WELCOME TO OREGON

New Year's Eve is upon us. Just wrapped shooting two games for John Paget's basketball documentary in K-Falls and tonight at SOC in Ashland. Also spent my first day ever snowboarding at Mt. Ashland. Over a foot of fresh from the last few days was there for the taking - although - there were many takers on this New Year's Eve day. Shot some for the upcoming Snomad Television series, but the icy-goggle-crust conditions made it next to impossible to bag much good footage - a great day nonetheless.

Tonight Pounder and I ring in the New Year at a little pub in downtown Ashland called the Black Sheep - then in the morning I'll finish the journey to the motherland with a brief visit to the Zig's in Eugene - then onward to Salem.

Hoodoo will be the first target. (Merth - getchyer board waxed, goggles de-iced and legs in order - it's gonna be a productive winter).

Farewell 2004! You were very good to me. Welcome 2005! - I'm betting it will be the best year yet - despite another inauguration of the worst president in U.S. history. Perhaps it will take another 4-years of his buffoonery to shed a little more light on his shortcomings so that the rest of the U.S. (that would be you folks in the red states) figure it out.

prelude to THE ROAD

This Wednesday the 29th marks the road date for Oregon. Many exciting projects lie ahead in the home state. Got shoots scheduled for the 30th in Klamath Falls and the 31st in Ashland. You can bet New Years will be plenty festive with Pounder Brown and the snow on the ground in town. New Year's Day we're shooting at Mt. Ashland in the morning then cranking out that stretch of I-5 many of us know so well - Ashland to Salem. Can't wait!

S.F. 1-5

S.F. 6-10

TEN LISTS... San Francisco

1. Amoeba Records - In the Haight. Stunning assortment of new and used CD's - leave your wallet at home and bring a limited amount of cash - easy to break the bank here.
2. Farmers Market - Saturdays at the Ferry Building, mid-December and we're still bringing home the fat, organic fruits and veggies.
3. Great American Music Hall - A legendary music venue in S.F. since before my days. Many a live show recorded and filmed here. Recent SC3 gig was off the shuhnizzle.
4. Waking up to seagulls and Pier 38. South Beach - certainly the finest place to live in San Francisco.
5. 21st Amendment Brewery - One of two breweries in our 'hood. Currently offering a fine Holiday Ale with just a hint of "pumpkiny pie" aftertaste. Sure... it's no Jubelale. But a "might bit good ale" nonetheless.
6. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - One of many museums downtown - recently checked out "Beautiful Losers" - a collection of skateboard & street art and culture from the last 20 years. Stellar works by Shepard Fairy, Glenn Friedman and others. Obey Giant!
7. Lyon Street Stairs - When you just don't have the perseverance to put together a ferry trip/mountain bike ride in Marin - spending 45 minutes running up and down these bad boys is sure to kick your ass. Gotta keep those legs in shape for riding this winter!
8. KUSF - 90.3 on the dial. SF state's college radio station - chock full o' hip hop, avante garde and metal. Gotta keep the earhole intake fresh!
9. Warfield Theatre - Another landmark live music establishment. Last gig I witnessed here was King Crimson - a perfect, elegant theatre for the quality sounds of K.C.
10. Peet's Coffee - You can have yer "Fourbucks" - give me a black cup of joe from Peet's anyday - plenty of Peet's to be found in the Bay - there's even one up in Portland on Broadway.

ETK ON TELEVISION

I know I've sprayed a lot about my recent efforts to break into the world of television. But hey - I've never been happier - and I just want to share! Here is the official listing of shows that are currently airing that I actually work for.

Barbary Coast Adventures airs on KFTY out of Santa Rosa, which is channel 50 for most of Northern California. The show airs Sunday mornings at 8:30am and 11:30am. We just finished editing the first New Zealand show, so we now have 4 shows in rotation.

Marin Report. Program airs Mondays at 8:30pm on channel 26 in Marin County, Channel 27 in Novato and in San Francisco via Comcast Cable, Channel 11 on Wednesdays at 7:00pm and Fridays at 8:00pm. The gig? I'm a real life news cameraman - complete with two-shots, stand-ups, hot lights and plenty of heavy gear hauling. Learning tons and meeting a whole bunch a great people in Northern Cal. Next week we're shooting a story on Guide Dogs for the Blind and their headquarters in San Rafael - I love dogs! I love video cameras! What more could I ask for?

B.C.A. TRIP WRAP-UP

Turner finished the final chapter of our New Zealand trip. Check it! Chris Turner

OREGON PEOPLE pt. 3

PHILLIPS - So Kyle has lived in the Northwest long enough I guess we can call him an Oregonian. Raised in our neighboring State of Washington, this onion boy has gone from longtime Bend and Bachelor local, to shop manager at Castle Snowboards in Portland to his current gig as NW rep for K2 Snowboards. Kyle and his brother Trevor are two more examples of cool mofos in the Northwest who like to ride and share the world. Check his current site with the cool weather page: Kyle D. Phillips

OREGON PEOPLE - part 2

There are so many noteworthy Oregonians in my life that I keep adding to them daily. Scroll down for further investigations into people who make ETK the annoying but enjoying (and often ridiculous) human being that he is!

BIG DOLPHIN LOVE!

My friend Craig sent me a link about some dolphins on the north island of New Zealand that saved a family from sharks. ()NZ News

Gotta have love for the dolphins! This pic is from a pod we saw while visiting a salmon farm in the Marlborough Sounds, South Island, N.Z.

SECRET CHIEFS TRIO

On November 3rd much of the West Coast wandered around in a gloomy haze, pondering the next 4 years under the dark cloud of the George Bush "regime". In San Francisco the cloud hung over the city and dripped with tears of a million people - but there was a small consolation: People came together to reflect and share in a positive, healing musical experience by the Bay area's Secret Chiefs Trio. Lead by the under-appreciated talents of Mr. Bungle guitarist/songwriter, Trey Spruance, and a supporting cast of amazing Bay area musicians - the Chiefs played a chilling middle-eastern flavored set of modern jihad and rock flavored music that could not have been more fitting on this sad day. It had been several years since Spruance brought the live incarnation of his project before the people - and his timing could not have been more appropriate. It was refreshing to see young people of the West embrace the sounds of the East and weave them together to bring a unique and fresh sound that further illustrates the "one world" we live in. A big thank you to Trey for the performance. Live sounds from the show are currently being administered - keep your eyes peeled here for news.

Headliner for the evening were labelmates, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, who layed out a very heavy, theatrical performance not for the faint hearted. Formally known as Idiot Flesh, The Museum's impressive instrumental array includes many homemade devices suggestive of the avant-garde. Having little in common with those who have marred the field, whether mere arty obscurists, jock-like musical gymnasts, or high-brow snoots, SGM certainly have a varied audience and skillfully embrace their role as entertainers. Even though the band boasts heavy-hitters like Carla Kihlstedt (Tin Hat Trio) and Nils Frykdahl of Faun Fables, this is a band that survives and thrives supremely through heavy touring, and in the process has amassed a devoted (to say the least) following.

Check the Web of Mimicry website for more info. on both of these fine bands.

RETURN OF THE TEN LISTS -music

1. Secret Chiefs Trio - Book of Horizons
2. Charlie Hunter Quintet - Right Now Move
3. Brokeback - Looks at the Bird
4. Estradasphere - Buck Fever
5. Nobukazu Takemura - Various
6. KALX - Berkeley - 90.7fm
7. Mogwai - Come On Die Young
8. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Live, Great American Music Hall, Nov 3
9. Secret Chiefs Trio - Live at GAMH, Nov 3
10. Cedric Brooks - Saba

HUMPRIDGE TRACK, SOUTHLAND, N.Z.

In New Zealand trails are called tracks. This confused me at first - I kept thinking everything was going to be a race. Anyhow - this is a shot from the heli of Chris and our guide as they survey the landscape at the summit. This "track" is mostly suspended on wooden bridges and platforms as to preserve the delicate tundra and exotic plantlife on the summit. The Hump Ridge Track - which sits at the southern-most edge of the South Island - was my favorite spot of the whole trip. Incredible views of the South Pacific (including their own Half Moon Bay) and the Fjordlands of Southwest N.Z. I felt like I was on another planet.

MY NEIGHBORS - TUATAPERE, SOUTHLAND

The rustic accommodations in downtown Tuatapere featured "real live sheep" out my bedroom window. Especially cool as an alarm clock the next morning. "Taaaaahhhhhd".

Click on them photos for BIGGER VIEWING PLEASURE!

RIDING THE FERRY HOME

Now that I'm a big city dweller - it takes a 40 minute ferry ride and a quick 20 minute road ride to get into some legendary Marin County single track. Not a bad way to go eh? The bonuses: A rewarding pint of quality ale from the Marin County Brewing Company while waiting for the return ferry and stellar views of the city on the voyage home. Damn - I'm really sounding like a travel brochure now...

SHE'S A ROLLER

This past summer I was fortunate enough to have worked with Specialized Bicycles in Morgan Hill, CA. Earlier that Spring I met a super cool woman from Specialized named Ariadne while shooting some stuff for Nat Lopes and the International Mountain Biking Association at Henry Coe State Park. Ariadne introduced me to Kathy Loebs, who runs the R&D for their women's specific products. After a long summer of shooting contests and rides all over Central California and many hours of After Effects and Final Cut, I now find myself riding a dream of a bike. A big thank you to Nat for making the original meeting happen and multiple thank you's to Kathy, Ariadne, Holly and all the women at Specialized. The people, the company and the bikes are nothing short of fantastic.

BAY OF MANY COVES RESORT

This place was swank. Tucked away in one of the many coves of the Marlborough Sounds - we were treated to a magnificent thunderstorm the night we stayed. Not only did they offer some of the finest foods of our trip, one of the most comfortable rooms of our trip as well. Shortly after taking this photo we departed for the "Eco-Tour" portion of trip - visiting the first place Captain Cook set foot on New Zealand and claimed it for the Queen. Pics to come!

AERIAL VIEW OF THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS

Many helicopter rides on this trip - some good pilots, some not-so-good. On this day I was happy to finally put my feet back on the ground and wondered if it was the belly full of green-lipped mussels, big breaths of diesel exhaust or wild ride of g-forces that led me to almost shake hands with El Vomitar. Probably all of the above. Stunning scenery nonetheless - let the record show that ETK was not the only one to feel the effects after wild heli action.

A REAL "ACTION" PHOTO

Here is the crew shooting Chris and farmer Neal as they drench the sheep (some kind of antibiotic you have to slip the little ones via this little tube with a trigger). Comedy.

"HELLA" MT. BIKING - TWIZEL

Heli-Mt. Biking outside Twizel. Twizel lies just down the road from Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park, where the spectacular opening scenes of The Two Towers were filmed. This mountain town, set in the heart of the McKenzie Basin, was used extensively for scenes involving Rohan. Ben Ohau Station, a working high country sheep station nestled at the foot of the Southern Alps, provided the plains of Rohan where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursue the Orcs at the start of the film. Our guide, pictured here with Chris was actually in the film as one of the Orcs. The biking trail was more or less a dirt road - super steep at times - and often really bumpy and uneven. Spooking the sheep along the way was fun - but it's hard to match the single track in Northern Cal and Oregon. Not that I'm complaining.... any time I can get a lift to the top for a downhill ride is just fine - especially when it's a rollercoaster of a ride with a veteran heli-pilot flying like a madman trying to match the requests of our cameraman Celso.

Southern Alps - near Grasmere Lodge

On our way to the Grasmere Lodge - we shot a stand-up here with Chris, made some mention of Lord of the Rings (how could you not). I guess they shot one of the scenes in one of the films here - how someone could possibly keep it all straight is beyond me. Check the Chris Turner blog to get a more definitive report.

OREGON PEOPLE REFLECTIONS

After posting my recent bit about what I've been up to for the last few years, I thought some more about the fine people I've been fortunate enough to know along the way. We'll keep this list short for now, only including Oregonians who have sites up. My list of noteworthy Californians will come next. Anyhow - here are some friends and colleagues that have helped make me who I am. (If your name is not on here - getchyerself a blog! It's free!)

Merth - Thankful to have him as a friend - this Minnesota raised lad has always displayed important traits such as patience, sharing and a genuine love for the Simpsons. If it wasn't for Jeff's devotion and production skills - our little Volcano Magazine may not have lasted 7 years. Oh yeah, he married a sweet gal from Bend named Pips too. They now call Corvallis home and I just don't get up there enough (shame on me!). I love the Merths. http://www.peak.org/~lequid/

J-Boy - Where do we start with J. A model of perseverance I suppose. After a freak snowboarding accident took J's leg - it only fueled his already raging fire. He has since completed a degree in nursing, as drummer and co-founder established his band Vihara as Central Oregon's finest progressive act and still finds time to ride wakeboards with flavor and style. Jason and his wife Erin currently call Bend home. I credit J with helping develop my passion for the drumkit - and also being one of only two drummers that I can bass with for hours given no structure, format, etc. Schmidt is the man - I only wish his ass would have moved to Bend four years earlier - oh well. We'll reconnect that rhythm section soon enough. check out Vihara online: http://www.purevolume.com/vihara/

Julian - A diamond in the rough. This musical phenom humbly calls Salem, Oregon home and continues to write and produce stunning music. In addition to his immeasurable talents as a pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter - Julian continues to try and make the world a better place by donating his time for the Green Party of Oregon. Very fortunate to have recorded with him on the Index album - hope to do so again in the near future. http://www.salemmusic.net/juliansnow

Tullis - Mr. Bend Oregon. Andy was another huge help in keeping little Volcano Mag fresh and chock-full of great photos. Always documenting the many fine riders at Mt. Bachelor and the Hoodoo - Andy's history in NW snowboarding goes deeper than most anyone I can think of. I thank Andy for teaching me how to ride with the big boys at Bachelor - after my first season trying to keep up with his ass I progressed faster than I could ever imagined. When I think of Oregon & snowboarding - I think of Tullis. These days he has a wife and new son named Jack - and still lives in his little pad on the westside of Bend. He shoot pics for the Bulletin, still freelances shooting snow pics and in the summer you can find him shooting weddings - a lucrative business I'm all too familiar with. I hope to be seeing Andy at the Bailey again this year. http://www.tullisphoto.com

JFK - My oldest friend - and an Oregonian in every sense of the word. Joel is probably responsible for fostering my love of the outdoors - much of our childhood was spent tromping around the wheat fields, apple orchards and rain forests of the Willamette Valley. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. In high school we rocked it hard in our band ALLY and partied like it was 1985 (it was...). After my Arizona stint I was back in Oregon and we continued to rock it in Thunderjelly. JFK keeps it real by running a music store and concert sound production company in Salem - and spends his free time honoring the memory of American war veterans with his re-enactment group. http://www.pnwhg.org/1stcav/3rdherd.htm

Graves - A legendary photographer to say the least. I first met Trevor on the road during a snowboarding tour over ten years ago - some years later I found myself working alongside TG at Morrow Snowboards Art Department and a brief stint at Nemo Design in Portland. Thankful to know him, as well as fellow Nemoids Bartell and Hotz. What have I learned from Trevor? How to keep it real and humble. (No need to "spray" people, do you listen? or do you wait to talk?). Memorable TG quote: "So tell me a story". http://www.nemodesign.com

Draplin - A damn fine designer, illustrator and all around swell guy. Back in the glory days of Bend, Oregon, Aaron and I worked together designing for the Nickel Ads. He would later help me design memorable issues of Volcano Magazine and ultimately became Art Director for Snowboarder Magazine. Originally hailing from Michigan, Aaron and his design company Draplindustries now also call Portland home where he continues to layout Snowboarder Mag as well as numerous other snow industry projects. I wish more people reached out and shared the world like Aaron does. Awright, so Draplin and I were never close like many of my other Oregon brothers, but his site and his design will always be an inspiration. http://www.draplindustries.com

Pounder - What can you say about Pounder? Well... let's see. Who else could give himself a nickname and have it stick? Judson "Pounder" Brown - that's who. Also - a striking resemblance to the singer from Cake - hell, he evens plays guitar and sings as well. Fond memories of stumbling home through Drake Park in Bend seeing who could kick a goose after many pints of fine Deschutes ales. In the winters he's teaching kids in Southern Oregon the finer things about the history of the world. Recently he taught kids how to find refuge in the post-election apocalypse by piping Eminem at high volume through the school's pubic address system while the mostly Republican staff frantically tried to turn it off. Kudos for keeping the youth on track Pounder! What have I learned from Pounder? That's a tough one... how about: how to by a cynic and a smart-ass and still have people like you. http://trailjournals.com/judson/

Jake & Missy - Probably the cutest and raddest little family I know, Jake Hauswirth, Missy Samiee and their daughter Lulu. I first met Jake back in the early 90's when he and Rob Morrow's band Sideways People shared many a stage with my old band Aggro Batch. In addition to being a fine drummer, a multi-talented artist and the quintessential Oregon soul surfer - Jake is also a renowned cinematographer - shooting 16mm and 35mm film for projects ranging from Burton Snowboards to American Eagle Outfitters. During the good ol' days of northwest snowboarding, Salem, Oregon was a hub of snowboarding in the Northwest with Morrow Snowboards' factory based there, the birth of Bonfire Snowboard clothing happening downtown, numerous pros like Rob Morrow and Michelle Taggart calling it home - and the mightiest of snowboard shops, Exit Real World, serving as a base for us all. Missy started the Exit Real World snow, skate and style shop over ten years ago and has since grown the company into a powerhouse with shops in Salem, Portland, Government Camp and at Windell's Snowboard Camp on Hwy. 26. Missy and Exit were always faithful supporters of the Northwest snowboarding document - Volcano Magazine - and for this I am forever grateful. Exit rocks!

Hughes- Ol' Johnboy. Another midwest transplant - the Hughes family has gone from Sunriver to Corvallis to Portland. John and I used to play in the aforementioned Aggro Batch. We spent all of our time either snowboarding or playing music. It was around 1991 when Johnny really introduced me to the "cruster" lifestyle of snowboarding and the fine people in and around Bend. After several years, tours and numerous "hit" songs and gigs around the Northwest, he moved to L.A. and I moved to Bend. Nowadays he is back in Portland and back in a band - this time with two other fine Oregon brothers - Doug Rollins and Chad "Frog-C" Rogers. http://www.puffermusic.com

Gus - Last but not least - Gus Gustafson - Owner/operator of the hallowed Mt. Bailey snowcats. Every year I still find my peace in the world by spending time with Gus and the fine folks at Mt. Bailey. A great little operation and a great little mountain - all courtesy of a snowcat, a lodge and the bountiful Southern Oregon snow. Gus has a long history in the mountains - specifically at Mt. Bailey having kept skiiers and snowboarders on fresh tracks for over 20 years. In the summers you'll find Gus on his boat in Alaska bringing in the fresh catch. In the winters - you'll find him at Diamond Lake keeping the cats running and the people coming. Buy him a drink next time your chilling in the lodge after riding. You won't regret it - Gus is good people. http://www.mountbailey.com

What about the rest of y'all? There are certainly many other Oregon brothers who deserve mention here - namely Cavender, the notorious ZIG, Tommy D, Frog-C, Rollins, Rossi & Mikey H. But until they get sites up or blogs... or anything for that matter - we'll just leave it as is. They are Oregonians who matter and have certainly helped make ETK the jackass he is today.

Barbary Coast Adventures Does New Zealand!

Barbary Coast Adventures is the TV show. I'm currently working as Assistant Cameraman and occasionally as Cameraman (yippee!). The show airs in most of Northern California on KFTY channel 50 on Sunday mornings at 8:30 & 11:30am. If you can't get the channel - call your cable provider and request it!

The host of the show just so happens to be another fine young lad raised in Oregon. His name is Chris Turner and he now calls the Bay area home too. Chris also handles much of the writing for the programs and keeps a detailed journal of our travels. Check his site for a great play by play of the New Zealand trip.

The Mighty Aoraki (Mt. Cook)

Why is the white man so fond of himself that he finds it necessary to re-name everything he "finds". This pic of the mighty Aoraki was taken from my hotel room window. Sadly we weren't alotted the time to trek into the valley and see her close up, but just being there was grand nonetheless. Next year my friend.

Leaving Abel Tasman Park.

Seeing New Zealand from the road is the only way to go. Once you get used to feeling like you're left-handed by driving on the "wrong" side of the road - driving across the country is a hoot. This was taken on HWY 6 as we were leaving Nelson, heading toward Picton. The park is across the bay in the background.