Westbound Boarder

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

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!

My favorite time of year has finally arrived…you know spring riding, corn snow and the 4th Annual Mt. Hood Meadows SnoKona. This is the event of the season and the event I have been waiting all year for.  Don’t believe me? Check out my recap from this event last spring. The Pond Skim is the absolute funniest, entertaining event; with great costumes, 100 shred heads skimming for their lives (and a free trip to Hawaii) across a 90 foot rigid pond, you are guaranteed a great time.

The deets: The 4th Annual Spring Splash Pond Skimming Competition will be here this Saturday, April 24th (or the 25th depending on Saturday’s weather!). This event is brought to you by Kona Brewing Co. and All About Hawaii Travel, which means, Hawaiian music, drinks, food and costumes

The Rules: All participants will receive one attempt to cross the 90 foot pond successfully, those who do so will advance to the ’skim-off,’ where if more than one contestant makes it to the other side during the ’skim-off’ the winner will be based upon the following: best skim style, best Hawaiian costume, best showmanship and best Best crowd reaction. First place is a trip for two to Hawaii. Second place winners will take home their very own Kona Prize Pack which includes two beach chairs, a skimboard, a backpack cooler, a Kona beach towel and a set of 12 Kona glasses. Third place will be treated to a $50 gift certificate from bamboo grove.

Haven’t convinced you yet? Well leave it to the grand prize. The top three skimmers, the best splash, best impression made by a women contestant, and best Hawaiian costume will walk home with a prize, one of which is a round trip vacation for two to Hawai’i!

Registration is $25 and includes your comp fee and a Sno-Kona towel, so hurry up as space is limited to 100 participants! I will be there, Kona brew in hand covering the event (not competing this year, wonder why? check out our event recap from last year!)  So let me know if you plan on attending the event by leaving a comment or shooting me an email, (westboundboarder@gmail.com) because we would love to see you there!

Tons of fresh snow on Hood and Im going to play in it today! Its looking like another late season… better late then never! Powder Patty anyone??!!

Tim Windell, Creator of Windells Camp

I’m a huge fan of Tim Windell and recently had the rare opportunity to catch up with him. I say rare as the dude is constantly on the move especially with the Winter Olympics coming up and the wrap up of the Winter X-Games. Tim is the proud owner/operator of Windells Camp - The Funnest Place on Earth.

Windell’s operation is located on the western slopes of Mt. Hood Oregon. Ideally located between Sandy and Welches, Windells Camp occupies a former motel complex, and sits on 53 acres which include Oregon’s largest indoor skate park, a sick assortment of concrete skate features, a foam pit, an Olympic-size trampoline, an outdoor BMX/Freeride dirt circuit complete with the largest assortment of ramps, jumps, rails you name it! The place is constantly evolving and while I was there, the crew had a cement mixer on site and was busy building new features that will undoubtedly prove to be nothing short of incredible.

Tim began skiing at the ripe old age of 3 back in Colorado. As a boy, he enjoyed such places such as Breckinridge, Vail, Steamboat and Winter Park. During Tim’s teenage years, his skiing improved so much that he literally hit a plateau. He felt as though he wasn’t getting much better at it and he began to look for other snow sport opportunities. This is when snowboarding first emerged on the scene. Tim found this new sport to be both challenging and exhilarating. Needless to say, Tim rocked the snowboard world and took countless titles.

However, as Tim explained to me, he began to notice that the younger guys were catching up and he found it difficult to both compete and train at the same time. So, with this in mind, Tim opened up his first training camp in Whistler BC and then finally in Oregon around 1987.

Foam Practice Pit

One of the key ingredients to Tim’s success is the location. One of the greatest things Wendells has to offer is Mt. Hood’s year round snow. There are several companies that offer similar type programs but Windells is unique as it is sequestered away by itself and really is sort of an island unto itself. Yeah, an island of fun! Tim has taken great strides in keeping his campers safe and secure. His is a multidimensional approach that takes into account the physical, mental maybe even spiritual well being of each and every camper. I guess when you churn out as many world champions as Tim Windell has over the years, (16 USA Olympic Medalists, 137 X Games Medalists, top 10 men & 8 of the top 10 women on the Dew Tour) you see this method as the only one in which to employ.

One of the most fascinating things to me was the school that is located on the campus. I think a common misconception is that Windell’s is all fun and games. It is the Funnest Place on Earth to be sure but it also has a serious side as well. Many of the young folks that come to Windell’s come with the need for an alternative education program. The academy students are enrolled in a fully accredited program that will allow the student-athletes to go to college and pursue professional careers. They work at their own pace in a very low key, comfortable environment… I’m a fan.

Snowboards, anyone?

When asked how women have progressed in the snow sports, Tim responded with an enthusiastic, “exponentially”! Women he said “have really stepped up their games. Gold medalist Kelly Clark for example is now un-reachable.” He went on to say the women have much more accessibility then they once had, they’re legit and getting better all the time.” Recently during a Holiday training camp, most if not all were women! He went on to say that there is more camaraderie with women; they’re great ambassadors of the sport and very supportive to one another.

So, in summation, what a great privilege it was to spend a little time with Tim Windell. Truly a visionary and all around great guy. If you ever get the opportunity to enroll in one of his amazing camp sessions, do it! Because, in the words of Warren Miller, “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll only be one year older when you do.”

When Bud Valian moved from British Columbia to Oregon in 1954, things were a little different on the mountain. Timberline, where he taught skiing, had only one lift - the Magic Mile. In those days, “The Mile” was in a different location. It was actually east of the lodge and went all the way up to Silcox Hut. Bud said the lift tickets were only $4.00/each back then…ahh those were the days!

From all accounts, Bud was a bit of a wild man in his younger days and would often climb up to the top of Mt.Hood and ski down. When asked what his scariest moment was, Bud scratched his head for a moment and said that one morning he had just made it to the top of the mountain as was looking around when suddenly, KABOOM! Two fighter jets came screaming right at him, circled the mountain and then waved goodbye. This is of course just one of the many stories the man offered up. I have it on good authority from others that Bud is credited with straight lining the upper bowl at Ski Bowl more than once. For any of you who have ridden the upper bowl, you can only imagine just how fast you’d get rippin’ going straight down!

Bud and his wife Betsy have been together now for 26 years. They are the perfect mix of yin and yang to run their business. Betsy is the stylish one. She has that magic touch when it comes to decorating the shop and merchandising everything in the most effective way. Bud is the mad scientist behind the curtain. He has developed his own equipment which is nothing short of brilliant ingenuity. Going into Valian’s is almost like stepping into a time warp when ski shops were the only place to find goggles, hats gloves and get your skis tuned. “Betz” on the other hand really has an extraordinary flair for combining the old and the new. As you shuffle around the shop, you will see clippings from old Life magazines, newspaper articles, and the products that were popular back in the day. It takes you back to the days of yore and gives you that warm fuzzy feeling that all is right with the world. However, all of it too is mixed with the very latest gear to help you get your shred on.

I asked Bud how the culture of the mountain has changed and he gave me a reply that I had long suspected. He basically said that these days, everybody is in such a hurry to get up there and then get back down to their everyday lives. He went on to say that it used to be that everyone was much more laid back and personal but the sport itself was in many ways much more difficult. (think lace up boots and bear trap bindings!)

Responding to the question of whether or not he still skis, he said absolutely! However, at 76 he picks his days usually in the spring where he can “wear his sunglasses”. He went on to say that he had enough days teaching in crappy weather.

So, there you have it. Valian’s ski shop in good old Government Camp. One of the classics that I hope will endure in this world of Dick’s, Sport’s Authority and Big 5. A place where you can get real advice from a real pro who’s been there/done that and knows what’s best without the BS.

The long drive to Mt. Hood and a large, warm cup of coffee go hand and hand… With the winter freeze going on right now I can’t help but drink a lot more of this warm stuff than usual. So naturally, it doesn’t surprise me when I hear another pro clams P-Town as their home. We have pro rippers like Darrell Mathes, Danny Kass, and Austin Smith reppin’ our lovely state of OREGON. And now, Mack Dawg’s rider Willie Yli-Luoma, known for his CREATIVE progression in snowboarding (360 board spin anyone?), opened up a coffee shop here in Portland.

Located just off Burnside (2211 E. Burnside), it’s called Heart Coffee Roasting and it just opened in October, 2009. They offer an assortment of Guatemalan brews - A frothy winter brew in time for Christmas. And the best part - they are even having a beer tasting next week! Complete with a bike race (because beer and biking also go hand-inhand… obvi). That’s Portland’s style for ya, the style that I love so much. I’m going to go check it out this weekend, and I invite all my Westbound Boarder readers to come along, too!

Last weekend when I was home in Portland for Thanksgiving, Danielle and I packed our bags and hit the hill for the my season opener.  (In fact, I do believe it was both of our first days up).  It was such an amazing day - several inches of new, fresh pow, a perfect blue-bird day, and of course, great company.  Danielle’s hubby is teaching lessons at Timberline this season, so we opted for T-line as opposed to our usual Meadows.  I haven’t been to T-line in years (I think the last time I went was for my high school snowboard team’s state championship meet - yes, that was a long time ago!) so it was a nice change of pace from the crowds and lines that characterize Mt. Hood Meadows.  (Now I’m not saying I don’t love Meadows - it has been and will always be my #1!)

Anyway, after arriving to the mountain (and spending a whopping $59 on lift tickets) we were ready to ride.  We got a lot of riding in for the maybe 5 or 6 hours we were on the slopes, namely because there were very short lift lines.  Most of the time we were able to just hop right on!  We spent most the day on the Mile, because from what I hear a nice day up top is pretty hard to come by.  There was a park with some pretty nice tables and jibs, but after a few first-day-up spills we decided to ditch the park and freeride.

We finished out the day with the Alpine Trail, a “top secret” trail that only locals know about (OK, maybe that’s a bit of stretch) that takes riders along a 2.5 mile trail from Timberline to Government Camp.  We started from the top of Magic Mile and made our way down to (and through) the Alpine Trail - 3.5 miles in all.  Man were we spent!

Thanks, Timberline, for a great first day up, and I’m so looking forward to more just like it!

Another week gone, another Friday here, with the weekend just over the horizon.  Below are some links to surf this week, highlighting fun happenings around the Web.  Check them out, and have a great weekend!  May your weekend be filled with waves, boards and sand, and may your limbs remain fully in tact

• The Art of ‘Hardcore Sitting’ Explained: One of my clients, HowStuffWorks.com (awesome site, BTW; check it out!), is working with a Wheelchair Skateboarder, Aaron Fotheringham, in their new ad campaign.  Aaron was the first person to complete a backflip in a wheelchair (!!!)  He has a neat, inspirational story, profiled this month in HUCK Magazine Online; definitely a worthwhile read.
• They Have a Month Dedicated to Craft Beer? It’s true.  Orgon Governer Ted Kulongosky officially declared July “Oregon Craft Beer Month,” with several Portland-based brewaries joining in the fun.  For information on events associated with Oregon Craft Beer Month, visit the Web site.  Can we get one these in LA please, Arnold?
• See Jane Skate: Our friends at SLAG are not the only chick’s out there motivating any and all ladies to learn to skate. Check out what Ms. Anne Klazek is up to as she is working on making girls of all skill levels more comfortable on their skateboard. Although the events already passed, read about what her skate events are all about - she’s pretty rad…
• Bachelor Introduces New Ticket Pricing: Some angry skiers say it will just cause headaches, but some think it pure genius. Mt. Bachelor is introducing new way to price their lift tickets, where they will “match the experience to the price.”  This means fluctuating lift ticket prices, based upon the visibility, lift operations and snow conditions. Check out the deets here.
• Roxy Previews 2009/2010 Line in New York: Its never too early to start shopping for your winter set up, as Roxy demonstrated when they previewed their upcoming Holiday line in New York this past week.  With snowboard gear, workout outfits, and even a brand new line of party dresses, Roxy helps us girls look cute and stylish while on the slopes.  Preview their new winter line and read about their New York demo here.
• Absinthe Films Drops Neverland Teaser: Travis Rice, need we say more?  Check it out!

I talked to my mom briefly this morning on my way to work, and she told me quite the sad story.  She was at Mt. Hood this past weekend for the Pond Skim (great event, BTW; keep an eye out for Danielle’s post coming soon).  My mom had heard of a traffic accident somewhere near Sandy, so instead of sitting in traffic she decided to make a nice, long (overnight) stop at a friend’s cabin in Government Camp.  Well, turns out, the traffic accident was a triple fatality… and the next day, my mom received a phone call informing her that one of the persons involved in the accident was a friend of hers from work; Pam Benson.

According to my mom, Pam and her 11-year-old daughter were driving home from a baseball game in Sandy, her son and husband in a separate car, and an 18-year-old driver ran a red light and hit the pair from the side, killing them both instantly.  Sources at the scene say the driver ran two red lights in a row, and was obviously driving recklessly.

My heart and deepest sympathy goes out to the Benson family.  Though I did not know Pam personally, my mom says she was a kind, caring human being with a good heart.  She always practiced proper safety procedures, right down to buckling her daughter in the back seat at all times just to be extra safe.  The irony pains me to think about.

So why am I telling you this?  Accidents happen all the time, especially near the mountain.  Sometimes just a fender bender, but sometimes more serious, and in this case, even fatal.  I know Danielle and I often discuss safety on the hill, but don’t often talk about (or really even think about) safety off the hill.  In reality, driving in unpredictable conditions can be dangerous, and its important to be cautious at all times.  Please take this accident as a small reminder to always follow the posted speed limit and traffic laws, and to be well-aware of your surroundings and drivers around you.  In this case, Pam couldn’t have foreseen the situation; but you can.

If you have a spare moment tonight or this week, please feel free to leave a comment below in sympathy of the Benson family, or say a silent prayer in their memory.

UPDATE: I stand corrected - I just learned that the driver walked away from the crash.  Unharmed.  He was arrested shortly after for robbery and wreckless driving.  This really hits my former point home - it seems that it is always the innocent who pay for others’ mistakes.  I truely hope that this driver does not go unpunished.

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