Sun Salutation

Interview by Megan FreshlEy

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Photographer Matt Gonzalez is on a layover at JFK between the Dominican Republic and his home in Portland, Oregon, where he’s about to embark upon an entirely different sort of journey. He's finding himself in good company as the next ambassador for Lululemon’s Washington Square outpost. “They have a way of finding the most incredible, genuine people. The type of people who lift everyone up around them,” he says. Having been the one to capture portraits of previous ambassadors — most of whom are fitness gurus — it’ll be different to have the camera turned on him for a change. Gonzalez’s mantra as a photographer? “Every person deserves to have a picture of themselves that they love. I want other people to see the photo and say, ‘Yes, that is that person to a T.’”

Gonzales is used to shooting Lululemon’s ambassadors in their natural habitats, be they boutique studios, yoga classes on the beach, or sweaty training rooms where the bass is always turned way up. “It’s the greatest job in the world to get to take photos of the people Lululemon finds out in the community. I’ve stayed in touch with most of the ambassadors I’ve shot over the last few years,” he says. “Every time I walk into one of their stores I feel greeted by friends.” Gonzales and his family fell in love with the PNW and he eventually settled into the enclave of YoYoYogi in NW Portland. Their Lululemon-sponsored charity events linked him up with the company and he hasn’t looked back since. “They sell stretchy pants so they can change the world,” Gonzales says. And he means it.

Matt Gonzales: mattgonzalezphotography.com // @mattgt3

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Visit Lululemon's newest Portland location at Washington Square

9585 Southwest Washington Square Rd, Portland, OR 97223

Grand Opening Events:

Friday, Sept 16th (all day) - GIF booth (print photos AND upload to social media)
Saturday, Sept 17th, 8:30am - Meditation with East Forest
Sunday, Sept 18th, 8:30am - Pilates with ambassador, Alli Breen

More info on their Facebook page >>>

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Meet the other Washington Square Lululemon Ambassadors:

Shannon McClintock: Barre3 instructor 

Alli Breen: owner of Pilates Royalty 

Meghan Atkinson: Runner & Yoga Instructor at Sculpt Yoga 

AJ Riley: Orange Theory Head Coach

The Monster of Crater Lake

Story by Justin “Scrappers” Morrison

Photo by Dan Kuras // kurasphoto.com // @dankuras

Wizard Island floats in the middle of Crater Lake like a wizard hat floating in the middle of a lake, but Wizard Island is really the tip of a volcano rising 2,700 feet from the lake floor. The lake was created about 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama erupted. It is the deepest, bluest lake in the USA and the crown jewel of Klamath County, Oregon. 

There are more than 40 caves in Crater Lake National Park, but be careful if you go exploring… you might cross paths with THE MONSTER OF CRATER LAKE (dun-dun-dunnnn)!!!

The first crawdaddy probably splashed into the lake around the same time non-native fish like trout and salmon were tossed in for tourists to catch. Since then, crawdaddies have become monsters destroying the habitat of the peaceful Mazama newt. The newt and crawdaddy eat the same food, live in the same shoreline habitat, and compete for the same sunbathing spots, but the big difference is that crawdaddies eat newts. Crawdaddy claw versus squishy newt paw? No contest.

Park biologists say crawdaddies have taken over 80 percent of Crater Lake’s shoreline. As they invade the lake further, they push the newt closer to extinction. The lake has no stream running in or out, so there is no escape for the newt. This native critter evolved to live in this lake, and can only live in this lake. 

Some believe the Mazama newt’s greatest hope lies in the hands of park resource management, but I think it’s the responsibility of all of us. So how about we get in the car and go hunting for the Monster of Crater Lake? Fishing is encouraged since it helps remove invasive species. You don’t even need a license, and there is no limit to how many of these little monsters you can catch. 

Win an All Good Trip!

EXCITING STUFF: Our pals over at All Good are doing trips now!

Want to win a seat on their surf expedition to Nicaragua? Heck yeah, you do!

To win just follow these two simple steps:

1-Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

2-Fill out the form below!

Perfect Excuse

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Photos and Story By Jeff Edwards

LosAngelesSwimmin.com // @la_swim

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The National Park System is America’s perfect excuse. It’s an excuse to get off the fucking couch, to drive for hours while having insightful conversations with old and new friends. It’s an excuse to skip showers, to pee in bottles ‘cause you don’t want to stop the car. It’s an excuse to shell out 60 bucks to stay at a sketchy tweaker motel, or to stop at a Walmart in the middle of nowhere to buy bug spray. It’s an excuse to call in sick on Monday because you want to see one more sunset behind the mountains. It’s an excuse to keep photos of your ex-girlfriends, to buy Kodak film even though it’s not vegan. It’s an excuse to wear obscenely short swimming trunks or spend $100 on a vintage one-piece. It’s an excuse to drink Coors or Miller or Budweiser, because you can’t find a decent IPA that comes in a can. It’s an excuse to call someone you haven’t spoken to in years to score weed while in Wyoming, ‘cause you don’t want to get caught with your own stash at the agricultural inspection. It’s an excuse to take a deep breath, to wake up at dawn to do Warrior Pose. It’s an excuse to buy a folding chair and to make up your own constellations, because you don’t know any besides the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt. It’s an excuse to stop in a tiny town to get lip balm or an air freshener. It’s an excuse to wave or smile at the person next to you while you share a moment in awe of a natural water feature. It’s an excuse to fall in love with someone you just met, or with yourself. 

The National Park System is love, it’s longing, it’s addiction… it’s life. 

It’s easy for us to take it for granted because we didn’t have to fight for it. Our generation was born with the park system, and hopefully it will be here for the next, but not without a fight. Vested interests would love to drill, frack, tap, or graze it, and they are paying off lots of lobbyists to do so. So next time you see a Sequoia, or a Redwood, or a Joshua Tree, or a Saguaro, don’t forget these things can easily be taken away if we don’t fight back. Anyone who has truly been in love knows it’s a constant battle.