Monday, July 12, 2010

knocked out tooth

Jebus I've been on a roll with the self (1) inflicted (2) injuries (3). The latest is a gift from my surfboard on the Oregon coast. A nice pleasant day at Pacific City catching some waves. Kinda fun to think a part of me is now becoming sand at the bottom of the sea.


Replacement is going to ring me about $1k. I have enjoyed several days sans tooth... feels like halloween everyday.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Reality is an Illusion

A great message to start your day. I encourage sticking with the 11 minute video and checking out part 2 as well.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tamanawas Spirit

Shots today came from Tamanawas falls on Mt Hood. Tamanawas is a native American word for friendly guardian spirit.

Unfortunately an experienced climber on Hood died yesterday. A reminder after my close call I owe this spirit some thanks.





Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Summit Attempt Gone Wrong

excuse the writing, taken from an email to a friend, not quite a finished piece. thanks go to richard, tripp and asit for the good help in a bad situation.

all photos by richard hallman except bloody self portrait.

-lk
+++
story goes we were out for a summit ski on mt hood. avi conditions were suppost to be considerable (what a crazy spring), but a flash rain/freeze turned the mountain into an unexpected ice rink. we continued gingerly- having started early (4am) we hoped sunshine would soften things as we ascended.


on a break between the palmer chair and the summit we saw a climber in a descending group slip and go for a slide- crampons catching and throwing him around a bit for roughly 700 vertical feet. there was no movement once he stopped sliding.

richard (rn/mountain rescue rat/brilliant photographer) and I decided to descend to lend assistance, while Tripp and Asit agreed to continue for the summit and get some iphone shots for us. I had reservations about the conditions and poorly designed crampons on my feet, bringing the first production model of a new design. i had brought them expecting heavy snow not bullet proof ice. besides lending assistance to the injured climber i knew this was the most intelligent option for my safety as well.

i aimed to reach a flat knob just 30 feet below where i could put on my skis safely. as i descended to the knob the downfoot crampon chain strap broke and my foot slid out. I was off on a slide for life for aprox 1,000 ft vertical and 2,000 ft of distance in about 25 seconds. the crampons ripped off as i attempted arrest and my ax bounced repeatedly on my forehead.

i received 2nd degree burn blisters on elbow and knuckles as i dug in the ax. i had 3 ski layers with gloves and gortex jacket over the blister areas- all clothing showing zero signs of wear. i recall being amazed at the incredible heat i was feeling while sliding- strange what things pop in your head when shit happens.

at one point i became airborne flipping me from my belly to side and I lost a ski from my backpack upon impact- i think.

i was able to reposition and set the ax, only slowing/stopping 500 feet later once the decline in slope allowed the minimal purchase to make headway.

i actually didn't even realize my ski was gone until i built a bench and went to put it on. with no functional crampons i sat and waited for the others to arrive for fear i would start sliding again. i took this shot as well.



my group descended, checked in with injured climber above (whose leg injury required evac). richard also retrieved my lost ski, hat and lucky belt buckle.

getting on skis never felt so safe.

this was all on my wife's birthday... she said me not getting injured was the best present she got that day.












Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Ruben B-Roll

Been going through my archives to do a website update (the first in 2 years). Came across several shots of Ruben Lenten from last summer. Been sitting on my hard-drive totally forgotten.

It's really crazy how much work I have that hasn't been seen. I get so busy working that once a shoot is in the can and delivered to a client I move on to the next project. I will definitely start posting up some of the out takes here.



Saturday, May 29, 2010

Who's That- Eric Reinstra

Reposted from SBC Kiteboard Magazine
words and photos by Lance Koudele

The golden dreadlocks are unmistakable. They mingle amongst the local tribes as one who belongs... the sandbar of Hood River, Lanes at Maui, the slicks of Hatteras, peaks of the Sierras. If it’s kite, surf, snowboard or wake it doesn’t matter. People respect the laid-back, determined focus and distinct style that follows the traveler named Eric Rienstra.

When talking with Eric there is a distinct Rasta ethos surrounding him that could easily fool you into thinking he is just another beach slacker. As a confessed couch surfer and ramen lover it isn’t until you see him in motion on the water do you see his complete commitment to the moment and the quest of perfection of it that defines who he is.

I’ve seen Eric kite late into the evening amongst impossibly light wind, everyone else had come in, yet he stays and waits. Hungry for the opportune gust to work in just one more pass. There exists a thirst in Eric to become better, a fire within to improve each session.

Growing up in Tahoe, Eric started kiting on Sherman Island soon after Corey Roeseler pulled the reel off the kiteski. Eric’s initial stoke was the freedom that kiting provided, to this day it’s the trick progression of the wakestyle movement. “I want wakeboarders to see that kiters can do all they do, and much more,” he says.

Keeping diversity fresh in his bag of board skills, Eric has chosen to return this winter to his snowboarding roots up at Northstar in Tahoe. Fine-tuning his rail steeze much like Dylan Thompson in Utah, Eric is aware that the payoff will come when the kites come out in the spring as he travels to Baja and Maui. The eventual goal he says is an invitation to compete in the Triple-S in Hatteras.

Eric keenly understands the relationship between cause and effect having studied history and philosophy. “By focusing on the past can you make informed decisions at the present to bring about a more favorable future,” he says.

With this kind of irie thinking and hard work there is no doubt Eric will achieve whatever goals he chooses in life.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Green T's

Help support the gulf cleanup with a nice green T. All proceeds go to healthygulf.org.