Dave Smith,
Wendy Lindskoog.
Scotty B., Mike
McDaniel and oth-
ers holst mugs
while Damien
Sanders scissors
The ribbon then
fests the rope fow
at Polar Park.
66 THRASHER MAGAZINE
California snowboarders didn't have much to crow
about this year. After another dry season, fluffy
untracked snow and tall-walled halfpipes were
scarce. Resorts were hurting as the hearty hiked to
secret spots or headed north, where reports of 14-foot
drifts were coming in from Mounts Baker (WA) and
Bachelor (OR). The most exciting thing going in Call-
fornia was the grand opening of the Polar Park
Snowboard Area at Mt. Reba/Bear Valley. Damien
Sanders lead a pro snow show that featured Noah
Salasnek, Terry Kidwell and a handful of Tahoe/Don-
ner hardcores. Conditions were thin in the halfpipe
and rocks were showing on most of the trails, but the
folks at Reba/Bear showed an extra measure of hos-
pitality by charging snowboarders half price for lift
tickets. A rope tow whisked boarders to the top of the
pipe in thirty seconds. Damien says he'll be getting
one for his backyard soon. Hopefully, more resorts
will give snowboarders as much respect and room to
move as Reba/Bear, instead of just looking at bottom
dollars. Now, if ol' Mom Nature would dump some
snow on the Sierras, everybody would be happy.
2000
HELLUVA
SNOWIOB
PHOTOS BY KEVIN J. THATCHER
Getting down
and dirty,
Damien grabs
mute (above)
while Noah
Sala nek
(below) abuses
a stafelsh over
thin and rocky
snow cover.