in as little words as possible: October 2009

Ski the East

A little over a month ago, Ski the East recently launched their new website at www.skitheeast.net. Started by Geoff McDonald and Chris "Rooster" James (with Mike Rogge joining the mix this year), SkitheEast is quickly becoming a hub for news, forums, events and weather for the East Coast skier. The freshly revamped site includes:

• News
• Ski The East Gnarshmallow
• Redesigned Forums
• Redesigned Photos & Video Page w/Search functions
• Updated Weather Page
• Events Calendar
• Additional Store Products

Here's a couple of screenshots:

SkitheEast Gnarshmallow!

Ski the East Pint Glass? Sure!

The site is definitely worth checking out if you ski (or ride) on the East Coast. The weather page is probably one of my favorite pages on the site; the SkitheEast answer to a surf report!

Also, be sure to check out Geoff, Rooster & Rogge's other accomplishments & accolades with Meathead Films and this years epic East Coast ski flick: Wild Stallions!

Wild Stallions!

In other news (but also featured on the Ski the East website), freestyle phenom Jarred "Allstar" Haynes has dropped his skiing mixtape for the start of the 2009/2010 ski season. Titled "The Urban Segment," Haynes has released a ten track playlist of lyricism, beats and mashups of the hip hop and ski culture that will certainly end up in quite a few film edits this season. With today's release, the 23 year old Long Island, NY lyricist has wet the appetites groms and "pros" alike. Look for his official studio release "Genre" out later this year. The first single, "Spaceman" is already available on iTunes here!

Follow Jarred "Allstar" Haynes!

Track listing
1. Grind Like Me
2. My Level
3. On Top of the Mountain
4. My Story
5. Air Out
6. The Prettiest
7. Rap for the U.S.A.
8. Autograph
9. Words from All Star
10. The End

Opening day.

I've never skied in October.

Last Friday, that was a true statement. Today, it's a lie.

Mount Snow in Southern Vermont spun it's first lifts of the 2009/2010 ski season this past Saturday, October 17th. While not offering a top to bottom run or "epic" conditions by any means, it certainly wet the appetite of many who were in attendance. By many, I mean upwards of 400+ people, mostly kids in mostly tall tees packed an estimated 200 yard by 350 yard expanse that provided enough snow and slope to set up a dozen features. While it may seem like I'm selling Mount Snow short, I'm not. Where talking skiing, on snow, in October.

October. On the East Coast. Did I forget to mention that I had never skied in October until last Saturday morning?

And all the while Mount Snow and its staff were doling out good vibes to the skiers and riders, but they were also doing good for their local community by way of donating all the proceeds to a local food shelf. A $10 ticket got you a day of shredding with friends and someone a meal on the table.

Kudos to you Mount Snow, Kudos!

Now for the photos, with a video to come later:

Ian Compton

Ian Keay

Here's a video from the day. Note: I don't claim to be a pro at filming or editing, here's just what I got.

Included below, the Mount Snow news brief summarizing the event.

"Over 800 people showed up for the earliest lift service opening in Mount Snow history. After all was said and done we collected over $5000 in and 1500 food items that will all be donated to the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry."

I've got threads...

With most great ideas, they start over a beer. Months back, I was introduced to Russell Martin by a mutual friend at a local Burlington, VT bar. During conversation, I found out that Russell owned and operated a boutique clothing company that specialized in collaborative designs between artists. That company is Imag3. The result:

Using a photo that I shot while covering the Jon Olsson Super Sessions in Sweden last April, Russell was able to create a pretty dope tshirt. For more of Russell's work, check out www.Imag3vt.com

Vermont

Here's a few images from a shoot I was on for Cabot Cheese this week in Waterbury & Rochester, VT. Vermont will always be the place to go for great Fall scenes.