Windells wrapped up Session 5 at Timberline Ski Area on Mt. Hood last week with big names and stoked campers. The week started with Sammy Carlson taking over the switch-up title on the 65-foot box in the Windells park. During Session 4 a camper claimed seven switch-ups, which knocked out the record of five set by Sammy, Tim Durtschi, and Tommy Ellingson. While the camper had no witnesses, plenty of people were around to see Sammy’s seven switch-ups with the additional 270 out.
A coaching staff stacked with pros spent the session teaching the campers new tricks and showing off their own style a bit in between. Tommy Ellingson was coaching for his fourth session of the summer and can be seen this September in Rage Film’s new movie, Corduroy. During the week he got his switch cork sevens dialed and was throwing switch tens. .
Also appearing in Corduroy this fall is coach Tim Durtschi. This was his last coaching gig for the summer and he wound up with the little guys. While his campers were off sliding down the dragon rail on their stomachs, Tim was practicing his new favorite trick, the nose wheelie.
Teton Gravity Research’s Dylan Hood was in the park coaching when he wasn’t throwing backside 540s on his snowboard. Line’s Brandon Becker was also coaching, but finished up his skiing for the summer and returned home to McCall, Idaho. For the rest of the summer he can be found playing pirates on the lake. .
The hefty list of guest pros in town included Tanner Hall, Pep Fujas, Sean Fields, Roxy’s Sally Butler, and Rossignol’s Taylor Felton. Eleven-year-old Salomon newcomer “Moo” Eakin tore it up at the mountain and on roller blades in the street course at Windells. .
Session 6 is well underway right now with Ellingson, Hood, and Austin Stevens coaching. Head Coach Travis Erdmann is bringing in Phil Belanger to coach Session 7. Campers attending Session 7 can expect to have a hip built into the pipe by the talented crew of diggers. Right now their pride and joy is the perfectly built 50-foot jump at the end of the park that campers, coaches, and pros have been sessioning late into the afternoon. Campers: don’t forget to get your digger dogs at the top of the park to support their daily trip to Volcano Cones. -Courtney Vermaas
As temperatures soared in California last week, it was clear we had to hit the Hotlum-Wintun ridge on 14,162-foot Mount Shasta.
It was game on when we left the Brewer Creek trailhead on the east side of the mountain at 7,200 feet and started hiking with heavily loaded packs. We broke out of the tree line at 8,000 feet to plainly see the entire route, in excess of a vertical mile, awaiting us. The skins went on at 8,500 feet, easing the strain on the back during the push to camp at 10,400 feet. There, we saw two other parties of two. All told, ten of us were on the route, which was a definite minority to dozens on the popular Avalanche Gulch route on the south face.
Sleep came and went before we put on the crampons and booted higher on the textured snow that firmed during the night. A beautiful sunrise and sprawling vistas served to distract us from our task. Before we knew it, it was time for our descent. The corn did have some corduroy type texture and the sun cups weren’t too bad. There was a runnel or two from 13,800 to 13,000 feet where the slope steepened and sun baked. Otherwise, the snow was surprisingly good and the 3,000 foot vertical descent back to camp was well worth the climb. When the skis finally came off, we had all logged descents in excess of 5,100 vertical feet. No better way to beat a heat wave in July. - Matt Tarka
Guest pros in town included Sammy Carlson and Kristi Leskinen. Charles and Vincent Gagnier were also around filming with Plehouse. K2 team rider Chris Benchetler just arrived for his first summer with Windells...CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY...