Phelps does the ‘impossible’

Michael Phelps goes 8 for 8 at the Beijing Olympics, becoming the best Olympic champion of all time. After tying Mark Spitz on Saturday with 7 gold medals, he was one win away from breaking the record of most golds in a single Olympic appearance. He relied on 3 of his teammates in the 4X100 medley relay to get the gold that would send him into the record books, unparalleled by any other athlete. Needless to say, they pulled through.

I wonder if there was ever a doubt in Michael’s mind that he would be able to achieve something so incredible. The power of the mind is an amazing thing. I believe there’s an energy that you can tap into and it can work for or against you. If you want something bad enough, you visualize it happening, you work towards it relentlessly and you don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, it is achievable.

If Michael Phelps ever took the mark thinking, “I’m probably going to lose this one,” I doubt he and the rest of the world would be celebrating his achievement tonight.

BMX in the Olympics

Snowboarding first made its Olympic debut in the 1998 games in Nagano and it certainly made waves. People everywhere started to look at snowboarding as more mainstream and less of a rebellious activity that crazy kids partake in. It exposed people to action sports and showed them there were more sports out there that didn’t revolve around a ball of some sort.

To the general population, it made snowboarding “ok.” In my opinion, the action sports industry only benefited from the Olympic exposure. More people getting involved, taking notice, recognizing the athletes and even taking up the sport themselves. In fact, my family still refers to Shaun White as “the kid with the red hair in the Olympics.” I don’t think snowboarding NEEDED to be in the Olympics, but the more exposure an action sport gets, the better for the industry as a whole.

Now it’s BMX’s turn in Beijing. Don’t expect to see Dave Mirra up there anytime soon, though. Athletes will be racing their little hearts out on a dirt course which will include lots of bumps, hard turns and other obstacles.

Some might think that by being in the Olympics, it takes away from the “core” aspect of the sport. Maybe some view it as selling out. I mean, there will always be that guy that hates on their once-favorite band because the group decided to accept a paycheck for their music. Frankly, I think it’s awesome that action sport athletes are getting the opportunity to add “Olympic Gold Medalist” to their resume and trophy case.

Big Air strikes again

The X-Games wouldn’t be the X-Games without some huge news. Last year, you had Jake Brown fall from 40 feet in the air and walk away without a scratch. This year’s games featured another epic fall that your standard knee pads just wouldn’t protect you from.

Danny Way dropped in and landed a huge backflip and went up the quarter pipe for a rocket air. Coming back in, it looked like he clipped the coping, propelling himself head over heels… literally. It’s one of those things you can’t believe they got up and walked away from it, let alone walk ever again. Check out the video.

Roxy 2009 Collection Preview - Shred Betties Magazine

Interested in seeing some of what Torah Bright and the rest of the Roxy crew conjured up for this winter season? Head on over to Shred Betties where you can get your fix of outerwear, boots, boards and beanies!

Do you have a “Snowboard Addiction?”

Ok, so it’s that time during the summer where I start drooling over new gear as the ‘09 websites go live and look on YouTube for all things related to snowboarding. I like searching for Trick Tips specifically, thinking I’ll somehow improve my riding via my computer screen if I watch enough of them. Up until now, I’ve rarely seen a Trick Tip that actually helped me. Usually, its a pro rider telling you how to do a 360, hand plant or boardslide. So most of that tip is them saying, “Get the right speed. Do this. And then ride away clean.” Oh! Well why didn’t you say so? If it were that easy, we’d all be pro and you’d be out of a job, broseph.

However, there is ONE trick tip series that legitimately tells you everything you need to know. Enter: www.snowboardaddiction.com. I kid you not when I tell you that they offer the most detailed, informative Trick Tip videos I’ve ever seen. Instead of the typical 2 minute video, you’re watching for about 10 minutes. Trust me, that’s not a long time because they literally break it down step by step. They tell you what you can do to prepare, what position your body should be in at all times and even threw in some trick variations. For example, if the trick tip was how to 50-50 a rail, they’ll show you that and then show you how you can 180 out both frontside and backside.

They have 3 of their lessons on YouTube. Here’s a video from Snowboard Addiction. This one’s all about frontside boardslides… enjoy!

Holy heatwave, Batman!

What. The. Eff.

Roughly 116 days till cold temps, snowmakers, and strapping in for the first time in the 08-09 season.

Life’s Priorities

We all know that the action sports industry isn’t as lucrative as many others, but there’s a reason we pursue a career in it. During the process of finding a job, I’ve done all I can make connections and market myself to avoid sacrificing what I love most: snowboarding.

My priorities are different than most, but similar to those pursuing the same thing. We live once. I don’t want to look back 40 years from now and have nothing unique, cool or interesting to talk about… That I’ve taken no risks, no chances and played it safe… oh, but at least I had health care.

Getting paid while snowboarding is worth more than a slightly larger salary where I’d have to sit in a cubicle under fluorescent lights checking the snow report where I could have been working.  Instead, my “daily grind” will consist of jibbing the terrain park rather than sitting on a smelly, overcrowded bus.

I think people who aren’t passionate about an industry sport will never “get it.” And I’ll have to leave it at that. Enjoy your health benefits, your 2 hour commute and your huge stack of perwork due at 5p.m.

I’ll think of you when I’m getting first chair on a powder day.

Vermont

So I went to Vermont this past week. I stayed overnight with my mom since I was lucky enough to be summoned for two job interviews (places will remain nameless… for now at least!) I feel pretty good about how things went, but official business aside, I had a great time just taking a road trip, bonding with my mom and seeing just a little bit more of what the country has to offer.

Believe it or not, and I’m not sure if this makes me a “gaper” or a “poser,” but I’ve only been to Vermont once. My brother and I took a random one-day shred trip to Mount Snow last November for the second weekend they were open. That was a VERY long day, but riding on the 17th of November ruled.

Anyway, it was awesome seeing Vermont, even in the middle of the summer. We passed a “Milken Parlour,” which I’m hoping was a funny name for a bar. We also saw a lot of really nice properties and charming little stores… and people without teeth. I’ll be honest, it was a slight culture shock, but nothing I couldn’t see myself adapting to if not embracing right away. I will however, continue to brush and floss religiously. Old habits die hard.

If I do find myself working in Vermont, I can finally find out what it would have been like if I had gone to college up there. Being an hour or two away from some of the east coast’s largest ski resorts blows my mind. So yeah, I could get a “do-over,” and that rocks my socks.

Job Interview Tips

Being the Google fanatic I am, I decided to prepare myself for future job interviews by seeking out some Do’s and Do Not’s. Here are some of the tips I found mixed with my own advice. It might seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how something as small as a firm handshake can make all the difference.

Firstly, go into the interview knowing the company you’re trying to work for. Just a few minutes reading up on the company’s history, clients and recent business they’ve done will make you look knowledgeable and you won’t be dumbstruck if they ask you a question about it. Knowledge is power, as they say.

In advance, prepare a list of questions you’d like to ask your potential employers about the job, such as, “What will be my responsibilities?” “What can I expect to be doing in 2-3 years with your company?/Is there room for growth from this position?” In fact, you might even want to ask them to describe a typical day in the office so you can get a better idea of what you might be getting into.

Salary. The big one on everyone’s minds. Don’t just jump to asking what the salary will be because it will look like you’re greedy and only care about money. If you’re asked what your salary range is, make sure you’ve done your research. Hit up www.salary.com or something and find out what you’re worth based on your experience and the job title you’re interviewing for. If they offer you less than what you’re worth, try to negotiate. The worse they can say is no, right?

Also, find out about health benefits and other perks that may come along with the job. Paid vacation, sick days, the kind of benefits can alter your perception of your “dream job” if it isn’t what you’re looking for.

It’s probably a good idea to bring something in addition to your resume. Construct a portfolio of sorts and bring it with you. If you are good at making presentations, then give one. It will definitely set you apart from the other applicants.

Find out what the dress code is like at your potential workplace. You don’t want to overdress and look like you don’t fit in and you definitely don’t want to look like a slob, so give HR a call and ask what would be deemed business casual/professional or ask what applicants typically wear for interviews.

Be prepared for questions like, “Tell us a little about yourself,” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” Have something well rehearsed so you’re confident in your delivery.

Above all, I think it’s most important to have a firm, solid handshake and to smile a lot. Well, not to the point where they think you’re insane, but confidence is a powerful thing. If you’re confident, they’ll be confident in your ability.

Liquor Promotion Diaries

I am, and have been for the last year, a liquor promoter. You may know me as the Corona girl, or Jack Daniel’s girl, or the girl that gives out free stuff. I find my job very amusing at times, especially since we don’t drink while we’re working. Because of my sober perspective, I can learn a lot about people by interacting with them directly, overhearing them interact with other people, or watching them refrain from interaction all together.

I’m happy for this unique opportunity because you can always learn something about yourself in the process.

This week I worked the same bar twice in a row. I’ve worked there a few times in the past so I’ve come to know the owners, bartenders and regulars. I got a chance to listen to what they wanted to do with their lives, or what they wished they would have done.

A few regulars throw digs at each other, buy each other drinks and hit on the pretty bartenders. I overheard one of them say how he lives down the street from his father, and the other said he lives next door to his parents. Then they told me they’ve been coming to this same bar since they were kids, except when they were younger, they were part of the night crowd instead of the 5pm-7pm shift I was working. Then they told me the bartender had been working there for 20 years.

Wow. This promotion helped me realize that I don’t ever want to be stagnant in the town I grew up. In fact, the thought of never leaving scared the hell out of me. Not that I didn’t have a great childhood and grow up in a very nice (small) town, but there’s too much to see in the country, let alone the world. Why stay in one place your whole life? I don’t want to sit at the bar and think about my “glory days” that were spent on the same bar stool 20 years ago.

I want to give myself a chance to do more with my life. See the world, travel, meet new people, work (and ride) in different places… and if it doesn’t work out, at least I tried. I can always come home, and if I need to, take comfort in that bar stool being exactly where I left it.