Travelling abroad to chase the snow is always super exciting, for some its a planned out trip with everything down to resort tickets booked… but for myself, and a lot of others its far more adventurous and pretty edgy.
On feb 21st I landed in LAX, A few hours to suss a phone which is always a nightmare in the States when you forget to get the new iPhone unlocked.. always unlock your phone before you leave! I had a few buddies pick me up and it was the usual few days to chill in Venice beach which is all time. Weird people, sick weather and yeah and plenty of time to mellow out before hitting the road
I was fortunate this year to make it to Vegas for an impromptu wedding and a birthday…. Unfortunately it cost me a 6 day hangover! I was on a mission this year to buy a truck for the sled and LA didn't produce the goods so Vegas was next best, and on the last day in Vegas I picked up the beast…
Next move was a trip to Bear mountain in south Cali to hang with The 'Big Hugs Chain Gang' lads and see what the conditions were like. Pretty much one of the driest seasons I've experienced over here so we tried out best to charge and get a few shots.
Richie Caroll boning out with style…
Beau Williams getting inverted on the quarter...
Couch surfing at ya crews pads aint always shits n giggles, you actually gotta suss your dinners when mums not there, but theres always left overs for Brekky of champs. Left over bolognese……. mmmmm
Went DEEP into the Bear backcoutry with Ant 'Dawg' Haddrick… pretty much with the extensive amounts of non-existent snow we could only find a few rad logs to jib… Ant getting a wild on this old girl.
Louis even found himself this hectic down flat old tree trunk which turned out to be more like a slippery slide with Gnarly kicker that sent him deep… sorry you'll have to wait to see him getting wild.
Boys be chillin.... Louis and Rich heaps excited.
Left Bear in search of some real snow that didn't come from a pool of water.. drove up to Tahoe with one of the lads. Such an awesome drive on the 395 north from bear. Bare essentials when on a roady…..
The sunset from the east side of Lake tahoe, never disappoints! After a few cold ones to catch up with friends in Tahoe it was time to get planning and organise the whats and wheres. Did the dreaded drive to the Biggest little city of Reno to pick up my sled from storage. and day two in Tahoe we were straight out on the sleds after a few inches of fresh pow.. yew.
Tarjei Sporatoyl from Neepo snowboards gettin' drifty with a back one.
Spent an afternoon with young up and comer Tyler Kirk, this kid has talent…. He had his jib set up and ready to shoot.Caught up with Cohen Davies and Jed Davidson for a few days getting heaps busy with some pretty fun street jibs.. maximising features in the limited snow around urban jibs is always a challenge and when it works its always a sik result.
Boys getting geared up to get wet.. and me chilling in the river.
Getting the shot always involves a fair bit of patience sitting in one spot, keeping a cool head and trying to keep the riders positive.. reflection time and a chance to take in the surroundings.
THE END…. for now
