…as if you need a reason or a day to tell you to go skateboarding.

It’s summer here in the northern hemisphere, but below the equator, winter is just getting started. Chile has long been a go-to location for summer time shredding. The terrain can’t be beat and the nightlife can strip you of your dignity making you cry yourself to sleep in a thumb sucking ball. Valle Nevado is one of Chile’s premier resorts. Only a few hours out of Santiago, up several winding switchbacks and you can be riding some of the best terrain the planet has to offer.

Costa Rica has been a surf hot spot ever since The Endless Summer 2 exposed the breaks of Ollie’s Point and Witch’s Rock. Witch’s Rock Surf Camp is located close to Tamarindo, one of the main surf towns. If you’re thinking of heading down, do so in the fall or early spring as the summer months are called the rainy season. With roads washing out and deep rivers to cross, the experience can get a bit hairball.

If you’re in Southern California this week, you should stop by San Clemente and check out California’s rip-able waves being torn apart by the likes of Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds and Julian Wilson. If you’re stuck somewhere less awesome, maybe check it out on your computer. The live web cast is all week long with finals going down on Sunday.

Do you want to be coached by a real live surf pro? Not one of those “I was pro once” guys, but an honest-to-goodness professional surfer. One, you can thumb through a TWSurf mag and see ripping a turn or blasting an air. Billabong wants you to have the best surf camp experience ever. Their Pro Camps offer surfing at world-class destinations, with one-on-one time with some of the sports most recognized names. I want to go and have Taj teach me how to surf shitty little waves as good as he does.

Spring is in the air – what does that mean? Well for starters, it means your local resort is probably closing this week or next, if it’s not shut down already. Time to start making those summer shredding plans. Camp Of Champions in Whistler BC might be the best location for a summer camp, especially if you’re of legal age. You have the Horseman Glacier for your on hill adventures and the world-famous Whistler Village when you’re not doing triple cork 1440s. These camps fill up fast – so get on it people.

It’s the end of snow season. The resorts are pulling out all the stops in hopes of attracting the spring break crowd. Vail is no exception. Concerts in the village coupled with drink specials guaranteeing a vacationing coed or two will welcome a baby in 9 months. Head on over to Vail, get some spring slush slashes, slide on into the village and get your spring break margarita on, while watching some quality entertainment.

My friend Glen works for this service. I’m also a member. For under 400 bucks a year, you can have the peace of mind that a special team, consisting of ex seal team operatives, will come and extract you from anywhere on the planet.  It’s pretty damn sick. Pro surfers, Mick Fanning and Jordy Smith, are members along with high dollar international business men and global adventure types. If you travel to exotic locals to surf, snowboard or just to get lost, there is always a chance you will be somewhere during a coupe de etat, natural disaster or unstoppable outbreak of herpes. Know you can call the modern A Team to come and rescue your ass. Don’t call them when you’re lost in Los Angeles or when you sober up next to a bargoyle monster the morning after Cinco De Mayo. After all, they are ex navy seals with the ability to end your life with a paper clip and nobody would ever know.

Well … the ski season is just about done, making way for my favorite mountain time: mud season. Mud season is when everything once frozen and pretty with mother nature’s white blanket turns brown and smells like thawing dog shit. Now, you may be thinking about bronzing your rig beach side at this point, but the people at one of the world’s best resorts have just announced their pass price for next season. However, the season is still in full swing up in the Sierras, with Squaw being open late into May. So … if you decide to buy a next season’s pass right now, you can tack on this spring for just a little more cash. I was just in Tahoe, and I can assure you, there is no sign of a thaw anytime soon. There is so much snow I’m pretty sure Sacramento is going to be a new lake once the temps start to rise.

This event is truly the action sports equivalent of a triathlon. It’s brutal, tiring and a whole lot of fun. I’ve competed in The Ultimate Boarder Competition for the past few years. I can honestly say, I look forward to the event. I actually kind of train for it. This year the UB is taking place at Mammoth, Seaside Reef in Cardiff By The Sea & San Diego. It’s fun to cheer on your favorites, so come on down & check it out. April 2-9, 2011.