Local Foods In Aspen…

I was mistaken…our story will be broad casted throughout this weekend. Make sure to turn on your tube!!

Ute City Farm on CNN!

The other day Ron, from CNN news called up Jennifer at Ute City while we were working and asked if they could come up and see what we were up to. So this Thursday at around 7:30..we might be working on the farm on national television?!

Ha who knows?!

Wandering the Farms…

Check out the new site!!

http://www.crmpi.blogspot.com/

It is amazing how most of our lives we go day to day without knowing where our produce and meat is coming from. I think it is time for all of us to become a little more aware and in touch.

(including myself.)

Click on the link above for more of the interesting details!!

(Make sure you check out the photo links.)

A few Lakota words…

Friend do it this way - that is,
whatever you do in life,
do the very best you can
with both your heart and mind.

And if you do it that way,
the Power Of The Universe
will come to your assistance,
if your heart and mind are in Unity.

When one sits in the Hoop Of The People,
one must be responsible because
All of Creation is related.
And the hurt of one is the hurt of all.
And the honor of one is the honor of all.
And whatever we do effects everything in the universe.

If you do it that way - that is,
if you truly join your heart and mind
as One - whatever you ask for,
that’s the Way It’s Going To Be.

—Passed down by White Buffalo Calf Woman

Young Gun 2008

Click on Photo for full article.

Thompson Pass/ Valdez

After the competition I was headed to Valdez with Mark to meet up with the rest of my crew.

We met up with Nick DeVore, Chris Erickson, Will and Kate Cardamone, and Nick Waggoner the next morning. They all had a bit of cabin fever from sitting in a RV for the past two weeks. Most of the gang competed in the Telemark World Championships in early April and then continued on to Thompson Pass. (Nick is the new World Champ!!! Will placed 5th and Kate took the podium with 3rd!!!…for more info on Telepalooza visit nickdevore.com) Apparently the snow had not stopped falling and the clouds had been socked in for days and days. We hung out for a few days and the weather didn’t get any better, although when the sun came out it warmed up and spring was here! Just like that..as if someone turned on a switch. We decided to go on a little journey…

Photos by Nick DeVore

Off to Alaska with a cluttered mind.

On April 6th I was on the plane going to Girdwood, AK for the Freeskiing World Finals, just two days after the day out in Tonar. My mind was all wound up and twisted, but I knew traveling around up in AK would be good for me.

Before the competition I had a few days to ski and tour around the Alyeska area. We ripped the resort and hit up Turnagain pass. One day up on the pass there was about 15 of us or so. the snow was good and the sun was out. Pretty much perfect and beautiful. The skies were clear and as far as the eye could see was just huge peaks plastered with snow. Unbelievable!

The competition kicked off with an amazing qualifier….everyone skied well and strong. The World Tour Day one continued on the following day with an unfortunate accident. I was hiking up the boot pack to get ready to ski. I was getting closer to the top when I heard over the patrol’s radio in front of me “John Nicoletta from Aspen CO, dropping in 3, 2, 1…go John!!” I yelled and cheered for him as he dropped in. As soon as I got to the top it was silent and I heard yells of “He’s down…patrol…get to him…he isn’t moving…!!” We all stood in silence at the top as the patrol assisted him down the slope. Soon after the comp was called off for the day. I skied down to see what the final outcome was…hopeing to see Johnny smiling at me with his huge grin.

But unfortunately after waiting a while the paramedic came outside to the crew huddled outside and let out the news….

he is gone.

I couldn’t believe I had lost a friend just the previous Friday and now it had happened all over again. With all of this sadness I have realized how precious life really is. Everyday we must live with smiles and happiness because there is no time for anger and hate.

With little discussion everyone decided to continue with the competition. Johnny would have loved for everyone to ski another day…especially in AK. It all went well. I skied fluid and strong after an amazing memorial for John… The whole freeskiing family was super supportive and love. Thanks so much for everything.

I finished 4th in Alyeska

OVERALL I ended up placing:

- 5th in the US Freesking Tour

- 6th in the World Freeskiing Tour!

Back to Aspen….

I have had a pretty awesome but heartbreaking spring. I came back home from Utah to film a bit for the Aspen Ski Company with Futuristic Films. A group of local rippers, including myself, were chosen to be premiered in the new Aspen TV show. When I returned back home we had a few great days out at highlands with luscious snow and gorgeous weather. A few days before I headed out to Alaska Wallace Westfeldt, his brother Packy, Mark Welgos, Frank Pickell, Owen Popinchalk, and myself missioned up to Tonar Bowl for some amazing lines we had all be waiting to hit. It had recently been touched with a fresh coat of paint and was looking ultra good. Frank and another friend were positioned on the opposing ridge to get a good shot with the camera and Owen was down the ridge a bit in case he needed to help one of us.

Mark, Packy, Wallace and I stood at the top of Tonar breathing in the fresh air waiting to drop in. Standing up there that day there was not a breath of wind and not a cloud in the sky. It was crystal clear and fresh. Mark dropped in first, he skied well, but crashed on his air in the middle of his line….luckily he was alright. Next up was Wallace. He was planning on shredding the same line as Mark, but he had to go a little bit bigger off of the cliff to hit the landing primo. He looked at Packy and I with a huge grin and said “dropping in ten, I’m putting my radio in my pocket, see you at the bottom.”

Wallace dropped in and took three huge arching turns with the sun reflecting off with a glow. He soared off the cliff smoothly. Watching from the top, Packy and I didn’t see him come out from the bottom, and there was no response on the radio. We asked Frank if he could see anything from across the way, but he dropped out of frame. After a few moments Packy rushed down to Wallace and I followed shortly after…..

To make a long heartbreaking story short, Wallace was an amazing person. I never heard a negative word out of him…just smiles and laughter. And that was the way he pasted away. Lying there after his fall his face was glowing without a scratch or mark on it, just a little ding underneath his chin.

He will always be with us…in every turn and every moment. We love you Wallace.

For the local newspaper article click here…THE ASPEN TIMES.