Sunday, March 21, 2010

Mike Basich in Japan

Here is a clip of Mike Basich in Japan cat-boarding last year. A true legend in snowboarding and has been living the DIY lifestyle for many years now. Mikey is someone I truly admire and envy in the snowboarding community.  He is great inspiration in taking old trash and making it work for something completely different. You want to learn how to make snowshoes out of street signs? Or even make your own split board? Then go to Mike's site. at www.241-usa.com and check out all great DIY (do it yourself) projects.


Hikaigahara Cat Tour from 241 on Vimeo.


For someone who loves snowboarding for what it is and how it really helped improved his life , check out this Film about Mikey Open Spaces. "think snow" and love the life that you are given.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

APPI Burton Demo with Misawa Outdoor Rec.

The day started with a 530am departure as I wanted to arrive at APPI with plenty of time to set up and have a great spot for the on snow demo.  It rained the entire drive to the resort, but once we stared to unload the gear it started snowing sideways.  We attempted to set up on snow but where denied but the force of mother nature and her wild wind which proceeded to blow our tent out of its anchors and down into the parking lot. End result? Demo inside. The mountain only had 2-3 lifts running and the entire upper half of the terrain was never open due to high winds. Both gondolas where shut down.  Its too bad because it was a beautiful day, sunny and not too cold.  So we made the best of our situation and had a nice little spot right next to the pro-shop. Overall a great demo and people where stoked to try some new boards.  Thanks APPI for having us!



fresh wax!

Mukai-san talking stance.




Friday, March 12, 2010

APPI Burton Demo Tomorrow!

Misawa Outdoor Rec-Burton Demo at Appi-kogen tomorrow March 13th 2010. 
I will be on hand turning screws and hope to see you there. 
I will check back in with a full report.
 



Thursday, March 4, 2010

Mt.Takada Odake, Hike & Ride Mission

5am alarm is usually not the norm, but when powder calls you have to go get it while its fresh.  Last night I got and email from Mune-san from About Snowboard shop wanting to go hike a Peak in the Hakkoda Mountain range called Mt. Takada Odake.  Its 1552 meter high and it's the second highest peak in the Hakkoda's.  The climb itself is over 800 meters in vertical from the parking lot, thats around 2,625 vertical feet to my friends in the States.  Whaoooo, it took a soild 3 hours to hike this beast but well worth the reward.  The open bowl turns were 1,800 vertical feet of freshie goodness. The rest of the ride down was through well spaced beach and pine trees.  Sometimes you really have to earn your turns and today was one of those days. We couldn't have asked for a better day. Sunny, clear at the top to where we could see Mt. Iwate-san to the south and Mt. Iwaki-san to the West and we could barely make out the north Island Hokkaido...pretty magical day.  Thank you Mune-san and Koji-san Blog for taking me today...
.."So Stoked" to be there.

Mt. Takada Odake in the background...








Koji-san, our guide for the day. Safety First kids.

Mune-san

Iwate-san in the distance...you can even see Appi-Kogen
Summit Shrine..Pray to the Snow Gods...

Mt Iwaki-san in the distance




"Kampai" Mune-san! ...my reward.

Lines...


Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Down Days in Misawa, Japan

With warming temperatures and rain in the forecast, YES rain. We opted for some down days and touring around Misawa and Hachinohe. Climate change is definitely effecting Japan as well. For more on how to protect out winters go to POW and get involved.  On to what we did? Bars, Beach, Fish Market, Shinto shrine's, Buddhist Temples, Samurai Houses and Bamboo Forest. Not and any particular order.
 Nomi, Nomi,...Kampai



Ag-san from 338 Surf




Old Samurai House





Trevor's Future Album cover

Mukai-san, Takanori-san, Ag-san.. and some Beardo



Cheers! Trevor..thanks for coming

And thanks for the SuperFeet ! I'm a believer


Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Yeah for snowboarding...in Japan Part 3

Day 3 and 4 at Hakkoda where spent hiking and finding fun zones to jib on snow monsters.  Even found a few face shots 4 days after a storm.  Once again more sunny blue bird days and Rad times. Still more to come of the Trevor Saga in Japan with down days in Misawa.

Mt. Iwaki-san in the distance.



Spacecraft & Asahi




Monday, March 1, 2010

Yeah for snowboarding...in Japan Part 2

After a Blower pow day, the snow continued to fall through out the night and we awoke with a surprise of blue bird pow day.  I have been waiting months for one of these and Trevor gets it on day two of his trip.   It was the first time this season I actually had to use sunscreen. Goggle tans are out cool kids, protect your skin. Today was a day of hiking, straight boot packing through waist deep pow.  And ohh was it worth it..as Trevor being quoted after one run, "that was worth the price of admission!" Stay tuned as more to come from the Trevor saga in Japan. 









Still my favorite shot of the trip thus far