So here’s what happened. I went to Austria with a solid group of CAPiTA reps and retailers to celebrate the opening of CAPiTA’s new factory, The Mothership. When I got back I had a pile of photos and video to sort through, each with a great backstory. What you are about to witness the account of me and all my pals boardin’ and partyin’ around Europe, complete with everything from blunders, pros riders, KFC, America Day, cars getting towed, and the opening of the newest, most advanced snowboard manufacturing facility in the world. Be prepared, this was one hell of a party.
It all began at an unassuming gas station.
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The bus ride to The Mothership was complete with Brandon Cocard, Dan Brisse, and Dustin Craven at the intercom controls. Never a dull moment with this crew.
[aesop_video align=”center” src=”vimeo” id=”148183995″ caption=”The crew broke it down as the everyone approached The Mothership. CAPiTA team in full effect.” loop=”off” autoplay=”off” controls=”off” viewstart=”off” viewend=”off”]
Here is a first-person view of probably the most common event of the weekend: prost, cheers, santé, phrases synonymous with a good time.
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[aesop_video align=”center” src=”vimeo” id=”148183161″ caption=”Bubbles were flowing immediately upon entrance to The Mothership. DWD’s Jeff Keenan approved.” loop=”off” autoplay=”off” controls=”off” viewstart=”off” viewend=”off”]
[aesop_video align=”center” src=”vimeo” id=”148183711″ caption=”DC Snowboarding’s Dave Appel, prost!” loop=”off” autoplay=”off” controls=”off” viewstart=”off” viewend=”off”]
CAPiTA invited the entire village of Feistritz to celebrate the Mothership’s landing. They ate, drank and learned about the company’s prestigious history and its goals to build a sustainable future for snowboarding in the many years to come.
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The thing about Europe is that there is no shortage of food, ever. People there love to eat. So if you think just one bratwurst is sufficient, think again. Double or nothing for Dan Broadwell.
[aesop_image img=”https://snowboardmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/double_dog.jpg” align=”center” lightbox=”off” caption=””Two brats, one bun. The best way to do it in Austria.”” captionposition=”center”]
Dave Graves is the CAPiTA, Union and Coal rep for the Rockies. He’s one of the best dudes you could ever hope to meet. But everyone fucks up, and Graves fucked up when he put regular fuel in a diesel van. You win some, you lose some. On to the next.
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Pretty standard post-shred parking lot beers. The guys might be onto something with the roller bag on the hitch… Mini trailer? Not sure of traffic laws in Austria but this probably isn’t street legal.
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Now this is a classic example of two people shooting the same group from different angles. At least Graves nailed it.
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The scale of the landscape surrounding Mölltaler Gletscher is tremendous. It’s no coincidence that a majority of the most talented big mountain riders in the world call the Alps home.
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Here we’ve got a couple group photos, similar to the type that party girls take before they hit the club, though these are just industry dudes and pros in the mountains instead.
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One of the many amazing group dinners with reps, distributors and riders from all over the world where chanting and cheers were as regular as normal conversation. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves, making it easy for coaster throwing fights and boisterous merriment. This is probably the point when the beer was going down way too smooth and general decision-making started to become questionable. Blue had schnapps poured down his throat. The dancing suggests that it was not Corey Smith’s first glass of wine. Couldn’t tell you what’s in his shirt simulating breasts. And Union’s Riley Goodwin put on some sort of antler helmet. Benny from Milosport knows that nothing good happens after the antler helmet comes out, but he was down to see the show.
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[aesop_video align=”center” src=”vimeo” id=”148183098″ caption=”Blue doesn’t back down from a chugging challenge.” loop=”off” autoplay=”off” controls=”off” viewstart=”off” viewend=”off”]
After traversing a switchbacking road for what seemed like hours, all while making regular roadside stops to evacuate the remaining schnapps my stomach, I somehow found the strength to go snowboarding at Hintertux. Good job everyone, I’m proud of us all.
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In Munich, we were on a mission to find as many taverns as we could and were triumphant in finding one of the best: the historic Hofbräuhaus.
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A toast to Johan, @nosedradamous, you were sorely missed from the festivities. There were even stickers and a hashtag, #islashwithnosedradamous.
[aesop_image img=”https://snowboardmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/haufbrau.jpg” align=”center” lightbox=”off” caption=””No trip to Munich is complete without a Hofbräuhaus visit.”” caption position=”right”]
Thus begins America Day at, of all places, KFC.
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[aesop_image img=”https://snowboardmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/kfc.jpg” align=”center” lightbox=”off” caption=”America Day, no better way to celebrate it than with KFC. Racine brought a bucket of fried chicken and shared it with everyone we saw on the street. Graves was in heaven.” captionposition=”center”]
Eating fried chicken, sitting on the ground, and America Day in Europe with a group of friends. Success.
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Read the story behind CAPiTA’s new factory, The Mothership
