Down day in Tahoe.

The MSP park crew is in town flying helis around and GTSing. Yesterday was windy so they had a down day. We ate lunch and went to Emerald Bay.



TJ got the scenic boy band shot by Eagle Falls.



Gaffney and Jacob. Behind them there is an island. Below them is the Vikingsholm. Vikingsholm is considered to be one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture existing in the United States. If I wasn't on crutches maybe we would have hiked down to see it and then I would show you a picture. I wanted to show Jacob so he would feel more at home.

Helicopter does back flips!

Ishmael

"Teacher seeks pupil, must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person."

So the story begins when an unnamed character answers to the add (above). Then it's on, it gets deep, it makes you think, and it is certainly a good read. The dialog between the unnamed character and Ishmael relates to civilization and it's relationship to sustainability.

This book changed my outlook. Need I say more?

Thanks Al!!!!

Google Earth ABCs

Still rehabing the knee. Almost 4 weeks out (Thursday), got to 60 degrees on the C.P.M. Machine, and am about to check Notorious the movie. Netflix rules and I like marshmellows covered in sugar (Peeps).

In the meantime, however, I thought this project was cool. Using google earth to make the alphabet. So there's some eye candy. Maybe I should pick up google earthing alphabets...

With all this time on my hands I joined twitter....I know, I know...the internet! Not really my style, but being broke off will drive you to spend your time wondering what your friends are up to. And hey...I write stupid shit too.

Sarah Burke

Damn...I haven't seen this since X Games. Sarah killed it in pipe this year. Solid maneuver. Then she went on and took another hard fall in slopestyle (she takes hits all the time and never gets hurt) and broke her back. Ouch...I heard she's skiing again though!

JOSS 09 Team Canada

TJ stomps dub flips all day. And a horse tow? Who does that? That's right....it's Team Canada. They would.

Vote for Tony!

So Tony is in a contest to win a car. I think it's because he's ultra creative. I also think it would be amazing if he actually won. He would be the proud owner of a hypercube (shown below). It would be a funny transition from his truck (shown belower). I would find a lot of new ways to make fun of him...so let's help him win a hypercube!

You can vote once a day....CLICK HERE for the link. It takes 2 seconds and would be worth it if he won.

Microfracture.

Looks kinda like a hammer and nail...the tools they used to "microfracture" my bones.

A while ago I decided to research the medical procedure called microfracture. I had heard mixed opinions about it and thought that I should educate myself...now I think I'll just ask my Dr. or PT.

Last night I read, in regards to microfracture, quote "reputation as a possible "career death sentence" in the sports world." This shook me really hard. I was torn up about it. Thankfully, today I had my first official PT appt. with Lad and he cleared things up for me.

Within the past 5 years even, they have been much more successful with the procedure. Pretty much had to figure out the healing process post op. Which is to be none weight bearing for 5-8 weeks. Then you can steadily work your way back up to %100 weight bearing. My PT assured me that I would be back %100 with commitment to the healing process. PHEW!


A few suggestions for undergoing knee surgery...
-If you are easily nauseated from prescription drugs...there are ways to fix that going into surgery that will help you a lot afterword, talk to the Dr. in advance.
-The first 24 hours, for me, have always been really painful. This time around I got a nerve block and that pretty much cured the pain for a while.
-Keep a squirt gun close for unwanted visitors or jumpy dogs.
-Netflix
-Eat protein to make up for the lose of protein from surgery. You're compensating and that takes protein away from healing your injury.
-Green veggies and fruits.
-Benadryl for itchy pain pills and sleep aid.
-Cookies from Wildflour
-Parents near by (I don't know what I would do without them).
-No arm pit crutches, what a pain in the ass...Euro style crutches are much better.
-Friends who rule and are entertaining.

That's about all I can think of now. Let's just hope you don't have to undergo knee surgery at all. Now go outside and enjoy what's left of winter!!!

Down Days

Last year at this time I was in AK...doing pretty much what I'm doing now. At least on down days. Which we had a lot of. I had two functional legs. We got creative. Taking advantage of our time and indulging in the culture of Haines. If we weren't eating at the Fireweed, stacking rocks, shooting fireworks, playing poker, shuffleboarding, hanging at the Pio, or any of the below activites, we might have been just plain old hanging out. So I guess I'm in training right now for down days in AK...doing all of this hanging out stuff. Photo Cred: JP Auclair



Here we are checking in on a fellow poker player, John, at his wood shop. This 35' totem pole took over a year to make. Cost over $100,000. When finished it was heading to NY.



Sierra and Tim Tom took us crabbing. This is a small walk from Sierra's house, right on the beach and with a high eagle population. Tim Durtschi got pinched. This was the first time I killed an animal. You have to pop their heads off. It's not very pleasant.



Catan was played often. Sometimes all day. For the record I won the last two games I played (beating Pep and Tyler).



This photo just made me laugh. Dropping into one of my first lines while filming. I was nervous...you can tell by my expression.

My fix.

I'm almost three weeks out from surgery. Have had plenty of ups and downs, I'd like to think mostly ups. On the path to pretty much having a new everything in my knee...I got an allergic reaction to plastic. Really? As if the whole 2 surgeries isn't enough. I've never even had an allergic reaction. So as I was getting over the painful days and the sitting around, starting to get up and out a bit more, I was plagued with this. Seeing as I am not supposed to ice my knee it feels like you could cook an egg on it. A few more days of elevation can't hurt...

Still keeping myself entertained with the internet, reading, and movies. It's been a while and I'm starting to get over it, but I just came upon this gem. My fix for today.


winter 2005/2006 from Ian Provo on Vimeo.

World Champ.

Photo Cred: Keith Carlsen/MSI





So stoked for Timmy Dutton winning the 2009 Subaru World Freeskiing Championships at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska. That's 2 wins in a row, coming off his win in Kirkwood not long ago, where he was pretty much unheard of. People know his name around Squaw though. With an aunt that stared in Hot Dog the movie...the name is hard to forget.

Gimps

Gaffney has nearly the same injury as I do. He's a few weeks ahead of me, but it gives me some motivation to catch up...if that's even possible I don't know. We both tore our medial patellofemoral tendon. I didn't even know that existed.

ESPN

ESPN just put up a photo gallery with Ingrid, Rachel, Elyse, Jamie, Jessica, and myself.

Check it out!!!

Saucer Boy

James Shane McConkey
Dec. 30, 1969 - March 26, 2009

Celebrated Shane's life today at Squaw Valley. It was a beautiful ceremony no less than a lift line away from KT-22. Suiting for Shane. Squaw named a run after him as well today. An honor well deserved. His legacy lives on and will never be forgotten. I will cherish every moment I spent with him, mostly laughing, punching him in the balls, learning, and more laughing. Thanks Shane for these memories! To me, you are the best skier in the world.

"There comes a time when one must risk something, or sit forever with one's dreams." - Trevor Peterson

Photo of the day.

Taken by Howard Cheek.

Confessions Of An All-Night Runner

Just finished another great book. Ultra Marathon Man is written and lived by Dean Karnazes. It's basically Dean telling his story, which is incredible, almost unbelievable. He's completed The Western States Endurance Run (100 miles through the Sierra Nevada's, starting here in Squaw Valley) over 9 times, ran a marathon in the South Pole (with daunting temperatures), completed the Badwater Ultra Marathon (takes place in Death Valley with temperatures around 130 degrees F), and maybe his biggest feat of them all...he's completed a relay (usually ran with 11 teammates) on his own totaling 226 miles, running nonstop.

Once I started to get into the book, my bed exercises that I have been doing seemed so minimal. I was instantly in aw of his accomplishments and have never done my simple leg lifts so well. It's a story of an amazing athlete in a sport that doesn't get much recognition (Ultra Marathoner).

Here's what he says about the Western States Endurance Run, which was once a race on horse until Gordy Ainsleigh's horse got lame around mile 29 he completed the 100 miles on foot, then it became and endurance run, climbing a cumulative total of 18000 feet (5500 m) and descending a total of 23000 feet on mountain trails, crossing snow fields and rivers along the way...

"...The Western States Endurance Run would be primarily about one thing: no giving up. It really didn't matter how long it took to get the job done; what mattered was getting it done. This was an exploration into the possibilities of self. Being a champion meant not quitting, no matter how tough the situation became, and no matter how badly the odds were stacked against you. If you had the courage, stamina, and persistence to cross the finish line, you were a champion."

AK Blues

Tripple Shot, Haines, AK Photo Credit: JP Auclair

Just got this photo sent to me. Along with Tim and Al coming by and sharing their stories from guide school in Haines, I got the AK blues again. I find myself constantly looking at all of the skiing websites and any photos and video I find to help cure my obsession with the mountains. It's funny when your passion is put on hold for a while how much more important it becomes. It's inspiring to me at this point. Despite the fact that I'm only 1 week into recovery, it helps even then.

Robot

By Alex Noriega.

Let My People Go Surfing

The other day my friend Scott brought over a few books for me (Thanks!). One of them was Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia). I haven't yet finished the book, but thus far it's the story from day one of creating what is today, Patagonia, what once was yet another way to fund climbing and surfing adventures, has grown from the ground up, crossing bridges as they come, and turned into more than just another company. Patagonia has lead many different markets onto more eco friendly paths. They are environmentalists from the ground up and it's a company with morals. That's about as far as I've gotten into the book. Which, by the way, is an interesting read.

Anyways, that's taken up some of the time during my day, but I've also been finding lot's of new websites that I've found to be interesting and an easy way to follow what's happening in todays "green" world. Here are a few that I thought I would share.

Heresy Blog - I stumbled across this one today while reading an article labeled "Snowboarding extinct by 2050?". The Heresy blog relates to snowboarding and skiing and that is what I found interesting about it. It's also a snowboard company.

Treehugger.com - This site is updated multiple times a day with different eco related topics. From cars to animals to clothing, etc. it's a good source of information.

Cool Green Science - Similar to Treehugger, but less updates. Kind of a conglomerate of the daily news in one blog post.

Protect Our Winters - Founded by Jeremy Jones, this is an organization designed to...protect our winters. Supported by companies like Dakine, it's another way for the snow sports industry to give back.

I'd also recomend going to Jeremy Jones website to follow his adventures. With great photos and intriguing blog posts, I've been getting inspired while I am stuck on crutches.

Turn off the lights! I'm out.

Waves

Clark Little. There is a lot more where these came from. Check his site out.


























I can't wait to be outside.

U.S. Vs. John Lennon