The Time is NOW!

Back from a super fun weekend in Seattle with the Exuberant Animal crew laying down some exciting collective plans for inspiring movement. And this weekend has elevated the mission to a all new level! So below is lots of info not just from the Animals but from others. Take a few minutes. maybe skip your favorite show tonite and check out some stuff that has worked to keep my stoke, maybe it will for you as well?!

While i was a little banged up from some recent run in's with trees, icy trails and a nasty chest cold thingy, this weekend was still so amazing and fun and inspiring! It was my time to learn more and vibe off of some of the most amazing people in the world of physical movement that I've ever met. People that are driven to make a difference each and every day in their own way.

Some are authors like the chief of the tribe, Frank Forencich who has written many books on the topic of movement and breaking it down into basic, primal patterns with a focus on fun and play. An amazing person with a mission that is purely inspiring to so many of us.

Which doesn't mean easy by any means, it just means FUN. why the f^%k should't movement and "workouts" be fun? what is wrong with that? Nothing.

The Barefoot Sensei takes primal movement to a whole other level. A genuine, authentic warrior who spreads the gospel by example who is unencumbered by the stress and possessions of the modern world by choice, he is a Sensei in every meaning of the word.

And so many others throughout the weekend have left an indelible mark upon me and my own mission, and for this I'm grateful. And thanks to those who made the journey possible, Mahalos to you.

 Josh Leeger  was another of the great personalities there this weekend who taught me many things in a short time and this am I was checking out his site as part of my daily quest for knowledge. On there I found a link to one of his friends sites, Ross Enamait who runs Ross Training and on there i found some really cool stuff including...gasp, cough, a video profiling Will Smith. Now many of you might think of Will as a Hollywood actor and make generalizations like i often do about that industry but look deeper. Will has some cool sh$t to say for sure.

also while on there found this great poem that speaks volumes..

It Couldn’t Be Done

By Edgar Guest

Somebody said it couldn’t be done,

But he with a chuckle replied

That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one

Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing and he tackled the thing

That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;

At least no one has ever done it”;

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,

And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

Without any doubting or quiddit,

He started to sing and he tackled the thing

That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

There are thousands to prophesy failure;

There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,

The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

Just take off your coat and go to it;

Just start to sing as you tackle the thing

That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

And finally also got a great email this morning from the Northeast Kingdom protagonist of movement himself, Joe Fox.

In "A Mile in His Shoes" in this month's Runner's World, Marc Parent speaks of a study by Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler based on a 1947 Framingham Heart study. Says the article:

"They used the same data to make a startling discovery: Happiness is contagious, as are other good behaviors like quitting smoking and staying thin. These and their opposites- obesity, depression, and cigarettes with coffee- apear to spread between people as if they were viruses; groups of friends "infect" one another with good or bad habits."

It goes on to talk about a New York Times summary of the Christakis/ Fowler study...

"If you want to improve the world with your good behavior, math is on your side. For most of us, within three degrees we are connected to more than 1,000 people-all of whom we can theoretically help make healthier, fitter, and happier just by our contagious example."

     "No one is an island. There is always someone watching you leave the house, dig it out, come back, and do it all over again. You are being watched by a roommate, a brother, a spouse. The driver of every passing car. You are being watched by future generations."

Thank you to all  you exuberants and everyone out there who feed my fire!

Newest Mocean365 Action! Session is up from Burlington VT

Check it out. pretty fun session in the snow!
music by Don McCloskey

New Action Videos from Mocean365

Here are a couple vids i slapped together over the last week of some of our movement sessions.
these are the in your park, for free sessions different from the group paying classes that go on each week.
check em'!

Mocean365 Action-St Johnsbury Vt from Mocean365 Media Production on Vimeo.

Mocean365 Movement Revolution! from Mocean365 Media Production on Vimeo.

New Mocean365 Action Segment #3!

Johnson Pumptrack and Dirt Jumps from Mocean365 Media Production on Vimeo.

Youth Fitness

With our nations childhood obesity rate nearing one of five kids, the time is now to forge our next generation of shredders and get them off the Playstations and get them LIVING!

When we grew up we weren't allowed in the house until dinner! We worked alongside our parents and moved our bodies each and everyday. Our play consisted of climbing trees, riding bikes, running around in the woods, wrestling and causing mayhem in other ways.

Kids nowadays don't have that luxury and its often not their fault. They just need some guidance and last year alone, over one million kids hired personal trainers(or their parents did) so there is some glimmering hope that they will rise to the challenge and take care of their bodies and minds!

I'm right here to help and just enrolled in the IYCA "Youth Fitness Specialist" program. This certification will help me understand the youth demographic and better prepare me to help them. The IYCA is the only organization of it's kind and has been recognized as THE go to Youth Fitness experts.

Next season I will continue my work with kids and spread the message of daily movement and fun to them and maybe develop a legion of Mocean365 rippers looking to kick obesity straight in the nuts!

Peace

skye

Mocean365 Action! IdeRide Jump Jam

Here's a little vid to take the heat off Obama. Just some of us having fun and doing what we love.
enjoy!

MOCEAN365 ACTION! VOL #2 from Mocean365 Media Production on Vimeo.

Lost and Found Gig August 22nd in St Johnsbury

so our band has a gig..come see us!




FIRST ANNUAL COURT HOUSE JAM ROCKS ST. JOHNSBURY AUGUST 22ND

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT- The Catamount Arts Open Mike Coalition and ASAPP (Allied Substance Abuse Prevention Partners) announce the first annual Court House Jam on Saturday, August 22 from 4-8pm at the Caledonia County Court House Gazebo to heighten community awareness and raise funds for their weekly open mike showcase.

Open Mike Night, sponsored by ASAPP, was birthed in February from the creative vision of several members of the local music community desiring to offer an alternative to the typical weekend activities to teenagers and young adults. It is held every Friday night at Catamount Arts from 6pm to 10pm and features a diverse and exhilarating range of ages, styles and sounds. The showcase is hosted by different local musicians, and has already become a Northeast Kingdom fixture for performers to express themselves and music lovers to hear fresh, new talent.

Lloyd Dugger, music educator at the St. Johnsbury School and board member of the Open Mike Coalition, sees first hand every day the dire need for such events and the profound effect it is already having on the youth of the community.

“The young people in our area have very few options of what to do on a Friday night, and the choices they make right now can totally determine their future,” says Dugger. “We felt the urgency to create something meaningful for them- not just some place to hang out, but somewhere they can develop their passions and come together in an extraordinary way.”

The Court House Jam will be an afternoon of creative fusion and fun. There will be a barbeque, graffiti and skate demos, ping pong tournaments, and live music from Lost in Sound and Red House, two of the most popular and explosive bands in the area. But most of all, there will be the opportunity for the community to experience the power of the vision behind Open Mike Night and contribute their support, encouragement and enthusiasm.

“Substance abuse prevention comes in many shapes and sizes, giving young people an opportunity to express themselves and feel creative builds on their self esteem and giving them options for their time and energy,” says Tinalyn Caisse, Community Prevention Coalition/ Grant Coordinator. “This is a great venue for a positive and healthy choices, thanks chiefly to the many volunteers and community support.”

The Open Mike Coalition welcomes any support and seeks to increase community involvement in this life-changing program. This program cost money to run and operate, and covets help in any capacity to keep making Open Mike Night possible. Donations of musical instruments are needed and greatly appreciated to offer more youth the opportunity to expand their musical abilities.
For more information, email Michelle Herrington at michelleherringtonprstj@ya

hoo.com.

# # #
Michelle Herrington Public Relations
P.O Box 761
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
michelleherringtonprstj@yahoo.com

Mocean365 Photo and Video Action Sport Classes

Started last week with the Indigenous Board Shop doing some instruction for Action Sports photo and video in St Johnsbury, Vermont. Had a good crew for the first class and looking forward to the next one on August 3rd. Went over all kinds of tips from composition and technical aspects to do it yourself tips and how to maximize gear no matter what your budget.
Here's some shots of the crew. If you're up here and want to sign up for free contact me!
peace

skye

2008-present slideshow

here is a slideshow of a few of the shots i've taken over the last year...very very small selection and there are MANY more!
enjoy!

Peaks Death Race 2009

I'm back and in one piece along with my partner in crime and support crew, Vange. We made the journey down to Pittsfield Vermont so I could test myself on one of the most demanding courses in the world. Vange had told me about the race only a month ago so didn't know what quite to expect except lots of torture which doesn't bother me much.
Pretty sick stuff and they keep you guessing the whole way, mentally and of course physically. The night before the race for check in you have to push your bike to the top of the mountain where they then have you remove the chain and both wheels. I quickly realized that my new Sinister F-Bomb might be a little more beef than i need but that's the way i like it..save the light shit for the weight weenies. Not that there seemed to be many of them. Most of the people i met were either in the military or ultra endurance scene. Met some great people including Ray and Val Morvan from Springfield Vermont which is right near where i grew up and where my family was from. Great people and we tried to collectively speculate about what to expect the next day.
So 50 of us checked in , listened to the rules and pre race meeting and then hiked down from the mountain with our bikes and lots of confusion and anxiety about what would happen in three hours when we woke up...
Waking up at 3-15 am was a trip and Vange and I quickly made all the last minute preparations. She was focused on keeping me fed and hydrated while i was focused on well, not letting the race kill me.
4 am sharp and we were off! into a muddy ditch lined with barb wire which would prove challenging for us with our bike, pack, axe, shoves, 5 gallon bucket, water, clothes, tools and whatever else. after the ditch we had to find our numbers in the dark and stump a tree. the field looked like a bunch of smoke jumpers had just landed in it as people hacked and dug and sawed.
once we had the stump we were told that it must stay with us for the remainder of the race as well. damn, stuff was adding up!
back through the barb wire and off to meet the next challenge which was something i'd never done... go through another ditch lined with barb wire then under a bridge with more barb wire and walk with all that gear one mile downriver IN A RIVER to get a single match handed to you then turn around and head a mile back upstream. you had to pick your way around the deeper or faster current sections and try to stay in control on the snot slick rocks. my ankle was wrapped already from the 24 mile hike i'd done 5 days earlier where i'd turned my ankle a few times so had to make sure not to break it.
back from that and people were starting to drop out or miss the cut off i heard after. the next challenge was split and stack a bunch of wood then grab 6 pieces and head up on a very steep hike where we got to the top and had to memorize the first 10 US presidents. the guy running the station said i was "on record pace" through the splitting section until i ran into one persistent piece at the end that would NOT split until i beat it down twenty minutes later. Big Ray Morvan even put all of his 240 lbs onto the top of my axe with his several times and couldn't split it! Thanks for the help anyway Ray! Finally it split after using every technique i'd ever learned from growing up in the wood industry, damn that thing. Then helped another competitor with his for a while as he had the same problem. Teamwork would prove to be important as we were all in this mess together.
We then had to recite them halfway down and if you missed them, they would send you back up. no chance in hell was i doing that so nailed 'em my first try.
The next challenge was more barb infested ditch and cold water to a bridge where we had to look at a small logo structure that had been built and replicate it with real legos that we would have to jump in a pond for. Had to study the lego structure and try and write it down on something dry which was hard to do as the rain poured down. I was sure i'd screw this up as i've never been smart or logical but pulled it together and nailed it first try..good thing cuz they made people keep doing it until they got it right which would have cost precious time and energy.
Getting into a rythym now as they sent us back into the river for our next challenge in an extremely challenging section of river where we then had to go retrieve an egg at a nearby farm and carry it back intact to the location and build a fire and boil water...without matches or a lighter. got my water boiled and ate that egg raw to save time!
we then hiked up to a spot where our wheels to our bikes were and we put them on and got to coast down a hill(finally riding!) to a spot where they said were could get our chains, with just one catch. Upon arriving there, the kid at the station said, "429 right? here is your chain" as he threw it out into a water pit where it quickly sank to the murky, mucky bottom. This section of the race almost did me in as i dove for it time and time again and continued to get colder and colder with no luck. Starting to get worried here as it was super hard to stay warm. The clock was ticking as i searched for about a half hour until i was eventually onshore...shivering nearly uncontrollably until i did 20 pushups and squats, and jumped in for a last ditch attempt and alas, there it was along the bottom in the mud! had to then put it on the bike which was very tricky in my condition. Vange gave me some of my moms Vegataballs Pesto which got me straight, some Yerba Mate and was off and running with then next challenge.
Carry 40 pounds of rocks up the mountain! Wouldn't have been bad until i got lost and ended up bushwhacking up the whole mountain on some very very steep and gnarly terrain. Was finally near the top but sure i was way off course but decided to give a little "whoop" trail call to see if anyone was near. To my suprise, i got a "whoop" right back..more bushwhacking and climbing over a few more trees and pricker bushes and stinging nettles and then another "whoop"! could it be??......got to the top and sure enough, there was my support crew, Vange!!!
Almost there now as the the course designer Jason commented on the brutal terrain he knew i'd just climbed and gave me my final task. Fill up my five gallon bucket from a culvert down at the bottom and bring it back to him....full of course. This was a pretty tough trail with a 200 yard bushwhack section but was feeling good as i brought it home.
The last hour was a slog down in and out of the "Ravine" which was super burly as was my alternate route which got me out of the ravine for a bunch but into stinging nettles and more prickers. By this time i was jogging and ready to crush it! Cruise under more barb wire and head for the finish where they told me my time of 16 hours and 18 minutes was good enough for 11th place.
Big thanks to Vange my support crew who was there with fresh food, water, yerba and a smile as she also shot pictures and video which you will see soon. Best support ever and in a very cute package!
My Sinister F-bomb felt great on my back and took a beating throughout the day and attracted plenty of attention with FTW's sick welds and design.
Also F-stop Gear for the great product as my bag held through sixteen hours plus hours of hell with tons of weight in it and sharp objects.
Timberland Shoes, Princeton-Tec Headlamps, Bern Helmets, Highland Mountain Bike Park and Kingdom Outdoors/Indigenous Board Shop.
And thanks to my family, friends, and clients for believing in me and encouraging me to rip it up!

Ripped on the Charles with Mocean365

The "Ripped on the Charles with Mocean365" is finishing up our first sucessful 8 week session next week and its been an amazing time with a killer crew. Overlooking the beautiful Charles River, the workouts have included the usual Mocean365 blend of dynamic warm-ups, balance and proprioceptive drills, strength and conditioning interspersed with cardiovascular challenges. Aside from all those fancy terms, we had a lot of fun MOVING. outside, fresh air(sorta) and with a fun group. Here's are a few shots from last weeks class. Big props and thanks to all the crew that made it happen especially Will and Chris B and everyone else that came week in and week out to...."Get Ripped on the Charles!
peace

skye

The Tribe comes to town

Mocean365 tribe member "Stompy" recently came down for a couple days of non-stop adventure at the Mocean365 backwoods crib.
We hit up the "DH trail" to "Camptown" to Enchanted Forest then to the new trail, "Burnham Down" which brings you all the way back to town.
We hit up the pump track with the big bikes and then met some folks for a Mocean365 Action Workout where we did an "alchemy" of movements with Burke Mountain as our backdrop. Kind of beats the gym eh?

Jammed at night with new cat Pete McAlenney and got together some fun songs..everything from Rage, to Social D to Rise Against and Smashing Pumpkins, Sublime etc etc. Peter does some amazing GIS work and if you need some you should give him a shout!!

Another ride in the arvo then Stompy went to get in some Wakeboarding crew with the usual Thursday gang(Meghan, O-town, Matty Fred etc) that i opted out of this week to let my wrist heal after a run in with a tree at Highland Mountain. Instead i lead another workout at the East Burke town field and got home to do some more log work, prepping logs for the new addition Vange has going on. Stompy got back and we tortured the wakeboarding crew with another jam with Stomp going hard on the vocals during some Beasties and some original songs he dug up.

Got some trail and dirt jump work done too with some new lines going in all around. Had Stompdog rally his sick new KTM dirt bike up and down the trail while i cut and trimmed to help beat it in. I'll get some pics of the work soon so you can plan your next riding trip right here!

Friday night had a jam with a new band project i'm in led by Scotty Raymond aka "Eskae one ", one of the partners at Kingdom Outdoors/Indigenous Board Shop. We had DJ Transplante playing with us that night which was incredible. Great humble dude and very talented. Lloyd Dugger kept it all together with his mad talents and Matt added the dark guitar while i tried to just lay it down as Scotty turned out sick rhyme after rhyme! stay tuned for more on the new project. think soul, jazz, rock, hip hop blend.

Yesterday got a bunch of work done then hit the mountain with Knight of the IdeRide crew. rode most of the road up to the mtn then we pushed our bikes straight up then rallied down "J-Bar" and "Burnham Down".
Pretty sweet few days..didn't make much money but damn had some fun. Got a couple shots here and there of Stompy rocking the Bern and Peter but nothing crazy.

peace