Westbound Boarder

Andrea has left the country! She has accepted a last minute invite to chill with the best shredders out there at the best snowboard camp in the world. That is right, she escaped to South America Snow Sessions (SASS) and after two long days of travel, she has finally arrived! In case you are not aware, camp is located at Barichole, Argentina and reforms humanity into more cultured, Spanish speaking, snowboard pros. Stay tuned for Andreas comprehensive camp review and in the meantime check out SASS for yourself. Have fun Andrea we miss you!!!

Looking for adventure this summer? Well look no further. Helly Hansen has introduced to their summer line, a new and incredible lightweight breathable jacket that is perfect for the summertime adventurer. What could be so incredible about a jacket? Well this is the W Ekolab Recycler (retail price $300) is just that; a jacket made out of 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. How cool is that? On top of it being an entirely ‘green’ jacket it is completely functional too.

The Womens Ekolab Recycler is lightweight and extremely breathable which is perfect for the (all too frequent) warm, albeit rainy summer days in the PacNW. Check out the specific specs for yourself:

• Full 3-layer Helly Tech® XP waterproof breathable construction
• Stretch fabric in shoulders and elbows
• Light nylon ripstop body
• Lightweight construction
• Big pocket with water-resistant zippers holds maps and skins
• Helmet compatible hood
• Single-hand pull cord adjustment
• Super light, weight 508g (size large).

I was lucky enough to try out this jacket for myself and it has served me well. It is my new favorite bike riding jacket and here is why: The helmet compatible hood and the stretch fabric in the shoulders and elbows make this the perfect jacket to be active in. I never feel constricted in the coat and it is super comfortable. The jacket is great for summer morning and evening activities due to it being lightweight and breathable. Any cons? It is a light color so it does get dirty a little bit easy; however this jacket is durable and super easy to clean up with a wet towel.

Win It: One lucky winner can enter to win a Womens Ekolab Recycler Jacket of their own. Entering is easy! Simply leave a comment and tell us what your favorite summer activity is. One winner will be picked at random Wednesday August 11^th at midnight PST. One entry per email address, per day. Good Luck!!!

Time now to turn our attention to one of the coolest stores in the Portland area, Gorge Performance!
Sitting unpretentiously in a dusty parking lot of SW Portland, Gorge Performance offers all things boarding for the true adrenaline junkie - kite boarding, windsurfing, skim boarding (one of my favorites), snow and skateboarding. I recently had the opportunity of speaking with the owners Bob and Kim Rueter and learned a little bit about their business.

Bob and Kim started their business back in 1984 when windsurfing was basically in its infancy. Back then, snowboarding was also still just in the very early stages of development and Bob was the basically the first guy to begin servicing the new industries. They began selling the boards, booms, sails and were also a Hobie dealer. For those who might not be familiar with Hobie they are the folks who brought the Hobie (rocket ship!) catamaran to the sailing world. When asked what the initial spark for the business was, Bob told me that it was quite simple as he grew up sailing with his family so the transition to windsurfing was a natural one.

I asked Bob what the craziest idea he has seen in this industry and he replied, “The Wind Weapon”. Basically what you have here is a board and a sail that begins in a vertical configuration and as your speed increases, the sail then switches to a horizontal wing! I guess the idea was to get you and your board airborne. I imagine that this was the precursor to today’s kiteboard.

Bob and Kim don’t really have plans to expand much. Maybe some extra storage and a new shaping bay. Oh yeah, almost forgot, Bob shapes boards too. After speaking with them I got the sense that they are stoked to just be whom they are, continue improving the shop and being nimble enough to serve their customer base when the next wave (pun intended) of evolution hits the market.

So, there you have it. Gorge Performance has all the toys to go out and play plus all the doo dads, clothing and accessories that help you get your shred on.

Have a great summer!
Jim

This past weekend, my brother and I headed to South Santa Monica for my first day of surfing this season!  I know, I really have no excuse to have not made it out earlier, but I know I’ll be hitting the waves every weekend from here on out.  Check out my brother’s rash guard below … you like?

Today I learned that Charlie Sperr of legendary, “Charlie’s Mountain View” restaurant and bar in beautiful Government Camp Oregon passed away in his sleep over the weekend. I had the very good fortune of sitting down with Charlie for about an hour this spring and found him to be a really open, engaging and an interesting part of our mountain heritage.

Charlie first came up to the mountain when he was 10 years old and spent a lot of his time both fishing and skiing. During WWII, he spent 4 years, 11 months and 6 days (he made sure to point out) primarily in the South Pacific. When he told me of his time in the war he got that far away look in his eyes that I’ve seen before when the old vets are telling of their time fighting overseas. After WWII, he went to OSU and was later drafted to fight in the Korean War. He had just bought a house, had a baby and was sent to California to become a transportation officer. He wound up managing the mail which he didn’t like very much and signed up for Naval training instead. From there Charlie went into psychological warfare training at Georgetown University. In the summer of 1951 he was sent to Voice of America and was shipped out to Idaho. This proved to be the perfect location for Charlie as he skied every weekend and even taught some too. Up until recently, Charlie had been to Sun Valley every year for 58 years straight!

Charlie opened the Mountain View on June 19, 1977. After speaking with Charlie, I was amazed by his memory and retention of every little detail. He opened the Ratskeller in 1963 and had the Ratskeller West in Cannon Beach back in 1969. Additionally he had the Inn Between both at the beach and in Government Camp. Last but not least, Charlie had the Tyee Valley Saloon, the Thunderhead and snow removal for the town. Quite the entrepreneur to the say the least!

In 1983 Charlie invested roughly $100K to build the infrastructure required to provide cable television in Government Camp. Charlie Vision as it is affectionately known to the locals. When asked if it made any money, Charlie sort of leaned back in his chair, smiled and said,”no, not really”. One of the more interesting aspects of Charlie Vision is the live camera trained down upon the town. In the winter, few things are quite as pleasant as curling up next to the woodstove; listening to Charlie’s classical music and watching folks stroll around in the snow.

Stepping into the dimly lit bar is a little like stepping into the un-official museum of the mountain. There are so many memories in that place you can almost still hear the revelry even when the place is quiet. In addition to live music, great libations and dancing till the wee hours, Charlie’s has also hosted a few different ski clubs and associations. Every year, usually in November there is a “Pray for Snow” party the Schnee Vogeli Ski Club hosts. In February, the Skiyiente Ski Club throw s a King Winter party in which one lucky (or unlucky depending on who you talk to) individual is crowned King Winter for the year. All the prior King’s photos are placed up on the wall and its great fun to go back in time and see the entire former King’s! You might just see someone’s Dad or Grandfather up there!

So, there you have it. A little history lesson on one of Government Camp’s founding Fathers. If you’re ever in Guvvy as we locals call it, take some time and stop in to pay homage to the best bar in town!

R.I.P. Charlie - You will be missed!

Thank you for your entries. This contest is now closed.

It is finally, officially summer and what better way to kick it off than with a free watch from Freestyle? For those of you who aren’t familiar with the brand they make kiss a$s watches perfect for the individual. From Freestyle themselves, “We may not play the same sport or have the same passions, we may not have the same gender, religion or faith, we may not live in the same country, city, or state, but we all spend our days breathing, bleeding and sweating the same way. At the end of the day it’s all about performance and together we are Freestyle, we are performance timing.”

Freestyle hooked us up with the newest watch of the season, the Killer Shark, and now we get to give one to you. Coming in a variety of colors, this watch measures at 50MM wide (the bigger the better, right?), and boasts quality and style. See for yourself! (Specks: 100 meters H20, Time/Day/Date, 2 Alarms, Heat Timer,  Chronograph, Night vision backlight display, Durable polyurethane strap with high gloss finish).

>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

When I first looked at the Killer Shark I realized how large this watch is. Depending on what kind of style you are looking for this watch could just as well work for the ladies, but at first glance I would consider this a men’s watch. The pros of the watch? It has a great big easy to read screen and even the date is easy to view. It is user friendly and super simple and the band that the strap tucks into is very secure, this watch is not going anywhere unexpectedly! (a.k.a. you’re not going to loose it). In addition, the watch has a high gloss finish and is perfect for the active individual. It is waterproof, has two alarms and looks flippin’ sweet. Cons? None really, other than the fact that it is a little big so it may get in the way of the range of motion of your wrist if you ever lift weights, but that is a stretch.

The big boasting Killer Shark not for you? We have a more feminine option for those who prefer it. The winner of our giveaway has the option of choosing either the Killer Shark, or the Classic shark - which is a smaller option and comes in slightly different colors (below).

Win It:

We are giving one lucky winner their choice of either the Killer Shark or Classic shark, depending on your preference. All you have to do is leave us a comment here and tell us where you plan to take your Shark this summer. It is that easy.  Contest ends Wednesday June 30^th, 2010 at Midnight.

It was a couple of weeks ago, but nonetheless an amazing event. The 2010 Campus Rail Jam Tour Finals went off Memorial Day Weekend and all contestants were absolutely killin it. If you are not familiar with the Jam here is the gist - it includes the best skiers, snowboarders, ladies and gents from the the 2010 Campus Rail Jam Tour contests. The stops along the way have included, Corvallis, Salt Lake City, Reno, San Diego, the list goes on…Riders compete at a jam session competition and the best of the best are invited to the finals in good ole Portland, OR.

We joined in the fun at Pioneer Square in Portland, OR and witnessed the best shredders of the tour throw down in the pouring rain for over three hours straight. The rain didn’t stop the intensity and the guys and gals really raised the bar against one another with the sickest tricks. The winners of the contest took home some cold hard cash and more steeze then they could carry. Check out our favorite shots from the contest and the results for the mens and womens ski and snowboard finals.

>>>>

>

>>

>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ski

Womens

1- Kristie Giles

2- Katie Powers

Ski Mens

1- Garrett Rowley

2- McRae Williams

3- Joey Vandermeer

Snowboard Womens

1- Krysta Pelchar

2- Ashley Thornton

3- Randa Shahin

Snowboard Mens

1- Lou Macias

2- Christian Hobush

3- Jordan Welter

A crew of kids showering the park jumps and jibs one, after another, or even at the same time!? They show each other up and even show you up. Whether it is a frontside five here, a rodeo, back flip or two, maybe even a HOT GARBAGE rail jib followed by a bonk and a poke on that ball jib (sometimes known as Park Monkeys!) Oh yeah, I roll with a crew like that!

I’ve lived in SoCal for two years of my life now, but if you count the 13 years I lived here growing up, that’s 15 years total.  15 winters.  Can you believe I had never been to Mammoth?  Well, a few weeks ago, I decided I was going to change that.

After a particularly long week at work in Seattle, Washington, I decided it was about time to finally head to Mammoth.  It was May, mind you, but reports of continuous fresh pow flooded my ears all spring.  Powder and sun in May?  Um, sold!  My flight home from Seattle landed at LAX around 5:30pm, so I headed home, threw some cloths into a bag, and by 7pm my friend Matty and I were cramped up in his tough (and slightly smelly) Toyota, gear, pillows and sleeping bags sprawled in the back, cruising up the 405 freeway toward Mammoth.

We arrived around midnight (we took an hour-long detour in search of food… we ended up at Panda Express; figures) and stayed in a quaint little pad that must have slept at least 14.  Yeah, the place was tight, but cozy.  We pretty much hit the sack immediately, in preparation for the long day that lay ahead.

Now, I was told that it was pretty cold at Mammoth, so as soon as our alarms went off next morning (ok, well, after hitting the snooze button a few times) I piled on the layers.  Two pairs of pants, three top layers, and two pairs of socks later, I was bundled and ready to hit the slopes… only to find that it was at least 50 degrees F but the time we got up to the hill.  Translation, I could have worn a bikini and made out just fine.

From the main town area, you can either take a tram from the bottom to the hill or drive up.  It’s maybe a 10-minute drive and parking kind of stinks, but if you’re willing to shell out 20 bucks you’re granted premium parking right in the lot (we don’t like exercise, so we opted for that route).  We picked up our tickets (beware - lift tickets will run you a whopping 87 bucks, but rumor has it prices will rise to 92 next year, making Mammoth one of the highest priced mountain resorts in the US) and were finally ready to face the hill and shred some ridiculous spring snow.  And the sun definitely wasn’t stopping the pow from being anything less than amazing.

One of the great things about Mammoth is that there really is something for everyone.  There’s more than 90 acres of free terrain that incorporates a nice mix of beginner and advanced slopes.  There are some fun tree runs, but plenty of bowls and open groomers as well.  We spent the morning shredding the terrain (I’m sure we didn’t even begin to graze the surface of all that was available to us) but the real fun began in the park.

With three pipes and seven parks, Mammoth is continually touted as having one of the best parks in the nation.  And I can definitely see why.  Their park area was pretty sick.  It had a nice mix of jumps and they were very well groomed, but also a good number of mid-sized jumps, just enough to challenge me without completely scaring me off.  There were a few 70 footers, too (and people were actually doing them )  This year toward the end of the season, Mammoth even brought in a landing pad where riders could try new tricks or perfect the old… you know, without dying and such.

My favorite thing about Mammoth, though, is the chill and laid-back vibe this hill resonates, especially in the less-crowded spring season.  Everyone spends their days chilling in the park or hanging on the benches outside with a drink in hand before they start round two.  Out of any resort I’ve been to, Mammoth is hands down the most fun, whether you’re riding or not.  And the nightlife ain’t too shabby, either.

Insider Tip: Given its close proximity to what is commonly referred to as the mecca of action sports (ahem, LA) there is always something going down at Mammoth.  Before you plan your trip out though, be sure to check the events calendar on the Mammoth website before solidifying your trip dates. The best weekends to go are the weekends when there’s something big going down - the Roxy Chicken Jam or the West Coast Invitational, for instance.  And there’s always a pro or two to be spotted - especially when you go during a big event weekend.  I saw US Olympic rider Greg Bretz and Tyler Flanagan in the park line several times, for instance, and I bumped into Elena Hight at lunch.

With more than 45 feet of snow falling throughout the 2009/10 season, Mammoth Mountain is currently slated to stay open through the Fourth of July weekend.  So if you’re still looking to satisfy your snowboard fix, you still have a whole month to make it up!

If I were to sum up Mammoth in three words or less, it might sound a little something like this - Great snow, killer parks, and awesome local vibe (Okay, so that may be a few words over three, but you get the idea…)  All in all, Mammoth is a mountain worth going for.

« Older Entries