Need a break from riding but the powder keeps falling...

Rode yesterday and today... Yesterday I did a solo day in the pow. Only a few inches on the front-side, but Blue Sky Basin was knee deep!

Today I rode with Hulsey most of the day then did a few solo runs at the end... An epic powder day today. I think it was the driest, dustiest snow I have ever riden. You didn't even slow down making turns. Incredible...

Tomorrow should be good as well if this storm we are expecting pulls through.

The Gore Range from the top of the Orient Express:

Loving the snow

A few more inches fell last night and it is still snowing all day today and hopefully tonight and tomorrow... Jeff, Sean, and I went out and took some runs this morning.

Me dropping the cliff near the bottom of Chair 1:

Wing night

This was a few nights ago at Altitude... wings and pool...

backcountry after work

After work Jeff and I decided to do a little hiking and try to get some powder action. We managed to even though it was a bit crusted up...

Jeff acid-dropping off Sean's porch:


View of the Vail Valley at night from a ways up Red and White Mountain:


Jeff's silhouette:

Ryan and Elena's kitten

First pic I took on my new camera was of Ryan and Elena's kitten...

city boy, yes i am (repost)

So after quite a few years of trying to figure something out, I think I finally have. I love city life. This however conficts with my love of snowboarding since snowboarding in cities usually sucks and the concrete and asphalt ruin boards quickly.

I love the concerts.
I love the indie movie theatres.
I love walking around the city.
I love having tons of people.
I love the public transportation.
I love city biking.
I love the bookstores, CD stores, and magazine shops.
I love the ghetto bowling alleys.
I love the metropolitan women.
I love cities.

So, I have done 4 years in Plattsburgh (too small), then almost 2 in Buffalo (good size), then a year in Hamilton, NZ (too small), and now I am in Vail (way too small). I am gonna have to make the move after this snowboard season to a city... I just can't handle it anymore. Not that I don't love living in Vail. I do love this place. This is my favorite place I have ever lived, but there are too many things I miss...

Another day alone

This cold is kicking my ass. I slept in late today in order to try and better myself, but I am still feeling about the same. Had to go pick up my board at the Burton store because I left it there to get tuned last night so I decided to take a few solo runs. Cranked up the music real loud and made some turns...

During my last run Hulsey called and wanted to meet for lunch so we hit Pazzo's. Now I am getting ready to head to work. Ugh...

Panoramic of the Gore Range from the top of Chair 2:

Tired and slightly sick

After ripping some powder in the morning with Jeff, Spencer, Dan, and Sean (Sean folded his board and is now boardless) I took a drive down to Denver. Hit up Best Buy for my new camera... the Canon SD550.

After that I headed over to Colorado Mills mall because Ryan hadn't called me back yet and I found some sweet deals! Quicksilver jeans for $5 and a Dub jacket for $30. The Dub jacket was basically exactly what I have been searching for during the past several weeks.

Went to Ryan's new house and had dinner with him, Elena, and Leah and played with the kitten then headed back. Good to be home even if there are random naked people in the hot tub...

East Vail chutes

This morning Dan, Jeff, Jamie, and I went out to do a few runs in the East Vail backcountry. We hit Headwall, then Gengis Kahn and then took the Poma lift and hiked up to the top of the chutes. First run we did Watertower and the second (minus Dan) we did something skier's left of Watertower. Both were money as... Deep dry pow all over the place.

Me, Jeff, and Jamie getting ready for the second run:


Me dropping it like it's hot:


Jeff making some pow turns:


Me jumping off a rock hit:


Me getting some deep turns:


Jamie belongs in a magazine:

new music player

Decided I just couldn't wait for the N3 any longer. I went out and get a Creative Zen Nano Plus tonight. I still plan to pick up the N3 when it comes out, but that looks like it will be a while. Now I need to put together a good playlist for tomorrow when Jeff, Jamie, and I go ride the East Vail chutes.

Beacon training went well last night. Jeff and I running around in the snow in the freezing temperatures is always a good time even when Dan decides not to join us.

Dinner time.

beacon training tonight

Who wants in? We are holding an avalanche beacon training session at the bottom of the Vista Bahn lift tonight at about 4pm... So far it is Jeff, Dan, and I doing it up. Anybody who doesn't know how to use a beacon is welcome.

Finally got to ride again

A few nights ago I went with a big posse over to the Vail Sessions rail jam. Then last night Meghan and her brother Matt came for a visit and we went to the slopestyle event. Such incredible snowboarding to watch.

Today Jeff, Sean, Meg, Matt and I went out riding. Started out a beautiful day, but then the storm came in and the visibility got nasty. Big dinner tonight... We made chicken pasta primavera and Jeff came over and joined us. I love having Meg here. I wish she would come up every weekend.

Rail jam setup:


Nicole looking hot:


Matt dropping a cliff in Blue Sky Basin:

Ready for the Sessions

Headed out a few days ago on my Lib Tech for the first time since early December or so. I totally forgot how soft and short it is compared to the Nitro. Just tail-pressing on the catwalk I whipped out and cracked my shoulder on the icy-ness. Talked to one of the doctors at Resort Med today he doesn't think I broke anything, but it is still really painful. Time for more Motrin!

Yesterday I rode with Scott. He was just fired from work, but his pass is still working. Yes... Then after work last night I went out with Jordan and two cute girls. I gotta start hanging out with Jordan more often.

Meghan's brother is visiting from Buffalo for the weekend and they are coming up this weekend for Sessions and to do some riding on Sunday. Should be a fun time.

the more i can't have it the more i want it

Hulsey and I went on another shopping mission, this time to Copper, Brecken-fridge, and Silverthorne. I still have not found what I am looking for. Ended up eating at Bamboo Garden and being so stuffed that Jeff passed out and I almost did on the way home. Finally made it. The weather on the pass sucks. Took us well over an hour to get to Copper earlier. Now... time for bed!

Never get days off

Today I was supposed to have off, but a few days ago my boss asked me to come in to cover for one of the guys who got suspended. Yes, that's right, it wasn't me this time. So... I am working and then Hulsey and I are heading to Copper and Breck to do some shopping then to Keystone to take some night runs. I can almost guarantee a good day starting at 4pm!

Last night at the Dusty Boot:

Broken

So... as I looked at my board before I took it back I realized how thrashed it really was. The inserts in the front binding had started pulling out slightly and a broken core was the cause of the delam. The core had broken so badly that the edge was bubbled downward as well as causing the delamination. Considering this was Nitro's powder board and it was stiff and I was even at the bottom of the weight category for the 161cm I am really surprised I broke it. Just proves how hard I ride. ;)

Jesse is sending it back for me and I should have a new one in two to three weeks. Cross your fingers they send me the '06 model.

Now time to head down to Beaver Creek to get some dinner with Jeff, Lindsey, and a few others.

De-lam

Finally rode with Nick (one of the guys I work with) today. I can't believe it, this is his first season ever on a snowboard and he totally keeps up. His steez needs some work, but he is ripping hard. I have been suspecting my board was starting to delaminate and finally today delamination reared its ugly head. About to head over to One Track Mind in Lionshead to warrantee this board. Hopefully it doesn't take to long to get a new one, but in the meantime I will be one the Lib Tech. Its ok though since we aren't getting any snow right now and it is just groomer-jibbing anyway and the Lib is better for that...

Delamination:

back to the sleep -> work -> snowboard schedule

Jeff, Dan, Nick, and I did it up today. We sessioned for a while off Ptarmigan Ridge where we built a small kicker to gap into a cornice drop. Yeah... nice! Day off and riding tomorrow!

Nick, Jeff, and Dan hiking Ptarmigan Ridge:


View of Sun Down Bowl from Ptarmigan Ridge:


Dan hucking off the cornice kicker:

On the board again!

Yesterday morning Jeff, Nick, Sean, and I were shred ready real early and did some serious shredding. So much pow all over the place. The best we found was in Earl's Bowl out of bounds just to the southwest of Blue Sky Basin. A short hike was required, but we were more than rewarded!

Jeff and Nick hiking out to Earl's Bowl:


View from Earl's Bowl overlooking Blue Sky Basin:

Rid-diddly-iding

Heading up on the mountain tomorrow for the first time in 2006... So damn stoked to not be working mornings for a while. Ordered up some new CDs tonight... Sufjan Steven's "Illinoise", Laura Veirs' "Year of Meteors", and Wolf Parade's "Apologies to the Queen Mary". Oh, and last week I got an old out of print and rare Peter Frampton CD, "Frampton Comes Alive". How is that for a random set of 4 CDs?

no pow for me

Snowboarding is a thing I am not familiar with any more. I have worked the past 3 mornings at 6am and tomorrow I work at 7 am. After that I have all afternoon shifts next week! Yes! Call me if you wanna ride next week suckers.

13 hour shift

Worked a 13 hour shift today because right at the end of my normal 8 hours I was asked to drive someone to the Grand Junction airport which is a little over 2 hours away! Ugh. Made some serious cash today though.

New Year's Eve ski party!

Last night I went to Nick's and went out with him, his girlfriend Jen, and 2 of her girlfriends from Denver. We nailed a ski party and had a hell of a night. Kissed the prettiest girl in the room (one of Jen's friends) even though she is a smoker.

Nick and I in full attire:


Jen doing the double ski: