roach's sporting goods -closing

Roach's Sporting Goods in Porter Sq, Cambridge is closing shop. Lease renewal and low sales (of firearms -tough sell in Massachusetts) are major factors.

Bit of a loss. Where else can you get NikWax and fishhooks on Tuesday morning at 9am? Nowhere, that's where. A couple Old Town canoes for sale still down to almost $400 and various ephemera, but the big items including the stuffed heads have already found new homes. I didn't know these guys but would pop in every month or so for essentials (blaze Jones hats...) or gifts (pair of Caviness/Beaver paddles); they were always happy to chat. Lots of great signage and doo-dads left, stop in quick.









Still need a 3 wolves shirt? They have them. Get in quick.

unbeatable advice from the package store

washed up cup -recap 2 courtesy of blotto

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

There is something serene about these first two shots. Really stopped the clock here, fantastic. Then the mood turns into a blasted heath, with the cackling crowd. Almost Shakespearian. No, not too much.

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

Image ©DEAN BLOTTO GRAY / US OPEN 2012

Embarrassment of riches is not the new Kanye album... but how I feel when principal photographer for Burton Snowboards, Dean "Blotto" Gray lets you post his pics... huge thx. One shot from every turn pretty much. Brendan Foster about to get swallowed by that gate at the end...

lambchop -mr met (coupler remix)

Like this take. Mr. Met (Coupler Remix) from the Lambchop album "Mr. M" on City Slang / www.lambchop.net.

washed up cup 2012 -recap

Image © Ali Kaukas

Not to flog a dead horse but last Friday night this snowboard race went down during the larger US Open Snowboarding Championships; The Washed Up Cup. The course was 4 banks turns, over a roller, 4 more gates then a decent sized jump. Your 2 timed runs were combined, with seconds knocked off if you hit the jump with style. Long/short it was a chance for a lot of these older guys and girls to get fired up and sh*t talk, sneak beers, and break out some vintage gear. Hats off to the race crews who worked through the field of 100 riders in just over 2 hours.

Many thanks to Ali Kaukas, Michael Chantry, Ken Myers and Nate Simpson for sharing their photos.

These guys were "in charge". Good stuff. Image © Michael Chantry

Image © Ali Kaukas

Hobie Chittenden. Image © Ali Kaukas

Burton senior product development specialist, Chris Doyle on edging patrol.
Image © Ali Kaukas

Racing gloves. #want Image © Ali Kaukas

93/94 Image © Ali Kaukas

Test run via TByrnes instagram.



Co-organizer Seth Neary at the kitchen table "gate". Josh Wylie running a mint Burton Cruiser.
Images © Michael Chantry
Tricia Byrnes dropping in. Image © Michael Chantry

Other co-organiser Steve Hayes. Big smiles. Image © Michael Chantry


Curt Gurry, eventual winner. Image © Michael Chantry

Gurry on course. #bashgates Image © Ken Myer

Neary. Early runs were "goggles up" for many as darkness fell.
Image © Ken Myers

Legendary US Open commentator Chris Copley mercilessly razzed the racers.
Image by © Ali Kaukas

Go gO GO! Great shot © Nate Simpson

First banked turns. Started to snow, hard. Image © Nate Simpson

Image © Ken Myers.




Race order at the top. Image © Nate Simpson
View from the bottom. Image © Ken Myers

mud season

Mud season has arrived in Vermont courtesy of late snow and then warm weather. The pouring rain on Thursday didn't help either.

that washed up look

Tomorrow night at Stratton Mnt, VT as part of the 30th Annual US Open of Snowboarding will be a good-old timed race. For good-old boys and girls... #point_it

I'm not a total philistine about technical products (stone to keep edges sharp is key) but this is my rig for warm weather riding; denim and Johnson WM. Plus goes from the "board" to the beer garden... Won't be posting here for next few days but to the linked tumblr.

johnson woolen mills -interview w/ owner stacy manos

"A look inside the store and factory of Johnson Woolen Mills with owner Stacy Manosh and marketing manager Raymond Roy. -via Norwich Television"

I have to get to this place... 100% love this stuff. More JWM links on 10e here.