Not taken with Rumorator’s camera. Courtesy Monster Energy.

I want to get this out in the open immediately. If you’re not in Whistler, you’re not in the most bizarre place on the face of the planet. I’ve been to a lot of weird places, but none of those can even compare to this. This is all easily 17 stages beyond me.

The weekend kicked off with State of the Art on Friday night, which showcased heaps of artists and their works capturing mountain town inspiration. Sometimes this meant really large paintings of white dudes with dreadlocks. After that A-man and I headed down to The Amsterdam, because no matter how rad Yobeat makes us, we still are not ready to wait in line with 19 year olds. I’m starting to develop a strong feeling we should have skipped the hotel and just set up shop at the AmDam.

Little Andy Troubles rocking it out. Photo courtesy Monster Energy

After a day of riding on Saturday we caught Trouble Andrew performing and The Grand Opening slopestyle comp. I could say it was the Monster Energy Grand Opening but Monster has their name on everything for this event, so just assume everything should be preceded by The Dingo’s voice saying “The Monster Energy…”

Here is a visual aid to help you envision the Dingo’s voice. Courtesy Monster Energy (duh)

This is also where we learned there are two levels of media passes. Your rank is decided strictly on the size of your lens. I think we should have brought Jared Souney with us. I heard that dude has HUGE lens. Craig Beaulieu won the event, and walked away with a ten grand, Matts Kulisek took second and Mikey Pederson to third place. Local kid Peanut Johnson was all over the course and deserved at least getting his name on Yobeat. Dustin Craven blasted some this off the hip and that crowd loved that, but from our short-lensed location we could only hear the crowd loving it.

This is what it looked like if you had a good media pass. Photo courtesy Monster Energy

Sunday was the Mogul Mash on Blackcomb which brought out a bunch of locals. Mercedes Nicoll repped for the ladies, Kevin Sansalone did backflips, and everyone braving the weather to watch the event got a great show. There were also hotdogs and Kokanee beers on hand, and may have been some Monster Energy as well. All that kept the people moving until Travis Williams of Vancouver took home top honors.

And it’s not over yet! There’s still the Boarderstyle, which sounds crazy enough to fit in perfectly in Whistler, and Dustin Craven’s Fun Pipe Jam . So get on a plane, or get in you car and be here now.

Photojournalism Section (by A-Man)

The Yobeat Mobile Command Unit

What?

“Art”

Foiled!

Photo of snowboarding.

Tall T’s available for purchase in ice cream store “Moo” where lucky shoppers will find a variety of puns on the words cow and moo.