NS: So Travis, a lot of people have been wondering what the snow situation is this summer at Mt. Hood. Can you fill us in on how Palmer is looking for the summer, and how it compares with recent years? Travus: Today looks sweet up on the hill. Been snowing
consistently for the past few months. As a matter of
fact It has snowed every day this month. The snow base
at Timberline is the same as it was entering summer
'03, which was one of our best years in terms of
terrain features.
Will the snow levels affect camps on Hood in any way?
Two things in particular benfit Windells space up
on palmer. In addition to having the largest terrain
in terms of acreage, we also have the deepest channel
up there. When other camps areas start showing rocks
near the end of the summer, we're still cruisin'.
Also, because we're local and operate camps in the
winter and spring too, summer we see how the mountain
is shaping up through the season. This year we have
been farming snow to our area since mid-March. It
costs a lot of money in cat time, but the benefit is
the conditions we have in late August- still rockin' a
full pipe and jumps when other camps are just done.
Any advice on the best time to visit during the summer?
Sort of depends on what kind of experience your
lookin for. Most of the film companys/pros are here
in June, but the pros are workin' hard on their
segments and more or less doing their own thing. July
we're in full operation, pros are much more
approachable and everything is pretty casual. August
is my favorite. Every day you can count on the sun,
the pipe is the best shape, and we pull out some new
rails and boxes. The dig crew get really creative and
it's a great vibe.
Who are this summer's ski coaches?
Pro coaches include... Tommy Ellingson, Brandon
Becker, Griffin Cummings, Ike Smith, Grete Eliassen,
Larry Wick, Sammy Carlson, Tim Durtschi, and
others. We hire coaches to coach and help kids
progress, not necessarily the biggest name dudes. We
have tons of guest pros if thats what you're into
though. Too many to name. When kids ask me who, I
usually say everyone. We're the only freeskiing camp on
the best summer ski mtn. in the world. Sick rails,
pipes, and jumps with sun every day so just about
every film company and their skiers are here at any
given time. Not to mention those pros who are workin'
on their games trying to get better.
Any new rails or features planned for the lane?
Always... Our head digger is Jared Winkler, who heads
up the Brighton park and the D.C. mtn lab. New boxes,
rails, jumps and hips. We never want it to get stale.
We have kids who come every year, and we want to
change it up and keep it challenging. You'll just have
to come up and see . Our big news this year is BOB, a
12,000 sq. ft. indoor training facility. New skate ramps,
vert wall, wood bowl, street course, olympic training
trampoline, foam pit, arcade, etc. What sets our camp
apart in addition to our facilities on the mtn. is our
private 52 acre campus. BOB is just our latest
creation in addition to everything else already here.
Skate stuff, BMX tracks, tramps, hot tubs....and more
to come in the future. Our motto speaks the
truth... Windells, "The funnest place on earth!!!"
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