Gaper Day 2008 - Whistler

Oh yes, it happened. If you were there, you'll never be the same. If you weren't there, you'll have no choice but to live life wondering how much more complete you might feel - having experienced Gaper Day - Whistler - 2008.

Dismal weather conditions couldn't hold back the hordes of Gapers this year. Skiers and boarders from near and far brought their rock boards and skinny skis out of the shed for one last epic day on the hill, celebrating the end of another epic season at Whistler Blackcomb.

Innocent bystanders near the Longhorn were treated with a rare spectacle as Gapers gathered left right and center. Survival suits, jeans, hot pink stretchies, bath robes, flourescents, suspenders, bomber jackets, one pieces, and more. And that was just the beginning.

Heading up the mountain it soon became apparent that Gaper Day had grown to new proportions.

There were Gapers everywhere - so much that the core group or 'gaper pelaton' couldn't keep together for 10 seconds. Total Gaper chaos. New faces all around, with new progressive gaper skiing to boot.

The quickly deteriorating ski conditions from May made for phenomenal Gaper Day exploration. Bush jumps, rock grinds, grass patches galore. And with so little group cohesion this year, it wasn't about showing off your Gaper skills to the rest of the group. It was about soul searching and releasing your own true Gaper potential, falling into a creek with nobody watching, hoping you'll get out. Straightlining a foggy patch of grass, not knowing what's at the other end.

As always, Doglotion claimed there would be a pile of gold and a humungous trophy to the silliest sillygoater of them all. While we once again forgot to build the trophy, we did see some notable performances that can't go unmentioned..

Barry Anderson getting friendly with the rocks and ponds in more ways than he expected, and pioneering new lines all by himself in the woods. 'Chek Petr' refusing to coward from rock lines. That random jibber guy with the white bomber jacket, blowing past everyone and straight-lining a huge pass of dirt and rocks, flipping the bird to onlookers as he went. Dude with puffy, bleeding cheek who got intimate with the in-run of the table top jump. Gaper flips and spins from Robbie Dagg and cohorts. Bigfoot rippin' by Dana Flahr & Chris Turpin. And so on...

And lets not forget the arguable Do Do Bird Award Winner... Brian Coles. Driving up solo from the Fraser Valley, he was on an all day Gaper Assault mission. Brian enjoys reading poetry and long walks on the beach, and his daily antics included the picnic bench rocker slide, Glacier Creek stair grinding (indoor and out), high speed grass lines, and last tracks of the season across 'zigzag lake', the ice-chunk filled mega puddle on the ski out. 

Huge thanks to everybody for coming out and making it hands down the biggest Gaper Day yet. Now all we need to do is learn how to stick together, and things will get really ugly.

Stay tuned for the Gaper Day 2008 teaser vid coming soon, and more photos on Flickr as they come in.

Wicked Season. Done.