(Blurry photo disclaimer: it's only a digi elph 3.2mp with a wide angle)
With winter taking it's time to grace us with a strong presence, Copper Mountain's snow making team has made the best out of a bad month of November temperatures. Well under the average gallon for snow making to blow a pipe Copper Mountain was the first, again, in the nation to open a quality pipe. With the professional help of Snow Park Technologies Frank Wells and Brad Hoeter the shred is on...
Frank Wells. Testing his product.
Copper Mountain team rider Erich Dummer.
A new addition to the many attractions of Copper is the involvement of Camp Woodward. Woodward is a well established camp with a focus on skateboarding, BMX, inline, gymnastics and cheerleading. Snowboarding is Woodward's newest venture. The partnership between Copper Mountain and Woodward will offer a training jump complete with airbag for all the snowboarders training needs. Along with some on hill obstacles there will also be a complete indoor facility for the apre' grinds.
Frank Wells and I ventured over to Copper yesterday to shred their pipe and get a little grind on. We rode the pipe the first part of the day. Many "heads" were there settling into the pipe. Even Burton's mighty Japanese shredder Kazu was in the house. England's national team was there as well as an arsenal of shredders from the Stratton Mountain School. Rick Shimpeno, head elite coach for Stratton, and Ian Kirk, head pro/am coach, came along for the sk8 after their day on hill.
When over at Copper, Endo's is a great place for food & fuel. Hops & Barley.
After Lunch we called Adam Tietz, head of Catalyst terrain park, to find the keys to the new Woodward bowl at Copper. Thanks to Morrison over in the retail dept we had entry...
Not quite "virgin" as Rick and Ian from Stratton had already warmed this up. Their lines proved it's worthiness.
Thankfully most of us can say we started snowboarding due to skateboarding. And now Copper Mountain and Woodward have made this an even easier possibility to "multi-task". The ramp still needs to undergo it's Skatelite™ treatment but we weasled in for a sesh anyway...
Frank Wells. Madonna.
Rick Shimpeno. F/S Ollie.
Wells.
Rick S. F/S 5'0 in the corner.
Rick S. Crail stall.
Wells. He sessioned this bowl hard for not sk8n' in 3 years.
Rick. B/S smith stall.
Wells. CA'TACK!!!
Soon the ground will be broken for the indoor Woodward facility at Copper. Stay tuned to www.coppercolorado.com for more information. Until then, go and ride Copper's pipe, it's on point!
Super special thank yous to Pete Woods, Lauren Pelletreau, Adam Tietz, Frank Wells, Brad Hoeter and Morrison (the man with the key!).
PRAY FOR SNOW!!!
