Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Lately: Easily Escaping the Holiday Rush

I've been pushed out of the resort these last couple days by the holiday crowds, even yesterday when it was -15° C. The money brought in during these few weeks allows the Whistler Blackcomb to be all that it is but there's something to be said for consistency. My way of coping is to use the lifts once to get up, and then get as far back into the mountains as possible for the rest of the day. Still, I hit traffic on the way home after and reverted to my manic city slicker personality the whole drive back.

The times had up on top of the mountain today were very much calm.

Thanks to Jon G. for the photos.
Shot of the day



euphoria numbs pain

The crew



Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas

Everyday is better than the next this time of year. Not just because of the Christmas spirit, but from the snow that keeps falling and making new terrain everyday. I'm headed down for a day in the city with family then right back to the grind.

One of Blackcombs stashes....


A video posted by employed ski bum (@jacob_boyd) on

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

State of the Mountain

A nasty pineapple express has come in and Whistler Blackcomb has shut down the mountain. This is the first time I've seen the lifts close. Here are how things look on the Whistler Blackcomb website. Hope the temps drop soon. 



Friday, December 5, 2014

D.O.A.

Yesterday my friend Greg and I went up the hill with no plan, just energy. We knew that for a little while we would just be going up. We toured and made decisions on a run by run basis. The Highlight of the day was probably our last descent, DOA. Despite 7 years skiing in Whistler I'd never done the renown, tight couloir. I skied it as fast as I wanted to and after, barreling down the road back to the truck I think we both realized what a good day it had been.

I made the mental affirmation a few days ago that the snow sucks, but at the end of the day a sense of accomplishment rivals any pow day.


JUST KIDDING, this blows. Let it snow. 

CC goes to Greg Harries

Hullo, I just skied this




SAFETY grab in a DANGER zone





Thursday, December 4, 2014

Cool Edit

The snow could be better right now, so it's a good time to watch other people ski instead of doing it yourself. If you think about it you can just watch enough skiing so that you can remove yourself physically from the process.



This is the best season edit from the last year; 4 minutes of originality.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Cirque

The other day I took a little gamble and hiked up to ski a run called Cirque. It's a nice couloir that includes an entrance that isn't really visible until you're inside of it.

It was all clean though and I took this shot to show what it's like when your slipping down a tight space with big skis. Riding down on your tips and tails while you just bounce and float the center of the ski. Taking the photo wasn't easy. 
 





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Saturday, November 29, 2014

ART:



DARK safety 360 from Jacob Boyd on Vimeo.

I've really wanted to get some material to put on here seeing as it's opening week. All I managed was this three after setting up and taking down a PVC rail one night.

Material coming soon. 

Friday, November 21, 2014

Summer Misson: almost (but still not) regrettable

There's something to be said for adventure for the sake of it. Today outdoor culture is elitist, taking joy in patronizing tourists they've seen lost in the woods. "Can you believe they were out there without headlights? they didn't even fill out a trip report!".

I found myself going for long hikes by myself in August. One day on a hike to the Black Tusk I spotted a patch of snow on the West side of Helm Peak. If I could find a photographer I might be able to justify skiing it. A few weeks later (Mid-September) I convinced my friend Chantelle that we could pull it off and I could ski a line before anyone else this season.

The Sunday we decided to attempt the ski didn't start well. Chantelle had partied the night before and with no response by noon I had called the mission off. When I did get a response from her, I lied and said that the hike in was only a few hours. By the time we arrived at the base of the line it was almost sunset. Beforehand I lacked knowledge in terms of the stability of the slope, route finding, and climbing techniques.

When I started slamming the toes of my boots into the base of the ice slope it hit me how much risk I was taking with my lack of preparedness. Just a few steps up became aware that if I slipped, I'd likely slide all the way down to the scree at the bottom. The snow had all summer to turn to ice and despite that I should have had an ice axe to self arrest I went up anyways. In one of the most tense and angry moments of my life, I slipped and fell after choosing to ascend a route that was to steep. My skis hit the rocks, I didn't. I made some more regrettable decisions and made my way up, learning as I went.

Arriving at the top, there was little satisfaction. The entire line was a no fall zone, my feet were killing me, and I was covered in dirt and bruises from a brutal climb. The sun was setting and I couldn't see or communicate with my photographer. I descended regardless of whether it would be filmed or not. The ski down was not as planned. I mistakenly envisioned fast GS turns down the whole slope, carving trenches in corn snow. I managed the first section, stopped in the middle and then sprayed out my last few turns. I wasn't content, but I couldn't complain as none of my fears were actualized. I wore all white so I was hardly visible in the video. The photos on from the hike up worked out well though.

We made our way hastily down and walked back in the dark using lights. I had deceived the people I
brought along with me and I felt bad walking back with them in a situation that was far from comfortable. Still, a part of me was also filled with pride from pulling off such a surreal task: skiing in the late summer. Well worth the adventure.

The video:
September Ski from Jacob Boyd on Vimeo.

Photo and Video by Jackpot Photo
After the line

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Season Edit:


(The Vimeo description)

The song used kind of describes how I feel about this last ski season. Being around a pretty girl (skiing everyday) is always nice, but if you're not sure what you're doing and don't commit to your goals and ideals, you end up unsatisfied. I had a damn good time and I appreciate everyone who helped me out, but next year is going to be beautiful feat after which my past will pale in comparison. Look out.

Thanks to all those who filmed me: Jackpot Photo, Dylan Siggers, and my friend Jack who shared one hell of a March with me.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Guess Who's Back? (+Happy Halloween)

-- Me, obviously. I just take any chance I get to make an Eminem reference.

Since last season ended I've done a bit of reflecting upon myself and my skiing. I came to the conclusion that I've failed. I think that I lacked confidence to identify myself as someone who wants to be a pro skier, and in turn didn't set up  clear goals. Continuously I would shy away from presenting myself as someone who has serious ambitions. Now, two years later I've ended up without anything that I am content with. On the other hand, I skied everyday, got some really fun lines, choked on deep snow (asthma be damned) and got to spend quality time with people I hardly even disliked that much. Even though I've put off a part of my future for another few years, and I haven't gone anywhere in terms of being a pro skier; It has sure been a hedonistic road for someone who just likes to ski. Progress brings pleasure too though and I have to pursue my dream 

My plans this year aren't yet clear as crystal, but some do exist. I want to make an entry for Superunkown come February, do a few big mountain comps (Crystal and Wrangle the Chute top the list), and take cool trips around BC with the homies.  My main goal for season  as a whole will be to produce as much quality skiing footage as possible. Preferably all backcountry, any opportunity I have, I'll take.

PSA: When the snow comes down and you're thinking about going and filming something, think of me: Jacob Boyd. Touring, urban, park,  you want to take me sledding?  I have to do what? uhhh... OK. Fine.

I'll be there. Get at me any way you know.

What happened in the summer? How was tree planting? Is it true your current boss believes in the chemtrail conspiracy? How clean is your pad? All for another time friends. I've got the day off and I gonna make my place shiny so I can write about it later.

Keep it bleachy,
Jacob

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Monday, May 12, 2014

Lately:

GONE! I'm not skiing until next winter. This is a shame really, but I'm having fun and working hard. I'm tree planting in the southern Okanogan; it's my second season doing this work. There's not to much to say about planting it's fun because it's pretty much all you do here and you're rewarded directly for how fast you are.

Thanks to everyone I skied with, especially those I got footage with: Jack Twemlow, Chantelle Boudreau. Thanks to ROMP outerwear and the guys from UBC. Most of all thanks to my supportive parents.

I'm planting for a few months to be able to buy things to make skiing better next year. Other than that I'm gonna make a season edit that will be more weird than epic because that's how this season went. Then I'm going back to Whistler and working and being a gym rat till ski season starts. From then on out I'll just figure it out. I definitely will be doing a competition or two + sled trips. See ya.

Friday, May 2, 2014

It's all over

I'm transitioning from skiing to work right now. When things settle into routine I'll throw up a bunch of stuff on here.

I had an epic last-day-of-the-season yesterday. Sad situation but a good note to end it on.

Another good winter ends in my reality.

I wasn't trying to be rude it's just the finger I could grab with

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Nobody could say it was a stupid idea because I was by myself

One thing is inevitable when working with other people: compromises. When it comes to jumps a group of people might make something big or consequential, but rarely weird. In my head, I keep ideas that would be shut down in the context of a group project. When I stayed up on the mountain after close the other day with extra energy and a shovel I wanted to make something unique and uncompromising. If it wasn't going to work for skiing, I would worry about that when I was finished.

I ended up staying up till nine at night in the rain and dark to finish this bowl. I haven't gotten all the lines on it that I had thought about when building but I'm not done skiing it yet. I think I'll hike up after Whistler closes and session the bowl. Due to the fact it's built between freight containers it's pretty photogenic. The way it wraps around is ideal for a fisheye lens.

 All I've gotten so far on it are stalls to fakie and some airs around the bowl to where the exposed plywood is (used to be covered (design flaw)). The airs are scary because you're popping off of over-vert and looking down to the flat mid-air.

Message me on facebook if you want to know the location. For now it's a secret.

How many lines can you think of?

dirt gap

I like to do skiing that I can't call urban but is the same style using resort infrastructure and side hits.

This is a the ride-away from a dirt gap on the way down to Creekside.

This was the first hit. A straight air, totally guessing the speed.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Writing from the mountainside:

Written around April 1st:

Right now I'm sitting on a mountainside just above the whistler valley. I don't know if it's Mt. Rainbow or Rainbow Lake or valley or whatever. It's just Rainbow and I'm waiting for a shuttle to get a little higher.

My phone isn't exactly the best word processor so I'm going to write this and spell check it later (Done). Its warming up a bit which might suck. I have some anxiety but it's new a calm type, always present in the back of my head. Frequently I'm thinking about being really conservative instead of the huck mentality. These are two different things and don't work at the same time. On the lifts you don't have to think about conservative compromises. Here you do, but I also have

 It's totally quiet here which makes waiting nicer. Time to put my phone away I need to use a washroom with an awesome view.

I have more or less the best reason for not posting all march. I was skiing a lot because the conditions are terrific.

New edit

Jack and I skied with each other almost everyday over the last month. We stacked some clips together and here they are.

Monday, March 10, 2014

A lil some'n



I'm having fun these days. Sun is out but I want everything to be a little bit better so I can get some shots for my season edit. So far I've got nuthin.... Except this:

 

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Lately: Life is pretty good

Since I got back about a week ago, I've had the best skiing all season. I shredded pow for the last six days straight, and I'm taking today off to recover from the madness. Me and my buddy Jack got some really good turns in and earlier this week he shot two clips that I'm stoked on. Wish I skied the first line from the top, but whatever.


I can't go long without thinking about my little brother but every bit of news I hear is good.

Expect a bunch of footage like this for the rest of the season. I haven't been very productive this season and need to get some good hd footage for my season edit. PEACE.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Priorities

I was in the middle of working a busy apres shift last Saturday and I found out from my mom that my little brother had been very badly hurt. He had been traveling from Palau through to Melbourne then Brisbane via an RV road trip. He got on a skateboard and bombed one of the biggest hills in Brisbane,  then got speed wobble and fractured his skull in several places. There's not much certainty in diagnosing traumatic head injuries. My mom had already decided to head to Australia that night. So as the worst possible thoughts went through my head, I chose to go with her.

What struck me while throwing my clothes into a backpack is the contrast between what occupies our minds each day, and what actually matters to us. Everything in life is trivial when people that are close to you are threatened. Despite this being the worst moment I'd ever endured, I've come to appreciate the clarity it provided. I fret about so many things that don't matter.

For now, I'm in Brisbane. Once I've seen Kieran on his way to full recovery, I'll head back home where hopefully there will be a bit of pow left, which once again, doesn't really matter.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Burrrlapz

Burrrlapz is a group of friends from the Rockies share a  love of skiing, tight pants, and copyright infringement. I had the pleasure of skiing with them last Thursday and Friday. Burrrcation was their trip out west and it's on this blog because I'm in it. Burrrlapz, see you guys soon.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Candide Kamera vs. The Wallisch Project

Which one's better? Despite Candide Kamera maybe cementing Candide as the best freeskier ever, Wallisch delivers. I just don't understand how he pulls off those blind 270's off urban rails.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

From my instagram

 I can't wait until it snows again... to hit this.

http://distilleryimage8.ak.instagram.com/5f4da28277db11e3902c12d79b6bbe90_8.jpg
Alley-oop 3 to left 180. Soon.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Lately: killing my illness

All that lingers from my flu is a nasty cough. I'm so happy to be able to leave the house and see people. I didn't have a face to face conversation with anyone all week. Today I saw the mountain and some people as well, Jon and Laurel. We lapped the alpine, talked, and drank water without shirts on.

I tried to ollie this bench but was short on speed and clipped it on my way down. Nice shot though.
I'm good at ollies. Funny that an obscure trick would come from gym work.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Lately: I got a cold

From yesterday:

I woke up this morning at 8 and now it's 1 and I haven't eaten yet. I'm sick and when I lose my routine I start to live in the Green Day song, Long View. I've caught up on new ski edits, and all opinions surrounding the Olympics. I'm pretty much indifferent. I 'm hoping Joffrey Pollet-Villard gets in and skis how he likes. I don't really watch slope or pipe a lot anyways though.

From watching these edits and having to much time to think. I've concluded that I want to gain some aerial ski skills. Cork 7's, 9's, and sw. cork 5's top my list. Though I don't have any plans for it, I look forward to a day when I can try some of these. It can't be that hard. I jumped of a heli pad the other day and landed a shitty bio 5 no problem. Just like that.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Jan. 9, 2014

Last night I made plans to meet an old roommate of mine so we could take photos together. She's got aggressive plans as a photographer and any opportunity I have to collaborate I'll take in a heartbeat. I think it's fair to say that you can expect more from us.

The day started off rough. Typical things like a bad sleep and a sore back kept the confidence pretty low on the first few features. Chantelle seemed happy with her photos but I was pretty angry with how my skiing was going down. Something changed after lunch and we got work done. Chantelles website is http://www.jackpotphoto.ca/ and facebook is https://www.facebook.com/Jackpotphoto


Sans goggles.



airplane turn

the deepest patch of snow on the entire mountain

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Lately:

I know I hadn't been on here in a while, but having last posted Dec. 17 is suprising. I guess it's the busiest time of year for me. That's a good excuse.

I couldn't ask more much more than what's going on right now, a bit of work, lot's of skiing, and snow appears to be on the way. I've been skiing everywhere. I tend to decide what skis I'm using the morning of and then go. I skied park yesterday, and was on peak for a few days before that. Pretty good up there but my control of my style is a little sketchy, like the snow pack.

I was driving back from the village today and because I had more time than I usually do I pulled into an empty lot I've always noticed. I found a big rock slab that drops right into the vacant gravel lot. When the snow comes low in the valley I'm gonna hit it. I don't know what I'll do on it. Maybe slide it, ski it like a spine, or jump up onto it. 


how would you ski it? straightline to 180?

Me right now, just so you know.

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