Powder Daze

So, it's been a while since I've updated. I've been pretty busy lately between working, riding and being social. So here's a bit of what's been going down. So far I've gotten 19 days of riding in this season, so I'm doing pretty well for myself. Gotten at least 5 or 6 solid powder days in as well. Super stoked on everything. Right now I've got myself set up with 4 day work weeks and 3 day weekends (Tues/Weds/Thurs). Along with all that and I've been climbing, having amazing dinners with friends and overall having fun.

Gotta love the Tahoe life.

Days are dwindling...

School is inching closer and closer to completion and I'm inching closer and closer to being out of Chico. It feels nice to have my world opened up to new possibilities and knowing that my life will no longer be defined by 'the school year'. Instead I get to follow life and the seasons wherever I choose. Winter is my top priority, and I might be making more than one trip to go hit up some South American pow in my life. But that's later. Lets focus on now.

It has been PUKING in Tahoe. I am STOKED. I have a week and a half to bank on that snow staying there. I think I can trust that it will. STOKED STOKED STOKED. See you on the hill.

As the snow falls...

My days in the desert are once again to an end and I am back in Nor Cal. The storming maw of the winter has touched down in the mountains of California. Snow is bombarding everything in the Sierras and it couldn’t be more amazing. Soon enough the powder daze will be a daily affliction. Face shots and slashes will take the place of breakfast. I got my first taste of snow today and it was good. Nothing more purifying than the icy water melting on your tongue from a crystal of snow.

There was once a time where I believed winter was, as many cultures believe, the death of a year. I know now this proposed belief is false. Winter is the rebirth of good feelings and happy times to be had with friends. With every flake of snow that melts into our body, we will see the past of this world revealed to us. There is no accounting for how many bodies that water has passed through: lake, river, ocean, sea, animal, plant, man… We are not the first to experience this world and we will not be the last, but together we can make a positive mark on this world. Let’s change the world starting this winter. Help someone out to learn to board, push your friends to be the best version of themselves, and just overall be a badass. Just be safe.

Random Stoke

Well, today is thanksgiving and I'm still sitting in the high desert craving some of the white fluffy stuff. I keep telling myself soon, soon. I'm addicted, I know.

But today I discussed my Christmas present with my family and figured that the best thing for the family to go in on together would be a new avalanche beacon. I did my training on an Ortovox D3 and have about 20 backcountry days using a D3, but I opted for a Backcountry Access Tracker DTS. Along with the beacon, I'm grabbing a Black Diamond 265 Probe and a Deploy 7 shovel. Overall I'm pretty stoked, and hopefully I'll be carrying this stuff into the backcountry soon enough. I just need to get my hands on some snowshoes now. Soon. Very Soon.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Winter is here...

It's been a long year since last season. Spent most of last winter on telemark skis learning the ropes of a totally new sport, which ended in a stronger love for snowboarding. Really only got a week on my shredstick all of the 08/09 season, all at Kirkwood. Then I spent the summer on my bike, shredding the greater Tahoe area. It was good, but I miss the snow the entire time. Now it's time to hang up the bike and get ready for the winter season.

Less than a month away from finishing my Psychology B.A. and Outdoor Education certification from Chico State and I couldn't be more stoked. The 18th of December is the last day of classes, I plan on being in Truckee later that night. I'm ready to live the life. This year I treated myself to a new snowboard, a Lib T.Rice 157 topped with my 09 Union Forces. I'm going to get myself into plenty of trouble this year and I couldn't be more anxious to get those first turns in.

These first flakes of solid snow falling on the mountains reminds me why I love snowboarding in the first place. I recall it the same as most people would recall their marriage. I went through a lot of bad decisions before I finally was able to get on a board...which sadly wasn't until the age of 20. At the age of 23, all I want to do is continue to progress and remind myself that I'm still plenty young enough to take on the world. I have backcountry trips flying through my head...envisioning cold nights in a quinzhee and beautiful days of hiking to secret stashes of pow. I have countless beautiful days in Tahoe in my head...going to the resort first thing in the morning and riding until last call. I just need to stay focused and driven.

So to those who are already there, enjoy those turns. To those who are yet to be there, I feel your anxiety. Everyone, be safe this season.