Deciembre!
It’s been an insanely busy December. As many of us are aware, it is an Olympic year. Viva the ‘Couver! That means many of this years events are either qualifying events, or an opportunity for winter athletes from all over the globe to get competition “ready” versus world class competition. That being said, every thing is a go, and has been since last Northern Hemisphere’s summer! Everything this season has had a little more of a feel of urgency or importance to it. First, athletes want on to their respective country’s team. Second, they want the grand prize, to be atop the podium after “battling” the rest of the world’s best! This being stated, you can imagine that the responsibilities that weigh on the Technicians, who will be responsible for bringing these athletes equipment up to world class standards, are massive. Skis and boards were being “prepped” as early as September, in some cases as early as August! So in rolled December, and so rolled the dice. It’s go time! Here are some photos to peak into the last very busy month!
Jared Hawn, Head Technician for the US of A Adaptive Ski Team, standing in front of about $30,000 worth of "fire wood"! This is only half the load that Jared's been prepping since September! For good measure as well, the USAS Team took 9 of 12 Gold at their first stop in Winter Park, Colorado. About a week off, and then they're off to Europe for a month.
US of A Snowboard Team Head Technician Stu Sores and Swix' Global Freeride Head Technician Kenny Nault, setting temp/condition specific wax and prepping boards for the first Chevy Grand Prix, a heavy first stop in Olympic Qualifiers for the US of A Halfpipe Team. Months of work paid off for both with four of their respective athletes "podium-ing", and taking a step closer to landing on the US of A Olympic Team. The men saw Shawn White and Louie Vito going one and two, and the women's results were Kelly Clark and Gretchen Bleiler going one, two as well. Congrats to the riders, and a moment to take a deep breath and have a "soda" for the Techs, before getting right back into prepping for their next stop. Literally, "no rest for the wicked", there will be a couple of weeks to turn over a few dozen boards before the next Grand Prix stop in Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Just a "few" boards for Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis. (In all fairness, one of those is Jack Mitrani's). Well, Danny killed it at the Mountain Dew Tour Pipe men's Finals, taking first and unleashing not one but two Double Corked 1080's in his winning run! Kevin opted to take advantage of Copper's Super Pipe and get some more work in on the 22' walls the fellas will be seeing at the next Grand Prix stop in Mammoth, CA.
Danny Davis and Kevin Pearce stopped by "Mono Cera", Dillon CO, to drop off a few boards to be ground for structure. Structure plays just another role in the prep work for halfpipe boards and the guys know that it's worth taking advantage of anything that will ensure optimum performance out of their gear. The tune on a board can play a big part, but talent has a lot to do with it, and these guys have plenty of Talent!
Zach Black of Summit County takes a huge step towards the Olympics, and in Very Good Company! Congrats Zach!
Copper Grand Prix Men's Podium. You know the Techs, Stu and Kenny, like what they see here. Lot of hard work paying off for everyone.
... Back at "Mono Cera", doing the rough work on edges for the US of A Adaptive Skit Team.
Another town, a new "wax room"! Welcome to Breckenridge, CO! First stop on the Mountain Dew Tour, and what only felt like hours after Kelly and Shawn closed up the Copper Grand Prix. Watch out America, these wax labs pop-up in "unsuspecting" neighborhoods throughout the Country, especially when big events roll into town! Thanks for the locale to The Canadian Halfpipe Team and Coach, Trennon Paynter.
Kenny Nault of Swix checks with Sammy Carlson for feedback, but the ski's are dialed! There isn't much that can hold Sammy back. The kid just slays it, and he did it again, taking third in Men's Slopestyle!
Bruce and Jossi Wells take a moment and "talk" thru a run at Dew Tour's Men's Slopestyle. Jossi would "fry bigger fish" a couple hours later, taking second in Men's Halfpipe!
Canadian Halfpipe Team's Mike Riddle threw down an insane run, and stomped his way to the top of the Dew Tour Podium! A lot of work went into Mike's sticks, but again, not nearly as much practice Mike has invested into himself! When you have an athlete like Mike, you only hope that the tune will eliminate any negative elements the snow may present, and allow the athlete to have no concerns with there equipment's performance. Then the athlete can perform with fewer concerns ( ie: speed, edges, etc.) weighing on them. Sometimes you just have an athlete that "won't be denied". Congrats Mike! That wrapped up Contests thru Deciembre, but it only meant that all those Techs, Athletes, and Coaches were back getting ready for the next one! Here comes January... Doesn't look any quieter!