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Gaper Day 2003

J Dogg — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 21:28:05 -0400

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Blackcomb Closing Day Closeout

J Dogg — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 13:35:59 -0400

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The following story is true, but the names were changed to protect the innocent.

Yep, it had to happen sooner or later. After easily one of the best season's in memory, Blackcomb Mountain closed it's doors for the season yesterday, April 23, 2006. Hard to see it end, with so much snow still up there to be shredded. But we weren't going to let it off easy. So the 'Silly Web Magazine from Whistler that rhymes with hogpotion' and a not-so-random pack of 60 some odd Whistler locals set out to close the season in style - on Blackcomb Peak of all places.

As early lift closures threatened our plans, everyone diverted in different directions, frantically trying to find a way up to the peak. The whiter one-piece with the BBQ was sighted going one way, while the weiners and Wildcats awaited the Horstman T-Bar, and the buns were nowhere in sight.

But nobody in this posse was going to let lift closures or gravity stand in the way of plans. And sure enough, as the clocked turned 4, a steady procession of shady characters starting marching across the Blackcomb glacier and up towards Blackcomb peak. It's not often you look up the glacier and see 3 dozen people in a row, let alone the bizarre assortment of one-piece outfits, backpacks full of beer, a guy with his pants down, some white trash and even a fluffy yellow tiger.

As soon as the chain-gang started summiting the peak, music was playing, the BBQ was flaming, and beer was flowing - while the 2 dozen more stragglers contiued to stumble in for another 2 hours. Not satisfied with just a BBQ, out came the golf club for some high altitude driving practice - and yes - Tiger Woods himself was among the particpants.

And just as the sun started setting and people starting descending their various lines, the eager crew of late-stayers embarked on a mission to build the first-known booter on Blackcomb Peak. Sure it had a landing flatter than Mantioba, but that didn't stop everyone from busting daffies, frogs, and 360 spreaders until the landing ditch got too deep to bear. So without further ado, reluctantly, everyone strapped on their skis and shredded the half-refrozen schmoo snow in every which direction from the peak to Merlins.

At 9 something oclock, we'd strectched out our last day on Blackcomb as long as we could. Sure it'll be back next year, but that was the last thought on everyone's mind. While we sat daydreaming about the season passed, I suspect everyone was simultaneously hit with one of those surfer-dude movie voice-over guys tapping into our mind telling us... "Hey, it's over man. It's over. Just let it go man, just let it go. Can I borrow a dollar?"

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Gaper Day 2006

J Dogg — Sat, 8 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

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Words by J Dogg. Photos by Jordan Manley. Video by Paul Cotton.

You're sitting innocently at the top of the terrain park, fixing your goggles and prepping for your all-too-serious new trick. You hear 'Rapid Fire Chain Gang' yelled behind you as a pack of 30 freaks in jeans, pink stretchies and garbage bags come barreling into the jumps, all within feet of each other, and a majestic display of spraffies, twisters, flips, spins, froggies and flicketies unfolds.

You're enjoying a casual stroll through the village when some dude with a mohawk comes skiing past you down the pan pacific stairs.

You're out with the family cruising Red Chair laps, when the whole family is blinded and bewildered as a monoboarder whisks past you... buck naked.

If you are one of the victims of Gaper Day 2006 we apologize, but ask you the question, why weren't you too wearing a yellow one-piece and skiing alongside us?

This June 4, Gaper Day 2006 went off like none other. Despite the semi-extreme rainy conditions, Gapers showed up from far and wide to digress the level of sillygoating once again. The Whistler boys were out in full swing, and Gapers from Seattle crossed the border to join the celebration. If Jeremy Nobis were there, you might have heard him say something like "You know, I really think I not only progressed my own skiing on this trip, but I progressed the sport of freeskiing as well." Well, um, he wasn't there, so we took the sport of freeskiing into our own hands, and the digression of sillygoating ensued.

Just before the stroke of noon, the motley crew of dressed up skiers and snowlerbladers gathered at the Longhorn, consumed what they wanted, and headed up the gondi. Spilling out of the gondola, the rampant chain gang chased it's own tail around the mountain for hours of to come. The terrain park was pillaged, the Peak was assaulted, and the muddy mid-station lap fought back. The level of sillyness was so high that the group was unable to single out one all-mighty Sillygoating Champion, but we all have our picks and your new bedroom wall poster-boys and girls.

Highlights and lowlights included James Heim straightling with a vengeance on his skinnies, Ian McIntosh and Brandon Anderson getting intimate with rocks, Smut & Robby Dag's spinning wizardry, Brett Crabtree's rock navigating, Leif Zapf-Gilje's usual grass skiing domination, and of course Captain Canada (name withheld incase witnesses didn't know it was 'cold out') skiing naked down the Red Chair.

Meanwhile, industry scouts and peanut gallery gossipers are spreading rumours that Duncan Doughnuts was skiing hard all day long in fine sillygoating form, and may well have taken the unofficial Dodo Bird title with waterfall skiing, rockstepping, flat-land ski ballet, and sexy pants. He's a threat to watch out for next year, when the Dodo Bird Trophy will be introduced and awarded to the 2007 Silly Goating World Champion.

Oh wait, almost forgot about the party. Ok, most of us already have forgotten the party, but the pieces are coming back. All Gapers still standing at the end of the day headed to Whistler Cay to close down the season in style, with a keg of beer and Vodka Base a' plenty, while local rockers put on a show in front of the bonfire.

That's all we can tell you, and with that, Winter 05/06 at Whistler comes to an end. We'll see you next June, and until then, here's Paul Cotton's video to inspire...

WATCH THE VIDEO
(WMV Format, 15MB)
By Paul Cotton

View More Gaper Photos by Jordan Manley, or more films by Paul Cotton.

Special thanks to Jordan and Paul for their photo and video goodies, the party hosts Smut, Dana, Turtle, Ian & Heimer for knowing how to party, Eric Blouin from Base Energy drink for the 'Freebase', Fez for the keg, us for the Vodka, and all the sillygoaters of Gaper Day 2006.

Gaper Day Challenge

J Dogg — Fri, 5 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

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Some see competition and get discouraged.

They immediately wuss out, go home with their tail between their legs and do tequila shots by themselves in the basement unti they pass out. Not

hing wrong with that, but that's not us, and hopefully not you either.

Some see it as a challenge. And this my friends, is a challenge from Doglotion to you. Batten down the hatches, hide the senior citizens and children, avoid wearing anything flammable (unless that's part of the plan), and get ready for the season ender like none-other. Gaper Day 2006 is coming the la

st day of Whistler Mountain's season: Sunday, June 4, 2006. All winter long we've been buried in powder, unable to let our true colours shine on the mountain. That all changes June 4, and to ensure you spare no expense when preparing for the annual day of revelry, we thought we'd share this wee challenge with you.

Gaper Day -

East Coast Style
The tiny hill of Ski Wentworth closed the season with a Retro Ride to the Top, and the Coca Cola Family Challenge Dual Slalom, complete with manual timi

ng gates and the works. The following mugshots were submitted directly to Doglotion HQ, accompanied with the words: "Let's see what you got".

Are you going to take that? We will not be outdone people. We will rise to the challenge, with or without tequila, and Gaper Day 2006 will go off - rain or shine. Be there, and stay tuned for further inspiration.

Ski Epic 2006

J Dogg — Wed, 1 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

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By Jeremy Law

No one really saw it coming. No one thought it could be pulled off. No one had a clue what was going on the whole entire time.

The appropriately named Ski Epic 2006 took off from Halifax on January 5th with a total of 165 confused and anxious skiers and riders for one crazy road trip. As the bus convoy crossed the bridge to Dartmouth most were all still wondering if they had had the wool pulled over their eyes and were actually heading out on an elaborate bus tour designed to give the organizers enough time to get out of town with their money. Unfortunately for Parc Regional Val d'Irene near Amqui, Quebec this group was really on it's way to their little, isolated, and quaint corner of the world; and about to leave their mark in a big way.

Not to say that Val d'Irene hasn't had their fair share of university trips or spring time Aqua-Neige festivals for decades, but this was all new to them. With the entire accommodation complex booked solid, a crew staying in town with shuttle service, and a group in rented chalets, they were up to their eyes in immaturity, English, and broken glass for the weekend with nothing to say but Tabernac.

Now, speaking for most participants, it gets a little hazy after bonjour. All should consider themselves lucky that it wasn't the usual -30 and windy in the Matape for this weekend. Perfect weather meant great skiing and riding throughout the trip, especially with thoughts drifting back to the green and wet city by the water that was Halifax in the beginning and ongoing '06 Winter.

Friday night meant Dr. Law's School of Retrology was in session. Those with the prerequisite from the smaller Ski Epic 2005 -- Ski Wear 101 -- were invited to step it up a notch and school the newbies in everything retro. Costumes were hilarious, music was low and from some portable speakers, and the light was the kind you might see in a basement games room. Like anyone even noticed.

This was the only on-hill picture found that didn't have a beer bottle in it. Photo: Chris Webster Skier: Jeremy Law

Saturday saw a slower start on the mountain, but no shortage of less-than-healthy students on the sagging diesel 2 person chair that gives Parc Regional Val-d'Irene most (but not all) of it's je ne sais quoi. Most discovered the gnarly, natural, and liftless backside and thoroughly enjoyed the BackSide Bus experience complete with smoking and hyper-friendly French guy. Some others slept the previous night off, hit the mountain for a while, and then napped in preparation for another night of insanity. Some ski trip heh?

Behold Parc Regional Val D'Irene in all it's frenchness. Old stomping grounds of Hugo Harrison. Seriously.

Sprained ankle & bloody nose. You might think it was skiing related...
Think again.

The surprise party theme Saturday night was embraced by all except the 'townies' that arrived in togas for the Ski Epic 2006 Long Underwear Party in the hill's bar. D.J.Z laid down hot tracks from random, unmarked cds that were handed to him and iPods that were passed his way with little to no regard for their future condition. Although the bar management was less than impressed with the amount of alcohol that initially made it past the security, they seemed happy enough with the amateur 5 person shot-ski and the fast money made off of it until it broke.

Trip 'coordinators' D.J.Z, Black Swan, and Dr. Law (Retrology) closing the bar in fashion with a team pose on the podium/dance floor.

Pete 'Destroyer of All Things Good' Campbell thought it would be funny to wear little girls long underwear to the long underwear rager. He was right.
Sure, other things were broken. Holes in walls formed and tables were destroyed beyond recognition. Fire --or smoke-- alarms rang throughout the night and interrupted more than a few epic encounters. Maybe it was the fireworks, maybe it wasn't. Those more serious about skiing and riding were kept up way past their bedtime and couldn't believe they would be considered to be in the same demographic as those chewing tobacco inside without spit bottles.

Will it happen again? You can bet on it. Will it be as big? Probably not. Will it be as good? It can only get better.

And, as far as we know, nobody was left behind.

Proof that it actually happened. We need it.

Jamie Pierre Jumps Record Cliff

J Dogg — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

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Posted January 30, 2006

Yep, he finally did it. Big Air Jamie Pierre finally quit fooling around with his little 150ft Lincoln Loops, and went for the big one. With perfect snow conditions, he and a barrage of filmers and photographers headed up to a mother of a cliff on Grand Targhee Resort, where he clocked 245 feet of 4 seconds of air time... and didn't land on rocks this time. This is more of a blog post, but it deserved homepage action. Here's some details that have been floating around the media from a press release that was sent out, and we've tracked down an epic newspaper photo we understand was originally scanned by a powdermag user (thanks) for all to enjoy....

The lowdown:
Jamie Pierre has set a world-record cliff jump at the Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming, dropping 245 vertical feet off the back of Fred's Mountain, and said he made his record-breaking jump on Wednesday as a way to spread the Christian word. "It wasn't some yahoo stunt,'' Pierre said. "I chose to do it so it would open up doors so I could witness my faith in Christianity.''

Pierre had been scoping the cliff for seven years, and finally found the right conditions to hit it. TGR was on site filming it, and measured the distance from the cornice to the landing hole with a range-finder to confirm the world record.

The previous world record was set by Paul Ahern of New Zealand, who jumped 225 feet in 1995. If we recall correctly, Paul landed on less-than-perfect snow, with styrofoam in his backpack to dampen the fall, ending up with a couple broken ribs.

Five photographers and three cinema shooters recorded the event, said Josh Nielsen of Teton Gravity Research. "It was a really, really heavy and intense experience for all of us,'' Nielsen said. He said Pierre managed the event and that the others were "kind of along for the ride.'' Observers were solemn before the jump, Nielsen said, adding that Pierre said a prayer before taking off and clocked four full seconds of air time.

About 100 feet into the jump, Nielsen said Pierre couldn't keep his skis under him and went upside down. He landed headfirst and blew a hole 6 feet deep into the snow.

Nielsen said a photographer rushed in and dug Pierre out of the snow. "Jamie pretty much walked away with a cut lip,'' he said. Pierre said he was lucky to be alive. "I'm lucky I didn't get hurt,'' he said. Pierre said he landed in the perfect spot. "I hit the nail on the head,'' he said, no pun intended. "The fact that I came out unscathed and landed where I planned, faith played a role in it.''

Pierre said he took grief from his wife and parents for his jump. He was born in Minnesota and moved first to Crested Butte, Colo., and then to Salt Lake City to ski.

Susie Barnett-Bushong, spokeswoman for Grand Targhee, warned anyone against trying to duplicate Pierre's jump.

"This nothing that an average recreational skier or snowboarder should consider doing,'' she said Friday. Even for elite skiers, she said, ``we would never recommend anybody try this.''

In January 2005, skier Brent "Newt'' Newton died after jumping off a 50-foot cliff at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Paul Ruff, a former world-record holder with a cliff jump of 110 vertical feet, died in the 1993 on a 160-foot attempt.

Don't Miss - Skied Naked

J Dogg — Tue, 10 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400

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We realized that it's only 1 month until the annual Gaper Day on Whistler, and we it has been quite some time since we have published any 100% nonsense on the site. We've been distracted with ski trips, competition results, and relevant ski industry news. But fear not, they haven't suckered us in yet. Afterall, Doglotion.com is all about the ruckus and tomfoolery behind freeskiing, so it's time to kick it up a notch. From here in we at Doglotion.com vow to never forget the roots of the mag, with regular posting on the Tomfoolery page about the dumbest things we've seen on skis.

To start things off, the much anticipated video that's been hiding in our archives for a while. A Whistler ripper submitted a video of Whistler's ultimate poach, in his, uh, Birthday Suit. His identity will remain unknown, but what is known are the many benefits of Birthday suits, including:

way more breathability than traditional Gore-tex or new soft shells
great for improving your tan
and they do a great job of killing the 'gangsta' look in skiing, afterall, you don't get to choose what your birthday suit looks like

And we've even censored it to not scare the women and children away.

CLICK HERE FOR
the VIDEO