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My Blog: Day 48
By: Mandingo15


48! Next day out will be at least. This is why one should get a pass! My knees feel great for this many days in a season. I have been going bigger on jumps than I have ever before, but lost my nerve to spin on Xmas Eve after shattering my helmet. (Simple 180 on a trail rated green, aint that a b%^ch!) I am off sat-tues as Tuesday is my birthday and gonna get some serious riding in and my nerves back, as long as this flu is gone by the weekend. 51 days by my birthday would be sweet!!!!! If I am back to everything within my ability, that would be sweeter, cause it makes snowboarding all the more enjoyable for me.

Published On: 2/28/2008
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                                  TARO and KEIJI

 


Heart Films Interview PART 1 

Name: Keiji TAJIMA
Age: 1978 06 06
Occupation: FILMER 


 

Where is your home town and where do you base yourself out of?

TOKYO JAPAN. WINTER - WHISTLER. 

How did you get involved with Heart Films?

I WAS FILMING TADASHI AND TADASHI SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENT/INTERESTING VIDEO SO I CAME ON BOARD. I WAS FREELANCE FILMING UNTIL THEN...SHOOTING FOR BURTON, WHITE OUT, MAYBEM, ETC...MAINLY SHOOTING TADASHI... 

How did you begin your career as a professional filmer/editor?

I WAS SNOWMOBILING IN WHISTLER TRYING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SNOWBOARDER. I BECAME FRIENDS WITH TADASHI AND HE SAID WHY DON’T YOU BECOME A FILMER AND I STARTED GOING UP WITH HIM. THIS WAS AT A TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE…I WAS DEBATING IF I SHOULD QUIT TRYING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SNOWBOARDER SO I GUESS THIS WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN SNOWBOARDING BUT AT LEAST MAKE A LIVING IN IT. IT WAS ALMOST IN A JOKING WAY BUT IT BECAME SERIOUS AND REAL. TADASHI SAID IF I WANTED TO BECOME A FILMER I CAN STAY LIVING MY LIFE ON THE MOUNTAIN AND STILL BE INVOLVED. NEXT SEASON I STARTED AS A FILMER 100%. THAT WAS WHEN I WAS 26 SO THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO…AND I HAVEN’T LOOKED BACK. 

What did you think you would be when you were younger? 

I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE A BUSINESS MAN. SOMEONE THAT WOULD GO TO AN OFFICE EVERYDAY…LIKE MY DAD. 

Did you ever aspire to be a professional snowboarder/skateboarder? 

YES. I TRIED SINCE THE TIME I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL - FOR 7 YEARS! I HAD A SHOP SPONSOR BUT IT NEVER WENT ANY FURTHER THAN THAT. NOW BURTON HELPS ME OUT AS A FILMER AND TADASHI AND YUHO ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR ME... 

What was your first photo/video you ever took? 

I TOOK VIDEO WITH MY LOCAL FRIENDS AND MADE A LOCAL VIDEO. I LIKED THAT I CAN FILM SOMETHING AND IT IS A MOMENT THAT LASTS FOREVER. 

What was your most memorial day this season? 

WHEN TADASHI LANDED A 1080 IN THE WHISTLER BACKCOUNTRY...OR WHEN TADASHI GOT SWEPT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN IN AN AVALANCE…

Your worst day this season? 

I DON’T KNOW…MAYBE WHEN MY SLED BURNED AND MELTED ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKCOUNTRY…2 TIMES!!!

 

Your best day this season? 

I PUT MY CAMERA BAG DOWN AND HAD A LONG POWDER RUN WITH EVERYONE IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. WE WERE SCREAMING OUR HEADS OFF. I ALSO HAD AN AWESOME TIME DURING THE HEART FILMS CAMP WHEN WE HAD A BONFIRE AND STAYED AWAKE UNTIL 4 IN THE MORNING… 

Why do you like to film? 

I LIKE FILMING BUT I DON’T KNOW WHY…I LIKE IT WHEN I CAN CAPTURE THE IMAGE ON FILM THAT IS IN MY MIND…I LIKE WHEN THE PEOPLE ENJOY THE FOOTAGE THAT I HAVE TAKEN… 

Do any riders stand out to you? 

TADASHI - OF COURSE! THE WAY HE IS, HIS STYLE - OFF AND ON THE SNOW - THE WAY HE TAKES ACTION, THE WAY HIS MIND IS SET ON SNOWBOARDING AND THE GOALS AND DREAMS HE MAKES INTO REALITY… 

Favorite shooting location/style? 

I LIKE THE BACKCOUNTRY BECAUSE IT IS QUIET AND I FEEL MY HEART THUMPING…I LIKE THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING NEW TERRAIN AND IT IS LIMITLESS OUT THERE…

Gear? 

PANASONIC DVX 100A AND A BOLEX 16MM. 

Sled? 

2007 Ski Doo Summit 800 151.

Do you prefer video or film? 

I LIKE FILM. I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT HAS A SOFTER FEEL. THERE IS A FEEL WITH FILM THAT VIDEO LACKS... 

Truck? 

A BEATER 1987 NISSAN KING CAB 4X4.

What do you do in the off season?

I HELP EDIT THE FILM. I ALSO WORK 12 HOURS A DAY, 6 DAYS A WEEK - DELIVERYING SUSHI SO I CAN SAVE UP FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON...


Where and who would your dream trip consist of?

I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO ALASKA IN THE SUMMER WITH MY NON-SNOWBOARDING FRIENDS SO WE CAN HAVE SOME TIME TO HANG OUT. THE SCENERY IS PROBABLY SUPER SICK AND VERY WILD AND PRISTINE... 

If you were given 1 million dollars today, what would you do tomorrow?

I WOULD CONTINUE EDITING THE FILM AND THINK ABOUT THE MILLION SITTING IN THE BANK… 

Has being a snowboard filmer put you in a life or death situation? 

YES...ALL THE TIME. AVALANCHES, BEATER TRUCKS, LONG TIRING ROAD TRIPS, FALLING OFF CLIFFS, BURNING SLEDS THAT MAY EXPLODE… 

Who are other filmers/photographers that you admire? 

I LIKE THE WORK OF NEIL HARTMAN. HE HAS A GOOD CONFIDENCE TO HIM AND IT SEEMS LIKE HE TRULY LOVES WHAT HE DOES…

Who usually comes up with the ideas for the shoots? 

MOSTLY TADASHI. WE ALL HAVE INPUT BUT TADASHI HAS THE LOUDEST VOICE AND AMBITION… 

Advice to other aspiring filmers?

SHOOT THINGS THAT ARE ENJOYABLE. SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE. FIND GOOD FRIENDS TO SHOOT. DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT…AS YOU GET BETTER YOU WILL ACQUIRE BETTER EQUIPMENT. ONE STEP AT A TIME. AND IT IS ALL ABOUT THE IDEAS! 

Within Heart Films ? Other than Tadashi, who do you think deserves the best part award. 

EITHER AKIFUMI HIRAOKA OR SHOTA SUZUKI…

Who works the hardest?

TADASHI…ME!!!

Special THANKS?

TADASHI FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE. EVERYONE AT HEART FILMS. MY PARENTS, SIBLINGS, FRIENDS AND MY GIRLFRIEND, SACHI...ALSO SPINY SNOWBOARD SHOP!!!



Heart Films Interview PART 2 - Taro Koeji - FILMER/EDITOR


 

TARO AND KEIJI ON BLACKCOMB...



Name: Taro Koeji
Age: 1972 08 29
Occupation: Filmer/Editor Clothing producer - (Zerosen)


Where is your home town and where do you base yourself out of? 

Sendai Japan. Whistler - winter. 

How did you get involved with Heart Films?

Tadashi and I were talking about it 2 or 3 seasons ago…Last year it finally happened. I have known Tadashi before he became a pro snowboarder…He worked at a rental shop and I worked at a skateboard shop…We knew each other for over 10 years…I was making a different snowboard video so I had other commitments but finally we started it last year. 

How did you begin your career as a professional filmer/editor? 

I made skateboard videos in Japan and I learned how. I used to be a snowboarder and took footage of Tadashi and Jun and I enjoyed it so I started doing snowboard footage as well. I was taking footage for the guys so they can check out their snowboarding and Tadashi was doing crazy things…Things I could not imagine doing...So I started shooting more and more and riding less and less. I learned everything by trail and error.. 

What did you think you would be when you were younger?

A Pro Baseball player and then a pro skateboarder…

Did you ever aspire to be a professional snowboarder/skateboarder? 

Yes. I even rode for Burton back in the day…

What was your first photo/video you ever took? 

Tadashi’s video when we all lived together in Whistler when we were all starting out…

What was your most memorial day this season? 

When Aki almost died in an avalanche…It was the first time that I saw an avalanche right in front of my face…I was always careful in the backcountry but that day was a wake up call. I felt that I needed to be able to ride my sled better and be more conscious of the dangers of the backcountry.Also Aki’s cab 9 was sick! 

Your worst day this season? 

There was a few of those this season…I rolled my sled and the sled ran over my head. THANK god I had my helmet on…My sled was rolling towards Tadashi and Takumi and I thought that they were toast as well as my sled was a right off. At the end, the sled rolled and luckily came to a stop before the next cliff band and everyone was okay…

Your best day this season? 

There are so many of those too…Every time I went out on my sled was a good day! 

Why do you like to film? 

I like that the riders push themselves and do things that I can not do or imagine…I like capturing that. The feeling you get when you capture a good shot feels so good. I like how I get to see the action live…As I capture the image for everyone else to see. I have front row seats…



Do any riders stand out to you? 

Tadashi - of course. He lands everything. His actions are fast. Everything about him is awesome…If you go up to the mountain, you will know Tadashi’s greatness… 

Favorite shooting location/style? 

Whistler backcountry. There is always something to shoot and it is always so much fun to explore. There is no greater place to shoot than the Whistler backcountry…I like street too but the backcountry is so new to me so I am addicted to it. 

Gear? 

Panasonic DVX 100A and NIZO 801 macro and Nikon Super 8. 

Film or video?

I like both video and film. Video is convenient…it makes voice recording easy too…film has a nice feel… Sled? 2004 Ski Doo Summit 800 151.

Truck? 

1995 Chevy K2500 4X4 with a Bulldog double sled ramp.

What do you do in the off season?

There is no off season…I shoot skateboarding and make my clothing line… 

Where and who would your dream trip consist of?

A world wide trip with my friends and wife!

If you were given 1 million dollars today, what would you do tomorrow?

  I would be thinking of how to use it. I would choose my own riders and shoot around the world and go everywhere on helipcopter! 

Has being a snowboard filmer put you in a life or death situation? 

Everytime you go into the backcountry, there is a possibility of death…


Who are other filmers/photographers that you admire?

I like a guy named WADAPP. He is a skateboard photographer out of Japan…I also respect DICE K MARU because he has a lot of good photos…

Who usually comes up with the ideas for the shoots? 

Everyone. 

Advice to other aspiring filmers? 

Do what you love. If you want to be a filmer ? do it. That’s the only way. JUST DO IT.

Within Heart Films - other than Tadashi, who do you think deserves the best part award. 

Akifumi Hiraoka of course…He works hard…You'll see when you see the DVD... 

Who works the hardest?

KEIJI… 

Special THANKS? 

THE HEART CREW - Friends, My wife Hitomi and my family.


Published On: 6/19/2007
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so i moved out here december 30th... its now the end of may.  amazingly, my girlfriend and i are still not at each others throats and we still look forward to our evenings together... crazy!
 
so on the relationship front, everything is great... now job wise... not quite. 
 
for those that i haven't talked to in a while, i left the suit place... they were trying to make myself and the other assistant manager fill in for the manager since she left... but without any mention of financial compensation.  so basically, having us run the store for hardly more than minimum wage... screw that... add to it the fact that my co-manager decided to take a power trip and claim i was somehow trying to steal his job away from him... so i walked out... literally.  told him he can be manager and gave him my keys to the store.  haven't been back since.
 
now i just got off the phone with the owner of a company here in town where he was offering me a position with them that could have been fun and also made me some contacts in the hospitality industry... i turned him down.  instead, i'm going to keep doing roofing with a friend of a friend.  i feel like i'm not doing something to my potential at all... but i can't seem to find something that is that actually seems more enjoyable or more financially lucritive.  this job i was offered was setting up accomodations and (golf) tee times for some corporate and private clients... kinda neat since i love golf and travel... but i was going to make the same amount of money weekly as roofing but having to work a minimum of 5 hours more per week.  plus, its kinda nice to be outside...
 
so how dumb am i to not take the sure job?... the one with set hours, set pay, set location...?  instead, i'm never sure my hours or where i'm working, i definitely am at a higher risk of hurting myself... i feel almost embarassed to tell my family and friends that i'm roofing...
 
so what i need are some people to either tell me i'm dumb and should call this guy at the golf place back, or that i'm better off roofing... we'll do a poll!


Published On: 5/20/2007
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My Blog: Death Letter
By: cetra70


Doesn't that sound so sinister? "Death Letter" Dum dum dum... No, I'm not gonna die anyime soon...at least, not that I know of...
 
Anyway, I got one from my friend today, so I have been inspired to write one myself...except that I don't know HOW to write a death letter. Lemme try anyway...
 
To...everyone:
 
Okay, so how you got this letter and when, I have absolutely no idea. But you were meant to get it after I died...
 
So I'm gone now...how very pleasant. Rest assured that I'm not bitter about it...I'm happy with the life I've lived. I have great friends who are always there for me...well, maybe not ALWAYS always, but whenever I do need you, you're always there for me. So now that I'm somewhere else, don't forget that I'm always watching, and if you need me, i'll be there :) But you probably won't see me unless you have an "opened third eye". Then there are my parents... ... ...*what am i supposed to say?!* Well, thanks you guys for raising me...well, I think...lol. We got in fights "every now and then" *ahem*, but we usually resolved it within a day or two. Thanks for letting me meet everyone that has made my life so wonderful.
 
So now you probably think I'm really cheesy and stuff, but I like cheese, so HA! Anyway, my life was obviously not ALL happy, some parts were just amazingly enjoyable, the others were just...BLEAGH. Without you guys (and girls) there to support me, I would probably not have gotten over those bad times.
 
So (the third "so"), thank you for everything you've done for me. I've probably also done a thing or two for you, but really, a debt is never fully repaid...So thanks for everything, and if I've done something to affect your life for better: you're welcome; if its something negative: whoopsies, sorry about that...
 
P.S. Omg, noboody cry! Well, you can cry, but not TOO much...How do you think I'd feel watching you from heaven (or hell, depends...lol) crying because of ME...that would not be a pleasant sight for me, most definitely...so live happy lives for me, will ya? Cuz you know, the world really needs more happy people
 
P.S.S. I'll be waiting for you all...but no need to rush :D
 
P.S.S.S. We better get the test curve in Geometry, or else my test score'll be doomed! XP---sorry, it's still in my mind >.>


Published On: 3/27/2007
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Ever wonder how dirty your friend's minds are? Well I recently came up with what I think is a sure fire way of finding out. I don't know if everyone is familiar with Booster Juice; it's a juice bar who's mission is “To provide customers with an incredible, healthy alternative to fast food that's great tasting, convenient and nutritious...”. I recently stopped off at one of these juice bars while helping my friend Tiffany shop for snowboarding boots (I seem to be the resident expert/consultant amongst my friends). Anyway, as we were commenting on how tasty our Booster Juices were, it occurred to me that Booster Juice can be abbreviated to B.J.; an acronym shared by another notably enjoyable thing. I decided that this was a good way of measuring how dirty a person's mind is. So Tiffany and I now refer to them exclusively as B.J.s. -- Where are you going? Out to get a B.J. How much does it cost to get a B.J.? About 6 bucks. Wow that's cheap. Not really. Is it good? Fantastic! -- I think you get the picture. Here's what happened when we decided to test this hypothesis in the field:

Test #1:

The first test subjects were my friend Gurbir and his girlfriend. I already know how dirty his mind is and how pure hers is so they proved to be poor test subjects. Gurbir listened to Tiffany and I tell him how we got fantastic B.J.s at Bayshore and he never batted an eye. I think his girlfriend was afraid to ask.

Test #2:

The second test subject was my brother. I had switched my tag-line on MSN to “We got fantastic B.J.s at Bayshore”, so when he saw this he immediately asked about it. The conversation went like this:

Bro: “You got a BJ at Gayshore?”
Me: “Yeah.”
Bro: “From a chick though right?”
Me: “Umm, initially.” (It was a girl who took the order, a guy mixed the B.J.)
Bro: “Good enough.”
Me: “I was with Tiffany, she got one too.”
Bro: “Ok what do you mean by BJ?”
Me: “Booster Juice. What did you think I meant?”
Bro: “Fag!”


The following is a summary of what we've found so far in our field testing. This study is far from complete however; more field work needs to be done.

  • Booster Juice is yummy and can be abbreviated to B.J.

  • Referring to things with intentional double meaning is often a good way of finding out how dirty a person's mind is.

  • It's fun to see how people react when you tell them you're going out for a B.J.

  • If you ever wondered how deep in the gutter your friend's minds are, ask them if they'd like to stop off for a B.J.

So if you're fortunate enough to have a B.J. franchise in your town, be sure to think of me the next time you go. If you don't, look into opening one; peddling B.J.s can be quite lucrative. Also be sure to only refer to them as their acronyms, it may be pretentious but it's fun. Until next time, enjoy your B.J.s and...

Keep Shreddin' the GNAR!

J.





Published On: 1/29/2007
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One evening, I asked my eldest daughter how her homework was coming along. "Terrible," she said, "I have to read the Odyssey. Of what relevance is a story about some Greek who was supposed to have lived thousands of years ago to me today?" I picked up her copy of the Immortal Bard's epic poem and fondly remembered when I had read it as a high school freshman more than 30 years earlier. But while I had always enjoyed mythology, my daughter was no fan of Hellenic legend. In an attempt to motivate her with this assignment, I told her, "Sherri, although I didn't know it at the time, this book showed me how to set a world record and gave me a new lease on life. If you'd read it with an open mind, it just might do you some of the good it did me." To prove my claim, I told her the story of my odyssey.

When I entered New Trier in 1963, I was well aware of its reputation as the "Harvard of High Schools" because of its lofty academic standards and the achievements of its students. Many considered the school's crown jewel to be its English Department. Incoming freshman cut their teeth on the Odyssey, and my love of mythology made this assignment one of my more enjoyable school tasks.

But we were taught more than the Homeric account of Odysseus' return to Ithaca from Troy. In every myth lay some grains of truth. Some of those facts I verified in my Ancient World History class. I read of Heinrich Schliemann's excavations in Asia Minor during the late Nineteenth Century where several "Troys" were unearthed. I was also taught that the men who destroyed those cities were the ancestors of the people who established the Greek civilization. Odysseus personified those men. When Rome conquered Greece, the story of the clever Greek gained a wider audience and he became better known by his Latin name, Ulysses.

I read other books in English and studied other peoples in history, but I never forgot the Odyssey. What made it unforgettable to me was the drive that compelled Ulysses to overcome insurmountable obstacles on a ten- year voyage home after fighting a decade-long war. Was his compulsion fictional like the poem or was Homer aware of some force that explained this extraordinary drive? I didn't know but hoped that one day I would find the answer to my question.

New Trier not only taxed the minds of its students but their bodies as well. Physical education exposed pupils to a variety of sports and other physical endeavors. I enjoyed gym because I had always been athletically inclined and had established a daily physical fitness program consisting of five calisthenic exercises. After eight months I had become quite proficient in the push-up.

Students were tested annually in five physical fitness tests, one of which was the push-up. Since my personal best was 200, I felt confident that I could break the school record. When tested, however, I performed only 123 push-ups, four shy of a new standard. The classmate who counted my total sensed my disappointment and suggested that I lighten up because I had just proved that push-ups were as simple as one, two, three. Outwardly, I smiled at his joke but inwardly I had become a push-up perfectionist and felt that I had failed.

Solace was found in the words of Jascha Heifetz, the concert violinist, who said, "There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not high enough. You want to surpass it." In an effort to be able to perform calisthenic totals close to my personal bests anytime, I established daily minimum repetitions for all of my exercises and began to increase those minimums.

Late that fall and the following winter, I tried out for and earned positions on both of New Trier's Freshman and Sophomore Gymnastic Squads. During a January practice, a member of the varsity team told me that he didn't believe my push-up total and challenged me to perform 100. Picking up the gauntlet, I made a believer out of him. Successfully meeting this challenge energized me. Still flush with victory and feeling especially "good" during my workout the next day, I performed 222 push-ups. Twenty-four hours later, I still felt "good" and shattered my performance of the day before by ticking off 333 push-ups. Two weeks later, the "good" feeling returned and I executed 444.

I owed my January push-up records to Heifetz's maxim of raising standards. Every day I performed at least one more push-up than the day before. I was like a mountain climber, using these minimums as "base camps" from which I could launch new push-up heights when feeling "good." But the greatest result of my three new personal bests was the breaking of a psychological barrier. Until that time, I was convinced that records could only be broken by small increments. By more than doubling my personal record in less than three weeks, I knew that I didn't have to settle for being merely good at the push-up, I could be great.

How great was an open question. The summer before, I read the Guinness Book of World Records. I found that the book listed records for two of my exercises, sit-ups and chin-ups, but not push-ups. I did, however, have an inkling of what that record was. Several years before while watching the TV show "People are Funny," one of the guests was the world push-up champion who had set a standard of 3,000. I set my sights at exceeding that number and dreamed of my name in the Guinness Book. By the spring, my daily workouts consumed so much of my time that I decided not to go out for the track and field team as a pole vaulter. But my sacrifice of this sport was not in vain. I kept raising the base number of push-ups I performed daily and waited for days when I felt "good" to set new records. By the end of my freshman year, my personal best stood at 2,002 push-ups.

On a day in late July, I executed 3,003 push-ups. But my dream for inclusion in the Guinness Book was dashed. After mentioning my achievement to a friend, he informed me that a Marine had performed 5,000 push-ups. So it was back to completing at least one more push-up than the day before. More than a year passed before the "good" feeling returned. In late August 1965, I performed 4,004 push-ups. The "good" feeling returned four days later and I executed 5,005. Barring some new revelation, I was the world's unofficial push-up champion. Now it was time to put it all together, a record-breaking effort in front of witnesses to make it official.

I decided to go for it during the physical fitness tests administered at school. The year before, I performed 1,000 push-ups, the most I could squeeze into a gym period. This time, I had obtained permission to sign out of a last period study hall and finish the test after school.

On October 5, 1965, I reported to the gym for my junior year push-up test. As I stretched out on a mat, I felt a bit apprehensive. Up until that time, all of my personal best efforts hadn't been planned but rather took place on days that I felt "good." I asked myself, "Can I make this day 'good'?"

After three hours of continuous exercise, my fears had proven groundless. I passed my personal best of 5,005 push-ups and felt so "good" that only the sky was the limit. However, at 5,900, the test administrator informed me that he would stop the exam when I reached my pre-test target of 6,006. For the next fifty push-ups, I pleaded with him to let me continue. But as the responsible adult in charge, he wanted to be sure that I wasn't doing something physically damaging to myself without knowing it. If I didn't stop, he'd sit on me to ensure test termination.

After performing my 6,006th push-up, I stopped and received a round of applause from an audience of about twenty students. The test administrator announced that he was reporting my feat to the newspapers and that any future record-breaking effort by me would have to be monitored by a medical doctor. When I arrived home, dinner had already been served so I ate alone. While dining, I thought about what I had just accomplished.

I had succeeded beyond my wildest expectations. Deep in my heart, I knew that every drop of sweat, every hour of training, and every personal sacrifice I had made to achieve this record had been worth it. I was on top of the world and I liked the view. As Christmas grew near, I began planning to break my own record. After all, I had been stopped when I knew I could do more. Push-ups had become an obsession. Heifetz was right, even though my standard was now the best in the world, it wasn't enough. I felt that I had to surpass it.

To achieve that new standard, I'd need a "good" day, witnesses, and medical supervision. But my quest to discover the limit for my favorite exercise was never realized. Sixty-nine days after breaking the world push-up record, I broke something else, my neck, during a gymnastics practice and was permanently paralyzed.

As I lay in my hospital bed, I looked toward the future and saw only darkness. The body I had worked so long and hard to develop now failed to respond to my commands and imprisoned me. I worried that I would never be able to work or take care of myself and would be a burden on my family. Fears that I might die were replaced by the dread that I would live.

But while my body was shattered, my spirit, although badly bruised, was still intact. I decided to fight back and redirected the effort that had made me a champion toward the arduous task I hoped would lead to my physical independence.

During my rehabilitation, I harkened back to my quest for the push-up record when the going got rough. Knowing that I was capable of achieving what other people considered impossible, I did all that was asked of me and more. I lived in a world of three colors. Black represented the things I couldn't do, white the activities I could. Between these two tones were many shades of gray. I concentrated on this tint and through trial and error discovered what was truly light and dark. While doing so, I brightened my world to an extent that surprised my doctors, nurses, therapists, and me.

When I saw my name in the 1968 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, my spirit was buoyed and I worked even harder. When the next edition came out two years later, my situation had greatly improved and I was attending the University of Illinois.

In 1973, I graduated, married, and continued my education. Two years later, I began a career as a federal civil servant. Shortly after, I was informed that my record had been broken. I wrote to Guinness for confirmation and my letter was forwarded to Robert Knecht, a professional acrobat. He answered my letter by stating that he had trained for eight years to perform 7,026 consecutive push-ups. "My hat is off to you," he wrote, "Your record was a tough one to beat."

Sherri interrupted and said that while my story was interesting, I hadn't told her how reading the Odyssey helped me set my record or gave me a new lease on life. I responded by asking her what question did I ask myself as a high school freshman. When she answered, "what motivated Ulysses," I told her of a book I had read several years earlier, The Ulysses Factor by J.R.L. Anderson. It was the author's premise that "There is some factor in man, some form of special adaptation which prompts a few individuals to exploits which, however purposeless that they may seem, are of value to the survival of the race." Anderson had found that the grain of truth to the Odyssey was that Homer knew that in the soul of man there is a factor driving him to firsthand discovery. Although this factor is present in all humans, it is highly developed in only a few. In times of trouble, those few lead themselves and others to safety.

Homer personified this factor in the character of Ulysses. The hero of the Odyssey wasn't driven around the Mediterranean by the whim of the gods alone. He drove himself. Once committed to the fight, there was no stopping him. Even though he was eager to return home, he had to know what was across the sea, over a range of hills, and beyond the horizon. History proved Homer correct. Conquerors and explorers who followed were also driven by this force that compelled them to unveil the unknown.

After all the seas were crossed and the land was explored, men invented new challenges to satisfy this compulsion. Some explored the polar regions, climbed mountains, and sailed across the oceans alone in small boats. Others were athletes who prepared their bodies and minds to new extremes.

I was such an athlete. At first all I wanted to do was to improve my physical condition. As my fitness program continued, I discovered that I had a propensity for the push-up. I didn't know what my physical limit for this exercise was, but I simply had to find out.

While seeking that limit, I surpassed all who had come before me. A catastrophic injury put an end to my quest, and I was never able to find my limit. Disappointed, I nevertheless was consoled by the fact that I am one of the few who objectively knows that he'd done something better than it's ever been done before. For ten years and four months no one performed more push-ups than I had.

Eventually, my record would have been broken no matter how many push-ups I would have done. I was touched by the Ulysses factor but Robert was too. Someone will always be waiting in the wings who has trained harder, longer, and wants the record more.

But in the greater scheme of things, it really doesn't matter who can do the most push-ups. What is important is what I derived from the quest. I discovered and cultivated the virtues of discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance within me while pursuing a dream. Shortly after achieving that dream, I found myself engulfed in a nightmare. But the survival component of the Ulysses factor, that leads people to safety in times of trouble, came to my rescue. Had I known in advance that I was going to break my neck, I couldn't have prepared myself better for the demanding task of rehabilitation than to train for the world push-up record. I strove, sought, and found, but unlike Tennyson's Ulysses, my quest yielded me the fortitude I needed to rehabilitate myself to complete independence. My story inspired Sherri to the extent that she read the Odyssey with enough comprehension to pass her English teacher's test. Should her little sister Katie need similar inspiration when she is assigned to read the Odyssey, I'll repeat my story. While it's too early to know whether my daughters will set any records, I hope that they'll give their best efforts to those things that are truly important to them and find within themselves the strength to persevere.

During my life, I have fought many battles, winning some while losing others. After a loss, I still remember the moment when I stood on top of the world. That one act proved to me what I was capable of if I set my mind, body, and spirit to it. It has fortified me to go on fighting battles. The experience has stood me in good stead, because the very essence of the independent life I fought so hard to regain is struggle. The founder of the modern Olympic movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, equated those contests to life when he said, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle." My greatest hope is that during my final battle I will be able to look back on my life and know in my heart that I struggled well.

Published On: 1/25/2007
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Layer 1... Personal Information...
What's your name?:brianne
How old are you?: 17
When is your birthday?: aug 7th
How old were you when you had your first kiss?:cant remember
Are you a virgin?: nope
Do you like it?: i guess
How tall are you?: 5'3"
What color is your hair?: blonde
What color is your eyes?: dark blue

Layer 2... Right Now...
What are you wearing?: shorts and a tank top
Are you listening to music?: yep
What kind of music?: reggaeton
Who was the last person you talked to?: ana
Who are they to you?: friend

Layer 3... Deep Stuff...
Who is your best friend?: courtney .nicole.lisa
What do you think about abortion?: pro-choice
Do you care what a guy/girl looks like?: kinda sorta
What song best describes you?: Um..
Are you single?: yep
Are you taken?: nope
Are you in love?: nope
Do they know?: they should

Layer 4... Love and Crushes...
Have you ever been in love?: yeah
Do you still feel the same?: kinda
Do you have a crush on someone?: yep
Is it a guy or girl?: guy
Do they know?: probably
Are you close to dating?: not really
How often do you think about them?: lots
How often are you with them?:
Do you talk alot?:
Is there more than one person you are crushing on?:
If so how many?: 15

Layer 5... The good stuff... Kinda?
What do you look for in the oppisite sex?: personality.funny. athletic.
How many peircings do you have?: 6
Tats?: 3
Fav kinda music?: all
Last date?: long time ago
Was this long and horrible?: enjoyable



Published On: 1/4/2007
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My Blog: tis the season
By: g.monay


Hey Hey Hey! Snow is getting here or has been for some people but some of us are just getting the pleasure of this wonderful "White Stuff"!  Went and hit up Tremblant opening weekend and realized dam boy, this is expensive so i have to buy a tremblant membership that save me a bundle! SO i did and now just waiting for my next time to get out and ride!  Exams are here which is terrible and im studying and studying and studying and its lame because really i just want to go home and chill with my friends at home and relax and dont worry about anything but riding.  I miss my crazy party animal friends!

Been organizing a jibfest up in my hometown so when i get back we can go tear up some handrails and enjoy the last little wait until the home town hill opens up fully so i can ride for 6 days and then travel to Boyne, Michigan for New Years with Mike Trudeau and rock out there!  Just getting really focused on my riding and stepping up and holding nothing back, but at the same time, keep my wacky fun into it as well.  All about fun and if i take out the fun then i take out the reason i ride.  My friends have all been out jibbing on little homemade rails and having a blast and i feel so out of it as i cant go and do all the fun stuff they are because i dont know anyone who really hits up the park and streets like i do in Uni up in Ottawa yet.  Soon i will find some people and enjoy the times or just go bymyself on campus and hit that up.

My good friend i met in the winter, Maia is now in BC riding as she decided not to go back to searchmont to ride as BC is way better and to progress her career in the sport. She is awesome and totally killing it as she rides all year and follows the snow to New Zealand and Canada!  I miss her a bunch and cant wait to ride with her again and kill it!

Anywho, lets all have a safe and enjoyable season and get the tricks, style, and everything you plan on getting to improve yourself.  Keep it cool and rock out with your cock out!

Marc Gratton



Published On: 12/5/2006
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We're back from a very enjoyable weekend in Augburg, Bavaria. Midnight expeditions, a hotel in state of emergency and, of course, the PowWow-Railbattle. In spite of very unpleasant temperatures and other small problems, the Lautloscrew managed to bring a big buch of spectators together in Augsburg and organized a contest with a very high riding level. We're glad for our Norwegian kid Erik Botner and Silli Mittermüller who stayed concentrated until the end and can enjoy a coffee machine now. Praises also to all the other riders who showed high-level snowboarding during the two days.
Thanks to the organizers, all the people helping out and all the spectators who stayed to watch in the cold.


Check out the videoclip to the contest here at Snowboard.com or at www.isenseven.de


Published On: 11/18/2006
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The Life and Times of Joe: End of the trip
By: Joe


Well I'm back in Canada after 26 days of travelling, 10 flights and many, many kilometers and adventures. What can I say, that was one of the best trips of my life, with lots of fun things done, people met, drinks drunk and more. Starting from Vancouver we flew to San Diego for a quick stopover, then it was a 14 hour flight to Sydney, then over to Melbourne from there. After spending a few days there we grabbed Chewy and headed up on another flight to Brisbane to explore the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Surfers Paradise was fun, as was Noosa Heads. After we got back to Melbourne we spend a few more days relaxing then hopped in Chewys car and drove along the Great Ocean Road and checked out the sothern coastline, it was amazing. The rock formations at the 12 Apostles were rad. Chewy then headed off for Fiji and Nels and I caught another flight, this time to Hobart in Tasmania. We rented a car and drove up the East coast and stayed in a place called Bichno which was quite close to Freycinet Park which had some great hikes. After we got back to Melboune we quickly flew up to Fiji the next day and transferred over to the Outrigger Resort. Pretty fancy I gotta say. After relaxing by the pool and watching the wind (and too much rain for my liking) Ryan (Chewy) and Kristy's wedding was upon us. The sun was out in full force that day and everyone looked great! The cermony was quick and awesome (with the minister in sandals) and then it was party time! I'm pretty sure everyone had a great time. A couple days later we went to Beachcomber island, and it was the very definition of a tropical island, it only took 10 minutes to walk all the way around the island on the beach. The bar had a sand floor and there were tons of activities to do, we went snorkling for too long (resulting in a nice burn on my back) and then we rented kayaks and paddled over to Treasure Island. On our last night in Fiji Nels organized a traditional dinner for us in one of the local villages and we had a great Lovo feast (earth oven) with lots of Kava (special Fijian drink, very relaxing). Here's a few highlights, for more pictures see my gallery:
 
 
Chewy, Nels and I climbed one of the Glass House Mountains, it was only 322m (1000ft) but it was quite a steep climb! I sweated my ass off, but the views at the top were worth it (see my gallery for more pictures)
 
 
We travelled to the Australia Zoo, former home of Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter" shortly after his death. It was pretty amazing to see the outpouring of emotion and interest in this Australian icon. Love him or hate him, he sure made a big impression on a lot of people. The zoo was really cool too (the main reason for going there was to see the zoo).
 
 
Drove along the Great Ocean road and ended up at the "12 Apostles", which are some really cool rock formations on the edge of the ocean (you can see them behind me in this photo). Had a lot of fun exploring and watched a wicked sunset as well.
 
 
Chewy then headed for Fiji to get ready for the wedding, so Nels and I caught a plane to Tasmania, rented a car and toured around exploring that little island. We had an amazing time and really enjoyed ourselves. (And I had the best steak ever at the Ball and Chain in Hobart). We went to Freycinet National park and checked out Wineglass bay and hiked up Mt. Amos (452m - 1500ft), which was another relatively steep climb.
 
 
Then it was time to go to Fiji and join in Ryan (Chewy) and Kristy's wedding at the Outrigger resort. Tons of fun, lots of drinks, sunshine and a great crowd made this day super enjoyable. I also got to play wedding photographer on my little point and shoot for a sunset photo opp. Turned out pretty good if I may say so myself.
 
 
Thanks to everyone who made this a rad trip!


Published On: 9/29/2006
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My Blog: About Me.
By: Tutt



I'm Alexander. Hmm. I've really got nothing right now. I'm into indie music. Everything I used to do I don't do anymore (think racing and wakeboarding). Life changes fast I guess. I know this now. Just moved back in with my mother. It's okay I guess. Also pretty single as of late or something like that. I'm really not this boaring. Just drawing blanks is all. Well anyways, I really do like to talk to everyone, and I'm not just saying it. Really, just try. But yea. Oh, I used to ahve a great job, not anymore. Like I said, things change. I really do love cars and bikes. It's a passion. I build them and it's more of an art for me. I find I can express my creativity with them. Like a metal canvas. Designing custom cars and bikes is what I want to do with my life. I guess I've really slowed down in life. Not as far as success but as far as the tempo. I have learned that if I do slow down and take it all in that it is so much more enjoyable. When I get high is when I usually have my best experiances for some reason. So, I get high a lot. Sorry if that deters you from me. Really, sorry. That's not all of who I am just something I really enjoy doing. I love people; I think everyone has something special to offer. Good or bad. Right now I'm listening to Goodbye Sky Harbor by Jimmy Eat World over and over again and it amazes me every time. I am a really fun and relaxed person. People say I'm soft spoken these days. Just a sign of how much I have chilled out because I used to be some sort of animal. Been through some things in my life, great and horrible, all have made me who I am today. I love who I am, but anymore I can't find the kind of people I want to surround myself with. Well I have a few friends that I would die for. I'm not as close with my older brother as I would like to be and my little brother may be the coolest person in the world. Maybe. Right now I am rambling about some random shi*t, but oh well. At least you are getting to hear something about me. I like to dance. Lots of ways. Just to express. Usually how drunk I am. Oh well. Fun all the same. I guess I am easily satisfied. Want to know how? Ask. I guess I'll tell you. Why not. Life is crazy. Really. I never know what is going to happen when I wake up. I guess that's why sometimes I lie in bed forever and never get up. Well not for a while. I find it hard to motivate myself when I take a look at the world that I live in. That we all live in. Too many people that are way too selfish. That's what it comes down to. Snowboarding is one of those things that allows my extemely competative personality shine. I really haven't done it as much as I should have. Slacker. I'm decent though. It also brings me to this amazing peace that few things can bring me to. Hmm. I am discovering that many people don't know how to tell the truth. Mostly to themselves. And me. It really is a shame. They could be so much more. I am by no means saying I am better. I am most definately not. Just differant. I like it like that. People call me Alex but I wished they called me Alexander. That is my real name. Unique I suppose because everyone seems to be just Alex. I love my real name. My mom gave it to me. That means a lot. Alexander. It just sounds better. A closer representation to who I am. What else? Oh. I love having adventures with those that mean everything to me. Think driving around with $2 in your pocket and a sack of green. If you let your imagination out, it will bring you to far places. I promise. I refuse to let myself fall for females. Too many heartbreaks. I am not bitter. Just learned my lesson. Speaking of girls. I once met an ex girlfriend on here. Odd as that may seem. It was good though. I like to get in my car and drive. Anywhere. Nowhere. I live ina place that so many people hate but I love with everything there is to me. It is home. Beautiful sunsets in the summer. Don't belive me? Try it. I grew up in a big old house that I love. My mom wants to move out west and sell this house. I wish I could buy it and keep it forever. So many memories. Plus, it's badass if you asked me. I come from a very odd family. Odd in the sense of not the reular run-of-the-mill type. Curious? Ask. I'll tell. I am a good driver. In many aspects. Never been in an accident and I also have a few insights of a few differant types of racing. Well, a lot of that insight. Its not easy but it puts my mind in a place that few people can know. It's like a numb extacy. If that makes any sense. Kinda like the worst tunnel vision you may have ever had, you really cannot feel anything except the car and the road/track, and at the same time an overwhelming feeling of pure love is all I feel. There are a couple things in life like that. Open your mind and you may find them. No. You will find them. It takes time. I am always looking for something new to open my heart and mind. It's fun. What life is all about. I'm usually big on grammar for some reason, not reflected by the continuous fragmented sentances on here. And my bad spelling. An odd fact though. I'm not really the schoolish kind of person. I love learning. I just think the schools are seriously flawed. I have been told by so many that I am extremely smart. I think so. Problem is, few things motivate me to use it. And most of those things people tell me I can never do. f*ck them. Right? Let me do my thing. I probably should apply myself more, though. Maybe I will. Who knows. Not me. Nothing is sure. So true. Well I have rambled a lot here. If you have made it this far then I am almost sure you are somewhat interested in me. If thats the case, comment me. Send me a message. I like those kinds of things. I'll get back to you. Who knows, I may just be your next best friends, the person you marry, or the person you murder. Never know until you find out.


Published On: 7/27/2006
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My Journal: ahh world cup...
By: tooscoops


wooo whoo world cup!!!!

wait... why am i cheering that much?

i guess its just because i am north american that i don't really care all that much... soccer, or, 'futbal' or 'the boring football' is a world wide sport that other countries can kick canada's ass in.  i'm sure much of my lack of interest in the sport is what you would call 'sour grapes'... but for me... soccer just doesn't do it.  to find a north american parallel to the sport, what you have to do is put american football and cross it with hockey... remove all the scoring, fast pace and body contact and there ya go!!! soccer!  those three things to me are what makes a sport enjoyable...

don't get me wrong about the athletes... they are in top form.  after all, they'd better be... the sport pretty much is kicking and chasing... kicking and chasing... that takes a lot out of you.  it actually makes me understand why the other two things that players do besides kick and chase is dive and fake injuries... hell... i would be too if i meant i got to take a damn break.

one thing i can say is that the fans are damn impressive... they cheer hard.  whether their team wins or loses (usually by a score of one-nil) they go hard... set the stadium on fire, riot and trample people to death, shoot a player... well.. the last one is generally only if they lose.  the first two... meh... win or lose.

well.. now that we are getting a little further on most people are realizing the true reason canadians don't mind following the sport... we get to see something that the US doesn't dominate.  back to that original woo whooo!!!!
 

vj_pg_big.jpg

Published On: 6/26/2006
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Rar rar it's all down to the dog star!: world cup weekender
By: HKF


Just had a great weekend,

Friday was cool. With the sun shining and a whole load of work people outside the pub soaking up the sun, atmosphere and keeping tabs on the first game of the world cup it had all the makings of a good night out. 

Unexpetadly the pub we were in caught fire! so we waited around a watched the show as the fireman turned up the talking the blaze, the fun ran out about the sometime as my drink did!

with that pub closed we made our way to soho to carry on the drinking. A lot of drinks, and one chiken kebab later i finally reached my pit by 2am.

Saturday was an early start. Up and back into London by 11.30am to watch Englands first world cup game. Followed by a picnic and frisbee in Hyde park and a drinking sesh that carried on untill 4am.

Sunday i wake up on a sofa @ 9am and get feed a cooked breakfast. Knowing that i had to get home at some point i leave south london and make my way back north to walthamstow and arrange to meet my flat mate in the our new local pub beer garden for a spot of lunch and to read the sunday newspaper, despite me having to travel across the whole of London i still got there before him!

A few more beers  sunk slowly, some food and the paper all helped to pass the time and much more enjoyable than sitting in my flat on the playstation.

Now i have to go to bed and get up for work in the morning. Boo!


Published On: 6/11/2006
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The other day I remembered I had this thing.. so i thought i should come on here again... and then i decided to update my photos.. and then basically i was hooked all over again.. so now here i am writing a blog.. funny how things come and go. like for example.. several christmases ago my step mom gave me this scarf and touque.. and i loved the scarf.. but the touque.. not so much.. i said i would never wear it.. but.. for some reason i kept it.. and last week i decided to wear it.. and i found it rather enjoyable..

Published On: 4/2/2006
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March 16, 2006, 3:39pm, sunny day, no cloud in the sky (aka bluebird), 1 year aniversary for me dislocating my shoulder today and it not poppin out for 1 year! Well the season is ending unfortunately and i have 1 more contest to enter this Saturday and so far i've won 2 rail contests, second in slopestyle, 4th in big air <injured n pulled out of :(>, 3rd in rail contest and 1 more contest to enter. been a great year, fun, enjoyable, met some new friends and made a best friend, Seebers thats u, some laughs, some scares but hey it was a great season. Thinking of getting a trip this summer to New Zealand to ride with a friend i made this year. She is the coolest ever and going to be the next best pro girl rider.  I've been unsuccessful on my goggle tan, pretty upset by that but its a little one, i wnat a hardcore one. Sponership quest has begun and i've filmed a lot this year and have 6 minutes of video and still holding some good tricks back and yet need to get those tricks i've wante4d all year. go to www.putfile.com/gmonay for the new video and show all ur friends and if your a rep looking for a new rider who pushes the limit, give me some input or msg me about some deals. Well i'm out to go hit up some parties and enjoy the rest of my season, and i hope for the best and safety of others for the remainder of the season, and best of luck to all.
ps leave me some dam good karma haha
love ya all, Gratton!



Published On: 3/16/2006
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Don't be a Useless slut... Instead.. You can Be
 
SEXUALLY CONFIDENT
 
1. Sex is a beauty treatment. Scientific tests find that when women make love they produce amounts of the hormone estrogen, which makes hair shine and skin smooth.
 
2. Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow.
 
3. Lovemaking can burn up those calories you piled on during that romantic dinner.
 
4. Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up. It stretches and tones up just about every muscle in the body. It's more enjoyable than swimming 20 laps, and you don't need special sneakers!
 
5. Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It releases endorphins into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria and leaving you with a feeling of well-being.
 
6. The more sex you have, the more you will be offered. The sexually active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called pheromones. These subtle sex perfumes drive the o
 
7. Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VALIUM.
 
8. Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up.
 
9. Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.
 
10. A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a natural antihistamine. It can help combat asthma and hay fever.


Published On: 3/13/2006
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Well all, this is it.  The end is finally here for this season.  There are only 2 ways I will be able to get anywhere there might be snow until next season.
1.)  It decides to dump a bunch of snow here (since it hasn't happened all year, I am not about to expect it now)
2.) I win the lottery (guess that would mean I should start playing)

My season in review.  I believe I beat the early season guess of 40 days in the snow.  Probably the most amount of days in fresh snow durring any one season thus far.  Several trips to other areas.  Breckenridge, Winter Park, Afton Alps, Welch, Buck Hill, Hyland Hills, and a couple more that I am drawing a blank on the names.  Met and rode with a good amount of fun and interesting people, not to mention the stand-bys that are always good for lots of enjoyable riding.

As for the instructor side of things, I did all the events that I set out to do.  All of which may not have turned out the way I would have liked, but the outcomes were not a surprise.  That doesn't mean that I didn't learn a lot along the way, and most importantly, IT WAS FUN!  Now I know what I will have to do to accomplish next seasons tasks.

All-in-all, this season reminded me of the reasons I started snowboarding in the first place.  The peace of getting out and sliding effortlessly down the hill, with no one but you in control and nothing but the calming snow under your feet and the friends you have when you reach the bottom.  It just makes me stoked and ready for an even better next season.

So I will leave this post with a hope:  I hope your season was as good as mine and that next season is even beter for us all.

Published On: 3/12/2006
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My Journal: SNOW DAY!!!
By: powderbunnie


  WOW It has snowed like 4 ft. A warm lousy winter finally with some snow! This has been like the first 'stay in the house all day', actual snow day this year. So I am in my pjs drinking mochas wasting time on the internet watching the blizzard outside. Maybe we will have enough for the resort to stay open longer. That would rock. I went boarding yesterday with cara. The conditions were amazing but it was so crowded that it wasn't enjoyable. I am def goin tomorrow though. I plan on boarding at wintergreen on the 17th with joel... dunno tho. It always sucks to pay for a ticket when I can go here for free anytime. But at least I won't have to teach lessons.  
  Meeting was cancelled today and I am bummed about that since we have CO this week and my study was supposed to come. Guess we will go next sunday to new rivers meeting. Lindsey called this morning and because of the weather we can't go to the formal party today either.Oh well. 
  My cat has never been outside before and today we opened the door and he jumped in the snow! He reminds me of a puppy sometimes.
  Guess I'll jump off here. I'll write more sometime!
 

Published On: 2/12/2006
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My Blog: HeyEah!
By: g.monay


Well today i was a motd, which has inspired me to write a new blog about me. Life is goin good and riding is great. My hill has finally fixed all the lifts and made enough snow to get the runs open and my park should be built by Jan 28th. I'm all excitied for that. I was bummed out yesterday because i had no money and no ride to forum youngbloodz contest in Nubs Nob Michigan and i really wanted to enter.  I'm just happy now cuz we got a huge dumping of snow and riding the pow in the bush was amazing and fun. I cant wait for this season to get under way with the park as i wnat to push my self hard. I have trips planned for Tremblant and Nubs Nob in the coming weeks and months to just chill with my friends and enjoy life. A rail contest this sunday the 29th and i'm excitied for that, because i've doing handrails and have my stuff down and hopefully pus me harder to learn harder and better technical tricks. Well i'm just stoked now because i'm motd and just want everyone to have a great day and great season that is safe and enjoyable. Also a goal of mine this year is to get sponsered and if you wanna check out my video that is just a little sumthing of me it is http://www.putfile.com/gmonay ! i have a whole anohter video that i keep secret cuz my friend who just got a camera wants to make a dvd of teh riders up north in the soo and sell it to make funs for our sktaepark and too keep him busy in the winter so that is y i am keeping my stuff secret. Give me a holla if you like the vid and if you think i cna possible get a sponser! Just remember to have fun riding and enjoy it as much as possible. HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!

Published On: 1/23/2006
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I'm serious.

I'm sitting here typing, and it's taking me twice as long because I hurt my thumb. I also look like a complete retard because I have this big, red mark with a gouge in the middle in the middle of my forehead.


Alpine Valley has ben the shi*ttiest resort I have ever been to, and here's why.

1. All of the runs are like green circles/beginner, or maybe like blue squares/intermediate.

Seriously. I'm an intermediate boarder when it comes to Cascade, Chestnut, etcetc, but when I got to Alpine, I rode down the black diamond about 5 times before deeming it stupid. It's not hard at all. In fact, I saw 5 year olds going down it. I actually went more on the beginner hills because they had more turns and such that were interesting. Oh, and the runs are SHORT. And I'm talking short.

2. The cafeteria area/food area is mediocre.

I usually don't care what the food/cafeteria area looks like, but it's at least nice to have it set up so that it's enjoyable. At Alpine, it was like a school cafeteria, just everything was dark. The only lighted places were where you ordered your food. And the food was something I could order at a baseball game. Corndogs, nachos ... Though I do have to agree, the nachos were good. And their hot chocolate was like a Starbucks Chantico, god damn that thing was thick. Oh well. At least it was hot. But they should use some of that money on buying some new tables and chairs for the cafeteria.

And finally, which is what pissed me off the most ...

3.THEY DO A CRAPPY JOB OF GROOMING THEIR RUNS.

I am DEAD serious. I have never been to a resort where their runs were so crappy, other than Wilmot. But still, at least Wilmots was all ice. Alpine had a mix of pow/ice. No inbetween. So you're either going through pow and going REALLY slow, or you're going over chunks of ice/a sheet of ice and booking it down the run unintentionally.

Also, they keep their pow machines on 24/7. Or at least they did when I went there. I didn't mind so much when I put my goggles on, but it still impaired my vision, and being a snowboarder, you know how much your vision is needed. Plus, I needed to see where the ice and pow started and ended. That's where my first injury occured.

I was going down the beginner run, and the first part of it is ICE. Just ice, because the pow couldn't get up there. Then going down to the second part, it was pow, and ... well. I slowed down a lot. Then I started going down, and the pow machines .... Yeah. There they were. So I slid on my goggles super fast, and went down, but OH HO look! A valley of ice chunks and ice that I didn't see! So as I go over them, I picked up a LOT of speed because I couldn't turn as well, so I ended up trying to toeside stop. I did, for the most part, but as I was going in to that action, I put my left hand down for some drag, but since I was going so fast and it was ICE not snow, I clipped my thumb.

I swear to god I have never been in so much pain in my life. I thought I broke it right then and there at the base of my thumb, but I continued on down and just sat down. I think it's just sprained, but it still hurts like a mother f*cker.

SECOND.

I was going down an intermediate course (after going down the black diamonds). The course lead in to the terrain park, so naturally, that's where all the teens were and such. Any way, as I'm going down, I'm turning to my right and ZZZZZIP - This GUY is going straight and in my path! So I'm like, WATCH OUT. But he doesn't, he just keeps going and I clip the end of his board. He stumbles a bit but keeps going, without even caring to see if I was all right. But all the while, I had heel-side stopped so suddenly, then I caught a rough patch of ice, and my momentum flung me forwards in to a nice face plant in to some jagged ice. Of COURSE, I had to hit the ice ... Not the pow. But if the run was all pow, we wouldn't have had that happen.

Now, I'm going down the rest of the hill, kind of in a daze because I just got up really fast from that fall. Basically a fall, roll, and getup maneuver, but it still dizzied me a bit. So I reach my friends and they're like, what happened? So I told them the story, and after ranting about how they were going to go 'kick the shi*t' out of the guy who did that to me, one of my friends was like ... "Hey! Michelle, you're head is bleeding."

And so they laughed. I kind of laughed too because I didn't feel it and thought they were joking, but lo and behold. I took my hat off, and supposedly my forehead was BLOODY. Ew. So I wiped my hand across from forehead, and upon seeing the blood on my fingertips, immediately announced that it was lunch time.

They agreed. So I went to the bathroom, and tried to wipe off all the blood. And I did! But what happened, is that not only did a sharp piece of ice gounge out an itty bitty piece of my forehead, but I also got this massive ice burn around it. So now I have this huge, pink/red circle around the gouge.

And it looks horrible.



Now, I'm a good snowboarder. I rarely wipe out any more. In fact, when I went to Chestnut for a couple days, I didn't wipe out once. But at Alpine, the conditions were so shi*tty, that ... Well. There you go. Even your good snowboarders are in danger of getting hurt. And I'm the perfect example.

So don't go to Alpine unless you want to be severely disappointed by the runs, grooming, and overall general feeling of the place. I'd spend the time going more up north and hitting up Chestnut, Cascade or Devil's Head. But please, for all snowboaders alike, don't go to Alpine.



Published On: 1/7/2006
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