Jacob Wester

Back in Breck – again

jacobwester — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:03:35 +0000

Made it back to Breckenridge today after a last few days in Aspen for X Games. Pretty happy with my skiing this year even though I didnt make finals. Found the live stream and managed (sorta) to rip a video from it, nothing too exciting but it’s a run I’m happy with, enjoy:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I dont know if it was only worth 81 points but since the cut-off was at 87 I guess I wouldnt have made finals anyways. Crazy level in slopestyle!

Now the plan is to organize my life for the season. I’ll get back to you soon about how that’s all going.

Jake

big air time!

jacobwester — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:41:22 +0000

wearing the new Oakley Canopy, super sick goggle!

getting ready to head back to the venue for the Big Air competition! did a practice session yesterday and got used to the jump, it’s not as big as I had been hoping, yet the snowboarders somehow managed to get triples around on it…holy shit is all I have to say. I doubt it will happen on skis as we don’t flip as fast but you never know what happens in the heat of the moment. I just know I’m going to treat this contest like a big show and throw some style tricks as well as tech, but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens I guess.

in other news, big props to David Wise for killing pipe finals today, and Noah Bowman and Torin Yater-Wallace for taking 2nd and 3rd. pipe skiing is crazy!!

Stay tuned

Jacob

almost Friday

jacobwester — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:25:16 +0000

it’s 00.14 in the morning and I just got to bed after a long hectic day. figured I’d drop a line about the slopestyle contest, probably the most impressive display of slopestyle skiing ever presented. big ups to Tom for winning his third slopestyle comp of the season! I skied better and more consistently than ever before but it was not enough to get into that top 8 bracket that made it to finals. ended up in 11th with a highscore of 81.00 points, for a run with 3 different doubles and a left 9. the progression is pretty insane right now…

looking forward to big air on saturday!

tomorrow I have a day off and I’m going shredding Aspen Mountain with friends and family. its going to be really nice to have a completely relaxed day after 4 days of non-stop double corks

stay tuned

Jacob

X Games slopestyle

jacobwester — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:45:39 +0000

Tomorrow it’s on! Just got home from the 2nd training session on the slopestyle course here in Aspen, Colorado. Pretty much just having the best time right now trying to piece together a sick run for the comp, it’s hard but it’s coming together I think. I did my run once except for the last trick, still havent quite figured it out but we have another session under the lights tonight. I know there’s already some course previews out on the internet, but here’s my version of it:

first option: wallride/close-out or flat rail. I have been hitting the wallride, fun little feature.

second feature: choice of single barrel flat rails to down rail/box, or a polejam in the middle. havent quite figured this one out yet but I think I’ll be hitting one of the flat rails and throw a spin off the end, maybe I’ll end up landing on the down rail if I’m lucky.

1st jump, a fun little 45 footer that’s slightly slanted to the right.

2nd jump, a perfect 60 footer with a ton of pop. my favorite jump in the course. this photo really shows how close together the jumps are, you have to really be on point to get through this part.

3rd jump, the biggest one on the course. I’d say it’s about 60 feet but super poppy, it throws you really high. this is probaby where we’ll see the biggest tricks.

the final jump, not my favorite but it’s growing on me for sure. it has a really flat take-off so you don’t go very high. doubles will be challenging on this one, but hopefully I’ll get a few down tonight. if not I’m going to do some switch 10 blunts, most fun trick ever.

Check back soon, probably won’t be able to post anything tonight since I’m going to the Powder Awards here in Aspen, where I am nominated for Best Natural Air. Really excited, hopefully it’ll go my way!

Jacob

Aspen

jacobwester — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:53:10 +0000

7:40 am outside my window at the Armada condo, was hoping for sun but I’ll take some fresh snow too

And it’s on again! Back in Aspen and X-Games for my 7th time in my career, starting to get old for real! Had an insanely fun day in Breckenridge yesterday, skiing freeway (big park) in the sun and temperatures around -5°C with Banks and his filmer Jake Strassman. Didnt really spend any time trying to get footage though, as I was on a mission to land some new tricks. Eventually, I got two new ones, which feels amazingly good, the more advanced you become as a skier the fewer are the times you actually try and land something new, so that made my day and boosted my confidence level for this week.

The slopestyle course looks amazing, it’s 2 rail features and 4 jumps this time, so that’s definitely in my favor…going to give you a course preview today after practice.

Time to go ski!

Jacob

pen on paper.

jacobwester — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:52:37 +0000

After the news of Sarah’s passing I drew a pencil portrait of her. The day after I went and bought some real papers and some legit sharpies and decided to make a better version. Just finished it up, think it turned out alright:

Sarah Burke tribute #2

The weather forecast is calling for over a foot of snow in Breckenridge tonight so I’m taking out some AKJJ’s tomorrow to play around. Hopefully I’ll snap a few blog pics for y’all. Stay tuned.

Jacob

Weather

jacobwester — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:49:47 +0000

The weather has not been cooperating here in Breckenridge the last few days. Snow, winds up to 50 mph and cold conditions have put a damper on things. Unfortunately for me who decided to stay here to learn some new tricks for X-Games (tricks I need to hit big jumps for). Oh well, instead of that I’ve been lapping park lane (the medium park), getting some shots with Joakim Juhlin (Joakimfilms) for an ArCast. It will drop soon, here’s two screen shots:

Jacob

Rest in Peace Sarah Burke

jacobwester — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:01:24 +0000

I don’t really know what to think or write right now, but as you may have heard female pro skier Sarah Burke passed away today, following her tragic accident in Park City last week. I’ve known Sarah since when I first got onto the scene, and she was always smiling, every time I saw her. She lived life to the fullest and was the major driving force in women’s freeskiing since as long as I can remember. May you ski in peace, Sarah. This global family of skiers will never be the same without you, and we will miss you always.

Jacob

dream my days away

jacobwester — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:55:53 +0000

Hey whats up everyone, sorry for the radio silence. Just nothing too exciting to post at the moment, but content will come, be so sure!

Decided today to stay here in Breckenridge until X-Games since their jumps are the best on the planet at the moment. I had a spot at the last chance qualifiers at the dew tour in Killington but I think staying here and learning some new tricks for X-Games is a better bet for me. With the sore knee that’s been holding me back I haven’t had enough practice for the 2nd stop of the dew tour and I don’t want to half-ass anything.

Well, in other news, woke up to beautiful blue skis here in Breck and decided to go skiing, but then I saw it’s a -20°F windchill, frostbite warnings and gusts up to 45 mph out there. It’s not going to hurt taking a day off though, been skiing every day since tuesday. Next on the schedule is a left switch dub 10, think I’ve got it? I figured the best way for me to try one is to claim it here on the blog. Next good weather day I’m doing it!

it looks deceivingly pretty. until you open the door.

oh and also: if you haven’t checked it out yet, watch Kelly Sildaru’s latest video. I would be shaking at the knees if I was a professional women’s freeskier;

Click here to view the embedded video.

Alright, next day on the hill I’m bringing out the 7D and some friends. Time to make some edits!

Jacob

SLC-DEN

jacobwester — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:40:29 +0000

So here I am, back at another airport. Sorry for poor blogging these last few days, but I have actually left my camera at home and skied all day instead of shooting any video or photos. Feels good sometimes to just go ski and try to have some fun in these dark days. Sometimes you are reminded of how wrong things can go, and how fragile we really are, something that is very easily forgot.

This is where I have been spending most of my days:

pretty fun place

However I have been collecting some footage of fun rail and jump runs together with Alex Schlopy and his awesome filmer Josh Finbow that you will all see in the near future. Stay tuned!

Jacob