Gaper Day 2004

J Dogg — Sun, 20 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Rating

On the last day of Whistler's season, June 6, 2004, the powers of the universe dragged all the most hard-core one-piece-suit wearing, rockgrinding, rear entry booters in the world together for a day of madness like none-other.

Starting the day with a mass rockgrind below the roundhouse, and more-or-less a chinese downhill to the green chair, the day was off to a good start. Then came the 'rapid-fire jump sequence', as onlookers were stunned to see everything from monoboards to snowlerblades, one-pieces to wetsuits, and business suits to torn jean shorts whipping past them off the table top in a magnificent display of daffys, twisters, spreads, frogs, and more.

Some big-name Whistler freeskiers were out to get in touch with the roots of modern day freeskiing, while heaps of other locals also showed up to progress rockgrinding and grass skiing to a new level... a level that should only be seen on Real TV. Heck, if all goes well you will see it on Real TV, keep your eye on it.

With the lowest snowpack in Gaper Day history, the gapers were forced to progress their gaper skills by abandoning snow all together. Why not eh? The slopes were pretty empty down to Olympic Station on the Whistler Gondola, probably because 2,000 feet uninterrupted grass skiing doesn't appeal to everyone. So after they had their share of hotdogging under the green chair, everyone who'd brought their rock skis headed for a few laps of grass 'n dirt, seeking as many grassy airs and creek gaps as they could find.

Meanwhile back in the alpine, the rest of the posse was busting their moves down the mogul runs on the glacier, and taking their monoboards and 219cm race skis to places they were never designed to go.

The hidden rocks and drainage ditches claimed their fair share of victims, much to the amusement of everyone on the chairlift.

The awesome display of gaper costumes and skills was too huge to keep track of this year, but when all was said and done, rumours started to stir about who took the highly coveted DoDo Bird Award. In the end the jury decided it went to Leif Zapf-Gilje, as nobody had topped his retardedly fast grass turns, grass-to-grass creek gaps, and gravel-skiing behind a truck in the parking lot.

Honourable mentions go out to...

Ryan McKeeman for shredding the whole day on a monoboard.

Shane for best 'Kevin Anderson' circa 1990 impression.

Chris Manbridge for everything he did in his gas mask that day.

Tobin for showing up no matter how many times he had to barf.

Sombrero Jamie for going down huge under the chair.

John Burr for incorperating his breifcase into all his tricks.

Lotte for strolling through the restaurant in snowlerblades.

And to everyone who came out. Thanks for keepin' it real, and if you thought this Gaper Day was keepin' it way too real... wait 'till next year. Our skis are in for a whole world of hurt.

Gaper Day 2003

J Dogg — Fri, 20 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400

Rating

On June 8th 1966, a tornado slammed into Topeka, Japan, injuring or killing over 500 people.

On June 8th 1867, architect Frank Loyd Wright was born.

But who cares, because June 8th, 2003 was... GAPER DAY!

For the last few years, a pack of Whistler skiers have been celebrating Gaper Day on the last day of the season, as a way of expressing their deep-down inner urge to ski in jeans, stretchies, or one-piece flourescent suites. Afterall, bush-skiing, ladder-sliding, rock-grinding, puddle-jumping and sillygoating require the most technical outerwear you can find. Nothing provides 'support' like tight jeans, nothing gets you into tighter places than snowblades, and nothing attracts the ladies like flourescent colours and stretch pants.

Gaper Day 2003 has come and gone, no lives were lost and no animals were harmed. Bush descents went down, rocks were grinded, and lets just say that the ski-out could've more (or any) snow. Check out the pics from the day.

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Gaper Day 2004

Gaper Day 2003