Keith “Slasher” Kimmel, Snowboarding Pioneer

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Keith Kimmel, Donner Quarterpipe, Lake Tahoe, 1986

Along with Terry Kidwell, Bob Klein and Allen Arnbrister of Tahoe City, Keith Kimmel was one of the original pioneers of modern day snowboarding. He was featured on the cover of the first International Snowboard Magazine (ISM) in March of 86, ripping the original Tahoe City halfpipe, a natural gully near the TC dump.

In this photo, published in the ISM Interview and Thrasher Magazine, Keith is pictured here in one of the first “switchstance” moments in snowboard history. You can read more about the early days of snowboarding halfpipe here.

IdeaBox @ the Portland Home and Garden Show

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IdeaBox Exterior, Portland Home and Garden Show, Portland Expo

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IdeaBox Interior, Portland Home and Garden Show, Portland Expo

Cool wood treatments throughout and lots of light in every room which is very important in the sun-deprived Northwest.

Tom Burt and Damian Sanders, Snowboard Pioneers

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Tom Burt and Damian Sanders at Mt. Rose Nevada before mainstream ski area acceptance, 1987

Tom Burt and Damian Sanders were two of the original founding fathers of snowboarding. While Damian’s freestyle flare and movie debuts drove mainstream acceptance and explosive growth, Tom (and Jim and Bonnie Zellars) fathered the backcountry movement in early media. Damian was FLF Films early poster boy and starred in their earliest snowboard movies which further fueled snowboarding’s popularity into the early nineties. Together, the four were sponsored by Chris and Bev Sanders/Avalanche Snowboards of South Lake Tahoe.

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Damian Sanders at the first Squaw Valley Halfpipe (Lake Tahoe, 1989)

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Tom Burt at the first Squaw Valley Halfpipe (Lake Tahoe, 1989)

John Cardiel – Skate and Snow

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John Cardiel, FS Rock-N-Roll, Original Burnside Bowl, Portland, Oregon, 1991

One of the easiest riders I ever had the luck to work with was John Cardiel. I’m glad to hear that John is recovering from being hit by a very large truck many years ago. Our roadtrip was the first story that I had ever been assigned to write and photograph. It was for Snowboarder Magazine in 1991 and featured John going to summer camp, namely High Cascade Snowboard Camp. Halfway through the week John treated us with a skate session at the original Burnside Bowl.

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John Cardiel with Chew, High Cascade Snowboard Camp, Mt Hood, Oregon, 1991

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John Cardiel, Timberline at Mt. Hood, Way Above Palmer Snowfield, 1991

The weather was pretty uncooperative during the week until we hiked up Mt. Hood above cloud level and John spun off a crystal ridge line several times. In the days before digital, I was glad to see all the Kodachromes had turned out nice and sharp.

Craig Kelly – Legend

Craig Kelly at Soda Springs, 1985
Craig Kelly Backside, Soda Springs, Sims World Championships, 1985

At the third world championships, Craig ruled the pipe along with Kidwell, Kimmel, and Palmer. Craig had just picked up his sponsorship from Tom Sims a month before, and he’s sporting Raybans, Moto Gloves and Levis. In this photo it’s funny to see people sitting on the walls which is generally prohibited at today’s events. The World Championships moved to Breckenridge the following year.

Craig Kelly at Mt. Baker, 1991
Craig Kelly, Mt. Baker, 1991

Six years later, Craig had switched his sponsor to Burton and we had another miraculous sunny photoshoot at Mt. Baker during New Years vacation. Craig bounced off the tree top which was unexpected. The posse that day was pretty large and included Mike Ranquet (who was sharing a house with Craig), Shawn Farmer who was wearing all black, Jeff Fulton, Carter Turk, and Eric Jenko. Anyone else?

Shaun Palmer in Outside Magazine – Feb 2009

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Shaun “Minishred” Palmer, 1985 World Championships, Soda Springs, Lake Tahoe

Shaun Palmer was recently interviewed in Outside Magazine on his goals for the Winter Olympics in 2010. Shaun has it in him to do really well at his last attempt and this story has great insight at where he is now. At 40 years old he competes with “other kids” half his age and it seems like so long ago that he was minishred in the photo above (24 years). Snowboarders, skiers, and mountain bikers everywhere owe Shaun a huge deal of gratitude for what he has brought to those sports in both equipment development and compensation for its athletes. So I’d say they should all be rooting for him in 2010.

Chuck Barfoot – Lake Tahoe

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Jamie Johnston, Chuck Barfoot, and Brian Judge at Carson Pass, Lake Tahoe, 1984

My first day of snowboarding was quite a challenge not even considering the camera equipment in a fanny pack on my ass. Chuck, Jamie, Brian and I hiked the flats at Carson Pass to reach a small ridgeline where the snow was fresh. Many failed
attempts that day at turning which made me want to try even harder on another.

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Jamie Johnston, Carson Pass, Lake Tahoe, 1984

Jamie had some good turns going. See the non-highback bindings and rubber surf leash … He inspired me to try again!