hit in person, our trip into the Idaho BC is done.  This jump measured somewhere in the ball park of 80+' in length with a similar or longer drop.  I felt that the angle shown here makes the jump look a little bit smaller than that but at the same time it really worked so I went with it.  This is Lago's first hit, where after he stopped yelling and screaming in a state of pure excitement he said something to the effect of, "that was the most amazing thing I've ever done.....that was some cool boarders shit."  A pretty strong statement consider he just took home the bronze medal in the HP at the Vancouver Olympics a mere month ago.  After this he stomped two B/S 360's and we were out.  Such a good way to end the trip.  A huge thanks to Cory Smith at Smith Optics for putting us up at Smiley Creek Lodge.  I will greatly miss the home cooked meals, country hospitality, and general good vibes of this amazing place.  Until next time.....

Lago, flying like an eagle....



"That was some Cool Boarders shit!"

U Da Ho

Actually its pronounced Idaho.  Made it to the lovely land of potatoes in one piece and am glad to be back in this neck of the woods after not making it up last season.  Cory Smith has some big things going in his backyard zone of Smiley Creek, but don't think you can just roll up here.  The zone is on private property and without the proper credentials you could get messed up quick!  Trespasser's beware!

This is not a line you want to cross if your not invited.

Cabin 5 is treating me good so far.

Robot Food was here.  Well actually Pierre Wikberg and Eddie Wall are in the crew and working on content for their new website www.videohypershred.com.  Keep checking in as it should go live any day now.  Its gonna be sick...

Just put it on my Master Charge card.

Tunnel Vision

The rafters

Lago is the shit.  Congrats to the best damn bronze medalist I know.  USA!!!

CB

Made a quick pit stop in the Crested Butte region of Colorado before heading out to Idaho.  Otterstrom said he had the inside track to some new zones in the area, and the weather looked good.  So we made the call and B-lined it over for a quick one and a half day mission.  I have to say it has been a few years since I have been to Crested Butte, and it is as sick or sicker than I remember.  Its kinda like a mini Jackson.  Also very similar to Aspen, but without all the bullshit.  The mountain is for real, and the backcountry is just as for real if not much realer.  Not sure that's a word, but it's a dope spot to say the least.  Lots of pillows, cliffs, big lines, and even some kicker zones all in the mix.  One interesting thing too is the fact that they are really feeling the recession here.  No one can find work so everyone is moving out of town.  This in turn has made property extremely cheap.  I found a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, two car garage condo for $175,000.  That is unheard of in Colorado, and on top of it, in a mountain town.  I mean that is cheaper than Denver.  Makes me wonder if I could pull off living here.  Hmmmmm.....

Otterstrom hiking to the goods.....


The locals have a real good thing going out here.  10+ acres with this sick Airsteam trailer.  Not a bad way to kick it in the BC if you ask me.

Home Sweet Home

I've been hunkered down at home the last few days wrapping up some work for Vail Resorts.  It has been beautiful weather and I have been able to get a lot done just getting out for a few hours each morning.  Yesterday was especially early.  Up at 5am.  The reward was watching the moon set while the sun came up on the Ten Mile Range.  Needless to say, the shot I needed came together well with these conditions.  Below is a photo of Steve Fisher in the Freeway Halfpipe from later that same morning.  Next Stop Utah, then Idaho.  Until next time...

The Land of Enchantment

After a few days at home in Summit County, I'm back on the road in the American Southwest.  Home was a good refresh.  The snow really turned on and was able to get out for a couple of pretty fun pow days.  I also linked up with E-Tree from the magazine (Snowboarder) for a resort shoot at Copper Mountain with Erich Dummer, Madison Ellsworth, Brett Esser and Eric Willet.  It was a fun day and Willet is an absolute destroyer.  Park kid only, you might ask?  Well it was my first time watching him shred pow and the kid has skills for sure.  Monday I got up early and headed down to Monarch and with over 40" reported in the last few days it made for an epic day of soul shredding.  Yeah, I went solo and I coudn't complain in the least bit.  It was so good!  I might add that out of the 40" reported over the last few days 17" were reported overnight.  It was a much needed day to say the least.  At about noon and after 20+ laps I peaced out and headed south to meet back up with Erich Dummer and Madison Ellsworth at an undisclosed location in the American Southwest.  Feet upon feet of snow have fallen here in the last week and it is without a doubt a record year for this region.  Monday afternoon proved to be a little too hairy to make anything happen, considering it was dumping and avalanches were everywhere within sight.  We awoke to a bluebird clear sky Tuesday and got after it.  We were able to set up two features, the second one taking a few hours longer than expected, but I think it'll be worth it.  Wednesday should be good if all goes as planned.  Stay tuned for an update tomorrow or the next day....


The sond feature we set up today.  We didn't think it was gonna take 6 hours to build but we stuck it out and I think is going to shoot amazing.  
The crew after a very long day.  Beer anybody?

Probably the best hotel room I've stayed in ever.  Aside from maybe a suite or two.  Sauna included.

Isn't it February?

I'm pretty sure it is February but it sure doesn't seem like it.  I've been able to log about 20 days that I would consider a shooting day so far.  Maybe 25 if I stretch it.  I usually log that before the new years, but something is different this year.  Its like everything is working against me.  It has been a hell of a year so far with near death accidents, avalanches, deep snows, no snow, rain, epic...ly long road trips to nowhere, and the list goes on and on.  Bjorn Leines seen here looks back up to see what went wrong, only to see that he's lucky.  Lucky to be able to look back up the hill at all (2 feet further and he would have made tranny I might add).  So does anyone know when things are going to improve this year?  I'd love to put it in my calendar for future reference.  On the flip side I could be stuck in the rut of an office job or even worse no job at all.  All in all life is good, and sometimes a quick reflection of where I am and what I'm actually doing is all it takes to put your head back in the right place.  I'm already looking forward to tomorrow!  Something tells me its gonna be sick...

TNF

I would like to thanks The North Face for a great couple of days of shredding and shooting at Silverton Mountain, CO.  I had a blast riding with Mark Carter, Johan Olofsson and the entire crew!  We even landed the heli at my cabin for for a quick lunch.  Not bad at all.  I will now be enjoying a few down days at home before I start a two day shoot for Vail Resorts.  Stay tuned....

Brain Farm and WY

Going out with the Brain Farm dudes is a crazy experience to say the least. Watching filmer Gabe langlois zip out over a canyon 100' off the ground was pretty intense, let alone the riding of Travis Rice, Mark Carter and Kyle Calncy. But Gabe (along with the entire crew) is a true pro and it didn't even seem to faze him a bit. I can't wait to see the shots he got this day. You know they're gonna be sick!

The twilight Zone...AKA...The yellowstone Club

Legends past, present and future. Carter, Rice, Warren Miller, Justin Timberlake, Scott Schmidt from left to right. Thats what the Yellowstone Club is all about though. Well sorta, but you sure do feel kind of special just hanging around there. I mean the first person we met when we arrived at the "Warren Miller" Lodge at the Yellowstone Club was indeed Warren Miller. It was weird for sure, but so dope at the same time. And talk shit if you want, this man changed the face of "snow sports". Believe me when I say we (the industry as a whole) probably wouldn't be making and basing our winters around making snowboard/ski movies if this man hadn't done what he did for so long. Seriously things would be way different and I have much respect for him. And to have Scott Schmidt guide us around the mountain was a little unreal. I mean he also changed snow sports forever. I mean do you remember the iconic black and yellow North Face suit he was famous for wearing dropping 100' cliffs in back in the early 90's? Straight up amazing, and again much respect. Or maybe it was the insanely meticulous customer service, complimentary what ever you want or whole mountain to yourself mentality of this place. With sick terrain I might ad too. Either way this was probably one of the raddest two and a half days of my life and I will definitely be back sooner than later. If you ever have a chance to, visit this place, DO NOT turn it down. You will forever regret it. Probably the biggest challenge you will face is re-adjusting to normal life after you leave.

Get well soon KP!

I'm not good with words when it comes to situations like these, but I wanted to post this photo of Kevin Pearce from the Copper Pipe earlier this winter. He has one of the best McTwists in the game, and is easily one of the nicest most humble dudes in snowboarding. I....I mean...WE are all pulling for your complete and speedy recovery. Get well soon, and all the best to the Pearce Family...

A Day at Monarch

Yesterday I made a good last minute decision. I headed over to Monarch Ski Area with Pashley, Pashley's better half Erin and Gary Wyman. Having driven past this place hundreds of times and never stopping in, it was nice to finally check it off the "to do" list. We showed up to Bluebird skies, an almost empty parking lot and tons of fresh snow to track up. I have to say this place is pretty darn sweet. From the road you might not think too much of it. Probably what I have been telling myself for years, but man am I glad I finally stopped in. Like Wolf Creek it gets a lot of snow, however I have to say that there are more sustained pitches than Wolf Creek, less flats, the lifts are shorter and therefor you can make many more runs on a better pitch. There was also a lot of varied terrain for popping ollies over trees and rocks, and there was hardly any one else out on the slopes to compete for the freshest of lines with. All in all I had a blast and look forward to making it back down that way soon! A big thanks goes out to Greg Ralph in the Marketing Department for taking very good care of us! Enjoy some pic....

Headed out of Breckenridge early, but hey it's only a two hour drive, so not that early


Gary didn't want me to take a photo of his long underwear but I did anyways


Breakfast at Lodge and Spa


The drive down


First chair ride at Monarch



Frosty trees are good


Pash, getting barreled


The other chair we rode a lot of


Some of the backcountry options that exist


BOOOOM! Pashley


Wyman


Sick custom Civic!


More frosty tress


gettin artsy I guess


The top


The end