Danny Thomas and the Arbor crew on the first chair.
Snowboarders began gathering at 10 PM last night (November 10, 2010) at the bottom of Mammoth Mountain’s Chair 1 to make sure they were first in line for the 2010-11 winter. Danny Thomas, Patrick Reddy, Chris Peroddi, John Farr, Marley McPhillips, and friends brought a tent and BBQ’d hotdogs all night.
“It’s not easy sleeping in a tent when you keep getting woken up by the cat driving around,” said one of the snow campers. “They came in and kicked us out around 5 AM, but we by that time we had our spot.”
The sun came up over a cloud-covered mountain, but by 7:30 it was full blue-bird and the line was filling. By the time the line began moving at 8:30 AM there were a couple hundred people ready to ride (mostly snowboarders, oddly).
There is something to be said for cold, crisp air, blue skies, and a snowboard back in the snow and sliding. It’s borderline double rainbow action.
Follow the jump for more photos.
Mammoth Mountain’s executive team: CEO Rusty Gregory, SVP Pam Murphy, CMO Howard Pickett, CFO Mark Clausen, and with Assistant Director of Lift Maintenance Greg Bretz, Sr..
On opening day at Mammoth it’s hard not to run into a few Frends here and there. . . yeah Mason.
Arbor Snowboard’s second chair wave: Patrick Reddy, Chris Peroddi, John Farr, Marley McPhillips.
The hardcores camp out all night in a tent to get first chair and Wooly gets to slide up and roll on right in front of everyone. No one had a problem with it.
Every year on opening day we ask Steve Brown a question. This year he said, “Don’t say it!” LIft Operations Manager Steve Brown and Lift Operations Director Dave Geirman. Let’s just say these guys go way, way, way back.
Mammoth Mountain’s Director of Marketing and Communications Joani Lynch got up early to communicate live with KTLA Morning News.
Mammoth’s newest transplant Shannon “Shayboarder” Johnson capturing content for the social web.
Have we mentioned Arbor Snowboards yet? Apparently, first chair is their new marketing strategy.
