Blame it on the Tetons

This week I spent a few days in a parallel universe called Wyoming. There, I had my first taste of synthetic surfing and interloped with a new species of boardrider not entirely unlike us called snowboarders. I found ‘em a little mad. I did my best to represent our kind well — even slept in a tent with a few forgotten beef jerky sticks in my backpack and survived a would-be bear mauling.

Damn, it was something to see these snowboarders in their element, even if it was the off-season and I’m certain they were messing with me most of the time. At one point I was even convinced they may sacrifice me to some snow god when I saw the bonfire assembled, before being handed a very beautiful poncho sewn with wolves howling at the moon. I was told to put it on. I survived. I actually started to like these mad ones.

While in this foreign terrain, I found out how snowboarders spend time between sledding: something called “wake surfing.” Now most of you are familiar with my feelings on “synthetic surfing” so you’ll be surprised to hear how much I enjoyed my time participating in this surf gimmick. It might have had something to do with the colossus backdrop provided by the Tetons and these snowboarders’ access to some bullshit-awesome boats, equipped with never-ending 2-foot waves, heaters, crazy sound systems, 13+ cupholders and well-stocked YETI coolers full of brewskis. Not hard to have fun. The waves behind the boat create a surreal endless rhythm that leaves you in a trance-like state with its never-endingness. I pearled twice just staring into its persistence. Freshwater isn’t pristine.

While I have very little to tell you about my surf life since my last pre-dawn patrol surf, I did experience a brush with surf gimmicks and a foreign tribe and found that immersing yourself in any kind of water, even if it’s simply ice melt, still refreshes. Still, I am ready to sprint to the sea tomorrow and detox from my time spent in a place with no brine or sandcrabs and very little oxygen. My heart hurt for many reasons.

My overall takeaway from this week in one of my forever blind spots (snow) is that I’m tired and happy to be re-loading for a big week ahead. Kolohe Andino is throwing a party with vs self, iForget and Robber playing tonight — a monumental feat for our recalibrating culture and I’m so proud of him for pulling together the event tonight, his new film Hijinx and the subsequent tour looks monumental. It’s all making me believe.

The WSL Final 5 could start as early as Friday, and optimism abounds for the potential showdown. I kinda think Italo could do the impossible if you want my honest opinion. All the other guys don't strike me with the energy needed to blitz across small to medium Lowers cobblestones as that fire breathing sex panther Italo does. And Caity will stomp the landing and win her first title. Two very different paths to the finish but neither would be wrong.

For the next few days, we’ll be laboring at the keys getting caught up while the masses soak up the last gasps of summer, finally eyeing our freedom season, the one Bruce Brown actually meant to be endless: Fall! Hang tight snow bunnies, we’re not ready to hibernate yet. —Travis Ferré