Happy Holidays

An incredible amount of snow have fallen in the Gorge of late. The last couple days I've ridden Hospital Hill with my lady and the pooch. The hill sees this kind of snow only a couple times a decade, it's nice to have it. While I await the arrival of the new Canon 5dmk2 I thought I'd put the G9 video function to use with another new friend. I am sooo totally the next Speilberg... ok not even close.

Best thoughts to everyone this season. I can't help but believe that the current economic crisis is only a fantastic part of a global change in awakening of the human consciousness. The evolution of the mind and spirit is here and we are all a great part of it. Music featured is by Soldiers of Jah Army, and is titled Open My Eyes.

Jeremy Jones gets some

Classic- Jeremy sniffs out the goods in a dry Sierra range.

The Ski Life: Jeremy Jones, Low-Tide Gnar in Tahoe, Dec '08

I worked with Jeremy last winter for Transworld Snowboarding Magazine while traveling throughout Italy, Switzerland and France. I've got say I think he may be the most misunderstood snowboarder of a generation. He is in the game for reasons very few but the most serious mountaineers can understand. I don't mean to say I do, but there is something knowable only to the few who put themselves in such places in the mountains. Props.

Big mountain rider in slippers.

snow!

Metric Imper.	Fri 19 morn- ing	Fri 19 after- noon	Fri 19 night	Sat 20 morn- ing	Sat 20 after- noon	Sat 20 night	Sun 21 morn- ing	Sun 21 after- noon	Sun 21 night	Mon 22 morn- ing	Mon 22 after- noon	Mon 22 night	Tue 23 morn- ing	Tue 23 after- noon	Tue 23 night	Wed 24 morn- ing	Wed 24 after- noon	Wed 24 night
Wind (km/h)
Summary	light snow	light snow	mod. snow	mod. snow	light snow	heavy snow	mod. snow	mod. snow	mod. snow	light snow	light snow	snow shwrs	snow shwrs	light snow	heavy snow	mod. snow	mod. snow	light snow
Snow cm	5	3	10	5	5	24	6	6	7	2	3	1	-	1	14	6	8	5

Ok so it isn't much but it made for a good ski today.

Profile of Pro Kiter Brian Wheeler

Who's That? You mean that guy chillin’ on the beach reading the Buddhist holy book Tipitaka? That’s Brian Wheeler. As far as I know, he’s the great Buddha reincarnated himself. I mean, the guy is the most kind, sincere, unassuming, intelligent person around. When he’s on the water, he’s quietly throwing the sickest S-bend to blind kite loops—with a mad Matrix style, smooth like Bruce Lee, with enthusiasm and stoke to share with everyone.

He studied eastern and western philosophy in school—some hybrid combination of writing, science, mysticism, and deep consciousness. Heavy stuff. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s exactly what we need to learn more about as a society obsessed with paranoia, Prozac, and material possessions.

read more here>>

Beach Profile- Ambassador Adrian

Who that? You mean the guy in the maroon van? That’s A-train, we like to refer to him as Ambassador Adrian Brauenig actually. He runs the unofficial welcome wagon for the kite beach and if you ask me he should be appointed Hood River mayor. One of the most positive, entertaining and fun guys you could be around.

If he isn’t handing out beers he’s reporting to the locals on the wind conditions and offering tourists words of encouragement to get involved with kiteboarding. He’s one of the first guys on the beach and always one of the last to leave.

I’ve even seen him pull ambulance service with his van a couple times too. One guy, a total first timer, was pretty shaken up with a broken leg... all sprawled out on the picnic table waiting for the paramedics to arrive. A-train just sticks his face in his and asks if he’d like a lift to the ER room in a crazy Aussie accent- some mutant hybrid persona of Crocodile Dundee and Billy Idol. Billy Idol isn’t even Australian by the way.

A-train continues to go off in character fully to just entertain the guy and take his mind off the leg... all the way to the hospital. I think he might have talked like that for the rest of the day too.

It’s easy to understand why he’s such a character in the first place, he grew up in Key West Florida. A spot known for colorful characters. I mean his high school mascot was the Fighting Conchs. Have you ever seen a fighting snail? Anyways he started windsurfing back in the day which originally took him to the Gorge and like many people he eventually tried out kiteboarding and was hooked.

The boy has game too, he kites multiple sessions everyday. Always with a smile and stoke to share along the way- no matter the conditions.

He’s an accomplished artist as well and has done some impressive paintings upon found objects, walls, tables, even kiteboards. Combining elements of sun/wind/sand his work reflects the environments in a psychedelic nature. Banana leaves merge with aliens, indigenous patterns mix with waves. His work shows a lot about how he thinks and it’s pretty cool.

It’s not uncommon to see a crowd post session hanging out in the van drinking and chilling. Adrian puts out a positive vibe that just draws people around him.

Next time you’re down at the sandbar... Stop by and introduce yourself. A-train would love welcome you to the Hood River sandbar. No matter who you are or where your from you’ll get VIP treatment the whole way... Ambassador Adrian style.

see more of Adrian's story here>>

Interview with Pro Kiter Dylan Thompsan

Thompson does what he wants, when he wants. It would be easy to dismiss the kid sporting the steezy tall tee and mint New Era cap as just another punk, but the kid is legit. His style comes from the simple fact that he does things for himself and for no one else. That may sound selfish, but it really isn’t. It’s about a personal code that answers to his own inspiration. It doesn’t turn on and off at the request or demand of others. It’s about measuring himself and his actions to the essence of his being.

The first time I saw and shot Thompson was when I poached a late-afternoon photo session taking place at the Sandbar in 2003. I didn’t know it at the time, but the photographer was a guy named Stephen Whitesell. It was apparent why Thompson was the subject of his focus. Even to my untrained eyes, his style was unique. His kiting was ahead of the curve. Never satisfied with the current status of kiting, Thompson has looked toward the future, progressing the sport and inspiring others while crossing influences from snowboarding to skateboarding.

He carries himself on and off the water with a quiet presence. His voice is soft and his words are few, coming only after they are validated against the intrinsic judge within.

read the rest of the interview  here>>

Moo Party

Some friendly cows I came across in Switzerland. I was there to shoot kayaker star and hybrid athlete Simon Hirter for Keen footwear.

Nothing like being kissed by a happy cow in the alps. Kayak shots to follow soon.

A short G9 video clip here>>

Nelscott Reef Tow-in Classic

Another successful day for the Nelscott Tow-in Classic. Into it's 3rd year sunshine and an impressive swell revealed itself after some thick morning fog.  The team of Adam Replogle and Alistair Craft won for the second year in a row. 

Here's a couple photos from the morning action from the shore. The stoke thick with anticipation of 30-40 foot waves made everyone just alittle tense. Everyone except for Jeff and Josiah Schmucker from Australia. They were too busy laughing about how thick the wet suits were.

Testing one- Sup?!

Sweet I guess this is where the content goes. wow.