So Far So Hood Trailer from 4BI9 Media on Vimeo.

4bi9 is like family to me. I support what they do and always have a place for them to crash when they roll through. They're all about having a good time and it's a blast skiing with a crew of 10+ kids that absolutely destroy the park, handrails, and bc. Some of the best times I had on and off snow over the past two seasons were spent with friends involved with 4bi9.

Watch the Trailer, Pre-Order the VIDEO, and enjoy the 4bi9 website.

Raw Enthusiasm Amidst Atmospheric Perfection

The first time I went to ski camp was in 2003 at Camp Revolution. The majority of the week was cloudy and rainy until the last two days which were absolutely spectacular with blue bird skies. That morning, Eric Iberg kept repeating "it's on today boys" on our 20 minute drive to the hill. Skiing that day was incredible, the snow was soft, the skies were blue, and I learned and experimented with so many new tricks. Ever since then, skiing under blue bird skies in the summer brings back memories of that day and how stoked my friend Max and I were to go skiing. Thankfully, six years later, I still find that same raw enthusiasm when I see bluebird skies.

Evidently, B-Paul, TJ, Chris Turpin, Pete O and the entire digging staff at Momentum felt the same way. As I spent yet another day building the Mogul Logic lane, I watched lap after lap as everyone, especially TJ and B-Paul, crush some of the most flawless doubles over the Momentum step-up. B-Paul will dominate this sport....he is just too good.

So far So Foggy

I have been in Whistler since Thursday and have seen very little sun. Thankfully, today was sunny for two glorious hours.


Chairlift #2 of 3



In other news, Hornbeck's skis are still missing. Given that these LTE's are the exact length with white Salomon bindings, I thought they might be his. No luck. But I'll be looking and maybe something will turn up.

Ten Things I've learned while in Whistler:

1. Merlin's Breakfast is drowning in mediocrity, given that I have been eating dry oatmeal for quite sometime, that is saying a lot
   
2. Hot lapping race lanes is real fun. Doing it switch while wearing a trench coat is even more fun. Racers get scared
   
3. Seinfeld is a comical television program and continues to be enjoyable after all these years
4. Texting is the least expensive form of communication coming in hot at 1500 text messages for $10
5. Austin Mullen is a sound individual with solid moral character
6. Mogul athletes have a style unique unto themselves
7. Vanular has one of the best dub flips in the game, and can nose butter 9 like none other
8. Billy Mays died. Infomercials will never be the same
9. Skiing on broken edges makes little difference while skiing in the slush, just don't hit big kickers
   
10. MJ's music will be danced to/enjoyed for years to come

From Hood to Whistler

Yesterday afternoon, I received a call from David Babic with news that I will be spending yet another summer on the Blackcomb Glacier. STOKED. Along with being a top ranked mogul skier on the US Ski Team, Babic owns and operates Mogul Logic summer camp. Although I have absolutely zero background in moguls, I managed to obtain a position as the filmer at camp four years ago. Filming lasts for a mere 1.5 hours each day, so I have plenty of free time to session Blackcomb public park or the jump in the Mogul Logic lane. Here is a photo of a jump we built in 2007:


it looks moderately sketchy, but it was real pimp

Shortly after speaking with Babic, I was finished up interviews in dahoodhouse, packed up my bags, and bid farewell to Mt. Hood.

Packing up the car. Notice: Clarke's saxophone case and Herman's forgotten backpack I suppose when you're JustPassingThru, you tend to leave gear behind.

At the beginning of my journey I found something incredible:

A civilian (read: non-security guard, mall cop, or chimpanzee) riding on a Segway


Seattle, WA

After a casual six hour drive, I ended up at the Shepard's house in Bellingham, WA where they graciously prepared a spread of food to rival a Roman feast. To put it lightly, it was the most amount of food I have seen for the better part of six months. After the meal, I continued north along HWY 99 where I careened through roads drenched in classic PNW precipitation, eased through boarder patrol, and picked up my co-worker Sho Kashima at YVR. We made it to our condo in Whistler around 2am, set up shop, and passed out.

Day 24, Timberline, OR

After a glorious evening at dahoodhouse I awoke to spectacular weather and decided to go skiing. I picked up Hornbeck and K-Day for the drive and had a close run-in with someone's Grandpa in the parking lot. Apparently, he didn't think about our need to open the trunk when he parked like this:

Is this guy serious?

Soon after the parking lot shuffle, we were lapping perfectly maintained public park jumps under sunny skies and the best weather I have experienced on the entire trip. Patt Goodnough, Eric Swanson from Nordica, Brian Locke, and a host of other summit county locals were on snow. Tricks were thrown, jumps were overshot by those who waxed, and jumps were knuckeled by those who did not. Waxing skis is essential during this time of year and I would highly reccomend it for anyone looking to shred in the summer

Tacos are 3 for $3 dollars at the Ratskeller. Welcome to Taco Tuesday.

So Far so Hood, Day 23

Timberline, Oregon. Day 23.

I woke up this morning to disappointing news; Timberline was closed due to high winds, icy build-up, and new snow accumulation. While I waited for the green light on T-Line, I made an unscheduled trip to the Welches post office. Evidently, Keri Herman, one of the elite vagabonds in the JustPassingThru.TV crew, left her passport in dahoodhouse while, just passing through the area. Rather than drive back from Seattle, she gave me a phone call and overnighted her passport. Problem sovled.

Meanwhile, Delorme hit me up and was ready to rally and spin laps. The weather finally cleared, the web-cams were shooting laser beams, and I put on my gear and went skiing. My first lap was terrible, but I ended up seeing AD and K-Day and hiking the downrail for a while. Got lip 2, switch tails over, and all sorts of fresh tricks. Real fun. Real stoked.

After skiing, Clarke called me genuinely scared that he left his saxophone at dahoodhouse. Sure enough, after sifting through Marini's gear, I found Clarke's sax burried under blankets, clothes, and outerwear. As you know, Clarke is the brainchild of JustPassingThru.TV

Right now, I'm at dahoodhouse hanging with a plethora of homies, athletes, and coaches. A few just returned from the Level 1 shoot at Windell's. E'Dollo stomped, "the best trick ever done in the history of skiing" according to Liam. Real stoked to see that shot. And now, some words of wisdom:

"The illest part about not sleeping is deciding what I'm wearing tomorrow, right now" - Tom reiterating the many joys of pulling all nighters for 10 page papers, and flying to Norway in the AM.

All Good Things

Pushups and Optimism

Day 21, Mt. Hood Oregon - SO FAR SO HOOD.

Despite pouring rain in Government Camp, Timberline Lodge and the Windell's park were above the clouds. Tickets are played, so I hiked amidst dirt gullies and volcanic rock until I reached the lane. At one point, the fog rolled in and I took a wrong turn. After hiking up a half mile more above the camp, I realized I had gone too far and carefully made my ascent up the gully. The rocks were slippery and unstable from the fog but after many mishaps, I ascended the wall of the gully without falling to my death. All good things. Once I reached Windell's Camp I sessioned with so many talented skiers and snowboarders it was mindblowing. photo courtesy of Jason Eichhorst