GorillaProfessor's blog

Happy 4th

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:08:01 -0400

Happy 4th of July from your friends at MTNOPS

"All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move."
- Benjamin Franklin

MTNOPS Rides SNOWBIRD Fathers Day Weekend

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:52:45 -0400

GOES TO

Click Here to see the whole story.

Seth Beck hits a kicker.

Joe McGinley hits the moto gap.

At the bottom of the mountain temps were in the mid 50s and the snow reached all the way down to the plaza deck. Snow, as you can imagine, was spring slush - fun, loose, carvable and good for jumping. Once again Deadlung showed us around - he is an amazing rider on the mountain - fast and smooth - and with all of the hits burned into his head, we jumped and slashed our way all over the mountain. The riding was amazing for June 14th - 3000' of vertical with an abundance of cat track jumps, wall hits and gaps.

Mark slashing the slush.

mmmmm... fathers day BBQ in the plaza.

I can just imagine the conversations around the water cooler this morning..."Man, it was sick, I rode in shorts all day."

I don't know about the riding in shorts part, but man, it was sick.

For more goto MTNOPS

Snowbird will be open again this weekend, as the endless season continues

MTNOPS rides SNOWBIRD June 8th

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:35:02 -0400

GOES TO

After an epic season, Snowbird is one of the last resorts in the country to stay open. We drove down to SLC on Saturday after careful scrutiny of the weather to determine which day would be best.

Snowbird got almost a foot of fresh last week, so winter is not over yet at the Bird. Reports from Friday had pow turns in the morning before warming up.

We drove down Saturday night and hung out with photographer Stan Evans and Lib Tech / Redbull Team manager Zach Leach. Good times.

When we arrived at the hill Sunday morning, it was in the high 40s - warm but not hot. Ideal for a day of summer shredding.

There is still top to bottom riding at the Bird with awesome coverage. Because the temps stayed cooler all day (below 60˚), the snow was firm in the morning, warming up to perfect corn by 11 am - instead of deep, wallowy mashed potatoes you might expect in June.

We hooked up with Technine founder E Stone to do a few laps on the Tram.(Ethan shown with Roxy pro Erin Comstock).The snow continued to soften and conditions improve - fortunately it never got so warm as to turn to soup.We did a few tram laps with Ethan, ripping the chips run jump line.

Next we met up with Deadlung (T9 pro) and Dennis Nazari (owner of Salty Peaks) for a few laps on Gad and Mineral.

Deadlung showed us the jump line.

While Dennis showed us the way to the best snow.

The conditions were so good - we stuck around all day, lapping with Deadlung and Dennis.

MTNOPS special events coodinator Joe McGinley jumps a trailside rocky spot.

Dennis made some sweet corn turns on his swallow tail.

After riding, we hung out in the plaza in the nice afternoon sun.

The conditions proved to be awesome - more like riding at the end of March then the middle of June. It was so good in fact, I think we are going to make the drive down again next weekend to check out the resorts closing day.

Check out MTNOPS for more on next weekend.

MTNOPS ALL WEATHER RIDING JOURNAL

Mon, 26 May 2008 13:39:47 -0400

MTNOPS in collaboration with Rite in the Rain present the ALL-WEATHER RIDING JOURNAL. The journal is inspired by aviation and divers log books, to track the days you ride during the season. Everything from weather, to who you ride with, conditions, location and highlights are covered. In addition, the book features a "to work on section' to track your personal progression.

If you are headed to a glacier this summer, this is a good way to track your progression and make the most of your summertime snow.

Each journal is 6"x4" and features 100 weatherproof pages (protected by U.S. Patent # 6,863,940) to track an entire seasons worth or riding. Each riding journal comes with a MTNOPS ALL-WEATHER PEN. The ALL-WEATHER RIDING JOURNAL can be used at home, on the lift, or in the car and is impervious to wet weather conditions.

Like all MTNOPS products, the ALL-WEATHER RIDING JOURNAL is MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Farmer Vs. Perata – MTNOPS Day 9

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:23:06 -0400

Video for Day 9 features Farmer and Perata waxing poetic on the early days of AK.

Kingvale's Ball and Chain˚

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:50:38 -0400

Kingvale continues to innovate with the new Ball and Chain˚.

Some more pics from Kingvale.

Tailgate Alaska: The Mountains

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:08:17 -0400

Take a looks at some of the mountains we saw on our trip...

MTNOPS

Tailgate Alaska: Steep and Deep

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:58:41 -0400

Click Here to see videos of the first 8 days of the trip.

Mark in front of the basecamp at the heli pad.

Heliboarding is what riding in Valdez is all about. While not an inexpensive route, there is no experience in snowboarding that can compare to riding directly to a 4000' peak in ten minutes - then scoping and destroying lines - all without bothersome tracks.

View from a top LZ.

A look up at one of the runs we did, Goodwills. We found a little entry through the cornice and ripped the face. Back in the day, riders would first send it off the cornice before trying to negotiate the fat cliff band in the middle. Goodwill was the first person to launch the center of the band a 70+' under-hanging drop.

Another view from the top.

Meanwhile Scott Lago was scoping a large rock ride down in town.

Pro rider Marc Carter rides a line down the shoulder of the Berlin Wall. This line was sweet with three drops and deep, deep, blower pow.

The boys have been rallying the sleds up Nicks to reach the drainages of Python and the back side of the Berlin Wall. All of the riders got shots of a jump they built and Scott Lago and Marc Carter hit up some lines from the top. Another good day on the hill.

MTNOPS

Day One: Nuking Snow and BooterBQ

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:46:54 -0400

Click to see more.

Day One Video up at Freecaster.Tv

Photos by JP

Look for todays show on Freecaster.Tv

We spent our first day just outside of town at a jump next to the pipeline.

With a quick sled ride in we were at the bottom of a steep face with booter on top.

Nick Perata and Shane Pospisil scope out the landing.

A quick hike up the jump

A couple of hits and turns in the heavy sea level snow and it was time to BBQ!

We put together the mini kit at the booter site for a nice afternoon of riding through a down day.

Once again thanks to Never Summer for sponsoring the BBQ.

Show from today in final edit!

Tailgate Alaska Begins Today

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:27:36 -0400

Click to see more.

The MTNOPS crew got into Valdez last night after driving 4 days to get here. We had 3 minor breakdowns that would have had a lesser crew stranded for a while.But the MTNOPS crew pulled through and we got back to the road in short order. We are going to have our first webcast later today, so tune in for that.

Check Here for a bunch more pics of the road.

Here are some more pics from the road to Alaska...

We left Thursday morning for Ak. After a quick stop in Boise to pick up Shane and Basher before turning North and heading into BC.

MTNOPS's JP saved the day with all 3 breakdowns. Good to have JP a part of our crew.

This is a shot taken right before our buttery smooth border crossing.

Cory slept on the ground that night, next to the rig,

While Basher and Beav found more 'comfortable' accomidations inside the van.

The next morning Cory was feeling it after a good rest.

So were the arctic cats.

After a few small breakdowns, the MTNOPS crew arrived Monday night to heavy, heavy snowfall.

Tailgate Alaska

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:02:11 -0400

Click to see more...

Spring Conditions and New Multi-Option Table at Kingvale

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:15:43 -0400

Kingvale is te first rider owned, park mountan in the world. Located in the Sierra Nevada 11 miles west of Truckee, Kingvale offers an intimate atmosphere for riders to push their progression.

Tickets cost $22 a day.

The Kingvale Park is firing with spring conditions right now.

The new jib tank.

New table top with options at the bottom.

Kingvale founder Day Franzen on he Chrysler Snowbike.

New Super-Ditch® at KINGVALE

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:46:00 -0400

Kingvale is the first rider owned, park mountan in the world. Located in the Sierra Nevadas, 11 miles west of Truckee, CA, Kingvale offers an intimate atmosphere for riders to push their progression.

Tickets cost $22 a day.

A limited number of season passes are available for $129.99.

Here is the new 'Old-school-super-pipe". Basically banks with super booters carved out of them - a Kingvale first.

The park has been fun all week.

The jib layout has been moved around a bit this week.

Clear Skies - Perfect Weather at Kingvale Today

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:07:11 -0500

Kingvale is te first rider owned, park mountan in the world. Located in the Sierra Nevada 11 miles west of Truckee, off the I-80 Kingvale exit, Kingvale offers an intimate atmosphere for riders to push their progression.

Tickets cost $22 a day.

A limited number of season passes are available for $129.99.

Click Here for more information.
Or Click Here for a map.

The results of our late night.

Never unstrap while riding.

We just finished a new park featuring the 5150 logo boxes.

Buffed and ready to go.

Set that box.

Mid build - digging out of yet another storm.

Great Conditions at Kingvale

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:53:57 -0500

Tickets to Kingvale are available for $23 on weekdays. Kingvale is located 11 miles east of Truckee off the Kingvale exit on the I-80. Kingvale is a rider owned and operated park where you never have to unstrap.

It was another perfect day at Kingvale.

Durst was riding his Avalanche Kick - doing cross rocket backside 180s.

The park changed up a little bit this week.

Kingvale Mascot Aesa.

All play and no work?

Another Durst old school throw down.

GorillaProfessor's blog

Happy 4th

MTNOPS Rides SNOWBIRD Fathers Day Weekend

MTNOPS rides SNOWBIRD June 8th

MTNOPS ALL WEATHER RIDING JOURNAL

Farmer Vs. Perata – MTNOPS Day 9

Video for Day 9 features Farmer and Perata waxing poetic on the early days of AK.

Kingvale's Ball and Chain˚

Tailgate Alaska: The Mountains

MTNOPS

Tailgate Alaska: Steep and Deep

Click Here to see videos of the first 8 days of the trip.

MTNOPS

Day One: Nuking Snow and BooterBQ

Day One Video up at Freecaster.Tv

Show from today in final edit!

Tailgate Alaska Begins Today

Tailgate Alaska

Spring Conditions and New Multi-Option Table at Kingvale

Kingvale is te first rider owned, park mountan in the world. Located in the Sierra Nevada 11 miles west of Truckee, Kingvale offers an intimate atmosphere for riders to push their progression. Tickets cost $22 a day.

New Super-Ditch® at KINGVALE

Kingvale is the first rider owned, park mountan in the world. Located in the Sierra Nevadas, 11 miles west of Truckee, CA, Kingvale offers an intimate atmosphere for riders to push their progression. Tickets cost $22 a day. A limited number of season passes are available for $129.99.

Clear Skies - Perfect Weather at Kingvale Today

Great Conditions at Kingvale

Tickets to Kingvale are available for $23 on weekdays. Kingvale is located 11 miles east of Truckee off the Kingvale exit on the I-80. Kingvale is a rider owned and operated park where you never have to unstrap.

Kingvale is te first rider owned, park mountan in the world. Located in the Sierra Nevada 11 miles west of Truckee, Kingvale offers an intimate atmosphere for riders to push their progression.

Tickets cost $22 a day.

Kingvale is the first rider owned, park mountan in the world. Located in the Sierra Nevadas, 11 miles west of Truckee, CA, Kingvale offers an intimate atmosphere for riders to push their progression.

Tickets cost $22 a day.

A limited number of season passes are available for $129.99.