Blogs - THE-STOKE

2011

As 2011 comes to a close so does my time pursuing slopestyle and riding parks. I will no longer be in the park for to train. Possibly I'll be pursuing more BX and big mountain riding. As of now my body can no longer take the abuse and falls that the younger generation can bounce back from.

Not to mention the triple cork which is of no interest to me. Snowboarding and slopestyle was about expression which now days I think has lost it's way. With back to back doubles and everyone… Continue

Added by Jeff Lavin on June 10, 2011 at 10:38pm — No Comments

Henry

Last April at the annual pass holders’ spring barbecue, the general manager of Sugarloaf presented achievement awards. The Lifetime Achievement award went to my friend Henry, who had even brought along his wife for the event.

90 years old, Henry had been skiing at Sugarloaf for *FIFTY* years, having learned how to ski at the “tender” age of 40.

He was a legend – everyone there knew him, in his blue jacket. Everyone greeted him, at the base, on the lift, at the mid-mountain… Continue

Added by MaineSkiLady on October 30, 2010 at 6:12am — No Comments

The Waiting Game

Sliding into November, the skiers and riders get restless in the east, like race horses at the gate. Happens every year, like clock work. Then some resort opens up 600+- feet of vertical on half a run and calls it an opening --- and the madness begins. It's different in the west: the one "white ribbon of death" is usually more than 600 ft of vertical.

Then Mother Nature throws and connects with a hook and delivers rain and several days in the 60's.

And we're back to The Waiting… Continue

Added by MaineSkiLady on October 29, 2010 at 5:21am — No Comments

Gimme Shelter

One of the best bands said " if I don't get some shelter I'm going fade away!" this line and this song pertains to us snowboarders, skiers and other action sport/ lifestyle sport participants being the nomadic creatures that we are.

Chasing the dream many miles and time zones from the spot I call home. All for the passion and love of the game, the stoke. Some people piss their time and/ or money away gambling, drinking, drugs, or other random stuff. I find that I've pissed most of it… Continue

Added by Jeff Lavin on October 28, 2010 at 10:33pm — 1 Comment

Get Awesome

I came up with new saying get or getting awesome. Really it's anything that you're stoked on. Hitting the monster booter, going for a skate or just enjoying life. It's really general but I enjoy it!

Added by Jeff Lavin on October 28, 2010 at 10:09pm — No Comments

Back west

Well looks like it's that time of year again. The Stoke is in full affect both on here and out there. Sunday River Maine beat everyone in Colorado for opening day. It looks like Loveland will take first to open in Colorado and I hear somewhere in Tahoe will be open Friday. Right now I'm hanging here at Mammoth figuring out my next move. I checked out my sled yesterday and it fired on the 4th pull. I can't wait to hit jumps on Sonora pass and out by Hahn's peak.

Added by Jeff Lavin on October 24, 2010 at 11:37am — No Comments

late season salvation

Never mind! Got snow last Friday-Friday night, 4" at the house, even. 8-10 at mountain - salvation! Snowed all day Saturday, most of Sunday. Didn't amount to a blizzard - and nothing like crazy 07 (95" in 17 days), but....we'll take it, it was great, weekend was very nice skiing. Still good coverage on 57 runs, especially above 2000 ft. Could well make it to May 2 now! (Hey-this is the east.) Sugarloaf rocks it.

Added by MaineSkiLady on April 20, 2010 at 5:22am — No Comments

Less than wonderful season in the east

Okay, so it's limping to a close in the east. At least we have the distinct advantage of calling one of the few resorts in the New England region our home mountain!

After Easter weekend's absurd 80+ degree temps (which was actually a hoot!), temps have cooled down, and yesterday's 1.25" of rain here translated to 4-5" at the mountain. As a result: off to do approx. day #40 tomorrow, possibly the season's "swan song?"

The meteorological predictors were… Continue

Added by MaineSkiLady on April 10, 2010 at 11:50am — No Comments

I H8 SPAMMERS

Spammers totally suck. Site administrator, take note, please.
Ignore this, all.

Added by MaineSkiLady on March 11, 2010 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

At a great loss

Today the snowboard community lost a great person and friend. I've known few people that were as selfless as Scott. At a time when people didn't see what was possible for me to do he believed in me and saw the vision. After talking it turned out that we grew up 90 miles apart in Wisconsin. Us Wisconsinites tend to take care of each other. He took me under his wing with Hive. 2007 was going to be my year. Unfortunately I injured my other knee and was looking a second surgery. While most people… Continue

Added by Jeff Lavin on January 19, 2010 at 12:46am — No Comments

Back and Better than ever!

Recently found myself re-stoked! I have this new theory that I work with the mountain when riding. The mountain is a living breathing entity. Older then human kind and part of the circle of life. This new zen has given me a stoke power like none that I would ever dream possible. Everyday gets better and better. It reminds me of my grom days of progression. Except now I can paint a picture with the mountain as my canvas and my board my brush. Enjoy and may The-Stoke be with you!

Added by Jeff Lavin on December 2, 2009 at 12:14am — No Comments

TRUST YOUR GUT INSTINCT

I’ve been on the planet too many years to ignore that feeling: that a con is happening, right under your nose. The worst aspect is not having 100% control over what transpires. I tried to scream bloody murder. No one listened.

Caveat, caveat: in this life, the cons happen, sometimes more often than we care to admit or confess. You know the old saying: “Sometimes you’re the bug, sometimes you’re the windshield.”

I could use every contrived phrase in the English language… Continue

Added by MaineSkiLady on October 18, 2009 at 9:24am — No Comments

Five Whole Days of Summer

What a freakin bust summer has been in New England (and much of the eastern seaboard, from D.C. north)! : (

July was the 2nd wettest and 6th coldest in recorded history. I checked: 25 days out of 31 were rain here. (where's the flaming icon?) Ordinarily, we'd be out at least twice a week during peak evening hours waterskiing, etc. Ha, not this summer.

The weather is just plain wacked in most of the US lately. From drought and fires in WA (into BC near Blackcomb!), where it's… Continue

Added by MaineSkiLady on August 19, 2009 at 11:25am — No Comments

Pondering existance and other big questions

Three years ago today I sat in the same spot wondering when I would get to snowboard again. Of coarse I knew the answer would be when I recovered from ACL surgery. The first time was harder than the second time which happened a month ( 7 days in my season..if that ) after I was given the go ahead to shred it again.My dad is going through this stage right now. The questions and head games begin. Will it ever be the same? If I did it this way then maybe none of this ever would of happened and I'd… Continue

Added by Jeff Lavin on July 31, 2009 at 12:48am — 1 Comment

Good to be here

After something of a long postponement, the site founder's biggest fan has arrived (for whatever that's worth??). With words of encouragement to anyone who is enduring what has to be the worst dumbass summer I have ever experienced. And, folks, I've seen a few. WHERE THE HELL IS SUMMER?? Ah, Northern New England, start paying better attention to the Farmer's Almanac, which nailed this one, to the wall.

So it's rainy, to make an understatement (dumped 24" out of the rain gauge in June… Continue

Added by MaineSkiLady on July 16, 2009 at 12:01pm — No Comments

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