Mark Frank Montoya, snowboard legend, and John Symms, excited to be here.
Since my return to Utah a little over a week ago, the weather and conditions have been nothing to write home about, unless the letter went something like this:
"Dear Mom and Dad, I've just settled into my new room at the Cirque Lodge, and I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you. I know that I said some terrible things at my intervention last week. But I see now that you both only want the best for me, and I hope you know that I love you, no matter what I've said while angry or defensive. The people here are very friendly and nice and I already feel almost as though I'm at home. I've even made friends with my roommate, Sandee B already!
Everybody here at the Lodge is buzzing with excitement now. Rumor is that Lindsey Lohan might be checking in soon. Sandee says that she's really cool in person, and totally down to Earth, too. I hope she comes because I've always wanted her autograph, and the orderly told me that "Mischa Barton usually pipes down when Linds is around." And that would be so nice. I mean, I think I speak for everybody here at the Lodge when I say that I hated Season 4 of The OC, right?
Anyways, the weather here is gorgeous. Peter H. says that it usually snows here and is really cold this time of year. But it's sunny and warm, just like back home in West Palm. I guess I picked a great time to get addicted to—Oh, I'm just kidding! Well, it's craft hour, and it's not optional, so I gotta go. I miss you and you have to come and visit me soon!
Luvs,
Brandi Jayne
And when the weather is like that, the snow is slushy in the mountains, which means that the most productive thing to do usually involves flash photography and jibs under the cover of night.
Hence, I got a call yesterday from a photographer asking if I'd be interested in performing for some such flash photography. When I assented, he told me that the other athlete on the shoot would be Mark Frank Montoya, and asked if that would be all right. Immediately, my instinct that snowboarding is cooler than skiing (unless you buy into these Ten Reasons) kicked in and rendered the response, "Yeah, that's totally cool with me, if it's cool with him."
And so Mark Frank Montoya and I went and jibbed a gigantic icecicle in the middle of the night. He's really cool in person, and totally down to Earth, too. But I still kept my cool, and didn't ask for his autograph. It was totally awesome.
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Contributors
John Symms
My friend is a pro. In fact, many of my friends are pros. How else do you think I got this job?
Tim Mutrie
Journalist and blog-a-neer, big mtn. correspondent Tim has a desk-sized condo in a little place called Aspen.
Seth Morrison
If you don't know who Seth is, just click out of this blog and walk away. (Seth is a big mtn. legend, you see.)
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa
Sage went from washing dishes professionally to freeskiing professionally — aka "professional growth."
Ingrid Backstrom
World traveler, prolific ripper, reader and smiler, Ingrid lives in a cabin at the base of Squaw Valley.
Nate Abbott
Driven by coffee, powder, music, laughing, books & possibilities, photographer Nate is a lurker with Leica.
Liam Downey
Vermonster, Level 1 vet and large animal veterinarian, Liam's 6'5" frame makes him a large animal himself.
