Bono Himself Replies to the Haters (U R Awesome)

After BonoIrishLover's vicious attack on Bono, Bono saw it necessary to emerge from deep within the U.N. Security Council on Africa and reply, in video.  Attached is his unedited, off the cuff response.

24 Hour Transformations (Uller at Killy)

In one day, an amazing thing occured at Killington. Winter started.

Friday

Saturday

Winter at Last (Gorbachev, Sherlock Holmes, and BonoIrishLover)

So after initial reports of excitement and merriment in late October and early November, things turned awful in a hurry.  Al Gore was out there ruining the winter with warm temps and non-winter precipitation destroying the early season base.  This then led to my East Coast news embargo. 

I can officially say now though, that the embargo is lifted and Boloney Moguls declares this season open for business.   Because I’ve recently become sponsored by the U.S. government, I took off from D.C. on Thursday and straight-lined it for Killington. 

G305 is a true home away from home and always a happy sight after hours on the road.  I arrived there in a t-shirt and jeans, while spitting rain persisted through Rutland.  After some brew dogs and Vallapecila with Dan Kelly himself, I got some sleep in and woke up for early season mid-week riding.  Because cold temps had finally arrived in Killington before the slight warm-up I drove through, the guns were cranking full blast for days and the terrain finally had at least a mediocre base.

Driving down the access road, I saw a familiar view that has been plaguing all the mountains of the East:  dirt trails more suited for mountain bikes than snow sports.  After Beer One, I suited up – for what was a much colder day than I expected – and headed to the K-1 Gondy.  The mountain was alive with the roar of dozens of snow guns rapidly trying to jumpstart a winter that Uller seemed indifferent to starting. 

Everything blown on was classic East Coast conditions and I couldn’t have been more psyched.  Hardpack with a lot of man made on top of it – and more being blown – turns were good, edges held, and runs were fast.

With my faith restored in the East Coast and my new TRS, I returned to the condo and waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. 

Friday night was a standard scene:  carloads of Boloners arrived after 11 and mild raging occurred.  We couldn’t have anticipated what Saturday would hold though.

Driving up to the hill everything seemed the same, besides the epic crowds that turned out for 2 top to bottom runs.  Killington was again the only game in town.  Mount Snow, Okemo, Stowe, Bolton Valley, all the NY/CT mountains had missed their projected openings AGAIN.  All snow enthusiasts that had missed their Thanksgiving trip, on top of others, headed to the Beast to get their fix.  Damn the conditions.

Enduring crowds was much easier as the Ktown snowmakers expanded the open terrain and helped us spread out a bit more.  But, Great Northern was still the only way to the base.  This caused a log jam of the worst variety, with kids, grandpas, and jib rats slamming into each other at high speeds at choke points on the bottom of the run.  

And then it started to happen.  Uller woke up and what I thought was just flurries and trace snow started coming down.  The sky whited out, the light flattened, and snow came down.  No one wanted to jinx it, but every time we looked at the once bare dirt runs of the morning, we couldn’t help but get excited, seeing the Beast wake up and take on its snow-draped style.

I think  Tim said it best.  What me and him were really excited about was spinning our newly acquired Subarus through their first snowstorm.  Back at the lot after a day of riding through man-made and natural, the ground was completely covered with inches of fresh.  The access road back to the condo was as treacherous as Great Northern was.  But this time, we had 2WD cars trying to descend and climb ice-covered roads to no avail.

Back at G305, after a quick rally course run through the Pico lot with the Seenbaru, that I hope would make Ken Block proud, the celebrations commenced.  We cooked up a mondo meal, poured some brown stains, and opened up Catch Phrase and Cranium.  A night full of drinking, laughing, phrase-guessing, and charading took place.  Finally it felt like winter was here and it could have been the middle of February for all we knew.  Snow on the mountain, cold temps outside, and a raging fire inside.  You know things are good when we're able to use the back deck as a beer cooler.

Sunday was any-day winter in VT.  A little more terrain opened up, the guns were still blasting, but most importantly it was cold, and the Beast looked like the mountain we all expected it to look like in December.

Winter has come to Vermont and the rest of the East Coast.  Just yesterday Killy claimed another 12ish inches coming down which will do wonders for the base.  After some wind and bluebird skies, this weekend more precip is supposed to come down and cement the gains of the last week.

Finally, it is ski the east time.

Earning Turns (Assload of Miles for Early Season Riding)

With the exception of one DiK, the remaining four of us all put in serious miles for minimal riding, and it was well worth it.

The Boloners:

Myself, Power:  500 miles one way
BP, Dong:  273 miles one way
Kath, Not Pukey:  300ish miles one way
Tim:  300 miles one way
Dan, DiK:  75 miles one way (ass)

While I will continue NOT to break my East Coast news embarago, some comments on this weekend's mega mileage trip are necessary.  5 Boloners in Killington with 5 cars.  That's how BM keeps it green all year long.  Roughly, the gang logged in excess of 2,800 miles for three open trails at Ktown.  I think it would be impossible for ANYONE to question a Boloner's dedication to riding. 

Saturday's mushy sludge was plenty rideable at the higher elevations but quickly rutted out and turned to a color reminiscent of the Mid-Atlantic.  The trails lower down consisted more of rock ollies and avoiding running water and mud than powder turns, but I'll take it at least.

I seem to really be utilizing lists and short sentences, so I'll highlight the weekend via bullets:

• High point:  First shot of rumplemeinze in the 2010 season - delicious, refreshing, minty.
• Comedy gold:  Dan nailing himself in the throat, popping a cork out of his wine
• Drinking achievment:  Dan/Tim for dueley red-eyes at the Wobbly
• Exceptionally Stylish moment:  BP riding in his girly leather jacket, earning the descriptor "faggy 70s shit"
• Random Hero of the weekend:  The Hammer hanging out at the Wobbly during the Wild Stallions premiere
• Sweet Air Award:  Tim's backside 180 to mud plant
  

Snow, as well as, the Lack There Of (WWS)

While it looks like the East Coast doesn't get to ski this year, there is still much in the Wide World of Shred to report.

First, Heavenly (where the gang is off to in March) is opening ahead of their original schedule, on Friday.  They decided to make a web series all about snowmaking and their snowmaking crew, and I've gotta say,  It is awesome.  If you enjoy Deadliest Catch, Loberstermen, Axe Men, Ice Road Truckers, or another show about Guys that Do a Job that Doesn't Pay Much, you'll love this shit.  Frankly, the slick editing and lack of a crappy song for the intro already make this better than half of the "real" shows.  I've posted the teaser, but the full first episode is available at the Heavenly link.



I have now begun a news embargo on the East Coast until it is positive, so instead, I'll comment on Antarctica - perhaps the last frontier of shred remaining. 

Jeremy Jones and crew are continuing to film for their two year project, TGR's Deeper, and they've posted a photo spread from Antarctica.  Deeper is Jones' attempt to get back to what he thinks is the heart and soul of free riding - literally hiking every run.  No snowmobiles, no helicopters.  If you want your turns, you have to earn them.  And it's not like he is hiking at resorts.  He's picked places with unknown lines in the Alps, and spent months exploring vast stretches of AK.  So, why not hit up Antarctica.  That sounds reasonable. 

Jeremy Jones, is of course the king of Free Ride.  Check out some of his various hits.  From That's it That's All last year, a custom edit with just him in there.  Or how about his segment from Under the Influence?

I've attached two of what I think are the craziest shots.  Remember, these guys are sleeping in tents there and then hiking step by step with full gear.  No sherpas, no nothing.  A board, boots, and all the gear and food they need to hike up the run, strap in, and then launch back down it.  Who knew there was so much to Antarctica beyond penguins and cold?  It certianly seems closer to a hard pack then POW, but these pros can handle that for sure.  Check out the full article here to get the rest o the photos and a much better written article.

The Greatest Comment in the World (Youtube Rocks)

On this classic video from the 07-08 Bri-DK fest, Dan did his best Bono impersonation.


Now, the best thing about posting something this amazing, is having it on youtube.  There, the masses watch and discuss, respectfully and intelligently.  Take this gem that I received last night.  Probably the greatest thing ever written on youtube.  Also take note of his username.  Why don't you all tell him what you think of him and how great his opinion is?

BonosIrishLover (17 hours ago) 

u r a fucking bastard 

The real question is who "r a fucking bastard"?  Is it I for positing, Dan because of the impersonation, or Bono for being a dick weed?  I must know.

TGR's re:session, live in dc

Boloney coming to you love from dc. Well actually va. W00tw00t
resession is here to kick the crap out of the mid Atlantic.