The Great Lakes November Session
Photos by John Centi and George Crosland
Feature by John Centi
The word is out…between the East Coast and the Mid West lays a place that mixes urban style with the snow accumulations of the West Coast. This location gets blasted with monster storms formed from the moisture collections of the great lakes. This is New York, more specifically a little town called Jamestown, my hometown.
While watching Lonnie Kauk’s Standard Snowboard Show episode on Fuel TV a Winter Weather Report rolled across the screen. I immediately called Mark Dangler and said, “Yo dog, Its on. You ready to come home from SLC?” Without hesitation Mark answered, “I would love to come film some New York rails”. We booked Mark a flight and soon after Greg Wheeler called and said “Yo Johnny, Joe Carlino wants to roll to Jamestown, can you show him some rails?” I immediately responded, “Yes, Im down.” I knew it was soon about to pop off.
This week long session began with me reuniting with Syracuse based riders Ben Farrell, Noah Hausknecht, Jay Emert. As soon as they arrived we began building a rhythm section that ran parallel with a wall for the choice of a wall ride, a pop up to ledge or trying to navigate through one footed. The first night, Ben Farrell managed to do one of each, including a 60 foot tailpress to fifteen-foot drop.
The next day brought about the arrival of a few more heads, including George Crosland from California, Ben Littler from Syracuse and snowflakes the size of baseballs. This session only lasted, until New Yorks finest rolled up and gave us the ultimatum “Clear the entire sidewalk, or you all go to jail.” I personally didn’t hear it, see I’ve heard this before and had already begun shoveling the snow. The cops didn’t hesitate to ask the crew, “Wheres Centi?” Make a long work out short, we had to shovel the heavily salted, overnight settled, ice run and crashed out for the night. For tomorrow it was on..
- You know things are good when the weather channel comes to your town. Photo by George Crosland
- We built this sweet rhythm section and got some good time in on this fun set up.
- Ben Farrell's five-o continued for days..
- Yeah Ben Farrell, Syracuse local.
-Noah Hausknecht method on the rythm
- This was insane, Ben grabbed, tail, one footed and hadn't even known about "Tootsies" yet.
The next morning my phone began ringing at 7am, I couldn’t help but to think to myself “didn’t I just go to bed three hours ago.” It was all right because I knew we were going to what could be called the perfect rail. This was the landmark-meeting zone that brought out Joe Carlino, Ashley Barker and I shooting, while, Jed Anderson, Will Lavigne, Chris Grenier and Ben Farrell began to session the rail. Jed immediately started putting the rail in its proper place, smoothly destroying it. Jed has an amazing snowboard style that is Metal For Sure. Chris stomped a front board 270 out, and Will stuck a 270 front board to regular. Although the tricks that were landed were insane the best thing for me at this session was observing the attitudes of the crew. Not one complaint, even with heavy snowfall, making filming difficult, these guys stayed positive the entire time. I clearly see why Joe Carlino chose these kids for his new project.
- The crew, the setup and the lengthy rail. This spot is insane.
- In case you didn't know, Joe Carlino is working on a new project. Should be insane, these guys are gettting an early start this year.
- Chris Grenier, this speaks for itself.
- Chris getting after it as early as November.
- Jed Anderson getting ready, and Will Lavigne loving the snow.
- Jed Dropping with his crew that's got his back.
- Jed Anderson has the sickest style. Metal for sure.
- Jed always seems stoked. I would probably be too if I could stomp tricks hit after hit like him..
- Jed getting after it. Non stop..
- Just in time, the drop in is set and ready.
- For Jed Anderson to drop another hammer.
-Will Lavigne was getting after it too. Will is a pretty mellow kid and seems to be enjoying himself for sure.
- Will Lavigne stomped a sick frontside 270. Check out the control.
- Joe Carlino's new project is going to be insane. Make sure you check his current project "These Days"
The next morning came just as quick and we reserved this for our regions most unique rail zone. Unfortunately we did not have the full crew of the day before but it was undoubtedly some solid riding. Upon our arrival, a perfect 33 stair wood rail, an ollie over a telephone booth, and a bent over stop sign, all awaited this day. Ben Farrell did a pole jam on the stop sign, popped off like three feet and did a perfect stalefish. This was a great way for the Syracuse crew to finish up their trip here and Ben assured me he would be back after Thanksgiving.
- Ben Farrell searching for terrain, in all the right places.
- Ben Farrell | Stop sign pole jam.
- My first day with the new flash. Jay Emert stallin.
- Ben Farrell tuck knee pole jam off the stop sign.
- Noah Hausknecht gets pressed out.
- Ben got down on this one too.
Thanksgiving Day I rolled by the High School and met back up with Joe, Jed, Chris, Will and Ashley as they were in mid session on a pretty insane feature. I have to admit, I walked this high school stair set for four years, and never looked at it the way Chris Grenier looked at it on this day. He mentioned it was the influence from his friend Scott Stevens. After Chris landed his 50-50 drop to firecracker the stairs, we took to an alley behind where the old Suburban Blend Snowboard Shop was. At this alley, Jed Anderson put together the craziest equation of a snowboard jib I’ve ever seen....
- Urban downtown.
- Will Lavigne dropping in the alley.
- Chris Grenier and Jed Anderson chilling in Jamestown. On look as Will gets his shot.
- Add one Calgary kids imagination, one sketchy brick alley, three inches of snow, five pieces of 1.5 foot wood, one framed flexible piece of grid metal, two large sharp metal boxes with a frame around the top of the metal, a 7 foot drop out, and one drunken homie. Now add those together and what do you get? You will have to wait until Joe Carlinos new project comes out to find out….
- Chris Grenier, Will Lavigne and Jed Anderson close out their session here.
Big thanks to Joe Carlino, Jed Anderson, Chris Grenier, Will Lavigne, Ashley Barker, Ben Farrell, Noah Hausknecht, Jay Emert, George Crosland, Ben Littler, The Weather Channel and everyone else that made it over here this November. Best November Yet.
On a final note..
Here is to Lake Effect Snow, Good times, Hammers Slamming, and riders looking at your hometown different than you do.