Greetings from the Midwest…all has been well since my last post about the fire scare with Zac. We’ve been moving right along day after day, night after night. The locations have been non-stop as well as the work hours…we’ve been logging 15 to 16 hour days then chill (sleep) for 7, and then do it all over again. The type of snowboarding madness I really enjoy.

As the year 2009 comes to a close, I want to thank each and every one of you for checking into the website on the daily, emailing in requesting stickers and of course a huge thank you for repping and placing the sticks. I’m super hyped on the support.

I hope everybody enjoys their New Years celebration under the blue moon; we’ll be out in the Midwest streets ringing in 2010 with a few photos and film shots. Also, sending my prayers out to Kevin Pearce who suffered a bad snowboarding crash today while riding the half pipe, send him your best wishes for a speedy recovery.

All the best in ‘010! Click “Continue…” for the rest of the photos.

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The phone call came in Sunday night to meet the People Crew in the Midwest…I was on the plane outta Phoenix the next morning, excited to hang with this motivated posse once again. During the Christmas break, the Midwest was getting pounded with two plus feet of snow…a perfect amount to do what we do: snowboard, film and take photos.

The direct flight out of Phoenix was easy…no delays, no connections…just take off to set down. Once on the ground it was right over to the hotel room to rearrange the gear for shredding and head on out the door. Jeremy and Zac swung the cars around, I hopped in and we were off to spot No. 1. After a hearty meal of shoveling, setting up lights/strobes/flashes and numerous attempts, location uno was a wrap with shots in hand.

I’ll be here through the week with Zac, Jeremy, Seth, Simon, JoeJoe and my media sidekicks Mathis, Minhondo and Sam. Check back in, I’ll post up shots as often as possible. Click “Continue…” for more.

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Our filming mission has come to a close with an eventful final day on the sloping streets in eastern Canada. We attempted three different locations with one of them being very very productive. Our other two spots didn’t work out so well for a variety of reasons, but fun was had nonetheless…especially when our local homies brought a giant bag of seed to feed the ducks (this big kink rail we set up was in a city park). We were soon overrun with our feathered friends looking for feed!

As we ran out of day light, the drop-in ramp was crammed into the rental van, we found some good eats then headed over to a wicked straight-bar that kept us busy till 1AM. After some technical snowboarding moves, another round of breaking down the gear, packing up the vans and saying good-bye to our new found friends, it was time to pack the travel bags up and hit the airport for the 5AM departure.

That’s it for the People Crew mission…what a great time! Click “Continue…” for the rest of the photos.

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In the land of codfish we’ve run into many friendly persons at each and every location, no matter what time of day it may be. Citizens willing to move their cars so we can generate a proper runout, passersby asking how we’re doing and wishing us luck, local law envforcement waving hello and even some civilans willing to do handstand contests with us.

Whatever it may be, our visit has been grand and will soon wrap up…but not before a few more spots to session, clean up and high five. For more click “continue…”.

Until next…blotto

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The AK Mission has wrapped up…21 days calling Haines our home…chillin with Phil at the Beach Road House; flying with Herk, Johnny, Brett and Tiege through the Chilkat Mountains; shredding with Nicolas, Jussi, Jeremy and Freddie; shooting with Brad and Jaakko…the trip dreams are made of.

Thanks to all…see ya in O’ten…

Peace, BLOTTO

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It’s possible Jussi and Jeremy like Jaakko’s shot

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Alaska has started…two days up with Pilot AL Holzman and Herkie our Guide. Mixed bag of weather, snow quality/quantity, plenty of searching, some shred…plain ‘ol good times any way you slice it

Few pics for ya…I’ll post some more sooon.

BLOTTO

Click “Continue…” TO SEE THE REST

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Mike McEntire aka Dawger, preps the boom cam

Took a trip with Heikki and Jussi to Mack Dawg Productions final shoot of the season in 2006. Big Bear hosted the crew for one of their semi-annual Junkyard Jams. An odd assortment of vehicles, corrogated pipes, wood…combined with boxes, rails and jibs.

Click “Continue…” TO CHECK THE REST OF THE SHOOT.

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Seattle Tacoma Airport 1

After enjoying some quality family time, chowing down Mom’s delicious eats and getting schooled by my 3-year old nephew in ping-pong, it was off to the airport for the beginning of the journey from AZ to AK. Alaska, or the Final Frontier as it’s referred to on occasion; is our annual March slash April destination for documenting The Shred.

Jussi, Frederik, Jaakko and I made our way to Juneau via Seattle, only to start the waiting game once we touched down. A fresh storm had moved in prior to our arrival and created havoc along the ‘inside passage’…the small aircraft route that takes you into Haines.

With an overnight stay in the cards, we made our way to a local hotel, checked in, then called our taxi cab driving friend Andrew to get us downtown for some eats. His Scotish upbringing, mixed with growing up in Hawaii, and calling Juneau home since ’95 made the cab ride efficient and funny.

We asked for some background information on this region and this is what we got: “…famous for gold, jay-walking pedestrians and rush hour is a family of 6 brown bears walking down the road…oh, and those big houses you see on the hill that have the best view take the brunt of the wind coming off the glacier…”

Tomorrow we hope to catch the 7:45 AM flight to Haines…once there we’ll settle in for the long haul and hope for the goods.

Another report ASAP…

Peace, BLOTTO

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K for Keegan

The Midwest…third mission for 2009. All good by me…more cement, metal, grimey snow, pollution, dilapidated bridges, nice folks, low bust ratio…all things ‘middle of the Lower 48.’

Keegan and Aaron called late Tuesday night saying the mission was on…I had already made plans for another shred day in AZ on Wed morning…not to worry, shred till early afternoon, then drive back down to Phoenix and catch a PM flight to our destination.

Snowbowl was fun, snow started to turn real nice (we were calling it champagne slush) around 11, snowboarders easily out-numbered the skiers, Rudy was hyped to get his 7th day of the year on snow…A FULL WEEK he called it.

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