First Snowboard Descent - July 1988
I just happened to find this website today and thought I would do something that people have been bugging me to do for years. And that is to set the record straight on the first snowboard descent on Kili. Some of my friends go nuts when they hear other people say that they were the first when they know it was me.
In July 1988, I was sponsored by Sun Ice clothing and Kemper Snowboards to snowboard down Kilimanjaro. I was accompanied by photographer/writer Barry Lewis. Reports of the trip appeared in SKI, Skiing, Sport and a four page color spread in Ski Canada.
There is bound to be some discussion about what constitutes a descent of a mountain almost 20,000 feet high with only 2,000 feet of snow/ice on it so if somebody else wants to claim their ride was better than mine then fine. In fact for all I know, somebody who cares even less may have preceded me and that would be cool to hear about too.
Here is a link to some pics I recently posted. They all belong to Barry Lewis.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jericocoloco/KilimanjaroFirstDescent1988
First snowboard descent of Kilimanjaro 1988.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jericocoloco/KilimanjaroFirstDescent1988
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Cool photos! I like the one piece fluorescent Sun Ice outfit... that brings back memories!
I'd love to hear more about your snowboard descent. Was it a covert operation? I've heard the park authorities don't approve of snowboards, skis, bikes, etc. on Kilimanjaro.
I wonder where I can dig up some 20 year old Ski Canada mags... Think I subscribed back then, but they're long gone now. I'd be happy to publish a little feature article about your snowboard descent on this site if you're interested.
Turtle says "pole pole"
I'll see if I can take digital pics of the Ski Canada article...we'll see how they come out. It was definitely covert. Fortunately most people at Lake Louise had never seen a snowboard let alone a Tanznian park ranger. We claimed it was a cello in the bag and I was going to play the instrument at the summit!
ON the way down the rangers were suspicious. Our guides heard them talking so they woke me in the middle of the night and took off with the board so we wouldn't get busted. We picked it up a couple days later way the hell off the beaten path at the base.
First snowboard descent of Kilimanjaro 1988.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jericocoloco/KilimanjaroFirstDescent1988