Here is a guy who was really pushing the limits of human flight. Unfortunately…it didn’t work out!
Monthly Archive for December, 2008
I have been ignoring my blog as the snow has been all time and the days seem to slip away. I have to backtrack a few weeks where I left off…
Just before Christmas I attended the TGR Pro Rider workshop in Jackson Hole. The idea behind the course was to get all TGR athletes, crew and production up to the same speed on snow safety, first aid, rescues, film protocol as well as other general mountain knowledge. This was a first for TGR and the turnout was a huge success. Everyone one of us need refresher courses as well as additional knowledge from all athletes and crew. Training with the same people I am usually in the field with is very reassuring…
I was very proud of TGR for putting this course together and developing a team camaraderie through mountain knowledge. It helps set TGR apart as one of the top big mountain film companies. I learned a ton and I had great time with the crew!!!
The classroom…
Multiple burial transciever drills
Jeremy Jones working on his hand compression test while brother Steve Jones watches and judges.
Other TGR teams assessing pits while it snows heavily!
My favorite part of the course is when Nobis, Sage, Jeremy and myself got up each night to discuss a few of our lines whether successful or unsuccessful with the class. We went over snow conditions, route finding, slough management, islands of safety and crashing. When you watch these lines on film you miss so much of what is going on in the terrain and the athletes mind. It was great to break this stuff down, discuss and learn from each experience.
Some of the boys waiting for their SAR ( snow assesment run a.k.a. free run) after is snowed over a foot.
Our main Professor, Jim Conway or better known as Sarge, gave out prizes and awards which continued into our TGR Christmas party!!!
From Jeff Tremaine and Johnny Knoxville, the producers who brought you
Jackass, comes MTV’s next big smash the Nitro Circus. Travis Pastrana,
the world’s best freestyle motocross rider since the age of 14, has
built an empire doing things previously thought impossible and always
unadvisable. His Nitro Circus franchise includes video games, licensed
merchandise, and now a MTV series. Whether it’s jumping out of an
airplane without a parachute or being the first person ever to double
black flip a motorcycle, Pastrana does not stop. Joining him in the
cast are his equally insane and entertaining buddies: childhood friend
and professional mountain biker Jim DeChamp, charismatic loud-mouth
nemesis Andy Bell, base jumping daredevil Erik Roner, female motocross
sensation Jolene Van Vugt, and husky and hysterical former sheet-rocker
Streetbike Tommy. Their hilariously intense and irrational game of
one-upsmanship coupled with their strong friendship makes this train
wreck the most watchable show in years. “Unlike Jackass, the Nitro
Circus guys actually are professionals, but that doesn’t mean they got
all their marbles, because they don’t. I am wondering if these yahoos
got any.” – Johnny Knoxville
Since there is no snow in Tahoe, I decided to head to Utah to celebrate Thanksgiving with my friends and get in some turns at Snowbird and Alta. I love this early time of the winter season as the environment changes. Every skier and rider has a huge smile on their face…stoked to be back on snow after a long summer.
Little Cottonwood Canyon is skiing great…snow from top to bottom and we were blessed with several inches of new snow every night. I am off to L.A. tomorrow for 2 more TV episodes. The snow forecast is grim over the next 2 weeks so everyone start thinking snow!!!!!!!
Checking out the salt flats on the way through the desert.
I was fortunate to play in the 10th annual Turkey Bowl. This is one of the most fun flag/tackle football games of the year. Everyone walks away limping and sore…this year there were some broken noses. These are my dogs Texas and Chief checking out the action.
The Thankful food spread!
My good friend Carlo playing for the dinner crowd.
Snowbird Tram…full of enthusiastic riders!
A little slice of winter heaven.
