It can't be over can it. winter 2013

As I sit and think of how much it has been like summer these past few days, I long for the snow and more powder days. It was only last week when I got some of the best snow of the year, it was so much fun and I miss it. I have at least two more trips planned, next week we head to Mammoth for a couple of days and the forecast is for snow on our first day so that is a step back to winter, then we move on to the Retro 30 event at Soda Springs, should be quite a gathering and with luck some new snow. Shortly after getting back home I am off again to Colorado for the "Throwback" at Breckenridge, it will be so much fun. Traveling solo, fly to denver, rental car, and no plans other than to bring a bunch of boards and make tracks where ever I can.
Looking forward to seeing old friends and making a difference. JG

It's 2013 and I'm only getting started

Where is winter, our where have I been this winter. Its been a wild swing of the Jet Stream, highs and lows, wets and drys, it was 80 degrees here on Friday and Saturday and now its in the 30's-40's. One of these days, the old north pole will just decide its time to get cold again and we will all be freezing, but the snow should be good. If not and global warming decides to warm our planet, they say we will have less snow but more of it when it hits, its that "edge" of cold and warm that dumps the biggest snows and not always at the right times. Either way, the Grellboard 42, 48, 56, and custom 60  are ready to offer "Snurfing enthusiasts" the opportunity to get out and ride when the conditions are just right. No expensive lift tickets, long drives to the resort, lodging, food, etc... Keep it close to home and have just as much fun. Then I would rather ride a chairlift than hike, but the hiking is helping to keep me young and healthy. You figure it out. We just want to get out and ride our boards. Snurfing, Snowboarding, Skiing, whatever it takes to have fun. JG

What the latest

I managed to cut out 8 blanks yesterday and shape them as well. Today I added the grip deck to seven of them. I've been sending out boards faster than I can  build them, its still a trickle but I sense a growing demand and am working to make a plan to satisfy the "snurfing" world. Its a sport independent of snowboarding, skiing, sleds and all the rest of the stuff you find sliding on snow. Snurfing is a respectable, honorable, decent sport and it will give you a workout, like you need.
Here is the before prep to the grip deck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOhQNJtcEiQ

Here is a link I just posted about applying the  grip surface. These are the baby steps. alot more to come. JG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QJy9p24DRY

Friends

I look at the photo taken back in the day at Park City, Utah and realize that I am still good friends with some of these people. I correspond with Chris Karol, just talked to Steve Link, consulted with Terry Kidwell, read a message from Bud Fawcett, watched Bob Klein's career in sports, as for the rest of you, I know your out there and it will be a fun day when we get to catch up, preferably on the slopes. JG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yRHMzOPfR0&feature=player_detailpage

Its not the end of the world

Welcome to the new year of 2013.

I think its starting out ok, I managed to ship boards to Mammoth Lakes, Connecticut, Washington State and have been working on building more. The orders are slow, but then building boards is a slow process. I've worked out preliminary pricing, a G42 is $175, a G48 is $225, all the custom boards above the G48 start at $300 and go up from there. I've been checking out other brands of boards and it seems everyone is trying to drill the consumer for alot more money for their boards. Maybe, I should just price my boards really expensive, would that get more attention? I figure marketing is the key and that I am working on. If someone ordered 1000 boards tomorrow and wants them the day after, well its not going to happen like that. I figure since I am probably the one of the only shops in the country building boards they way I build them its a unique thing. More like a work of art than a functional snowsurfing tool. Regardless, I have reached the pivotal #100 boards mark and have gotten at least 70 boards out there. If you are one of the riders who have one, maybe if you hold onto it, when I'm dead it will be worth something. Unfortunately for you, I don't plan on being dead for along time, so in the meantime get out there and go "Snurfing". If Sherman Poppen could convince Brunswick to build him 500,000 snurfers back in the 1960's, maybe there is hope for my project. Time and perserverence will tell. And for the one other person who reads my blog, thanks Kevin. Your support over the years means alot to me. JG

Rain is snow for the Sierra

It has been raining all day. All the culverts are full, a flash flood warning is in effect and I know its just dumping in Tahoe. Right now my shop floor is soaked, time to build a better floor. Its to wet to do any work with polyester resin and fiberglass, so tomorrow is another day. Sierra at Tahoe, has had over 200" of snow so far this season, I believe it will be a record breaker, and top 600". I could be wrong, and I could be right. It doesn't matter that much because once you reach a certain point, the reward is just another powder day.

Maverick's could happen, we have a meeting on the 27th of December to go over logistics, maybe it will happen this year. Can't wait to get back to the snow.

Its not the end of the world

December 21, 2012

Super-8

Its not the end of the world as we know it as far as I can tell.

Considering how much fun I had over the past couple of days playing in the snow, if this is a new beginning I am ready.

Tahoe has terrific snow, we got to ride at Sierra at Tahoe on Wednesday, we drove to Placerville on Tuesday afternoon and stayed a in the studio next to Old Oaky, the tree is over 350 years old and probably the largest valley oak in the state of California, "Querqus Lobata".

Wednesday morning a casual drive to the mountain and we found Sierra with awesome coverage. My daughter Jenny, decided that she wants to learn snowboarding, already an accomplished skier, she toughed out her first day snowboarding and wants to get good at it. Time to get her some new gear.



1850 Broadway

We left our friends at Sierra and headed into South Lake Tahoe for a visit at "Super-8" its a budget motel but the rooms are ok and the price is right. Thursday, it was time to ride the Heavenly gondola, the California side was mellow and the conditions were terrific, bluebird skies and no crowds. Traveling back to home is always the hard part but traffic moved right along and soon we found ourselves back where we started. Each time I visit the mountains, a part of me gets stuck there, so I figure if I go enough, pretty soon I will just have to stay.

Jeff, Anne and Jenny