Thanks

Thanks for pumpkin pie and the ability to make it. Mmm mmm

Thanks for my health. Most of the time, I feel great. Except my knees and sometimes ankles. They feel like they're twice as old as the rest of me.

Thanks for my family and friends. I always know where to go to hear it like it is.

Thanks for snowing in town close to a holiday weekend. That way the Portland and Hood River-area schools get their snow days out of the way and don't crowd up the mountain during normal weekdays.

Thanks for not snowing in town any more the rest of the season. That's enough gong show for one winter.

Thanks readers. You make this seem like a real gig. Even though it's not, I still try harder than I would in a random journal. Keep coming back, I appreciate you.

Thanks for the early-season powder. Keep it up!

Thanks for all the opportunities. I hope to grab them all by the lips and suplex them into oblivion.

Thanks for snowboarding. Otherwise, winter would just be fucking depressing.

Thanks for the option to delay the posting of this blog. I wrote it on Wednesday, but you won't see it until Thursday. That way I can still eat some rad turkey dinner tomorrow. I could just save it in a random file, but that would be so much more work. This way feels like time travel just a little.

Thanks

You fill in the blank. Hope your holiday was dope. See you Monday.

Personal Opening Day: 2010/2011

Finally, my glorious return to the mountain. And it was good. After overcoming a serious case of Opening Day Anxiety, thanks to Ben's motivational skills and Pat's driving skills, I was stricken by an equally critical case of Mad Pow Disease. I took my medicine, including some shots to the face, and in the end, all was well.

The weather wasn't nearly as cold as reported. The driving, well, thanks Pat! And the snow, ah the snow. Two feet of fluff in 24 hours. Not only was it good for the Cascades, I'd put it up against anything. Cold temperatures and breezes left deep drifts that made for fat slashes and soft landings. The sub-zero wind-chill readings must have been taken at the top of Vista. The wind was still on duty for snow pick-up and drop-off services both runs I took on that side of the hill. Avoiding the scoured areas to slash the deep pockets and rip the lips was worth the effort, but not worth potential frostbite. We finished the day nearly where we started, treed gullies and banks.

Of course, the day wasn't without drawbacks. About 15 minutes of one group of friends trying to find the other brought the mood down. As did that damn wind when it kicked up. So did the fact that Meadows is making snow. Why would they make snow right now when so much is in the forecast? I don't even mean La Niña, I mean the 7-day forecast.

Don't blow snow. If you do, don't blow it straight at the lift line.

Overall, it was a great day. We got powder, sun and we even remembered the post-shred parking lot beers. A random Tuesday before Thanksgiving is not supposed to be this good. I feel like we're a month ahead of the game. Here's to an all-time season!

Mt Hood Meadows Turnin' Them Lifts

A huge storm came through the area and dumped two feet on Hood last night. The powers that be at Meadows said, "Good enough," and set opening day for Saturday. The official release contains phrases like 'limited opening,' 'early-season conditions' and 'unmarked obstacles.' Allow me to translate, "We'll be running two lifts, max, and most of the runs will look like the road did on the drive up, plus some shrubbery. Not the decorative kind either, the kind that you have to ride through to get onto and off of the lift." Somehow they're going to have two parks. One with actual jumps! Cynical? Who wants to know!? But I still wouldn't pay money to ride. I have a season pass, though, and a 'rock board'. So, like a fat guy's coat, I'm torn. Friday afternoon they'll drop more info on which lifts are running. Sounds like a good time to make a decision.

Their best attempt at making it look enticing

Infinitely Improbable

Here's how it goes. I run into this girl at a show. Her friend's name is Yasmine, but she has another friend who can't pronounce it and it always comes out more like 'Yakmine.' She embraces the 'Yak' nickname. It's either that or get embarrassed, right? Might as well own it, I say. Yak was very excited that we shared a nickname.  Not sure why a 15-year-old girl would want to share a nickname with a bearded 20-something and a shaggy beast of burden, but who's knows what 15-year-old girls are thinking anyway. If I knew, I might have gotten more looks back then. I'm quite sure they aren't in to Magic: the Gathering and junior varsity tennis players.

Snubbed By the Academy, Yet Again

And I quote:

Hello,

Thank you so much for entering the 2011 Legendary Banked Slalom Lottery. We had 528 people apply for 110 spots, and unfortunately you were not chosen during our lottery selection.

Thanks again for applying for the lottery and we hope to see you at the 2011 Legendary Banked Slalom on February 11, 12, & 13 at Mt. Baker!

-Laura Bruhns

Bullshit!

Maybe next year...

Portland First Thursday, Snowboard Style

Portland residents know that on First Thursday, downtown is where the art is. The wine flows like beer, the fancy duds come out. Not usually a scene for a bunch of snowboarders. November's First Thursday (the 4th) at The Lizard Lounge (1323 NW Irving Street) is fixing to crack that mold. The gallery, dubbed "HOOD is where the heART is" will combine a photo gallery and video premiere focused on that snow-covered pyramid Oregon knows well. Raffles of Shwood, Coal and RVCA gear, along with Timberline lift tickets and Lizard Lounge gift certificates will benefit the one and only SnowDays Foundation. Need another reason to show up? Widmer will provide the free suds (to those of age) and the party will be poppin' from 7 to 10pm. More info here. Cool interview about it here. Finally, snowboarding recognized as art, not just sport.

Northwest snowboarding art in pictures still and motion