Snowboard Mag Volume 10 Issue 3

Tracking the White Wolverine with Travis Rice, Mark Carter, Bryan Iguchi, Pat Moore, Willie McMillion, shot in Jackson, WY.

Dinner with a friend

Playboard # 69

 Opener for Bode Merrill Interview, Jackson WY

Zak Hale, SLC

Jackson Hole Snowboarder Magazine

Stoked to be working with these guys year in and year out.  Winter is near and I can't wait to get up to Jackson!  For more check out Jackson Hole Snowboarder Magazine.

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So its been a hot minute since I've posted here on the old bolg.  Been on the end of the season grid to get last minute shots and build my stack for the mag, potential advertisers and clients alike.  Its been an interesting winter and an even more interesting spring.  The weather has been a real issue this year.  We've had tons and tons of snow but not a lot of sun.  Sometimes as few as two days in a single month.  This makes things really tough, but all in all it has been a hell of a year, and I'm getting excited for it to start winding down. After Silverton, my last post,  I spend a few weeks at home getting caught up on some work for two seperate clients.  I then set back out on the road for a quick SLC to Jackson and then back home road trip.  The plan was to meet up with a People Crew consisting of co-founder and filmer Pierre Minhondo and riders Aaron Biittner, Lauri Heiskari and Heikki Sorsa for a quick two day mission.  I got in late due to, you guessed it, weather, and met the crew just as they were about to hit a jump.....in a blizzard. I think they had just gotten to the point that they couldn't wait any longer.  When you wait two weeks because of weather sometimes you gotta just go out an make it happen.

Biitnner, Heikki and Lauri hiking

The next day was bluebird and the crew had built the "Hip of Love" a few days back so that was our objective.  The 40" of fresh snow that fell the last few days quickly turned to mush as the day progressed and it looked like spring was here.  Well perhaps but I'm not holding my breath.

Looking down Little Cottonwood Canyon at Snowbird

The crew, hiking up to the 'Hip of Love"

After a sick session, the snow was beat and it was time to move on and try my luck in Jackson, but not before I could say hello to my good friend TJ who is a recent transplant from CO to SLC.

It was like summer in SLC, so why not shotgun some beers!

SLC Hood

The next morning it was off to Jackson.  The snow report was good and it was looking like it should be well worth the trip.  Lonnie Kauk had driven down from Whistler and Mark Carter and Kevin Jones were already in Jackson so it was going to be a sick crew.  Upon arriving I found out the snow sucked and that we needed to check another zone the next day.  Well, all in all, it ended up sucking.  The 40-50" of fresh snowthat had fallen in the previous few days had already crusted over and it was a total bust.  Driving the 9 hours back to Breck was mellow compared to Lonnie's 18 hours down from Whistler that he was going to repeat immediately in reverse flow.  Nothing worse then going home empty handed.  Well almost empty handed...

We made the best of it with some crusty pow turns

Big L contemplating his 18 drive back to Whistler....

Jackson

Another mission in the bag.  Jackson was a blast as always, shredding The Village, the pass and getting into the backcountry too.  Watching T-Bird try to sled was priceless.  To his credit, he got it pretty dialed by the end of the week.  A quick stop home in Breck to shoot some park stuff and then its off to Silverton with Dragon.  Couldn't be happier.  T-Bird seen here, calling it a wrap.....

Snapshot from the road....

Cooke City is a wrap.  After no sun for over a week and only two real shooting days in a twelve day span it all worked out.  The whole crew was a bit stressed out and losing motivation quickly as the forecast everyday for the last week was sun, however it was not even close to what could be considered a sunny day.  I think it actually snowed over a foot one night and the forecast was calling for clear skies.  Stoked though on how everything worked out!  I made the fifteen hour drive back to Breck yesterday in one shot and will enjoy the comforts of home for a week before I head out on the next mission.  Until then enjoy a snapshot from the road.....

The Village

I've been posted up in Jackson for the past week or so.  The weather has limited shooting days, but I've gotten a day or two in at The Village with just my G10.  Its mind blowing how good that mountain is, not even including all the out of bounds options.  Today was damn near as good as it gets, and I might of even heard best run ever from a certain Jackson local.  Enjoy  a few picks from the Village....

Brain Farm and WY

Going out with the Brain Farm dudes is a crazy experience to say the least. Watching filmer Gabe langlois zip out over a canyon 100' off the ground was pretty intense, let alone the riding of Travis Rice, Mark Carter and Kyle Calncy. But Gabe (along with the entire crew) is a true pro and it didn't even seem to faze him a bit. I can't wait to see the shots he got this day. You know they're gonna be sick!

Who could this be?

This past winter I ran into Jared Slater in the Backcountry of Wyoming.  I was trying to take photos of him smoking, but he wasn't having it.  Kind of funny in my mind.  I started just shooting auto focus from the hip as a joke and ended up with this shot.  I just found it while editing my Jackson stuff from the year and felt like posting it.  I like the anonymous feel.  Opps, looks like I blew it.

Getting the job done

Two 4am wake up calls,  6 hours of sleep in 48 hours, one busted ass sled = one of the best trips I have been on this year.  The last two days have been brutal.  Up at 4am, out in the backcountry till almost 7pm or later.  Long days to say the least, but the shots have been worth it.  On the first day, within the first hour, Kramer's sleds' brakes went out and he crashed into a big tree at the bottom of a big hill.  The recoil on the starter went out in the crash as well as the right side trailing arm.  No big deal.  Kramer clutch start, while wheeler works the gas.

On the road again....

After almost a week at home finishing up some work for Vail resorts it was time to hit the road again.  And what better spot to go.....again, but Jackson, WY.  I love this place.

This is what happens when the roads are super slushy, but the temperture is well below freezing.  How that happens I don't know but somehow it does.

The new hot shit...

Misty old gas station in Wyoming

World Famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

The Tetons

The Guch

Hello From Wyoming