Way before the X-Games, Washingtonians have spent decades pioneering “extreme” pastimes. From early cold-water surfers to the world’s longest running snowboard contest, the hearty dwellers of the Northwest have embraced alternative sports from the very beginning. While California is long considered the birthplace of many extreme activities, the accessibility of the rugged Cascade Mountain Range and both coastal and inland waters have made the Northwest a haven for those who prefer to ride on the wild side.
STOKED ON THE WATER If there’s one thing Washington is not lacking, it’s water. Rivers, lakes and ocean create ample opportunity for both fresh- and saltwater fun. While there’s nothing like a relaxing day on the lake, there are those who prefer a more aggressive approach, such as Bellevue Club swim instructor and lifeguard Marc Gerrard (pictured left). Marc has spent most of his life behind a boat—both in and above the water—eventually qualifying for the Wakeboard Pro Tour during his senior year at Issaquah High School. Although a tragic knee injury sidelined him before what would have been his rookie season on the tour, Marc still wakeboards five days a week on Lake Sammamish in the summer and spends winters exploring the Stevens Pass area on his snowboard.
Bellevue Club swim instructor and lifeguard Marc Gerrard wakeboarding.
An avid hiker, cyclist and surfer as well, Marc has always gravitated toward adventurous hobbies. “It’s such a great workout, especially wakeboarding,” he says. “You get disconnected from everything in your everyday life. It’s just you and the water, or the mountain.” For those interested in trying an extreme sport, Marc suggests utilizing resources in the local community. “Go to your local shop and talk to them about their experiences. Take a lesson from an instructor. Most importantly, don’t give up after the first time. The more you push through, your perseverance will pay off, which is true for anything in life,” he says. While Marc spends most of his time on Lake Sammamish, there are an abundance of lakes and rivers well suited to wakeboarding and waterskiing throughout the region. The Bellevue Club offers wakeboard and waterski lessons throughout the summer. For more information, call the Recreation Office at 425-688-3102. For surfing, many shops rent wetsuits and boards and offer lessons. Westport is the most accessible surf spot near Bellevue, but Marc prefers driving the extra miles to Oregon. “It’s so beautiful there with forests right down to the beach,” he says. Oswald West State Park just south of Cannon Beach offers beginner-friendly waves in a beautiful tree-lined cove.
Bellevue Club members Curt and Maureen Hammond.
CHILLS AND THRILLS Sliding on snow is nothing new. While the Scandinavian peoples have been using some version of the ski for centuries and ancient mountain-dwelling Turks are thought to be the first snowboarders, they certainly weren’t boosting airs out of the half-pipe or dropping 40-foot cliffs on their rudimentary wooden sleds. Although places like Whistler, British Columbia, or Park City, Utah tend to get much of the mainstream press and tourism dollars when it comes to skiing, Bellevue’s mountainous backyard has rewards that are both deep and steep for the dedicated snowrider. There’s an old saying, “If you can ski in the Northwest, you can ski anywhere.” “The mountains here are special because they’re jagged and steep, versus Colorado or Utah,
where they’re more mellow,” says Bellevue Club member Curt Hammond (pictured right with wife, Maureen). “The terrain challenges are greater here.” Curt has been skiing since he was 6 years old. Spending his childhood at Stevens Pass and the now-abandoned Mount Pilchuck ski area, Curt went on to become a ski coach, eventually moving to Park City to work with the U.S. Ski Team. Now in his mid-50s, Curt has gone from race gates to backcountry gates, often putting in 40 days a season with his wife, Maureen. Avoiding groomed runs in favor of the backcountry’s untracked powder, Curt and Maureen have been exploring the out-of-bounds for years.
“It’s a challenge, having to take your skill set and deal with variables that you don’t have to deal with on a groomed run,” he says. “You’re always challenged because you don’t know what’s beyond the next tree or knoll.”
Mostly exploring the areas around Crystal Mountain, Curt and Maureen use alpine touring or randonée ski gear that enables them to climb steep terrain using “skins” attached to the bottom of their skis. In the past several years, Curt has also taken up telemark skiing where the heel is not attached to the ski binding for descents, making it a greater challenge than traditional alpine gear. Due to avalanche danger, backcountry must-haves include an avalanche beacon, a probe, a shovel
Bellevue Club swim instructor and lifeguard Marc Gerrard snowboarding.
and knowledge of how to use them. For members looking to try backcountry skiing or snowboarding, he suggests finding an experienced partner and taking a course on avalanche safety. “Avalanches are always a big danger,” he says. But with knowledge of snow conditions and terrain, Curt says exposure to risk can be mitigated and the rewards are worth it. “We just love being active, the mountains, the fresh air and being tired at night,” he says.
BLOOD SWEAT AND GEARS “I feel the most alive when I’m outside,” says Jason Balajadia, personal trainer and fitness instructor at the Club. Jason is a semicompetitive snowboarder and longtime mountain biker. “It started when I was 15 to get away from my parents,” he says. “The freedom and the expression of these sports just hooked me.” On snow, Jason regularly competes in the Mount Baker Banked Slalom, the longest-running snowboard contest in the world, but in the summers, he can be found riding trails and obstacles on his mountain bike. “When you’re on a three-mile bike climb it focuses your mind,” he says. Jason rides both up and downhill trails and also navigates technical obstacles such as jumps, drops and bridges. While many consider mountain biking disproportionately dangerous to other sports, Jason says much of that is mental. “It’s worse in our heads than it ever really is,” he says. That being said, a little fear goes a long way. “If you don’t have fear, that’s when you get into trouble,” Jason says. To train for mountain biking, Jason not only recommends core strengthening exercises and explosive movements, but also more reflective exercises. “Yoga is awesome for both snowboarding and mountain biking, it makes you reflect inward and focus on what you’re doing,” he says. Jason tries to attend his wife Heather’s yoga classes at the Club whenever possible, a feat with their two young children. To get started, Jason recommends attending a mountain biking clinic or a camp to become familiar with the sport. “It just gets you comfortable,” he says. “It’s not scary once you start doing it.”
Highland Skate Park.
BOARD GENERATION Amongst all of Washington’s natural beauty, imaginative skatepark builders have been constructing concrete creations for the region’s active population of skateboarders and BMX riders. Moving beyond the image of skateboarders as juvenile delinquents, it’s common to see working professionals populating the Bellevue Crossroads skatepark on their lunch break. Skateparks tend to consist of concrete or wooden obstacles simulating street obstacles, such as rails, ledges and planter boxes, or modified sunken bowls, similar to an empty swimming pool. Besides Bellevue’s four public skateparks, Washington has a variety of well-known destination parks. Aside from whale watchers and kayakers, Orcas Island now draws skateboarders from all over the country to sample its whimsical concrete skatepark. Built by world-famous Seattle builders Grindline Skateparks Inc., with the help of ski legend and island resident Warren Miller, the park is frequented in the summer by both vacationing professional skateboarders and local kids. Other top Washington parks include the Marginal Way Skatepark, a volunteer-built creation under the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and also outdoor public parks in Arlington, Bainbridge Island and Port Angeles. The massive Skate Barn West in Renton is a popular option for rainy winter days.
Packed with kids, the Northwest skateparks display the future crop of athletes who will end up skiing big peaks, finding unexplored waves and biking mountain trails. And as the Northwest continues to be a haven for extreme sports, a whole new generation is discovering what it means to ride on the wild side.
For beginners, try showing up in the morning when there’s less traffic in the park. Also, the city of Bellevue offers individual and group skateboard lessons at the indoor skatepark on Bel-Red Road, which is extremely helpful for those starting out.
Calculated Risk
Be sure to wear appropriate safety equipment when attempting any adventure sport, including helmets, pads and wrist guards. If you’re not sure, ask an instructor or call a local shop.
