New article
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/dec/12/skiing-rock-star-cited-possession/
Skiing ‘rock star’ cited for possession
Tanner Hall caught filming at high school in Boulder
An extreme skier who’s been in dozens of shredding films, won
numerous X Games medals and been dubbed by ESPN “the most influential
skier of his generation” was ticketed early Thursday while performing
ski stunts at a Boulder high school.
Tanner Hall, 25, of Kalispell, Mont., was cited for possession of
marijuana about 1:45 a.m. after Boulder police noticed a group of
people performing “extreme ski stunts” outside New Vista High School,
700 20th St., said police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley.
A packed high school parking lot at the early-morning hour tipped
police off to something suspicious, Huntley said. While talking to the
men, she said, officers smelled an odor of marijuana. They asked who
had the pot, she said.
“And Tanner Hall stepped up and said he had it,” Huntley said.
Hall was cited, and his crew was asked to disperse.
Upon arriving at the scene, Huntley said, officers observed people
using hand rails to perform ski stunts. There were reports that some
participants were professional skiers and were filming their tricks,
she said.
The ski-stunt event was not sanctioned by the Boulder Valley School District, Huntley said.
Boulder Valley spokesman Briggs Gamblin said New Vista is investigating the incident and whether any students were involved.
When reached in Montana by phone Friday, Hall’s mother, Darla Hall,
said her son is filming a new movie with former professional mogul
skier Johnny Decesare and Poor Boyz Productions. She defended her son
and said his accomplishments “speak volumes” for his character.
“He has done loads for his sport — he’s a great kid,” she said.
Hall is the defending skiing superpipe champion at the Winter X
Games, where he’s won seven gold medals, the same number of X Games
golds that Olympic champion Shaun White has won in snowboarding.
For eight years, Hall has competed in the X Games and again is invited to participate in the Jan. 22-25 event at Aspen/Snowmass.
In September, Hall held the world premier of his movie, “The
Massive,” at Boulder’s Fox Theatre. The film follows Hall’s adventures
from Copper Mountain to Retallack, B.C., a ski hill that he partly owns.
Hall co-founded the freeride ski company Armada Skis and starred in
last year’s Warren Miller film, “The Playground,” which played to
sold-out crowds at the Boulder Theater.
“He has a lifestyle that’s not everyone’s lifestyle, but I back
Tanner 199 percent,” Darla Hall said. “He’s not the only athlete out
there that smokes marijuana. ... They all do it.”