p: @jensherowski

p: @cassidyjanehill

p: @nancychang

p: @germen_man4

p: @meeelliissaaa

p: @angela_swain

p: @lukeochoallen

p: @joscadal

p: @WindellsCamp

Ok, so maybe this last one is a bit of a plug, but now you know where to find us. Follow us for the inside scoop!

The sun is shining in Oregon and locals are grinding the rust off their trucks. Windells Academy Skate Director and the man behind the concrete on the Windells campus, Jamie Weller, is closing the books on the school year and prepping for another Summer of skate camp. I managed to catch up with Jamie and the skate students long enough to fire off a couple questions and pick up some details on summer skate plans.

So, first things first. Tell me a little about yourself and your history with Windells.
Jamie Weller: I’ve been at Windells for about seven or eight years now. Ask Jeanette how long she’s been there and that’s how long I’ve been there. A long time.

You’ve really driven the Windells skate program to grow and thrive. Can you give me a rundown of what the year was like for skate students?
Yeah. We traveled a lot, most of the year actually. We took a skate trip pretty much all the way down I-5 stopping at every outdoor skate plaza from here to Los Angeles. We skated through Sacramento, San Fransisco, LA and Santa Cruz twice and we also went to Seattle and the new parks in Denver.

That sounds awesome. And ideal for the weather in the Northwest.
Yeah, we travel a lot during the year to get the good weather for outdoor skating. It’s a pretty great set up.

What’s coming up for Summer? What are you working on now?
I’m working on choosing my staff and getting pros locked in for summer. We’re talking with the Creature guys currently to get dates down for their team. We see hundreds of skate pros during the summer, so we’re getting an idea of when to expect everyone. We’ve got some cool things for Portland in the works. Look for new footage from the Academy soon, too. These guys have had an exciting and eventful school year and they have a lot to show for it.

Summer is coming up quick and it’s going to be another fantastic one. Come to Windells and skate with the pros sessions 1 through 3, and 6 through 8. Learn more about the Academy skate program, the upcoming Summer semester, and the 2011-2013 school year at www.windellsacademy.com.

What do you get when you combine Marc Frank Montoya, Andrew Brewer, Dylan Thompson, and the rest of the visiting Technine Team, two turntables, a brand new Technine snowboard and BOB? A Technine breakdance competition!

This Take me back Tuesday remembers when, during Session 7 last summer, MFM was on the ones and twos, as well as the mic, emceeing a competition between Session 7′s best breakdancers. Campers busted out some crazy breakdance moves! Stalls, spins, and more were thrown down to MFM’s beats as BOB was turned into an impromptu dancefloor.

Technine is taking over Session 6 next summer and we can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeves for campers this year!

Have you ever wanted to buy a snowboard from Johnny Lazz? A sweatshirt from Tom Wallisch? What about a “Digger Dogs” sticker from Kyle Martola? At staff sale, you can find these things and more, as the coaches, counselors and rest of the Windells staff set up boards, skis, boots, outerwear, and more in BOB in the style of a shred-only flea market. You can get new-to-you gear from your favorite snowboarders, skiers, and skateboarders that work at camp. Staff sale happens once a session, every week during the summer and is the place to check out a lot of new gear and up and coming companies that many of the riders, skiers, and skaters at camp are involved in.

Staff sale is a memorable part of camp for many campers. Head Counselor Cody Lee, who was a camper at Windells when he was younger, often shares a favorite story of buying a pair of Nick Dirks’ snowpants and how excited he was about it.

Even if you are just looking to browse, staff sale is really fun to hang out at! You get to bro down with your favorite pros and just hang out for an hour while the sale goes on. High fives and autographs are a staple of staff sale. The first staff sale of the summer is only a few months away!

Session 8 was full on skate and bmx camp at Windells and Atmosphere Clothing was there with a contest for all of the campers. The Atmosphere crew took over BOB, holding a best trip on the Euro gap for skateboarders and a two run jam for the bmx’ers. Winners earned Atmopshere gear! Drew Smalley was there to capture all of the action, check out some photos below.5050 on the up flat. p: Drew Smalley

Nosegrab over the barrier on the left, while another camper hits the Euro gap.

Toothpick grind on the up flat.

Whipping the bike around on the quarterpipe.

Boardslide on the barrier.

The judges (l to r) Johnny Tsunami, Jimmy from Atmosphere, Ian Neal, and Sev Boosinger.

This camper won an Atmosphere tank!

More winners!

Thanks Atmosphere for hanging out with Session 8 campers!

SO YOU’RE PRETTY MUCH LIVING THE DREAM UP HERE, TELL ME ABOUT IT.
Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. It blows my mind everyday that I get to do what I love with some of the raddest people out there. It makes me wish Summer was all 365 days of the year.

WHY DO YOU LIKE SKATEBOARDING SO MUCH?
That feeling of stepping on your board and just rolling around is one of the greatest things ever. It’s hard to explain, but if you have never stepped on a skateboard, the first time you do, you will know exactly what I am talking about.

TELL ME ABOUT THE SKATE TRIPS YOU GET TO GO ON EVERY WEEK? HIGHLIGHTS?
I love the skatepark trips. The parks in Oregon are amazing and its super rad to see all the kids pumped on them. Each skate trip is a highlight. Just seeing everybody shredding and having a good time gets you stoked to skate.

WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE ITEM SERVED IN THE KITCHEN?
Hmmmm, I don’t know, maybe the stuffing on Thanksgiving night. I’m not a big fan of stuffing.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TREND IN SKATING?
The Janoski.

WHAT’S THE LAMEST TRICK YOU CAN DO?
Benihana, haha.

TELL ME ABOUT A UILTY PLEASURE OF YOURS.
I love video games.

DO YOU EVER SKATE IN SHORTS?
Only if its over 100 degrees out.

WHAT’S YOUR SETUP? WHY?
A Stacks 8.1 board, 139 Independent trucks, 52mm Bones wheels, Bones Reds bearings, Mob grip and Roughneck hardware. I like a smaller, lighter setup for street skating, rather then a bigger board and wheels for tranny skating. I just like to skate more street stuff.

IS THIS THE BEST SUMMER OF YOUR LIFE?
Every Summer I’ve had at Windells has been amazing and I’ll never forget them.

SMITH OR FEEBLE?
BS Smith and FS Feeble.

OLLIE OR NOLLIE?
Both.

CHICKEN, BEEF PORK OR TOFU?
Chicken and beef.

ROLLERBLADES OR SCOOTERS?
Haha, that’s a tough one. I guess I’d have to go with scooters.

BERRICS OR THRASHER?
Thrasher

CONCRETE JUNGLE OR B.O.B.?
Both are amazing.

WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU PLAYED VIDEO GAMES?
Haha, I’m playing video games right now.

TELL ME A STORY ABOUT SKATEBOARDING.
My first contest I ever entered I got 5th place and the top 7 won a trip to Texas to skate in the Volcom Wild in the Parks Championship. I was 15 and entered the contest just to have a good time and skate the skatepark for free, placing was one of the last things on my mind. So when they called my number I was pretty freakin stoked. I didn’t do as well in Texas, but the trip was still insanely fun.

WHAT’S THE LAST TRICK YOU’VE LEARNED?
Nollie Big Heels in the tranny.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT SKATING?
You have the best times with the best people when you skate.

A COTD from Session 3. How many flips can you do on a trampoline?

Team Manager Java Fernandez learning some grabs on the trampoline board.

Scotty Arnold was really going for it…

Hours of Open Skate/Bike are as follows:  Friday 5-10pm, Saturday & Sunday 9-5pm However we are closed when Camp is in Session!

Winners from this weekend!

The Farm Project decided to stop by and say “what’s up” too.

WA: Congratulations on placing 3rd in the Burton Am Open competition! How was it and what kind of tricks landed you a podium position for half pipe?

Nicole: Thanks! I threw in a front 3, cab 3 and switch back 3. It was so rainy but so much fun. I was happy to be there!

WA: While traveling and competing you’ve been killing it on the mountain and in the classroom. How do you manage to juggle training, competing and doing school work while on the road?

Nicole: I try to focus on snowboarding while I’m riding and then only focus on school when I need to. Sometimes it’s difficult when I have competitions but I just try and get done with my classes as fast as I can.

Nicole gets 3rd place and an award handed out by Olympic Gold Medalist, Ross Powers!

WA: What kind of playlist are you working with to get you stoked on the mountain?

Nicole: Fireworks and Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, Rabbit Heart by Florence and The Machine, We R Who We and Cannibal by Ke$ha. Girly music pumps me up, so sweet!

WA: What inspires you to ride, progress and compete in the sport of snowboarding?

Nicole:The kids that I ride with who push me, my coach Miah, and I want to show people what girls can do in snowboarding.

Nicole McNulty

WA: Speaking of girls who can ride, which lady rider do you look up to the most?

Nicole: I would have to say Hana Beaman because she keeps up with the guys and drops the same cliffs as they do and it’s way sick. I really enjoy watching her ride and her style is sick too.

WA: When you manage to get some free time what do you like to do?

Nicole: I like to skate! I can’t wait until the outdoor park at Windells dries up so we can skate it . My friend and I have jam sessions where she plays guitar and I sing, that is way too much fun.  Also, me and the girls at Windells watch Jersey Shore cause we love t-shirt time!

Nicole and Jared Karon at Newberg Skatepark!

WA: So, Nicole what does the future hold for you? What plans do you have for the rest of the season? Any summer plans?

This season I want to do well in the next Revolution Tour and Nationals coming up in April. Im working on 5s in pipe, back 5s in slope and lots of rail tricks for now. This summer I’ll be home in Colorado for a little bit and then hopefully back here at Windells for a month or so. I might get to to go to New Zealand too and that would be way sweet.