Right now I am throwing some clothes in a bag and getting ready to fly to Barcelona for an all-expenses paid trip to see a Barca FC v. Sevilla soccer match. How did this happen? I’m up against the clock to get to the airport, but I’ll give you the brief version of the story because it is awesome.

In the never-ending quest to understand bammas and their bamma-ass tendencies, I caught up with Collin O’Brien at Clockwise Clothing. Being that the Clockwise folks are from the DMV and support a “bamma free” lifestyle, I thought they might be able to shed some more light on the phenomenon of bammadom. Peep the interview after the jump.

Walking along Canal St. is like going to an exhibit at the zoo called “Bammas in Their Natural Habitat.” Today, I saw these three jokers walking around Chinatown in matching all-over-print “I Love New York” tees and red sunglasses. Enjoy your vacation, bammas!

Yet another thing I forgot…the interview that keeps on giving!

I remember seeing this snowboarding jacket from the company DC a while ago and wondering if it actually featured your map work, or just borrowed from the style. I remember it having a signature of your name, but not in the same block letters that are your trademark. Any thoughts on your work being used in this way?

The DC image was painted using the same color palette as other trail map illustrations.  They have come in with the computer and “stylized” it.  Usually I will call the client and insist that they remove my signature from it since it is NOT any longer my work.  I have not in this case since it is an obvious computer-altered image and the audience realizes that it is.   Many other cases come up when a resort decides to make the winter trail map into a summer view and it is not so clear that tampering is involved.  Then I will ask them to take my name off.

I’ve always loved skiing, and one of my favorite parts of any ski trip growing up was studying the trail map meticulously to figure out exactly how I wanted to tackle the mountain. Last year I got interested in the art of resort maps, and after a little digging online I confirmed a long-held suspicion: most of the maps I liked were painted by the same artist. I contacted James Niehues to learn more about his trade, and he kindly agreed to an interview. It was awesome to hear from him, and it really gave me an added appreciate for the landscapes that had fascinated me for so long. Unfortunately, in my typical indecision about what exactly to do with the piece, I completely forgot about it! Time to rectify that oversight. Instead of letting it sit in “My Documents” any longer, I figured I’d share it here on Highsnobiety. Hope you enjoy.

Telluride, CO

Anyone who has skied extensively in the Northern Hemisphere has probably experienced a feeling of déjà vu upon reaching the mountain for a day on the slopes. Is it a chemical response set off by the smell of pines, the whir of the chairlift, and the smoke rising from the lodge chimney? Or is it the familiar anticipation of the first run?

Those sensations come into play, but the source of that familiar feeling may also be as simple as the trail map. Search through the minutely detailed trees and, nine times out of ten, you’ll find the unmistakable block signature of James Niehues. Since 1986, the Colorado-based artist has hand-painted over 130 resorts, including a majority of the most popular ski mountains in the US. In the process, he’s placed a lasting stamp on the aesthetics of the ski industry.

It’s safe to say that even if they don’t know his name, most skiers recognize a Niehues when they see one.

[Hit the jump for the full interview]