A Month at Jib Camp- TR

[StuntCok]

(a bit late and after a long absence- my current job no longer allows TGR)

Another year, another jib camp. I have come to learn that the thing about jibbers is that I get older but they stay the same age; and what a 16 year old today is capable of is light years ahead of what a 16 year old 9 years ago, when I first started my annual pilgrimage to Whistler Blackcomb's Glacier Camps (first High North, then Momentum). Does it make me feel my age? Perhaps a bit, but its not all bad; indeed there is something to be said for the growing admiration I get from the park rats upon seeing a middle age guy hit the park, even if it is the same kind of amazement you and I would exhibit if we were to come across a pet dog that could put together a basic English sentence.

This was to be a special summer for me that only started in Momentum. Again between jobs, like when I first started this thread, Momentum Ski Camp was to be the first stop in a ski and bike sabbatical that would span 5 countries, and 4 continents, give me the opportunity to finally hit 100 snow days in a season and, more importantly, meet almost as many new friends or re-aquaint with old ones.

Maestro...


As it was the beginning of a long journey, early injury was to be avoided at all cost. I couldn't risk the high risk off axis multi rotation maneuvers I was working on in previous camps, and thus limited myself to "old man tricks" (at least I told myself it was a conscious part of a strategy and not old age induced caution.

Old man tricks meaning bonking short, low to the ground rails



Simple tricks off boxes



The pipe




And other simple jibs




Of course, as the old man at camp, I have the responsibility of bringing the old school style





That isn't to say I didn't hit the big 50 ft kickers, i just kept things simple



TBC...

PS, I don't know how a family wiener roast pick got attached but I can't seem to get rid of it.

[StuntCok]

And one of these two people posted that they met the "best skier in the world" on their FB page this day



Of course, no trip to whistler is complete without hitting the bike park. In fact, the best part about summer camp is you are done by mid afternoon just in time to hit the 3pm discount ticket for the bike park (sporting my maggot bike jersey).





But it was time to move on. The next stop of my journey was Windells ski and snowboard camp in Mt. Hood. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a lack of cameras on hand but trust me when I say, it is where I threw my meanest, gnarliest tricks. Honest, you should have seen it

My ski bag got more action photography when it was left by Windell's legendary skate park



And I took a bit of a beating on the rails. I am told chicks did scars but I have not really confirmed that yet


TBC

[StuntCok]

And then it was time to head south, to spend just short of a month with SASS travel in Bariloche, Argentina. To keep consistent with the park camp theme, I happened to have Michelle Parker, one of my original park coaches from High North, 8 years ago, my guide in Argentina!

Then



And Now



She has definitely has aged better than I...

We had some amazing pow pow, some great hikes and some great scenery.











We built some of our own terrain features on the heavier snow days. I helped build and hit this with guide Mauri Cambilla (featured)



While the younger jibbers built and hit this...



TBC...

[StuntCok]

And it was time to move on yet again. It seemed only fitting to follow up the youthful exuberance of park camp and natural beauty of Patagonia with a trip to the South Island of New Zealand, the epicenter of southern Hemisphere freeskiing, famed for breathtaking scenery. Unfortunately, it was at this point in my trip that I got deathly ill, lost my camera, and didn't really get the weather I had hoped for. I did reach my goal of 100 days while in Wanaka, however, and got to ride with Momentum coach/buddy/olympic hopeful James "Woodsy" Woods (a young man of such extraordinary character and enthusiasm that he almost anyone he meets (including me) hoping to see Britain, of all countries, take slopestyle gold in Sochi.



The scenery lived up to its reputation



And I met up with an old friend from Japan, and taught her how to hit park jumps



And rented some bikes and hit some trails



And finally, I hit my 100 days, was feeling worse for wear and it was time, yet again, to move on.

[StuntCok]

I headed back to Whistler for some Autumnal biking but the weather didn't quite agree, and I was biking in freezing rain...



So it was time to head for warmer climes. I was told the place to be for what would be the shoulder season anywhere else was Moab Utah, so it was there I went. It was Moab, of all the places I had travelled on this journey that left the most lasting impression. It may have been I was further from black out drunk during the Moab evenings than at the other locals, but perhaps it is because it truly is God's country, or would be if there weren't so many religious people.









And to be amongst such natural splendor does gets one thinking deep thoughts



Like, how the fuck am I going to get all my gear home?



Until my next bout of unemployment.

[TWINS]

Excellent trip report! When were you on the South Island? We were there early November to sightsee and really enjoyed the place. Nice meeting you at the Mammoth Mini last season Maybe one of these days you can still show me how to pop a helicopter, I`m not too old to learn a new trick...

[gramboh]

Killing it dude! That's a lot of ski and bike days, you're doing it right.