Some of the silliest kids out there can ride really well. With that being said I guess I need to clarify what I mean. these days you have a few different crowds out there representing snowboarding. 1. the "YO" crowd, they drop their pants as low as possible and act like they grew up in the worst parts of the hood, right Modesto is super ghetto. You can also spot these kids by certain appeal, Neff, KR3W, 686, DC, Special Blend and Forum 2. The "EMO" kids, these kids need hugs, real big hugs! They wear super tight pants and some claim to be punk but come on who you really foolin you still cry when you say oi! thse children of feelings usually find companies with similar feelings such as Holden, Capita, Union, Coal, and even some Rome. 3. the "BI-CONFUSED" these kids have no idea which way is up, bright colors that sometimes sag, and sometimes are tight, the more neon the better and some need special hugs more because they like it. These riders sports Airblaster and anything that says I have no clue what I am.

With that being laid out here is what I witnessed. I was teaching this past weekend at Squaw and saw some of the YO crowd in line. I noticed that these kids where YO'd out the the max and were only riding Baileys Beach, Links, and Belmont park. Now if you are at all aware of Squaw, those are all the beginner areas and while Belmont has a great little park its a small speck of Squaw. These YO's were in line at the Links chair and were wondering which gondola they had to take to download. I asked these fine young men why they thought they had to download and they looked at me stunned. I went on to ask if they thought the rest of the mountain that they saw others riding around on was closed? Also I mentioned the die before download phrase and these foolios looked at me puzzled, and ofcourse as I was leaving the hill for the end of the day ride down to the lockerroom, who did I happen to spray but the YO's who easily left a 1/2 hour before I did.

The moral of the story, don't act and look steezy unless you can pull it off, these YO kids got mommy and daddy to give them a look, but I would hide that look until I can properly pull it off in every manner.

HOLA

Hey everybody!
Just got back from a freekin sweet trip! I drove with my coach, a buddy, and some funny Canadians out to Colorado for two days to shred the pipe at Copper Mountain. I gotta say, for one of the first pipes open in North America, Copper has to have one of the best pipes I've ever skied! After that, we trekked down to Utah to train at the Utah Olypmic Ariel Site. That was pretty fun, but we didn't get much time there because a huge blizzard closed it down early. Instead of frowning at the closed ariel site, we hit up Alta the next day. Sorry snowboarders, but Alta is still skiers only, not my fault. Wow! Alta has the steepest, sickest, lightest powpow ever! One of the best powder days I've ever had! The next day we found a sweet urban in town with nubs, nut we thought we'd give it a try, so we set up a trial lip, moved it around, and had ourselves a little sesh...for about 6 hours!! haha it was so fun! and when the sun went down, we set up tiki torches on either side of the lip and got some filming in. Pretty fun night! Next day I went up and was about the only person hiking the newly opened Park City pipe with my coach. Got more comfortable wiht left and right spins, good day. That was my trip in a mouthful, and now its Christmas! Yea!
See YA!
Billy

Took a half day today to go and check out Squaw and see what good the mountain has to offer. I love how a week can change things in a week. Squaw is still a little bony in spots but a huge improvement from last week. Word on the street was Siberia was going to open today but to my surprise they actually had Newport lift running instead. Check that lift off the list of lifts to ride at Squaw, which only leaves one to go and I don't think C2 will ever run again. Back to the matter at hand, the snow dried out last night making everything chalky good and wanting more all day. Shirley was a bit bony but the bowl is in great shape for big nasty turns, but watch out for the end of the groomers... they bite. Mountain run is a little icy due to continued snow making but still way better than last week. Pray for more snow but go get your turns befor eI sneak out again and steal em!

Labels: Lake Tahoe, Porters, Squaw Valley

So the Finch man had this idea of doing the opposite of good old St. Nick for Christmas. Instead of landing on a roof with some reindeer, why not fly off your roof with the help of Zak Shelhamer? If your friend jumped off a roof, would you? Sound good...well here's a taste.

It was nice to wake up to some snow outside this morning, out where I live we usually get the dust while the west shore gets hammered... I am guessing between 6 and 8 inches fell at our house and just up the road up the ole strand some folks got screwed this morning from the plow guy hitting them with a nasty berm.. Ah the west shore days... Kinda miss em but when I see nasty berms I am glad I moved.

Labels: Lake Tahoe, Porters

The snow is really starting to fly tonight! Just got home from a sketchy drive down Brockway Summit. I went out tonight with Team Rider Silas Stannard and Porters employee Jason "The Dragon Slayer" Kell. This evening was a much more productive night as we decided to stay out of the wind and heavy snowfall to do an urban mission. Our 1st spot wasn't to successful so we ventured on to another location. We worked together and came up with some fun stuff to jib around on and came home with a few bangers!
It was nice to see two contrasting styles, not only riding wise, but in "fashion" tastes as well. Kell was in full head to toe C3 garb & board. Compliments of Capita, Holden & Union. While Silas was running Quiksilver & Neff. Definitely two sides of the spectrum but coming together for a great nigh-time skate influenced jib session.....Get your stick ready cause the snow that is falling is going to be great!

Labels: Lake Tahoe, Porters

Went up to the summit tonight with Team riders Zak Shelhamer , Andy Finch and the legendary Mike Basich. Boy was the wind howling up there and it sure was cold! I was hoping there was going to be more snow but it looked like a lot of wind buff. Tonight was one of those nights were nothing goes your way, photographically that is. It's amazing what the cold and whiteout wind conditions can do to your gear. Flashes weren't firing and camera's just wouldn't respond along with my bad timing. Like the old saying goes...#%it happens! The guys were having fun picking their lines and getting some nighttime slashes in. Here's something I tried to pull of but it just wasn't working. Anyways time to go back to the drawing board and learn from this outing. Pray for more snow cause it looks like this 1st front was a little disappointing....there is more on the way and lets be optimistic about the stuff behind this one. There's definitely some shredable lines out there.

Had to repost this... awesome!

Disneyland announces plans to close the “It’s a Small World” attraction to deepen its water channel after the ride’s boats start getting stuck under loads of heavy passengers. Employees ask larger passengers to disembark—and compensate them with coupons for free food.

Snow has finally begun to fall. Clouds hang over Mount Rose and yes those are snow filled clouds

Labels: Lake Tahoe, Porters

Life is good when you can take time to look out side and see beautiful sunset. Sometimes you need to stop and look at where you live.

Labels: Lake Tahoe, Porters

Superpipe Opening Tonight.

Expect to be shredding the Superpipe tonight. We are hoping to have the pipe open, no later than 5 pm.

Labels: boreal lake tahoe superpipe

12 Deals of Christmas
While supplies last, porterstahoe.com has selected 12 awesome items that they’re blowing out.

What kind of deals??
How about a 2006 K2 Apache Outlaw slashed to $399.95 from $999.95.
Or a 2007 Burton Twin for $199.95 instead of $449.95.

And... you still get free, ground shipping on orders over $50. But, if none of those float your boat, Porters has hundreds of other items from last winter at 40% to 50% off and of course thousands of the newest 2008 skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, clothing and accessories for you!!
Get the goods before they’re gone and get up to Tahoe!!

A man nearly died from alcohol poisoning after quaffing two pints of vodka at an airport security check instead of handing it over to comply with new rules about carrying liquids aboard a plane, police said Wednesday.

Hey everybody
This last week or so has been such a hoot! A little over a week ago I went to schralp the only pipe open in North America. That's right, I'm talking about good ole' Copper Mountain. All the big name skiers were there too: Tanner Hall, Simon Dumont, Pete Olenick, you name it. Tons of good snow and tons of good training! Then, this last friday I went with a couple buddies to sesh an urban up at the condos in Northstar. What a fun urban...there was a little gap between rails, so you had to hop...so fun! Next day, A-frame rail session in Tahoe Donner. Next day, ski training at Boreal. So far, this winter is lookin pretty promising! Hope you all are getting out there too and seshing your feet off with all this fresh snow!
Later!
Billy

I love when you get a nice sunset and some snow in the mountains. Just a quick shot from my back deck after I got home from a long day of teaching at Squaw.

Labels: Lake Tahoe Snow

I'm sitting in the airport again right now. This time in Washinton D.C. I seem to end up in random airports. In a bout 7 hours I will be in Las Vegas baby. And no I'm not 21, but if I was I would try my first slot machine. It doesn't look like much fun and the noise kind of drives me crazy, but at least I'll be in an airport and won't have to deal with the lingering smell of cigarettes.

Yesterday, I was in Stowe, Vermont. It was a blast. With about a foot of fresh snow, there were plenty of trees to shred, and kiddies to shred with. The first stop of the Orage P&P tour was a success. Unfortunately my skis didn't make it on the flight, but fortunately there was a demo and the local K2 rep hooked me up with some skis and massive poles to shred with. I had to promise him that I wouldn't hit any rails though. It was nothing, but good times, from kids getting stuck in bushes to loosing skis down the hill, a New York jam band called the Superpowers, and free hot dogs and beer from Orage (of course I'm not 21 so I didn't have the free beer), and tons of kids who ripped. Check the photo of this fresh 13 year old Kyle. He was wearing a hunting jacket, but he actually hates hunting...that's Vermont for you. Lot's of Carhart and flannel.

-Michelle

Travis Rice, Andy Finch, & Kevin Pearce do Mr. Miyagi proud and sweep the deck! the Japaneese riders were boosting huge and giving the boys from home a run for their money......go to the TTR site & check it out!
http://stream.ttrworldtour.com/mov.php?mid=&aid=39&cat=00001&fbr=&br=

I'm in the Reno Airport right now. It's cold outside, but I think every airport is really hot. I've got my winter boots on and my feet are uncomfortable, but my spirits are high seeing as I left Tahoe while it was still snowing. I went to Sushi tonight with my brother at Sushi Pier. There are three T.V.s in the place. Is that really necessary? I, personally, just like to eat my food and converse with whoever I'm with. Somehow I always get distracted by T.V.s. I don't even watch T.V., but when one is on I can't help, but to look at it.

Back to my point (why I am writting this blog right now)...I'm on my way to Stowe, Vermont for Orage Pros & Powder tour stop numero uno. For those of you who aren't familiar with the P&P stops that Orage puts on, we pretty much go to a random mountain and ski with anyone who wants to shred and be happy. After, we sign some posters, give away a bunch of product, and you get the chance to win a cat skiing trip to Retallack. It's pretty much awsome. So if you will be around Stowe on Saturday the 8th, come say hi. We'll be at the big tent that says Orage somewhere near the bottom. It will be myself and JP Auclair. If we're lucky, Phil Casabon will join us as well.

I hope you guys are enjoying the snow in Tahoe!!

In the anticipation of the oncoming storm, Porters Team Riders Brandon Cocard & Zak Shelhamer hit the slopes last night at Boreal in order to appease the Snow Gods. If Brandon's front boards don't get you pumped to shred I don't know what will. Zak was Pressing the situation letting the Gods know that snow is needed to quench his riding desires. In the meantime we'll be waiting to see what develops and we'll be keeping you posted on the weather.

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.

SNOW WILL DEVELOP AND INTENSIFY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE
INTO FRIDAY. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AT
LAKE LEVEL WITH 1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE 7000 FEET.