Solo For the Soul

I have been amidst the darkness of the vortex of an unbeknownst level of labor. I have lived an entire life of jumping into things over my head and beyond my scope of realization of exactly what I am in for. However, as before I wallowed through the valley of the shadows of ridiculousness and emerged on the other side a better man as a result of the journey. I was remodeling a home on a nearly impossibly ambitious timeline, and learning to be a father to a brand new baby boy. My absence in postings to this website is just one of the many indicators of my absence from reality and daily life. I will explain all of that in a different post on here when I finally finish the remodel to a showroom status. As for now I will just say I went to a dark place, grew a large beard, camped out in a construction site, and lived to tell the story. As a reward to myself my lovely wife acknowledged my efforts and allowed my to travel half way across the globe to my happy powder place, Niseko, Japan. I went solo for the soul. No big cameras, no magazine projects, no athletes, filmers, or photographers. Just me, and the journey laying out in front of me.  

Retirement at 32?

I am indeed retiring at the age of 32. I will no longer ski as an "athlete" under the logo of any company. I am having a hard time calling it retirement, per say, because I am building on that skill set to pursue more time guiding projects, behind the lenses, and on typing away on computer screens as a content creator for Telemark Skier Magazine, as well as Vertical Integration, and freelancing. However, as I sat through a meeting with my insurance guy who has been trying to keep my life insured for years despite numerous rejections and "ski" clauses he asked me the question. "So what do I put this down as now? Retired?" My slow and awkwardly long silence before replying must have given away my apprehension. He looked up from his computer and smiled as he waited for my verbal confirmation. "Yeah... I guess so." Up until that point I really hadn't said it out loud to anyone other then my wife. 

Completely Missed Fall

I must say that I have been so busy that fall has passed me by. The evidence is apparent on this website as well. I have neglected to post in some time. In my defense, I have been hard at work on the Vertical Integration movie, From the Background of Telemark. It is complete, and up for sale on that website www.theVIgroup.org. As well, I have been writing and submitting photographs to Telemark Skier Magazine for upcoming issues. All the while having a newborn son, and remodeling the new family home. I must say my website absence is excusable, but none-the-less, fall has slipped by me like something on my to-do list. This old video that V.I. did for Telemark Skier makes me reminisce.

The Comeback Kid...eerrr, Pup.

As usual, my golden retriever, Murphy, is more popular then me. All the neighborhood kids love her and call her out by name as she is out walking around with the bearded guy that they are not quite sure of, Me. Everyone wants to know how well she is doing after her blown out knee injury. Well here is some video of how well she is doing. She has a long way to get ready for the ski season coming this fall, but so far she is right on track. I am so glad to have my little buddy amidst a comeback.