Westbound Boarder

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.

If you like sport’s and have spent any time in the Pac NW, G.I. Joe’s to you is not an action figurine, but an awesome local retail sporting goods store. Growing up in Portland, OR with an active family who was always hiking, biking, camping or skiing, G.I. Joes has always been our destination to get the goods. What is now known as Joe’s (the G.I. was dropped a few years back when new management took over), is a one stop shop that literally has it all. For those of you who do not already know, the recession has got the best of Joe’s Sports and I am here today to bid GI Joe’s, Joe’s Sports, or Joe’s (whatever it may be to you) the farewell that they deserve.

G.I. Joes debuted over 57 years ago as an army surplus store and has blossomed into Joe’s Sports - a sporting goods dynasty, carrying a whole lot of everything! Unfortunately, now 31 locations (throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho) and 1,600 employees will be forced to liquidate and close their doors.

In the meantime, Joe’s will remain open until their merchandise is gone, so you can still shop at Joe’s as liquidation and sales are starting now. Gift Cards and refunds for items already purchased will be accepted through April, 24^th. So go and say your goodbye’s to a Pac NW legendary store, don’t live in the Pac NW? That’s okay, shop at Joe’s Sports Online. Unfortunately G.I. Joe’s sports could not withstand the rise of this COBRA like recession…

We love to hear from our readers, and we love it even more when our readers become contributing writers!  So with that, we are so excited to introduce to you Rochelle Baker from Portland, Ore. Rain or shine, you can catch Rochelle at the mountain any day of the week.  Though she’s only been riding for a few years, she’s progressed so much since her first day riding.  But hey, even the pros gotta start somewhere, right?  In this post, Rochelle writes about her first day on the slopes.

The day started early; right around 5a.m…. I didn’t sleep much the night before due to the excitement of this new and unknown adventure. Was only 19 and working as a receptionist a local salon at the mall. Was dating this boy I went to high school with. Rob. He drove a blue van that had the name BIG BLUE across the front windshield. This was my first trip up to Mt. Hood to snowboard, which now is my life… it all seemed so simple.

My cousin Danielle let me borrow her Chorus Determination board. I remember strapping in the very first time.

We practiced on a small hill by the Mt. Hood Meadows Express chair lift… I really thought I had it down after a few times up and down this tiny hill. So I buckled in and went for the lift. I had it… or so I thought. Little did I know, this was not a beginner lift, and suddenly I was knocked down by the chair and stuck in the powder below it. Oh was I embarrassed! Luckily I had Rob right next to me, who assured me that I could do it next time. I made my way down the hill, slowly but surely, and got on the lift once again. Up to the top we went…

Rob took me down a more advanced run this time which was a little tougher than what I was ready for. Spent the next hour on my butt and face; in tears, yet, determined to get this sport down. During the next few hours Rob patiently encouraged me to get up on my board. Finally, after many runs on my face, wet from head to toe, I learned to ride on the heel edge of my board. I’d point for ten feet then stop on my heel edge and do this over and over again as I made my way down the hill (just as all beginners do at some point!)

I rode like this for the next couple of years. Before long, I met another patient friend and he taught me to ride on my toe edge… it took a while. For whatever reason I was scared of my toe edge, and the thought of having my back to the mountain. Eventually, I was carving my way to becoming a better snowboarder. Heel, toe, heel, toe…

Now, snowboarding is just a way of life for me. Thankfully, I have now progressed into an all-terrain snowboarder. I now live for the fresh pow, the bowls, park, rails and especially the pipe; all things I never thought I would be able to do.

So consider this motivation for all of the beginners out there, who are wet from head to toe, scared of their toe edge, and experiencing sore muscles they never even knew existed!

Now, I live to ride!

Hey guys!  We originally recorded this interview as a podcast to launch our very first “boardcast” series (original, huh?), however, we have been experiencing technical difficulties so unfortunately we are unable to share the audio file with you at this time.  Technology likes to work in mysterious ways sometimes (or just not work at all)  Our boardcast will come soon, I promise!

Anyway, a few nights ago I got the opportunity to interview a good friend and former coworker (from my past professional life), Cameron Nichols.  In addition to being an advertising whiz, Cam is an awesome snowboarder, and this Friday and Saturday he’ll be boarding for charity… for 24 full hours.  Called “Hope on the Slopes,” Cam and a group of his buds from U. Oregon (they’re calling themselves “The Downhill Ducks”) will be snowboarding for 24 hours at Ski Bowl this weekend to raise money for American Cancer Society.  Cam personally has a close relative who passed from cancer, so this cause is near to his heart; and he gets to snowboard while supporting the cause.

The catch - If Cam raises $500, he promises he’ll snowboard in a gorilla suit!  (Why he even has a gorilla suit, well, that’s a different story).  Help Cam reach his goal!  If you’d like to donate, follow this link here. (Yes, Westbound Boarder has officially donated).

This week, Cam will really get the opportunity to eat, breath, and sleep snowboarding.  Aside from lots of coffee, Cam is excited to combine his love for snowboarding with a great cause.  Good luck, Cam; be sure to send pictures!

Are you doing anything to combine your action sports hobby with a good cause?  e want to hear about it; leave a comment below!

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