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Redwine spritzers
Now in its second year the Summer Bash got off to a fine start.
Arriving on Friday, there were already about 20 or so tents pitched
and the keen few already well on the way to alcoholic oblivion.
The chaps at the Snowdome had already brought in some beer for those
without. As the night progressed more and more people rolled in,
pitched their tents and got on with the difficult, but necessary
task of deciding whether it was to be the red or white wine spritzers
for the evening.
  
Whatever we were drinking, it seemed to be very
popular with the local midge population and by the end of the weekend
many looked like they'd turned up for a bubonic plague convention
rather than a spot of boarding. The weather was with us for the
whole weekend and after the recent heat wave, the warm but cloudy
weather was spot on for a weekend outside.
Mountain boarding and skinny dipping
 Then
out came the mountain board and a brave few took turns being pulled
up and down the field behind a nutter in a car. No injuries there,
so back to the drinking. As the Scottish contingent had already
arrived (and the formerly agreed slab of beer provided by me for
their effort in attendance) there was also an impromtu skantily
clad swimming session as people debated whether it was a lake or
a loch. Okay, it was the Scottish lot that thought it was a loch.
Everybody else knew it was a lake.
Beers, buns and beats
As the sun began to rise the die hard drinkers decided that perhaps
it really was time for bed and many, but not all drifted off to
tents, VWs and cars to try and get some shut eye. As the night progressed
more and more people drifted in and so as I awoke a few hours later
I was greeted by a field fairly packed with tents and cars and people,
unbelievably, still drinking.
The lake's BBQ then beckoned and the meat was slapped, the buns
split and the cheese squirted. The DJs Shiny and Cypry set up the
decks and the music started in earnest as even more people drifted
into the field and set up more tents. DJs 873 and ProDog had a memorable
three hours battling it out. There was even a bit of an impromtu
volleyball session going off at one stage.
Wakeboarding initiation
 The
wakeboarding tutors, it would seem, have no idea about how to snowboard.
They kept telling us to do it like this, not like snowboarding,
but all the moves were exactly the same as snowboarding. So even
the beginners suprised them by being rather good and by the end
of each session everybody was on the end of the rope, with a few
who had done it last year getting air, performing powerslides and
riding switch. If you haven't tried it, give it a go. Falling headfirst
into water is not so painful as falling headfirst onto ice.
Destination Snowdome
Then came the task of sorting lifts to the Snowdome. I rammed the
VW full and set off. First it was the tubing, which is a right laugh,
especially as the heavier you are the faster you go. Luckily, being
big-boned, speed was with me.
The majority then retired to the bar to prepare for the main event.
The Snowdome had said that 81 had pre-booked for the event, so there
was probably close on 100 on the slope from the Forum/TheBoarder.
This year nobody managed to end up in casualty, although some drunken
attempts at boarding were certainly the closest contenders.
Pot Noodle and Hedex
Then an even greater faff to sort lifts back to the lake. Again,
the van was packed to bursting and cruised back to the lake Sten
guns coughing death. More beer and Pot Noodles were had and people
gradually passed out.
  
The next morning saw more than a few sore heads
congregate at the lake's club house for full traditional English
and Hedex breakfast. As morning dragged on, the majority drifted
off after many a tearful farewell. The remaining few headed into
Birmingham for the Epic Skate Park. I'm no skater, but that place
is pretty cool. Ramps, bowls, metally things, up and down whatsits
and heaps of other stuff.
Thanks to everyone involved
The sense of community was pretty special and I'm not ashamed to
say it brought a tear to my eye to see everybody having such a good
time. It was just a great laugh to spend the weekend alternatively
chilling and then getting active with the sports stuff.
Report by Duncan Worrell
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