I just was remeniscing about the Early nineties when Snowboarding was pure. CIRCA 1992
After viewing such incredible pieces of film such as Critical Condition, Snowboarders in Exile, New Kids on the Twock, TB1; I realized the futility of going to work in the office ever again. I rented a flat in Red Lodge Montana, acquired a Sims 1580 half-pipe from Noah Salasnek, and a pow board Morrow Multi-Pro 174 (purchased at Pacific Drive) got some packages to sell later from Tijuana, tuned up the CIVIC and peeled out to hit up Pow in Montana.
Something happened on the way- I stopped for gas in Summit County and went in to a little shitty bar called the Gold Pan Saloon in Breckenridge. Unbenounced to me that very night, I slung a few sacs and met Mikey, MAra, Trish Powell, Edwin, and some other people. They said crash here tonight and come ride at Copper with us tomorrow.

The next day, I showed up at Copper early, jonesing to meet up with the crew and get to some real riding in.

I was blown away! These guys were RIPPING. S chair,S cornice, Stump of manhood, Flyer, G roller man!!! A trees, Onion roll, Fetus, lower cat gap,, INcredible....
Montana -- I dont think so. I am staying here!!
I rented a little cottage in Frisco for a week with some of the free money I was makin-The little pink plant place on Fifth and Main.!
I walked across the street to get my board tuned that night for the first time at SBR- 10 steps away-- and I walked right into the middle of the birth of the jib movement!. I didn't know them then but Jake Blattner was in there beveling his edges and talking with Tarquin Robbins, Ron Baird, Richie Whittlock, and ANdy DAvidson about reducing the tip lengths of their boards and getting wider stance and mounting options to the then slim 19 inch stance patterns given to us by the first B5 hole pattern.. I proceeded to the back of the shop and was greeted by a short hairy man (Gunslinger Jim) that asked me immediately where I was from. "CALI", I said proudly.. He asked if i had any ganj to trade out for the incredible tune he was gonna give me. I showed up the next day unknowingly, my brand new SIMS halfpipe 1580 had been not only tuned, cut down, bevelled and T bolted to a stout 24 inch stance now mounted duck-footed, but Jim had also taken the liberty of "HOOKING me UP" with a custom paint job....WHAT!!!@#$$. I was floored and somewhat mad at the time, But- Jim waded thru the twenty or thirty cut board tips and tails he had cut down the previous night to hand me my stick and I have to say, I was impressed. The base was immaculate and perfectly waxed to temperature. the paint job was a tricolor rasta fade vertically oriented with a new SBR sticker placed perfectly between the feet. When I got to Copper I traded a half of a Subway cold-cut-combo to the mellowest looking lifty for my second day of Colorado shredding. Gunslinger Jim had hooked me up Fat Style..I was buttering knowls, and ollieing stumps higher than ever, trying spins. I started following the growing Copper Posse thru the trees from shack to shack and having a fucking riot doing it. I went to O'Sheas at the bottom of the Flyer after riding that day and asked if a place like this has any night time positions open, I was hired on the spot and that was it. I was now a Colorado rider!

Who cared about the rental in Montana? I had a bunch of money I was makin already here and shit 1992 was a good snow year even early season. PLus I found a sick A-frame in Blue River for 100 bucks a month.
( Thanks Snail, Trey, BOO9 )
Honorable mentions in the early nineties SUMMIT scene..
Jesse Davis, Richie Whittlock, Andrew Miller, Spent, dancehall Craig, Tuscant, Bree Hamilton, Buff, Gumby, Bagel < Donut , Woo, Todd Franzen, Sean Ebbinghaus, Kevin Furlong, Josh Zickert.
Luke Gamache, Nic drago, Jose Srholz, Johnny B, Mikey Meirick RIP brother!, Jim Smith, Amy Wakefield, Frank Wells, Nate Cole, Dale Rehburg, Jake Blattner, Jason Tarulli, Eric BUCKY, Mike Row, Stip, Corey from the liquor store, FLITE Snowboards, Trish Powell (thanks for the cheap loft) Mikey Leblanc (lobsterboy) PAt A, Chad Shnacky, A9 And all the island staff. G money
Steve Link SUMMIT SNOWBOARDS, PAvel Krikava, Pete Wurster ( UNITY SNOWBOARDS )

Tarquin, Gunslinger Jim, Neil Rankin, Dave Tuck, Matt Hale, Jeff and Kurt, CON Leche, The TELE house RIP, Nic Drago, (ALL former SOLID employees), Tj Leise, Tyson Montruccio, TR, Steve Link, Roscoe and CHAIR 9 at Loveland, Liscak, Mike Lyons, ANdy Barinowski. The Underground Tim, Johnny B, MAtt, Pancho, ANdy, Chris Ferris (THE BIG HIT), Screw loose Bruce, Scotty, and the french gulch dwellers, Morgan La fonte, Bob Redmond RIP!
VAil Locs--
Merriman, Cole, Eric Thompson, Ninja, Hoyt, Barret, Megan, Wookie, Ethan Fortier, J1, J2, J3 Paul Freeman, Bill Thomas, Bobby Graves Fisheye Films,
The Original WU-TANG BOOTER,
The original alligator Gap
The original Triple terrace gap
The Original Superpark
The birth of SCHWACKING
PLAYER MAGAZINE
Peak 7 & loafs
Frisco Posse
Copper Mtn fugitives
Blue River
A- Basin
Loveland Pass crew

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Vail Pass
Montezuma hardcore
A basin pre snowmaking// Spring gear sales/
Seedless store out of the back of my lowered civic
S chutes Thanks Chip Koning! Best single run of my life Sorry Alec i sent you of the forty footer to boilerplate!
- You got me back with the 18 stitches to my shin later remember.?
The Claimjumper Frisco -mY bitches- Lemmeeget a MIke and CUrtis yo...Lizzies Bagels
Matteos Philly cheesesteaks, Erics underworld, CLints, Daylight Donuts, Josh's
ALligator, BBQ V-man, RASTA PASTA Leif, The Hyborian 9th level evil
Sunshine House Locs /Spooney Trustafari
The dancing bear house Frisco
All Leadville posse ( Gangsta )
Blue River Squadron
All Island Watersports employess
All SBR employess
And all my pals that quit Snowboarding to flyfish gold medal streams...
Good Lookin Out
that was a good time yo...Sorry to anyone i borrowed money from and did not hit back.
Damn I miss the humble beginnings!!!!