Extreme Sideslipping

I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a very talented and enthusiastic sideslipper at Arapahoe Basin the other day (May 25, I think it was) while snowboarding with this site's co-editor, Gregg Davis. Gregg ran into Jacob in the lift line and as we all rode up together I put a bug in his ear about extreme sideslipping.

You see, it was a beautiful day following an even awesomer day, and I, encouraged by an old buddy who Facebooked me about "spring sideslipping," had gone to A-Basin that day expressly in the hopes of getting some extreme sideslipping content for the site after our long hiatus.

We went to Copper Mountain today for my third day of the 2009-2010 season (Gregg's 7th day) and I borrowed his Burton Fix from last year with the rounded edges for it. Although the board was wonderfully box-worthy, its crowning achievement (and I say this with some sarcasm) was definitely the unintentional sideslipping.

That's right--we're back at the sideslipping again and I heroically sideslipped the crap out of Copper Mountain all day long today. The scene was a crowded Sunday (as Sundays are wont to be) on a single white ribbon of death. The hill abounded with the general public as well as U.S. Olympic team racers (we think), since it is the time of year for gates training. We even saw a substantial fleet of carving-board-riders, which brings me back to my own humble beginnings in the east coast carving days of yore. Oh for sharp edges, I thought, watching them with green-colored envy.

We had it all planned out--a publicity stunt to truly spread the name of extremesideslipping.com around the local snow sliding community. First, we would ride in to Leo's shack at Breckenridge--a handcrafted warming hut snuggled off-trail in the deepest trees--using sideslipping, most likely, since it's so damn tight to get there. Then, we would clean up the mountains of garbage tossed carelessly within by all those non-nature-loving nimrods who seem to frequent the place. Finally, we would post our calling card--a poster, I imagined, saying something to the effect of "cleaned for your visiting pleasure by extremesideslipping.com" or even "under new management" (as recommended to me by one long-time local).

This entry is an effort to answer some recent inquiries we've had regarding sideslipping. The FAQs cover the following topics: 

• What is sideslipping?
• When should sideslipping be used?
• When should sideslipping NOT be used?
• Why extreme sideslipping?
• Is this site making fun of me?

For details, read on by clicking the link below.

Killington rider Forrest Baker visited Summit County with his posse this past week and took advantage of the opportunity to showcase some creative and extreme sideslipping in Breckenridge's El Dorado terrain park.

The challenge we put to Forrest was to sideslip up to the box, onto the box, and then land the trick still sideslipping.

To get enough speed for the task, Forrest dropped in from way above the park, shouting "dropping" really loud every time he did so in order to catch the attention of the "normal" park riders waiting for their turn to hit the features. After some practice, Forrest not only stomped that trick, but he also took it to the next level, hitting both the flat box and the A-box in the same sideslipping line--even turning it around on the A box to ride out in a toe-side sideslip.

I'd just like to take a moment to apologize to our growing number of readers that we have not yet updated the blog with additional sideslipping photos.

After this last storm, Gregg and I hiked up to Breckenridge's Twin Chutes with every intent of doing a photo shoot. When we got there, however, we found that neither of us had the heart to engage in the actual sideslipping and instead opted for turning.

Don't lose heart, however. I am optimistic that after this spell of 50-degree weather passes, we are bound to be favored with some late season dumps. We'll get it together. We'll sideslip the pow--and YOU'll be the first to hear about it!