Back at it

Went up to Tahoe for a few turns this weekend. Drove up Saturday and hit Kirkwood and got some icy cold turns. Decided it was good enough to stay and spent the night in south lake.

With our new and improved passes we decided to mix it up and hit heavenly on Sunday. Rode the lift with a patroller who has been working there for 44 seasons. He told where to find some fresh and we did.

Another lovely NorCal weekend.

Jamey and Dave

Down here in Baja for a shoot. It's been great to catch up with some of my old pals jamey and dave from my days working here. I can't believe it has been nearly ten years!

When I was 23 working here after college Dave and Jamey took me under their wing. They watched out for me like I was one of their own. They also were there as I started to really surf. Jamey let me borrow her board for my first few sessions and even picked up a board for me in San Diego way back when.

At that time they were living on a parcel of land with views of the ocean. They had an outdoor kitchen and a few tents. In the last ten years they planted a garden that is on the edge of becoming a small farm, they've built a house, and are raising a family. It is great to see all the growth.

We all headed to the beach last night. Dave and I rode some fun rights in warm water while Jamey and the kids played on the beach. I took out Jamey's 8'0" Ellington and it was as reliable as ever.

After surfing we went out to dinner and the conversation flowed like old times. Jamey said it, there are some people you can pick right back off where you left off.

I left late and drove 1.5 hours back to where we are shooting. It made me think the same thing I always think about. Time flies and life is all about the people you share it with. It was great to share another baja night with Jamey and Dave.

J and D!! See you soon!!

Winter Is Rolling In

Last weekend Sara and I made our first trip up to Tahoe this season. One lift was spinning and conditions were not perfect but we still had a blast! So great to strap on the boards, ride the lifts and chase each other down the hill. Looking forward to many more runs this season.

I'm heading out for a shoot but the storms are lining up. Get some if you can! Ill be back for more soon.

Black Beauty

This morning I sold my car.  I have bought and sold a lot of cars in the last 16 years.  I loved every single one of them.  They all had personalities.  They all took me and my friends to great places.  And they all were down for an adventure.

I had black beauty for four years.  Four amazing years.  I bought her with 74K and sold her with 123K.  In the last four years she made countless trips to Tahoe.  She was buried by many a snowstorms in Yosemite.  I towed a fullsize Chevy out of a snowbank and blew an old man's mind.  She took Chris and I over washboard roads DEEP in baja.  She even cleaned up and parked between all the Lexus, Porsches and BMWs on the CBS lot.

Pre work session at Montara

Spring skiing in Tahoe.

Getting ready to climb Mt. Shasta.

More trailhead shenanigans.

Somewhere between Ashland and Portland.

Oakland hills.

The Wall.  Baja, MX.

Another private beach in Baja.

Chris take the wheel for some dirt road adventures in Mexico.

Look close, she's there.  DEEP in Baja on a surf safari.

Look close, she's there.  DEEP in Yosemite on a ski safari.

Good bye black beauty.  Thank you for all the fun!

Storms

Storms have been getting a pretty bad name lately thanks to a beezee named Sandy.  Well, Sandy's cool latino cousin El Nino is rolling back into town to restore the family name.  Here are three videos to remind you that winter is coming and storms are good.

An amazing video capturing the fun of storm skiing.

My favorite ad ever.  I still quote it whenever I get the chance.  "Maybe the rain hates you."


Turn up the volume.  This dude is stoked.

One for the weekend

I recently was told that in 1973 Bob Dylan wrote the chorus to the song Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show.  Amazing but not surprising.  Thanks to the amazing network of pipes and tubes we call the internet I have found the recording.  Just a reminder that you were not here first and you won't be here last and greatness has no age.  Here's a hot tune for the weekend.

Go North

Headed up north for the weekend with Paul, Alex, Chris, Lisa, Jacob, Sara and Jenny to celebrate Paul's birthday.  A great weekend of friends, food and surf.  Even scored a moonlight session with some very fun waves.  I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Don't let responsibility cloud your judgement

Last week Sara and I decided to make an irresponsible decision and fly down to Mexico for her birthday. We were inspired by all the Aussies we met in Indonesia who had just popped over to indo for the weekend.

We told ourselves that coastal mainland Mexico is closer and cheaper than New York. And nobody would look at you funny if you said you were heading to NYC for your birthday weekend, right? We booked tickets and less than 24 hours later we cancelled them. But the next day we knew we had to go. We rebooked and took off.

Plenty of tacos, beer, surf, sun and now we are home. Like we learned a few years back at the Ostrander hut, don't let responsibility cloud tour judgment.

Stay Stoked, Pass It On

My last blog posts sparked a few emails from the peanut gallery.  Everyone is loving the basic idea of raw adventure.  No matter how or where.  Like I said in my last post sometimes it's hard to find the time and space to get after it.  But at the end of the day, the people I love and I have an itch for another empty road, another flat tire, dead battery, snow storm, heat wave, killer bee attack, squall, another adventure.

Dad on the far left.

Like it or not we are all passing it on.  While we fix dings in the backyard Chris and Lisa are passing it on to Jacob.  Jimmy and Sarah pass it on when the fam loads up in winter gear and heads out onto frozen Lake Winnipesaukee.  Every time Bernard takes a crazy crew of midwestern kids to the summit of a Michigan dune he is passing it on.  When Kevin and Laura take little Riley on a camping trip to Point Reyes they are passing it on.  When Mike and Elena strap a set of skis onto the bottom of Miles' boots and send him down a hill in their Summit County backyard they are passing it on.

Stoked.

And one day those kids will be 32 years old.  And you will send them a picture of yourself in 2012.  And it will look like these pictures that my dad sent me tonight of his adventures with surfboards strapped to the roof of his bus decades ago.  Going right on a lovely peeler not too far away.  Thanks dad.

Stay stoked, pass it on.

Keep Movin'

The honeymoon was an amazing recharge for Sara and I.  It has also reminded us how nice it feels to move.  We are back to taking little trips down the coast and even a last minute trip to Mexico this weekend!  Work is light, we have a little bit of money in the bank and we know this kind of thing might not happen again for a long time so we are taking advantage of it.

Even Chris is getting in on the act.  Chris and I took a secret trip up the coast Wednesday morning for some extremely fun waves.  It's been awhile since we went to work late with sand in our hair and salt on our lips.  Sure takes the edge off the day.

Here a are a few pictures and videos to inspire you to keep movin'.

S and J.  First ride should be soon.

J, practicing his stand-up barrel stance.

Post surf brew with dad.

Here are three great videos.  The last one from the southern california filmmaking crew Korduroy TV.  And the first two from a UK filmmaker I first heard about on Korduroy's blog named Calum Creasey.  Creasey's work is so raw and soulful.  And for me really captures the essence of what these adventures are all about.  I urge you to take a few minutes and watch his videos here and explore more on his blog Stoked Ever Since.

'Nico' from Calum Creasey on Vimeo.

FILL YOUR LIFE from Calum Creasey on Vimeo.

Hot and Glassy - Sea Movies from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.

Ze Rooms

Two words, plunge pools, outdoor showers and welcome drinks.  OK, seven words.  Everywhere we went in Indo we seemed to get an upgrade.  Every room was amazing.  Here's a rundown of a few the best.

Tugu Bali
Beautiful.  Classic style.  Run by Indonesian philanthropists.  Amazing art everywhere.

Bambu Indah
In the mountains.  Organic farm.  Rad bungalow.  Private courtyard.  Overlooking the rice patties.  Namaste.

Tugu Lombok
On a secluded beach on the Island of Lombok.  They upgraded us because they went to the wrong harbor to pick us up and we ended up taking a taxi.  Private pool.  Views of the Indian Ocean from bed. Another private courtyard with outdoor shower and tub.  Redic.

Temple Lodge
Owned by a lovely Italian family.  Amazing food.  Views of the break.  Another upgrade to another private pool with another private courtyard.  One of the coolest places I've ever stayed in my life.