We have all been in the position, we have all had that friend. You know the one, the guy who ends up in that relationship. The girl is easy on the eyes and seems relatively cool at first. Then things start to change and your friend's convictions and ideals start shifting. Your gut feel is to confront him and let him know this relationship is killing him, but you don't because it is not worth risking your friendship over. Inevitably you end up drifting apart until virtually no friendship remains. NOTE: I have been informed that the same crisis exists for women in the form of the 'bad boyfriend'.

For those that know, know - I think this is appropriate for people who are ready to start candidly talking about the state of the sport.
photo 'borrowed' from Adam Haynes

I unitentionally figured out what this was all about about a week ago. I was talking to my friend Seth in Vermont and said something along the lines of, "The death of my aspiratons for the sport gave birth to a new dream for snowboarding." The conversation that led to that point was long, but the takeaway was in the summary. Let me explain.

I woke way too early for a Sunday and rolled out for the Log Reserve at a crisp hour. I was packing a brand new 2 ton come along, a freshly sharpened sawr and a slightly wacky idea for a jib.

A few weeks ago, a good friend was telling me how they cut the logs for the Stash at Killington. I had assumed that they were cut with a portable sawmill. He surprised me by saying that they were simply cut with a chainsaw and a guide. The idea continued to gnaw at me, that I could probably get a decent cut with my sawr without a guide, if I could get her sharp enough.

The only time I understand normal people, the ones that don't live for winter, is around July 4th. I am pretty sure the way I feel during the mid summer's holiday is the same way they do around Christmas. You know how everyone is psyched for winter right up until the big jolly day and then it is all bitch about the cold and moan about the snow. That's me in the summer, I am happy joy joy until the 4th and then I am officially over the heat and lack of snow. This summer I decided to combat the down days with a little project for the winter, The Log Reserve.

It starts now.

If you are not lucky enough to be riding the white wave on the southern slopes, you are probably like us, working away in the summer heat, saving up time and money for the winter. August is the month when the hints of winter start creeping back; the cool nights, the early movie releases, and new product sneaking into shops.

We started this site as a hub for those of us that live for the winter months. We will be dialing up the content as we approach the start of the season, but I wanted to take a quick moment to explain the site.

Ken Block-founder (along with Damon Way) of 8 Ball Clothing, Blunt Snowboard Magazine, Droors Clothing and a small entity by the name of DCShoes-started construction on his Park City log abode after selling DC to the Quik empire for somewhere in the neighborhood of $70 plus million (not including preferred stock options). Not too shabby.

It was understood that Block would build a second house on his 22 acre compound for he and his wife. This second dwelling would be home to them whilst team riders, family and other guests stayed in the current residence, otherwise regarded as the epicenter of the DC Mtn. Lab.

I was supposed to drive through Uzbekistan during the Mongol Rally. We were going to skirt the border with Kazakhstan on the west side of what's left of the Aral Sea and bomb through the desert for a day. Somewhere in Russia/Kaz, we heard that ralliers had been shot at in Uzbek and things were devolving quickly. There was a story circulating of a young rallier that strayed from camp to relieve himself. While in a compromising position the young one supposedly felt the unforgettable chill of cold cylindrical steel pressed into the back of his head, followed by an audible click. Having been woken by multiple drunk Russians in the wee hours of the morning, I certainly can believe this story.