KAMP K2: RVs, Neon and April Pow
For a gallery of images that accompanies this story go HERE
K2 skiers Pep Fujas, Sean Pettit, Andy Mahre, PK Hunder, Christian Sirianni, and Frank Raymond amongst others lined up a pillow line looker’s right of the C-5 chairlift at Mount Baker. The most intriguing part: No one really cared. Welcome to Kamp K2.
Last week, K2 Skis and Snowboards more or less “rented” Baker for three days. They invited 300-plus shop employees from 13 countries along with pros from K2 Skis and Snowboards. Since Baker does not offer lodging, K2 acted like K2 and rented 80-plus Cruise America RVs and erected two tents—one for sleeping and the other for partying—in the Baker parking lot. No one had a clue what to expect save for the minority of people who attended K2’s past marketing/shop appreciation event known as The Festical. Expectations suck and Kamp K2 certainly did not.
The feeling of having a mountain as big and sweet as Baker to yourself and new and old friends is strange yet so damn exhilarating. As if relatively “owning” a mountain all to yourself wasn’t enough, it dumped each night; not wet April Cascadia snow/rain mix but the big flakes normally reserved for February.
But as much as Kamp K2 was about the skiing, the off-hill parties were equally as fun. Each Kamper was a member of a team comprised of at least one K2 athlete and employee. Teams competed in such events as banked slalom, a park jam, a tricycle race—where each competitor was required to swallow a hot dog and pound a beer before pushing a tricycle around an RV—beer pong/bong, and Kapture the Beer to name a few. Following a soak in one of two hot tubs and Baker-style portions of food, Hells Bells—the AC/DC all-female tribute band—rocked the tent. In addition, every Kamp K2 ‘er received either a pair of limited edition K2 skis or a snowboard.
The next day, Kampers hiked out on the arm with Mount Shuksan playing peek-a-boo through the clouds. Shane McConkey and Shane Szocs led the charge laying down tracks on the rolly, blind spines of the arm. When conditions, light, and stability allow, the uncontrolled terrain off the arm makes Baker an inimitable ski area as it requires skiers and snowboarders to be on the top of their respective game, both physically and mentally.
On the final night, Kampers celebrated the success of the unique event by sporting neon outfits while dancing their faces off on a skate mini-ramp and next to guys with beer bongs attached to their costume.
As the RVs slowly broke file the next morning indicating the end of the week, summer camp-like goodbyes flooded the parking lot. Except it was winter. And people drank beer. And skied. New friends said goodbye with the hope that Kamp K2 will return in ’09 while giant snowflakes continued to blanket “our” mountain.
Thanks to the staff at Mount Baker, Jeff Mechura and Mike Gutt and every other member of K2 for orchestrating such a memorable week. And thanks to beer pong/bong champion Mike Powell for the laughs.
For a gallery of images that accompanies this story go HERE
