January 12th, 2011 by Conor

I met Danny at Mt Hood this summer. I knew he was a good dude from the moment he I met him. Super friendly and charismatic among many other admirable traits. He was the only dude (camper, digger, pro) I met that week who could throw down on the beirut table. He attributed that to his east coast roots. After a great week at Hood I was stoked that Danny and Moss would both be in Tahoe this winter. Opening day at Squaw finally came around and the first lift of the season i rode up with Danny and Moss as it was dumping champagne pow. I was super excited to finally have some amazing snowboarders and great people to ride with this season. Being from SF i only get to ride on the weekends and a few additional days here and there so i was pumped that the Shreddy Times guys came out on the weekends to ride. I was honored when i made the Shredit #2 as i never thought I’d be in an edit with a rider like Danny. His trick selection and style is so captivating and motivating. I’d anxiously await the next Shreddy Times edit to see what new cool creative riding ensued. I’m now anxiously awaiting when this will all be over and everyone can have Danny back!

Grant

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

Facebook Is A Beautiful Thing:

I never really knew Danny growing up, I probably should’ve – we were both Kennett teacher’s kids (Ellen and my dad taught together), he was my brother’s age, I knew Conor from band and, unfortunately, Senior Slave Day but that was it. I went on to pretty much loose whatever touch I had had with the Toumarkines’ after high school… and then along came Facebook. You can say what you’d like about it, but no matter your feelings on exposing information to the world, in my opinion, it’s a good thing, strike that, an amazing thing and the sole reason I reconnected with such an amazing family.

Almost two years ago now, I attended the Outdoor Retail Trade Show in Salt Lake with the company I work for and had the opportunity to meet some pretty cool people. A few of which had started a gear company that year, but we’ll get to that in a bit. A week or so later Conor posted a sponsorship video of Danny. I knew that Danny had been into snowboarding but, damn, he was good! I think I must have watched that video 3 or 4 times and lets face it I like skiing and riding but ‘d never really been all that into watching video of it. Danny’s riding style was mesmerizing. I found myself feeling proud of this kid I indirectly-sort-of-didn’t-know, he was talented and from the same place I grew up! I figured the least I could do was try to help him out. I messaged Conor and gave him the names of the contact I had made in Salt Lake, in hopes that they may be interested in sponsoring Danny.

I didn’t hear back from Conor, mind you I’d never asked him to respond after the initial, ‘Thanks for the look’ response, so I assumed that the start up company hadn’t been interested. They were small after all and who knew what their sponsorship budget was, or if there was one. I chalked it up to ‘it was worth a shot’ and pretty much forgot about the whole thing.

Fast forward to that fall, I run into Conor and company (one thing I have learned about the Toumarkine boys is there is always ‘company’, magnetic personalities are followed and they are no exception to this rule). Conor and I chit chatted a bit and I found out that the small gear company had picked Danny up as a rider and Danny was actually doing a little work for them too. Too fun! I love networking and helping people out in general so seeing that this had actually worked out made me smile.

I continued to hang out with Conor that fall and early winter and thereby Danny as well. Danny always had a smile for me or a sticker or some such thing that made me feel welcome even if we really didn’t know each other all that well. An especially memorable instance came one weekend just a few weeks before Conor and Danny made their trek back to Tahoe. The aforementioned gear company happened to make an appearance in town, I went over to say hi and reintroduce myself to them and hang out. Towards the middle of the evening they all decided to go down and work on more stickers. I followed them down and watched as Danny effortlessly created a string of different designs on his vinyl cutter. With the gear company owners and Danny arguing the merits of each one I had half tuned them out. All of a sudden Danny looked to me and said, “You’re the designer, which one do you like best.” I was caught off guard, not only because I needed to form an opinion when I hadn’t been paying much attention (typical me) but it is my opinion that Danny possesses more artistic talent in his pinky than I do in my entire body and therefore a better judge of this sort of thing than I am. But I formed an opinion anyway and stated my reasonings, I’ll never forget the half wink and “Good choice” I got from him. Phew! – Funny how even knowing him for only a short time makes you want to gain his respect and approval.

I’m so glad to have reconnected with such a wonderful family and look forward to seeing all of you back in the Valley as soon as possible! Danny, you’ll have to let me know when you wake up if I actually chose the ‘right’ sticker design or if you were just trying to make me feel better about being lost in space. 😉

Oh and PS Ellen, the ‘rents send their best!

Love to you all,
Talia Brooks

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I’m Ellen’s sister,better known as Auntie Polly to Conor and Danny. I’m having a hard time focusing due to the erratic sleep patterns of the last week.
I remember some years ago I offered my cottage to Conor shortly after his Senior year in high school so he and Charlie Dixon could have a nice evening together to watch some movies in the quiet setting of Lovewell Pond. Silly me. Two years later, when Danny was graduating, I was looking at comments written in his year book. Much to my surprise they were all making reference to the “blast” of a party at the lake.

As a mother I can’t imagine what my sister Ellen is going through right now.
As a sister, I can’t imagine what Conor is feeling right now. Oh, the power of family. I keep re living our Christmas just three short weeks ago. There were 15 of us together for dinner every night for a week. It truly was the best Christmas ever. The last night Conor, Danny and my son Sam were all going to the Red Parka Pub for open mike night. I remember how enthusiastic Conor and Danny were for the trip to Montana. When we said good-bye, I remember saying to have a great winter, and ended with I love you. I am so happy I did that. Remember that the next time you say good-bye to someone that you won’t be seeing for a while.

Ellen, you are the most invested mother out there. It’s obvious how tight you are with the boys. You have a done a remarkable job with them.
Conor, everyone should be so fortunate to have a sibling like you…I love you
Danny…you, too!
Auntie Polly

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I have been really meaning to compile and share some thoughts and experiences with everyone about Conor and Danny, whom are some of the closest friends that I have always had. Ever since I can remember these brothers have made me smile with their generous amount of laughing. This laughing has been an addictive phenomenon, in that everyone who happens to be in the presence of these Toumarkines, will undoubtedly smile and crack a bit of a giggle no matter what these young men are laughing at. As I have read these submissions that everyone has taken time to write, more than half of them mention the high octane giggles these guys put out. This phenomenon is something that I love to be a part of. Often when I am with the little nine year olds I coach at Squaw they mention; “you need to laugh more.” But in reality I am too busy making sure they are not jumping off of every rock on the mountain. What I need is the Toumarkine medicine, a nice song-like giggle that bounces off the tallest of walls and ceilings. I don’t laugh that often because these nine year olds make jokes that are for nine year olds. Here is an example; “So if a quiz is quizzical, a test is _____?” (you can figure that one out). This joke I actually did laugh a little at, and soon after told them to never mention testicles again. When it comes down to it I should laugh a little more, I am with a bunch of kids, so I should just act like one. Well here is a little information on laughter, which I believe to be one of the most effective ways a person can expressive themselves.

People have an acoustically rich repertoire of sounds–with some laughs actually sounding more like bird chirps, pig snorts, frog croaks, or chimpanzee pants than human laugh sounds.

— Humans produce a wide variety of laugh sounds with a remarkable range of pitch that, for males, can reach the highest pitch of a trained soprano. In females, pitches can be as high as twice those of a trained soprano.

— Laughs can be separated into three basic categories: 1. Song-like laughs, which are akin to our stereotyped notions of laughter and are sometimes characterized by remarkably high pitch; 2. Snort-like laughs, with sounds that exit primarily through the nose; and 3. Grunt-like laughs produced through the mouth, but with no measurable vocal pitch.

“Among primates, humans are unique in the extent to which they rely on cooperative relationships with unrelated kin,” Bachorowski said. “Being able to produce a signal such as laughter, which makes others feel good, may make it more likely that they’ll be disposed to behave positively towards us, both now and in the future.”

After this bit of research I realize that Danny and Conor both manifest the category 1 laugh, that of high pitched laughter. Personally I don’t know where I fit, but I have witnessed them all, and song-like is obviously the one everyone strives to create. Although, the snorter just allows others to laugh at them and in turn create more laughter. Well that is enough on laughter, and I’ll have to give it to the Toumarkines, they produce some of the most contagious feelings a single human can secrete.

We all grew up riding at Cranmore and now we are all in Tahoe, making the best of what this world can offer in terms of that white magic we call snow. We occasionally get together to make some turns, but not nearly enough as we really should, and that’s gonna change. There has been talk of a ski date that all of MWV is going to be part of and I think we have the biggest posse in Lake Tahoe. Once Danny gets back on the snow he is going to be leading the pack with the rest of us eating his snow dust.

Well I have been thinking about you guys a lot, your family, my family and everyone that is important to us, even the old dog I loved – Magic. And Danny, I think he left a little magic for you my man. Conor and Danny, you guys are good, good, good people and that’s why there are so many others out there reaching out to supply you guys with support and anything that needs to be done. This evening I am attending a birthday party for Steve Wallace and part of this get together is going to be dedicated to Danny with some fund raising to take place. The memories I have with you guys, your parents, your pets, the Penguin (which I loved when your dad was the main man there), are some of the best I will have and I will cherish them forever.

I Love you guys.

I have included a picture of Conor, Danny and I shredding old school on the mtn. bikes. If you look closely I think you can see remnants of Danny skiddin’ into the shot, shredding at an early age.

Love, Max

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

Like a lot of people, I can’t remember the first time I met Danny. We are both from New Hampshire and I spent a lot of time in the Conway area where he is from, so I’d like to say we met there? But I honestly have no idea, sometimes I wish I could remember, because I’m sure it’s a great story. None the less, the important thing is that I did meet him and I have a slew of hilarious stories to share.

One of the earliest times I remember was in January of 2009 at the SIA convention in Las vegas. Danny, Conor and I all found ourselves in the city of Sin and decided to take on the town. As only appropriate for a story about Vegas .. my memory is a little scattered but my most vivid memory is thanks to the photo I have shared. While standing in line for a taxi outside a casino, I believe while Danny and Conor attempted to convince me to go to my first strip club, Conor in a random act of genius bolted for a nearby strech limo. Confused and extremely entertained we watched from a distant as Conor worked his magic with the driver, and 10 minutes later we were partying on the strip in a limo we hadn’t paid for, with no destination.

A few months later Danny made his way to Colorado where I live. That trip is what started the hilariously strange inside joke between Danny and I of inappropriate emoticons to replace the “confusing” smiley face. Danny and I rapidly texted eachother our new creations while sitting on the chair lift as I choked back tears of laughter. No matter where we were, or what we were doing Danny always had the ability to make me laugh like that. Gut-hurting, red in the face laughter, usually at something weird he had said or done. I will never again be able to watch the Epic pass commercial with out thinking of him. “RING RING Danny.. its me! I’m on my Epic pass!” Haha At the end of his visit we coincidentally had both planned to fly back to NH on the same airline and with a quick switch were able to get on the same flight. We dragged ourselves out to bed at 4 in the morning and onto a plane where Danny claims I proceeded to drool on his shoulder while I snoozed ( which is false.) Drool or not, it was definitely the most entertaining flight i’ve had.

As I look back on these memories, I realize that they probably aren’t as funny or memorable to a lot of you, but as most people people know, Danny had the ability to make any moment a memorable one. He could make any one laugh, and left a stamp on the heart of every person he met. The week before his injury my mom was lucky enough to catch a chairlift with us at Cranmore. When she had to break the news to me about the accident it was like she had known Danny her whole life. Everyone who is reading this right now has been touched by Danny’s loving personality, charismatic style and talent and i’m sure, just like me is trying their hardest to help in what ever ways they can. I’m praying, every day and every night for his recovery, and I hope you all are too.

I love you Danny, get better soon because you still owe me ice skating.

Ashley ~0

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

Danny, family & closest friends,

Since last week, I’ve followed Danny’s awesome website; it clearly shows that all of you are tirelessly standing by Danny while showing incredible determination & strength. I wanted you to know that I experienced a severe TBI head injury after a motorcycle crash on Rte 16/Ossipee on May 13, 2008. After being airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital, I laid in a 14 day coma. I also spent six weeks thereafter without a large left skull bone, facial fracture, broken ribs, fractured shoulder, etc.

At that time, my family & closest friends endlessly surrounded me during the long hospital & rehab stay. Their mere presence will never be forgotten by me. Incredibly, the combination of family/friend support & terrific medical treatment lead me to be able to return to skiing at Mt Cranmore during the 08/09 season and to Northstar/Tahoe along with my daughter Cristin in March 2010.

This past weekend, many of the shredders & skiers in Cranmore’s Pro Room – the “shack” – spoke at length of the Toumarkines prior seasons with us at Cranmore. Many of us also said that reading your website lead us to ultimate confidence that Danny will experience a great recovery as family/friends continue to tirelessly stand right by him.

Keep up the great work and Conor please let Danny know that I look forward to seeing him. Your info through the site “Danny is the bomb” demonstrates a recovery on it’s way. When you guys hit No Conway, I am looking forward to Danny and I sharing war stories about the great recoveries that both of us will cherish, along with our thoughts about family and friends that we each are lucky to have.

Proudly skiing at Cranmore while continuously thinking about all of you !

Doug Fagone

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I met Dan in Junior High but we were never really more than aquantences. Regardless, I thought I would share my one vivid memory I have of him. We were in Ms Collins french class in 8th grade and one classmate fainted for some reason.I dont really recall who it was or why it happened, but was I do remember is that Danny refused to leave her side. He said that no matter what he was going to stay with her until the nurse came. I dont even think they were friends, that was just the kind of person he is. Someone with this good a heart is strong and WILL pull through. He deserves it…

Teala Higgins

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

Dear Danny,

We had our first am series stop at Mammoth this weekend. I can’t help but wonder if you would have continued your dominate streak of beating everybody in our slopestyle contests or if you would have wanted to spend more time with us and roll fence with Ethan and Jake. I can feel you every time I’m near a snowboard. You are one of the best shredders I’ve ever seen and the sport misses you. We are on our way to Mt. Hood this weekend for our second Am series stop. Not gonna lie feels a little weird to me that I’m going back to where we spent all summer and I won’t get to see you there. Our group misses you and Connor a ton. Jake mentioned you in his article for snowboarder mag and said a few words for you at the awards. Our journey on the road continues and You are always in my thoughts. Keep staying strong and we’ll see you soon. Thank you Conor and Michelle for all the updates. It makes me feel better knowing he’s got two great people supporting him through all this.

Zahlinski

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I have visited this site multiple times a day, watching for Danny’s improvement and also for bits and pieces of insight into the life of this young man. I didn’t personally know Danny, but growing up and living in Mount Washington Valley, you can’t help but know the Toumarkine name. When I heard about this accident I immediately felt a deep empathy for Danny and for his family and that started my obsession (so to speak) with wanting to know how this all turns out. My prayers are with you all! It’s so refreshing to know that this young man has touched so many people which leads me to make my contribution and share my thoughts, that and the fact that Conor’s words, “If you have bothered to come on this website then you either know Danny personally or have been affected or touched by him somehow”, kept speaking to me.

I have been touched, and I am truly inspired by the affect that Danny has had throughout his years, on hundreds or even thousands of people that he has come in contact with. It doesn’t appear to me that he even had to give it much effort. He is genuine, caring, loving, and has a spark for life that is contageous to those that he comes in contact with. What a wonderful way to look at the world, I bet he always has those “rose colored” glasses on. This and the fact that apparently his amazing family have the same zest for life, will pull him through this with flying colors.

So, To Danny: keep fighting to pull yourself back to your friends and loved ones, and the world, because with people like you in it, it shows that there is such a thing as “hope” even for those that have lost theirs.

To Conor: You are an amazing brother and your strength and persistence will help to see Danny through this trial.

To Ellen and David: What an incredible person you helped to mold and share with the world and all the people that have been fortunate to be affected by him in any way, big or small.

To Michelle: You are amazing as well. I love seeing the pictures of you, for through this all you continue to smile. And I love your hats.

Maureen Hussey

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I was telling Cheryl that I don’t have any really fantastically amazing Danny stories, we have only ever know each other as causal friends of friends, and that is probably my fault. Every time I saw him he was always happy and psyched, always about to go do something wicked awesome with his friends. Mostly I guess I waited on Danny and his friends at the Junction, where I would walk back into the kitchen and tell Little Tom and Adam, “your posse is here at table 20 (or 18, usually 18), Yo”. Then Little Tom would go out with a special mix of Ranch and buffalo sauce to chit chat with Danny and friends while the rest of the Kitchen would stress and whine about Tom being gone for however long it took for the friends to share their psych or eat their train fries. Finally Little Tom would go back into the kitchen and the “patient” Adam could go out to say hi.

So… Danny has lots of friends. Good ones. Quality people. Plus, he always seems happy and ready, and I’ve not really met someone like that before. Danny is just that kind of open guy who is friends with you, because, why wouldn’t he be, duh?! So when I ran into him at the local small town Sew and Vac, well…..

I was dropping off my vacuum cleaner to be repaired, and I turned the corner to see Danny, in bright FliGi sweatshirt and hat talking seriously, I mean asking educated questions about sewing machine intricacies seriously, to this little old biddy who was probably in charge of the quilting corner group after church on Sunday’s and had been sewing all of her life, about what sewing machine best suited his needs. If I remember correctly, he was trying a few out, making test piece runs with a machine to figure it all out. I was stopped in my tracks. “um, Hi? What are you… doing… um here?” I asked. ” Oh Hi! Well, I’ve kinda got into sewing, and I have this new project and I need to do it right, so I’m trying out machines and I’ll be way more efficient this way …etc.” We continued to kinda talk about stuff for 2 minutes or so. When I left and got into my car, I realized something about Danny; he doesn’t half way something, he all the ways it, and that is something that I can really look up to.

When I have thought back on that meeting, which is about every other month or so when I go get vacuum bags, I think of Danny sitting there with that old lady, making a friend. It makes me chuckle every time! He was happy to see a familiar face, mine ( and yet make me feel like an old friend with his generous smile), meet a new person, and work towards mastering a skill. It seems like that is all in a days work for Danny.

So here’s to Danny who connects us all with his vibrance and positive outlook, his determination and kindness.

And here’s to Conor and Michelle for giving us a place to share our stories and being the best family Danny could ask for.