Clever Title Here

There has been plenty of commentary about the NY Times article, written by a skier, preaching that the math and economics of the snowboard industry prove that the "sport" is in trouble. However, after being part of one of the most raucous, high energy and just plain fun shred premiers that I have been to in a while, I felt like I had to offer my two irrelevant pennies. Snowboarding is okay thriving. Some might call that a stretch after going through a couple poor to mediocre winters and having major brands in snowboarding struggle to just stay in business. As the infamous Burritos and Snow once said to me (I'm paraphrasing) There's one, blank check, floating from company to company in the industry; and if anyone ever cashes it, everyone's screwed.

I really think we're alright though. 

I feel like the Absinthe premiere was a microcosm of where snowboarding is right now. Everything about the night was right; speaking with Justin Hostynek before the movie and feeling his passion about what he does, almost nonstop loud cheers, clapping, foot stomping, whistling and general chaos come from the crowd during each and every part, having Mike LeBlanc describe himself as impressed by aforementioned chaos during the film, and then to have everyone get together as friends for an after party (unfortunately, I couldn't make it to that part). The passion and stoke were utterly palpable and genuine. It was so cool to see everyone get so stoked for their fellow riders and friends. 

That last part leads into one of the more awesome parts of the industry right now; the crews. Lick The Cat and The Under Dawgs are holding it down with a bunch of Utah locals. Right now, The Yawgoons are proof that you don't need expansive mountain ranges in your backyard to have fun snowboarding and make noise on an industry wide level. All these kids are having loads of fun, while also making some of the most difficult parts of it look really easy. There are so many other crews, mini crews and individuals out there that are killing it as well; the ones I mention above are just some of my favorites right now.  

Like it or not, business is important to every industry. Business has the ability to potentially make or break an industry; both it's image and monetarily. If the wrong people get behind the wheel of some of the bigger businesses of "core" industries it can take less than a matter of months for the domino effect to set in and that company is blacklisted by the core kids, fair or not. Suddenly, that blank check becomes more and more valuable. That does happen, and it sucks. However, it also gives rise to people who don't want to accept and conform. Take Dinosaurs Will Die for example. I could try to sum up why  they're awesome, but just go read the Hump Day that Sean Genovese did for Yobeat, I'm borderline rambling here. However, it doesn't have to be a snowboarding company to help out the snowboarding industry. Look at places like Cobra Dogs and Spedelli's. Snowboarders hiring snowboarders, snowboarders helping snowboarders. The food is really good too. 

So I guess what I'm trying to say here, is that if you ignore the numbers of snowboard sales at Sports Authority and actually take a look at what makes the industry, the industry, it's in pretty good hands and generally going in the right direction. Will it stay that way permanently? Time will tell... 

We're On TV!

Thanks for reminding me of this hilarious story Jerome...

Michelle and I were on our honeymoon, on a tour at Xel-Ha water park in Mexico. After walking the park and doing touristy things, we had about ninety minutes until we had to leave, so we just started walking around. As we passed the dolphins, I noticed something of a hubub, so we investigated. Turns out it was Criss Angel filming for his TV show. So naturally, as a tourist, I went to take a photo when this huge dude says "Hey, no photos.... but do you want to be in the show?" We agreed; after all, we had about ninety minutes until our bus back to our ferry back to our island left. That's when I learned that TV shows take a long time to film.

With about ten minutes left before our bus left, I told the guy who asked us to be on the show that we had to leave or we'd miss our bus. He said "Let me talk to Criss". Next thing we know, Criss bolts up and says "Who has to leave?!?" Michelle and I awkwardly raised our hands... So he reviews some tape and says we're good to go but he wishes we could stay. I try to take a photo again, but am denied by the big dude again; 0/2. We apologize for needing to leave and carry on to our bus and laugh about the conundrum on the bus ride.

It gets better.

A few days later, at the airport, we're waiting in line to board and I notice Mr Angel in the First Class line. I decided, against the advice of Michelle, to approach him and apologize again and wish him well... and try again for a photo. Criss shakes my hand and says "No Worries brother." I ask for a photo... denied. He says we'll do one at our Houston layover. I walk, defeated, back to an incredibly embarrassed wife. 0/3.

So in Houston, I see Mr Angel at baggage claim. I decided, without any external input, that it would be classified as creepy if I approached him again. So I never got my photo...

Video evidence below...notice we're not in the final shots, haha! Michelle and I are the couple in the middle in case you don't know who we are:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di9ANwwVi9E

Taking Back Control

There was a point in my life when I didn't care about much more than conquering the next boss on whatever video game I was engrossed in. No need to go too deep into that part of my life, suffice it to say that it was ugly. A few years later, I decided that version of life sucked. I decided I wanted to take control. I made impactful changes in my life; stopped eating fast food, stopped drinking soda and got my ass off the couch. I was finally back in a good place for my high school years.

Fast forward to my late twenties, I've become complacent and am letting events dictate my life. I just had a kid, I work at a desk job, I use soda as a crutch for “energy”, I suffered a back injury from a car accident and I’m eating like a teenager. That all adds up to a less than ideal version of me; and that’s not good enough. When I look at people who I want to be like when I get “old” there’s definitely a trend in their habits: drink more water (no soda), eat quality food, stay active and most importantly have fun.

My aforementioned back injury has cut my snowboarding season short and made it impossible for me to do anything beyond swimming or walking for the time being. Not that I was taking advantage of being “healthy” before I got rear-ended, but now that going for a jog or hitting the weights isn't even an option it makes me realize how much I want to do those things…Makes me realize that I need to take back control instead of letting life just happen.

I want to be able to not only teach my boy how to snowboard, play ball, ride a bike, etc, but I want to be able to do those things with him way down the road when I’m “old”... and for right now?  I’m simply determined to enter the ‘13/’14 snowboarding season healthier than I ever have before... and throw a proper method.