February 1, 1999

By Silly TWS Letterwriters

Yes, It Snows In Hawaii

Thank you for changing my life. Surely you are wondering, "How could we, a measly little publication, change someone's life?" Well, let me tell you. You see, before I read the November 1998 issue, I had never been an organ donor. Anytime someone asked me, or looked at my driver's license, I was instantly rebuked and humiliated for not donating my organs-should I die. My attitude was, "Hey, they're my f-king organs. I can keep 'em if I want 'em." This led to a life of hermit-like solitude for me-a relatively nice guy.

That is, until I read the wonderfully informative knee surgery article by Michelle Shetler in your November issue. I was blinded by the light when I realized that by being an organ donor, and making my patella tendon or hamstring available for use, I could aid in the recovery of an ailing snowboarder. Needless to say, I ran posthaste to the nearest driver's licensing office and changed my donor status from "no" to "yes"-YES, wonderful yes! Almost instantaneously I had friends again, after nearly five years of complete solitude. And it's all thanks to you!

Enclosed is a photograph taken moments after I made my decision. Now you can see the fruits of your toilsome labors. My life is great now-all my friends like me, and I can't wait to die!

Jonathan Pool

Maui, Hawaii

Some letters make us smile. Some letters make us sad. Some make us shake our heads in amazement. Rarely do they make us laugh out loud. We don't know if you were trying for the free M3 snowboard, Jonathan, but it's yours. May the god of humor send many snowstorms to Mauna Kea this winter for you to enjoy.

Badass

My name is Lucas Grossi and I ride with the Hobie Demo Team. I am 22 years old. When I was twelve, I got into a car accident and my left leg was severed below the knee. Shortly after, I began three-track skiing with the National Handicapped Skiing Organization. Finally, after a few years of examining snowboarders and snowboarding, I rigged up my fake leg and strapped on a deck.

Time has passed since that first ride, but I still have a few questions that are bouncing around in my brain: How many disabled snowboarders are out there? Also, are there any disabled people out there who want to learn about snowboarding?

If any of you disabled folks reading this are snowboarders, are interested or know any disabled people who are interested in becoming snowboarders, I would love some feedback. Write me a letter and tell me your story!

Lucas Grossi

P.O. Box 2238

Red Lodge, Montana 59068

WHAT?!

Last year my best friend's mom was killed in Nor Cal-a victim of road rage. It was snowing hard, so she was driving kind of slow, when out of nowhere they heard a loud horn honking. A car rammed their bumper, and the impact sent them spinning out of control over the embankment. The car rolled three times. My friend was lucky she didn't die. She doesn't feel that way, though, because she'll never see her mom again.

My friends and I go up to the mountains almost every weekend, and it's always the same thing-people driving crazy. Can't we just slow down, so maybe another life won't be lost?

Anonymous

Northern California

There Are No Heroes Here

Last weekend I ran into Todd Richards, Matt Goodwill and Rob Morrow. Those guys are really cool-no 'tudes or nothin'. Matt was like, "How's it going?" (I hope your arm heals soon, Matt.) Rob shook my hand, and Todd had no problem taking a picture with me. Anyway, my point is that I always run into guys nowhere near that level of ability who are complete dicks, actin' like they're the King of Sheba or something. Maybe when you're truly, talent-wise, head and shoulders above the rest, you don't have to front like "I'm better than you."

Danny Lee

Mt. Hood, Oregon

Actually, there's never a reason to have an attitude. Todd, Matt, and Rob were nice to you because they are nice-Jedi shredding ability has nothing to do with it. "Fronting" is a refuge of the weak-only insecure people and jocks derive ego gratification from making someone else feel like crap. Plus, it's just snowboarding. It's not a cool competition. It's fun. If someone vibes you just because he can do a McTwist, laugh. Don't waste your energy on the clueless.

Yer Welcome

Thanks for the article on night riding. As a working guy who rides after work four or five days a week, it was good to see that you know not all of us are riding pow in perfect bluebird conditions. Some of us have to ride icy, East Coast parks and pipes at 9:30 at night just to get a chance to ride. It's nice to know that you realize we're out there.

Matthew Chiesa

Latham, New York

Bad Hollywood Movies

As if snowboarding isn't expensive enough-50-dollar lift tickets, 500-dollar boards, and expensive medical bills. Then the industry hits us with the videos. A whole 30 minutes for the rock-bottom price of $29.95! Sure, we would all love to watch Jim Rippey hucking backflips off 70-foot cliffs, and Peter Line doing 720 corkscrews over huge gaps, but for a dollar a minute?! You could go buy Fair Game for $14.99 at your local Wal-Mart, and see Cindy running, sweating, and more, for well over an hour. So you tell me-is there a problem here? You can buy a 90-minute movie for fifteen bucks, but it costs 30 bucks for a 30-minute snowboard video.

Steve Fader

New Hampshire

Snowboard videos don't have Hollywood budgets, or the resources for mass marketing and distribution to push people into purchasing them. Their budgets come from video-sales revenue-which is never going to be as much as a mass-produced Hollywood flick. It takes a year to get enough footage for one 30-minute video, during which time the expense of filming equipment, film, developing, editing, travel (plane tickets, car rentals, heli-time, snow machines, gas, lodging, food, etc.), marketing, and many other time-consuming activities that go into producing a great snowboard flick, all fall into the hands of the few people making the videos. These people are snowboarders, like the rest of us, not independently wealthy businessmen.

Figure it this way: how many times are you going to watch a snowboard video compared to some piece of dreck like Fair Game? In a cost-per-viewing average, the snowboard vid is a much better deal.

We Are The World

I'm replying to Michael Ladinig's letter in the November issue. Michael, moaning about what you can't afford won't get you any closer to riding these places. I live in Ireland-we get no snow at all, so we have to save/work our green asses off to travel to the U.S.A. or Europe to snowboard. Our little group of dry-slope boarders in Ireland read all the articles in TransWorld and dream about visiting the places covered. So we applaud you, TWS. And Michael-stop whining.

P.S. We have no snowboard stores in Ireland, so any donations of equipment would be graciously accepted ...

Niall Connolly

Kildare, Ireland

I Love My Job

I just finished reading your Spotlight on Mikey LeBlanc. This is one of the first articles on a pro rider that I really enjoyed. Mikey has the nice attitude. It sounds like he truly respects the sport and his place in it. I agree with his view that the sport has gotten too sponsor, manufacturer, and plain name saturated.

I work at Hunter Mountain. I love my job because it keeps me on the snow seven days a week. There's nothing better than getting first tracks, which can sometimes be man-made here in New York, but nonetheless, you've got to love the adrenaline rush.

I just have to say to all those riders out there with no respect: lighten up, relax, and just enjoy the day and the ride. Whether it be pow, corduroy, or ice-take it for what it is and enjoy it. I know I will. I've been a skier since I was two and I am a proud convert. I'll ride until the day I can't physically do it anymore.

Stephanie Humes

Hunter Mountain, New York

Letters (which may be edited for clarity and space) should be sent in marked: Letter To The Editor, TransWorld SNOWboarding. By snail-trail mail: 353 Airport Rd., Oceanside, CA 92054. By FAX: (760) 722-0653. By e-mail: [email protected]