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.
Today at work, I heard a knock on the door. It was an UVM student conducting a happiness survey. He asked if I had 5 minutes to answer a few questions and of course, I said yes. The questions ranged from, “How happy are you with your current health?” to “How happy are you with your current involvement in local government?” The answers were on a scale from 1-10, 1 being absolutely no happiness and 10 representing total happiness. After answering the questions, I asked the student how I ranked compared to other surveys he’s read and it turns out, I’m pretty stoked on life, which is good. Then I asked how accurate the survey could be with all the millions of scenarios that play into one’s everyday happiness levels. Blank stare. Either way, I’m stoked and it turns out, I’m also pretty happy.
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.
