Nothing beats the aroma of fresh tan leather mixed with the scents of Sharpie and paint.
On Friday, Jan. 26, we hosted one of our favorite events during the winter season: our third annual Kinco Glove Art Show. Event guests were presented with an overwhelming selection of unique Kincos, including 41 pairs of gloves created by over 30 different artists.
Acadia Haas looks at some artists' gloves on display.
Madi Fassiotto and her friends examine some gloves in the tech room of Boardworks.
Graham Callan's gloves, right, were the most 3-dimensional pairs in the show.
Patrons look around at an assortment of gloves inside Boardworks.
Morgen, left, Johnny, and Bailey manage the contributions made for our shop trip. Thanks, Everybody!
Lichen Johnson's glass-blown pair of Kincos got preferential display treatment in the goggle light box... they are delicate.
A uniquely cool aspect of the Kinco art show is the implicit expectation that the potential buyer might showcase their purchases on the slopes. This adds another layer of challenge to this creative project.
Throughout the show, approximately 200 friends and
regular customers came to see the display, which spanned the entire shop.
A striking piece by Lichen Johnson, a glass pair of Kinco gloves, was meticulously handcrafted at the shop he works for on Lopez Island. His pair was as expensive as it was fragile and we wish him luck in connecting with the right buyer in the near future!
Photo: Eridan Smith, left, and his buddies play Amped on the original Xbox in the lounge area during the Kinco Art Show.
We have been stoked with our recent ability to serve alcohol at events like this. It has been instrumental in keeping Boardworks afloat during this low-snowfall winter season. The Boardworks staff enjoys serving all of you, but when the pace picks up, we bring in the heavy hitters, Bailey and Morgan, to take over bar-keeping duties. They know how to keep their energy as high as the speed at which they sling drinks. So shout out to them for helping us make art shows like these successful events!
As always, we host these events to celebrate our passion for creativity in the snowboard community and bring all of our friends together. I was in charge of taking pictures that night, and I know I captured several of our friends. Have fun looking through them and seeing familiar faces!
P.S. We still have gloves left that need to be picked up by either the artist or buyer, so come by as soon as you can to snag these epic gloves.
Photo: Jake, in denim, and his girlfriend, Gillian, look at Kincos on display in the shop area during the art show.
Photo: Guests visit with each other while having a beverage at the Kinco Art Show.
Photo: Boardworks Owners Johnny and Nate pose for a photo wearing quintessential Boardworks event attire: collared shirts and bolo ties.
To clarify before viewing these are by no means ranked, they merely appear in order of when they were photographed.
"Good Finger, Bad Finger" by Kaylee Rose.
Instagram @kaylee.a.rose.art
Website: kayleeannroseart.etsy.com
"GOJIRA" by Luuk Honey.
Instagram @abashfulartist
Website: grasshopper-indigo-hlsx.squarespace.com
Instagram @darciegray_art
Website: www.rangedesignstudio.com
Instagram @obsidian.teeth
Website: redsparrowtattoocollective.com
Instagram @captpickard
Website: fungalbrain.com
As the party wound down, the last call was made, and the last of the stragglers were shepherded out, it was time for the hosts to grab a drink and celebrate the night's success at Matthew's Honest Cocktails.
Photo: Boardworks' media guy Andy Ford, left, and Sophia Garcia hold Garcia's pair of gloves after Ford bought them.
Photo: Kal Thalhammer, Morgen Foster, and Johnny Lupo sit at Matthew's visiting with friends while waiting for their drinks.
On Wednesday. January 17, 2024, schools told students not to attend, businesses warned customers they may not open, and roads became lawless in Bellingham. About a foot of snow inundated the city and shut down nearly everything as snow days usually do in a city that has limited infrastructure to deal with any kind of snowfall.
Excited to seize the day after coming off the high of a few pow-days at Mt. Baker last week, the team at Boardworks had their gears turning for how to capitalize on this opportunity. After weeks of trying to decide when, where, and how we were going to host our annual Box Jam, this snow day came at just the right time.
Photo: Johnny, Andy and Rob boardslide the box all three on the box at the same time (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Our typical Box Jams rely heavily on planning for favorable weather windows and having access to excess snow from Mt. Baker, which we truck down Highway 542. Past years Box Jams were costly too; $10k or more is usually the starting cost to host our Box Jams. With the snow sports industry’s less-than-ideal economic situation, we couldn't host the same show we usually do. In addition, finding a suitable venue proved difficult to find this year.
Luckily for us, Wednesday became a unique opportunity to host the Box Jam, reliant on no one but ourselves and some strong friends. By noon, it was decided we would get the word out and we were going to find a friend who had a REALLY BIG truck we could use to haul the 16-foot long, 800-lb box feature cozied up in Johnny’s backyard. As we scrambled to get the word out, recruit some local muscle and secure a big truck, we wondered how much we could possibly be fined for having the jam in Whatcom Falls Park…. Uh, I mean in Canada.
Johnny Lupo grinds the rails of the box feature to prep it for sliding.
Grayson Neal preps his cab-over flatbed for carrying the 800-lb. behemoth.
Only the best tools for Johnny, his Milwaukee Tools angle-grinder made quick work of the rust on the rails.
Elias Delaca, left, and Emmett Jones wait for their call to lift heavy.
It takes a team to prep a box.
Eight strong bucks carry the massive 800-lb. box to the truck bed.
As we scrambled to get the word out, recruit some local muscle and secure a big truck, we wondered how much we could possibly be fined for having this year’s jam in Whatcom Falls Park…. Uh, I mean in Lynden. In the end, we figured whatever the fine could be, it could only be a drop in a bucket in comparison to previous jams.
The theme of Box Jam has always revolved around hosting a fun session with a handful of easy features anyone can enjoy hitting. And with a sprinkle of creativity, even expert riders can be satiated.
Photo: Grayson safety checks the big blue box rail sitting only halfway in his big diesel truck's bed. The box is about 16 feet long and his truck's bed was easily 8 feet long. The 800-lb, solid steel feature took all eight men to lift. (Photo by Andy Ford)
Miles Tucker came out with his pro setup and flash giving light to the shenanigans in the darkness. Shout out to him because we wouldn't have had much documentation without Miles!
Somewhere in the middle of Whatcom Falls Park, lit by only two construction lights, the box was positioned at the bottom of a small incline. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Brian Ingles back boardslides the box. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Andy Ford front boardslides the box. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Back to the box feature: we had secured some helping hands within two hours and our saint, Grayson Neal, came through with his beloved “Turtle”: a cab-over diesel with a sizeable flatbed. The only challenge now was how to lift the 800+ lb feature up into the bead sitting over 4 feet above ground level.
Shout out to Justice, Nick, Elias and Emmett who offered their strong backs and weak minds to lift the monstrosity. With 8 people, lifting the enormous rectangular prism became manageable with Johnny’s “1, 2, 3” countdowns.
Once we brought it to the Bayview Cemetery entrance off Lakeway, what lied ahead was a quarter-plus mile walk with the stiff, blue whale. We trudged valiantly through the deep snow while collectively dreading the future when we would have to bring it back that night. But with swift haste, the feature was slid into position and the building had begun with barely a moment to spare before we told people to come ride. Thankfully, we were spared extra setup time with our errors to send the correct coordinates to our devoted patrons. As darkness set, and the generator fired up the lights, a session to remember went down.
Brian Ingles watches others hit the box feature. (Photo by Andy Ford)
A rider front boardslides the box as Andy Ford looks on. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Scotty hits the box with a back boardslide. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
We may never know how many tried to find us, but we know at least 30-40 were present for the intimate venue. Although the production was smaller, the stoke couldn’t have been higher! As the night progressed, tricks and riders themselves progressed. Rob and Brian were standouts for throwing down some of the most technical tricks and everyone was a standout for making the night a wicked time! Better yet, owners Johnny and Nate actually got to ride this box jam too. At past jams, they only got to hit the box a few times in between tirelessly working to keep the event running smoothly.
As the evening came to a conclusion, Grayson made the delivery of McKay’s Pizza that would fuel the remaining riders in their efforts to carry the blue whale up the incline from which it came. The prism was no match for the collective determination of the crew. Bit by bit we broke down camp, packed out our trash, and the City of Bellingham…. Uh, I mean town of Lynden, was none the wiser to what had happened in that park. And it cost us less than $300.
With the “Turtle” in position to take the blue whale home, the team rallied to get it up into the bed.
“Ready? 1, 2, 3,” said Johnny.
Boardworks Owner Nate Braks does a nose press on the box. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Emma, Johnny Lupo's husky, lays in the run-in. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Boardworks Owner Johnny Lupo front boardslides the box. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Andy Ford takes a video of Brian Ingles doing a front board on the box. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Front to back, Boardworks Owner Johnny Lupo, Andy Ford, and Rob boardslide the box in quick succession. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
Nate Braks back boards the box while Johnny Lupo front boards the box right in front. (Photo by Miles Tucker)
All of these gifts have been hand selected by our team to be foolproof gifts for the snowboarder in your life. Not only are these gifts helpful and stoke-inspiring if they don't have them, but they are items that you can't have too many of! So, you really can't pick anything wrong from this list.
This is definitely one of the most rad gifts you can get a snowboarder. It can save their life or someone else's! Any snowboarder who goes outside the ropes of the ski area (and many do) should have a kit like this. These backcountry safety items are essential for navigating avalanche-prone-terrain safely. These items allow someone to be found if buried by an avalanche, or find someone else who has been buried.
A beacon is the very first piece of equipment you'll need if you are traveling outside the boundaries of ski areas. This is the most important piece of one's backcountry gear kit. It is a device that emits a signal so that one can be found if buried by an avalanche and receives signals for those who are pursuing a rescue. This is a gift that saves lives! Any of the beacons above will help keep the snowboarder in your life safe.
These portable shovels are a great gift for any snowboarder. They are made out of strong enough materials to perform an avalanche rescue in cement-like snow. They are also useful to riders that just want a shovel for building a jump or digging their buried car out of the parking lot.
If you want to really stoke out the snowboarder in your life, get them set up with a full tuning kit. These kits come with virtually everything you need to take care of your snowboard. Even if you already have some of the stuff in a kit, a snowboarder will always stoked to have spares!
All-temperature wax is one of the safest bets on this list. You literally ALWAYS need more wax. Not only should you wax your board (or skis) about every 5 times you ride for proper maintenance, but the more often you wax the easier your snowboard will glide. All-temp wax works in the vast majority of temperature ranges, so it is the most widely used kind of wax.
Wax scrapers are an incredibly safe bet for a gift. They get dull over time and routinely need replacing due to constant use. Riders and skiers need one every time they wax their snowboard (or skis).
A gummi stone is a underdog gift. Nothing super exciting or appealing to look at, but a gummi stone is extremely useful and it will impress the snowboarder in your life as they see how 'in-tune' with the sport you are. A lot of snowboarders don't even realize how useful they are. But once they have one they can never live without it. These little guys help remove rust and burs from your edges and help your snowboard tune last way longer. Ideally, you use one every time you wax your snowboard so that you don't contaminate your wax with rust from your edges.
Whether you get the Ninja Suit Classic, Merino, or Pro, you will undoubtedly be getting the snowboarder in your life a killer gift. One cannot have too many base layers. Especially, if you rider more than once a week. And these base layers are chiefly comfortable because their one-piece construction, which prevents bunching up or riding up one's extremities while snowboarding (or skiing). They are also moisture-wicking and anti-microbial. That's important for thwarting sweat and stinky odors.
Much like the base layers mentioned above, you can NEVER have too many socks or facemasks. A rider often feels like they are running out of clean riding socks and facemasks.
Does all of the above seem a bit much? Feel a little lost in the sauce? Maybe the rider you are shopping for is a 'wee' bit picky? Get 'em a gift card. Not only is it the easiest option, but it gives them the most options. They will be stoked. You will be stoked. Happy freakin' holidays!
Andy Ford
Boardworks was packed to the brim with patrons filtering through to examine the new art this year by about 60+ artists on Saturday, Nov. 4. By 7:30 p.m.. Laughter and conversation filled the shop. Walking around became a challenge itself with over 70 patrons flooding the space at nearly any given time.
Artists were using the canvases of broken snowboards to come up with new graphic designs, make 3-D art, or go completely against the norm and chop it up or build structures around the board itself. Either way, this creative way of saving broken, un-ride-able boards from a landfill inspired a ton of unique art with a variety of mediums.
Participating artists were able to choose whether to sell, auction or keep their boards at the show. Artists kept 100% of the funds they made on their sales with Boardworks taking zero commission fees. Danielle Davis and Kyle Loerzel were gracious enough to donate their entire sales revenue to our shop, thank you Danielle Davis and Kyle!
A handful of different waves came through the night and our new license to sell beer and snacks allowed us to foster a more hospitable environment for the artists and visitors. Bailey Lupo and Morgan were our outsourced snack bar slingers for the night and their charm undoubtedly contributed to our patrons repeatedly coming back for more libations.
Johnny, Nate, and the crew worked tirelessly the night before and day-of to turn the shop into an art gallery. We hung displays and tucked merchandise away to every nook and cranny to open up the space. DJ Kraymer G Dot set up around 9:30 p.m. and cranked some tunes to kick start the after-party. He's a true expert-in-the-field of mixing and matching tracks and he got the crowd psyched. We have to thank every one of the artists for making the art show a hit.
Without you all, the art show couldn’t exist, so thank you!
Enjoy the photo gallery of all of the boards and festivities below.
Boards hang in the tune shop.
Patrons check in and get drink wristbands.
Attendees check out pieces on display in the main showroom.
Brandon Bradshaw, right, talks with his relatives at the show.
Ellie Lewis poses next to her board during the art show as her mom takes a photo.
A couple attendees examine some boards on display.
A couple attendees open Johnny Lupo's piece, "The Last Stripper," which is framed by a curtained light box. It soon became a fan favorite due to the absurdity and reveal factor.
Johnny Lupo's, "The Last Stipper," is a play-on of "The Last Supper"
Art show attendees get a kick out of "The Last Stripper."
Beer was on the menu, a first for Boardworks in its 9 year history.
Darcie Gray mingles with other show artists and attendees.
Morgan, left, Casey, and Bailey market new Boardworks product: Montucky Cold Snacks and Carnal Jerky.
DJ Kraymer G Dot plays beats for the after party with hits from Afroman, Biggie Smalls, and other hip-hop artists.
Attendees dance to the music DJ'd by Kraymer G Dot during the after party,
Boardworks Owner Johnny Lupo sips Capri Sun, a new economical item on the beverage list.
Boardworks staff Andy Ford, left, Luke Duvall, and Kal Thalhammer pose for a group photo during the art show.
Keep in mind the blog software is quite rudimentary or rather difficult to use and changes in image size are a characteristic of the program, not our preferential treatment of other pieces over others
Artist: McKenzie Owens
Artist: Natalie Milsap
Instagram: @artbynatmilsap
Left To Right:
Artist: Brad Taddonio
Instagram: @braddonio
Artist: Darcie Gray
Instagram: @Sweetd_tothe_g
Website: www.rangedesignstudio.com
Artist: Jordan Crumity
Instagram: @justjordinner
Left To Right:
Artist: Maddie Evans
Instagram: @artmadge
Website: www.artmadge.com
Artist: Adrian Martinez
Instagram: @adrianmartineztattoo
Artist: Amanda Kotas
Instagram: @amandakotas
Artist: Teanna Holsey
Instagram: @artbyteanna
right
Artist: Aubrey Smith
Instagram: @urmoms.artistry
Artist: Jennifer Strassel
Instagram: @piratemetalworksllc
Website: www.piratemetalworks.org
left to right
Artist: Adrian Martinez
Instagram: @adrianmartineztattoo
Artist: Brandon Bradshaw
Instagram: @brandon_theinkwell
Artist: Nate Braks
Instagram: @otherworldimagery
left to right
Artist: Quincy Quigg
Instagram: @q_quigg
Website: www.quincyquigg.com
Artist: Michelle Johnson
Instagram: @northwest_haven_art
Artist: Jessica Ward
left to right
“Be a Lighthouse”
Artist: Charles Wilkinson
Instagram: @deckofchars
Website (etsy): deck of chars
Artist: Celeste Jerome
Instagram: @celeste.jerome
Artist: Devin Paquette
Instagram: @obsidian.teeth
left to right:
“Leave Me Some Space”
Artist: Nick Welch
Instagram: @raventeethcraftworks
Artist: Andrew Joyner
Instagram: @ajoynerart
Artist: Alison Witwer
Instagram: @alisonshayne
left to right
“Deny Self Doubt”
Artist: Stephan Baddeley
Instagram: @arctic.type
Website: www.arctictypeart.com
Artist: Kailee Winterburn
Instagram: @kaileewinterburn
Website: www.tattoosbykailee.com
Artist: Brian Ingles
left to right:
Artist: Stephan Baddeley
Instagram: @arctic.type
Website: www.arctictypeart.com
Artist: Alex Holt
Artist: Kellin Bonilla
Instagram: @kellinchrysanthemum
left to right
Artist: Kelda Rial
Instagram: @Keldelic
Artist: Ana Prussia
Artist: Taylor Wolanski
Artist: Dominick Martin
Instagram: @toxic_sludge21
Artist: Brooke Lin
Instagram: @1nklo_
“Progress”
Artist: Kyle Loerzel
Instagram: @timelesstruth_tattoo
Website: www.timelesstruthtattoo.com
Artist: Lil Johnson
Instagram: @oatmealbrains
Top to Bottom
Artist: Brooke Lin
Instagram: @1nklo_
Artist: Evan Whitehead
Instagram: @evergreen.art
Artist: Johnny Lupo with Nate Braks
“Night Sky”
Artist: Michelle Lindsay
Instagram: @michelle.lindsay
Left to right
Artist: Danielle Davis
Artist: Brad Taddonio
Instagram: @braddonio
Artist: Kaitlin Simpson
Artist: Ellie Lewis
Instagram: @eliza_blu02
“Fuck You No Title (bitch)”
Artist: Luke Duvall
Instagram: @duvall.luke
Artist: Danny Burt
Left to right
Artist: Kamile Jordan
Instagram: @kamilejordantattoo
Website: www.kamilejordantattoo.com
Artist: Bailey Lupo
Instagram: @raisingwolvez
Artist: Carson Johnson
Instagram: @inkyfingerstattoo
Powsurfing is hard. But it’s way more fun when you have huskies to run with with you while learning to ride them. You can expect to do a good amount of falling when you ditch the bindings, but the pursuit is well worth the effort. We’ve got a bunch of demos if you’d like to give pow surfing a try.
Nate Braks / Johnny Lupo / Emma Lupo
Andy Ford
As always, we had a blast hanging out at our booth and stoking out our fellow Mt. Baker riders on the coming season. We did our classic splitboard transition race where two people race each other at transitioning a splitboard from ski to snowboard mode. But this year we added a twist: The winner got to spin the prize wheel and get a chance at a better prize. Prizes ranged from a free Slush Mag or piece of Boardworks merch to a 20% OFF coupon for our store. It is always fun seeing people get more competitive than they expected to, especially if they have never transitioned a splitboard before. Though, the latest Karakoram Prime Connect system made it pretty easy even for beginners.
This year there were two different film lineups. So there were twice as many locally produced/filmed ski and snowboard videos! People were able to secure tickets for FREE by either having a Mount Baker Season 23/24 Season Pass, or they could purchase tickets online.
Big ups to Eric Krings and Jim Bobs PP for winning the People’s choice Awards at this year's Film Fest! .
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October 3rd marked the shop's first day of the 23/24 season and we needed to get the stoke going. As the chance for snow hitting the slopes becomes greater, there’s a tried and true way to get that stoke flowing: A video premier. Nitro Snowboards had not one, but two rad new films ready to launch. So, of course, we jumped at the opportunity to premier their new films, CAKE and LAYERS, with only a week's notice. Fast and loose has always been our style anyways.
So, we had decided to go for broke and opted for the double-premiere attack plan. We hit up all the homies, set up a raffle for a limited edition Nitro X Konvoi Powsruf, and stocked the fridge with 300 cans of premium-grade Rainier. The local homies showed up in force ready to party.
The meet, greet, and reunions of friend groups initiated the rowdy atmosphere before launching into CAKE. The lights dimmed and we all dove into the stoke of the Nitro team going HAM on some sick park lines and odd snowboard choices... Unfortunately, for the film connoisseurs, malfunctions ensued. The video file was broken, and the wi-fi did not want to cooperate.
But the hype train could not be stopped. Drinking games ensued and each glitch or interruption signaled all to take a drink. The enthusiasm was showing no signs of slowing down. Eventually, a local crew's movie trailer, Plebeians by Ghen Sasakura, was thrown on the screen and we were able to get through all 120+ seconds of that no problem.
LAYERS, produced by RedBull and Nitro Snowboards, was the second of the double-features watched. LAYERS covers a variety of destinations and culture activists who are working to make those who see themselves as just people who snowboard, into making them feel like they can identify as “snowboarders.” We highly recommend checking it out in full here. It is an awesome film. But the party vibes had taken over and we didn't end up finishing the second film. It was time to give some nitro product away and get to the after party.
From there we jumped into the raffle and product toss. Nitro showed up with swag ranging from backpacks to screw-drivers, and everyone was gunning to catch anything, no matter how treacherous. By the end of the debauchery of swag tosses and beer consumption, a tradition was imposed on our new Nitro rep John-O. It was his first-ever Nitro event as a rep and Boardworks' own, Johnny Lupo, goaded the young gun into chugging a beer out of a snowboard boot (See video below).
After shutting down the premier, attendees migrated to Sweet As Waffles for the after party where we finished off the night with board chugs, shot skis, and some DANK waffles.