Oakley Revolution Goggle Clinic Tour: Last Stop Loveland

This weekend, Loveland Resort hosted the seventh and final stop of the Oakley Revolution Goggle Clinic Tour. With a foot of new snow from the night before, local riders came to get some fresh turns in, as well as experience the Oakley O-Lab. While waiting in line, riders were entertained with blasting music and all the Red Bull they could handle. Those who endured to the end were then taken into the Rolling O Lab, Oakley's innovative lens laboratory, on wheels. I gritted my teeth as I watched one pair of glasses or goggles destroyed after another. It was not easy to see lenses shot at with a BB gun, or smashed with a heavy pointed piece of lead.

Once the demolition part of the tour was over, I got to go and order up my fix at the Goggle Bar. I felt like a kid in a candy store, as I had dozens of color options to choose from. As with the majority of the crowd, I settled for the Crowbars. I went down the assembly line a few feet and threw on my custom strap, and finally my lens choice. I immediately ditched my old goggles in the car and took a few runs with my custom Crowbars. I wasn’t the only one with this idea. It seemed like everyone else on the hill was trying out their new goggles as well.

As time went on the snow continued to dump, and I got to take a few laps with Danny Kass. Within the first 5 minutes of the run I ate crap on a tree gap, and got laughed at by him for having taken a bad tumble. I guess we were taking turns on who ate crap, because the on next run Danny’s number was up, and he got his poop handed to him. We both laughed it off and continued to shralp it up.

Taking a short break from riding, I headed down to tent city, where the goggle bar was making their last call. With that, the riders came in for their last chance to make a pair for themselves. Mr. Kass didn’t even need to walk up to the bar, as he was surprised with the unveiling of his brand new signature Crowbar goggle. “I'm so amped on what is going on here at Oakley. Where else has there been such a sick grass-roots event like this one?” Danny said.

I have been to a few autograph signings before, but never have I ever seen a grandma be the first person in line. She waited in the dumping snow for an hour before the pros even picked up a sharpie. As the session got underway, the team riders were stoked that they really had fans of all ages. Fans were all smiles as Oakley riders Danny Kass, Eero Ettala, Gretchen Bleiler, and Lauri Heiskari took time to converse with them while giving them their John Hancocks.

Lady luck was on the side for those who had a place to sleep in Summit, granting them with a pass to the Oakley party in Breckenridge the next night. Unfortunately my 2-wheel drive Operation Tundra, didn’t have the heart to withstand mother natures assault on I-70, leaving me sulking in my apartment that night alone.