Houseboating With Monster Energy

Jul 16, 2010

Author: Adam Levitt

If you ever get the call for an all expenses paid houseboat trip, drop everything and go. I really mean everything, unless your wife is labour with your firstborn child; then you have a semi-legit excuse. But everything else should be pushed aside to get on a boat and have a helluva good time. It’s hard to say what makes houseboating so special; maybe it’s just that everything is better on a boat. I’ll have to put that theory to the test at some point.

Monster Energy held their second annual houseboat trip on Lake Shuswap in the interior of British Columbia. I got to go last year and it was way too much fun so I made sure my schedule was open that I could join in this years festivities. Once again pretty much the whole Monster team was there including Shawn Watson, Kevin Henshaw, Shane Bonifay, Daniel Watkins, Bob Soven, James Balzer, Melissa Marquardt and Aaron Reed. Jimmy Lariche was supposed to be there but got turned away at the border because he was trying to get into Canada on an expired passport; too bad Jimmy you missed a good one.

Just like last year, and in true Monster style, we had the biggest houseboat on the lake with 3 wakeboard boats in tow. The houseboat measured in at close to 100 feet long and 25 feet wide, had 10 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and all the amenities you could imagine. During the mellow parts of the trip, most of the crew would chill in the hot tub or front of the fireplace and watch either the World Cup or movies on the huge flat screen TV. There’s part of my theory proven correct already: it’s just way cooler to watch TV while cruising down the lake than sitting on your couch at home.

Houseboating life. Dalby photo

Everything was set-up for us to have an awesome time, but Mother Nature didn’t really hold up her end of the bargain. We got some great weather a few days, but it was a little chilly. Summer had been a little late showing up to party meaning the water and air temps were below average. In the end it didn’t really matter because everybody rode a few times a day getting some good photos and video footage.

If the weather doesn't cooperate, make it black and white. Dalby photo

Of course a lot of the fun on these trips happens after the sun goes down and this year was no exception. The parties were mellower than last year; we only partied until 3 in the morning instead of 5. Originally I thought it might have been because everyone was a year older and a little wiser but then Shane pointed out that the food was so good this year that everyone ate themselves into a food coma every meal. Monster hired one of the top chefs from Whistler Blackcomb to cater the trip and every meal was incredible. I think I had a meat hangover one morning after consuming too many BBQ’d ribs.

Hanging out by the campfire. Dalby photo

My ramblings aren’t really going to capture the mood of the trip so have a gander at this huge PHOTO GALLERY from photographer Russell Dalby and enjoy the videos below. Look for more video edits of the trip in the coming weeks.

JamStockFest 2010 from monster canada on Vimeo.

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