Don't miss a new episode of NBC's World of Adventure Sports on Sunday, November 8th at 1:00 p.m. ET/ 10:00 a.m. PT!
Hosted by Pat Parnell of NBC Sports, this episode features an impressive collection of action and adventure sports events including:
•Teton Gravity Research – Alagna, Italy: This year the TGR crew traveled to Alagna, Italy for the filming of TGR's new film Re:Session. Skiers Dana Flahr, Dash Longe, and Callum Pettit got the opportunity to explore the humble mountain village in the heart of Italian Alps. The small village has preserved the old ski mountain culture and way of life. The local hospitality was incredible and the terrain was unbelievable. The boys rolled into some of the deepest conditions Alagna has seen in over 10 years.
• Red Bull Surfing – Mentawi Islands: In a world first for surfing, a group of pro surfing’s star names and hottest new talent were brought together for this ground-breaking event. This was the first time World Champions, explosive young talent and current World Title contenders shared cabin space aboard the surf charter ‘Indies Trader IV’ with a group of specialized performance coaches. Athletes include Jordy Smith, Mick Fanning, Julian Wilson and other top surf talent.
• Dean Potter: First "FreeBASE" ascent: One of the most revered climbers in the world, Dean Potter attempts the first ascent without ropes on one of the most difficult faces of the Eiger. With only a small parachute marking the difference between success and a near certain death Potter once again pushes the limits of climbing on one of the world’s most challenging peaks.
•The Canadian Freestyle Ski Team Preps for Vancouver 2010: WOAS gets up close and personal with the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team at their practice facility in Quebec City as they prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
•Columbia Sportswear Pioneers: Extreme Unicyclist: Dan Heaton isn't a regular in the sports section. But he doesn't mind. His passion for off-road unicycling keeps him pedaling. And falling. And getting up. And pedaling some more.
**Here is the Trailer for NBC World of Adventure Sports.**
Don't miss a new episode of NBC's World of Adventure Sports on Sunday, November 8th at 1:00 p.m. ET/ 10:00 a.m. PT!
Hosted by Pat Parnell of NBC Sports, this episode features an impressive collection of action and adventure sports events including:
•Teton Gravity Research – Alagna, Italy: This year the TGR crew traveled to Alagna, Italy for the filming of TGR's new film Re:Session. Skiers Dana Flahr, Dash Longe, and Callum Pettit got the opportunity to explore the humble mountain village in the heart of Italian Alps. The small village has preserved the old ski mountain culture and way of life. The local hospitality was incredible and the terrain was unbelievable. The boys rolled into some of the deepest conditions Alagna has seen in over 10 years.
• Red Bull Surfing – Mentawi Islands: In a world first for surfing, a group of pro surfing’s star names and hottest new talent were brought together for this ground-breaking event. This was the first time World Champions, explosive young talent and current World Title contenders shared cabin space aboard the surf charter ‘Indies Trader IV’ with a group of specialized performance coaches. Athletes include Jordy Smith, Mick Fanning, Julian Wilson and other top surf talent.
• Dean Potter: First "FreeBASE" ascent: One of the most revered climbers in the world, Dean Potter attempts the first ascent without ropes on one of the most difficult faces of the Eiger. With only a small parachute marking the difference between success and a near certain death Potter once again pushes the limits of climbing on one of the world’s most challenging peaks.
•The Canadian Freestyle Ski Team Preps for Vancouver 2010: WOAS gets up close and personal with the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team at their practice facility in Quebec City as they prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
•Columbia Sportswear Pioneers: Extreme Unicyclist: Dan Heaton isn't a regular in the sports section. But he doesn't mind. His passion for off-road unicycling keeps him pedaling. And falling. And getting up. And pedaling some more.
**Here is the Trailer for NBC World of Adventure Sports.**
Nov. 5th, 2009
Whistler Blackcomb
Two season passes, and a chance to head up the gondola first on Opening Day, up for grabs at first ever Whistler Blackcomb Opening Day Pass-a-mania
If you’re the type that counts boards in your sleep, rather than sheep, gets uncontrollably giddy at the first sign of snowfall, and has been declared a snow addict by your family physician, then you may want to continue reading. Whistler Blackcomb is on the hunt for 20 of the most mountain-loyal male and female competitors in the region for the first ever Whistler Blackcomb Opening Day Pass-a-mania, to be held in the 24 hours preceding Opening Day.
Not one, but two season passes are at stake – one each for the top male and top female competitor – and the opportunity to ride the gondola first, on Opening Day. It’s easy, really. All you have to do is compete in a 24-hour battle of wits and attrition through more than 15 epic challenges. Win the challenges to win points. Get the most points and you’re skiing free this season.
When not competing in challenges, participants will be confined to a PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Sky Cabin stationed at the base of Whistler Mountain. With 20 people in such close proximity for 24 hours, will love blossom? Will pet peeves be ignited? Will our competitors succumb to the dreaded lack of sleep? You’ll want to head over to Whistler Mountain’s base on Opening Day to find out.
In order to get a shot at the gold, head to www.whistlerblackcomb.com , accept the rules and regulations and fill out the application form by Thursday, November 10. Then, Whistler Blackcomb will randomly select 20 competitors - 10 male and 10 female - to participate in Pass-a-mania.
It is up to Mother Nature to determine Whistler Blackcomb’s Opening Day. If the snow flies, this contest will throw down as early as 8 a.m, Friday November 20 or as late as 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 25. The day before Whistler Mountain officially opens, all 20 contestants will gather at the Whistler Village Gondola to begin their 24-hour crusade to the top. At the end of the competition, the male and the female with the most points will ride the first gondola up with the option of bringing along three pals each for the ride. All participants will have the chance to win a number of prizes, and will be able to bypass the lines and head up the gondola, right after the winners and their friends, on Opening Day.
Interested? Fill out the application at www.whistlerblackcomb.com/opening <http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/opening> to let us know you want to be a part of Whistler Blackcomb’s Opening Day Pass-a-mania. Entrants who are chosen will be notified by e-mail with further instructions on how to proceed.
November , 2009
Aspen/Snowmass, Colo., November 5, 2009
Packages Available from Opening Day to Closing Day. Kids Ski & Stay for FREE During March
There has never been a better time to plan an Aspen/Snowmass vacation. Aspen/Snowmass announces special deals and promotions for the 2009-2010 ski/snowboard season, with savings from opening day in November through closing day in April.
Kids Ski & Stay Free in March
Aspen/Snowmass announces the ultimate way to save on spring break. Now, kids can ski and stay FREE for the entire month of March when booked with an adult package.
“Typically, resorts have offered great savings at times when families with children in school simply can’t travel,” said David Perry, senior vice president, Aspen Skiing Company. “We wanted to offer something that families could take advantage of when they want to travel and that truly reward families for choosing to visit Aspen/Snowmass.”
Purchase a minimum four-day/five-night adult lift ticket and lodge package through a tour operator by January 15 and children ages 7-12 ski and stay completely FREE in March. Purchase adult rentals through Four-Mountain Sports as part of the package and kids rent FREE too.* As always, kids ages 6 and under ski/ride for free at Aspen/Snowmass. Package must be booked by January 15, 2010. Promotion also valid on longer stays.
The Perfect Storm Package – Buy 4, Get More
Through the heart of the winter, Buy 4 and Get More with the Perfect Storm Package. Buy a minimum four-night/four-day lift and lodging package and get a fifth day of lifts and a fifth night of lodging for free. Plus, get a Perfect Storm Card good for discounts on goods and services throughout the resort including meals, lessons, rentals and retail shops.*
Value Season: Purchase by December 1; valid January 5 – February 9, 2010.
Peak Season: Purchase by January 15; valid February 10 – March 25, 2010.
Late Value Season: Purchase by February 15; valid March 26 – April 4, 2010.
December MVP
Buy 2, Get 3 with the December Mini-Vacation Package. Enjoy the best early season snow with mini-vacation package deals on lift & lodging packages November 20 – December 17, 2009. Buy 2, Get 3 offers deals on lift tickets, lodging and equipment rentals at Four-Mountain Sports. Package must include lift ticket & lodging and be booked by an Aspen/Snowmass tour operator. Must be booked by November 15, 2009.
Spring Hassle-Free Package
Skip the hassle of traveling with gear and rent from Four-Mountain Sports to take advantage of these incredible deals.
Enjoy the bountiful sunshine, great snow, exciting events and ski/ride April 5-11, 2010, for less than $29 per day. Book four or more days of equipment rentals at Four-Mountain Sports and get a seven-day lift ticket for just $199. Package must be booked by March 1, 2010. Package must be booked with lodging through tour operator. Lift ticket valid April 5-11, 2010.
Terms and conditions:
*Packages must be booked with lodging through an Aspen/Snowmass tour operator. Offers not valid on existing reservations. May not be combined with other offers. To book your trip or for more information visit www.aspensnowmass.com/deals <http://www.aspensnowmass.com/deals> or call Stay Aspen Snowmass at 800-679-3145.
Aspen Skiing Company operates the four mountains in the Aspen/Snowmass area - Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk - as well as the award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass. The area offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (EGE) (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen Skiing Company, please call 800-525-6200 or 970-925-1220, or visit the company’s website at www.aspensnowmass.com.
November 5th, 2009
Arapahoe Basin will open for top to bottom skiing this Saturday, November 7. Norway lift will open at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday to service the upper mountain intermediate runs of Lenawee Face and Dercum’s Gulch.
A-Basin staff is planning to open the Molly Hogan teaching area on Saturday, November 14. Beginner and intermediate lessons will be available at that time.
Photos taken by Leigh Hierholzer – Snowmaking on the upper mountain
November 5th, 2009
Story: CAIC
There were 8 incidents (people caught) and one close call reported to the CAIC in October. The 9 avalanches caught 10 people. Of those 10, 3 were partially buried with their faces above the snow, and 2 fully buried or their faces were covered by debris.
The first avalanche incident occurred on October 5th on Mt Meeker in Rocky Mountain National Park. A small slab broke loose about 6 inches deep and 40 feet across and took two climbers on a short ride. The avalanche ran on the first pitch of the Dream Weaver alpine climb, on the east side of the prominent north buttress of Mt Meeker. The first pitch ramps up to 50 degrees in some places. This route can see significant cross-loading deposit any fresh snow as slab at several areas along the route, though primarily at the first and last pitches.
A narrow escape occurred on October 11th on Grizzly Peak south of Independence Pass. Three skiers remotely triggered an avalanche in a steep, northerly facing couloir. The avalanche fractured about 40 feet below the second skier. It broke down to rocks and summer snow, taking out the two to three feet of recent snow. The crown was estimated at 45 degrees, and the avalanche ran from near the summit to the lake, about 1200 vertical feet.
An incident occurred on October 17th on the Tyndall Glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park. A skier triggered a two foot deep, 200 foot wide avalanche that ran over 200 vertical feet. The skier took a ride and was not buried. Again, the slide took out all the recent snow drifted onto the permanent snowfield underneath. The slope angle at the crown was estimated at 35 degrees, and it was on an east-northeast aspect.
An incident occurred on October 23rd near Jones Pass. A skier triggered an avalanche and was caught mid-slab. The crown was about 80 feet above him, 2 feet deep, and 50 feet wide. The skier was taken for a ride, avoided rocks and cliffs, and ended up with only his legs buried. The slope was above treeline with an east aspect, and the snowpack was highly variable. The party had noticed some cracking and one whumpf on the ascent.
There was a third incident was in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday the 25th. The slide was skier triggered on Flattop Mountain on a run known locally as the Hourglass. The second skier down the couloir triggered the slide. It was on a north aspect around 12,200 feet. Initially the crown was 4 inches deep but stepped down another foot. Initially the shallow crown was about 100 feet wide but propagated to about 150 yards wide. The skier suffered a few bumps and bruises and some lost gear. Of note with this slide, there was no old summer snow field at the bed surface.
Another incident occurred on Sunday the 25th. A skier triggered a soft slab on a hard ice crust or possible summer snow field on an east aspect near 12,000 feet on Loveland Pass. The crown broke about 40 feet above the skier. The crown was about 20 feet below a corniced ridge, about 40 feet wide and 20 inches deep on a slope estimated between 35 and 40 degrees. There was very little debris, not enough to be buried by the slide after the skier rode and tumbled about 150 vertical feet.
While ascending two skiers triggered and were caught in a large avalanche on Apache Peak on October 25. They had skied the line the previous day. Disappointed they had not skied from the summit, they planned to ascend farther and ski a longer run on the 25th. They ascended into the narrow, 40 to 45 degree couloir. They became nervous when they found an 18 inch deep hardslab with a icy crust. In between was a thin layer of facets. They triggered the avalanche at that point. The avalanche caught both and carried them about 1000 vertical feet. One skier was completely buried, the second buried with just a hand free (partially buried critical). The second skier was able to clear the snow from his face and dig himself out. Battered and exhausted, he began a beacon search once free. He quickly located his partner and cleared the snow from his face. Both sustained minor injuries and returned to the trailhead on their own.
A party of hikers intended to summit Missouri Mountain. Worsening weather turned them back. They glissaded down a narrow couloir. As the couloir opened, one hiker triggered an avalanche. The hiker was caught and "rode it down for perhaps 300 feet. Luckily I was able to stay on the surface and never came close to getting buried, but it was scary nevertheless."
A party of three ascended the lower angle west aspect and north ridge of Bartlett Mountain. They dropped into a steep northeast to east facing couloir. The first skier was 2 to 3 turns down when the slope avalanched. The crown was 1 to 2 feet deep and only 15 feet wide at the top, but widened out to 75 feet part way down the couloir. There was an icy layer on the bed of the avalanche. Towards the bottom, the slide entrained deeper snow and left many exposed rocks. The skier was buried to his neck and injured. The other two were able to excavate their friend and call out on a cell phone. Flight For Life evacuated the injured skier.
Logan, 20091101
November 5th, 2009
Shaun White has one gold medals in the Olympics, X Games, Dew Tour, and just about every event you can imagine. He is preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler. Here is the video of his recent appearance on the Today Show.
We’ve been hearing tons of stories about the epic Halloween rail jam/Re:Session premiere in Billings, MT - here’s the real scoop from the man in charge himself, Aaron Swain! Enjoy.
We knew we wanted to stand out, really impress the local community, and of course draw attention to local businesses and riders, so we decided to do more than just show a movie – we talked and talked and chose to put on some sort of exhibition. We decided on a single feature rail jam after having to jump through seemingly infinite hoops (liability insurance and stuff like that can be huge if you’re planning one of these events).
Red Lodge Mountain was monumental in getting the event to actually happen, and they custom built and delivered a beautiful rail for us! Everyone was stoked on that. We used a front loader tractor and a huge dump trailer to gather and move snow. It turned out to be 70 degrees up here on Halloween so we were a little worried about how well the snow would hold up - we were actually thinking about running up to Beartooth Pass to get more but at the end of the day we ended up with the perfect amount.
DJ Web was killing it on music patrol and we started sessioning! There was a good crowd cheering the riders on and just creating a great vibe, and everyone was getting super pumped to go watch Re:Session. The Ski Station brought us some great swag to give out as did Red Lodge Mountain and TGR. We hit the rail until we were totally beat and couldn't wait any longer to watch the movie. Everyone crammed inside The Red Door, had a word from Wiley Miller and 4FRNT Skis owner Matt Sterbenz, and cheered on as pro riders mystified us on the two huge screens. It was a great Halloween: jibs, pro riders, swag, sick movie and good people. See you next year!
** Halloween, Billings, MT - Setting up the initial drop-in for the rail jam. The ramp was 16' long at about 60 degrees. First part of the set-up, done! Photo courtesy of Aaron Swain.**
**We used snow from the local ice skating rink in Billings. Sylvan Nursery was nice enough to let us use a big dump trailer! Even though it got up to 70 degrees on Halloween, we ended up with just the right amount of snow for our Halloween session. Photo courtesy of Aaron Swain.**
** Getting everything ready for the rail jam. Thanks Red Lodge Mountain for the custom-built never-been-hit-before rail! Photo courtesy of Aaron Swain.**
**The end result after a day of set-up - Pretty sweet! We were stoked the hot weather didn't melt all the snow. People started gathering around, wondering what was going on - time to shred! Photo courtesy of Aaron Swain.**
**Dropping in! Halloween rail sesh, here we come. This is what camera phones are for. Photo courtesy of Aaron Swain.**
**Everyone was pumped, and we all piled into the Red Door in Billings after an awesome rail sesh - nothing like watching the premiere of Re:Session after an October session! On Halloween no less. Photo courtesy of Aaron Swain.**
This Friday, November 6th marks Icelantic's 1st Friday Gallery Party. Located in the Historic Sante Fe Art Disctric in Denver, Icelantic's Headquarters and Gallery hosts a number of local artists and action sports photographers each month. This Friday, the gallery will showcase the photography from Theodore Barrett Van Orman.
Also, there will be free beer (21+) provided for all those down to party. Free music and great times will be had by all!! Head artist Travis Parr will be in attendance as well. So head on down to the Icelantic Gallery this Friday around 7pm to check out some great photography, our new 09/10 Ski Line-Up and apparel.
Pray for snow!
--ICELANTIC
948 W. 8th Ave. Denver, CO 80208
(on 8th Ave. between Sante Fe and Kalamath)
Sammy Carlson is not known as a golfer, yet this video proves he is a master of the art. Not to be out done by Tincup, Sammy puts together one of the most impressive mini golf sessions ever caught on tape. This video is from the guys at Junction 133 Productions
Nov. 4th, 2009
Breckenridge, Co.
Breckenridge voters overwhelmingly legalize marijuana. Pot remains illegal, but message is clear.
The Colorado ski town of Breckenridge has voted overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana.
Early returns Tuesday night showed the proposal winning with 72 percent of the vote. The measure would allow adults over 21 to have up to 1 ounce of marijuana.
The measure is largely symbolic because pot possession remains a state crime for people without medical clearance. But supporters said they wanted to send a message to local law enforcement to stop busting small-time pot smokers.
The vote comes as communities nationwide are struggling with how to enforce pot laws at a time when medical marijuana has surged in popularity.
November 4th, 2009
US Olympic hopeful, Lyndsey Vonn was recently on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Here are the video excerpts from her moment in the spotlight.
Part 1 of Lyndsey Vonn's interview on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
Part 2 of Lyndsey Vonn's interview on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
This past month Little Cottonwood Canyon has gone through a micro mid winter cycle.
Alta’s winter began with 2 snowstorms in the first week of October that piled on a generous dose of wet snow. The high moisture content was perfect for sticking to rocks and covering up all the little obstacles. It was a case of “what you see is what you get”, and there wasn’t much hidden underneath.
Mid October brought a rain storm followed by a long stretch of high pressure, which ended up melting out the bottom third of the mountain. The top third became a baked, reflective sheet of hard snow from the cold October sun. Half of the cars in the parking lot were sporting Vermont license plates.
During the last week of October, Alta saw its first real winter snowstorm with deep snow, cold temps and high winds. By now everyone was getting after it and in some cases it was a race to get freshies. With confidence levels high, and deep cold pow, some of the skis and boards I saw at the end of the day looked like mountain lion and bear attack victims.
Only three more weeks until Snowbird and Alta open!!
**This photo was taken on October 1, 2009. It was good to see people getting after it this early. Everyones motivation levels are at an all time high. Not too long after this photo was taken Main Chute of Baldy got tagged.**
**Self portrait after the 1st storm and before the 2nd.**
**Dash Longe October 6, 2009. Stonecrusher at Alta.**
**On one of the rainy days Dash and I bumped into some jibs that a group of boarders put together during the snowstorm. We got a little mini shred jib session on in the rain.**
**Dash threading it through some tree stumps.**
**Snowboarding in the Forbidden Land adds a little to the experience. Local shredders are known to get as many days in as possible before the lifts start to spin at Alta. Neil Provo and Chris Coulter dropping into High Boy on October 29, 2009.**
**Chris Coulter shredding a river bed at Alta.**
**Dash Easter egg hunt on Halloween.**
**Dash no worries in October**
**Pierres Patch. Jamie is almost always the first guy to get this patch every year. This year he didnt get it first but he ripped in on a snowboard on Halloween Day.**
**Our first Apres ski of the winter at the Tram Club. Carlo, Dash, Nick and Rick.**
The morning after a ridiculous Portland premiere meant a few solid headaches, growling stomachs, and even more epic stokedness. We jumped into the rental, and after a quick 2.5-hour jaunt down the highway, we were THERE! Seattle for round two that weekend (our livers were already yelling in protest). Evogear told us that they had sold out of all their tickets earlier that week, so we knew we were in for a fun time.
We got the place ready and ran outside to check on everything - and it was intense! Literally hundreds of people were lined up around the block an hour before doors. A few guys were outside the door by 6:30 trying to get their hands on last-minute tickets – sorry everyone who got there after it was sold out!
The King Cat Theater is awesome, and over 1100 super pumped TGR fans ended up jammed in that night to check out the scene of gnar and to snag some gear from Evogear, Rossignol, The North Face, Surfrider Foundation, Stevens Pass, AK Heli, and North Cascade Heli. Dylan Hood and Dash Longe were signing as many posters as humanly possible, causing a scene, and of course pumping up the already pumped up crowd.
We had an INSANE amount of gear to give our Seattleites. Dynastar XXLs, Salomon Shoguns, two prize packs from Evo, a prize pack from The North Face, two boxes full of Stevens Pass shirts on top of all our usual swag from sponsors took more than half an hour to throw at people - anyone who didn’t get 8 pieces of gear must have still been drinking heavily (we saw LOTS of beer and vodka) in the front room bar. Every single person in the King Cat was super stoked during the Stevens Pass segments – must’ve been cuz everyone at the show got a Stevens Pass lift ticket! Yeah, just so you know, we expect to see each and every one of you guys shredding up there this winter, we can’t wait!!! Yay for Seattle, and yay for afterparties.
Sunday morning. More head pain and liver twinges. Of course. Our flight wasn’t until the afternoon, so we strolled down to the Pikes Place Market. Endless fruit scenery, walls of vegetables, and piles of seafood blended in with t-shirts, jewelry and paintings. This place literally had everything anyone could ever want. We even ran into Dylan and Dash who were picking up some fresh seafood on their way to a surf sesh on the coast.
Thanks to everyone in Seattle for making the premiere such a good time! And special thanks go out to Evogear for getting everyone pumped, taking photos, and for writing a sweet blog – check theirs out at http://culture.evogear.com/2009/10/495/
**Outside the King Cat Theater! People were lined up around the block. Photo courtesy of Evogear.**
**Everyone was amped for Re:Session! Photo courtesy of Evogear.**
**Stoked crowd at the King Cat.**
**Packed house at the King Cat! Photo courtesy of Evogear.**
**Dylan Hood, autographing.**
**No seats left - Seattle kills it! Photo courtesy of Evogear.**
**Over 1100 people showed up for Re:Session - and they were stoked on all the gear!**
**Rab and Micaela slingin’ TGR merch at the evo booth! Photo courtesy of Evogear.**
**Loving the tourist stuff in Seattle, day after the premiere.**
Nov. 1st 2009
Despite foreign exchange rates, European destinations still offer value for travel money on winter sports
Post Office Travel Service's annual Ski Resort Report has revealed that several popular ski destinations across Europe and the US have lowered their prices in line with the recession and foreign exchange rates, giving UK holidaymakers more value for their travel money.
Popular destinations lowering costs in line with current foreign exchange rates include Italy, which came in at a total of £290.14 for staples including equipment hire, lift passes, meals and drinks. France also rates highly for value according to the Post Office report, despite the high euro foreign exchange rate, with Courchevel resort cutting prices by up to 24 per cent since last year's report.
The Post Office recommends comparing the price of ski equipment at different resorts, as this can have a huge effect on the overall cost of the trip. It is also important to consider the foreign exchange rate in the broader sense, as UK holidaymakers will be able to get more foreign currency to the pound in some destinations compared to others.
While the foreign exchange rate means that many eurozone destinations may have a higher cost of living than Eastern European destinations, price discounts and other special offers may mean that Europe still offers UK holidaymakers value for their travel money. The Post Office advises consumers to shop around for their foreign currency prior to setting off on holiday, to ensure they are getting the best deals.
Just moved to Advon Colorado from Tucson Arizona yesterday. Got a job offer through a HVAC website that I ran across. After three months of looking hard for a job in Tucson I decided to take a leap of faith and pack all my shit (which wasnt very much) and drive up to Avon Colorado for a job with a company that I had never heard of, and some bosses who I never met, only talked to a few times on the phone. They had some employee housing openings to offer me, for a price of course. A very high price considering the room I have and the total shit bag roomate who sould have been a fat ass dougnut eating cop, cause he loves to tell me rules on everything from cleanliness to how to wipe my ass, even though he dosnt feel the need to follow any of them.
O.K. I'll stop my bitching and I'd like to say that it is so buitifull up here, that I want to cream my jeans. Plus the second story room I moved into has a killer veiw of a snow capped mountain which I think is Beaver Creek but not sure yet. Everyone Ive met so far has been really cool, except for the douchbag Im living with who isnt from here and only moved here four months ago so I dont hold that against you Avon.
Anyhow I am a novice snowboarder who hasnt ridden in almost three years and Im looking to get back into the sport. I realize I wont be going pro anytime soon so I dont take myself to seriously. From what I remember about snowboarding, it can get alittle exspensive depending on where you go, and since I happen to be a broke ass bitch most of the time (even if not broke, cheap) I dont see myself getting a whole lot of playing time this winter. Unless...... Anyone can lead me in the right direction to some cheap gear and cheap lift tickets. So anyway thats all the worthless garbage I can speuw out right now. I look forword to my time here in Avon, and hopfully I dont act a fool while im here. Wish me luck.
Winter is here. The second in a string of storms to hit the Wasatch just dumped 15-20 inches, blanketing the mountains with a tempting dust. At Alta there was a high concentration of skiers and snowboarders, boot packing, skinning, and snowshoeing their way up.
While things look nice and white, rocks, sticks, and bushes poke out everywhere, plenty of gnarly “shark teeth” lurk under the surface ready to punish the early season riders. the mountain is a wild horse, not used to people climbing up looking for a ride. P-Tex and metal edges grind in to rocks, roots, and bushes as people traverse into the tops of runs. Scoured spots, and ridges, are “summer like” but mid-winter lurks in the protected, drifted, chutes,and gullies. Tread lightly in the right spot, and you can reap the rewards of slow motion, waist deep turns, that feel as if it could be January.
October 30th, 2009
Story: JeremyJones.net
Father snowboarding goes by the name Celime. I met him two years ago in Turkey. (Read Post) Celime has been riding longer then anyone else in the world. He is a goofy footer. He has a certain sparkle in his eyes and content demeanor that can only be achieved from a life well spent in the mountains. He is a happy and peaceful man who has found his fountain of youth, riding everyday. He does not move like a seventy year old man, he is agile, and graceful. I did a sit down interview with him and although we had a interpreter much was lost in translation. Now I have a precise translation of the interview and his words pack even more meaning then I realized at the time.
“It started 400 years ago. When I say 400 years ago, its according to the statements of our grandfathers. The grandfather tells his grandson who tells his own son. Nothing else was left from our grandfathers, except riding.
I am approximately 70 years old. And now it’s my son Halim who keeps it going.
I have been riding with this board since 1946. And before this it was our ancestors.
I learnt it from my father, it’s him who showed me.
We find wooden boards and nail them together and attach a cord to the front. You rest your foot here and the other foot here, you take the cord, you place the stick at the back And of course you will fall a few times before you master it. If you get the right position, you cannot fall. Once you learn, you’re like a pilot, you fly.
There was no café at the time when our grandfathers lived. It was a game, leisure. They were so closely bound with each other, that if one yelled, all of them gathered to go riding. We had no other toy, and that’s how it remained a tradition, and because with the friends we could stay connected and that’s why the story is repeated generation after generation.
That’s what our fathers taught us. It’s bee passed down from fathers to sons for 400 years. And it will go on like this. Life goes on.
If I am not riding, I get sick and even lose my appetite. I’ll go up and down, up and down
Without it, my body is sick. I haven’t “Lazboarding,” I feel bad. It’s a necessity, I can’t live with out it. But I will continue “Lazboaridng” until my last day. It was the same for our grandfathers.”
-Celime
Photo Ritzer. He is 70 years old and has been riding almost daily for 62 years and it shows. Dropping in on our first run his years of experience shows as he stands tall and proud and effortlessly makes his way down the rolling fields of powder while I try and hang on.
Photo Ritzer. He has been riding almost daily for 62. Dropping in on our first run his years of experience shows as he stands tall and proud and effortlessly makes his way down the rolling fields of powder while I try and hang on.
Las Boarding lives on. Travis Rice gets set to go back in time. Tom Burt opts for the next best thing..the Noboard. We were blown away at how well it worked in AK and it quickly became the tool of choice for the mellower lines.
October 30th, 2009
46 ski resorts in the world open in October. For many resorts these are the earliest openings in history.
Loveland Ski Resort in Colorado became the first resort in North America to open on October 9th, 2009. Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, Arapahoe Basin, Mammoth Mountain, and Sunday River quickly followed. Mont Saint-Sauveur Ski Resort in Canada opened October 18th, 2009 becoming the first to open in Canada. Austria's resort, Kitzbuhel opened October 24th, breaking it's own record. Bormio, Dachstein, Courmayeur, Verbier, and Zermatt are open as well as many others. It is amazing to see such an early winter across the globe. Hopefully old man winter continues to bless us with deep blankets of snow.
Loveland riders celebrate 1st chair the season. This Photo: Photo: Casey Day casey@colo
radoinfo.com
Grand Targhee in Wyoming remains closed, but skiers still score early season powder.
Knee Deep at the Top of Snowmass photo: Snowmass Safety Patrol
Mammoth gets pounded and opens to 5,000 skiers and snowboarders on opening day. photo: www.mammothsnowman.com
More early season photos and stories:
Snowbird Resort is not open, but Utah riders have been getting deep powder on the mountain. Story Here
Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming opens November 14th, but saw some of the earliest tracks of any slope this season. Story Here
Las Vegas Ski area opens in October
Loveland becomes first resort in North America to open
October 30th, 2009
Jones Pass, Colorado
Colorado Skier Luke Corbitt caught avalanche on Jones Pass. Avalanche breaks 2-3 ft deep and runs 800 ft. Luke is partially buried with no injuries
October 2009 will go down as one of the earliest winters on record. At least 46 ski resorts are open worldwide. Backcountry skiers and snowboarders have been riding powder since October 1st of this year. Despite the fact that it is only October, serious hazards in the snowpack exist. There have been 6 reported avalanche incidences in Colorado alone this year. The following is a report from skier Luke Corbitt, who was in caught in a slide on Jones Pass on October 23rd, 2009. Fortunately the incident did not result in any injuries or deaths. The message is clear though, be safe out there and never underestimate the power of snow, even in October.
Story and photos: Luke Corbitt
We experienced some cracking of new wind deposited snow on the skin up to our determined drop point. Also experienced a large whumph on the large cornice in the main saddle at Jones Pass. After a hike and warm up run, we decided to head over to a small chute. The entrance to the chute is split in two at the top by a rock outcropping, then comes back together at a small bench/rollover and continues down into a runout some 800 or so feet below. Jeff and I had performed the usual compilation of data along the way. We knew the planned descent was crossloaded at the top and we also concluded that top few inches of fresh deposit would more than likely slough, albeit manageably. Due to the eastern aspect and wind direction, it was also evident that there were many independent layers in the pack and that the pack would certainly vary in depth. We decided not to dig a pit feeling that findings would be inconclusive due to large variation within even a few feet. By this I mean that a pit dug in one spot would possibly be very different than a pit dug at the same elevation only a few feet away due to variations in wind deposited snow, differences in wind effect on the snow, etc. We knew the pack would be highly variable from one spot to the next whether it be depth, hardness, or other. (In hindsight, I am partially glad we didn't dig a pit as the ideal spot to dig would have been right where the largest portion of the crown ended up being, which may have resulted in both of us being caught) After discussion, we decided Jeff would perform a cut across the entire top and get to a safe spot. Upon doing so, there was no movement. It was then my plan to begin descending the right half of the chute, reach the slight bench and cut across again toward my determined safe zone. I eased in, made 3 or so hard, short, jump turns near the top and got the expected slough, but no true movement, so I continued down to the slight bench, where my plan was to cross to my stopping point on the left. As I did, the snow 30 or so feet below me beyond the bench/rollover was remotely triggered and shattered wall to wall (perhaps 50+ feet wide). This possibility had gone through my mind, so my first instinct was to simply reach my safe zone, which was less than 20 feet away. What I soon realized is that the energy from below had caused everything above me (perhaps 80 feet above) to release as well. The first few moments I fought to get to my predetermined spot, but quickly realized the further I went in that direction, the more I was being pulled toward larger rocks/cliffs, so I quit fighting in that direction and focused on what was downhill from me. I picked up speed over the rollover as the snow from above hit me from behind, feeling for a moment that I was about to go under. Luckily I managed to keep my feet out in front of me to ease the impact of any protruding rocks. After approximately 250 feet or so of kicking and clawing in attempt to slow down, I managed to release from my downhill ski, which allowed me to begin digging that foot into the ground to slow myself. Eventually, I came to a halt in the upper portion of the deposition zone, with my legs only partially buried when I stopped in a sitting position. Jeff and I were able to see eachother from this spot, and I waved to him that I was ok, aside from being shaken up. After much discussion, I am incredibly lucky to have come out of the situation with only a few scrapes and a bit banged up from the bumpy ride. It was certainly a reminder to the both of us the potential dangers that are out there regardless of the time of year. We talked at length through the rest of the day trying to determine where we went wrong and what we missed. Surely, being so early in the season, our guard may have been down slightly, but I also feel that we took basically the same precautions as we would 3 months from now. The key factor that we didn't have knowledge of was that the bed surface where the slide started and mostly thereafter, was basically an ice layer. We didn't experience this anywhere else through the morning, even on similar aspects. Bottom line, this was an eye-opener to me that even though we determined the spot safe to proceed, slight variations unknown to us at the time resulted in a bad situation. Additional info: The slide, in it's entirety ran approximately 800 feet and was anywhere from 50 to 80 feet wide. When it ripped, the chute all broke from one side to the other. I was carried approximately 250 feet. The initial fracture ocurred on a slope of approximately 32 degrees and the portion that broke above me (where the large crown was) was approximately 36 degrees. The slope where the incident took place ranged anywhere from 28 to 38 degrees. Jones Pass Avalanche Crown This is the crown that broke off above me...maximum was 2 - 3 feet. The cut Jeff performed was not far above this and my initial line was looker's left of the rocks on the left. Jones Pass AvalancheAnother view of the slide path Jones Pass Bed surfaceHigh contrast view of the slick surface Jones Pass Post Avalanche Jeff observes the avi path Jones Pass AvalancheLooking up hill from where Luke stopped Jones Pass slide path Looking downhill from where Luke stopped
This is the crown that broke off above Luke...maximum was 2 - 3 feet. The cut Jeff performed was not far above this and Luke's initial line was looker's left of the rocks on the left.
A look at the slide path
High contrast view of the slick surface
Jeff mid way down the slide path
Looking uphill from where Luke stopped
Looking downhill from where Luke stopped
For more info on avalanche safety check out www.avalanche.org