HIGH FIVES WORKING @ VERMONT NORTH

High Fives co-founder is working at Vermont North Ski Shop this entire Holiday season come see him for details on the foundation.

High Fives Quarterly: Volume 2

Second Edition of High Fives Non-Profit Foundation Quarterly, please read to stay up to date with the most recent news, updates and upcoming events. Enjoy!

50/50 UVM Alumni Party

UVM ALUMNI PARTY

Meathead Films Unveils Wild Stallions Ski Movie

 

TRUCKEE, CA - Award winning Meathead Films has released the DVD for their latest ski film project, Wild Stallions, presented by Subaru of New England.  A public movie premiere in conjunction with High Fives Non-Profit Foundation will be held at 50/50 Brewing Company (fiftyfiftybrewing.com) on Thursday November 19 at 9:00pm.  Admission is a $5 donation to the High Fives Athlete Endowment Fund, with all ages welcomed.

The screening will also include free giveaways, a raffle with hundreds of dollars worth of prizes, and an actions sports movie that will excite people for the upcoming ski season.  Merchandise from Meathead Films sponsors as well as prizes from UVM, Trew Clothing, Orage Clothingand Unofficialsquaw.com will be up for grabs.  The night will also feature a vast gathering of Lake Tahoe-based UVM alumni to enjoy the first ever CA premiere by Meathead Films.  DJ Silver Boom-Box Thief will provide music following the movie.

 Wild Stallions was filmed exclusively in the Eastern U.S. and Canada while following the region's most talented freeskiing athletes to spectacular terrain throughout various resorts, urban areas, and rare backcountry locations including cat skiing in the Chic Choc Mountains.  What the East lacks in vertical drop, Meathead Films makes up for in unveiling tight tree skiing, deep powder, unique jump sites, creative urban terrain, and of course, die hard locals. 

 Filmed in High Definition, 16mm, and Super 8mm film formats, Wild Stallions is truly a unique mix of visual mediums.  Last year's offering from Meathead Films, Head For the Hills, won the category for "Best Jib" at Powder Magazine's Video Awards.  This event is considered to be the Academy Awards of the ski film world and Wild Stallions is sure to stir up similar excitement in the industry.

 Boasting one of the largest movie tours in the game, Wild Stallions will premiere at over 60 stops and returned as a feature presentation at the 3rd annual International Freeskiing Film Festival (IF3) in Montreal on September 18. A complete list of tour stop locations and dates are available on MeatheadFilms.com. 

 The DVD will be distributed in the U.S., Canada, Japan, and the U.K. by VAS Entertainment, the world's largest action sports distributor.  Content from Wild Stallions will be broadcasted to millions on RSN, an ESPN affiliate, as well as The Ski Channel, an on-demand network carried by Comcast and Time Warner.  The movie trailer for Wild Stallions can be viewed on MeatheadFilms.com, as well as the entirely new SkiTheEast.net community website.   

 

-  End  -

 

For immediate company information visit:  www.meatheadfilms.com, www.skitheeast.net, & www.highfivesfoundation.org 

GP MARTIN: TRAINS

An amazing video put together by the media director, GP Martin of the TRAINS event from 2009. This is a cool way to view the day.

http://vimeo.com/7216213

Bocce Tournament

 

1st Annual BOCCE Tournament

This past weekend,  the 1st Annual BOCCE Tournament took place at the regional park courtesy of the Truckee Parks and Rec Department who also painted six amazing courts for the day. The 24-two person teams competed for trophies from the Mountain Forge Inc., prizes from Snowbomb.com, and the ultimate title of Truckee's Bocce Champions. The tournament was a double-elimination format that started promptly at 12:30 and finished in the dark after 7pm. This fun filled day was catered by Tahoe's finest sandwich shop, Full Belly Deli and featured the soon to be world famous wings of Jamie LaValle. Uncorked wine provided custom wine glasses to all attendees, a couple cases of wine and the everyone's favorite beer: PBR. Keith Prawalsky and Keith Deisner (owner of Truckee's favorite water hole THE PASTIME CLUB) took home the title of champions by defeating Unofficialsquaw.com Tall People team of Mattias Sullivan and John Rockwood. Great day and we look forward to a bigger turnout next year! High Five and a big thank you to Eventsmaster for the donation of 25 chairs and 5 Tables for the day.

HIGH FIVES TO HOST AFTER PARTY AT 50/50

Big News: THIS JUST ANNOUNCED FROM THE RED DAWN OFFICE OF MILITARY

This Saturday, October 10th, 2009:

High Fives will be be co-hosting the after-party for the TGR Premier of "Re:Session" at 50/50 with the Red Dawn.

It will be a $5 cover for the after-party but here is best part, the sounds of THE SILVER BOOMBOX THIEF will have the ladies dancing while Nick G. is pouring drinks behind the bar. This is not a night to miss because the cover charge is going directly to the HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION ATHLETE FUND.

The party will have drinks specials, industry schwag, raffle prizes, dance moves, ski board stories, beer, high fives, free stuff, break-dancing, new haircuts, nike kicks and some of the best "bro-brahs" and "fem-brahs" dancing away the night to beer, liquor, and wine.

This event could hinder the performances of the participants for the 1st Annual BOCCE Tournament the next day at Truckee Regional Park, there are still spots open for teams of two. $75/team which includes all the food, beer, wine, and did I mention beer that you can drink in 11am to 6pm time slot of the event. Where else can you hang with your friends outside and drink all the beer you can for a good cause? One answer, The 1st Annual BOCCE Tournament.....email registration to highfivesfoundation@gmail.com

We all hope to see you soon, High Fives to you all....

--
Roy Tuscany

Mountain Forge Inc. 10950 Industrial Way Bldg. A1 Truckee, CA 96161
Operations Manager; website: www.mtnforge.com email: info@mtnforge phone:530 550 0511 fax: 530 550 0517 direct: 530.562.4270

High Fives Non-Profit Foundation Po Box 3212 Truckee, CA 96160
CO-Founder; website: www.highfivesfoundation.org email: roy@highfivesfoundation.com phone: 802.522.9838

Smith Optics California Team/Promotions Manager
www.smithoptics.com

High Fives Foundation: Quarterly #1

The First Quarterly Released by the High Fives

High Fives Non-Profit Foundation presents "The 1st Annual Bocce Tournament"

High Fives Non Profit Foundation is hosting our 1st Annual Bocce Tournament, Sunday, October 11th at the Truckee Regional Park.  Come join Tahoe's favorite foundation as we enjoy delicious BBQ by Truckee's own Full Belly Deli, great wines from Uncorked, and the finest beer Pabst has to offer.  The cost is $75 per team, it will include entry fee, food, wine, beer, custom stemware from Uncorked and a chance to win prizes as well as the commerative trophies handmade by the Mountain Forge.

The tournament will be a double elimination bracket with the top 4 teams taking home trophies.  Registraion starts at 10:30am at the Truckee Regional Park and the games will begin at 11:00am.  The tournament will be limited to 32 two-person teams, so reserve your spot as soon as possible!

 

To reserve your team's spot in the bracket please email: highfivesfoundation@gmail.com and include your team name, participant's names, and whether you would like to pay cash or check on the day of the event.

 

This will be a great day of fun and all proceeds are going to the Athlete Fund of the High Fives Foundation.  For more information about the High Fives Foundation please check our website at highfivesfoundation.org and read the newest High Fives Quarterly for information about what we have been up to recently.

What:1st Annual High Fives Bocce Tournament

When:Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:30am-6pm

How Much:$75 entry fee per two-person team

What you Get: Food, Beer and Wine Included

Great prizes and trophies for winning teams

Music: Watertruck Sound; DJ One Truest

 

High Fives on the East Coast

The original story, written by Sylas Wright, that ran in the Sierra Sun in late April has made it way into the papers on the East Coast. The online articles can be found by clicking the links below. We are starting as a foundation based in Tahoe but this already cross-country exposure is showing that we will be able to grow.

 

 

Article found in the Waterbury Recorder

http://www.stowetoday.com/articles/2009/07/30/waterbury_record/sports/doc4a7070b30c291059940724.txt

Article found in the Stowe Reporter

http://www.stowetoday.com/articles/2009/07/30/stowe_reporter/news/local_news/doc4a718d92d752a214771208.txt

High Fives in Warren, VT for Independence Day

If you are in Vermont, come to Warren for the annual 4th of July celebration, all those with High Fives shirts wear them with pride and rock out to the red white and blue

http://www.warren4thofjuly.com/

3000words Winners Announced

The event was filled with the framed art by (8) of Tahoe's Best Photographers who contributed there work to help raise money for three local non-profits; CHARITYSMITH(www.charitysmith.org), BIKING FOR A BETTER WORLD (www.bikingforabetterworld.com), and HIGH FIVES (www.highfivesfoundation.org). The photos were silent auctioned off as the people attending the event bid on their favorite photos and at the same time voted on the photos in the 3000words Photo Contest. The people attending were viewing the art and deciding which one best fit the three categories; PEOPLE, WINTER and HUMAN POWER.  At the end of the night, Kevin Kline's Photo of a  Monk outside his Temple won for HUMAN POWER, Court Leve's Photo of Seth Westcott in Alaska won for WINTER, and the most colorful picture of the night; Ryan Salms photo of a warrior won for PEOPLE. This event was a huge hit; Dj One.Truest and King o'Hearts provided beats for the entire evening of dancing, drinking, and high fives! Bar of America was a great host for the event, and everyone be ready for next year as we plan to make this an annual event.

Longballz High Fives Softball part. 2

High Fives Get's up to Get down!

Post game shananagan's.  Team celebration.

The Longballz High Fives!!

Jakes and Longballz

Nikki's a High Fiver all the way!

Longballz High Fives Softball part. 1

High Fives was fully represented last night by the Longballz Softball team of Tahoe City.  Playing Jakes On the Lake the Longballz High Five'd to a 26-5 victory!  Highlights of the game came from the Longballz's hot double plays, homeruns from Ralph Backstrom and others, and to top it off a cameo At-Bat from Roy Tunscany driving one for a single and racing down the first base line to be called safe!

Check out the pics below to see the action and High Fives both at and post game at the Pete N Peter's afterparty.

High Fives represented on the field.  Jeff, Niel, Adam and Ralph turn'n plays.

Niel excited about his new mullet steez.  

High Fives ladies represent.  Nikki and JP warming up.

Alicia, Mary-Kate, and Ashley...even celebrities can't stay away.

Niel and Ben preparing for the game sporting their new mullets.

Photography and Philanthropy Come Together

Come support three of the most interesting and inspiring charity efforts in the Tahoe area.  On Wednesday, June 24, from 6 pm-12am, Bar of America will host a fundraiser to benefit CHARITYSMITH: National Society of Memorial Funds, High Fives Non-Profit Foundation, and Biking for a Better World.  The event, "3000 Words," will include a cocktail hour, dinner, silent auction and photo contest showcasing several local photographers.  The photographers will be competing for the best photo in each of three categories representing the charities.  Following the dinner, there will be a raffle with many great prizes including season passes to local ski areas, gear, and vouchers from local businesses.  Raffle tickets will be sold to the public for $5 at the door.  Dinner tickets are limited.

Don't miss this chance to support local artists and philanthropists in the Tahoe community.

The following are the mission statements of the three non-profit organizations hosting this event...

CHARITYSMITH Nonprofit Foundation is committed to the creation and management of memorial funds. For those who feel inspired to do so, CHARITYSMITH offers a simple and expedient pathway to the creation of memorials in memory of loved ones. By contributing to the lives of others, we remember and honor the lives of those who have passed.

At Biking for a Better World, we see riding a bicycle as an empowering, enjoyable activity, understood universally and practiced throughout the entire world. We strive to transform the very act of pedaling into a force to make the world a better place.

High Fives Non-Profit Foundation raises money for athletes who have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing a dream in the winter action sports community.

 

 

Roy Tuscany is helping Jerry's Kids

Everyone: I'm proud to tell you that I'm being locked up...that's right, I'm going behind bars to help Jerry's Kids and MDA. To be released on good behavior I have to raise bail and I need your help! All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation before 05/28/09. Your donation will help families living in our community and help guarantee me an early release. I can't wait to add you to my list of contributors. Thanks in advance for your help. Don't hesitate to call or email me with any questions. Together we'll make a difference, Roy P.S. I'm counting on you, click here to donate. If the link above does not work, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser. https://www.joinmda.org/2009truckeelockup/info/

TRAINS - words by Kress Durfee (Winner Best Female)

I had pretty much been looking forward to TRAINS since I heard about it, actually more so since last year when they didnt have a girls category. It really cant be anything but fun when you put an innovative setup, creative format, a bunch of friends, music, food, and SUN together in one event.  JP delivered both by building a sweet setup with the snow conditions he had to work with and collaborating with the athletes' input. I was really into the format this year because it didnt feel like a competition at all, rather it reflected a normal day out skiing with the buddies; watching everyone kill it and also getting support to push myself as well.
 Unfortunately, about halfway through the individual jam, I landed a little too far down for my knee to handle, which ended my day competing as well as my season.  It's really unfortunate, but at the same time it has brought forth to me what High Fives is all about.  Injuries suck, and after being fresh off a previous injury it's the last thing I want to go through.  Having support makes it ten times better to deal with.  Roy has been super supportive already and I think with his inspiration and cause, the High Fives foundation is one of the best things going in Tahoe.  
I saw Roy take some turns on Friday and it was fricken awesome.

 

High Five

Kress

TRAINS on newschoolers.com

Josh Anderson has put together an amazing photo article for the front story on newschoolers.com, his words sum up the day as his pictures make it feel as if you were there. Plus at the end of the article is the amazing 5-minute edit by Stonebroke Films, www.stonebrokefilms.com, which will be on the upcoming bonus section of LevelOne Productions movie in the fall. This is a must read article by the talented Josh Anderson.

http://www.newschoolers.com/web/content/news/news_id/2683/

TRAINS - Reelcomp.com drops a ski edit

Reelcomp.com a snowboard, surf, and skate online video posting website, think youtube but without videos of the Techno viking, bubb rubb, or a leprechaun in Alabama has put together a great video edit that shows the entire elements of the contest. This is the first time the crew from reelcomp.com has filmed and edited a ski specific event. Check it http://www.vimeo.com/4417815

Trains - Video Edit by Stonebroke Films

Trent Palmer of Stonebrokfilms has put together another masterpiece, a 5 minute edit of the event; TRAINS. Please follow the link below to witness the great day, broken down into 5 minutes of video magic. Please check out Trent's site www.stonebrokefilms.com to buy a copy of his movie ALONE.

http://vimeo.com/4347866

TRAINS - words by Sean Carey

 

Coming from the point of view of a long time competitor, high fives is probably the most progressive competition of its kind.  The standard of excellence from skiing, organization, and just flat out fun will continue to out-do itself year after year. We've all heard the expression "if you ain't first, your last"!  Well, in this competition they both meant the same thing.  It didn't matter how well you did, because of the spirit and support each athlete dedicated.
As one of the older athletes competing in High Fives, I am thrilled to watch this foundation grow as a whole and continue to lift the standard of freeskiing!  Congrats to all !!

High Fives (where excellence is average)

Sean Carey

Becca Babicz on TRAINS

Trains

When Roy invited me to TRAINS this year and told me it was going to be a team competition with a girl on every team, I was really excited and one thing popped into my mind "Orage Masters of Tahoe."

I missed the practice/photoshoot day on Friday which wound up being a good thing because I didn't get to see the set up and didn't lose sleep. A lot of times before competitions I cant sleep because I'm too excited/anxious/nervous thinking about the next day and what tricks I want to throw.

Saturday went by really fast but you know what they say about time flying by. Kress Durfee, Courtney Royce, Shawndrea Wisma, Brit White and myself were the invited girls and got to be captains picking our team middle- school gym class style. I was captain of team blue, which also happens to be my favorite color. It was a good sign.

After skiing with Matt Nelson and seeing him kill it numerous amounts of times at Northstar this year, I was confident he would be my first pick. I really had no idea he could do double rodeos, I just knew he had silky smooth style and cat like reflexes where he always lands on his feet. Matt wound up impressing the judges by throwing a rodeo off the up rail feature, a double rodeo and numerous spin rotations, taking the top individual prize of best overall male. When it came
time to pick my next team member, I couldn't believe no one picked Sean Collin, last years winner and the only kid I know that can do every grab ever invented plus grabs that I've never even seen or heard of before. The judges also like Sean's style and he won best 540. When I got to pick my last two team members I was baffeled. How could no one have picked Tyler Homen and Sean Carey!? I really got lucky, I guess. I skied with T-Hoe in previous years but not much this season and didn't know he learned  double back flips! Sean Carey was my savior  and let me follow his speed into the jump. He also came up with our team high five, that won the best high five award. He sat up on the barrel and slapped our hands as we flew through the air. Sean and Matt even did flipping high fives! I also had an honorary member, Jex Lawrence who skied with me throughout the individual competition. Jex is like that Twista song "overnight celebrity" somehow he woke up one day in March and decided to get really sick at skiing.

The speed in the jump got slower and slower throughout the day, but what else could you expect from a blue bird 60 degree weather day? There wound up being more cases than a liquor store on that jump and I felt like an 80- year old woman the day after the competition, after getting worked quit a bit.  But my blue team killed it and we won best team which meant $100, a bunch of cool swag and my favorite thing ever, moon boots!

The competition for me was one last time to see all my ski friends before the season ended. It's weird how ski friends come and go in waves, and sometimes you'll be skiing with someone for weeks straight and then not see them for a month. And with season pass prices, it seems like my friends were all scattered at different mountains this year. So that was my favorite part, to reunite and see everyone killing it on a nice sunny day. 

high five, BB

Becca Babicz following TRAINS teammate Sean Carey, as Team Blue sends a train over the 62-foot jump at Sugar Bowl

TRAINS event photos UP

Event photo's on the High Fives Foundation facebook group page from GP Martin Photography.  Athletes interested in obtaining shots of them from TRAINS please email james@highfivesfoundation.com.

Reno Gazette Journal - High Fives Foundation

Check out the article by TRAINS athlete, Becca Babicz, in the Reno Gazette Journal.  Thanks for coming out Saturday and taking an interest in our cause!  High Fives

TRAINS - words by TRAINS athlete Matt Nelson

This year High Fives event "Trains" was the most fun competition this year.  The setup and different events including best high five, train, 540, male, female, and overall team made for an awesome event.  Every time I went down to the chair lift all I saw were high fives and smiles on the riders faces which is what the event is about.  I was really excited to see the setup this year because I heard Roy saying that it was going to be super fun.  When I showed up Friday for practice I saw what JP Martin had created and knew that the event would be one of a kind.  When Becca picked me for the blue team I was ready and couldn't wait to see who the rest of my team was.  I was stoked and knew we had an awesome team when riders Sean Collin, Tyler Homen, and Sean Carey were picked.  One thing I really liked about this event is that you don't get that nervous feeling because you only have two runs to lay down your best tricks.  Instead you are out there having fun skiing with all your friends at Sugarbowl.  Some highlights that I will remember from this years event:  Our teams high five which was two superman front flips with high fives over the barrel jib, winning best male, and to top everything taking the best team overall!  I know this event and the High Fives Foundation will keep growing and look forward to upcoming years!  HIGH FIVE!!!!!!

Matt gets rad at TRAINS with the Sugar Bowl Palisades behind.  One of the many tricks that Matt threw down to win Best Male.

TRAINS clips from Unofficialsquaw.com

Thanks to Tim Konrad and Mattias Sullivan from Unofficialsquaw.com for coming out to TRAINS on Saturday and putting some clips together for everyone to enjoy.  

High Fives Foundation from Timothy Konrad on Vimeo.

Another epic day at Sugar Bowl, TRAINS 2009

What a great day for High Fives Foundation to host this year's spring ski event, TRAINS, up at Sugar Bowl Resort, California.  With temps well into the 60's and abundant sunshine, all 25 invited athletes gave it their all in an amazing display of slopestyle skiing, team work and positivity.

Thanks to all the supporters that came out to celebrate High Fives and see Tahoe's young guns show off their talents.  Thanks to all of our sponsors for this year's event:  Volkl skis, Tecnica, Smith Optics, Charity Smith, Discrete, Grundens Weather Gear, Surefoot, Porters, Full Belly Deli, The Mountain Forge...and many other strong supporters!  Last but not least, a huge thanks to the team at Sugar Bowl for an amazing job making this event a success for the econd year in a row.  JP Martin you are the man, thank you.

Results:

Best Male: Matt Nelson

Best Female: Kress Durfee

Best 540: Sean Collin 

Best Trick: Parker White

Best High Five: Sean Carey, Matt Nelson, Sean Collin

Best Train: Red Team  (Jed Kravitz, Jimy Greenleaf, Casey Krueger, Chris Logan, Courtney Royce)

Best Team Overall:  Blue Team (Sean Carey, Matt Nelson, Sean Collin, Becca Babicz, Tyler Homen)

Here's some pics from earlier today.  Much more to come very soon!  

High Fives

Two Deep over the jump, mid TRAIN.

Sean Collin - Winner Best 540...Sean put on an amazing display today

Ralph Backstrom - High Fives supporter and all around ripper, gettin' dirty

The Mountain Forge custom trophies presented to Best Trick, Best male, Best Female, Best 540, Best High Five

Getting rad over the rail yard