By: Andrew Johnsen
First Appeared: Spring 2002
As a sponsor of Windell's Ski and Snowboard Camp, Freeskier was given the opportunity to send someone up to check out the camp. I jumped on the chance and proposed to write a short story about my experience as a camper. My clever plan to go to Hood on assignment where I'd secretly be a camper fooled no one. But, nonetheless my boss okayed the idea.
I thought, what better way to sharpen my skills on the mountain than be surrounded by dozens of little rippers and some of the best coaches in the country? So, I packed my bags full of warm ski clothes despite the 90-temperatures. I jumped a plane destined for Portland, OR where Travis Erdmann met me. Travis is one of the main reasons why Windell's has embraced freeskiing at their camp. "Any way to get the kids on the mountain skiing" was Travis's explanation for originally proposing skiers' induction to the camp to Tim Windell, a pioneer in the snowboarding world. "I went to Tim with the idea because there wasn't anymore room at Timberline for another summer camp," Travis said, and Tim embraced the idea.
After about a forty-minute ride from the airport, we pulled into the Shamrock Motel, an old tourist motel revamped into a skate/bmx paradise where Windell's campers stay. The campus has rails and fun boxes around every corner. The tour continued around back where I found a huge playground where one of Oregon's largest skate parks lies. As if that wasn't enough they also have a sweet rhythm section to satisfy the bmxers need for dirt.
My next stop was across the street from the motel where the campers who are over 18 stay. I quickly made several friends and started in on a game of horseshoes. The adult house held 15 riders from around the country, eight of which were skiers.
As I found out later the first day of camp started the same as every other like Bill Murray in the movie "Ground Hogs Day" waking to the same song and forced to try and get his day right. Instead, I was woken everyday by our host Jeff, and my challenge was to get my skiing right. However, every day was different on the mountain. The days were mostly "sunny and sick," filled with your choice of rails, jumps, hips, or super pipe. This session had 30-plus skiers, which provided for tons of one on one coaching.
With coaches like Shane Chandlee, Josh Frazier, Tommy Ellingson, and Griffen Cummings running the ski groups, we all learned a lot. We also learned by watching a few pros roll through the park like Tanner Hall, Evan Raps, and CR Johnson. The coaches taught by example, and the kids were representing, throwing dirty cab 180s (unnatural and switch), backflips, and jibs to 270-off. Some of the older guys were throwing everything from mistys and rodeos to dirty flat spins, trying to incorporate style into everything they did.
If you weren't whipped out by a hard day riding on the mountain, you could come back to camp and spend your time honing your skills skating or bmxing the mini ramp, vert ramp, skate bowl, or skate park. You could also get ready for the next day on the hill by jumping on the tramp. Every night a different sponsor gave away endless amounts of free schwag to the hoards of gathering kids.
Every day that week kids and coaches alike were going off, but the last day is where everyone really shined. A beautiful sunny day provided the backdrop for unbelievable sessions both on the big hit, superpipe and the 70-foot hip. Kids threw dirty 3s, and coaches showed us what was up with 12-foot airs out of the pipe.
Needless to say, the camp was a great time, filled with great friends, laughs and plenty of new skills for the upcoming season. If you would like to be apart of the action, Windell's provides year-round camps just check out their site at www.windells.com. You can also win a free session at Windell's camp check back on our website.
I would like to thank Windell's for all of their hospitality, especially Tim Windell, Travis Erdmann and my host Jeff Bonneau. I would also like say thanks to all of my roommates for "keeping it real." You were a delight to room with. See you next summer.
source:http://www.freeskier.com/lifestyle/article_display.cfm?refid=664
First Appeared: Spring 2002
As a sponsor of Windell's Ski and Snowboard Camp, Freeskier was given the opportunity to send someone up to check out the camp. I jumped on the chance and proposed to write a short story about my experience as a camper. My clever plan to go to Hood on assignment where I'd secretly be a camper fooled no one. But, nonetheless my boss okayed the idea.
I thought, what better way to sharpen my skills on the mountain than be surrounded by dozens of little rippers and some of the best coaches in the country? So, I packed my bags full of warm ski clothes despite the 90-temperatures. I jumped a plane destined for Portland, OR where Travis Erdmann met me. Travis is one of the main reasons why Windell's has embraced freeskiing at their camp. "Any way to get the kids on the mountain skiing" was Travis's explanation for originally proposing skiers' induction to the camp to Tim Windell, a pioneer in the snowboarding world. "I went to Tim with the idea because there wasn't anymore room at Timberline for another summer camp," Travis said, and Tim embraced the idea.
After about a forty-minute ride from the airport, we pulled into the Shamrock Motel, an old tourist motel revamped into a skate/bmx paradise where Windell's campers stay. The campus has rails and fun boxes around every corner. The tour continued around back where I found a huge playground where one of Oregon's largest skate parks lies. As if that wasn't enough they also have a sweet rhythm section to satisfy the bmxers need for dirt.
My next stop was across the street from the motel where the campers who are over 18 stay. I quickly made several friends and started in on a game of horseshoes. The adult house held 15 riders from around the country, eight of which were skiers.
As I found out later the first day of camp started the same as every other like Bill Murray in the movie "Ground Hogs Day" waking to the same song and forced to try and get his day right. Instead, I was woken everyday by our host Jeff, and my challenge was to get my skiing right. However, every day was different on the mountain. The days were mostly "sunny and sick," filled with your choice of rails, jumps, hips, or super pipe. This session had 30-plus skiers, which provided for tons of one on one coaching.
With coaches like Shane Chandlee, Josh Frazier, Tommy Ellingson, and Griffen Cummings running the ski groups, we all learned a lot. We also learned by watching a few pros roll through the park like Tanner Hall, Evan Raps, and CR Johnson. The coaches taught by example, and the kids were representing, throwing dirty cab 180s (unnatural and switch), backflips, and jibs to 270-off. Some of the older guys were throwing everything from mistys and rodeos to dirty flat spins, trying to incorporate style into everything they did.
If you weren't whipped out by a hard day riding on the mountain, you could come back to camp and spend your time honing your skills skating or bmxing the mini ramp, vert ramp, skate bowl, or skate park. You could also get ready for the next day on the hill by jumping on the tramp. Every night a different sponsor gave away endless amounts of free schwag to the hoards of gathering kids.
Every day that week kids and coaches alike were going off, but the last day is where everyone really shined. A beautiful sunny day provided the backdrop for unbelievable sessions both on the big hit, superpipe and the 70-foot hip. Kids threw dirty 3s, and coaches showed us what was up with 12-foot airs out of the pipe.
Needless to say, the camp was a great time, filled with great friends, laughs and plenty of new skills for the upcoming season. If you would like to be apart of the action, Windell's provides year-round camps just check out their site at www.windells.com. You can also win a free session at Windell's camp check back on our website.
I would like to thank Windell's for all of their hospitality, especially Tim Windell, Travis Erdmann and my host Jeff Bonneau. I would also like say thanks to all of my roommates for "keeping it real." You were a delight to room with. See you next summer.
source:http://www.freeskier.com/lifestyle/article_display.cfm?refid=664
