Mood Swings

The ride home Sunday went quick like it always does. Recounting the day's glory with a friend whilst jamming on some ridiculous 80's music (in this case DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince). When I got home and shut the door it crept in, was that the last day of the season? It sure felt like it. All outerwear was overkill. More bikinis than puffies. More sunblock than face shots. It was so sunny out that even with shades on (that's sunglasses, not even goggles) I thought it was a little too bright. The double shot of rub-on wax. What was I surfing? The climbers outnumbered the riders. It all added up to summertime. For a snowboarder, it's more like bummertime...

I feel like I missed out on half the season between the rib injury and the seizure. With Timberline and her glacier even summer means doing the ole slip slide on the shred sled, but I'm no park shark, I'm a pow hound. The prospect of getting stuck up to my nipples in the fluff and having to swim out (a prospect I once feared), I will now miss until December. Thank Goddess for Baldface. The season's (though not my wallet's) savior. Only 10 months 'til next time...

Then, out of nowhere I get this e-mail. It's from Kristy, our cat driver at Baldface.'I finally got those photos for you,' she says. Let me see...

Providing motivation through another summer (Kristy Herauf photo)

... and four more shots of me on a field of white with few other tracks. How sweet! Shots that could depress me just make me even more stoked to do what I do and be where I am. How could I possibly be depressed when I'm so blessed. I live next door to the longest riding season anywhere and I was bumming on powder!? Internal bitch slap delivered. (A southern hemisphere gig would still be all-time if anyone has a hookup)

It's always fun to hit some jumps. Sometimes they're cliffs to pow and sometimes they're windlips to flat. One just teaches you how to tweak a Japan quicker. Natural terrain up here never goes away, the landings just get closer. Seriously, I could go up there in July and get that same feeling!? What's better? Slide over the snow and soar through the air. It's all a matter of perspective. Get what you can while you can and hang the board up only when you have to. Besides, Ben's still down to ride. I'll be up there celebrating Memorial Day. When Timberline finally shuts down in September, I'll be ready with the bike and skateboard. Making the most of my off-season to come back strong, ribs healed (they still hurt, if you can believe it) and brain under control. Wreck, rise, repeat...