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I’ve been using a pretty cool app for my iphone lately called “Quad Camera” It takes sequence and is based on the old Lomo cameras sold at toy stores back in the day. It’s super easy to use and takes some pretty cool photos. Here’s some skate shots from a garage flat ground session I had this evening.

I spend a lot time daydreaming about surfing as summer passes being land locked and deprived of waves.  It was easy in the past to pack up every summer and follow the snow melt back to the sea. I did this for years and planned on practicing this ritual uninterrupted forever. This summer migration has been happily delayed waiting for my son to be born. A priority shift and my new plan is to stay put until he’s able to travel to California. Hopefully It will be just in time to catch a west swell with light Santa Anna winds this fall. It all comes down to not surfing until then. To cope with this I seek refuge in pages of magazines, books and videos. I’ve been reading Gerry’s Lopez’s book “Surf Is Where You Find It” to get my fix. It takes me on vivid journeys throughout the world of surfing. I get lost in his descriptions of surfing world class waves and the changing moods of the ocean. I remember the lessons it teaches and rewards it can offer. I  contemplate what it’s all about and wait in anticipation for my next wave. Once again I feel like a surfer, I’ve found it… even it’s only in my imagination.

I’ve been skateboarding a lot lately, obsession on trying to learn some new flip tricks. I decided to retire these once my sock was exposed and I was feeling grip tape. I haven’t destroyed a pair of shoes this hard since I was in high school.

I found this photo and it inspired me to paint. This is my easel and I often use it for spray painting. The layers of colors come from the over spray, left over time and many paintings. The paint is thick and smooth, a beautiful texture don’t think I couldn’t reproduce no matter how hard I tried.

Last night I attended Jimmy Chin’s “Perspective” at the Oswald Gallery. It was Jimmy’s first time showing his photographs in Jackson drawing a big crowd. For those who don’t know Jimmy he’s a truly incredible athlete / mountaineer existing in higher level of reality. He’s been on expeditions climbing, skiing and shooting photos in the world’s highest peaks and most remote regions. I am a huge fan of his inexhaustible mountain exploits and kindhearted humble demeanor.

Check Out his work at the Oswald Gallery in Jackson, or on his website

http://www.jimmychin.com/

Jimmy's Words

Jimmy in front of his wall of wonder

Last night I checked out Ryan Haworth’s art show. It was hosted by Rocky at Full circle frameworks, he’s a big supporter of Jackson’s local art scene. I rolled in at dusk and the crowd had already gathered, filtering throughout the gallery and circulated around the open air bar. It didn’t take long for the party to get going and time seemed to fly by as I mingled.  Ryan is my brother in law’s wife’s sister’s husband,  if that makes any sense??? anyway he’s extended family. Ryan’s artwork included the bronze trophy for the upcoming Natural Selection, a beautifully handcrafted metal Bison skull. I think the contestant’s will really be getting after it to get one of those. To me it would be the most coveted prize you could win in snowboarding, make’s a gold medal look like a lousy coin.

Anyway much prop’s to Ryan for the amazing art and good times.

on who's wall will this hang? riders get ready

Skateboarding was my transition from the ocean to the mountains. My younger years were spent pounding the pavement, learing tricks, paying dues with skin and blood. It’s been a part of my life since I was a kid and still is. Oh yeah… I’m still paying dues.

Last week Lily and I went down to SLC to visit my brother while he was in town working on the final shoot for Nitro Circus. On the way I skated park’s in Idaho Falls and Park City. It was good to get on the road and check out the bordering states concrete creations.

3 states, 3 parks, 3 days ago…

Idaho Falls /first cradle carves, little sketchy with dirt and leaves. The city bought brooms and made stands for them so the kids could maintain the park. Unfortunately some low life's stole them.

Park City block of transition

The bowl in Park City was empty, super fun lines

Back in Jackson, school must be in session cause the park sure isn't.

I’m staying close to home these days because I have a baby coming soon. Sitting here in a summer meltdown my mind wanders to the places I wish I could be riding. I’ve been thinking about my trip to New Zealand last summer with the Volcom crew.

What’s more significant anyway…

The anticipation of a moment?

The moment itself?

or the reflection of a moment?

The sun beats me down as I walk through the walled canyon of the mighty Teton range. Dripping with sweat I meditate, analyze, and daydream over the potential terrain this maze of eroded granite walls hold.

It’s July and I’m reduced to a pedestrian and spend long days wandering the valley’s and climbing the peaks. I love to stand on top of mountains and look at the different views each one holds. It gives me a better understanding of my surroundings and makes everything seem a little smaller, or more manageable.

An interesting landslide of steep rubble and rock catches my eye and translates into a possible field of pillows or a “connect the dot” problem to be solved. I try and visualize riding it once the impossibly thick blanket of snow returns to the fleshless skeleton of the range. This is how I like to spend my long summer days dry docked until winter. It gives you time to look at the terrain and find new stuff to ride. It’s good to know where the rocks and stumps are, as well as an understanding of the paths to access.

The annoying  burning sensation of my little toe rubbed raw from a pressure point is gonna be a blister for sure so I change the way walk to get relief only to create another ailment.

took hours to walk here, wish I could ride out…

The months of May and June turns Jackson Hole into a ghost town. It’s a sort of a purgatory of seasons, the grip of winter is loose but summer is far from taking hold. The weather is a roller coaster riding through the four seasons in a single day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put away my winter gear, pulled out my bikes only to unpack my board and hang the bikes back up to ride late season pow. Many people leave, tourists are non existing and the true locals can have their home to themselves. The coffee shops are full of amateur weather forecasters sipping from their cups anticipating summer and reveling over winter. I’ve learned to look past the gloomy rainy days and head up high. I’ve had good luck finding powder well into June.

On one of those days I hooked up with Adam Dowel for a trip up north to shred some late season goods…