Photos: Dan Brown
On long drives sometimes the dotted white highway lines can get hypnotic.
Well, not just another stop.
He promised something new, and Newschoolers was heading down to check it out.
And while it’s not huge purse compared to some events, it’s not pennies either.
Put it this way: it was more than anyone had on them walking into the day.
Understanding the value of this competition requires understanding a bit about Andy Parry.
Like, how he’s an ordinary dude as soon as you remove the filter of skiing.
How he owns a house outside Mount Hood; how hes getting married.
He’ll tell you, this sport is something he can always do.
It doesnt have to bethething.
I think thats the freedom that most look for in skiing.
To be in control of the where, when and why they do it.
And so, he explains, this competition represents something hes wanted for a while.
This project comes from within, an effort for skiers to help skiers.
And hopefully some kids will show up.
Lord knows the talent exists, the question is whether they have the wits to get here.
Whether it seems worth it.
I wonder, did the message get out.
So, in the morning.
Somebody passes us on a double yellow and Andy honks and yells first chair!
and shakes the steering wheel.
I wanna go skiing!!
he screams with mock enthusiasm.
A couple minutes later he asks, does Erik remember the time when he got first gondola?
In the lodge, Andy sets up at a table and signs kids in for registration.
Theres three grand in cash, who else is going to win it?
It begins to dawn that this is a good question.
On hill, Jeff Curry explains the intention for the competition.
There is money here for good tricks and good times.
He and Andy are pretty sure the world is unfair, he tells the crowd.
Today, he says, is not about that.
Its about doing cool shit and getting paid for it, in cash.
For his part, Shane McFalls declares $20 towards the worst trick of the day.
Jeff reminds the crowd that best trick doesnt mean craziest thing.
Sea change works slowly.
Another, named Jamieson, won another hundred and his dad was stoked: Yeah J!
Comps aint fair, man!!
It’s over now, and some guys have gone home richer than they came in.
Whether you believe him or not, Andy Parry is going to change skiing.
