Huge Cliff drop - 13 Tomahawk session

Huge Cliff drop - 13 Tomahawk session from john wells on Vimeo.

Thunder Glacier /// Mountain Man Mission Ep.1

Thunder Glacier /// Mountain Man Missions // EP. 1 from john wells on Vimeo.

March 30, 2013 /// Skiing the Thunder Glacier

John Wells and Pete Durr skiing the Thunder Glacier in the North Cascades. Filmed and edited by John Wells.
I have walked by the Thunder for about 10 years on many missions to ski Mt. Baker. Never have I seen the snow bridges and bergschrunds so filled in. This was a moment of exploration, perfect planning, and route finding that all came together in 7 minutes of big mountain fun. Enjoy, many more Mountain Man Missions to come this summer! Stay tuned.

Winter has its way of bowing out, gracefully throwing in the towel moving on towards a new season and different weather cycles. With the close-out or shuddering of Winter the mountains are the fullest, the snowpack is settled and locked in for the spring, at these moments you can steal a line from the mountain gods before it is too late and summer is here.

Whistler is a Sure Shot

Whistler is a "Sure Shot" from john wells on Vimeo.

Whistler is a sure shot by John Wells

You can’t go wrong anywhere at Whistler Blackcomb. Even if you ride the lifts with no ski gear and just eat a meal at the Roundhouse or sight-see, that will be the best lunch or ride you have ever had. Same goes for scoping sunny lines to be had in the forecast and preying on high pressure weather windows, WB (Whistler Blackcomb) always rewards the patient ones.

After a foggy rundown the day before, the alpine popped blue and the sure thing I was betting on came through. Off we went out the gate for another epic multi line day filled with limitless ideas, plans, and goals. This is how it works at WB, you dream it, wake up, and do it.

The Beastie Boys have had an everlasting effect on my life. The days of stealing my brothers’ copy of “License to Ill” and going for a bike ride on my BMX jamming out hard on the yellow Walkman “sport” edition are all too familiar. Now instead of a BMX I am rocking G3 Empires, not much has changed, still making funny faces in the camera (GoBro FACE) and still having as much fun as humanly possible.

I suggest you find a Canadian partner or just pile 9,999 bucks into your pocket and get to Whis for a season and you’ll be dancing around like it’s circa 1994…because you can’t, you won’t and ya don’t stop.
Whistler is always a sure shot.

Not so Slackcountry

Not so Slackcountry from john wells on Vimeo.

Not so Slackcountry filmed and edited by John Wells.

6 minutes of some good days in January 2013. There is nothing slack about some of the side country at Mt. Baker, Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain. With lots of good options to be had there is always a line that will push your comfort zones, make you better, or "simply learn you some things" throughout the year.
Slackcountry sounds lame. This is nothing short of the stuff dreams are made of. With world re-nowned stable powder and steep lines Mt. Baker is a mecca for hard-charging riders and dedicated mountain rippers. The terrain is big and full of convexities and traps that make mothers and girlfriends quiver. But the rewards for success are great and bolstered by lots of experience trusting friends and partners, along with amazing conditions and the perfect blend of backcountry and safety all rolled into one. There was a lot of wind with a certain January storm which made skiing all the more decisive and fast. Wind slabs were popping off on all the steeps and fountains of slough piled into the lows and gully’s and as long as you were above and safe, life was good, pow turns for days!

DOWN DOWN DOWN /// Advanced Aerobatics - Yak-55M

DOWN DOWN DOWN /// Advanced AEROBATICS - Yak 55M from john wells on Vimeo.

Down, Down, Down by John Wells. I got the pleasure to edit some of Roydens practice footage from the Summer of 2012, love the angle, and can't wait to see the plane littered with Go Pros summer of 2013.....It is going to be good. Stay tuned.

Royden Heays practicing his Advanced aerobatic sequence in his Russian Yakovlev Yak 55M. The Yak 55M was designed in the USSR to win the Unlimited World Aerobatic Contest and did so in 1984. The Yak is powered by the Vedeneyev 9 cylinder geared 360 HP engine. While the engine maxes out at 2900 RPM, the prop runs at a relatively slow 1900 RPM and that combination generates its characteristic airbourne sound so admired by Westerners. This aeroplane has the reputation of being the best tumbling aeroplane ever. "Tumbles" are the Western term for the Eastern Block "Lomcevak", a manoeuvre where the aeroplane literally does a somersault. The Yak climbs at an astounding 3,150 feet per minute and is loved by pilots for its vice-less handling characteristics. Royden flies the Yak competitively in the Pacific North West. He is a member of the Aerobatics Club of British Columbia which is actively seeking to expand its membership.

For more information - http://www.bc-aerobatics.com

12-21-12 End of the World Storm

12-21-12 End of the World Storm from john wells on Vimeo.

12-21-12 /// End of the World Storm – by John Wells

Where will you ride on your last day on Earth? Well, hopefully it’s a powder day and you are riding at your favorite resort or your choicest line far away from civilization. For me and Carl Wollschlager we decided to head into the eye of humanity and venture to Cypress Mountain just outside Vancouver, B.C. for some deep pow turns before our time here on this planet is over. With Mt. Baker acting like an apocalyptic wicked step sister (with 80 inches in 6 days and 100 downed trees in the road) she closed her doors to us and we headed north for some End of the World turns. Shit, no time to sit at home and sulk when the world is going to end in just a day or two. We mounted up, braved Vancouver rush hour traffic and mashed through 6 inches of snow, blasted around front wheel drive cars stuck in the coastal mush and got to our destination ready to shred.

Meanwhile in the rest of the World mayhem ensues; Schools closing early, NASA giving scientific reasons countering the predictions of the Mayan Astronomers, people jacking up their credit cards in hope they won’t have to pay them off, and students praying for a 3 day weekend. All the while 22 inches of snow fell while we carved deep trenches in the trees and got blasted by 40 mph winds full of that lovely B.C. coastal velvet. Remember Y2K ? I think my clock radio from 1984 was the only thing affected by that multi-billion dollar fear campaign to stimulate our society into spending more money to add some more zeros. Zeros should be cheap, even free, hence the zero, duh.

Society was at its best on December 20, 2012. Traffic up the ying yang, lots of people pushing Prius’ in the snow (electric cars are great in the snow, good torque) smart cars parked in plow lanes (not so smart) and generally a feeling of doomsday filled the air at 9 AM in Downtown Vancouver. Lightning bolts cracked the sky heading up to Cypress as the coastal air masses mixed and dumped heavy snow. Transformers blew with heavy winds knocking out all power; Cypress Mountain was running strictly on Diesel generators and none was the wiser. It truly felt like the end of the world for most urbanites but for us it was just another day riding pow, and boy did we ride. The trees were tight and magical, huge clouds of snow blinding every turn, mini avalanches in the trees, and pushy city folk wondering why we had backpacks on. It could have all ended then but they popped on the lights and pushed on into the darkness as Cypress was engulfed in a warm up and we left as the storm subsided and the fog rolled in. The End of the World was a mere hours away. It loomed near in the form of a shwarma /Donnair wrap in a crusty Falafel shack on Denman Street where in only hours the departure from this world was only too real!

One Day at Jackson

One Day at Jackson from john wells on Vimeo.

March 19, 2012 was a day to remember at JH. With 19” of new snow at the resort and more like 2-3 feet outside the gates it was an “all time” day to hook up with some of Jackson’s best locals, insert the Lovely Brothers. With the same intentions to slay pow, send cliffs, and have fun, we got along instantly resorting back to our east coast roots and relishing in the light Teton smoke.

Just 5 weeks after fracturing my tibia I headed to Jackson Hole to ski and relax with family and get my turn back. I never imagined it would turn into such an incredible 10 hours of skiing and that it would change my life forever. Being a little off point and in pain my style was loose and tentative but I was happy to be skiing again. Mowing nachos, wings and beer at the Moose at the end of the day the pain slipped away and was replaced by new friends, memories, and powder dreams.

One day at Jackson is all you need to change your season or your life forever. See ya next year!

Opening Day Jitters 2012

Opening Day Jitters by John Wells from john wells on Vimeo.

Opening Day Jitters by John Wells

My girlfriend is well accustomed to my antics during the ski season but the night before opening day she is blown away and a mere observer as all energies flow into one solid action; to be prepared for the sickest day of skiing ever. You will not be disappointed if you are prepared. After rummaging around for AA batteries I had an epiphany of an old ski bum trick, use my DVD remote batteries for my avalanche beacon to ski pow during the day, and replace them later at night when I am tired and in night time nap mode. Multi-purpose batt’s that’s what I call being green. In the winter everything I do becomes multi-purpose bordering on obsessive. My ski routine rivals pro hockey players’ superstition, down to the last cup of coffee, the placement of my ski bag in my truck, right down to how my vitamins are placed on the counter in the morning. It is a sick thing when your whole life revolves around such an exorbitantly expensive, resource demanding, unpredictable sport/lifestyle/mother nature.

To read the entire Blog post go to www.tetongravity.com

John Wells 2012 POV*Highlights*5000

John Wells 2012 POV*Highlights*5000 from john wells on Vimeo.

POV Highlights from the 2011-2012 ski season including footage from the North Cascades, Jackson Hole, Whistler, Pemberton, and Mt. Baker.

After a hectic season with 3 injuries, including a lacerated spleen, broken tibia, and recovering from ankle surgery in 2011 I still managed to get in some good airs and solid POW time. This year I am looking forward to being healthy coming back stronger (and maybe smarter) and givin'er harder than I have ever givin her before!

Product Development is my favorite thing in the world, if I am not skiing I am sure thinking, visualizing, and obsessing about skis and skiing on them, so being able to collaborate on the 193 Empire was a dream into reality, going to be a sick year on the new boards, fully rockered, gradual bentness, butter zone heaven, charger tail no rockered mess, stiff and light touring machine, just a few words…..Yea Winter!

Thanks to my sponsors for another sick year, G3, Leki, Flylow, Go Pro & Smith Optics.
Edit by: John Wells
Music: Vinnie Paz - Pistolvania feat. Jack Frost

You can Call me Pemby!

You can Call me Pemby! by John Wells from john wells on Vimeo.

Sometimes, it isn't about the gnarliest cliff, or fastest straighline, or the biggest trick. Most of the time you don't have control over the conditions, especially when venturing hours from the car. So on this trip we skied deep mellow pow. After 40 inches of new "light Duffey Lake fluff" sitting on a bad high pressure layer we played it safe. Everything came to be when the sun popped open blue and gave us the glory of enjoying this excellent window of perfect skiing. We didn't push it, we knew the consequences of a bad decision, none of the gnar was in and that was fine by us. A canvas of easy going pow turns kept unraveling leaving us skinning and skiing till moonlight.

Anoymously Yours - Ep.2

Anonymously Yours - Episode 2 by John Wells from john wells on Vimeo.

Anonymously Yours - Episode 2 by John Wells. The second installment in the Anoymously Yours Webisode Series breaks through with more locals ripping and some fresh POV. After a quick mention in Powder Mag's "All-time" column Grant Gunderson wasn't the only one spinning laps on March 14, 2012 at Mt. Baker, it was him, me, and 40 other lucky souls. All-time is an understatment and everyone who has been lucky enough to hit Baker on one of it's legendary storm cycles knows that it is truly special when everyone stays home, or is stricken with road closure issues. With rumors of Alta having Inter-lodge days this was a first at Mt. Baker, as Howat said, "People were there and our staff was there, and the conditions were appropriate fo operation, so we opened." And let me tell you this there were screams of joy and bliss as we reveled in having our own playground to ourselves. We shredded harded than we thought possible not stopping once, and the ski area looked as if it were a dream, still untouched by the 42 people. Powder flew overhead in that well known quieting silence we fiend for all summer long. Enjoy /// More edits spilling out every week from 542 Productions //// Stay Tuned. ////////////////////////////////////////////

Anonymously Yours - Ep. 1

Anonymously Yours - Episode I by John Wells from john wells on Vimeo.

At Mt. Baker there is a lot of everything, a lot of snow, a lot of rain, a lot of talented riders, a lot of driving, and a lot of dedication. The majority of this series of 2 episodes was filmed without the knowledge of most of the riders being filmed. People just skiing or riding whether or not the camera was rolling, or anybody watching. I was lucky enough to catch most of the goods on film and to add some of my own POV which as we all know is the purest form of skiing. Just click in and go, deal with the cam later, if it works cool, if not easy come easy go. This goes out to the locals at Mt. Baker and all over the world that make every pow day "all-time", and would never brag about any line just a solid high five and a huge smile! Can't wait for the snow to return! Bring on Fall.

Desert Driving

Desert Driving from john wells on Vimeo.

Desert Driving by John Wells. 2 minutes of off-road action from our trip across the desert in Arizona. Drivers beware trying to get to Supai VIA the Grand Canyon across the desert is extremely serious. With 50 miles in all directions of nothing, a rancher cowboy was nice enough to give us directions, but otherwise we would have been screwed. The Ford Mustang proved to be a worthy “off road” vehicle, but a flat tire could prove to be life threatening in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere.

We did see a herd of Antelope, hawks, coyotes, wild horses, and cattle, but without proper off road and wilderness experience I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.

Mt. Baker POW Sessions #1 by John Wells

Mt. Baker POW sessions #1 by John Wells from john wells on Vimeo.

John Wells skiing in Flylow Outerwear. It has been a good couple of weeks at Mt. Baker. Check out flylowgear.com to support the Flylow movement.

Flylow // POV Clip by John Wells

Flylow // POV Clip by John Wells from john wells on Vimeo.

John Wells shredding with the Flylow Quantom Jacket and Stash Pants.

Location: not really sayin
Flylow Outerwear
www.flylowgear.com

John Wells shredding with the Flylow Quantom Jacket and Stash Pants. Location: not really sayin Flylow Outerwear flylowgear.com