Learning How to “Kill” it!

BY SHAWN SEMB AASI-NW DCL

There has been an event held the past six years at the beginning of May at Timberline that, in my opinion, is quite possibly the greatest event PSIA/AASINW has to offer. This event is the Snowboard Freestyle Camp - three days of joy, excitement and learning. This year’s camp is scheduled for May 4th through 6th.

You can learn anything there, from trying an ollie to trying front side rodeos. There are no limitations to this camp. It is for all ages and all abilities. It doesn’t matter what you enjoy, you will learn tons of things and have fun doing it.

I have participated the last five years and have learned more at this event about my personal riding in freestyle then I have at any other. This is my favorite event PSIA/AASI-NW offers. Why learn freestyle you might ask? The benefits of going to this camp and getting technical freestyle riding skills all start with the basic skills of riding. You must flex/extend correctly. You must rotate at the right times. You must edge appropriately to what you are doing and of course, apply pressure as needed. These are all concepts we know and take seriously in our riding on the mountain. Someone coming to this camp will learn to apply all the basic skills in order to refine the movements needed to create a certain action or outcome regardless of whether it’s in the air or on the ground. So, at this camp you are not just learning how to do a 360 in the pipe, but also the movements required to do it. You can then take the movements that set you up for that 360 in the pipe and go ride a steep bumpy line down some crazy shoot. It will set you up better, put you on the right line and you will perform better.

The fun wraps up at the end of the camp with an Award Ceremony. Some traditions have been formed over the years. There are many prizes, the “Biggest Crash”, the “Digger” award, the “Floppy Flyer” award and lots more. They vary from year to year, but the greatest prize of them all is the “Sick Puppy” award. Now this award is not to be taken lightly. This is awarded to the person(s) who hucks themselves the hardest, and of course does not land them all. It is for someone who tries everything and hopefully doesn’t break a bone. The “Sick Puppy” is returned the following year to allow the winner(s) to pass it on to next year’s winner(s). Because I won the award three years in a row, I have been crowned “THE Sick Puppy”. For that, I now judge the campers and decide who receives this great award. I passed it on to a Stevens Pass local, Christoph, the “Sick Puppy” of 2006. No one knows this year’s winner, but we will see. Come to the camp and maybe it will be you. I hope to see everyone at this year’s event!!