coastal british columbia  

Californian Canuck... from the Element YMCA Skatecamp!         by Jimmy Miller

Andrew - BS carve

signage

Bic-shaven

Doug - BS shallow carve

  A barge-style backyard pool session in Fresno.
Doug and I had blast adapting to the severe lack of flat bottom within the deep portion of the pool, harnessing the aggression necsessary to skate the shallows, and vibing off the local's abilities.

The pool's owner Ray was stoked when he discovered us skating/sweating away in his backyard unannouced (we did have a "friend" with us for vaildation)... Ray's random party-favours (reeling in a beercan with a fishingpole), carparts strewn about, hazzardous ramp creations, happy dog companion, and overall enthusiasm was a bonus to our time spent.

Sometimes a session's non-skating elements are just as memorable as the shredding itself. A killer session indeed. - Jimmy Miller

Doug - BS slash

Jason

Jimmy - FS Nosegrab slash

Jimmy - FS shallow carve

Jimmy - FS shallow carve

Kyle - BS carve

Backtail

Krooked Grind

F/S Ollie

F/S Ollie

Jimmy Miller - Photo:jeffwalls.com

Dougie Flail

Edwards Flip

Jimmy and Deanna

Jimmy Miller & Doug Hardy - Sequoia Lake, California - Photo:jeffwalls.com

Wow, I've been busy, Element YMCA skatecamp is underway!

Street Course

Lower Elementland

Upper Elementland

Our Lake Mini

Our sense of community is very strong here. That's what it's all about for us. Our utmost priority is the emotional and physical safety of our campers and attendees.

Being away from techology (besides email for me) is very liberating and centering (although there is an adjustment time to the silence and serenity)(especially for a city dwelling skate rat like me).

The Vert Ramp

The Bowl's tranny

The Bowl

The waterfront w. lake launch

To give you a better sense of why I'm stoked on my current location here's some facts about the camp that you may find interesting:

• We're 5,500 feet up in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, nearly equal travelling distance from Visalia or Fresno, the closest cities with airports.
• The Visalia YMCA been doing this Skatecamp for twenty-one years.
• Skatecamp's located on the edge of Sequoia Lake: a body of water originally created for the log-flume export of lumber at the turn of the century.
• There are five other different camps surrounding Sequoia Lake (we've earned the wicked moniker of: the pirate camp).
• We've got thirteen cabins and the ability to house ninety-one campers during one session (each one lasts five and a half days).
• Yes it's the camp you've seen in the old H-Street, powell-peralta, 411, and Element videos.
• Yes it's the camp you've seen people jump off a ramp into the lake and yes it's a hoot.
• Our ramps are re-built annually due to the extreme winter climate (up to ten feet of snow!) and they are really good.
• Many teams and visiting pros come to skate and to take some time-off. It's not uncommon to share your meal with members of the Element, Venture, or DLX Teams. Pretty neat.
• Our non-skate programs are just as diverse as our skate ones (Elemental Awareness offers outdoor survival skills coupled an idealology that centers on re-aquainting youth to wilderness).
• I visited skatecamp six years ago as a stow-away (mis-communicated job posibility, no U.S. work visa, bummin') and through plenty of effort, faith earned, promises kept, and enthusiasm offered; I've ended up as the Program Director. Not bad.
• How about it's pretty freakin' fun too.

Cabin #6

Campfire by day

Dougie Chillin'

Hmm, I don't want this to end up as too much of an advertisement... but for a skateboarder this ain't bad. Peep-out www.skatecamp.org or www.elementskateboards.com if something like this tickles your fancy.

Perhaps I'll view this initial "postcard"/ info-dump as the foundation of information for which to start updating you, the reader, about the ongoing adventures of Dougie and I... Yeah I like that idea (central valley empty pools await, yes!).

Our skateshop

Gathering during Staff Training

Hiking up to the wall challenge

Enduring the wall challenge

Well, take it easy up there, rest assured that we're holding it down for Victoria abroad, take care of VeeDub for me, and of course skate for life, Visalia YMCA Skate Camp Element Skateboards

Vineers await board pressing at the art shed

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