Last winter I did some freeskiing coverage for allisports.com, the official media outlet of all things Winter and Summer Dew Tour. This past weekend some kind friends from the editorial department invited me down for the first ever Skate Open in Boston. While I know very little about skateboarding, I do know that Boston is a good time. Highlights included:
partying with Horn and Collies. Always good to see you cats!
hanging out with the staff from Alli, both old and new. These folks work their tails off to make things happen. Thanks guys. Check out my festival recap here.
the media center was in the Away team’s locker room at the Garden. In other words, I wrote my articles in the same room Kobe Bryant has a melt down after the Celtics won the title. How good is that?
meeting P-Rod. What a genuine and super cool guy. I’m always happy to know there’s good guys like that in other aspects of action sports. Oh, and he’s a G (see Nike ad below)
hearing about all the exciting stuff planned for season 2 of Winter Dew. Stoked for the finals at Mount Snow! Ski The East team is taking over.
My buddy Alexis placed second in the third and final stop of the Winter Dew Tour with a smooth as butter run. Let me take this opportunity to say, “Congrats buddy! So stoked for you!”
Today is the last day of this month long journey. It started at Dew Tour, where the best halfpipe competition in the history of our sport went down. Sadly, a good friend was severely injured this weekend as well. Thankfully the ski community rallied together in a way that only we can and are making sure our friend has all the resources he needs during his recovery.
Then it was off to New England for a week of chowda, lobsta, and handrails with Poor Boyz, Nick Martini, Matt Walker, and Alexis Godbout. This trip was fun and so ignant. After this week long trip and one night in my bed back in Lake George, I caught a flight in Albany to Colorado. Two super fun days in Boulder hiking with Mort, drinking and catching up with old friends, and before you know, BAM! Aspen for Winter X 13. Xavier surprised us all in the pipe, Simon proved there is such a thing as rock star status in big air, and TJ came back stronger than ever in slope. Great parties and memories created that’ll last a lifetime. After X, reality check came in the form of a car accident. Digi Dave and I rolled the Freeskier FJ Cruiser on our way back to Boulder and thankfully, walked away unscathed. Life tosses you curve balls. Happy the umps were on our side during that one. No time to fret though. On a plane and BOOM! Viva Las Vegas baby, for SIA. Site seeing with Marge, rubbing elbows with Jake Burton (he has old elbows), drinking like whoa, fighting a cold, exhaustion, and sleep depravation. Meetings, meetings, meetings. One meeting had a particularly good outcome for yours truly but we’ll hold off on those details for now.
Today’s my last day on the road. My flight leaves at 11:59 p.m. (I had to squeeze every last drop). I’ve spent 1 night of the past 4 weeks in my own bed. I’m tired, inspired, ready to hug my dog, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This past weekend at Dew Tour, I caught up with my good buddy, Tanner Hall. T and I met a few years ago at an MSP premiere in Saratoga. He’s arguably the best skier in the world, absolutely the biggest fan of skiing, and an all around good guy to be around. Without further ado, here’s a quick interview with the man, the myth, the rasta man himself, T-Hall:
How’s it feel to be back in Vermont?
It feels good to be back in Vermont. It’s been about 8 years since I’ve been here at Mount Snow. This is kind of where it all started for me. I’m stoked man. Who would’ve thought we’d all fly to the East Coast and shred more powder here than we were before on the West Coast. We’re really getting the best of both worlds. There’s a really good halfpipe, good weather and some pow on top of it. It’s a good time.
What are your thoughts on the Winter Dew Tour?
I’m feeling pretty good. It’s all right today. I landed on my head this morning [laughs]. The first Dew Tour stop went pretty good. It’s looking like today and tonight are going to be a little bit better for us and we’re going to get it done. Everyone is pushing it to another level. It’s a different game now, you know what I mean? It’s great to see everyone stepping it up.
What had impressed you the most this weekend?
Justin Dorey’s doubles. He’s just coming out swinging and was throwing down last night during practice. Hopefully he can hang on to his run tonight because if he stomps that run…whole new game.
As far as Slopestyle goes, JF Houle deserves big respect for laying it down with really innovative tricks like his nose butter to pretzel 270. Most people can’t do that trick when they’re filming and he did it in a Slopestyle run. By far the coolest thing I saw yesterday.
Last night during practice, Dorey, Simon, and Duncan… Let me tell you something about this kid Duncan Adams. This kid knows style. He’s the rebirth of Stefan Thomas in the halfpipe. It’s so good to see a kid like Duncan out there super mellow and super humble just getting down to business. He’s a nice kid but he’s a silent killer and he lets his skiing do the talking.
Looking to repeat your performance from the Breck stop?
Always looking to repeat a win. I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve got some shifties going on in my flat 3s now like I had in New Zealand. I had a few crashes in practice but you know, it’s always good to get the crashes out of the way early. Tonight, I’m coming out swinging and leaving nothing back.
Plans for the rest of the season?
After the [Toyota Championship] stop of the Dew Tour, that’s when the real skiing begins. I’m going up to B.C. with [the film company Teton Gravity Research], Seth Morrison, Kye Peterson, and Dana Flare the day after that last stop for some filming. After that I’ll go to Retallack for a couple weeks to ski some pow. After that it’s up to Alaska. It’s going to be good. I’m ready to take my skiing in the big mountains this year to a really big level. I’m getting more confident on my skis when it comes to learning how to read lines. TGR is great because they’re the one crew that really knows what’s up in the backcountry. I mean I’ll be with Jeremy Jones for god’s sake! Just to have a chance to be around Jeremy and ride with him…I’m really excited to gain some knowledge from him and pick that dude’s brain and just watch how he operates in a serious zone. It’s all about safety and the more knowledge you have, the safer you’re going to be.
Any advice for the kids out there hoping to be in the Winter Dew Tour?
Keep skiing. It’s an everyday thing. It’s a lifestyle. This is the life we live and to all the kids out there, if you love it, work hard and you can have anything you want. Put in the hard work and everything will come. The sky’s the limit and dreams are meant to come true and I’m living proof of that. Advice? Keep on shreddin’.
