I certainly was not a screaming proponent of the torch protests, however I do recognize the situation in Tibet. I could go through the ins and outs of my feelings on the subject, but that would be borderline pointless. This on the other hand is a great article and I think you should read it.

Watching his daughter on a homemade ladder smoothing varnish over the red-and-yellow trim of their large new log house, Norbu Choden smiled with the satisfaction that even if there was no getting the Chinese out of Tibet, he'd finally figured out how to benefit from their decades-long occupation of his homeland. "Once you understand that they’re never going to help us," he said, "you realize that you have to make your own future."

Norbu made his by transforming himself from a herdsman to a middleman. Like many of the five million Tibetans living under China's flag, he'd spent nearly all of his 48 years in eastern Tibet driving shaggy yaks through alpine meadows, eating their meat and butter, living in a tent woven from their coarse black wool, barely getting by from one brutal winter to the next. Now he leaves the hard work to others, while he buys and sells for profit.

The middleman has a long and storied history among Chinese, but his vital economic role has largely eluded the grasp of Tibetans. Before Norbu's metamorphosis, he would look on with envy as Chinese from neighboring Sichuan Province arrived each spring, buying up a wrinkled little fungus that he and other nomads had dug from the ground in their spare time. The Chinese then sold the brown Cordyceps, known as caterpillar fungus, for huge profits to traditional medicine makers.

The full article at www.nationalgeographic.com

After nearly 6 months of traveling back and forth from VT to Cali on a weekly basis, the great Cali project has come to a close. Sadly I will no longer have the opportunity to suffer through 24-30 hours of air travel per week to enjoy the smog filled congestion of the OC. Now it is time for a week chilling in the VT; playing wiffle, riding out 7YW, dusting off the road bike, and most importantly hanging heavy with the fam.

Lots of posts to come. Peace. S Nathaniel.

Maliboo

Maliboo

San Diego Wild Animal Park


San Diego Wild Animal Park

Monterey, 20+ ft surf

Big Sur

Big Sur

Elephant Seals

Maybe it is the lingering affects of that smoggy California air or perhaps the arrival of primary season in my home state. For whatever reason, this weekend I took special note and appreciation of the entire process that surrounds a simple day on the hill. In the world of surf the process is celebrated and romanticized through stories, songs, and In N Out Burger. While snow sports have their share of romanticized culture, the process receives relatively little attention or admiration. Without getting overly zen, it is the acts of expectation, mediation and reflection that make snowboarding so special and vital to myself and many I expect.

EXPECTATION - It sets in as you clamor around the house trying to locate your gear, desperately trying to not forget that one essential ingredient. The identity of the day is usually set in these tense moments; will it go smooth, are the cards stacked in your favor or against. It is very rare that forgetting your wallet or your coffee or your wife, results in a sensational experience. The anticipation grows as you cruise to the hill, whether the trip long or short. I throw in some Long Beach Short Bus to set the air right for my scenic roll over AP Gap. I have recently concluded that there is no greater natural beauty than an evergreen forest blanketed in a fresh coat of pure snow. It is something that we all take for granted as in my neighborhood it is a relatively common occurrence. But I urge you to truly take some time to appreciate the contrast and the subtle nuisances of a world turned to black and white. It is truly gorgeous.

MEDIATION - Years ago I read an interview with Terje in which he stated that sport is so essential because it is true mediation; a time when you let everything go and simply concentrate on the events of the present. I am sure someone more devout than myself would argue against this analogy, but I am not bothered by this. I have mediated. I love to take a moment after I have strapped in to relax, to listen to the music, to look out over a vast landscape, to think about the run, to be within the moment. And then it is on and the only thing occupying my mind is where to turn, where to jump, how to grab, whether to spin. Every now and again, the thought process erodes away and you are simply riding.

REFLECTION - In surfing, you have Jack Johnson sitting on the beach serenading the stars beside a roaring campfire. In snowboarding, it really is not all that much different, albeit a bit colder and with less songwriting. I find the reflection aspect of the process to be such a key element, it is akin to the 3rd half of rugby. The drive home with a significantly more mellow muse upon the speakers, the warm shower washing away the chill of the day, the cold beer, and of course the warm fire shared with friends and family. It is in this time, that one can truly look back at the day and recognize the beauty of such an unique experience.

Next time you are out, take the time to enjoy the whole process and appreciate the little aspects of the day. You won't be sorry, for long.