MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Fall 2017

FALL 2017 ML BLUE 95 Words & photos :: Nelson Phillips “YIIIPPPAAA!!!” comes across the screen. The Great Lakes coastal overnight weather forecast looks favourable for Georgian Bay waves. There’s a winter storm system coming down from the north of Lake Huron promising to bring snow, wind, and swells. The stars are aligning. In ancient Greek mythology, the cosmos was divided up between three gods following the defeat of the Titans– primordial deities preceding Olympian rule. The heavens and sky became the realm of Zeus, everybody’s favourite mythical philanderer king. The oceans, rivers and waterways were gifted to Poseidon, and the underworld was unceremoniously thrown upon Hades. Zeus then created humans, but soon thereafter his creations grew tired of the gods’ rule. According to the stories, humans revolted by taking back the same spheres of the cosmos so cherished by the gods, angering them, prompting storms and so-called Acts of God. One day at dawn last winter we set out to complete the Boardsport Trifecta, encompassing snowboarding (the heavens), surfing (the waterways) and skateboarding (the underworld) – all before lunch. 6:47 A.M. Great Lake surfer Josh Madryga is already at an undisclosed coastal location scouting waves hitting the craggy shoreline when he sends out the day’s first group chat message. “Guys, things are extremely favourable right now… I’m not there yet, but land stations are dreamy… James, wake up! You can’t miss this session. If the land stations aren’t lying this is gonna be one for the books.” Erika Langman responds with an emphatic “Yewwwww!” It’s on. Nasty snow flurries greet me as I leave Owen Sound headed for the Blue Mountains. The Gods are coming. I’m met by Erika, Josh, James Carrick, Dave Edwards and Curtis Eichenberger somewhere just shy of the chairlifts of Blue Mountain to crashing waves, wind, and cars filled with assortments of boards. Jim Schorer is already in the water pig-dogging lefts, drinking in the rewards of an early morning surprise attack on Poseidon’s sweetwater kingdom. It’s -6°C, balmy for mid-January but I’m freezing on shore, trying to not show signs of weakness in front of the crew of surfers playing in the waves with ear-to- ear smiles. The waves are orchestral, bewitching, and consistent enough that a quick surf turns into a 1.5 hour session. One by one the crew emerges from the Bay, eager to get warm and move on. 10:30 A.M. We turn our attention to Blue Mountain’s North chairlift. By now the storm system is passing and we’re greeted by sunny skies. Like Icarus, we ascend upward into the beaming gaze of the sun: Zeus territory. There’s an inviting layer of dust on crust so we dip in and out of the trees, enjoying the morning sunbath while peering down at the surf from atop the Escarpment. 11:30 A.M. The toughest part of completing the Trifecta in these parts is finding a place to skateboard. A few go-to private indoor ramps aren’t available anymore so to get in a quick thrash you have to think hard. We must seek the disheveled cover of the underground: Hades. RETURN OF THE TITANS THE BOARDSPORT TRIFECTA: SURFING, SNOWBOARDING & SKATEBOARDING BEFORE LUNCH BACK YARD