Ride Our World

TIMELINE OF OUR TRIP – THE STORY OF OUR SEASON
75 Total Days of Travel!!

Jan 17 – We all arrived in Los Angeles. I met Dave for the first time at LAX.

Jan 18 – We said our goodbyes to friends and family and boarded the plane to Tokyo, Japan and the start of our trip.

Jan 19 – Arrived in Japan. Realized train tickets to Niseko would be too expensive ($600 per person) so we changed our plan and headed Hakuba, Japan. Spent the night in Tokyo.

Jan 20 – Took train to Hakuba, Japan and checked into Penke Panke Resort in Happo One. Arrived in the morning and spent the afternoon snowboarding. (day 1 of our riding) http://www.penkepanke.com/english/

Jan 21 – Woke up to find our computer was soaked in water. We had to do a day trip to Nagano and find an Apple Store. Bought new computer using hand and arm signals. Tried to see Snow Monkeys but took a wrong turn.

Jan 22 – Cole and I snowboard while Dave visited Snow Monkeys

Jan 23 – Snowboarded Happo One, Japan

Jan 24 – Snowboarded Happo One, Japan; Cole and I jumped off a 55 foot cliff

Jan 25 – Train back to Tokyo. Spent the night in the city.

Jan 26 – Plane flight to Beijing, China

Jan 27 – Snowboarded at Mellow Parks in Nanshan

http://www.nanshanmellowpark.com/

Jan 28 – Hung out with LtCol Taylor, USMC (fantastic home cooked meal). Toured the US Embassy in Beijing.

Jan 29 – Toured the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City

Jan 30 – Plane flight to Delhi, India.

Jan 31 – Plane flight from Delhi to Sringar. Crazy car ride to Gulmarg and the Himalayas.

Feb 1 – Snowboarded Gulmarg, India

http://www.skihimalaya.com/

Feb 2 – Snowboarded Gulmarg, India

Feb 3 – Snowboarded Gulmarg, India

Feb 4 – Snowboarded Gulmarg, India. Dave got lost and I had to save him.

Feb 5 – Snowboarded Gulmarg, India

Feb 6 – Huge snow storm, 5 ft overnight, all flights cancelled in and out of Srinagar. Stuck in Gulmarg

Feb 7 – Snowed in and did nothing

Feb 8 – Plane flight back to Delhi

Feb 9 – Cole saves the day and gets Air India to pay for our flights to London and on to Russia. We miss our connection in London eating Hamburgers. Dave and I spend the day sight-seeing London. Plane flight to Moscow, Russia that night.

Feb 10 – Arrived in Moscow. Can’t get a flight to Sochi. Dave and I get sick with a stomach flu and slept all day.

Feb 11 – Plane flight to Sochi, Russia

http://www.reinfo-sochi.ru/

Feb 12 – Snowboarded Sochi. Literally rained on the mountain. Met Vladimir and Kostia at the café on the mountain. After boarding they treated us to the Russian Bania and dinner. Fantastic evening!!

Feb 13 – Took the day off from riding. Found internet and booked flights to Poland

Feb 14 – Heli-boarding day cancelled due to weather. Lazy day again

Feb 15 – Dave and I snowboard. Dave hits a jump for the first time.

Feb 16 – Plane flight back to Moscow. Toured Moscow, Red Square, and the Kremlin with Vladimir’s secretary and driver. Partied with Vladimir for his birthday with Kostia, Sasha, and Erik…billionaire style.

Feb 17 – Plane flight to Warsaw, Poland. Train to Krakow, Poland. Bus ride to Zakopane, Poland.

Feb 18 – Did laundry

Feb 19 – Day trip to Slovakia. Snowboarded Jasna, Slovakia
www.whitesideholidays.com

Feb 20 – Lazy day

Feb 21 – Snowboarded Zakopane, Poland

Feb 22 – Day trip to Auschwitz. Unreal experience…..Night train to Prague, Czech Rep

Feb 23 – Day trip sight-seeing Prague, Czech Rep. Night train to Budapest, Hungary

Feb 24 – Day trip sight-seeing Budapest, Hungary. Ran from trolley police, HAHAHA. Night train to Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Feb 25 – Hung out with Peter Fettich. Found Cole a new binding. Bus ride to Vogel. Slovenia.

Feb 26 – Snowboarded Vogel, Slovenia

Feb 27 – Snowboarded Vogel, Slovenia

Feb 28 – Bus ride back to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Night train to Munich, Germany

Mar 1 – Beer Garden in Munich. Train ride to Garmisch, Germany

Mar 2 – Happy 27th Birthday Dave! Snowboarded Garmisch, Germany

Mar 3 – Cole snowboarded Zugspiste. I did laundry

Mar 4 – Train back to Munich, Germany. Night train to Rome, Italy

Mar 5 – Day trip sight-seeing Rome, Italy. Night train back to Munich, Germany

Mar 6 – Train to St. Anton, Austria

Mar 7 – Snowboarded St. Anton, Austria

http://www.stantonamarlberg.com

Mar 8 – Snowboarded St. Anton, Austria

Mar 9 – Snowboarded St. Anton, Austria

Mar 10 – Train to Zurich, Switzerland. Hung out with Dave’s friend Immanuel

Mar 11 – Train to Verbier, Switzerland

Mar 12 – Snowboarded Verbier, Switzerland

http://www.verbier.ch/

Mar 13 – Snowboarded Verbier, Swtizerland

Mar 14 – Snowboarded Verbier, Switzerland

Mar 15 – Train to Chamonix, France

Mar 16 – Chill day

Mar 17 – Snowboarded Valle Blanche Glacier in Chamonix, France

Mar 18 – Rented a car and took a day trip to Courmayuer, Italy. Snowboarded Courmayuer, Italy. Train to Geneva, Switzerland. No night trains to Spain so we spent the night in Geneva.

Mar 19 – Laundry day in Geneva. Night train to Barcelona, Spain

Mar 20 – Bus ride to Baquiera – Beret, Spain

Mar 21 – Snowboarded Baquiera-Beret, Spain. Cole lands a backflip and I eat shit on an attempt which resulted in a pulled hamstring and crutches.

Mar 22 – Rest day for me and Cole snowboards

Mar 23 – Last day of snowboarding for Cole and Dave. Rest for me

Mar 24 – Bus ride back to Barcelona, Spain

Mar 25 – Barcelona, Spain

Mar 26 – Vanessa arrived in Spain!! Nessi Time Spanish Style ☺

Mar 27 – Toured Barcelona, Spain on mopeds

Mar 28 – Train ride to Madrid, Spain

Mar 29 – Sight-seeing in Madrid, Spain

Mar 30 – Chill day in Madrid, Spain. Night train to Paris, France

Mar 31 – Checked out the Mona Lisa and the Louvre in Paris, France

Apr 1 – Visited Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and had some Onion Soup in France….French style

Apr 2 – Flew home to the best place on Earth…..the United States of America

WOW what an adventure! For the past two months I have been full speed ahead, balls to the wall on the go. From planes to trains to buses, snowboarding, and day trips it has been rare to have an instant to just stop and really enjoy it. It’s as if each and every minute of the day has been completely filled up. There have been times throughout this journey where I was able to relax and take it all in, but sadly I have to admit that those moments have been few and far between.

One such moment I can recall was on the mountain in Verbier, Switzerland. I had gotten separated from Cole and Dave and was on the prowl in search of them. There came a time where I thought I saw them hiking a ridge to get a sick line. I immediately sat down hoping to see Cole bomb down the type of epic line that we all dream about, when it hit me like a bolt of lightning….this entire trip, this simple idea, this lifestyle that we are preaching is the same life that we are living. There I was looking out at the grandeur of the Swiss Alps, the peaks of each mountain top poking its way through the fog that covered the valley below. The sheer beauty and greatness that planet Earth created over millions of years was right in front of me and in that moment my mind drifted away to the last 14 or so countries we have visited, the hundreds of people we met, and the incredible sights that until now I had only seen in photos or video. Sitting there in the snow only one word could describe the emotions seeping through every pore of my body…..WOW!

This round the world trip was the one dream of mine that I always craved but it was also the one dream that seemed so impossible to actually achieve. We all have these extraordinary ideas that appear to be impossible, but somehow deep down in our hearts and minds we know that if we actually take that leap of faith and set out to attain them, then we would never ever regret. And to live a life without regret might just be the best way to live.

I guess I am one of the privileged few who can say that their ultimate dream was accomplished. Right now as I sit on a bus heading from Barcelona, Spain to Bacquiera, Spain and another resort, I honestly feel blessed and honored to say that. As I gaze out the window of this bus at the Spanish wineries, the fresh springtime air, and the ripe smell of manure, an overwhelming feeling of inspiration has taken hold of me. With one week until my wife meets me in Barcelona and two weeks until I return home I feel as though I am on top of the world. No amount of debt, heartache, sickness, or pain can ever take away what I accomplished over the past year and specifically the past 3 months. These memories I will cherish forever and no matter what the future holds, the year 2010 and the adventure that Cole, Dave, and I took will be one for the ages. It’s amazing how uplifting it truly is to simply chase a dream.

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” – The Alchemist

“Second star to the right, and straight on till morning” – Peter Pan

Being an adult sucks! I actually hate being called an adult or grown up, not because it means anything bad or degrading but because it means that I have to “act like a grown up.” And we all know what that really means, I have to conform to society…blah. Jobs, bills, and responsibility all come with the territory, but honestly they bring nothing but stress, heartache, and problems. In fact, I am convinced that the world has all the problems it has today because we are all ‘grown ups’. Kids solve all their dilemmas with simplicity. There is not a single problem that could not be solved by arm wrestling, dodgeball, foot races, video games, or maybe even some rock, paper, scissors. I mean seriously……why didn’t we see any of those problem solving solutions on the table for the recent problems in the Middle East?

We all know the phrase, “If I knew then what I know now….” but I say who cares. When I was a kid I was free; my personal fantasy world was alive and kicking, and at no point was I ever concerned with stock quotes or how to even wipe my own ass. If ever we ‘adults’ figure out this time travel thing and I get the chance to do it, rest assured I know exactly where I am going…..Is it the days of the Dinosaur? NO! Is it during the time of Jesus Christ? NO! Is it back when our Founding Fathers were establishing the great nation of America? NO. Honestly, I would go back to when I was 8 years old.

Seeing the great days of the past or the great figures in history is pretty low on my ‘list of things to do’. I would go back to my childhood because that was my life. At age 8 I had nothing, absolutely nothing to worry about. Sure I had school, I had to eat my veggies, and I drove my parents nuts…but man did I have it good. My days consisted of action figures, video games, snacks, nap time, fantasy worlds, cartoons, and sports. Is that not the life or what?

Looking back at all the stories throughout history it is perfectly clear that Peter Pan and the Lost Boys had it best. They got to stay young forever as long as they never left Never Never Land. They may have lost all sense of reality and had no idea what was happening in the real world but really, does any of that matter? We are all only really concerned with our own lives anyway and to live as a child in a world that never grows old sounds too good to be true. Maybe that is why Peter Pan has always been my favorite Disney Movie and maybe that is why I still feel as though I have not and will never grow up. The dream worlds that I lived in as a child are gone but it’s ok because still to this day I find ways to create new realities for myself. The days of pretending to be Wolverine and saving the X-Men from Magneto and Sabertooth are long gone, but now I get to pretend to be a crazy explorer like Magellan and circle the globe. I just don’t think that I will ever really grew up.

Here’s a thought…..maybe the next trip I take is to the Arabian Desert…..I will find that one special lamp (you know the one) and rub it and rub it and rub it until Genie pops out and grants me those three magical wishes. O and by the way, Aladdin got it all wrong…forget the Princess, he should have wished for a huge playground, a giant trampoline, and endless amounts of gummy bears. O wait if I tell you my wishes does that mean they wont come true?

“You know, if your nine-year olds saw you guys the way you are, you’d get your butts kicked right now! I mean, look what’s happened to us!” – Longfellow Deeds

“Those look like comfortable shoes.” – Forrest Gump
“My feet hurt” – Women on the bench

In my 27 years of life no pair of shoes has ever come close to the comfort of my Classic White Nikes with the black swoosh. Those Nikes and I went through a lot together…..we traveled together, went shopping, took the dogs for walks, and even went partying from time to time. There was not a street we couldn’t conquer, no trail we couldn’t trek, and no blemish that could keep those kicks off my feet. Who cares if they looked like Forrest Gump shoes, we were the perfect match and to think I would leave them home for this trip was just ridiculous. And then my wife knocked some sense into me…

The day before I left for Los Angeles was a big day for me. I had to pack, finalize some logistical planning, leave emergency contact numbers, etc etc etc..the last thing on my mind was my shoes. In fact, my shoes were the least of my concerns but Vanessa had other plans. Like a lion waiting patiently for the slowest zebra in the herd to stroll by, she waited and waited and waited for the perfect time to strike. Once I declared success and finished all my ‘to-dos’ she made her move…”There is no way I am letting you get on the plane with those shoes.”

After countless hours of arguing (who am I kidding, it took about 6 min before I caved) I reluctantly agreed to let her buy some trekking shoes so my feet wouldn’t hurt. So into my life came the Merrell Interceptors. They may not have been the prettiest pair of sneakers but after having worn them for two months I can only describe them with one word; WOW!! Talk about comfort and durability, those shoes have been out of this world comfortable and have undoubtedly saved me from divorcing my favorite pair of Nikes. Even with the absurd amount of walking, climbing and sprinting, the numerous airports, trains, and day trips, and the constant lugging of my massively oversized snowboard bag, my feet have not complained once. Not a single little piggy made the slightest wimper when we sprinted up a snow covered hill to see the snow monkeys in Japan. Not an inkling of discomfort was felt walking up the Great Wall of China and in no way have my feet even made their presence known over the past 50 plus days. In fact I am almost positive my feet have been thanking me this winter season for listening to my wife…which is weird because you’d think happy feet would try to smell just a little better; I don’t know, maybe that’s just me.

So what is the lesson here? Every now and then our women get it right. No matter how sad Nessi was to see me go, there was no way she would allow me to travel the globe in a pair of worn down, beat up, old Nike sneakers. I may not have a pair of magic shoes……but thanks to the Misses my shoes can definitely take me anywhere.

Long term travel definitely has its perks. The new sights, smells and tastes invigorate the senses and invoke a feeling of being alive. In fact traveling the world is a flavor explosion for all the senses because of the unfamiliarity that comes with new experiences. It is the fluidity of travel that keeps us on our toes and denies any sense of complacency from setting in. Having to constantly adjust to the different cultures, customs, languages and people between Asia, Eastern Europe and Western Europe, is enough to keep anyone on their toes. With just a quick plane flight or a short train ride you can go from eating noodles with chopsticks to drinking vodka like it’s going out of style to standing on top of Germany’ highest mountain. There is no question that the Nomadic Lifestyle is full of thrills and adventure; however, it does pose one major problem… What am I suppose to do on my down time?

At home in America our down time is loaded with endless options. We have mindless entertainment on TV, endless video games, BS sessions with our friends, shopping, eating, and exercise. At times we complain that there is nothing to do but isn’t that ironic because if we wanted to do something we easily could. The down time abroad is something completely different than at home. Take television for example. As monotonous and mindless as it may be, at least it is in English. Its tough when your stuck in a hotel in Slovenia with 10 channels and only one of them is in English. Unfortunately that station happens to be CNN and who in their right mind would ever want to watch that for hours on end? Or what about Russia? In Russia, the understanding is, “we speak Russian, our official language is Russian, if you want to watch TV, then learn Russian.” I cannot believe I am saying this but I kinda miss TV a little. I mean watching American Idol three times a week is a bit excessive, but screw it, Simon always has some good comments. It’s also possible that I might even miss Paula.…ok maybe just a little. And what I wouldn’t give for an episode of Seinfeld right now. That is some real good old fashioned American entertainment.

Not being able to watch television is one thing but there are times when its even worse. With all the plane flights, train rides, and bus transfers there are countless hours of nothing but waiting and waiting and waiting. How about sitting in the train station in Ljubljana, Slovenia for 8 hours with only a McDonalds. Think about….it only takes so long before the aroma of Big Macs and fries become so overwhelming that you cannot help but to sprint inside for the delicious taste of a clogged artery sandwich. I got so bored that I was eating a Big Mac every other hour and counting down the minutes until my next one just so I had something to look forward too.

In the USA, it is said that we all take for granted everything that we have and we should be thankful for the endless options of stuff to do. I say “so what?”, we all definitely should take advantage and be happy that we have the choice to do something or nothing at any given moment. I love to travel but are there times when I would chose to watch a Nat Geo program about the Mountains in Sochi, Russia rather than play Rock, Paper, Scissors with Cole while we stare at the rain pouring down on those same mountains….you bet I would.

The travel bug is embedded in me and it is said that once you have it you will never shake it. I will say that I agree 100%. Sitting around India with no heat, no hot water, and no internet comes with the territory and paying to use the public bathrooms in Europe is an inconvenience that everyone has to deal with. I guess not knowing what to do on our down time is not really a problem but part of the adventure. It forces us to get out of our comfort zone and try something new, which is good for all of us. As much as I enjoy the mindless entertainment at home and the unlimited options of stuff, would I trade this adventure for having those comforts? Not a chance! ha

Growing up I hated winter, absolutely hated it. I was in love with baseball and couldn’t wait for spring so I could get outside and take some BP or field ground balls. Having a wet or snowy field made it impossible to play outside and indoor baseball practice might just be the worst idea in the history of baseball. So all this meant that winter sucked and spring rocked. The slushy streets, cold days, and gray sky of winter were no match for the beautiful colors of spring, the freshness in the air, and the mini-skirts that all the girls broke out at the first indication of sunshine. However, now that I have retired from the great game of baseball and have taken up snowboarding my outlook on the seasons has drastically changed. Snowboarding has opened my eyes to a part of the year that I used to despise like the dentist.

Seeing in person the magnificent snow capped peaks, the endless powder fields, and the picturesque towns in the valley below is something that no photograph or image can match. I used to think that the photos of places like Mt. Everest or Mt. Kilamanjaro were incredible but after seeing the endless mountain ranges of the Himalayas and the bright blue skies over the mountains in Japan, the amazement that I once had for those photos has dwindled away. No photograph can compare to seeing with your own eyes and the peripheral sights that accompany snowboarding have far surpassed any baseball field I might have played on. In all honesty I love the fact that at any given moment on a chair lift you might catch a snow white rabbit running through the trees or a hawk hovering over the snow waiting for a meal to pop its head out. That definitely beats watching the Hot Dog Vendors run up and down the steps at the ballpark.

Winter is and has always been a time of gloomy days and chilly nights. But as I have been able to get past that and see that our world is full of beauty in all its seasons, I can now say that the activities we enjoy can and will open our eyes to the magnificence of Planet Earth. As much fun as we have playing baseball or snowboarding, it is always important to take a moment and just enjoy nature. I still love baseball and spring time but I think its safe to say that winter no longer takes a back seat to the mini skirts and sunshine of spring. Its just a shame that it took me so long to notice.

We have all heard and read about Auschwitz but there was nothing that you can learn in school or read in any book that prepares you for walking along those streets, passing through the gas chambers and seeing the images of people who suffered through it. It is incredible and horrible at the same time. Incredible that we as people have been able to overcome such travesty and hatred in order to transform what once was a place of death into a museum of lessons from the past. It is horrible that human beings actually committed those crimes….that we as a human race were terrible enough to create such a place.

I am astonished that we have so many photographs of the people that had to endure Auschwitz, and of the people that didn’t get to see the light at the end of tunnel. They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, daughters, and sons. They were grandparents, friends, and loved ones of someone somewhere. Looking at them, I couldn’t help but to think of home and of my wife. I cannot even fathom the heartbreak and fear of saying good bye and never knowing if you would see your loved ones again. When I said goodbye to my wife for this trip it was tough because I would be gone for 3 months without her, but at the same time I knew I would be coming back. Even when I left for a deployment to Iraq I never felt as though I would not return. It is a feeling that I hope I never have to experience and something that I would not wish on anyone.

Having spent the day at Auschwitz and as powerful and emotional of a place as that is, the thoughts of time spent with Vanessa were ever present in my mind. It is crazy how certain experiences trigger different thoughts and emotions. I love my wife in a way that I could never explain and as wonderful and amazing as this trip has been, I still miss her all the time. So far I have seen some breathtaking sights, snowboarded in places and in powder that I never thought I ever would and have been living out my dream of enjoying life to the fullest. All this has been great but I am still missing one tiny little detail…and that is Vanessa. If she were here with me, then I would truly be in heaven. For her to let me do this, for her to let me take 3 months and live my dream, for that I am forever grateful. I am going to owe her big time (and she probably has a laundry list of ways to make it up to her) and even though I am living my dream right now, there will come a time in the near future when we live out OUR dream of raising a family together. In a way I think that may be the greatest adventure of them all.

Visiting Auschwitz is something I will never forget and it is one of those experiences that cannot be read in a book or watched in a movie. Being there was a sobering experience for me and it sucks that what happened there was real. I truly hope that the inhabitants and survivors of Auschwitz and every other concentration camp will be able to reunite with their friends and family in this life or the next, and for me I just cannot wait to see my wife again.

This is my snowboard. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My snowboard is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My snowboard, without me, is useless. Without my snowboard, I am useless. I must ride my snowboard true. I must ride swifter than the moguls who are trying to crash me. I must avoid them before they catch my edge. I will….

My snowboard and myself know that what counts on this mountain is not the lines we carve, the height of our jumps, nor the powder we spray. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit…

My snowboard is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its edges and its camber. I will keep my snowboard clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will…

Before God I swear this creed. My snowboard and myself are the warriors of the mountain. We are the masters of winter. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until halfpipe’s are counquered, mountains are riden and there is no snow, but warmth..

- Captain Brian G. Lipski, USMC/ROW

Feb 15, 2010

I think its safe to say that nothing ever goes as planned. In the Marine Corps we have this saying that a 70% percent solution now is always better than a 100% percent solution later. The point is that taking action now with an idea of how things will happen is always better than to wait for the perfect plan to come…..because it never will. The fact is that we spent over a year planning for this epic journey and in four weeks we have had more detours, more obstructions, and more change of plans than we thought possible. Here is a short list of what has not gone according to plan so far;

- changing resorts immediately upon arrival in Japan
- Water being spilt on our computer and having to buy a new one
- Going up the wrong path and not seeing the monkeys in Japan
- No facebook or youtube in China to upload podcasts
- Constant Internet and Power problems in India
- Bad weather causing us to miss our flight out of India
- Having to purchase new flights to get to Sochi, Russia
- Dave and I catching a stomach virus and getting sick in London
- No snow in Sochi, Russia causing us to cancel heli-boarding

From this list it seems that nothing has gone right, however…..and that is a BIG however, isn’t that part of the adventure that this trip is? If everything so far had gone perfectly according to plan then what would I honestly talk about? Changing resorts in Japan gave Cole and I the opportunity to test our nerves and jump off a 55 foot cliff, riding the backcountry in India was a turning point for me in regards to my riding ability, and being in Sochi late enabled us to meet two awesome Russian men who treated us to the traditional Russian Bania and dinner.

So far this has been a trip of a lifetime. Traveling the past 4 weeks has given me experiences that I would never have had and allowed me to meet people that I would have never met sitting at home living the “regular” life. I have been having a blast and living my dream. What a great way to start out the new decade…..

Ride Our World Baby!!

Feb 12. 2010

Sochi, Russia was suppose to be one of the most epic and awe inspiring stops on this adventure…..but instead of tons of snow, heli-boarding, and mighty terrain we were only met with cload ridden skies, rain and one huge wet mountain. This winter has been a major down year for Sochi in regards to snow. The max snow base they have gotten so far is 40 cm and that is at the highest peaks on the mountain. I guess you can thank the Black Sea because all of Sochi’s weather comes from the giant body of water directly west of this Russian Riviera town.

Riding the lift up from the bottom is like riding through time from autumn to winter. The lift is so slow and the scenery so different from top to bottom that it is unlike any other mountain we have been to so far. Luckily, it is a gorgeous ride as the entire landscape is plastered with deciduous trees covered in bright green moss all while the rainy weather carries in a subtle but soothing mountain fog. The bottom of this antiquated lift system is a cool 50 degrees and lush with green vegetation. During the next 10 minutes the first chair slowly creeps its way up as you gaze at the numerous natural springs flowing to the bottom. After you exit the first chair, you make your way 20 yards to the next lift in order to continue up the mountain. This lift seems to go even slower but the scenery begins to turn more winter-like. With the moss covered trees and green grass slowly disappearing and being replaced by patches of snow and leafless tress. The rain gradually picks up the higher you get…..which if it was cold out, would mean a good snow fall. Follow this process up higher and after changing lifts a few more times you finally get above the tree line and it begins to feel like winter. With the wet snow falling and the cold air you just wish it was a few degrees cooler so we could really get some good snow. Just try to imagine the rolling mountains of East Coast, USA; maybe Virginia or Pennsylvania; but once you get above the tree line there are huge rock faces and monstrous mountains.

As pretty as this all may be it is still a bummer that we did not get the snow we hoped for. We had our hearts dead set on heli-boarding here since they have some of the most accessible and affordable heli-riding on the planet. Plus the fact that they use de-commissioned Soviet Helicopters on these excursions, Sochi was destined to top our list of coolest places we boarded. Even though the rain means bad business for us snowboarders it does have one major positive. The lack of snow is allowing Russia to speed up its construction and preparations for the future Olympics…so maybe in their minds this down winter is actually a good thing. It just goes to show that each situation depends on your own point of view. We will be here for a few more days and who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky with a huge cold wave?

Feb 9, 2010

We as Americans know that attempting to trace our family tree back to its roots can be a daunting task. Sure we are familiar with our immediate family, our grandparents, and maybe even our great grandparents but that is merely scratching the surface. Digging deeper we find that the roots go in all directions with no clear-cut path. Of course there are those of us that know their family comes from Europe or Africa or the Americas, but for most of us, our lineage is like a big pot of stew with spices sprinkled in from all over–hence America’s nickname, “The Melting Pot”. As for the Lipski’s, we are just one big stew from all over the old world.

Currently, the Lipski stew is made up of Russian, German, Polish, Austrian, Czech, and who knows what else. It is even safe to say that future Lipski’s will have a dash of Salvadorean and a touch of Mexican as well. In no way could I claim to be all of them if asked and thats why its easy just to say I am American. However, there is something to be said about having blood from these countries. There is an unexplained connection to them and a feeling of “going home” that I do not understand. For me, Russia has always had great appeal and I strangely find myself fascinated with the country, the history, and the language. Maybe this is why I am so excited to be visiting Russia on this adventure.

Throughout my life, my ears have always perked up when the subject of Russia came up. I had always wanted to visit the country but had no real reason to do so. I even began learning the language on my own with no idea why or if I would ever use it. Fortunately, that all changed when we put this trip together. Snowboard or not, any trip around the world would not be complete without a stop in Russia. So now that we on the verge of visiting Moscow and riding in Sochi, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, I might be more excited for Russia than any other stop on this adventure. I guess its safe to say that whenever I taste my own Lipski stew, the Russian flavor always stands out.

Feb 9, 2010

We left Gulmarg and the storm of the century yesterday. If you have seen the movie, Point Break, then you know what I mean. In that movie Brodie spent his time robbing banks, searching for waves, and ultimately losing everything in search of that 100 year storm. It was the pinnacle of surfing for him. In essence that is what we just left in Gulmarg. The winter storm that snowed us in on the 6th was still swarming the mountains and in 3 days time brought in over 2 meters of fresh snow. The forecast called for another two days of this type of weather which meant that the entire region would be plastered with freshies. And we left…….

Taking a round the world trip definitely has it’s pros but one of the major cons is that we have a set schedule and we need to stick to it as closely as possible. We would have loved to stay in Gulmarg for another week or two and ride all that fresh snow but that would have meant skipping a few countries down the line. Schedule or no schedule it would have been amazing to stay in Gulmarg. Imagine the huge lines and incredible footage we would have gotten. For anyone who skis or snowboards this storm was a dream come true. And we left…..

The Himalayan mountains are massive. From the top of the Gondola here at Gulmarg there are mountains as far as the eye can see. It is nothing like any of the mountain ranges I have every been. You literally cannot see where the Mountains start or end. Snow-capped peaks, rock faces, and tons of powder are all around us. As far as skiing or snowboarding goes the coolest part about this place is that the entire resort is backcountry riding. There are no groomed runs and ski patrol’s main job here is avalanche safety.

For the backcountry enthusiast this place has everything you need. All it takes is some hiking, a little traversing, and some help from a local guide to find the longest and best powder runs imaginable. You are going to need an avalanche kit and a transceiver to really get into the good stuff but its a small price to pay in order to get some epic riding. The food here is delicious, people extremely friendly, and with the relative cheap price of things Gulmarg is a hidden gem in the world of winter sports. Just watch out for the occasional monkey hanging out in the trees; they know how to make snowballs too.

As Americans we all take TV and movies for granted. We actually take pride in the fact that we can watch almost anything we want, whenever we want. The biggest and best blockbuster movies are expected each and every year; and even when we don’t see them on the big screen you can always catch them on DVD and On Demand. The same thing cannot be said while traveling overseas. I always found it ironic that overseas stations such as HBO play the most random and unexpected programs… and the funny part is that I always watch them. Seriously how could you pass up an opportunity to watch New York Minute starring the Olsen Twins?

After a great day of riding in India I came back to my room with nothing to do. The internet was down, I had no desire to walk around town, it was too early for dinner, and I was tired from the day. I turned on HBO and there it was, New York Minute. With limited network options, I couldn’t resist watching this not-so classic film. I watched as Mary-Kate and Ashley scurried around NYC like a couple lost dogs searching for food. Coincidentally they even stole a dog from a hotel because they needed little “Reinaldo” to poop out a computer chip in order to trade it for a day planner. Cole joined me for this little afternoon matinee and both of us couldn’t help ourselves as we chuckled again and again watching these over-dramatic girls on their silly escapades. I mean seriously, how many teenagers have found themselves running around NYC in towels, being chased by a Truancy Cop while still having time for a free makeover in Harlem from a barber shop called “The House of Bling”? All that on their way to hand in Roxy’s Demo Tape to some record executives and for Jane to make it to Colombia University to give a big speech about why she deserves a scholarship to Oxford, England.

This flick is something that I would probably pass right by if I were home, but here in India, it was a must-see. Cole and I found ourselves laughing at the corniness of it and the outrageous circumstances that these girls found themselves in. We actually completely lost it when the Truancy Cop, played by Eugene Levy, blurts out at the end “Hey Iggy Pop, crank the juice on that half stack. Let’s hear what this band can do”. I guess when you are so far from home you cherish any opportunity that brings you back. The cheesier things that you ignore at home become a treasure abroad and in that respect the random programs on HBO could be a blessing in disguise. Its just too bad Dave didn’t get this on film, it would be great blackmail material down the road.

“Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week”

Raise your hand if you have ever written a “to-do list” prior to going to bed? I know my hand is up, and I am willing to bet that 9 out of 10 people will also have theirs raised. You see the easiest thing for anyone to do when faced with a task is to put it off until tomorrow. Tomorrow is always filled with promise and possibility, it is the idea that tomorrow will be better than today that keeps a lot of us breathing. We feel as though our luck or our productivity will improve with just one good night’s sleep. Why is it that most of us fail to realize that today is what matters most and today is the moment that should be seized?

Serving as an Officer in the US Marine Corps has given me a perspective on life that I don’t know I would have found anywhere else. The responsibilities of an Officer in the Marines goes far and beyond anything I had imagined. I found myself writing that to-do list most nights, and no matter how hard I tried each day, I can honestly say that I never completed it once. Between the planning, operations, physical training, constant interruptions, procrastination, and taking care of my Marines I actually added items to my list throughout the day instead of checking them off. Even on the easy days I would procrastinate like it was my job and fail to complete my list. There is just something about that to-do list that holds us all back. And then came Ride Our World.

Something happened to me the day that Ride Our World became a reality. There was a change in my entire outlook on that to-do list and on productivity. The day that Ride Our World began, starting something new and exciting was no longer a task for tomorrow, but a check mark for today. And then it hit my like a swift kick to groin. The famous quote “why put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish today?” is not just a fancy thing to say but an actual way of life. We all can make today the greatest day of our lives. I say tomorrow can wait because today is what matters, today is the day we are living right now, and today is when we are going to fail or succeed. If you love someone don’t wait until tomorrow, tell them today. If you need a hug, go get one. And if you have a dream, don’t wait for tomorrow, chase it today. I love the present because this is where I live and this where I want to stay.

“Yesterday is History, tomorrow a Mystery, but today is a gift and that is why they call it ‘The Present.” – Kung Fu Panda

I finished up my active duty time with the US Marine Corps back in June 2009 and since then I have not cut my hair once. As you may have seen from some of the footage, it looks ridiculous, but regardless, I thought it would be fun to grow my hair out. Over the course of the next 8 months, it just kept getting longer and to my disappointment it just never looked any good. I actually looked like a teenager or a young kid….not really the look I was going for. So this brings us to China. My last day here in China I just woke up and decided to cut it and off to a hair salon I went.

I stumbled into the first one I came across, took my beanie off, and immediately the Chinese Staff knew what I wanted. Next came the wash and dry and then off to the chair. The stylist without even trying to figure out what I wanted, grabs my hair and is about to start cutting away before I pull my head forward and search out a hairstyle book. I point to the style I want, he looks at it for about 2 seconds, throws it down and readys himself for this great undertaking. I was a little concerned that he didnt study the style long enough but he is a stylist so he “must” know what he is doing. I sit there and watch as he combs my hair from side to side, cuts it in different spots, and transforms my hair into an Asian style look. haha. I had my bangs long and combed to the side, my side burns identical and stereotypical to theirs, and the rest of my hair trimmed just enough to accentuate the Asian look. With my little diamond stud earrings I think I actually looked like a girl at one point. This whole time I keep silent because I am hoping and hoping that this is just the first step and from here he will fix it into the style I wanted. Nope..wrong again!

Hmmmm….maybe I should have just let it grow? Although I do look hilarious right now.

Well at this point he thinks he is done with my hair and that he’s created a masterpiece…ha boy was he in for a surprise. Long story short I had to basically use hand and arm signals to get him to trim my sideburns and hair as well as get him to trim my bangs so they were proportional to the rest of my head. After crossing my fingers and about 20 minutes of this charade my hair finally looked half-way decent and then I got the hell out of there like a cockroach in the light. haha

Thinking I look good now, I returned to the hotel room only to find Dave and Cole laughing there little hinney’s off because my look just went from a teenager with shaggy hair to having an 8 year old boy’s hair cut! I just cant win. Anyway it will grow out and I can fix it later. So in the end the lesson I learned is that if your hair looks stupid long dont grow it long and make sure you communicate the style before letting a random barber have at it with a head full of hair.

Smog. Smog is the theme for Beijing. We have been here 3 days and I haven’t actually seen the sun yet. The smog is so bad here that you
can actually see the smog dust on top of every single car and building. I am assuming that washing your car here would be a complete waste of time since it would be covered in smog dust as soon as you finished. Breathing outside is tough too..….I thought it was bad in Los Angeles but after being here LA seems like the great outdoors. Actually, after having experienced this smog I have a much greater appreciation for what the Olympic Athletes did in 2008. They kicked some ass here regardless of the air quality.

So we hit up Nanshan Ski Resort yesterday. It is 66 KM outside the city and the nicest resort within driving distance. The place was very small relatively speaking but still very cool. We got hooked up by a Kiwi named Ollie Ross. He runs the park here at Nanshan and all
things aside, the Park was incredible. Plus there were some local riders hitting 540s and 720s off the big kickers which was nice to see
in person. In all, even though it was a small park it is was tons of fun. To make things even better, how many people can say they have snowboarded in China?

Two Countries down..….14 more to go

For the past year plus I have been thinking about and imagining what it would be like to actually do this trip. Cole and I have been planning and planning for this adventure for so long that it all seems so surreal to me that we are doing this and that Japan is now just a memory. In addition to that, Japan was absolutely without a doubt the perfect place to start our journey. Spending a week there has given me an appreciation for their country, culture, and their way of life.

Talking with people who have been to Japan I have always heard mixed feelings. Some have good things to say and others say that the Japanese cannot stand Americans. From what I have seen I am sold on the generosity and kindness of the people. For example when we arrived in Tokyo yesterday we were standing outside the train station trying to figure out how to get to our hotel. While standing there looking at our map a gentleman came up to us and asked if we needed help. He spoke broken but very good english and actually walked us to our hotel and into the reception to make sure we made it ok. In all my years in the USA I have never heard of someone doing that.

Japan’s cuisine was delicious too. We all know about sushi but in fact I did not eat one piece of sushi while I was there. I was stuck on the noodles and soups and tempura. All the things that we just ignore on the menu in the states I ate while I was here. I can’t say I will do the same at home since I do love sushi but for this trip I am glad I tried new things.

Lastly, I’ll mention the mountains. The stuff you read about and see in the movies is all true. Japan had some of the most incredible powder imaginable. It is the stuff that makes you just want to ride and ride and ride. The peripheral scenery is magnificent because the mountain ranges are huge and the snow just never stops coming down. It truly is a winter wonderland. Riding on that train towards Hakuba and the mountains Cole and I were nervous about not getting any snow. Ha, boy were we wrong. I would recommend Japan to any person who asked and in fact taking a winter vacation to Japan is probably cheaper than doing the same thing in North America. The prices are much cheaper overall, the snow is phenomenal, and if you have the time to make the flight I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Right now I have only good things to say about Japan. I don’t know if it is because we are taking the trip of our lives and I am very excited or if Japan is really that amazing of a country. But what I can say is that without Ride Our World none of this would have been possible. So now sitting on a plane headed towards mainland China, I cannot even imagine what unique and incredible experiences are yet to come.

It`s 28 degrees out and I`m sweating, legs trembling, heart is pumping, and here I am staring at a 55 foot cliff drop wondering what the heck am I thinking. But wait back up for a minute, for a week now we have been riding in Japan staring at this cliff drop. Cole and I both have wondered if we could ever hit that and how cool it would be to do so, but neither of us had the balls to try it until we saw two Norwegian pros bomb this cliff yesterday. So after talking to them and watching them we decided to use the most logical rational we could think of…we looked at each other and out came the words; “F#&K IT!! Lets do it.”

So now sitting on the side of the mountain, its my turn to hit this drop. Cole had already attempted it and there was no way I was not going to follow suit. My first attempt at this thing was a disaster as I didn’t even get to the cliff. I lost my edge on the approach and had to bail. In fact on the second attempt I lost my edge again but was able to catch myself in time. When I finally got in position to go I just sat down and took a deep breath. Cole was below with the camera ready to capture the shot, people were lined up by the lifts waiting to see what this crazy person on the ridge was going to do, and I had no choice to commit. I cannot even describe the amount of emotions going through my body at this point. Fear, excitement, adrenaline, nervousness, you name it and it was there, but the ironic thing about it was I could not come up with a decent excuse not to do this. So without even thinking I got up, aimed for the cliff, got some speed, and bombed this thing like it was my job. I hit the cliff, jumped, grabbed my board, and felt sheer weightlessness. It was an incredible feeling and in that moment all my fear and worries went away. Of course the cheers from the spectators were awesome too.

Of course the next part of the story is the landing and yes I ate it as soon as I hit the ground. Luckily there was at least 5 feet of powder there so it was like falling onto a huge pillow. I checked all my parts to make sure I was in one piece, got up and screamed in triumph. I don’t care about the landing, the fact that I had the balls to attempt that makes it all worth while. The entire experience was one of those unforgettable moments that will always be remembered. It also means that I did it once so I can do it again. It was the perfect event to top off the incredible experience that Japan Snowboarding is.

- Brian

Today we finally got to experience the unlimited amounts of powder that Japan is known for. It dumped all day and night the previous day, leaving over two feet of new snow for us to play in. We headed out first thing with Paul and Laura from the Penka Panka Lodge. They are Canadians that are working at the lodge we are staying at and they knew all the fresh spots to hit. They took us through trees, in gullies, and to some fresh lines. It was glorious.

Speaking of powder, the powder here is incredibly soft and fluffy. It almost gave me a superman type attitude because no matter how hard or bad I fell it was like landing on a huge pillow. Aside from the trees (gotta watch out for those) and the other skiers and boarders the day was fantastic.

- Brian