Westbound Boarder

Unfortunately, it has come and gone already. No, not the winter season, the Mt. Hood Meadows Sno Kona Pond Skim, and my absolute favorite event of the year. The Skim took place for the fourth year in a row last Saturday and this event is only getting betting with age; with more beer (courtesy of Kona Brewing Co.), more creativity and more skin? That is right, skin. With the winner of the contest bearing it all this year, each and every spectator saw more than one may have bargained for….

Let me rewind for those of you who are out of the loop. Each year Mt. Hood Meadows hosts a Pond Skim. What is a pond skim you ask…? (Come on, really???) Put a 94 foot ice cold pond in the snow, dare everyone to garb up, dangle a trip to Hawaii under their nose and you can only imagine what people will come up with. So, each skimmer gets one chance to cross this years’  94 foot pond. If you successfully cross it your first attempt you advance to the ‘skim-off’ for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii, but only if your steez is up to par…if not second and third place comes down to best showmanship and best crowd reaction.

This years’ skim started with a typical PacNW weathered day; wind, rain and poor visibility on the hill. But yours truly, Matt Zaffino, promised it would turn around and the pond skimming would prevail. Thankfully, Zaffino was right and in spite of the occasional wind burst and snow flurry the weather worked out perfectly for the contest. The snow was fast and that only means one thing, awesome falls. Put your hands together (high speed meets a 94 foot pond) and what do you get? Superman’s, water burns, torn corns, lost tops, soggy people with ice cold bodies…try getting that mental picture out of your head.

We saw skimming brides, Richard Simmons, corporate stooges, Elvis, Speedos, Ms. Piggy, the list goes on.  But back to the skin I was telling you all about… Third place went to “King Kamehameha” (who took third place last year, for the same costume, which was a little strange). But first and second place were the two best of the show, between the man who can walk on water, “Jesus” and the man who has no shame, “Borat.” See for yourself!

The weather was good, the Hawaiian brews were great, and the entertainment was out of control. Thank you Mt. Hood Meadows, Kona Brewing, Co. and All About Hawaii Travel for another successful Pond Skim, it was one to remember.

Insider Tips:

• Craving a Kona Brew? Check them out locally at Bamboo Grove (my personal FAV), Salvador Molly’s and Henry’s 12^th Street Tavern. Know of any more Local Kona stashes? Let us know!
• It is done running for this season, but keep it in mind for the next. We took up the Grease Bus with the Kona Brewing, Co. Crew for the skim and had one hell of a time. The bus is super comfortable, shows snowboard videos your whole ride up to the hill, it runs off of vegatable oil and is only $10 round trip. Want more FAQ’s? cHeCK eM oUt.

Halloween always symbolizes one thing for most people… costume’s, candy, and an excuse to get your drink on. Although for snowboarders in the great northwest, it means that the upcoming shred season is almost here. For me, that is all that it symbolizes. I know that once Halloween is here, I will be playing in powder in a couple of weeks or less…

On this glorious Halloween of 2009, the third annual Backyard Bang Rail Jam took place in front of the Art Institute of Portland in Portland’s premier Pearl District. The rosters were predominantly made up of high school kids as well as a few older contestants who were competing at the AM level. Being one of the first rail jams of the season for us Oregonians, there’s really no better way to get stoked on the best sport than enjoying this “jam style” competition complete with quarter pipes and a sizable down box being ripped by plenty of young shredding hopefuls. In a  rail jam style contest riders are given as many runs as they can fit into their 15 minute heat, which takes the pressure off a bit and made it easier for the riders to land their tricks.

Among the thirty plus amateur competitors there were only five women competing. Although the ladies had the skills and costumes to keep the crowd entertained – these girls were complete with costumes such as a lion, cat, a baby backpack ensemble and then there was tall Sarah. She wasn’t robed like the other girls, but she didn’t really need it. Sarah was sticking 50/50′s and getting more air than the other girls, but didn’t make the final cut. The robed lion, Celeste Rhoads had a great arsenal of tricks, including (but of course not limited too) a cab to 50/50, 180 to 50/50, and the front board slide nose grab  were what really stood out to the crowd and resulted in the comp. win for Ms. Rhoads. Megan Middleton (a.ka. the kitten) took second place throwing a nice 360 over the smaller jump and some solid 50/50′s on the rail. Third place went to Kumara Kelly, who had a plastic baby doll strapped to her like a back pack. Kelley was the least consistent, but probably had the best hustle and the most runs out there.

During the entire three hour event, it only rained for 15 minutes. What? on Halloween in P-town? No rain? Yes ma’am. This made the snow more than cooperative and when you add some Liquid Aloha to the equation…this event was four sure a win for everyone.

Kona Brewing, Co. and many others, are at it again. Bringing you another sick event (check out the infamous pond skim), The Backyard Bang Rail Jam, with beer, prizes and costumes to boot is happening this Halloween – Saturday October, 31st (for those of you who don’t know when Halloween is).

According to the press release, onlookers will be treated to am and pro athlete snowboarding antics, fun games and prizes from the respected sponsors; Bonfire Snowboarding, our very favorite Skull Candy, Mt Hood Meadows, Exit Real World and US Outdoor Store.

The event is free to spectators and those who attend are encouraged to visit the sponsor village where you can pick up your own fresh orchid lei, enter the numerous giveaways (free flight to Oahu sound appealing?!), all while sipping some liquid Aloha courtesy of Kona Brewing, Co., and a few bucks of course.

Our Contributing Writer, Rochelle, will be there to capture the event in mind and of course digitally. So if you see her representing Westbound Boarder, give her a high five, a hug, or a beer.

Who? YOU

What? Third Annual Backyard Bang Snowboarding Rail Jam

When? 10-31-2009 from 12pm-4pm

Where? Art Institute of Portland in the Pearl District @ NW 11^th and Davis.

Why? Be there or be square.

Planning to drink tomorrow evening?  Why not do it for a good cause?  Tomorrow night, the Oregon Surfrider Foundation is hosting Pints Against Plastic, an event to raise money for their Ban the Bag campaign.  Pints Against Plastic will take place at the Backspace – 115 NW 5th Ave, Portland – from 6 to 10pm and will feature $3 pints from Kona Brewing.

Supporters of Ban the Bag propose a 20 cent fee for single use plastic bags within the city of Portland. Although these environmental destroyers may be convenient, plastic bags take centuries to break down, and it’s just as easy to use reusable bags. (Trader Joe’s bags are both environmentally-friendly and trendy!)

So, if you want to support this cause (while slightly intoxicated) head on over to Backspace tomorrow night.  Hey, you get to keep the pint glass.