Ian Matteson Photo

As some people know contests drive me crazy, don’t get me wrong I think winning money and beating others is all in good fun but how many times can you take the same photo at one of these events. It’s not a photo friendly thing, getting sloshed with slush, watching people almost take out your flashes, etc. Well as always I brought my film camera not the usual Holga but a little nicer one to shoot some of what I saw. I bumped into all sorts of people I don’t see to often as well as seeing some really drunk people at high noon. Here’s what I took from the day of the festivities.

Cam Pierce

Dave Doman watching people do some tagging.

Post Rail Jam Alex Andrew

Ted Borland the champion walked away with $3,500 bones!

It has been a long two weeks. After finishing prints for ///Surface Skis for their booth at the 09′ SIA trade show I began to get sick. After 1 day of good rest (20 hour nap) and the right medication, lots of water and OJ I was ready to go to Vegas for the week. It was good to get away to somewhere warm but sad to miss the Utah pow that had just fallen over the weekend. Its was good to see all the friends in the industry and to also to shoot photos for DNA Rail Jam. They have a rail jam thats completely snowless. Thats right no snow, just a roller system and some carpet. I know it sounds wild but I shot some photos of the contest as well as our friend Jeff Larson “Hot Noise” spinning during the contest. On to the backcountry powder photo shoots I hope. THINK SNOW!

Surface Ski Prints 30″ x 22″ Van Dyke Prints.

Extra Shot Laying Around. Rider: Kevin Malone

View From the Room.

Some Gear and the Room. All I need for a week and a photo assignment.

Joey, Brett, and the Girls watching the Rail Jam Madness.

Crazy Carpet and Roller Setup.

DJ Jeff Larson “Hot Noise” Killing it at the Rail Jam

I know it’s late now but I returned home to Lewistown, Montana Sunday night at about 8PM. I left SLC at about 11 AM with snow in the forecast for the entire trip. I think it is a bad sign when you see SNOWMOBILES driving down the road….Everything was going smooth until I was by West Yellowstone, then the roads just got worse and worse until I reached Bozeman. From there on out it was just me the night sky and deer. Almost killed a few but they luckily ran the other direction. I am HOME! Happy Holidays everyone!

So recently I acquired a new snowboard, a K2 Darkstar Wide 154, and it’s AWESOME! I have only had one day on the snow with it but with is first day out it responded well, popped like crazy, was light, and soft enough to do some wheelie action. Also the Union Data Bindings are killer as well my favorite set up in a long long long time. Lets all go to Brighton on Wednesday and fly down some groomed runs. I’ll shoot some photos.