100th Post: Podcast

203 Down To Earth - Wasatch: The Official Production Podcast from Parker Alec Cross on Vimeo.

Filming for this podcast has been a lot of fun recently. I haven't been able to get too many good shots because I haven't been landing anything, but I am stoked for the next few weeks of filming. We have a lot of plans.

Amazing Journalism

This piece on the Taliban is one of the best to come out since the start of the war. I don't pretend to be an expert on everything that has been going on in the middle east, but Najibullah Quraishi laid it all out on the line to get this footage. No other journalist has been able to come close to something like this. The men he is filming ask him multiple times to stop filming but he just keeps it rolling.

This is far from anything that I would normally post on here but I was so blown away by the footage and the interviews that I had to put it out there. Watch it HERE

Another look at Cardiff

Here are a few more photos lifted from Parker's blog. He should have his podcast up in the next day or two. The above photo is of a fun little line I took popping over some exposed rocks. It wasn't too gnarly but it was fun. These little lines made my respect for the big guys in the sport like Jeremy Jones grow ten-fold.

Standing up top getting ready to drop down a little face where you can't see the bottom or the path you are supposed to take can be a little confusing. I had originally picked out a line from a certain perspective but decided when I got up top to change my plan and go with what Parker was suggesting. When I got down I looked at, what I thought would be an awesome line and realized it would have been completely idiotic for me to go there. Huge rocks jutted out the face to a really flat landing. It would have been painful. Good thing I listened to the guys down below.

This is the place

"This is the place."- Brigham Young really knew what he was talking about. I love Utah. I love these mountains. I love riding with friends, and I love snow. Just after I snapped the picture above I sat alone on the lift looking up into the cloud covered sky watching the snow make its way down. It was the type of snow that stacks up quick. It didn't really start snowing until this morning and by the time we rolled up, there was enough to get some really good turns. It makes me ache to think about sitting in school tomorrow when it is going to be so deep. Responsibility... I wish I could blow it off and just live on clouds of pow. We met up with a good group of guys and searched out some great runs.

We finished out the day by heading deep into Tiger Tail. This was the first time this year I have been able to ride with my boss and friend Ben Pellegrino, which always ends up being rad. He knows these mountains better than just about anyone out there. He showed us to some deep untouched turns. Our last run took us out to the road to hitch hike back to the resort. High fives and good vibes were definitely a huge part of the day.

Benny just about to drop in.

Hitch hiking back up.

White Pine Trail head.

All in a days walk

5 a.m..... that was the time we talked about meeting to head up for a little backcountry excursion. When it came down to it we pushed it back a couple hours and we met up at 7 a.m. to drive up. Even when my alarm sounded at 6:15 a.m. I wanted to punch it's face off. I remained bugged until I looked out my window and saw clear skies. Our plan was to head up Cardiff and get some fresh turns.

I really can't wait until I get my splitboard done. Today it would have been a nice piece of equipment to have in place of my snowshoes. But anything that takes me where I want to go works. It took us just over two hours to summit which wasn't too bad. Parker was trucking a pack full of camera equipment with him and he knocked it out pretty fast considering.

The best part of the day for me was watching Uriel come up over the knoll and be completely awe struck by the view. He literally was speechless as he stood open mouthed looking down the canyon. He kept telling me how all he could think about was all those people down in the valley that don't even know this stuff is up here. It is a lot of fun riding with Uri because he is so stoked on just being there.

We all picked out different lines and everything seemed to work out great. We will go deeper when we have our splitboards done. There is so much out there and I can't wait to get more exploring done. I loved today.

Darrel, Parker, and Uriel getting ready for the hike.

The goal.

Walking.... I realized I should have brought my ipod.

So pumped on the views.

Uriel totally stoked.

Mount Superior

Darrel and Parker

Hiking the ridge line.

Walkin and talkin




I snapped this while we were sitting about a mile down from Snowbird... we ran out of gas. Stranded. You can really see the protective layer Parker uses in his car to keep it safe from sun damage.

A little glimpse into yesterday

I lifted these photos off of Parker Cross's blog. Check out his post about yesterday HERE


I loved this photo of Uriel hiking.

Me taking a mean tomahawk. I originally thought there was no way I could come close to this tree but I was a little mistaken.

Riding out the hurt

I opened my eyes this morning as my alarm sounded and I felt great... Then I went to lift my head and that great "good morning" feeling left and I slumped back into my pillow to wallow for a few minutes in my soreness. Yesterday, a group of us went and hit the jump Shelby and I built this past Monday. I don't know exactly what has been going on this year but I have been having a hard time landing anything. The day was filled with slam, after slam, after slam. I should be able to put up some of the footage here in a little while but as of right now you will just have to imagine what it was like.

I think I am going to have to take the whole experience from yesterday and just call it practice. You can't win them all. After we headed down the canyon we pretty much went straight to the local rec center for a visit to the hot tub and steam room to try to fix all the lumps we had taken.

So today Uriel and I decided to try to work some of the lactic acid out of our muscles. There was a little bit of fresh out there to be had and after downing some ibuprofen we took some runs. These pictures are of today and our feeble attempts to loosen up.

Black Jack Gully

Unkown Number

The other morning Todd started off the day's conversation with a big, "Guess what!" he then began to share this interesting tale.

He lay sound asleep in his little bed at 5 a.m. whereupon he was drawn from his slumber by a familiar little beep. A text message? Yes, a text at 5 a.m. Todd swiped his phone from his night stand and looked at the unknown number in annoyance. But what to his wondering eyes should appear? Two old boobs reflected from a mirror. He swiftly replied asking, “why?” before falling into frustrated slumber.

Upon waking in the morning he found more texts from the mobile phone flasher, “what do you mean why? Where is my picture shelly?” Todd in a blur of anger stated, “ I am not Shelly! And why the Heck (edited for your sensitive eyes) am I getting pictures of saggy Boobs at 5 in the morning? Make sure the number is right before you go sending crap like that!” (There were a few different words in there that illustrated more of Todd’s feelings but I have elected not to include them.) She responded in, what I can only imagine, an embarrassed tone, “I am sorry. Just delete it.” The poor old lesbian... I know that if I were sending dirty texts I would hope to get a different response.

Construction Zone

Getting a group together to do something like this is getting to be a struggle. Shelby volunteered to come up with me and dig, we didn't do too bad really. He came over this morning and we tried to rig up these snowshoes that my parents got Todd and I about ten years back. They did their job, even though mine fell off a time or two. (To all you who read this, it is worth it to invest in good shoes.)

Arriving at our predetermined location, we started the laborious task of piling up a crap load of snow. The whole time I was really wishing more diggers could have accompanied us. We eventually got it to where we wanted it and decided to call it a day. Our backs and arms were done. I hit it once just to check the angles, and I think it will be good. I didn't have near enough speed, but I think going back later this week should be a worth while adventure.

Artsy fartsy, taking a picture of someone taking a picture.

The beginnings of a pile.

A mostly done pile.


Put the two above together.... guess what happened.

Shelby dragging his way to the car.

And the reward? 49 cent tacos.

Solo Recon

Today after I got done with classes I decided to cruise up Little Cottonwood and go for a quick hike. This is what I saw, and all things are go for my weekend plans. Mostly, I was looking for an excuse to listen to Book 7 of Harry Potter. Hence my little drive.

The on snow demo at Snowbasin

You know that urgent feeling you get when you have to go to the bathroom really bad and the restroom door is locked? It is almost a panic but not quite. Sometimes it turns into panic when the worst is about to happen, but I am not talking about that, just the heavy anticipation of relief that you know you will find once inside. That's what riding the on snow demo is like. We show up with this huge itch to ride with all of your friends and try out all next year's product. Then you find the sweet relief once out ripping around and playing on one of the most fun mountains in Utah.

Todd, my brother, and I look forward to this day every year and yesterday we were not disappointed in any way, shape, or form. We "have" to go do this for work so we know what to tell people about the boards, but it ends up being a highlight of every season. One run in particular yesterday, my last, left me aching for more. It was the type of run that ended in high-fives and smiles. Thanks Snowbasin for being so awesome.

If you plan a trip to Utah to go have some fun in the snow, visit this place. It is so stupid nice you feel out of place going into the lodge in your snow clothes. You almost feel bad using the gold trimmed, marble bathrooms for fear of ruining something that looks so wonderful. We even hung out in the bathroom's sitting area for a little bit listening to some nice music from the 40's while we waited for someone.

All in all the demo was a success. We tried out a lot of boards and there is a lot to look forward to. Here below is some of the Forum line. I worked the second day of the demo with them just helping my friend Lyman out turning screws. My sister left on a mission to Baton Rouge today... It was a good thing for me to say goodbye this morning and not be there to drop her off. I think missions are great, I am proud of her for going, but at the same time I don't like it. She is my little sister. Worried and sad I won't see her for 18 months.

Ride along with Tyson

In an effort to complete an assignment for my Magazine writing class I got the number of Tyson Goodrich from a friend of mine. Tyson is the man behind Park City's half pipe. A pipe that has hosted some of the biggest events in snowboarding. A location that has been at the center of the progression of the sport for a long time. I am writing the story and submitting it, we will see if it gets published. If not I will post it on here later. The evening was eye opening to say the least. There is a lot that goes into making and maintaining the 550 foot long, 22 foot pipe.

When you are watching the upcoming olympics on TV, take a second to admire the handy work of a skilled craftsmen. These guys are artists sculpting snow with the precision of surgeons.