Standerd Slides

Subject: Nick Valliere
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 1.4, Chronicle Section , Page 33

Believe it or not, Florida has been incredibly dry all summer. The lakes are low, docks are nearly dry, and fish swim with a water bottle. When we did finally get some rain, the retention ponds and drainage ditches would temporarily flood until the surrounding areas would soak it up.

Nick V and Wes Brisco were on weather watch and called me to go winch some of these spots soon after the rain stopped. With the winch in tow, Nick, Wes and I went over to this spot that Nick had scoped out for a wall-ride shot. When we pulled up it was still raining and the sun was dropping quick. Business hours were over and people were headed home. Kind of perfect for lessening our chances of getting caught. I backed up my truck into position for the winch to unspool properly and to get the right angle on the wall.

I set up some lights, one above him and one shooting toward his face. Wes let the 1000 feet of rope out and Nick went walking, rope in hand, until it became tight. I stood above where Nick was going to hit the wall, straddling that blue rail and leaning over toward the water.

We got a bunch of attempts at the shot until some folks from the business came out to spectate. They didn’t really care we were there, which is nice for a change. Nick sessioned that spot until it was completely dark out that night. Rain and winching turned out to be the new thing for the whole week. The three of us hit a new spot to winch and shoot for five days straight.

- Meddock