Hot Dawg

Stranger Dangers 

I made it though my first snowboarding contest of the season unscathed. Barely. The Ski Patrol guy stayed close to me thankfully. That was reassuring. The thing some people don't get is that photographers put themselves in harms way knowingly. There is a different sort of dedication to get the shot, especially news reporters. 

There is no second chance to get the photo after the action happens. We go on auto-pilot. I was terrified of big dogs for many years. But one day I found myself within three feet of a tiger that was not restrained. He's a pro, of course, one of the tigers from the movie Gladiator. I should note that he was not just standing there. He was pretending to attack me. I was really hoping the lion wasn't a method actor. I will have to dig up some of those photos.

A bear at that same exotic animal compound killed its trainer. That bear was in Semi-Pro, the scene with Zoe Deschanel as the trainer. Love that movie. "Everybody panic! If you have a small child, use it as a shield! They love tender meat."  

So when the announcer at the snowboarding contest told me I better move from a particular spot because I might get hurt, I sort of chuckled. Really? I might get hurt? Not these five guys standing in the same exact spot? Just me? Thanks. 

 

I almost got flattened standing on the side, as well. It's part of the gig. I have many pictures of this man about to take me out. And not to dinner. 

I missed the awards ceremony because some knuckleheads resorted to fisticuffs. That resulted in this picture, left. I got in an argument with his friends while on the phone with my editor. And then I had another call to run to.  http://bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2010/09/22/news/doc4c995fb61797f810988110.txt 

Literally, run. It was around the corner. A guy hit an electric pole and there were live wires all around. He was arrested for DUI. He was reportedly driving about 45 mph, according to a witness, in a residential area. He hit a stump and went airborne into the electric pole. 

About 20 minutes later, I covered the film festival across town. And there was a filmmaker named Polly Green (her movie was "Soft Power Health") wearing very cute shoes that I think my daughter would have melted for.  I am drawn to these right now because I recently watched The Great Gatsby, The Great Waldo Pepper and The Sting. 

And then I called it a night. 

 

Boarders rail at the Scene

Big Bear Grizzly

Smokin’ Snowboards rider Anthony Mazzotti pulls off a backside rail slide no sweat under Indian summer-like rays during the Sept. 18 Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails contest at Bear Mountain Resort. (ARRISSIA OWEN TURNER/Big Bear Grizzly)

By ARRISSIA OWEN TURNER
Reporter

Wednesday, Sept. 22

Bear Mountain kicked off its 2010-11 season Sept. 28 with the annual Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails contest. The event featured some of the best professional snowboarders hitting more than 100 tons of autumn snow for a shot at the $14,000 purse in the Pro Invitational Rail Jam.

Mike Casanova

Nick Visconti won first place, Jake Kuzyk took second, and Johnny Lazzereschi placed third. Mike Casanova walked away with $5,000 in the Red Bull Best Trick Contest and Jess Kimura won $1,000.

Riders in the running included local Zak Hale, Ryan Paul, Dylan Alito, Ted Borland, Anthony Mazzotti, Mike Casanova, last year’s winner Scott Vine and many more.

The event also featured vendor booths, autograph signings, DJ Slipmat spinning and plenty of shwag. The event finished with the premiere of two new snowboarding films, Bear Mountain’s “Paint it Red” and the People’s “Cheers.”

For more Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails photos, visit www.bigbeargrizzly.net.