Oh Canada… Your views are amazing and your hills are crazy! Photo: Grove
Words & Photos: Jake Grove
After a crammed non-stop 20 hour drive to Maryhill from San Diego, then a 8 hour drive up to Giant’s Head, followed by a 6 hour drive through Canada, came the Whistler Longboard Festival. By this time of the whole photo/skate trip tour in fellow photographer Don Sheffler’s van–packed with Don, his son Noah, Emily Pross, another dude, and myself–things were getting a little crusty, crammed, and tiring. Nonetheless, this whole tour was extremely rad, shooting alongside Khaleeq at both Maryhill and Giant’s Head, lurking it up with the Bustin Crew as well as so many others, and then arriving in Whistler to shoot this last leg of the tour on my own. This was my first time making it out to Whistler, and I have to say I was extremely impressed. The whole town was a rad little place, and the skatepark and hill both had super chill vibes, with a large community of fellow skaters that were stoked on keeping the sport alive.
The race hill in whistler is a unique course, as it runs through the Olympic training center and over the Olympic bobsled track. Racing was tight the whole weekend, and the event had a solid turnout of skaters, photographers, and spectators. Being Canada, finals day had some off and on rain to make things interesting, and the Canadians proved their home advantage and swept the podium. I could go on and on about the event and everything that went down, but I’m sure by this point you’re much more eager to see the shots from the race than to read on a few columns more. This event was rad and held some solid racing, views, and all around good times–I’ll let the photos take over and do the talking from here on.
Max Caps tucking the bobsled overpass bridge. Photo: Grove
Low-tech drone footy (aka standing tall with a fisheye). Photo: Grove
A wild pack of downhill skaters emerges out of the woods… Photo: Grove
Striker being Striker. Photo: Grove
Zak Maytum taking the scenic route. Photo: Grove
Cam Brick pimping the fresh camo leathers. Photo: Grove
Zak Maytum charging in the Standup Race. Photo: Grove
Emily Pross going hard out front. Photo: Grove
The homie Micah with some super serious between-run chilling. Photo: Grove
Laine Jackart getting close and personal with the fisheye. Photo: Grove
And now for a skatepark intermission. Brought to you by this local dude who wasn’t afraid to go hard in the rain. Photo: Grove
Jacko gearing up and getting ready for racing. Photo: Grove
Rolo smoking plants and going fast. Photo: Grove
Coming from sunny (and dry) San Diego, actual plants and green colors are foreign. Canada was rad just to be surrounded by such amazing framing and scenery opportunities! Photo: Grove
s that a Bulbasaur behind those plants? Oh wait. This isn’t Pokemon Go, is it? Photo: Grove
Stevie D. mid scenic mountain bomb. Photo: Grove
Dillon Stephens leading the pack. Photo: Grove
Toeside scrub, Heelside Grip. Race lines on the mind. Photo: Grove
Chile Homie ripping it! Photo: Grove
Panda Escobear making an appearance and gripping through the wet. Photo: Grove
Master’s Podium: 1st Billy Bones, 2nd Lee Cation, 3rd Ryan English. Photo: Grove
Grom’s Podium: 1st Ed Kiefer, 2nd Knox Heslop, 3rd Niky Matousek. Photo: Grove
Stand Up Race: 1st: Zak Maytum, 2nd: Sean Young, 3rd: Oscar Gutierrez
Women’s Podium: 1st Emily Pross, 2nd Paloma Dorado, 3rd Kaylene Beatty. Photo: Grove
Open’s Podium: 1st Dane Hanna, 2nd Troy Grenier, 3rd Alex Charleson. Photo: Grove
Thanks Volunteers!
