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Best of Dew Tour (Pizza Rolls Edition)

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dew tour brobomb

Four days of restless couch sleeping—made all the more miserable by an ever-looming demon cat—have rendered me incapable of any sort of in-depth Dew Tour breakdown. This list will have to suffice for now. Expect something a tad more substantial tomorrow.

 I give you the best of the 2009 Dew Tour Totino’s Open at Breckenridge.

 1.) By simply closing your eyes and walking forward in any direction, you were guaranteed to bump into a lovely young lady whose sole mission was to force you to eat  complimentary little pizza rolls and down Dixie cups of Mountain Dew. In an era of resorts charging $3.50 for bottles of water, anything free is glorious.

Fuel for the elite athletes of the snowsports world.

Fuel for the elite athletes of the snowsports world.

 2.) The weather. Last year’s Breck stop, despite featuring what was arguably the best slopestyle course ever built, was cursed with incredibly snowy and windy weather. Thankfully, this weekend in Breck was absolutely beautiful. Blue skies and relatively warm weather, combined with another incredible slope course, paved the way for some of the most impressive comp skiing yet to be seen.

 3.) Speaking of the slope course, I have to say that I was thrilled to see a wallride. Admittedly, most riders seemed unsure of just what to do with the damn thing (not Sean Jordan or Phil Casabon), but it added some badly needed variety to the cookie-cutter “2-jib 3-jump” format we’ve been seeing recently. Let’s hope the trend continues and we see creativity and choice-of-line really factor in at future stops. Also, there wasn’t a “cannon box” or “money booter” anywhere in sight. There was an unfortunate gap-to-truck-flat box-thing however that nothing cool happened on.

 4.) Gotta hand it to Breckenridge Resort. They reeeeaaaally know how to handle huge crowds of people. Sure Peak 8 was a circus, but the event staff did an amazing job herding everyone around. Even the wait for the Gondola after Superpipe finals Saturday night was a breeze.

 5.) Remember when I said nothing cool happened on the gaptruckflatboxthing? Well, I lied. Simon Dumont absolutely stomped a cork 3 hand-drag over it. Upon landing, he assumed what I can only guess was an ironic/mocking afterbang position before catching an edge and absolutely eating shit. In doing so, he cool-guyed himself right out of slope finals.

 Look out for the worst of the worst tomorrow…

 Last but not least, thanks a million to my Breck pals (and hosts) Mike, Joe, Tyler, and Whitney.

Casual Fridays 10

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Brobomb Ski Blog Casual saturday

I have nothing interesting to say about my own life, particularly as it pertains to skiing, so I’ve decided to poach ideas from fellow BroBombers. This week’s “inspiration” is Mr. Dunfee’s long overdue demand for freeskiing team videos. I sort of want to just copy and paste his article and hope no one notices, but I think Jon actually reads what I send him.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the death of the Pro Movie lately. Frankly, I don’t really understand why people are still willing to pay for ski films. Look, I’ve liked a couple (literally) flicks from this year, but I can’t definitively say that they’re a cut above any number of the dozenish free movies that have trickled onto the internet over the past month or so—particularly, those produced by relatively anonymous Scandinavians. To be sure, the overall quality of riding, features, and locations in the pro films is better, but the movies themselves….well, they just aren’t.

I’ve mulled over the “whys” and I think I have a few of the answers.

I’m good, you’re good, and racial harmony is so hot right now.

I’m good, you’re good, and racial harmony is so hot right now.

If we’ve learned anything from ill-advised musical supergroup collaborations (I’m looking at the Monsters of Folk album cover), it’s that all the talent in the world doesn’t guarantee any sort of chemistry or cohesion. Have you ever seen a Craigslist band? You know, the ones that put up “bass player wanted” ads? Well if you haven’t, they’re usually made up of 4 or 5 incredibly technically proficient musicians with top notch gear and distinct visions. Unfortunately, these visions are often completely at odds with one another, and the result is 4 or 5 middle-aged Guitar Center employees standing on stage waiting for their chance to solo. It seems to me that often times pro flicks have that same feel; everyone’s got chops, but no one is listening to what the other guy is playing. Ditto this criticism for the completely unnatural athlete groupings- the whole is often less than the sum of its parts. And, I don’t give a shit if the titles are fancier and they can afford to license Bob Marley songs. I double don’t give a shit if there’s a shot of a heli taking off while someone rambles about their first trip to Alaska.

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YoBeat Hates Skiers

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Dear Luckiest Readers in the World,

This week, you get a double dose of Mr. Casula (scroll down for Casual Fridays). I give you a marginally/debatably interesting video interview with the queen of the ski-haters: Brooke Geery of Yobeat.com. She managed to not only make me look like Sloth from the Goonies, but also managed to alienate the entire wakeboarding community in one fell swoop.

As you’d expect from hatemongers- the Yobeat office is located above a vegan bakery…that happens to be exactly one block from another vegan bakery cafe…white people.

Disclaimer: Brooke doesn’t actually hate African Americans OR Christians. Click the links for proof.

Casual Fridays 9

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Brobomb Ski Blog Casual Fridays

Karma is a bitch. I suppose it’s a sort of poetic justice that a mere week after my (ski)bum dreams died with a whimper somewhere on a lonely stretch of I-40, that an even bummier ski bum would land on my doorstep. It’s true that he gave me ample time to properly align my chakras prior to his arrival, but is anyone ever really ready for an obnoxiously tall kid with multiple pairs of skis crammed in a Honda Accord to turn up on a lazy afternoon? I sure wasn’t. He’s presently 2-3ft. away from where I type this lying in bed…mercifully, two sheets of drywall and several 2×4’s separate us.

This used to be my living room...now it’s a refugee camp.

This used to be my living room...now it’s a refugee camp.

It’s snowing outside and if I turn my head 90° to the left, I’m forced to stare at his brand new, never-skied EP Pro’s which he plans to guinea pig at MY home resort bright and early tomorrow morning. Did I mention that I’m six days out from knee surgery? Super considerate…

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Casual Fridays 8

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Brobomb Ski Blog Casual Fridays

Chick’s dig ski bums. Actually, seeing as how I can’t ski, that statement could be broadened to include the entire Bum Nation. It’s truly heartachingly beautiful to see a gal go from standoffish and disinterested to biting her bottom lip when she learns that you’re on a journey of self-discovery with no real destination. Seriously, “I’ve been sleeping in my car for five days” is the new “What’s your sign?”—provided of course that your car is niceish, you can grow a legit ginger beard, and you show up at hipster clubs and spit game to chicks that voted for Obama and/or have an ironic tattoo. You can practically see the “My parents will hate you…swooooooon” thought bubble appear just above their dramatic bangs. They really don’t stand a chance.

He could be slayin' these hoes if he would stop rambling about the CIA and Agent Orange.
He could be slayin’ these hoes if he would stop rambling about the CIA and Agent Orange.

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Casual Fridays 7

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Brobomb Ski Blog Casual Fridays

Jon’s Monday-Mashup got me thinking. Sure, I don’t have a camera, I can’t ski, and I’m not famous, but a quick perusal of youtube videos uploaded by 16 year old girls (by accident….honest) convinced me that none of those things are prerequisites for making a self-indulgent and questionably interesting video blog thing.

I’m still on the road, presently in Portland, and yes it’s apocalyptically gray. I like it. I’ve been here less than 24 hrs., I’ve made friends, eaten Poutine for the first time (Canucks just slid past the Dutch into 7th place of people I like the most), and seen a hip up-and-coming band play a “show.” I’d say we’re doing alright.

If you’re in any way affiliated with law enforcement, I want to assure you that despite appearances, I am in fact NOT texting, iPoding, macbooking, GPSing, rapping, and driving at the same time. Mom, I’m wearing my seatbelt.

Anyway, for those of you who couldn’t join me on this little mission, I put together a visual summary of my trip. If you loop this video for the next 15 hours, it’ll be like you were riding shotgun—in England, because my macbook mirrors everything.

There’s something extra special about 2/3rds of the way through.

 ***P.S. This is an official demand for a ski/boot/outerwear/eyewear/energy drink sponsorship for both Jon and myself. I’m serious.

Jon’s progressive riding/writing, coupled with whatever it is that I do, has gone unnoticed for far too long. We’re taste makers—trend-setters if you will. We’re willing to sellout, though.

 I have a dramatic/tragic past, felony arrests, stints in rehab, and I rap. Should I start a ski-beef? Jacob Wester is a pretentious tool. Blao. Skiing needs a Suge Knight. Which core companies are going to step up and do the right thing?


Disabled List: Bum Knees

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brobomb ski blog disabled listAs far as I’m concerned, if you don’t suffer at least one season ending injury over the course of your ski career, chances are you’re just a huge pussy. Sorry, but it’s true. If you refer to “shinbang“, “toebang”, or any other kind of bang as an injury, you’re also a huge pussy. And herein lies an important distinction—being hurt vs. being injured. If you’re doing this thing called freeskiing/newschoolin’ right, you’re always hurt. If you’re doing it righter (or you’re just talentless like myself) you probably have been, or will be, injured. If this fact frightens you, you should take up golf…or blogging.

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Casual Fridays 6

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CasualFridays

So, I did it. I mean, I’m doing it. I’m en route to my own personal imaginary nirvana, or as it’s more commonly referred to—Portland. I’m writing this in the trunk of my car, lying in a borrowed sleeping bag, and apparently I parked in the exact spot necessary for the “Denny’s” sign to shine directly in my face when I lay in the only comfortable position I can manage. But, my pants are already off, and I’m zipped up, so I ain’t moving. I’m 75% sure that I’m in Kingman, which I assume is in AZ as I haven’t seen any CA welcome signs. The open-faced chili cheeseburger I dominated a few hours ago is sitting low and heavy. Yikes. Despite that inconvenient truth, I’m sleepy in that satisfied “I went somewhere and did something” kind of way—even if that somewhere and something is nowhere and drove respectively.

 I decided that I was going to Portland while writing last week’s CF, but I left it open-ended and whatnot because I thought it sounded more mysterious and cool to do it like that. I still think it was a good choice. I don’t know why I felt compelled to share that. Continue reading this entry »

Casual Fridays 5

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CasualFridays

You’d think that one night spent playing “Dodge the Suicidal Mule Deer” on a pitch black Colorado state road would have lastingly quenched my thirst for that sort of adventure. Well, it didn’t. In the wee hours of this glorious morning, I got on my Luke Skywalker ish and swerved around a presumably brand-new herd of deer en route to Wolf Creek Ski Area, just outside of Pagosa Springs. I beat the sun there, but just barely.

sunrise

Let’s back up though. The most interesting part of this story—in my estimation—is the shenanigans that led up to this latest impulsive, ill advised road trip. Continue reading this entry »

Casual Fridays 4

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CasualFridays

Bitch, I'm ME, so who're you?

Bitch, I'm ME, so who're you

 For a sport that roughly 7.4 people care about worldwide, freeskiing is rife with controversy. Aside from the obnoxious “tight vs. baggy outerwear” and “poles vs. no poles” debates, maybe no other issue splits us more definitively than Lil‘ Wayne. For every one of us that remembers to say “the motherfucking BABY!”, another one of us groans.  I’ve invested quite a bit of time (and energy) into considering my thoughts on Lil’ Wayne.  This is undoubtedly a worthless endeavor, and I am fully aware that having done so is an inherently lame thing to have done. But, I’m obsessed with music, and I find his polarizing effect really interesting.  I’m also aware that this will be unbelievably long, and will likely be read/appreciated by very few people, and that’s ok because I’m primarily writing this for me.  I plan on saying a lot, and I’m going to supply some seemingly unnecessary details about my musical tastes so that it’s clear where I’m coming from (read: preemptive defensiveness). If you have a short attention span, or a fiercely ideological stance on/against Lil’ Wayne that will make an objective view impossible, stop reading.  If you are someone who is legitimately interested in hearing someone’s thoughts on why Lil’ Wayne is a note-worthy/important/respectable rapper, please continue and forgive the length.  Continue reading this entry »