Grayscale Laps in the Okemo Park

Our spot assessment in the Okemo parking lot did not yield positive results. Windy, graybird, and unseasonably cold, not exactly the spring day I was expecting. It was one of those days that wouldn't happen for me if I was paying. Luckily, I had secured some recession priced tickets and we pressed on, content that the few coins in our pockets were safe. Much like the cover of a book, you can't judge a day of riding from the parking lot, perseverance is often rewarded.

Okemo has long been one of my favorite places to ride in the Northeast. It has a combination of long rolling trails that flow smoothly, fast bottom to top quads, and consistent conditions.

We started the day with a few burner runs, letting the Bataleon Enemy 161 fly at full tilt. That board just lives to rail. With the new used Salomon FDB boots finally dialed in, I felt solid.

I think the last time I did park laps was the day I blew my ACL, some 8 or so years ago. After a few runs, Carrie and I decided to scope the top to bottom Ross Powers park. We were surprised to see that there were actually some decent, reasonable jumps to be hit, a section of three straight kicks with sound transitions and ample landings. They were perfect for miller airs, roast beasts, tail snagglers, melons, and japans. All were depicted in varying degrees of success. With a sharp turn, we were able to rip a short downhill to the superpipe. I love riding the u ditch and this one was very kind. Icy as all east coast but with a golden cut, beautiful big transitions. There really is no feeling like blasting across the flat bottom staring down a 20+ foot wall. Before you know it, you are lofting up, feeling the dead air at the apex of the air, taking that instant to tweak the nose out over the wall.

In the end, this was one of the better days of the season despite the less than stellar conditions. I am hopeful that at some point, some little punk said, "what the hell was that air the old guy threw."

This video blows, which says a lot because all of mine have basically sucked. I debated not cutting at all but I am really trying to hold to a video per day regardless of the footage or the conditions. I apologize to all of you for this. I tried a few new angles that came out like junk. I would love to get the POV pipe run to work, I really need a fish or wide and a few skills.