So its 5 in the morning on the 27th of October and I am having the worst time trying to sleep cuz the Creek opens in like 3 and half hours. My body is a lil tired from staying up with the boys and taking a C-note off of them at a 2 AM ending game of HoldEm (thanks for fundin my trip fellas). As I am lying there listening to Drew Fuller talk French to me in his sleep from across the room, Cory Smith starts waking us all up with anticipation of getting freshies. We roll up to the traditional breakfast joint called the Malt Shop and its like a mini tradeshow or something. We walk in like 12 deep and the first person I notice sitting in the diner looks like Brian Iguchi. I think to myself thats random and then I notice Travis Rice next to him. What the hell? As I shake the fog outta my head I realize Drago, Scotty Arnold, Pittman, Wyatt Caldwell and a slew of other heads are all up in the spot. So its going to be that kinda opener huh? Mitch and I dont even wait to eat, we just get our food and bounce. Last one theres a rotton egg mcmuffin.
As Mitch and I rolled up, we could see BLUEBIRD conditions and fresh pow all over the hill and there was maybee only about 100 cars in the parking lot. I ran up to the ticketing window to drop off some copies of the new Snowboard issue and meet Rosanne Pitcher the face of Wolf Creek. Thanks for everything to Davey, Rossane and ex Nitro shred head Clay Pitcher.
As we were standing in line waiting for the chair to open Drago was still waiting in the ticket line and a heli was working on constructing the new high speed quad. The Wolf Creek lift operator yelled out, "All aboard!" and with that we were swept away up the infamous Treasure chair climbing what seemed to be a powder filled stairway to heaven. Jeah! CO represent!
Strap in and go is all I was thinking off the first chair. First two turns were gigantic blower plums of snow being shot up under the chair as I could hear people screaming with excitement. Feck yah!
Just like a baby bird spreading his wings for the first time Mitch Reed gets his first jump of the season in at Wolf Creek.
Youngest man on the tour riding with some of the biggest heart.
Much respect to the home town boys Avery Karas and Justin Bartle. "I know every rock and tree on that mountain." , stated Avery Karas.
So as I am shooting this jump line I point out a spot that Avery tells me is called Bronanza Cliffs. We all start talking about the possabilitys before the gapes get in there or before it becomes hot pow. Mitch Reed stepped it up under all the criticism of how thin (low tide) conditions were and pumped everyone up with this lil rock gap. Avery Karas turned around with some home town pride and showed GrymeTyme how southern Colorado boys roll early season (top of the page).
As we are riding back up the Treasure chair I'm pointing out to the unofficial mayor of Wolf Creek Avery Karas that nobody is hitting up Alberta Peak. Idiots! We skated on over to what would be the illest lines of the day.
I was thinking right before we dropped in that I cant believe how many people doubted how good it was going to be at Wolf Creek for opening day with 70inches of snow.
Everyone was slaying it and enjoying getting out of the office and just getn some for fun. The real deal yah know? Cory Smith has some wicked sick layback slasher stee.
So basically the entire best part of the mountain was getting left to just the heads who wanted to hike and battle sharks in the low tide environment. Drew Fuller happens to like surfing low tide at Wolfy in October.
SHARK ATTACK MITCH! GET OUTTA THE WATER!!! Ok so on my second lap on Alberta Peak, I was mobin thru some saplings and took a stump to my back leg inside. Ouch! Collected myself and the rest of the tired and wounded soldiers at the bottom had lunch, thanked Rosanne and bounced. Opening day at Wolfy this year was absolutely amazing!!!
OH, whats that you say? A new hand rail?
Yo Jones! Cory Smith is claiming a first descent down that chute before you.
No trip to southern Colorado is complete without a trip to the infamous Bubba's Boards located in the heart of Purgatory resort. If you are ever in this neck of the woods and need help. Go to this man. Backcountry and Avi 411, snowboard equipment, shred buddy and long time DGO local Bubba wont lead you wrong.
A couple high fives and a lil skate session at the new Ridgeway skatepark later and we lost Cory and Drew heading home to Aspen. Ajax is opening next week I hear with over 5 feet of snow! Winters here kiddies, slap me five if you see me out there this winter. Peace.
