Photo time.

This past month has gone by too fast. It's nearly February and I'm constantly reminded how quickly the winter seems to pass by. From Lake Tahoe, Retallack, Mustang Powder, X Games, Vegas, and back to Tahoe...here are a few of my favorite photos I thought I would share.



While at Mustang Powder, for the first week it was nothing but snow. When it finally cleared up, I hadn't seen sun in three weeks. The sun light was foreign to me. It was beautiful. I was with the guys from MSP at this time and we didn't expect the sun to be out. It was a funny scene as we were all trying to figure out what to do in a rush, running around like little kids in a candy store trying a bit of everything before we found the good stuff.



We spent long days and nights looking and building for the picture perfect jumps, lines, and powder. Often riding home to our cabin on our sleds late would allow us to take a moment to relax and enjoy our surroundings.



This day was epic. We found a zone where Abma, Rory, Pettit, and myself could all shred at least three lines each. It was super fun sitting at the bottom and watching everything go down.



I would call Sean little, but he has out grown me. It was rad to ski with him and watch how much he has progressed in the past couple of years. This kid is mind blowing.



Nate Nash was a pleasure to meet. He's one of the filmers for MSP.



The crew one sunny morning. I think we were all thinking the same thing...what are we going to do now that it's sunny? I don't know I guess we could get some lifestyle shots before finding lines.



One of our many scouting missions. It was our last day and the first day that we were allowed into the higher alpine terrain. It was epic up there and we found what we had been looking for the entire trip. From left to right...Nate Nash, Bushy, and Abma.



Boris wasn't allowed inside, but I would sneak him bits of my lunch whenever no one was looking. Not that he needed it, but at least I made a friend.



The trees of the notorious Retallack.



Orage Cat.



Sean Pettit getting some.



Sean and I had to drive from Retallack to Mustang Powder. Due to a man made avalanche that covered the road in 75 feet of snow, our 2 and half hour drive turned into a 10 hour drive. I've learned over the years to expect that while traveling in the interior B.C.



Leaving was kinda crazy. I felt like we were playing Russian Rullet while on the road. There was leftover avy debri everywhere and the roads were less than ideal.



With a lot of team work we got everyone out. Some of the guides were claiming that this was the biggest snow storm they had ever seen in this part of the interior.



Andy Mahre face shots off trees...BOY!

Schiller / Casabon Interviews

Orage team manager Cody Lynge talks with TJ Schiller about stepping in at the last minute as an alternate and walking away with Winter X gold...

Here is what Phil Casabon had to say about taking 5th in his innaurgural X games appearance...

Unfortunately, ESPN won't allow us to include any video footage from finals but you can check out Phil and Tom's runs at http://www.espn.com

TJ Schiller Takes Gold at X Games 13

Winter X Games 13 slopestyle podium

The slopestyle finals at Winter X Games 13 went off today and saw two Orage athletes advance from prelims and into finals for a three run showdown. The young Phil Casabon, who had a difficult first training run, bucked up and threw down on his second run to take him from bubble boy to middle of the pack, giving him enough gusto to advance. TJ Schiller, who has been training hard all season long and is beyond excited to ski again after a season ending knee injury last year, threw down in prelims and ended up in 3rd advancing into finals.

In finals Phil had some difficulties with speed on his first run but brought it all together on his second. The second run score of 86 would give Phil the top 5 he was hoping for. Phil's third and final run was looking good to go until the cannon box when he went too deep and had to abort before the next feature. Regardless, Phil took 5th place at his first X ever and was a very happy man.

Phil on the showtime booter


810 off the cannon box

TJ threw down an impressive first run in finals with probably one of the sickest runs of the day. Highlights included at rodeo 5 off of the butter pad, rodeo sev out of the cannon box and one of the prettiest right side 9's over the channel gap that many had seen. Needless to say, TJ was stoked! I believe he said something to the effect of "Oh it's on" and came up with a solid score of 93. That score in his first run would help him clinch 1st place and a shiny new gold medal. TJ, who showed up at the event as an alternate and was advanced after JF Houle sustained a broken ankle in yesterday's training, certainly made the best of the opportunity. Even though TJ's second and third run posed some very minor issues for him the first run score would be all he needed.

TJ switch on, rodeo 630 out


Switch 10 mute on the showtime booter

The $30,000 cash prize that TJ won today will be donated directly to helping in the recovery of his close friend Riley Poor. For info and to pass along well wishes visit http://www.rileypoor.com/

Talented and generous, we're proud to be associated with two great personalities. Orage is proud of you boys, keep it up!

Photo Credits:

Cody Lynge

John Vandervalk

Orage hits up X 13 and chats with TJ!

We're here at X Games 13 in Aspen Colorado for another year of absolute madness. The pipe event was epic the other night and saw for the first time in a long time a new top 3. Orage Ams Taylor Seaton and Matt Margetts made pre qualifications but failed to make finals. The boys are however on point and have their sights set on the next Dew Tour just around the corner.


Bottom of the Pipe and slope course...

With women's slopestyle today and variable weather conditions expected through the weekend it is proving to be a very difficult slopestyle event. I chatted with Colby West yesterday who mentioned the slope course is a little like the pipe event with little to no room for error. Athletes seem to be having difficutly with speed today but the course itself looks pretty damn good.

Anna Segal and Dano Bruno at the top of the slope course...

Women's slopestyleis now underway but before we post on that, here's a word from the one and only Tom James Schiller.....

TJ whipping laps....

JEeeeeaaaah ! TJ here. pretty good. You could say that. The first 2 days of training were perfect blue bird. The course is quick and you have to be on edge and ready for each hit as soon as you land. Quite like a halfpipe, just not as icy. The transfer is the most difficult part of course. If you go a little too big you miss the middle jump and have to opt for the smaller jump on the side. If you go too small you crash and burn and smash your buddy in the channel. Baaad choice. Gosh im gassy. But seriously, that transfer is a bitch and its going to be the deciding factor for the judges.

Charles , Andreas & Jossi are my vote for this event. Because of the new point system from last season i didnt get in. They were looking only at events from last season to invite athletes into X. So I'm an alternate for slopestyle only. Sucks getting injured! But I'm training like I'm in so I'm just waiting for the good word.

JEAAAAAAAAAH !
HEAVY HEAD !

Check back later for more X Games updates!

TJ's homie Fergie and Phily Casabon's dad and brother...

Peace.

X Games Slopestyle Practice

Michelle Parker, TJ Schiller, and Phil Casabon getting ready for Winter X Games 13 slopestyle finals. Watch it live on ESPN this Sunday, January 25th!

Banks hard at work with Surface Skis

Young Banks Gilberti has been hard at work this season filming with Surface skis and their new film project "Walks of Life". Gilberti who recently joined the Surface crew alongside Blake Nyman and Jordan Seldin to name a few has been having a good time shredding with the boys and is pretty damn psyched on what the film will have to offer. Surface Skis has partnered with Orage, Joystick, Brighton, Autumn Garage and Breckenridge Resort to make it all happen.

Check out more of what busy Banksy has been working on by clicking the link below
http://www.thesurfacelab.blogspot.com/

Orage Am Rider Banks Gilberti Helmet Cam

While most of us were grinding away at what ever it is we do, Banks Gilberti among many other was at the Dew Tour at Mt Snow last weekend getting his shred on in front of millions of TV viewers. Now although Banksy didn't take home gold at that event he did strap on a helmet cam to give viewers a close up of the course. Click the link below to see Banksy's steeze and note, there is no music, just the sweet sound of sliding on snow. Thanks to Freeskier for the vid...

http://freeskier.com/videos/video.php?video_id=1424