Continued from the previous blog 'Time to rip the mountain,' Marcel and I ended up heading over to Heavenly ski resort to shred one of the mountain sides of blissful Lake Tahoe. Hours later and a total of 17 runs that were ensued, each and every run down the California side of the resort (there's also a Nevada side) was filled with vigor. Ripping and shredding each and every course possible was our game plan from the time the resort opened -- which was at 8:30am. The day couldn't have been more perfect than yesterday -- which is the reason why I titled this blog 'The Perfect Day.' Clear visibility and the temperature alternating around the upper 40's and low 50's and aside from all the Bastard snowboarders and skiers who had the propensity to just stop in the middle of the trail/mountain, the day started and ended beautifully. The best part about the trip was that we basically had the whole mountain to ourselves along with a few sprinkles of people here and there for about 2 hrs. when the park opened. Hence, this allowed us to attack and crush all the trails that were in front of us along with a few nice jumps along the way until the crowd started to settle in. This is how we managed to get the first 11 or so runs in. Marcel and I agreed at the end of the day that we haven't had this much of a field day snowboarding in a long while!
Mine and Marcel's energy booster to get us through the day. I believe this was run 14 or so
Going home on the lift. If you look closely, you'll notice the parking lot at the very bottom of the right. Yes, we were pretty high up there. And, how about that amazing view of Lake Tahoe!
Tired, bruised shins from my socks not staying up past my calves, and 17 runs later, I'm ready to leave and get our grub on over at the 'Hard Rock Cafe.'
These boots and board got a run for their money
Thanks Cel for driving! I know I was burnt after the day ended
Nothing besides the holiday season gets me amped more than thinking about the blankets of snow that tend to cover the mountains of Lake Tahoe. Home to a number of prominent ski resorts such as: Heavenly, NorthStar, Sugar Bowl, Squaw, and Sierra just to name a few, Lake Tahoe is a must see destination on the West Coast for the thrill-seeking individual(s) looking to shred the the mountains in the winter. Going on our 10th year of riding together, my good friend Marcel and I will be exploding down and ripping the mountain tops of one of the previously mentioned resorts tomorrow! I'm so pumped right now writing this blog that my fingers are shaking just thinking about tomorrow's excursion! I anticipate a perfect ride day across all terrains ranging from pow (powder) in between the trees and the backcountry as well as the groomed trails and parks tomorrow since the latest weather report indicates a near 45 degrees with clear visibility. Not to mention, 4 Ft. of new snowfall within the past few days laying on top of the summit while a little over 2 Ft. is still hanging around the base. Now, I just need to make sure that my iphone is fully charged because I know for a fact I'm going to be in a zone listening to tunes ranging from: Linkin Park, Rise Against, Social Distortion, KORN, P.O.D, DJ Tiesto, Eminem, Planet Asia, Black Star, Tha Alkaholiks, EPMD, Binary Star and many others. DAMN, I'm pumped!
This is all I need to get me by minus the pants/jacket/iphone/Red Bull: Custom 160 Burton board (This board is about to be end-of-life after this year), helmet just in case I hit a tree, Dragon goggles to keep my eye site intact, gloves to keep the hands warm, and strap bindings to keep me stuck to the board. As you can see, I have two sets of bindings. One is the Custom Burton bindings and the other are K2. After last season of riding with the K2 bindings, it was evident that I needed to switch back to my originals since they were much more comfortable and easier to get out of (just ask Marcel who had to try and pull me out of them a few times last year at Heavenly). Too bad K2. I love the design and effort put behind them, but my old Burton's still kick ass!
Just in time for Christmas! We just received huge stacks of various plaid patterns from our lovely manufacturer to choose from as we gear up and plan for 2009. My eyes are going cross-eyed right now as we choose wisely which patterns to use on our future garments. That's right folks, plaid pieces are coming your way!
If you've been following my blog for quite some time now regarding our good friends (Jameel and Kimelia) from Saleem Films, I've posted a few videos and write-ups that follow their reality series The Good, The Bad, and The Movie. Well, it was just brought to my attention that a new season will premiere sometime in the Spring of 2009 -- which will follow an exciting new flick that the gang have been vigorously working on called The Rub. Check out the trailer for now. Enjoy with great pleasure!
Here are some of the previous links regarding these talented folks: Blog A Blog B
First off I want to apologize for not putting this blog up sooner. I just want to emphasize that it was one hell of a night! So, onwards...
Take the scene from the movie 8 mile when Eminem (B-Rabbit) crushes his opponent in the last freestyle battle of the movie and the crowd is going mayhem. And, that's what the scenery looked like at last nights' Shine Party featuring Damjn & Ivy Leegue held over at the notorious 111 Minna Gallery in downtown SF hosted by none other, Boogie Events Co. The turnout was immense and the spectacle was incredible! The performance showcased by not only Damjn, but also the Ivy Leegue demonstrated that none of these dudes are going anywhere for awhile. Let me provide you with a little bit of a visual if you missed out on the opportunity to enjoy a fun and eventful evening with all of us who were in attendance. The gallery was at max capacity once again and the crowd spilled out on the sidewalk and the streets during numerous occasions; Damjn & the Ivy Leegue both took front and center stage (yes, there was a stage) at approximately 12:30 am just after Erk the Jerk and the Renegades (B-boy crew) ignited the crowd. Ivy Leegue (Outbreak & Skuba) kicked off their first track 'My Swagger is On' -- which queued the runway models to display Damjn's hot and trendy streetwear pieces -- which was the case throughout their entire performance. If you scanned and observed the crowd, it was evident that the people were embracing the harsh and lyrical bangin', head-bobbin' beats and tracks of the Ivy Leegue. Not to mention the garments that the models were rockin'. Further, to add more excitement to the already hyped up crowd, free shirts were thrown out. Lastly, there were occasions where it felt like the paparazzi's were in the building from all of the camera lights going off constantly.
To end the night, a few of us ended up back over at Leah's to finalize the night.
All in all, it was another memorable and exciting night for all of us. Great job Boogie Events Co., Ivy Leegue and Damjn! And, of course a huge 'THANK YOU' to all the B&F supporters that came through and represented with their attire and stickers! It truly means a lot to us! Right on for Cultured Roots representin' as well. Oh, and to the guy (sorry I forgot your name) that tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was Jon/Jonathan from B&F and who mentioned he's an avid reader of my blog. 'Thank you' for reading and being interested!
The team reporting for duty
Loraine showing off the goods
Quick story: This dude was honored (guy in the foreground with B&F sticker). So, this gentlemen approached Sharon and Leah because he admired the B&F hat and gear that they were rockin' so he asked if he could have one of their belts in exchange for his. And, out of generosity Sharon gave him her belt. So, guy that now has Sharon's B&F belt...I hope you're a proud and satisfied man!
JMoe and Outbreak of the Ivy Leegue
Street teamster Bear and the partners
That's right...Byters get dumped into the SF BAY! I'm sure some of you who watched 'America's Best Dance Crew' on MTV last season remember this shirt represented by 'Supreme Soul.'
Our B&F family members always down to support
The after party sometime after 3am
Everyone lining up to see the aftershow...see next pic
Don't be a Bastard!...we still love you, Leah
Will looking on as Sheryl comforts the begging 'I'll never drink again,' Leah
To see the rest of the pics taken during last nights event, click here and enjoy!
Bastard & Friends is finally showcasing their gear as well as a few exclusive items in 2009. And, what better place to kick things off, but at an expo where last year's gathering catered to more than 29,000 attendees over the course of 3 days. That massive assemblage is in affiliation with the largest comic book and popular arts convention known as Comic-Con held in San Diego every year.
The exhilarating event where we are more than excited to undertake in and bring our items to the public is WonderCon -- which will be held at the Moscone Center in downtown SF commencing on FEB 27th - MAR 1st, 2009. Just like it's big brother Comic-Con, WonderCon is also an annual convention that houses retailers, artists, and early screenings/previews of some of the most intriguing movies featured in comic books all under one roof. So comic book aficionados, superhero wannabes and everyone else in between, we hope you mark these special dates down and we welcome you to stop by the show and visit our booth (Booth #242). IMPORTANT NOTE: if you're looking for 'Bastard & Friends' on the program, you won't find us. Due to the kid friendly/open to all ages atmosphere, we were forced to go with the name 'B and F.' I know...pretty lame, eh. But, rules are rules so this is what we have to live with for this type of show.
As we approach the days leading up to the event, you'll be seeing a few things on our blog/social communities/forums etc., indicating special prizes and offerings that we will be granting each day at the show. You don't want to miss out as we are ramping up to entertain you with cool and hidden treasures! So, stay tune!
That finally hit the Bay Area after weeks of no rain, a few of the B&F members (me, Sharon, Derek, LeRoid, and Fatima) attended the Launch SF sample party hosted by Indie Industries over at the 'W Hotel' in downtown SF to check out not only some of the hip and trendy items presented by a few of the up-and-coming designers and boutiques from the Bay Area, but also to network with a few of them. At most, it was a very small and intimate atmosphere that catered to the posh individuals seeking apparel, jewelry, and collectibles. Amid the financial crisis that America and the rest of the world is partaking in, there were still a decent amount of shoppers still making purchases -- which is definitely a great thing to see! Along the way, we stumbled upon a few people that were of interest. I would like to take a moment to highlight some of these designers: Sam, Sammy, and Gary from Divide & Conquer Clothing, Ian from Swordapop, Mark from Turk & Taylor, and Shinya from Magnote.
Shinya Fujimoto introducing their new line of paper craft robots from Japan.
The Japanese products are always an exciting thing to keep an eye on. These are cool and fun items assembled by paper pipes only.
Sam, Sammy, and Gary displaying their pride & joy, The City is Yours track jacket. This is probably one of my favorite pieces introduced by them
Another custom garment from Divide & Conquer clothing, ArowDynamic. These guys put in a significant effort to try and please their customer(s). By that, I mean their jackets/sweaters contain embellishments that compliment one another. From the details and work of the lining inside their hoods to various stitch patterns inside & out, even down to the custom zipper pulls, the bells & whistles always are important factors from my perspective! Great job, guys! We all look forward to seeing more customized garments in the near future
We always end the day/night with something fulfilling. And, without question there are a few favorite spots located in the 'Westfield' mall based in Union Square in the heart of SF that we seem to never pass up. The first is a restaurant located in the food court called 'Out the Door' and just around the corner, the delightful Melt (Gelato & Crepe Cafe).
President Bush gets shoes thrown at him. My apologies for displaying this, but this is what happens when you're a 'Bastard!' And, that's all I have to say about that!
Shortly after, we then made a trip over to Japan town across the way to indulge our appetites with a bowl of Ramen noodles over at 'Tanpopo.' And, since the majority of the discussion around the table was in regard to toys, ie:, vinyl/plush toys and anything alike, we decided to stroll over to one of the coolest Toy+Art stores in the area, Super 7.
