Return of the Quasar (Day 6)

To read the previous hub, Day 5, please visit this link:

http://hubpages.com/sports/Return-of-the-Quasar-Day-5?done

Only two more days left to snowboard. I felt totally worn out, but pushed myself, because I didn’t know when I would have the next opportunity to attend snowboard camp. While we were getting ourselves together at Timberline Lodge, I bought a $3 energy drink from a machine to accompany my sack lunch.

Our class did a couple of cruise runs. Coach Jason had us practice the proper stance by squatting and bouncing up and down on our snowboards while we rode. Doing so really helped us make good turns! He took some pictures of me, and I noticed in spite of feeling as if I was exaggerating bending my knees, my legs still looked pretty stiff.

After the cruise runs, Coach Jason had us try the rope tow again. Tired as I was, I felt really reluctant, but again, this would be my last chance until who knows when? After my other classmates successfully rode the tow, I stood in the rut, the attendant slowed the rope, and I got ready to grab the handle and push off. I noticed this part was the most nerve racking.

I did my wimpy nudge, and Jason shoved me up the hill. I actually made it 20 feet before falling! I noticed it is really important to be going as fast as the rope tow, or even a little faster, if it is to be ridden successfully. Because I had started too slow, I stalled, so the tow could not successfully push me along, even with Jason’s help. I made up my mind when I got home, I was going to practice aggressively propelling myself on my skateboard, to cross train for this. Maybe next time I’ll really get it!

Next, Jason took us to the 3 foot jump. No one wanted to attempt it. I did, but worn out as I was, I rode over the jump only 3 times. The third time, I went fast enough to catch a little air!

Then we settled down for lunch. I took pictures of people going over the jump while we ate.

After lunch, we were free to do what we wanted. I did a couple of top to bottom runs, then the lifts closed, which meant I could stay in the park, but had to hike for any additional attempts at the jump or half-pipes. So I decided to call it an early day. I returned to Timberline Lodge, boarded a van, went back to camp and took a nap.

I woke late afternoon, feeling refreshed. The day was still smoldering hot, too hot to practice skateboarding. I strolled around camp, taking pictures. The kids were having their Skateboard Contest and Talent Show tonight. Because I had done virtually no practicing, I felt uncomfortable doing the Skateboard Contest, but I definitely wanted to take part in the Talent Show. The sign-up list would not be put up until after 5pm, when the adults would go to their restaurant dinner, and the show would start before they got back, so I decided to have dinner with the kids instead. I returned to Creekside, informed Meese and Molly, and prepared my act for the Talent Show.

For dinner, they served grilled cheese sandwiches. It was great to hang out with the young guys, flirt with them, and exchange stories about our day.

After dinner, we headed to the main Skate Park. The Skateboard Contest had so many entrants, they held the competition in groups instead of individually. First they had the Beginners. They showed what they could do, and three winners were chosen. Then the Intermediates had their chance, and they showed fancier stunts like rail slides and kick flips.

While the judges were deciding the Intermediate winners, who should approach me but Ian Clark! He was my coach during Session V in 2007, and had made the snowboard movie Primary Colors, which I had given to my former roommate Spiritual Shawn, prompting him to relocate to Montana, where the movie was filmed. We caught up on the latest news in our lives. He was still living in Grand Junction, Oregon, and was working on multiple snowboard film projects. I felt embarrassed about having very little to say about myself; I had been in survival mode for years, which is why I had to miss so many summers at snowboard camp.

Once the Intermediate winners were chosen, the staff announced Girls Skate. “Are you joining in?” Ian asked me.

“I was going to, but I hardly practiced this session, so I’m going to pass,” I answered.

“Aw, c’mon!” urged the judges. “We only have 3 girls; we need as many as we can get.”

“I don’t have my board with me,” I protested. “I left it back at the chalet.”

“Go get it. We’ll wait.”

I seriously considered doing that, but remembered how unnerved I felt trying to roll down the skate park on my ripstick. “It’ll take too long. I’ll do it next time,” I said.

The three girls rolled all over the park; they were pretty decent. Then one girl decided she was going to try to drop in. Nervously she positioned herself on her skateboard. A coach even held her hands, but with all the attention focused on her, it must have been even more daunting than usual. She finally did, bailing in the process, but everyone cheered anyway.

Afterwards, the judges called a break, when the kids could do whatever they wanted besides skateboard. They ran all over the park, giving each other piggyback rides and turning cartwheels. After about 5 minutes of this, it was time for the Advanced skateboarders to do their thing. They were really good, and the judging was tough, but they finally picked 3 winners. Ian Clark had to leave immediately after the contest. “Aw shucks, I wish you could stay for the Talent Show,” I told him.

“So do I,” he answered.

After he left, all the kids gathered around the upper level of the skate park which would serve as the stage. There were four contestants; the only one that needed setting up was me. I was going to do my act inside the Lodge, because I needed a laptop computer and screen.

The two preteen sisters who had been with me on the whitewater rafting trip performed first. They sang, “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz. Second were two boys who did an impromptu dance routine; one held a dog, and the other did the Caterpillar. Third was a guy who did tricks on his kendama. Then everyone went inside, and I presented a slideshow of photos I had taken of HCSC, with the song, “Life in a Northern Town” playing in the background. I had written my own lyrics to the tune, and sang them over the song, since I could not find a karaoke version of it. The video is below.

From all over the world, we stood, before glorious Mt. Hood

Where the snow lasts all year long, all year long

We shred by day and skate by night, ike our great icon, Shaun White

Maybe we’ll all be pros before long

Ah-heya ma ma ma, High Cascade -ahh

Hey ma ma ma, hey-ay-ay-ay, ah

Life in a snowboard camp

Ah hey ma ma ma ma

We feasted on Cobra Dogs, wore out the skate parks with our cogs,

And practiced new tricks on the trampolines

And we played tetherball, and hunted for the Mani - mal

And swung ourselves dizzy on the skate deck swings, yeah

Ah-heya ma ma ma, High Cascade -ahh

Hey ma ma ma, hey-ay-ay-ay, ah

Life in a snowboard camp

Ah hey ma ma ma ma

Ah-heya ma ma ma, High Cascade -ahh

Hey ma ma ma, hey-ay-ay-ay, ah

We took Government Camp over

Ah hey ma ma ma ma

Even in summer, it would snow; off to ride powder we would go

And we’d sail off the hip, 20 feet in the air we’d fly

We’d make s’mores by the fire yellow (maybe we’d spot the Marshmallow)

While we’d tell ghost stories under the starry sky.

Ah-heya ma ma ma, High Cascade -ahh

Heya ma ma ma, hey-ay-ay-ay, ah

Life in a snowboard camp

Ah-hey ma ma ma, High Cascade

Ah-heya ma ma ma, High Cascade-ahh

Heya ma ma ma, hey-ay-ay-ay, ah

Life in a snowboard camp

Ah hey ma ma ma ma

Ah-heya ma ma ma, High Cascade-ahh

Heya ma ma ma, hey-ay-ay-ay, ah

Life in a snowboard camp

Ah hey ma ma ma ma

Ah-heya ma ma ma, High Cascade-ahh

Hey ma ma ma, hey-ay-ay-ay, ah

Life in a snowboard camp

Ah hey ma ma ma ma...

The kids started cheering at the first chorus, and lit up their iPods. Afterwards, some of the male counselors told me I had brought tears to their eyes.

We all went back outside for the judging. The two sisters won Third Place, the guy with the kendama won Second, and I won First (“Hands down,” the judge said, and everyone cheered). I got an Analog t-shirt, hoodie, and cap.

Afterwards, we all returned to our chalets. The adults had returned from dinner; only Molly had made it to the Talent Show. “I noticed some of your pictures were from a long time ago,” she commented.

“Yeah, like the Bustache, which broke down in 2008,” I answered.

“And that counselor Justin Kennison, who looks like Shaun White. I remember him from way back.”

“Can you show us what you did in the contest?” Meese asked.

“Sure, if you can hook up my laptop to the TV.”

They did, and I showed it to them. They were all very impressed. Afterwards, the guys gathered around the table and played cards. They invited me to join them. I admitted I didn’t know how to play, but they offered to teach me, so I did. Vince stepped out for a few minutes, returning with a case of Corona beer, and gave me a couple. “The least I can do, for you giving such a great presentation,” he said.

I drank some coffee, then the beers while I played the card game. Eventually we all got tired and went to bed.