MAMMOTH SPRING BREAK

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A few days of blizzard storm riding as opaque as your ass in December left some of the pro riders in town jacked up on espresso at the Looney Bean, craving blue skies. I decided to ride even if I couldn't see. Try listening to Bjork on your iPod to intensify this effect. You'll feel like Russell Hammond in Almost Famous when he's about to dive into the pool.

When the storm passed, the resort was packed. Snow thirsty So Cal schoolies stripped down to their t-shirts and indulged in the powder turned to slush. Local shredders have already figured out how to have a permanent spring break, so they decided to punch in on the backcountry clock instead. Gabe Taylor, Tara Dakides and I were the first ones up the Sherwins. Tara finally lost her virginity to this High Sierra peak. Yes, the longtime Mammoth local has never hiked the powder stashed behind her Cribs home. Why hike when you have a sled?

Sonora might as well be the new Hollywood, with film crews gathering to get the shot on fresh snow and blue-sky backdrops. This was my first time at the famous stomping grounds and I was excited to see what the day would bring. Gabe Taylor was kind enough, or eager enough for photos to double me out on his sled. Gabe was quite the tour guide, pointing out cliffs patented by DCP and Terje. When we arrived at the set, cameras were already rolling for another production company. This didn't stop the Grenade crew though, as they set-up shop adjacent to Mack Dawg's posse consisting of Scotty Arnold and Aaron Biittner. Hana Beaman and Jesse House hit the jump with Gabe as a forlorn Kevin Casillo clutched his digi cam on the second angle. He would have hit the jump too, if he didn't leave his board at home. The highlight of the day would have to be Jesse rooping his sled into a ravine. Yes, I used the word roop.

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