The days become a blur as the best snow you’ve ever experienced gets surpassed on the next run. With guide Heath Lockhurst pointing all in a SFD fashion (and Lanny, MD, keeping the herd in line) through the misty trees, burn sections and glory bowls, snowboarding takes on another, ethereal meaning at Baldface. This quality was even more enhanced on day two when out of the fog, Jamie Lynn -- OG Freq from back in the day -- arrived to shred with all. Freq Week winner and Detroit resident Luc Wilson couldn’t believe it; you just don’t get this on the UP, eh?

And for those who were fortunate enough to witness, Jimmie James Lynn is riding like “The Garden” was filmed last month; un-Freqing-believable. Between this and his appearance for our recent heli trip, it is good to have the man back around, and expect to see him involved more as we go along.

The remainder of Freq Week’s riding was as good as snowboarding gets (only enhanced by DJ MothaChucka’s dance party gig), we were stoked to have our friends from Nike Snowboarding -- Bobby Meeks and Andy Wright -- along for this one, and we look forward to next year’s Freq Week event. Stay tuned for location and details.

Much love and thanks to the entire Baldface staff especially: Jeff P., Stella, Heath, Lanny, Lee, Dave, Jamie, Kord and the whole crew.

With another LBS come and gone, it feels a bit like Santa Claus has packed up and headed to Belize until next year. The recollections of this particular LBS will remain, however, for some time. This is, I believe, the 20th LBS I have attended in the 25 years I’ve been riding at Baker, and would put this year’s performances, course quality and snow conditions in the top five of these. By opening up the course a bit, and with a perfect snow depth, the banked course rode like a flawless 70’s concrete skate snake run and the speed of the riders was notched up a bit.

By the time Saturday’s second qualifier had rolled around, the winter storm warning and wind advisory had cranked up to Katrina levels and 90 mph winds were recorded later that evening atop Pan Dome. Of course, that didn’t stop the race. With grapple pellets hammering everyone’s faces, all dug in and surfed to the bottom with Haakon posting the best time of the weekend at that point. Cannon Cummins (yes, progeny of Temple and Barrett) of the Next Generation division was actually brought to a halt when the wind hit his little grom self as he came over the hip in the lower section of the course -- he toughed through and charged to the bottom. Another notable performance was race legend and Canadian alpine coach Mark Fawcett, who in the 40+ category threw down a run that would have put him in fourth place Pro Men’s division. The LBS favors none, but experience helps.
In classic fashion, Finals Sunday brought clear skies and a bunch of fresh snow. Laps on the Arm, and dropped ropes on Gunner’s Ridge and Chicken’s got everyone on the dance floor and between the course itself and the conditions on the hill -- as race Czaress Gwyn Howat said at the awards ceremony: “If you aren’t dog-tired at the end of a day like this, you aren’t a snowboarder.”

There was plenty of good drama over the day on Sunday, with the usual suspects Haakon-Temple-Debari-Dirksen-Kingwill checking each other’s lines while trying to act like not doing so. For the men’s pros, in the end, even experience favored no one with the eventual winner a 17-year old from Norwood, CO named Harry Kearney coming out to take the top honor for his first time. He was not, however, the youngest ever to win it -- in 1986 Shaun Palmer took the title at a pre-Cadillac-tattoos age of 17 as well. With the top four men all within a second, the lineup was solid with Terje Haakonsen, (Vancouver Olympic boardercross silver medalist) Mike Robertson and Josh Dirksen rounding these out.

The biggest story of the day, unquestionably however, was 5X LBS winner (and some other contest she won at Cypress last year) Maelle Ricker taking the top spot in women’s pros with a 1:31.31 placing her almost three seconds above the next female racer and in 20th place for pro men’s. Most incredibly, she did it with a broken arm strapped to her body.

I’ve seen a lot of runs down the White Salmon natural halfpipe over two-and-a-half decades, and I would rate this as one of (if not the) greatest run of all time. Haakon was voluntarily impaired when he qualified fourth going fakie many years ago, and there have been blind racers and others who have come back from life-threatening conditions to make their goal of completing the course, but Maelle…. wow. Watching her drop into the upper section, blazing through the banks, young Paavo Sari asked: “Does she have only one arm?” My question was: does she have only one heart? See all the results here.

In perhaps the most apropos moment of the weekend, with Mt. Baker royalty Dano Donnelly presenting the increasingly heralded Craig Kelly award, recipient Carter Turk was nowhere to be found. For anyone who grew up riding with the guy who, in the early days of the MBHC, was the best fall line rider on the best mountain in the country, they understood the significance. Carter Turk was one of the first to ride Mt. Baker, and for the first decade was easily as highly regarded as Craig by the locals. The thing about Carter, however, was that you never saw him. You only saw the line he left. From the first leap over the cliff aside Gunsights, to summer drops off Herman in jeans and Converse in lowbacks, one could see the single swooping signature of this sasquatch-like individual. I think Carter got wind of his honorarium, and in true Carter Turk fashion, simply preferred to let his legacy speak for itself rather than open his mouth. As it is, he did make it to the hill earlier and many of us old farts (myself, Dano, Eric Janko, Kelly Jo, etc.) had a nice informal reunion with beers and stories. His wit is as dry and clear as it was in the 80’s, Carter sat down opposite Mark Fawcett, glanced down at his soft boots and, not having seen or said a word to the guy in probably 20 years commented: “So, you went soft on us.”

In the parking lot afterwards musician and noted Whistler veteran Wes Makepeace was shaking his head: “I know who the guy is and what he did, I’ve heard of him for years, and I know what true legend he is – I’ve just never seen him.” Look up on the best run on the best day of the year -- the run no one else thought to seek out. See the gracefully arcing line slipping over outcroppings and between the towering Doug firs, and if you look closely enough, and if you are lucky enough, you just may see a dark-haired sasquatchian character disappearing into the woods below.

For anyone who fell victim to the absurd Gestapo state established by the Whatcom County Sheriffs Dept, the Washington State Patrol, Forest Service Enforcement, WA State Liquor Board enforcement, Homeland Security, Customs, DEA and god knows what other publicly funded spooks - I would highly recommend the services of local attorney and true esquire Aaron Lukoff at Lukoff Law. He has much experience beating back those don’t seem to understand phrases like “probable cause”, “reasonable person”, “prior restraint” and other strange concepts like the Fourth Amendment.

Until next year when Santa returns from Belize, may the spirit of the MBHC be with you. 

All Photos Copyright Colin Wiseman.

After a brief presentation by their Global Brand Communication Director, we toured an Oakley history display from early Factory Pilots to the most recent goggle incarnation, followed by a couple food-and-drinks fueled press conferences with several CDN Olympic team members including halfpipe rider Jeff Batchelor, who declined on any predicted upsets of The Flying One. Speaking of whom… another press conference went down outside in rather lashing conditions following a full-on fashion show of O’s 2011 outerwear. Props to longtime O head Matty Swanson who gamely and professionally spoke with Gretchen Bleiler about her career and design influences as they endured the Cascade’s finest liquid snow. Later, The Flying One himself made an appearance in official garb and touring cap, looking like a red-headed Jackie Stewart (not sure if the full on hobnail boots were official footwear or not) and speaking, relaxed and cool cucumber about the Project X endeavor and “secret tricks” he’s holding in the bag for the Games. Wiggling between Esquire.com staffers and aggro NBC camerdudes, several more rum-and-ciders were secured along with smores upon exit. Eat your chocolate heart out Brooke Geary.

Now if they could just tent the Cypress pipe and start blowing cold air, it’ll all be cool. No pun intended.

The prelympic foray was entirely successful; the border proved to be mellow enough that even without a current valid passport on the US return, Wibby did not get us hauled off to Guantanamo.

I’m not always into the mega press events, but if you are going to throw it down, few do like the big O. Even with perfect-storm conditions, Swanson, VP of Marketing Pat Mcilvain and the rest of the Oakley crew pulled off one of the more impressive events I have ever attended.

At any rate, in an age when a lot of shredboarding's events have become sucky when it comes to non-shred clowns running the show, wack-ass sponsorship, and extreme hosts, it is entrirely refreshing to walk into a space that has truly evolved. That is to say, gone are the days of fragrant sessions with The Fiz, but the vibe that has replaced is entirely genuine and a testament to what can be, with attention and love. I haven't met all the new shop kids, but I also know that they have as much stoke as anyone who has ever come through the program. My hat is off to John, Lisa, Adam and crew.

Immediately upon entering, I spotted and shaka-ed fellow chrome domer Peter Saari, as well as Mervin heads Annette Veilhelman, Tim Stanford AKA Stan-Tech, G. Trevor Phillips AKA T-Nutz, bro Kyle Phillips and shred extraordinaires Eric Jackson and Mark Landvik. Senior Editor John Laing was holding it down along with Baker grad student Patrick McCarthy, and of course Mr. Logic himself with trademark 'stache, was there to greet with ice cold goodness. Madam from the Mouse Channel, Mary Fenton managed to snap and invariably beat me to the blog scene, and it was an all-around homeschool good time.

After young Pavo Saari made it clear to dad it was time for pizza, we all rolled next door before taking it down to outer Belltown and the King Kat Theater for Standard Film's Black Magic. Or at least to the lobby, where more shakas were exchanged with Pat Lennox, Nathan Lind, Lucas Debari, Matt Shredgers, and Blair Habenicht fresh from Chile.

Had to roll the pumpkin home before midnight, after which I become visible to cops.

Whatevs; they'll send the DVD. And I want to check slomo on the gnar that Lando throws down.

Congrats and big thumbs up to the likes Lib, the Logics and the Hatchett's (Standard Films, for those who just showed up to class), proving that staying legit and staying with it is still a viable approach.

Peter Saari, Bananas to the People! photo Stantech

E Jack and JG: fishingfishingfishingblahblahblah. Photo Annette Veilhelmann

The NW community came together solidly for the evening events and in full force for Sunday's skate picnic at the Puget Street skate park and the tunes of DJ Moonboots. With the sun shining only as it can on a July day in Washington, multi generations of skaters and their families came together to pay tribute to two great friends. Ample heads including legends Jeff Fulton, Rob Skala, and Randy Hansen were on hand with Skala providing decades-rich style lessons in the deep end punk Boy Scout steez. Fulton continues to defy time with fastplants and crooked grinds at a time the rest of his generation is scouting out AARP benefits. Lib Tech's Matt Edgers took grass ride routes and pushed out frontside tailslides on the tight hits. Freq's own John Laing was on site holding it down as was Spacecraft's Sarah O'Brien. With Donnkie and Gunther's family members in attendance, and a hundred plus friends and fans, this was a fitting end to to fitting celebration.

Ride on Donkenatrix... your legacy is rich.

JG

The sailing group of three men and three women had set out that evening on a sunset sail to Chuckanut Island, a popular moonlight route for local boaters. Upon return, the boat was likely capsized by sudden windshear, when the fair weather turned foul, with north winds of 40-50 mph coming up with immediacy as the boat rounded the Clark's Point area and headed for the Post Point shoal.

According to reports, two women along with Sean and Gunther attempted to swim for shore, while another man and woman elected to stay with the craft and swim as it got closer to shore. The later two survived along with the two women who set out with Sean and Gunther. The story is still coming to the fore and we will follow up as details emerge.

The boat was found the following morning in the tideline near Post Point, along with a dog, deceased, belonging to one of the survivors.

On Sunday, June 7, a volunter searcher and friend of the two missing found a rudder from Frank's 18-foot sailboat on Bellingham's Little Squalicum Beach.

Friends of the two have put up a site to help coordinate volunteer searches and to share info. We encourage anyone who can to offer whatever help they can or support the searchers and family in some way.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families, friends, and our community at large, and our hopes remain for a closure. Donkey was one of the most respected and creative riders to grace the slopes of Mt. Baker in the last 15 years. Hailing from second generation timber family in nearby Maple Falls, his dynamic riding soon got the notice of folk like Volcom and Lib Tech, who sponsored The Donk with gear, as well as the Mount Baker Snowboard Shop, where he also had worked in the past.

Donkey's style was completely his own, and if everyone else was doing 540's, he'd throw a switch 720 and cork it out along the way. While known as one of the more outgoing and stoked members of the Mt. Baker family, Donkey also had a creative and quieter side, developing an interest and talent in painting over the years.

Gunther Frank, a photographer known for his excellent portraits and music photography, was friends with many of the local riders, and was often a fixture at events.

Both will be deeply, deeply missed. Again, our thoughts are with the families and friends at this time as all hope for a recovery of both men.

We will continue to report on the search effort and any news that develops.

Photo of Sean "Donkey" Mansfield by Mike Yoshida

- Mark Sullivan

Photos: Dave Thomas

01 Jeff Galbraith

02 Nick Bond

03 Martin Watterson

Photos: Jessie Carlson