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. 

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

Season Edit:

JACOB BOYD - 2013/2014 from Jacob Boyd on Vimeo.

(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.

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

sequence

A new medium that requires little effort

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.

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