Drew’s Blog: AE Spring Break 08 in Squaw Valley USA
Presented by American Eagle Outfitters
Hello!
Hey guys! What up it’s Drew Baldwin and I’m teaming up with American Eagle to give you on-location updates on all the wildness going on in California snow capital Squaw Valley USA for AE Spring Break. This former Winter Olympics snow mecca is currently boasting an unprecedented 4,000 acres of powder. Keep checking back for pictures, videos, and posts covering everything happening on and off the slopes from the Village to High Camp including the American Eagle lounge (with Adirondack chairs and fire pits for basking in the sun), mountain adventures and interviews of all the spring breaking snow bunnies, AE gear giveaways and of course, footage backstage and behind the scenes from the Gym Class Heroes concert! And-how could I forget, apres ski in the H-O-T T-U-B. Between dog-sledding, skiing, boarding, and tubing, I promise to be all over that mountain—if I’m not sore, I am NOT doing my job.
I am pulling together a ski suit guaranteed to be RAD—I found a vintage Descente flourescent neon highlighter yellow snow jacket (with shoulder pads, no less)—and a matching hat and sweater. I also discovered deep in my closet an 80s era “Re Heater” re-useable portable heat pack that used to belong to my parents. Check out the lady’s face on the box. She’s really excited. Pretty much sums up how I’m feeling. I really hope it doesn’t explode—nuclear power was really in back then. Check out their website, reheater.com, or don’t—they went out of business!
Day 1
Today was a full day — I got an early start and checked out Squaw Valley Village. What a great spot! Quite neighborly. I scoped out the crew putting the finishing touches on AE Lounge, got geared up with some skiis, learned how to pronounce “Funitel,” got into a mixup with security, had lunch with some breakers at Gold Coast, and skiied back down the mountain where I kicked it at the AE Lounge to ring in the end of day. Can’t wait for Gym Class Heroes tomorrow!
Day 2
Concert Day! I am so pumped! Last night there was a big celebration on the mountain—check the vid—so I headed out into the parking lot to see who was arriving/sleeping in their cars, and then hit the Funi up to Gold Coast. Met some folks on the slopes on the way down, and stopped at the AE Lounge for some pre-concerting.
The Concert
Un-be-lievable. The Gym Class Heroes TORE IT UP! What a concert! Sunnie Dae and DJ Legacy got everyone hyped and thanks to my VIP-VIP-VIP pass (thank you American Eagle), I was able to get in on all the action when GCH hit the stage, and they hit it HARD. There was a lot of flavor out in the crowd (check the sunglasses pics). Words just can’t do justice to such an amazing, powerhouse concert in such a beautiful setting with a great local feel. It was like a huge party full of people who were all friends.
GCH played a balanced set of joints off their latest albums As Cruel as School Children and The Papercut Chronicles (including the unexpected “Taxi Driver”—nice) as well as some spoken word poetry. Best part of the show, when Travis made a heart with his hands and then tossed it into the audience. I’m still buzzing from the excitement!
Day 3
I woke up at six am to the sound of a sousaphone. Was I dreaming? Or was there a MARCHING BAND playing right outside my window? What a wakeup call! Took the cable car—which is even bigger than the Funitel (but no warp drive effect)—to Olympic Village to scout around, check out the view of Lake Tahoe, and hit some runs. We explored the backside of the mountain a bit and then skied straight form the peak to the AE Lounge where I kicked it fireside. What a weekend. Thanks for tuning in! I’m gonna hit one last hot tub before I head to the airport. Have fun in Cancun!