182 Search Results for ""backcountry snowboarding""

• Go: North Cascade Heli Go: North Cascade Heli

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    North Cascade Heli from Joey mara on Vimeo.

     

    Words And Video By Joseph Mara

    In a cut-off corner of north-central Washington State, a little known heli-skiing operation has been flying under the radar for nearly thirty years. North Cascade Heli (NCH), located in the town of Mazama, operates in a 300,000 acre permit area just south of North Cascades National Park. Pioneered by Harris Sanford in the early 80’s and then named Liberty Bell Alpine Tours, the outfit is now run by owners and guides Paul Butler and Ken Brooks. Their multifaceted operation now offers several different experiences ranging from a single heli-day (seven guaranteed runs or money back) and private flight time charters, all the way to extended guided touring trips at their two-story backcountry yurt. Planning a longer trip is recommended because weather conditions in the North Cascades vary drastically from day to day. The operating season is short, only seventy days from mid-January through March. Space fills up quickly so plan months in advance if you can.

    NCH offers a wide variety of terrain for all ability levels. Their longest run is 3,800 vertical feet, touring through high alpine peaks, glades, and trees. Bowls, couloirs, and slide paths are also on the menu. Snow? Yeah, they have plenty of that. The Cascades receive huge deposits of white gold every year and boast some impressive totals, including the single season world record snowfall of 1,140 inches held by Mt. Baker, situated just west of the helicopter permit area. The Cascades are the most glaciated mountains in the lower forty eight and are one of the few mountain ranges in North America with active volcanoes, including Mt. Rainier rising to over 14,000 feet. This makes the Cascades one of the most dramatic mountain ranges in the world, and there is no better way to experience them than by helicopter. 

    You will be in good hands at NCH with some of the most experienced guides in the business. Pilot Seamus O’Daimhin, a Vietnam Veteran who flies for logging and fire-fighting operations in the summer, has eyes in the back of his head. You will buzz low over mountain peaks and watch the bottom drop out as you cross ridges between runs. With such a large permit area and a max elevation of 9,000 feet, NCH can always find the good snow, even after a big warm up. conditions. If you get lucky, your guide just might take you to Stair Step, and Seamus will drop you off on a tiny mountain peak landing that may test your faith in him. 

    The typical one day trip begins in the heli-barn at 7:30 AM with a review of the day’s schedule and backcountry safety protocol, followed by weigh-ins and outfitting of all guests with the necessary safety equipment. Afterwards, a short review of proper beacon, shovel, and probe use takes place outside. Once everyone has completed the safety training, the pilot will go over the dos and don’ts of riding on board the A-Star B2 helicopter. Around 9:00 AM, up to three groups of four guests each will take turns loading the bird and flying out to their first run. Seven runs with lunch provided is a typical day, and additional runs can be purchased on the spot with time and weather permitting. Expect to arrive back at the heli-barn by mid-afternoon with a huge grin and a hankering for cold beer (BYOB). If you will be enjoying an extended stay with NCH, you will be shuttled to the Barron Yurt to begin your multi-day backcountry tour. The touring packages can often include an extra “heli-bump” or two. 

    NCH’s location in Mazama is why it’s one of Washington’s best-kept secrets.  Mazama is relatively isolated during winter months due to the closure of the west side of the North Cascades Highway. The Washington State Department of Transportation cannot maintain the road because of the massive amounts of snowfall. Most guests come from the Seattle area and make the four and a half hour drive around. Lodging can be found in Mazama at the Freestone Inn, or The Rolling Huts if you are looking for a more rustic experience (outhouses and no sink). Nearby Winthrop is a charming old western town which is well worth a stop for lodging, hot air balloons, the oldest legal saloon in Washington State, city girls on vacation, or the rusty old cowhands and their classic cars. Make sure to check out Kelly’s restaurant at The Rolling Huts outside of town for the best Irish food around, not to mention Steve’s signature cocktails which may or may not include real absinthe (ask for the “Aviation”). For anglers, this is prime steelhead country as well. The nearby Methow River offers excellent fishing and the latter half of NCH’s operating season coincides with the start of the fishing season. The cross-country skiing is also world class possibly more popular here than alpine skiing (if you happen to know someone who is into that). This seldom seen corner of the country is more than worth a visit. Combine the skiing, the natural beauty of the North Cascades, the uniqueness of Mazama and Winthrop, and NCH’s nearly three decades of heli-operation experience and you might just leave with a new annual tradition. 

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  • 4 weeks ago
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• News: Backcountry.com Signs TG News: Backcountry.com Signs TGR Athlete Ian McIntosh To Pro Team

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    
    Canadian pro freeskier Ian McIntosh is a hard-charging specimen of brute strength, raw talent, and pure style. Today, Backcountry.com, online specialty retailer of premium outdoor gear, welcomes McIntosh to their 34-member Pro Team. No slouch to slashing turns on steep powder faces, electrifying crowds at comps, or bringing his A-game for the camera, McIntosh joins an elite athlete roster that includes some of the most talented professionals in skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
    
    “We are super excited about having Ian join our program,” said Jonny Atencio, Sports Marketing Manager at Backcountry.com. “I've known Ian since he was competing on the Freeride Tour – the guy is a beast. His ability to seek out and ski unique lines is uncanny. We look forward to Ian's contributions to our community, as he will be providing product reviews, answering questions, and uploading photos and video to the Backcountry.com site.”
    
    Growing up in the Kootenays in interior British Columbia, Canada, McIntosh has had skis strapped to his feet since he was two-years-old. As part of a family that was crazy about skiing – his grandfather is still an instructor at age 85 – McIntosh honed his love for speed and technique as a ski racer during his early years. But, as he got older, the big mountains were calling McIntosh’s name – which prompted a move to Whistler in 2004.
    
    “Having an avid skiing family, it was natural for me to gain a huge love for the mountains,” said McIntosh. “I was ski touring with my family from age 10. But, my love for powder quickly overtook my love for racing and I found myself completely addicted to skiing and over the years became a successful ski bum. Many things helped me hone my skills over the years from racing to the Freeski Tour, but I attribute everything to those early years as a kid where my passion for the mountains was born.”
    After a few years on the freeride comp circuit, where he took second-place overall on the Freeski World Tour in 2004 and won the North American crown the same year, McIntosh was invited to shoot with leading ski-film company Teton Gravity Research (TGR) – a dream of his. This opportunity opened the door to McIntosh’s ski career as he has become a leading athlete in not only TGR’s annual ski films, but many others including Warren Miller and Red Bull productions. In 2007, McIntosh won the Powder Magazine Awards “Breakthrough Performance” honor.
    
    “My skiing today is evolving as I become more and more focused on going places where not many have ever been and skiing mountains and lines that have never been ridden,” said McIntosh. “Bigger challenges and bigger rewards are waiting. Joining Backcountry.com is super exciting for me because I think that I embody the backcountry spirit as strong as most.”
    Consisting of some of the most experienced and respected athletes in the world, Backcountry.com’s Pro Team members are ambassadors – and affiliates – for the site. Through adding product reviews, updating their personal profile pages, and sharing news across their social media channels, Backcountry.com athletes are an extension of the brand helping connect and engage customers and the Backcountry.com community.
    
    For more about Backcountry.com

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  • 1 month ago
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• Loving Live - Alpental BC Loving Live - Alpental BC

  • From: nmarvik
  • Description:

    Out touring and filming with NWT3K in the Alpental BC. Blessed with the new snow and weather mother nature brought us! 

  • 2 months ago
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• News: Team Europe Leads Swatch News: Team Europe Leads Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 After Big Mountain Competition

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    
    Zermatt, Switzerland -​ After the first day of competition at the SWATCH SKIERS CUP, Team Europe emerged with a commanding 11 – 5 lead over Team Americas, with Sunday’s Big Mountain event held on a heli-accessed face high in the peaks above Zermatt, Switzerland.
    
    The 2012-2013 winter has been full of snow in this part of the Alps, and deep, fresh snow coated the impressive venue. Organizers have just confirmed that the second day of competition will be held on Thursday, February 14, at Breitboden (Zermatt ski area) at 9 a.m. for the Backcountry slopestyle. Contest is accessible for the public from the slopes.
     
    “The venue we have for Backcountry Slopestyle is ideal – really good terrain for a variety of jumps and the incredible backdrop of Zermatt,” said head jump shaper and event judge Julien Regnier.
    
    
     
    
    Big mountain contest recap:
    
    The competitors had two runs each, one on each half of the venue. The conditions resulted in descents not typically seen in big mountain freeride competitions. The snow was so deep some competitors struggled to find enough speed to hit features and jumps as planned.
     
    Standout runs came from riders who took a higher speed, less technical approach, like Chamonix local Sam Favret. His runs had few airs – instead he shredded the snow spines and walls at full bore.
    
    “I’m influenced by snowboarding and skating, and I was really inspired by today’s venue to bring that surf style to the big mountain,” said Favret.
     
    Other highlights included Team America’s Tim Dutton nearly landing a huge double backflip, coming up the slightest bit short for the landing. Sverre Liliequist triggered a small windslab avalanche near the end of his run yet went on to stomp a backflip off his final air, skiing away with the slide at the tails of his skis.
    
    “I haven’t done a backflip since the first SKIERS CUP in Chile in 2011,” laughed Liliequist, “that felt so good!”

    Shop for Swatch watches while supporting TGR at http://amazon.com

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  • 3 months ago
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• VIMFF Ski Mountaineering Night VIMFF Ski Mountaineering Night with Greg Hill

  • From: bcfreerider
  • Description:

    

    Greg Hill and team on Manaslu during their September 2012 attempt. Photo Credit: Greg Hill

     

    Greg Hill, known by many in the ski mountaineering world as the iconic "Two-mil-Hill", held court for an hour in North Vancouver's Centennial Theatre last Saturday. While the show marked skiing's arrival to the 16th annual Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival and the mood was pleasant, the topic was a heavy one. In September 2012, Hill and his team were first on scene an avalanche that killed 12 people on Manaslu, the eight highest mountain in the world and the fourth deadliest of the 8,000 meter peaks. An eye-opening presentation, it was inspiring to see such an ambassador of the sport completely open about his newfound humility when facing the mountains and the lessons he learned and re-learned from the experience. 
    Hill listed off a number of rules that he tries his hardest to observe any time he's in the backcountry. Paraphrased, they read simply: 
    1. Be afraid
    2. Be prepared
    3. Travel with people who share your risk tolerance
    4. Spend as little time exposed as possible and stop only in safe zones. 
    5. Tackle the smaller objectives first, then the big ones
    While these may seem obvious to the fire-side reader, the lines can quickly blur when chasing the summit of an 8,000 meter peak, or even that fresh foot of powder that fell last night on your back yard hill.
    Greg spent a large part of his stage time taking the audience through a play-by-play account of his team's attack on Mera and Manaslu. He was clear to note both the group's collective misjudgments as well as his own shortcomings in decision-making and the management of gear, people and terrain; it was easy to see his passion for driving home the need to think rationally in the mountain.
    Following a Q&A session and intermission, the evening was concluded with a screening of Further, Jeremy Jones's 2012 feature length chronicle of worldwide backcountry snowboarding, mostly under human power. The presentations were brilliantly juxtaposed, highlighting everything that can go so right and so wrong while chasing those glorious experiences in the mountains. 
    The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival continues through this week, spanning eight days and 25 shows of adventure-laden story telling.
    - Theo Birkner 
    Adventure Travel Collective
    The Adventure Travel Collective will be on hand for VIMFF, taking inspiration and information from these true worldwide adventurers and passing it on to anyone looking to emulate their exploits.
  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
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• Vancouver International Mounta Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival: Greg Hill on Ski Mountaineering

  • From: bcfreerider
  • Description:

    

    Greg Hill and team on Manaslu during their September 2012 attempt. Photo Credit: Greg Hill

    Greg Hill, known by many in the ski mountaineering world as the iconic "Two-mil-Hill", held court for an hour in North Vancouver's Centennial Theatre last Saturday. While the show marked skiing's arrival to the 16th annual Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival and the mood was pleasant, the topic was a heavy one. In September 2012, Hill and his team were first on scene an avalanche that killed 12 people on Manaslu, the eight highest mountain in the world and the fourth deadliest of the 8,000 meter peaks. An eye-opening presentation, it was inspiring to see such an ambassador of the sport completely open about his newfound humility when facing the mountains and the lessons he learned and re-learned from the experience. 
    Hill listed off a number of rules that he tries his hardest to observe any time he's in the backcountry. Paraphrased, they read simply: 
    1. Be afraid
    2. Be prepared
    3. Travel with people who share your risk tolerance
    4. Spend as little time exposed as possible and stop only in safe zones. 
    5. Tackle the smaller objectives first, then the big ones
    While these may seem obvious to the fire-side reader, the lines can quickly blur when chasing the summit of an 8,000 meter peak, or even that fresh foot of powder that fell last night on your back yard hill.
    Greg spent a large part of his stage time taking the audience through a play-by-play account of his team's attack on Mera and Manaslu. He was clear to note both the group's collective misjudgments as well as his own shortcomings in decision-making and the management of gear, people and terrain; it was easy to see his passion for driving home the need to think rationally in the mountain.
    Following a Q&A session and intermission, the evening was concluded with a screening of Further, Jeremy Jones's 2012 feature length chronicle of worldwide backcountry snowboarding, mostly under human power. The presentations were brilliantly juxtaposed, highlighting everything that can go so right and so wrong while chasing those glorious experiences in the mountains. 
    The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival continues through this week, spanning eight days and 25 shows of adventure-laden story telling.
    - Theo Birkner 
    Adventure Travel Collective
    The Adventure Travel Collective will be on hand for VIMFF, taking inspiration and information from these true worldwide adventurers and passing it on to anyone looking to emulate their exploits.
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  • 3 months ago
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• Resort Review: Mt. Baker, Wash Resort Review: Mt. Baker, Washington Home To The Legendary Banked Slalom Snowboard Race

  • From: mikehardaker
  • Description:

    

    The Mt. Baker Ski Area is a tiny ski resort located in the USA near Canada, known for having the most snow in North America averaging an impressive 641 inches of snow annually. The resort even broke the record for total snowfall during the 98-99 season with a whopping 1,140 inches of snow.  Located within the Mt. Baker-Snowqualmie National Forrest the Mt. Baker Ski Area was created in 1940 as a recreational destination for Washington residents.  Fast forward almost 75 years and the terrain and base area still look almost exactly the same. You won’t find any real estate for sale or overpriced ski shops here.
    
    The nearest lodging to the ski resort is located 30 miles down the road in the town of Glacier, Washington where to the locals the lack of internet and cell service is a welcome relief. For travelers you truly have to adapt while stepping back in time. If your sole focus is riding powder and ripping it fall line you’d be hard pressed to find better terrain in North America.  Short vertical runs average around 1,000 feet with access to some of the rowdiest terrain around, combined with a lack of crowds and non–existent lift lines and you have the breeding grounds for some of the best riders in the world to test their skills.  Its no wonder people like Carter Turk, Craig Kelly, Jamie Lynn, Jeff Fulton, George St. James, Tex Davenport, Mike Ranquet, Lucas DeBari, Forrest Burki, and every other ripper in the snowboard industry has called this mountain home.
    
    Baker’s roots in snowboarding go way back, this was the first resort in the United States to truly embrace snowboarding and has been home to the Legendary Baked Slalom snowboard race, the longest running snowboarding competition in the world for the last 27 years. The resort is family run and operated which is extremely rare these days, maybe that’s why parking is free and lift tickets are only $50 a day.
    
    If you like to hike, or just access life changing terrain it happens quick at Baker.  The resort’s backcountry policy allows for skiers and riders to duck ropes if the following conditions are met, you must have a partner, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe and backpack along with an understanding of the terrain.  Ropes here are meant to be ducked, just not the ones with 2 sets of ropes as those lines lead to un-survivable cliffs, which  are numerous within the resorts boundaries. If you’re smart and a strong rider you can shred some of the best lift accessed terrain in North America, if you blow it you may end up seriously hurt or even worse. 
    
    Each year 100 lucky snowboarders are chosen by lottery to compete in the Legendary Banked Slalom (LBS) snowboard race.  Getting a spot is truly an honor especially when you’re an unknown rider like myself.  Looking at the start list for this years race names like Travis Rice, Terje Haakonsen, Temple Cummins and Blair Habenicht certainly stand out!
    
    The LBS course is dug by hand each year in a natural half pipe with banked slalom gates running from top to bottom.  The start shack is legendary in itself with the words “stay low, say your prayers” painted across the entrance, good advise indeed. Unlike other snowboard contest the vibe at the Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom is all about having fun, maybe it’s due to the fact there is no prize money to win, instead the best snowboarders in the world hurl themselves down an icy course for the chance to win a roll of duct tape and a Carhartt jacket.
    
    Snowboarders from all over the world come to the event annually driving up the Mt. Baker Highway to see old friends, rip powder in an effort to cement their names in the history books.  Just being selected to race is an honor in itself. The LBS is regarded as the predecessor to boardercross races.
    
    The LBS takes place over 3 days giving each rider 2 days to qualify for a shot to ride in the finals. Plenty of high fives, hoots and hollers will follow each run, as the course is lined by locals, media, competitors and visiting riders all looking to see fast and flawless runs.
    
    Wondering what the secret is to win, so am I.  To win a roll of duct tape your wax must be dialed for the Northwest snow that tends to be warmer than most places in the country. Sharp edges seem to help too especially when 100 riders slide down the same line creating an extremely fast course. Racers times tend to get faster as the day progresses. 
    
    Guys like Blair Habenicht, Terje Haakonsen and Temple Cummins seem un-phased by the icy conditions each year. However this year just may be a bit different as the resort is calling for between 2-4 feet of snow the week leading up to the start of the race.
    
    Stay tuned for TGR’s updates throughout the week from the 2013 Legendary Banked Slalom race at Mt. Baker!

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  • 3 months ago
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• Eye Catchers: 10 Noteworthy Sn Eye Catchers: 10 Noteworthy Snowboard Products From SIA 2013

  • From: ericodlin
  • Description:

    The SnowSports Industries America snow show just finished up in Denver, where attendees had the pleasure of scoping out all the latest and greatest goods from nearly every brand under the sun. At SIA, industry people from all over the world come get a look at next year’s gear and see what kind of new technology has been cooked up for our shredding pleasure. It’s quite the spectacle, and for gear gurus, it’s a little slice of heaven.
    
    This year, there was an endless amount of new goodies to be found around every corner, but here is a list of 10 of the most interesting or innovative snowboarding products we came across.
    
    
    
    Union Factory Travis Rice Signature Model
    
    Union is on top of the binding game, and this pro model binder is proof. Building from the Charger and Atlas models, Union and Travis came up with the Factory. It features a beefed up highback, killer heel padding, an uber-cush’ ankle strap, and three-degree canting in the foot bed. This looks like a real powerhouse binding, matching superior comfort with next-level response.
    
    
    
    Anon M2 Goggle
    
    Quick change lenses are the latest tech from the goggle world, and Anon’s new M2 really stood out. The lens attaches to the outside of the frame via high-powered mini magnets for fast, on-the-fly lens swaps and convenient snow clearing. We saw a guy actually throw the lens into place. Anon tests the lense's ability to stay put with the same machine Burton uses to test its binding ratchet strength, so you need not worry about loosing a lens during a wreck. With a nice-fitting, mid-sized frame and tons of color way and tint options, the M2 definitely stands out.
    
    
    
    Burton AK Freebird Jacket
    
    This lightweight 3L GORE-TEX piece has a clean look and a cut built for shredding. A great feature unique to the Freebird jacket is that is has two mesh pockets on the inside designed to hold your splitboard skins when not in use. The legendary Dave Downing brought this jacket to our attention, pointing out the value of keeping your skins dry and warm for faster touring set ups. That means more laps, more pow, more fun.
    
    
    
    Jones Aviator
    
    This is the newest offing from Jones Snowboards. The Aviator is a cambered, directional, all-mountain banger, ideal for hard carving and getting jiggy with the whole mountain. Its 3D power camber has a light two-degree bevel at all four contact points, which gives a loose, less catchy feel to the time honored pop and control of camber. I’m willing to bet we see a bunch of Jones’ freestyle riders ripping on this deck next season.
    
    
    
    Capita Black Snowboard Of Death
    
    Don’t let the dark name scare you away from this amazing snowboard.  Capita’s flagship model got a little re-designing for the upcoming season. By setting back the cam-rock and lengthening the shovel and tail, the B.S.O.D. is even more of a do-all freestyle/freeride deck. With its new profile, killer shape, and psychedelic graphics, this board is simply rad.

    
    
    K2 Snowboarding Speedlink Touring Poles
    
    Sure, they’re just poles. But, K2 has produced some of the finest splitboarding poles we’ve ever seen. With just one quick lock lever, they’ve reduced the collapsed length by 6 inches, making it only 13-inches long broken down. They’re small enough to fit into almost any pack with out sticking out the top. When you’ve reached your summit, you just flip the one-lock lever, and just kind of smash the pole straight down and it collapses all the way down in one motion. That’s smart.
    
    
    
    Lib Tech Speedodeeps By Travis Rice
    
    Lib’s got a new pow shape that looks like it’ll be soooooo much fun on those deep days. Designed with Travis, this twin features a short running length, a jumbo tip and tail, and BTX banana tech to make for one heck of a floating powpow machine. Available in 162, this replaces the infamous “banana hammock”, and will offer the user the option to turn their snowboard should they find themselves on non-powder type snow.
    
    
    
    Jones 30L R.A.S. Ready Pack
    
    Here’s a great example of a rider’s needs pushing design. This 30L pack comes ready to hold Snowpulse’s removable airbag system. That means you can use the pack with or without the airbag. Add an internal wire frame for support, color coded buckles for additional load options, and that it weighs only 6lbs 7oz with the R.A.S installed, and you have the recipe for a terrifically designed backcountry pack.
    
    
    
    K2 Kwicker Split System
    
    Remember clickers? Well, in case you forgot, K2 has brought them back for our backcountry pleasure. This system gives you a lighter set up, and quicker change over times than your traditional split kit. As A.J. from K2 explained, the boot/binding has been engineered to feel and flex just like a boot in a strap binding would move. With over two years of R&D, and many backcountry seekers not afraid to have a separate A/T set up, this could be the next big thing in splitboarding. In the words of A.J., “It’s the balls.”

    
    
    DC Travis Rice Signature Boot
    
    OK, we realize that we have included Travis Rice’s whole set up in this top 10 list. This was not intentional. It just goes to show that not only is he a fine shredder, but that he is pushing product design forward as well. DC’s redesigned Rice signautre boot is bomb proof. They put the upper boa dial back on the outside of the boot, got rid of the wrap design for the lower, designed the outsole with sledding in mind, and wrapped the whole toe box in ballistic Superfabric. The result is a boot that comes very close to being un-blow-up-able. It also comes stock with Remind insoles for happy feet. And Torstien just won the X Games big air wearing these. I think the proof is in the pudding.
    
    Do you see a trend here? We are pleased to see that backcountry riding and splitboarding are the catalyst for most new ideas and designs this year. The demands of those two elements of snowboarding are bringing more fun new things to the table to further enhance our enjoyment of the mountains. Cheers to you, innovative shred engineers! Hope this gets everyone fired up to get out and do what we all love to do: RIDE!

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  • 3 months ago
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• Interview: Hayden Price's Alta Interview: Hayden Price's Alta Life

  • From: brodyleven
  • Description:

    Hayden Price crushing in Alta. Photo by Adam Clark.
    
    Skiing around Alta with Hayden Price is like riding with the best skier you know, your best friend, and the best tour guide ever. Except he’s the guide skiing up to a cliff zone, throwing a huge 180 into pow, and only waiting for you because he wants to watch and give you a high five. You don't actually ski with Hayden at Alta as much as you follow him, graciously. The 26-year-old has had an Alta season pass for 24 seasons. He has a distinct style on skis—seemingly disinterested with passing trends, though invariably on the cutting edge. Hayden was the first skier I remember really watching—like, taking notes and emulating—when I moved to SLC seven years ago. He can't ski Alta without people following him, and you'd be intimidated by that fact if he weren’t the happiest, mellowest, and friendliest icon on the mountain. Everyone knows him and he knows the mountain from behind a set of powder-surfing eyes like none other. He's that popular local shredder at your little hometown hill…except he’s that guy at freaking Alta.
    
    
    
    

    BRODY: Hey dude. Where are you and what's been happening?
    
    HAYDEN: Hey Brody! I have been enjoying a better snow year here in Utah’s Wasatch mountains and am currently packing up my gear to head to Canada on a film trip.
    
    BRODY: Where did you grow up? How often did you ski?
    
    HAYDEN: I grew up at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. I skied mainly on the weekends.
    
    BRODY: Although you were frequently at Alta, your home was actually down Little Cottonwood Canyon’s Highway 210, in Salt Lake City. What differentiates you from a skier who has grown up living right in the Town of Alta?
    
    HAYDEN: Growing up in Salt Lake City was a true blessing. I had the oasis of Alta only a stone’s throw away and yet grew up in a metropolitan city. I believe this kept me open to the diversity that may not otherwise be found if I grew up in the bubble that is Alta. Seriously, it is a different world up there, and you feel it the moment you arrive.  SLC has a great music, art, and food scene that I really enjoy. Variety is the spice of life.
    
    BRODY: Speaking of variety, please describe your ski style and what influences it.
    
    HAYDEN: My style is a cornucopia. I spent years dedicated to the idea that I if I can ski it forward, I should be able to ski it backward. As that motivation evolved, I looked to other sports for inspiration because I felt skiing was a little dried up. I saw the way other action sports were using their apparatuses and wanted to emulate the moves they were doing on my skis. Skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing and mountain biking had a lot to offer my thirst for different skiing. Growing up at Alta, surrounded by loads of “classic” skiers, I strived to differentiate myself from the masses. I skied a whole season of resort riding without poles in hopes of cultivating a unique relationship with my edges and the way my skis flexed. Watching all the possibilities a skater has for doing tricks, I felt there must be more I can do on my skis. I am currently focused on butters, presses, scrapes and strange transitions. If there is snow, I’ll slide on it and find something that makes it interesting to me.
    
    BRODY: You ski huge cliffs, backcountry tours, park, natural jumps, and super deep pow. People don't understand what kind of equipment you use for such an array of pursuits. Do you have an arsenal of gear, or what? What is one piece of gear you couldn't live without?

    Hayden Price dropping into a line. Photo by Brody Leven.

    HAYDEN: I definitely have an arsenal. Skiing is so particular now that I choose my skis specifically for what I’m doing that day. I have a lightweight tech binding setup for long tours and soul pow turns, and multiple sidecountry setups consisting of Marker Dukes or Alpine Trekkers for hitting jumps and drops out of the resort. My inbounds bindings are Rossignol FKS. All of my skis are 110mm under foot or wider, and all have some type of rocker technology. I couldn’t live without my Full Tilt boots.
    
    BRODY: Surface employed your snow-snorkel expertise in designing a new ski. Please explain.
    
    HAYDEN: The Lab001. I look to other sports for inspiration not only for ski sliding techniques but also for the technologies they are using. The new Lab ski has a front-to-back “3 stage rocker” as well as “Deep Dish” technology. This idea comes from our desire to have a really surfy powder ski that has a catch-free feeling.  The “Deep Dish” is a left-to-right convexity on the base of the skis. Essentially, the ski is base-high by a few centimeters.  This really allows the ski to be tossed around at will and opens up the world of trickery in powder snow.
    
    BRODY: Do you film with anyone? Where can people see and follow you (besides as fast as they can at Alta)?
    
    HAYDEN: I filmed with Sweetgrass Productions last year in Nelson, BC. This season I have been focused on working with local [Little Cottonwood Canyon] boys, Dubsatch Collective. We have a great season lined up with some really fun ideas. Stay tuned, as webisodes are dropping frequently on dubsatch.com
    
    BRODY: Why Alta?
    
    HAYDEN: It is the birthplace of powder skiing. The quality and quantity of powder that falls at the end of Little Cottonwood Canyon is unmatched worldwide. You can’t beat the access, the people, and the terrain. Alta and the surrounding areas are pure magic!
    
    BRODY: Your skillset is not only strong but also uniquely diverse, how did it develop?
    
    HAYDEN: I watched my home hill heroes, like Sage, and wanted to do what they were doing while adding my own flavor to the mix. [As a teenager,] I would ride Chip’s Run at Snowbird with all of my snowboard homies, copying the style of tricks they were doing off the cat tracks and gaps. I ran a terrain park at Alta with my friend Jordan for a few years. We always pushed each other to do more creative tricks and to be able to do them in many ways and on different terrain. I am really into climbing and mountaineering, too. Combine the jib aspects and long distance pursuits for fresh snow and you get me, HP.
    
    BRODY: Who do you love to ski with? Do you like everyone following you?
    
    HAYDEN: I love to ski with friends and family. Skiing with any of the Dubsatch crew is always great and I don’t mind anyone following us around. Join in on the fun!
    Regardless of whether he grew up in the Town of Alta or twenty minutes down the road, Hayden is most at home on that mountain. His skillset reaches from one end of skiing’s spectrum to the other while being one of those skiers who you recognize through unique skiing style, not through his outerwear or the bottom half of his face in the liftline. Since that season seven years ago, when I first realized how capable he was in the mountains, I’ve watched Hayden’s mentorships and friendships develop within the Little Cottonwood Canyon ski community. Not only does everyone know HP, but they only have compliments to offer. Forthcoming video parts will finally expose HP to the world, showcasing his talents as not a park skier, backcountry skier or Alta skier, but as a mountain skier.
    
    Hayden Price on cover of Backcountry Magazine.

    Want to ski like Hayden, book your next Alta ski vacation online through http://mountainreservations.com
    

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• Strictly Contour Ep 1.3 - SGT Strictly Contour Ep 1.3 - SGT

  • From: sassglobaltravel
  • Description:

    SGT gave Skylar Holgate (SGT Argentina Head Guide) a Contour camera and asked him to film a fun run at Catedral that he would take clients too. He came back with this. There are no words to heighten to emotions of watching Skylar's line and the mountains that play home to SGT. Enjoy!
    
    Watch More SGT Videos

     

  • 4 months ago
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• Sidecountry Sessions Season 2 Sidecountry Sessions Season 2 Trailer By Outdoor Research

  • From: outdoorresearch102344
  • Description:

    The Tiny House is back on the road. Outdoor Research Ambassadors Zack Giffin, Molly Baker and Neil Provo are storm chasing once again, heading to wherever the mountains are seeing the most fresh snow. And while they're out there, they're looking to add to the roster of Skiing and Snowboarding Grassroots Athletes. Do you know anyone who'd make a great Outdoor Research Athlete? If so, head to their Facebook page to nominate them. Candidates with the most “Likes” and “Shares” will have a chance to meet and ski or snowboard with the Tiny House crew, and potentially become an OR Athlete.
    
    Watch More Videos By Outdoor Research

     

  • 4 months ago
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• Tahoe Sees First Avalanche Dea Tahoe Sees First Avalanche Deaths Of 2012-13 Season

  • From: jeremybenson
  • Description:

    A large avalanche crown is seen in the Tahoe backcountry on Dec. 27, 2012. In late Decemeber, as the area saw new snow, it also saw many avalanches, including two that caused fatalities at Alpine Meadows and Donner Ski Ranch.
    
    Sunday, Dec. 23, was yet another stormy powder day in a string of many at Squaw Valley, Calif. Ski patrol and mountain operations teams had been doing battle with harsh weather and copious snowfall for days on end. Midway through the morning they managed to open the KT-22 chair to the public. Shortly after opening, a powerful avalanche was triggered above The Fingers, directly beneath the chairlift. The avalanche swept up one skier, a 39-year-old female, and was so powerful that chunks of the avalanching snow deflected up in the air, knocking a 16-year-old male skier from the chairlift and into the avalanche. Both skiers were conscious, and neither completely buried in the slide. The woman was treated and released from the medical clinic, and the young man was taken to the local hospital to be treated for a shoulder injury. This post-control inbounds avalanche was an unfortunate accident, but the outcome could certainly have been much worse.
    
    Earlier in December, the Tahoe region experienced above-average temperatures, resulting in rain that created a distinct crust layer in our snowpack. Since then, faceted snow crystals developed both above and below this crust creating some especially weak layers. Significant amounts of new snow piled up above these persistent weak layers resulting in an uncharacteristically unpredictable snowpack for the area. With an advisory rating of “considerable,” a 3 on a scale of 1-5 (low, moderate, considerable, high, extreme), the Sierra Avalanche Center’s advisory for the days before Christmas said, “Overall the data indicates a snowpack teetering on the edge of failure.”
    
    The following day, Dec. 24, 2012, broke clear and cold in Tahoe. The blue skies were a welcome respite from the relentless storm that dropped 4-6 feet in four days on the west side of the lake. The holiday crowds were out in force at resorts around the region, eager to ski all the new powder, and I was among them. I went to Alpine Meadows that morning, the “considerable” avalanche danger rating, recent large avalanches, and persistent weak layers in our snowpack kept me from venturing into the backcountry. Summit chair opened shortly after 9 a.m. as patrol finished avalanche control on the front side of the mountain. For my first run I headed out to Art’s Knob, my friends and I shocked to find a 4 foot crown on the convex roll at the top and large cracks in the snow stretching in both directions along the ridge. The entirety of the storm snow had slid down to the rain crust, one of many large intentional avalanches at the resort that day.
    
    About an hour later, the distinct blue and white colored Care Flight helicopter flew overhead toward the Sherwood chairlift. I thought it odd due to the fact that Sherwood wasn’t open, nor had it been yet this season. I hoped they were doing some sort of training exercise, not realizing that patrol was doing avalanche control work back there at the time. Later that day, I was saddened to hear the news that Bill Foster, a 28-year veteran of the Alpine Meadows Patrol, was caught in an avalanche while doing control work.
    
    According to a press release from Amelia Richmond, the Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows public relations representative, “The avalanche was triggered by an explosive charge that had been thrown by a senior member of the ski patrol team. The patrol team members were positioned in an area that was, based on historical experience, believed to have been a protected area. The charge triggered the avalanche, which broke much higher and wider on the slope than previously observed in past snow safety missions.” With nearly 3 decades of experience on the Alpine Meadows patrol, Foster had routinely performed avalanche mitigation work in this area. “The patroller was found within one minute and uncovered within eight minutes from the time of the avalanche,” wrote Richmond, “After uncovering the buried patroller, members of the ski patrol team immediately began CPR.” Foster was flown via Care Flight Helicopter to Renown Hospital in Reno where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
    
    The site of the in-bounds avalanche at Donner Ski Ranch.
    
    That same day at Donner Ski Ranch, a small ski area at the top of Highway 40 on Donner Summit, an avalanche occurred around 9:30 a.m. According to the Tahoe Daily Tribune, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a man around noon on Monday saying that a member of his group was overdue and was feared to have been caught in an avalanche that occurred sometime around 9:30 a.m. The search was assisted by neighboring ski resorts and a body was found in the debris, buried under 2-3 feet of snow, nearly five hours after the slide happened. Truckee resident, 49-year-old Steven “Rocker” Anderson was snowboarding that morning when he was caught up in the inbounds slide. According to reports, Anderson had just moved back to the area and was enjoying his first day snowboarding for the season.
    
    Since that tragic day last week, the Tahoe region has received roughly two more feet of snow, burying our weak layers in as much as 7 to 8 feet of snow. As our snow depth increases, triggering avalanches on our persistent weak layers is becoming less and less likely, but remains far from impossible. Any avalanches that propagate along the facets by the buried rain crust are likely to be massive and catastrophic. Our typical “more stable than most” snowpack is clearly different than usual, and it takes some getting used to. Our current weak layers and recent events have reminded me that there is no room for error or complacency when it comes to avalanche safety. Skiing is the best thing in the world, but it’s not worth dying for. Have a happy and safe New Year.

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  • 5 months ago
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• TGR Annual Safety Meeting - Al TGR Annual Safety Meeting - Almost Live Season 5 Episode 1

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    In season 5 episode 1 of Teton Gravity Research's web series Almost Live the TGR crew kicks their season off with the 5th annual International Pro Riders Workshop at Snowbird Mountain Resort. More than an avalanche safety class, this course goes over first aid and high-angle rescue scenarios that are vital to know when performing at a high level in the mountains. IPRW also serves as a team building environment for all TGR athletes to get on the same page before heading out into the field to film the new 2012-'13 ski and snowboard movie.
    
    Teton Gravity Research’s Almost Live series takes you around the globe with the TGR production team and athletes. Get an inside look at what goes into first descents, building and hitting massive backcountry jumps, traveling throughout the most exotic locales on the planet, and the lives of the world's top riders. Almost Live plants you on location with the TGR crew. You will be able to track the crew’s progress throughout the season, and watch the drama unfold.
    
    Watch More Almost Live Episodes
    
    Watch More TGR Videos
    
    Music courtesy Jeff Cormack and Play Plus Record www.playplusrecord.com
    
    Additional music:
    
    Artist: Greg V
    Song: Mist And Fangs 1
    www.gregvmusic.com
    
    Artist: Kevin MacLeod
    Song: The Whip Theme (Extended Version)
    www.incompetech.com

  • 5 months ago
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• News: Ex-Forum Rider Austen Sw News: Ex-Forum Rider Austen Sweetin Signs Binding Deal With NOW

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    - Sweetin brings street to the team but kills it in the backcountry -
    
    WHISTLER, BC – One of the biggest up-and-comers in snowboarding, Austen Sweetin is also one of the most complete rider’s strapped into a snowboard today. Hailing from the powder-choked and coffee-drenched Pacific North West, Sweetin loves coffee, throws down large in the backcountry, and he kills it in the streets. With a huge bag of tricks and tons of passion to shred combined with his next generation PNW style, Sweetin has already begun etching his name alongside the PNW greats.
    
    Peter Line, one of the most innovative snowboarders of all time, says, “It’s hard not being stoked on a snowboarder shorter than me and one from my local Ski Acres. Austen is sick. He’s an all-around rider who loves snowboarding to death, which in my eyes is more important than anything.”
    
    JF Pelchat and NOW Bindings are very excited to have Sweetin join the NOW team as it grows to include some of the most progressive and diverse riders on the planet today.
    
    “I’m super stoked to have a young blood Northwest rider on NOW," Pelchat said. "Austen is everything a snowboarder wants to be: he can ride and kill everything – pow, park, or urban – he does it all.”
    
    Sweetin, who also moonlights with some skateboard sponsors, loves the skate-influenced bindings, a perfect match to his skate-influenced riding style.
    
    “I’m excited to be apart of a binding company created by snowboarders and influenced by skateboarding,” Sweetin said.
    
    From big lines in Alaska charged by snowboard veteran and NOW team rider Jeremy Jones to up-and-comer Austen Sweetin slaying it in the streets, NOW’s revolutionary binding design and Skate-Tech technology is just as at home in the backcountry as it is in the urban stomping grounds of today’s street scene. Built around the NOW IPO hanger, the worlds’ first skate-influenced binding is the most innovative and progressive binding on the market today and offers riders a smoother and more precise ride. The future is NOW.

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  • 5 months ago
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• News: Jeremy Jones' Further Se News: Jeremy Jones' Further Series Premieres On Outside Television December 13

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    (Teton Village, Wyo.) - The award-winning producers from multimedia action sports brand Teton Gravity Research (TGR) have produced a ten-episode original series giving viewers an intense look at the personalities, adventure, drama, and excitement from two years of filming Further with Jeremy Jones. Showcasing some of the greatest snowboarding adventures on the planet, the original TV series will air exclusively on Outside Television, premiering Thursday, December 13 at 9:30pm EST with new episodes each Thursday. Outside will also provide Further fans with dual encore episodes every weekend.
    
    The second installment in the Jeremy Jones trilogy that began with Outside Television's popular series Jeremy Jones' Deeper last year, Further explores some of the world's most remote mountain terrain while continuing Jones' mission to camp deep in the backcountry and on the summits of unridden lines to access near-vertical spines and wide-open powder fields. Join Jeremy and his crew as they push their minds and bodies Further.
    
    “We've always thought this type of riding is perfect for a television series, which allows us to go more in-depth and show viewers more of these trips to tell the full story,” says Jeremy Jones. “We learned what's possible working on Deeper, and we've been able to build upon that experience with Further, both in terms of riding and the overall production.”
    
    “This is exactly the sort of flagship programming we want people to identify with Outside Television,” echoes Rob Faris, senior vice president of programming and production for Outside Television, which has been expanding rapidly through Comcast Xfinity and other systems since June. “The true success of the Jeremy Jones trilogy is the overall quality of story development, characters and production rather than devising action just for the thrill of it. We look forward to continuing this franchise even beyond Deeper and Further and are fortunate to have attracted such world-class partners as Teton Gravity Research and Jeremy Jones.”
    
    About Teton Gravity Research
    
    One of the world's leading action sports brands, TGR has produced 30 award-winning feature-length films, numerous television series, and national television commercial spots. Known for its cutting edge media and lifestyle product, TGR works with the top athletes in their respective disciplines, capturing, celebrating, and bringing to life the passion and enthusiasm associated with action sports. TGR is a proud member of 1% For The Planet and strongly believes in protecting the environment in which the team works and plays. For more information on TGR, please visit tetongravity.com, one of the leading online destinations and communities in the action sports industry.
    
    About Outside Television
    
    Outside Television is the only national programming network dedicated to the active outside lifestyle and the more than 141 million Americans who regularly participate. Based on Outside Magazine and its critically acclaimed brand, Outside Television embraces running, biking, skiing, hiking, sailing, surfing, kayaking, snowshoeing and any other adventures involving wind, water, snow and terrain; as well as the full spectrum of the people’s lives who engage in them. Offering exclusively high-definition programs, Outside Television is fast becoming a fixture among leading cable, satellite, telco and broadband providers’ sports and entertainment offerings. To learn more about Outside Television, visit www.outsidetelevision.com.

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  • 5 months ago
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• Check Yourself Before You Bury Check Yourself Before You Bury Yourself

  • From: ermecatino
  • Description:

    Avalanches and the mountains don’t care about your Facebook status, how many followers you have on Twitter, or if you used a filter on that photo from the ridge. They couldn’t care less.
    
    And the avalanche problem isn’t new. Last year's melancholy has forced many within the ski community to confront the issue. Last season 34 people passed away in avalanches within the U.S., just two short of the record. Equipment manufacturers and the industry as a whole are pushing the “backcountry market;" an increasing ammount of ski and snowboard video content and a constant fuel for stoke have spawned the GoPro generation of recreation skiers, and the relentless stream of media have created new social factors that we all face today. As a collective of skiers, we have better equipment, it’s as if we are golfers with new clubs that reach the green in one swing, but when we walk to the green we have to confront lions.
    
    An avalanche in November broke off on Sunset Peak in Utah. Photo by Bruce Tremper of the Utah Avalanche Center.
    
    “A lot of avalanches can be prevented with knowledge,” said Bruce Tremper of the Utah Avalanche Center. “We [avalanche centers] don't have a lot of money, and we can’t keep up with an industry that is pushing people into the backcountry.”
    
    In turn, Bruce and others within the snow-science field are working on ways they can prevent avalanche deaths with a shoestring budget.
    
    The UAC and other avalanche organizations advise skiers to make decisions based on evidence, but Tremper said people don’t, and are rolling the dice, learning their lessons the hard way.
    
    “People need to be humble, especially early in their avalanche career,” Tremper said. “Our perceptions are almost always wrong. … I just cringe when I hear ‘I just trust my gut,’ because they don’t know anything. Avalanches are hard to teach, what we’re doing works, but maybe not as well as we would like it to. … What we really need to do is get a virtual reality experience to see and feel things so when you guess wrong, you get hit with baseball bats or something like that. We don’t have a machine like that right now.”
    
    For skiers, getting educated is key, but that isn’t the final step. As Tremper notes getting your Avalanche Level 1 certification is misleading, as the level one course gives you enough information to start learning.
    
    “I call it your learners permit. It is where your education begins not ends,” Tremper said.
    
    This season whether you are an experienced skier or newbie, staying current is integral to your survival in the backcountry.
    
    “What I suggest is after people take a Level 1, every time it snows get out on safe or low consequence terrain and see what is happening — that’s where you really learn,” Tremper said.
    
    Tremper, a professional avalanche forecaster since 1978 and in his 27th season as director of UAC has seen enough mountainsides shatter like a glass.
    
    “People always assume they have better skills than they really do. It takes quite a few years. You really know hardly anything,” Tremper said.
    
    For Tremper, it took about 15 years as a professional before he felt he was skillful at traveling within avalanche terrain.
    
    “I was pretty lucky — luck has a lot to do with it, and we just don’t realize sometimes how close we are,” he said.
    
    Tremper, author of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, is one of the most respected avalanche experts within the Utah skiing community.
    
    According to Tremper, this season Utah has started out with a relatively good snowpack — as long it keeps snowing. However, he notes that they missed some close calls.
    
    “The October storm was really faceted on the ground of northern aspects. When we received the November four-foot-storm, we had a lot of activity and there were close calls that could of easily been several deaths. Several people triggered slides, but no one took any serious rides — we were really lucky,” he said.
    
    In addition to the facets, the early season snowpack holds increased risk in avalanche terrain.
    
    “Early season avalanches are more dangerous because a small slide can send you bouncing through stumps and rocks, the incident of trauma is higher,” Tremper said.
    
    There is no denying that equipment upgrades have allowed skiers to get into the backcountry with ease, however, Tremper and other avalanche professionals are noticing an alarming trend.
    
    “People used to be a lot more cautious right after a snowstorm, today people are running to the steepest terrain and jumping right into it, you just can’t do that,” Tremper said.
    
    Shaun Raskin, pro-skier, guide, and avalanche course instructor has noted a similar trend, explaining how media could be influencing people’s personal risk assessment.
    
    “Previously there was no media of other skiers’ endeavors,” Raskin said. “You were stepping into a void.”
    
    This year at the UAC workshop, social media was said to play a role in peoples’ decision-making and plans for the day.
    
    Currently Raskin is seeing her “office” becoming a dangerous place as not everyone is taking the appropriate courses, yet are on avalanche terrain. Just two weeks ago she and her fiancé saw skiers descending upon a group skinning up for turns near the Cardiff backcountry zone, Utah.
    
    For Tremper, “it is total chaos, as no one is practicing any system.”
    
    Tremper is hoping to create better tools for connecting the right terrain (slope steepness) with danger rating.
    
    “We have to have some sort of system to allow us to make better decisions,” he said. “We need better avalanche eye balls, right now everyone is jumping in.”
    
    As the season kicks off across the country, avalanche centers such as the UAC and others across the west and east are holding avalanche courses, free workshops, and lectures, trying their earnest to educate skiers. For skiers and riders knowledge is power. So take a class, see what the mountains have to say, and be safe this winter.
    
    
    Below is a list of avalanche forecast websites for major mountain communities. Always check the avalanche report before heading out to the backcountry.
    
    Utah Avalanche Center
    
    Bridger Teton Avalanche Center
    
    Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center
    
    Colorado Avalanche Information Center
    
    Mount Washington, NH Avalanche Center
    
    Sierra Avalanche Center
    
    Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, MT
    
    
    Stay on top of the snowfall in your area with the TGR Snow Lab

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  • 6 months ago
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• News: Silverton Mountain Is Lo News: Silverton Mountain Is Loaded Up With 2-3 Feet Of Fresh Snow!

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    This most recent winter storm at Silverton Mountain, Colorado loaded up the mountain with as much as 2-3 feet of fresh snow!  A few lucky ski patrollers jumped on the chairlift today and headed to the top of Silverton Mountain to make the first ski turns of the 2012/13 ski season.  A fresh blanket of snow covered the mountain making for a fun ski day. 
    
    Both La Nina and El Nino can bless this microclimate, which tends to make Silverton Mountain a reliable snow location.
    
    The official start of the ski season is slated for December 1, 2012 but if the snow keeps up at this pace that date could be pushed up.  Silverton Mountain is the highest ski area in North America with a peak of 13,487’ providing for skiing on all natural snow as early as August in previous years.
    
    Silverton Mountain is Now Open 7 Days a Week for the Holidays!
    December in Silverton can be unreal. No holiday crowds and big dumps make it one of the best times of the season. With extra December dates added (Open Dec 15-30th every day except Xmas) it has more skiing/boarding options than ever before. The mountain will also be open Presidents Day 2013. December usually has fantastic snow and has been one of the snowiest months at the mountain. In fact the all time monthly snowfall record was set in December with over 200” in a single month. One year there was so much snow on opening day we were unable to open as the County snow plows could not make it up the road.
    
    The $300 off Season Pass sale is coming to an end…
    The Pass gets you the unguided ski season (which is even longer this year) and includes 15 FREE ski days (5 days at A-Basin, 5 days at Monarch, and 5 days at Loveland) for an unbelievably low price of $499. Also included are; 1/2 price standby heli drops, discounted standby guided skiing at only $79, and premium draft beers for only $2. BUY SEASON PASSES HERE
    
    Avalanche classes at Silverton Mountain will once again be offered in December.
    This is an excellent way to learn the mechanics of avalanches and hone your skills for backcountry travel. Our classes are for only advanced and expert skier and boarders. They are AIARE certified classes and class size is small (usually 6-12 students).
    Avalanche Level I – Dec. 14-16, 2012
    Avalanche Level II – Dec. 6-9, 2012
    Visit: AVALANCHE CLASSES.
    
    

  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
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• Interview: Nick Martini’s Bala Interview: Nick Martini’s Balancing Act

  • From: ermecatino
  • Description:

    
    
    How Martini manages his life as a pro-skier and co-founding director of Stept Productions.
    
    By Erme Catino
    
    Nick Marini is quite possibly the busiest pro-skier that you will ever meet. Growing up in Winchester, Mass., the 22-year-old has risen to the top of freeskiing in just a few years. However, it’s his impressive work ethic that has proven he is more than just a skier.  Along with his brother, Alex, dedicated friends, and business partners, Martini has taken his skills as a skier, college student, and entrepreneur to charge ahead in the ski industry.
    
    The Stept Crew at their finest.
    
    Erme Catino: Within three to four years you have gone from appearing in your first Poor Boyz film to the top of freeskiing. It doesn’t seem like long, but I’m sure it must feel like ages ago – how has the whirlwind been?
    
    Nick Martini: It has been hectic. After I started doing well in competitions everything seemed to kick off… In 2009, I was asked to host an urban trip in my hometown of Boston, for Poor Boyz’s Every Day is a Saturday. Ever since then, things got busy from filming with TGR, Stept, and Poor Boyz, skiing in the Dew Tour, and the injuries – which is how I fell in love with filming.
    
    EC: When you began filming with TGR, and signed with The North Face, the Stept movies took on a whole new level. How have you balanced running Stept while filming segments with TGR and Poor Boyz?
    
    NM: The winters have been insane and full of traveling, which is fun. However, in the summer the production side of things ties me down with editing, so I haven’t been able to spend time at Hood, etc.  There was a time actually when we got so busy, we almost stopped making Stept films, but in 2010 I hurt my knee, and got into filming while I was working on my recovery video blog… I put all of my energy into Stept and our upcoming film Network. After Network, things flew by, all of our riders began coming into the scene with TGR and Pooy Boyz such as Cam Riley and Clayton Vila. Now, things are coming full circle with a bunch of us transitioning to filming full-time again with Stept.
    
    EC: Your Stept crew of Sean Jordan, Clayton Vila, Cam Riley, Shea Flynn among others have all taken off around the same time. What’s that like, and what is a day in the life at the Stept house?
    
    NM: A lot of us grew up skiing together. My brother Alex, initially moved to Boulder to attend The University of Colorado and then we followed suit for skiing and school. Recently a lot of us have branched out to film with other companies, and now I think we are all coming into our own. If we hadn’t done that, Stept wouldn’t be what it is today. This season, we are coming back together with experiences learned from working with TGR and Poor Boyz, and can focus on making our best Stept work to date. I’m really hyped to focus on Stept this year!
    
    This season is actually the first time the whole Stept crew is under one roof – we recently moved into a house 3 months ago. There are 13 of us in one house. Prior to this, a few of us lived together – those early years were the loosest couple of years of my life. Now, we have a studio and editing suite,  but it is still typical Boulder. We are either skiing all day/night, if there is no snow we’ll party until 6:00 a.m. it’s hectic on your head especially since the college party nights are often midweek and not your typical Friday and Saturday nights… We love it, we have been doing this together for 10 years so when it dumps, everyone is ready to work and all of us can operate the lights, winch, camera, etc.
    
    EC: Your films combine a raw nature and cinematic style that I think is unique. What do you see the future holding for you as a pro-skier and continuing with Stept?
    
    NM: One of our goals is to think we have a broad perspective. Although our content is very niched — urban skiing — the film is enjoyable to watch for all ages and types of skiers.
    
    Personally, I learned so much from Todd Jones (TGR) and Johnny DeCesare (Poor Boyz Productions). Both have been huge inspirations, and they taught me so much in terms of business and marketing.
    
    With Stept we really started taking on documenting street-based skiing. You hear a lot of people saying they’re taking the park into the backcountry, with Stept we’re taking the park out of the terrain park and into the streets. The majority of snowboarding films are urban, and I think we’re filling that gap in skiing.
    
    Additionally, Cam and I have been busy with Stept Studios — commercial film projects with nonendemic media. It’s been fun to dive into the production side of Stept Studios and we’re getting recommendations from others within the industry. That side of Stept has been getting super busy. We keep things separate so it’s great. With Stept Productions, we’re still the badass kids, but we keep it professional for Stept Studios.
    
    EC: Talk about the recent injuries, are you healthy now?
    
    NM: Yes. It feels so good to be walking and skiing, it’s crazy to think back on the injuries the past four years. I’ve had six to seven surgeries and tore my ACL three times. My knee is f’ed again, and the decision was to take out my ACL for this year and ski without it, then re-evaluate in the spring. The past few years I was able to film small segments with TGR and Poor Boyz, but last season was the first year I didn’t film with Stept. This year I’m going to take it back a bit, but I’m excited to ski.
    
    EC: If you could have a dream film trip this season what would that be, and who would you bring?
    
    NM: To be honest, I would love to go to Japan or Alaska, but a dream trip for me would be to go to Boston. The East Coast is so good for urban. Our friends and family are there, and it’s really supportive. Boston is one of my favorite cities to film regarding the architecture — the landscape is very atheistically pleasing for urban. Two winters ago we were there for two months, the shots turned out so well, and to go back with the whole Stept crew would be a dream.
    
    

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  • 6 months ago
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• News: Big Year Ahead For The 2 News: Big Year Ahead For The 2013 World Heli Challenge

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    Lake Wanaka - Exciting changes to the World Heli Challenge announced today will see a new Junior World Heli Challenge event and a revised elite format to the World Heli Challenge with limited athlete numbers for 2013.
    
    Event founder and director Tony “Harro” Harrington is excited to launch the Junior World Heli Challenge as part of the competition next year. “For the past couple of years we’ve developed the concept of selected ‘Young Guns’ in the competition so this is a natural progression to involve more junior skiers and boarders,” explains Harrington.
    
     “There is such strong interest coming from young athletes from around the world that we’ve decided to create a tailored event just for them.  We’re excited about the opportunity to help these boys and girls develop the skills and awareness about the backcountry that will hopefully see them progress to the World Heli Challenge in years to come. We love their passion and are blown away by how many young people and their families want to be involved.”
    
    The Junior World Heli Challenge will be open to 15 skiers and 15 snowboarders aged between 12 and 16 years.  As with the senior event, the standard is high and athletes will be assessed on their skills and experience to be eligible. The Junior World Heli Challenge will take place over one week starting 26th July 2013 and includes one heli-accessed competition day in the backcountry of New Zealand’s Southern Alps surrounding Wanaka.  In addition to the competition day a major focus is backcountry tuition and awareness training, snow days and family time at the local ski resorts.
    
    The main event – the World Heli Challenge – is set for some dynamic changes for 2013 with a new restricted line-up limited to just 32 athletes; 12 males and 4 females each skiing and boarding in the competition.
    
    “This is an elite and unique event and by keeping our numbers contained we have better options for accessing new terrain and hidden stashes down the Southern Alps to take the competition to a whole new level,” said Harrington.
    
    “The World Heli Challenge is a gathering, it is an event like no other in the world and we are committed to keeping it contained and preserving its essence.  We could easily grow the event but would risk losing its authenticity, the camaraderie and diluting the intensity of the experience for everyone.”
    
    EVENT DATES FOR 2013:
    
    Junior World Heli Challenge:  Friday 26th July 2013 (registration night) to the Saturday 3rd August, 2013 (Awards Night)
    
    World Heli Challenge:  Sunday 4th August, 2013 (registration day) to the Thursday 22nd August, 2013 (Showcase Awards Night)
    
    Information about the Junior World Heli Challenge will soon be posted at www.worldhelichallenge.com and all of the details on the World Heli Challenge main event, entry fees and registration will also be loaded to the site by February 2013.
    
    Visit www.worldhelichallenge.com to see the videos and photographs from the 2012 Canon Shootout. 
    
    For updates and to keep in touch with the World Heli Challenge team please ‘like’ our facebook page www.facebook.com/worldhelichallenge
    
    
    

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  • 7 months ago
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• Prospecting Idaho: EP 3.5 Prospecting Idaho: EP 3.5

  • From: idarado
  • Description:

    In season 3 episode 5 of Smith Optics' web series Prospecting Idaho, Taylor Carlton, Scott Stevens, Iris Lazz, Scotty Pike, Cory Schneider and Sam Hulbert once again take to the 900-acre backyard playground deep in the Idaho wilderness where they shred pow and hit kickers to sweet tunes.

    Click Here To Watch More Smith Optics Videos

     

  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 83
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