Darrick Bruyn achieves air at the 2010 Skki Inn (photo by Douglass Weymouth).
Oregon opens its slopes, saves Trikke Skki event.
Just when you thought the largest annual Trikke Skki event in the U.S. was canceled for 2013, the Trikke world is abuzz with news from the Trikke Academy that the 6th annual National Trikke Skki Inn lives on — not in Utah, home of the event for the past five years — but in a new, more Trikke-Skki-friendly location: the Beaver State, also known as Oregon.
Call it relief, anticipation, maybe even a little vindication, the announcement — made recently through social media — was welcomed news for a Trikke community still feeling the sting of two recent rejections of three-point carving vehicles by the world-at-large.
The first rejection occurred in October when event organizers for Mexico’s Rosarito-Ensenada Ride banned Trikkes. That was followed by Utah officials giving the Skki Inn the cold shoulder, which came at the end of November and threatened to put that event on ice.
That is, until the Trikke Academy did a lot of scrambling and performed a little last-minute magic.
“Not having a Skki Inn this year was looking like a real possibility,” says Ann Pirone, Academy coordinator.
Nickus Hunt (left) and Gildo Beleski at the 2010 Skki Inn (photo by Douglass Weymouth).
Make that Hoodoo magic, as in Hoodoo Ski Area, 130 miles southeast of Portland in Oregon. During the 2013 Skki Inn, from January 30th through February 4th, it will be Hoodoo Skki Area.
“We’re very excited to have the Skki Inn come to Hoodoo,” says Darrick Bruyn, Oregon Trikke Trainer with plenty of snow carving experience at Hoodoo and elsewhere. “The staff is warm and friendly and has that laid-back family feel I’ve never gotten from corporate mountains.”
Perhaps that explains their open-minded nature when it comes to the Trikke Skki.
Hoodoo plays host to the annual Oregon Trikke Skki Cross & Giant Slalom and other events organized by Bruyn, and Pirone says the Skki Inn is being welcomed with open arms. She also adds:
“We’ll be able to host a Skki competition, which we’ve not been able to do for the last couple of years. Plus, they offer night Skki’ing, which is a nice treat.”
The addition of a competitive element could be a game-changer, as far as advancing both the sport and the event, especially in terms of popularity.
“I’m really looking forward to the competition,” says Bruyn. “Having competed on the Skki in Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Poland, it’s is a very thrilling experience.”
Apparently, he’s not the only believer. Pirone says Trikke Tech CEO John Simpson and Trikke inventor Gildo Beleski eagerly confirmed their intentions to attend after learning about the planned competition.
So what can they and others expect to find once descending upon the Skki-friendly slopes with the family feel in the Pacific Northwest?
“The snow varies with the weather, like everywhere else,” says Bruyn. “Not as deep as I’ve encountered in Utah, but I’m always grateful to be at Hoodoo, even on its worse day.”
Hoodoo Ski Area
Roger Wildermuth — a veteran of Skki Inn’s past who calls the Utah rejection a “short-sighted position and real financial mistake” — has yet to visit Hoodoo, but the Florida Trikke Trainer plans on attending and says he’s encouraged by what he’s seen online.
“From their trail map and the videos by “Douguss” [Douglass Weymouth], it looks like Hoodoo offers a nice variety of trails for all skill levels, nice snow conditions and not too crowded runs. Should be a great time for beginners and advanced Skki carvers.”
And although the location may be different, one thing will remain the same, according to Ann Pirone:
“The Skki Inn is all about bringing the community together, so that element will not change. We’ll have lot of fun, both on and off the slopes. We have evening activities each night, which allow us to bring everyone together for some silly fun and lots of laughter.”
As for those resorts who aren’t very Trikke-Skki-friendly, Wildermuth has a few words of wisdom:
“With all action sports, caution and good judgment are key to longevity; but since the Skki doesn’t have your feet ‘strapped’ in, there’s less likelihood of ankle, leg, knee or hip injury due to twisting falls. In my opinion (and I’ve skied the US and Europe), the Trikke Skki is far safer, while still keeping the thrill and speed of ‘normal skiing.’”
That thrill continues six weeks from now at the 6th Annual Skki Inn.
More information on the 2013 Skki Inn:
Trikke Academy Skki Inn info
Skki Inn registration page
Skki Inn Facebook event page
About Randy Boyd
