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Hi-Fives with Thomas Vincent o Hi-Fives with Thomas Vincent of Hi-Line Films
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Hi-Fives is a new column that puts the spotlight on badass people and places that are breaking the mold. We kick things off by interviewing Thomas Vincent, a twenty-three year old passionate skier from Missoula, Montana. We caught up with Vincent at the top of Beartooth Pass, a remote backcountry mecca in Montana, during the Beartooth Summer Sessions a few weeks ago.
Vincent was shooting with Hi-Line Films—a production company based out of Missoula, Montana—for its upcoming release, "the simple side." We happened upon him as he stood drinking a beer and smiling while holding a napkin to his bloodied cheek. Despite fresh injuries, he graciously answered our questions about Hi-Line Films and what the heck they were doing in Beartooh.
Give me the run down on yourself, name, age, job?
My full name is Thomas Caywood Vincent the 5th. Let me look at my passport here, ah yes, I am 23 years of age. My parents introduced me to skiing when I was in kindergarden, so what...I was 5? I've been riding and filming with Hi-Line since the winter of 2011-2012. I'm currently studying digital film at the University of Montana and I often find myself following a bit of a fantasy more often than not. Since there aren't dragons flying around our heads, I put planks on my feet and slay snow ghosts. It's really my way of saying, "hey earth, do better....bitch." It feels good to ski.
Why did you come to Beartooth Pass?
I actually came here for redemption. Last year we came here at the exact same time of year with with Hi-Line Films. And last year, I found a way to break my jaw, so this year we decided I needed redemption-- I can't end on a bad note! So we came out here and I did what I sought to do, and I feel really, really good about it. This place is phenomenal. You drive up to the top of Beartooth Pass, your buddies drop in, you lap a couple of times, you hoot and holler and go home to your campsite and feel a lot better at the end of the day. It's incredible--it's big line skiing in June.
What has your experience in Beartooth been like?
We got here late, super late on Tuesday night at like four in the morning. So we got up a little late and ended getting up to the pass at about noon on Wednesday. We got to Gardner Headwall and literally there is a road that will swing you up to this amazing face with tons of long lines, shoots, and, couloirs. So we all rallied up and six of us hiked out to the top of our lines. When we dropped in, we rode out this bulletproof chunder and did the best we could. We basically straight-lined the chutes, rode it out, and powered our quads through it, even if it brought tears to our eyes because it hurt so much to hold. But when you know you are getting filmed, you gotta hold it through. And we did it!
What went down on your second day on Beartooth Pass?
The next day we built a massive jump on top of a cornice that Toy Solider Productions was working on last year. It's down and around from the Garder Headwall. We basically found a nice big cornice to build a jump on, to boost us up and over. We built a nice backcountry step-down. I did a starfish lincoln loop over it, which I was pretty happy with.
There was actually a carpool of British people at the base and they were ecstatic about it. They said it was the most “brilliant” thing they've ever seen in skiing--so I'm happy about that. Bringing back some old school. I like it. But a few of us were having some problems with speed on the jump. I was fortunate to stomp out some tricks, but some of the other members of the team were having a hard time and not stoked on it, but I really wanted, needed to get my redemption trick out of it. So I decided to try a cork 9 for true redemption, and I brought it to my feet a couple times, but we started seeing lightning and hearing thunder so we decided to call it, and headed back to our campsite. We got pretty rowdy at the campsite, had a raging fire, drank beers, talked about our lines and enjoyed the heck out hanging out.
Are you still seeking redemption, what happened today?
This morning I woke up, wasn't sure if I would have the energy to go for that 9, but I got convinced. The Hi-Line crew stoked me up, so I decided to go for it. I hiked up to the jump by myself. We had the Hi-Line filmers posted up on the road, watching and tracking my progress through the telephoto lens. Once the sun peeked out, I went for it. First try, cork 9, to my feet--couldn't hold it. Second time, to my feet--couldn't hold it. Third time, started getting sloppy, cork 9 to my chest. Fourth time--almost broke my jaw again! I felt the ski come up to my jaw again, real tough. I landed the nine, and my ski just got stuck in the chunder and shot up straight into my face. So after that I decided to call it. But we're on top of Beartooth Pass, looking at Garder Headwall, right now, waiting for three of our guys to get on their lines. Ben [Zeimat] is actually setting up camera now. And shit, we're drinking beers, we're chilling, and we're loving it. This is enough for me.
Editor's note, we stop the interview as the remaining three guys needled a tight, steep chute. We hooted, hollered, cheered, and got back to talking.
This place is no joke, you guys are gnarly . These lines are legit. So tell me what other projects have you been apart of?
I've been working with "The Trimming's" web series. It was produced by two Epic Planks pro riders, and the series has been fairly popular this season. And through that I have been getting a lot of practice. With Hi-Line, they have been primarily focused on backcountry. They really don't touch any resort, so you're going to see a lot of skinning, a lot of hiking, a lot of effort, a lot disappointment and a lot of excitement in our film. We're calling the movie, "the simple side" and it will be coming out next fall.
Who all is in Hi-Line Films?
Ben Zeimet, is the filmer, director, producer. He is the man behind it all. He will commission additional filmers to get different angles. But yeah, it's been really interesting and an awesome experience working with these guys. Some of the other riders you'll see are T.J. Andrews, you'd be familiar with him from, "Come Find Us," the first Toy Solider Film where he was trying the triple cork, which, actually, was right over there, right over there on that ledge. [Points to ledge.] He became a legend in Montana for that. So that guy has been pushing the hell out of me this trip. But let's see, we're also with Sam Arroues, and Garret Umphress. So those three including me are kind of the core team. But we've had a bunch of friends claiming lines and adding to it.
When do you plan to release "the simple side"?
We'd like to get it into Missoula by mid-October along with premiere season. We're going to tour it around Montana. We might go into a couple different places, but we know our market niche is in Montana. And we'll definitely have a teaser coming out soon.
What you guys are doing here is the core essences of shredding..living life, camping, waking up, hiking these huge lines, and getting shit done. It's awesome.
Ya, totally! And tonight, we're going to party in a school bus at our campsite. It broke down a few days ago en route to Beartooth, but we fixed it up, and tonight we'll be celebrating our successes out here and going for it!
Check out Thomas and the rest of the Hi-Line guys in the teaser below.
the simple side. Mid Season Teaser from Hi-Line Films on Vimeo
Riders:
T.J. Andrews
Sam Arroues
Thomas Vincent
Garrett Umphress
Joel Anderson
Brett Bacon
Danny Arnold
Luke Morris
Riley Johnson
Jake Fagrelius
and friends
Filming and Editing by:
Ben Zeimet
Produced By:
Hi-Line Films and Generation One Media
Photos: Gavin Gibson
- Blog post
- 2 days ago
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Touring The Tirol Valley With Touring The Tirol Valley With Tim Durtschi
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Words By Tim Durtschi
Photos by Dutch Simpson
After our weeklong stay at the Bluebird Mountain Hostel and good times skiing in Hochfugen, Austria, it was off to Fieberbrunn.
Fieberbrunn is a powder paradise. It has five gondolas: more than any other type of lift at the resort. We took advantage of the easily accessible tree skiing during the heavy storm that hit the day of our arrival.
Our trusty guide Marcus informed us that we arrived to one of the biggest storms that they have seen all season, and the cold weather made for some blower pow. Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Dylan Hood, Colter Hinchliffe and myself made laps from open to close and there was still massive amounts of unskied terrain that made us anxious to get up in the morning and do it all over again.
When the pow stopped falling (we were starting to feel like it never would) our friend Matthias Haunholder took us to some really fun lines off the backside near the Wildseeloder Lodge. The Atomic team manager, Chris Mckearin, came over from the Atomic factory, which is a short 1.5-hour drive away, and got to ski with us for two days.
It was pretty cool to be able to ski with your team manager, especially during a film shoot. I mean, you definitely don’t want to crash in front of your team manager … actually he’s a pretty cool guy, so it’s no big deal.
This week in Fieberbrunn marks the end of our month long journey through the Tirol Valley of Austria. It has been awesome, good times the entire way through, we got to see a huge amount of terrain over the course of our migration, but there is still so much that we could experience. I will definitely be back in the Alps in the future, there is so much opportunity here, and with such welcoming people, it’s hard to say “no” when they say kommen sie bald wieder!
Scoping a gap feature in Hochfugen.
Storm skiing in Fieberbrunn.
Stoked in Fieberbrunn.
Farm house drop in Fieberbrunn.
Zero spin in the Fieberbrunn backcountry.
Cork 5 in Arlberg.
Be sure to check out TGR's Austria ski reports, resort news and more at: http://www.tetongravity.com/travel/resorts/europe/austria-653/ - Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 255
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Shit Jobs Part 1: Line Cook Shit Jobs Part 1: Line Cook
- From: jeremybenson
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Description:
The song playing during Aaron McGovern’s segment in MSP’s Ski Movie 2 had a line that went something like, “You may think this life is glamorous but it’s not / Workin’ shit jobs just to play rock.”
I’ve never been a musician, nor do I aspire to be, but I’ve been a ski bum for over a decade and something about that song has resonated with me over the years. I might change the lyrics to say “Workin’ shit jobs just to ski pow,” but you get the idea. Living in a ski town and spending everyday on the hill often requires significant sacrifice, in many cases that means working a job, or jobs, you never imagined you’d have.
I never thought I’d be so obsessed with skiing that I would base my entire life around having the freedom to ski absolutely everyday, but that’s what happened. I never would have thought I’d be a waiter, caterer, part-time landscaper, and half-assed freelance writer all at the same time, but that’s what I do. My college degree isn’t doing me much good, but I haven’t missed a powder day for 11 years and counting. Shit jobs have given me the freedom to ski as much as I can, live in an incredible place, and still make a living, sort of.
This series will attempt to profile some of the best and worst shit jobs in a ski town. Don’t get me wrong, in no way do I intend to bash professions like these, they are a means to an end, the axis upon which our mountain lives spin. Without jobs like these, how would you ski over 100 days a season and still be employed?
Part 1: Line Cook
Restaurants offer one of the highest concentrations of shit jobs in any mountain town. The least glamorous job at a restaurant is the dishwasher, hands down. Since I’ve never met a dishwasher that speaks English, or skis, I’m starting this series with the second least glamorous restaurant job: line cook. Like any job, there are pros and cons, good and bad, strikes and gutters.
One of the finer points of working in a kitchen is the schedule, as long as you work the dinner shift. If you work breakfast or lunch you are blowing it and probably don’t get to ski that much so this doesn’t really apply. Depending on the restaurant you work at, your shift probably starts between 2 and 4 p.m. This leaves plenty of time to ski at Mt. Gnarnia before it’s tracked out, or session laps in the local backcountry.Once at work, there is a nearly unlimited supply of food and beverages to consume. Free lunch, dinner, and drinks of any kind are a godsend for broke-ass ski bums, and as a line cook the food is at your fingertips, literally. Eating one or two meals a day at work can save you heaps of money, especially when you are forced to shop at absurdly overpriced ski town grocery stores. You can also drink iced tea, coffee, and Coca-Cola until you’re blue in the face or develop heart palpitations. Alcoholic beverages might also be part of the program, but if frowned upon by upper management, you can probably sneak a few beers in the walk-in or bribe one of the waiters with food in trade for some red wine.
As a member of the kitchen staff you don’t have to associate with the customers and therefore you can farm your goggle tan to the point of total ridiculousness. Showing up to work with helmet hair and 5 day growth because the skiing has been epic is generally no big deal. Your appearance may hurt your chances with that hot waitress, bartender, or busser, but at least you get to check them out all night at work, and sometimes they actually have to talk to you.
Working on the line, however, can be somewhat hazardous. Burns from the oven, hot pans, and fryer oil are nearly impossible to avoid and the scars on your forearms may tell the story for years. One slip with a super-sharp kitchen knife and you’re stuck wearing a finger condom or heading to the hospital for a few stitches. Your mental health may also be in jeopardy listening to the gratuitous use of words like fire, all day, and dragging. Prepping for and making the same 30 dishes day after day could be enough to drive any person insane.
Working in a confined space next to an oven, stove, and deep fat fryer isn’t for the weak at heart, it is often really, really hot. You’ll also smell like food, or a fryer, and be covered in airborne grease particles until you take a shower, and sometimes longer. Most of the free food you consume at work is terrible for you and combined with your work environment may cause you to break out like a prepubescent teen. Oh, and that waitress, the one you hit on everyday, isn’t interested because you’re broke and you constantly smell like french fries. Not to mention the fact that anytime anything goes wrong in the restaurant it’s your fault and the uppity wait staff and front-house management are constantly staring at you and asking where the food for table 12 is.That being said, working the line allows you to ski everyday, sleep in if you want, and party like a rock star. No one knows you make 11 bucks an hour when you’re rubbing elbows with local pros in the lift line or smiling ear to ear with a powder mustache. And that guy with three screaming kids, a nagging wife, a $500,000 ski condo, and an $80,000 SUV, whose dinner you made last night is jealous of you. Not because he wishes he was broke, but because he wishes he could live a responsibility free life where skiing is the priority. Because after all, in the end he who has the most fun wins, and at least you’re not washing dishes.
The author, uppity waiter Jeremy Benson, crushing pow October 25.
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 243
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California Powder In June - Ke California Powder In June - Keepin’ Winter Alive Part 1
- From: sethlightcap
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Description:
Words and Photos by Seth Lightcap
I hadn’t looked at a weather radar in over a month, maybe two, but on the night of June 4, I just happened to click that button. When the screen popped up it was almost comical. Sure, the forecast had called for a little snow, but really? It was June and had been nearly 80 the past two days in Tahoe.
The giant green radar blob that I saw crushing into Northern Cali that night looked like ‘Slimer’ from the Ghostbusters mowing down Bill Murray. Ummmm ... Yes, please! I’m always ready for a gooey frozen faceshot of Pacific Ocean ectoplasm, let alone in June. A 9:30 p.m. audible was called — dark-thirty wake up to chase down Slimer the next day.
Judging by the radar loop, my best guess was that the blob had clobbered Lassen Volcanic National Park. Positioned perfectly between the Northern Sierra and Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and the surrounding peaks are a known storm magnet and collect a deep snowpack that’s usually shreddable until mid-summer. I hadn’t been back to Lassen yet this season but it seemed like the 'drop everything' day to make it happen. Little doubt that this exotic June powder window wouldn’t last long, if even hours.
The dawn push was a gruesome reality but the bleary-eyed drive was quickly forgotten upon our arrival in Lassen. We stepped out of the car straight into a scene from February — frigid temps and a thick layer of winter snow. The adventure that unfolded in front of us that day was one we’ll never forget and was an epic reminder why we chase snow well into the summer every year. As usual, my wife Allison and I have been enjoying a rather fantastic summer shred season including a handful of killer days in June already. We’ll put away the boards after we have a 'meh' day of riding, but until then, we’ll be keepin’ winter alive lickin’ the still snowy chops of the Sierra and the Cascades.
If you’re down to click it, i’m down to share the stoke, so here’s a few shots from Lassen to start a new story series called Keepin’ Winter Alive. Enjoy, and remember ... it’s always a pow day somewhere.Part two of the Keepin’ Winter Alive series dropping soon — Bike-to and Boat-to Sierra steeps.
Temps hovered at around 25 degrees when we arrived at the south entrance of Lassen NP on June 5th. The road through the park had been closed due to the storm so we parked at 6,700 feet at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Three to five inches of fresh on the ground at the parking lot. 
We toured into the 8,000-foot to 9,000-foot sub-peaks surrounding Mt. Lassen. At about 8,000 feet we were breaking trail through over a foot of new snow. 
Strong storm winds had packed the powder into a soft layer that was effortless to rip and easy on the head as you weren’t bottoming out. A fat snowpack in the trees and most bowls had us ripping turns at full speed.
It kinda felt like February for some reason. Photo By Allison Lightcap.
We did five laps on three different peaks in the zone. The sun would pop out for a few minutes only to be quickly shrouded by dense, fast moving clouds. Temps barely cracked 30 degrees all day and we rode winter snow on our last lap at 6 p.m.
Between the wind deposition and the assumption of rapid warming, we were extremely suspect of the stability of the new snow layer. I jumped on it, ski cut it and slashed at pockets left and right, but nothing. We saw no movement whatsoever. So we toured and shredded through the deepest stashes.
This lap kicked our expectations for the day in the face. Yeah, like bloody broken teeth. When the alarm went off at 4 a.m. we almost didn’t rally. It was only forecasted to snow 3-5 inches. Photo by Allison Lightcap.
I have a hard time convincing Allison to start riding her mountain bike every spring. She says it just doesn’t compare to the bliss of snowboarding. Having pedalled an already dusty trail with her the day before, this mission was a serious setback for mountain bike morale.
We walked out onto the road at the end of the day just adjacent to a gurgling pool of green goo that was frothing with noxious sulfur gases. Slimer had left his mark on Lassen Volcanic National Park. - Blog post
- 1 year ago
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Skiing And Surfing New Zealand Skiing And Surfing New Zealand's South Island Part 2
- From: brennanlagasse
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Description:
There is amazing terrain to ski and ride around Broken River Ski Field on New Zealand's south island.
— Words and photos by Brennan Lagasse
New Zealand club fields are distinctly Kiwi. They’re globally unique in the way they operate, and they’re not for the traveler looking for a commercialized ski trip available at most luxury type ski resorts. Rather, the club field experience is built on the simple bliss of sliding on snow. The fields are owned and operated by a ski club where a volunteer majority helped build the infrastructure that exists today. It’s easy enough to visit a club field for a day and get the feel, but it’s a much better call to spend at least a night at one of these club fields during your travels.
Narrow access roads take you to the base of many of New Zealand's club fields.
Arthur’s Pass is home to the best of the best in terms of the Kiwi club fields. Broken River is actually one of the cooler places I’ve ever had the fortune of spending a few days in the mountains. After a questionable drive of muddy switchbacks that speaks to a bunch of the rowdy access roads you’ll take to access skiing in New Zealand, Broken River’s half-elevator half-tram will take you up to the accommodation area where several bunk style units are located along with the ticket office. There’s also a big dinning hall where those lucky enough to spend the night will meet for drinks, mingling, and a community style dinner later that evening. When you leave the fortress of trees surrounding the housing area it’s time to walk what’s known as “The Stairway To Heaven,” which consists of climbing too many stairs to count that eventually brings you to a modest base area and the ski lifts.
The Stairway to Heaven at Broken River Ski Field in New Zealand. 
The tram station at Broken River Ski Field. 
Dropping the ridge from Broken River to Craigieburn ski field.
While the terrain at Broken River is fully enjoyable, close enough to drop into the exciting terrain found at the neighboring Cragieburn club field, and offers great access to a wealth of backcountry ski terrain, it’s the nutcracker rope tows that’ll give you an experience that I’m certain isn’t found anywhere on the planet besides New Zealand. Even if you grew up shredding glove after glove using traditional rope tows like myself, your first time especially, you have no idea what you’re in store for when you ready for your first shot at the nutcracker.
The Broken River nutcracker.
It’s essentially a clamp that’s attached to a belt you wear like a harness. With the belt fastened around your waist, the trick is to latch the clamp onto the moving rope tow after you grab it and be whisked away to the top of the hill. These nutcrackers are a trip to get used to, and no matter how many lift systems you’ve used in your life you have a better chance of a yard-sale while getting the hang of this one than the five year-old behind you in line. A visit to the Kiwi club fields are a must if you’re a skier or rider visiting New Zealand, and if you make it to Broken River the terrain, vibe, and overall experience will be a definite highlight of your trip.
Amazing south-facing powder.
Wanaka is another must visit spot for adventurers visiting New Zealand’s South Island. You could travel back to the east and then south down toward the Mt. Cook area to get to Wanaka from Arthur’s Pass, but traveling the wild west coast of the island is highly recommended. You’ll pass several empty surf breaks en route, innumerable pristine camp spots either right on the ocean or smack dab in the middle of a lush rainforest, and you’ll even get to stop off at a couple of huge glaciers — the Franz Josef and Fox.
Driving around New Zealand is an absolute trip.
So many cool spots to check out. 
... and so much rad to be had.
The stretch of driving from Arthur’s Pass down to Wanaka via the west coast could take you as little as a days worth of travel, or you could break it up for many days on end as there are so many activities to get into from a simple walk to check out the unique “Pancake Rocks” in Paparoa National Park, to a mission seeking out the infamous Blue Penguins along the coastline. You can even take a heli ride up onto the Franz Josef glacier for some ice climbing or some ski touring if conditions are in. Often the random vista you see while driving in this rural, largely undeveloped part of the country will offer some of the more spontaneous adventures of your journey. You just have to study the map, talk to some locals, and pull over when inspiration strikes.
Once you pass the glacier region and get to Hasst Pass the highway jets inland and heads toward the resort town of Wanaka. Hopefully you’ve had your fill of surf for a bit as once you’re in Wanaka, although the ocean is never too far away, miles of exceptional singletrack, solid rock climbing, and New Zealand’s most well known ski resort-Treble Cone-are waiting.
An epic New Zealand sunset.
Planning a trip to New Zealand? Click Here To Read Part One.
Stay tuned for part three of four next week. - Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 420
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Skiing And Surfing New Zealand Skiing And Surfing New Zealand’s South Island Part 1
- From: brennanlagasse
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Description:
Go to New Zealand. You can surf, ski, mountain bike and climb in the same trip.
Words and photos by Brennan Lagasse.
The plan was simple. Why not rent a camper van, roll with the weather, loaded with gear to get into whatever, whenever, and see what happens? New Zealand’s South Island is home to world-class rock climbing, surfing, and mountain biking. It’s also home to some of the best skiing in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a trip best done as a couple, or with a couple of friends, but it’s way more accessible than you might think. It’s really a must-do trip for any adventure traveler out there, especially if you’re down to tap into a slice of winter during the always too long North American summer.
Start by searching around for plane tickets and find the best fare you can that’ll get you into the largest city on the South Island — Christchurch. You can make rental car reservations in advance, or you can just wing it, show up, and make a call when you arrive. One thing to take note of — the New Zealand Agricultural Inspectors don’t take too kindly to certain foreign foods and other items brought into their country. What about the Wild Salmon Jerky you brought? Yeah, better let’em know about it, or you could start your trip with a completely unnecessary fine like I once did.
New Zealand caters to tourists, but adventure tourists are its specialty. While there are several options for wheels if you chose to rent a ride for your journey, I recommend a camper van like the “Backpacker”, which is essentially like a VW Westfalia that’s brand new and on steroids. They’re easy to drive, easy to live out of, and will house most any toys you choose to bring along for your travels.
Van life.
Christchurch is a cool city. Rich in history and Kiwi culture, “the garden city” is also home to fabulous gardens strewn about the city limits that make for great leisurely down days of sight seeing. However, if the multi-sport opportunities are what’s calling, check in with the local snow conditions up in the Arthur’s Pass area, a relatively short drive from Christchurch, and hope that conditions are favorable enough that you can click right in and experience the distinctly Kiwi ski scene known as the “club fields.”
From mountains to the ocean, New Zealand's south island has it in spades.
That was my and my lady’s plan when we arrived, only the report we received was not that sweet. Rain at the high elevations and no end in sight for a couple of days meant Arthur’s Pass would have to wait a few days. If we were just here to ski this may have presented a bigger problem, but with that report also came that a clean swell was lighting up the east coast and apparently one of the better breaks in the country, Kaikoura, should be delivering as a result.
The no-vibe vibe is a good vibe.
Stoked to get our surf on and armed with local advice, we pointed ourselves north. After a gorgeous rural drive along the rugged coast, passing winery after winery, and sheep after sheep, we arrived to a spot straight out of the Lord of the Rings. Huge white-capped mountains hung high overhead, and out in the water was a point-break peeling so perfectly I mistook it for a total clone of California’s Malibu. The difference? Absolutely no one was out. It was actually a tad eerie. We wondered why no one would be here when the waves looked so good, so much so that I actually started to question if we were at the wrong spot. We weren’t. After some time in the water we were finally joined by a few others. The group collectively reveled in our good fortune, and all agreed that this is what travel is all about. Adapting to the weather, situations beyond your control, and surrendering to the flow. Surfing a break like Kaikoura, albeit with a wetsuit, is what adapting to adventure in New Zealand can bring the open traveler. Perfect waves, no crowd, and no vibe.
Perfect waves peeling in.
But just like the skiers we are — sticking around became limiting. There’s so much to see and do on New Zealand’s South Island that after a couple of days camping for free, right on the ocean, we still had to venture out and get to some snow. So we took off with our map and looped back toward Arthur’s Pass in hopes to score.
Of course there's tons of sheep.
Arthur’s Pass is gem. The mountain scenery is matched with pristine forests and innumerable kilometers of hiking trails, known as “tramping” to the Kiwi’s. Our plan was to visit the Broken River Ski Club and possibly Craigieburn, but there was a spot along the way that had to be checked first. Castle Hill is a rock climber’s paradise. Limestone boulders and crags dot a surreal landscape as the snowy Southern Alps fill the skyline. Although there’s many roped climbing opportunities in the area it’s the bouldering that’s world-class. Grassy landings and hundreds if not thousands of problems await the eager climber. The thing is, unless you’re a total badass don’t get bummed when you can’t pull down on a grade you’re used to killing back home in the states. This place is an ego killer, but at the same time provides another incredible spot worth checking out whether it’s to go for a tramp, do some yoga, or find a nemesis problem that’ll haunt you for years and years until you finally come back and send it.
Are you beginning to understand how sick it is in New Zealand?
The funny thing about the way our trip lined in the beginning was of course we were in New Zealand to experience all it had to offer, but we were also fired up to ski. A few days into our multi-week trip we hadn’t even touched snow yet, but were so overwhelmed by the gracious people, intense mountain and ocean scenery, and the sublime climbing at Castle Hill that we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything. That is, until we finally made it to Broken River and experienced the distinctly cultural skiing experience only found in the Kiwi club fields.
New Zealand's southern alps.
Stay tuned for part 2 next week. - Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 353
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Video: Chris Davenport Promote Video: Chris Davenport Promotes Bentley With In Search Of Snow Webisode
- From: media-75233
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Description:
While the base price of a Bentley Continental GTC W12 is a whopping $218,395, this video is priceless! Here, big-mountain freeskier Chris Davenport goes 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds while sipping a latte on his way to go heli-skiing in a convertible.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 257
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News: East Coast Resorts Get P News: East Coast Resorts Get Primed For Ski Season
- From: ryandunfee
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Description:
Despite the fact that it’s been warm enough for a few resorts to keep the lifts open for mountain biking into the first weekend in December, it is indeed technically winter on the East Coast. When the snow does come, skiers and riders will find that more and more hills are now catering to the burgeoning freeride population carrying 120-waisted, rockered pow skis onto their lifts and befuddling the rest of the region who is still on tiny carving skis.
The name of the game for many resorts this summer was to have as many employees as possible (as well as volunteers) marching around the woods to cut and clear new glades. From tiny Plattekill in central New York to Sugarloaf in northern Maine, many resorts have expanded into their woody environs. Outside of that, there are a few other interesting tidbits in East Coast resort news, from water parks to new freeride programs and everything in between. Before you buy your pass or plan your trips, read up on the news from the East’s best hills for freeriding.
The new high-speed quad charilift at Hunter Mountain.
NEW YORK
One of the closest to downtown N.Y.C. and thus one of the busiest, Hunter Mountain is opening a new high-speed quad, the Zephyr Express, on the resort’s west side, which holds the hill’s steepest terrain, best bumps and quality glades if you’re smart enough to keep your eyes open. Hunter’s also got a new mobile site, 54 new snow guns and a new groomer.
Season pass: $949 for adults.
Day ticket: $68 for adults, $61 for 13-18.
Specials: Available online until Christmas Eve and then for mid-week only after that, the 3X card gets you three days of skiing for $119.While known more for its world-class mountain biking than its ski terrain, Plattekill is a favorite N.Y. maggot haunt when the East Coast blizzards swing farther south as they have in the past few seasons. The independent, family-owned hill organized a work day this year to clean out some new glades, so mags can look forward to a little more space in the trees when they stop by this winter.
Season pass: $575 for adults.
Day tickets: $56, $44 for college students and juniors (8-17).
Specials: $15 lift tickets on Jan. 6, Feb. 3, and March 2. $30 early-season rates in effect until Christmas Eve.The resort with the biggest vertical drop in the East and the only in-bounds terrain requiring an avalanche-trained ski patrol staff returns to the 2012 season unchanged from 2011. Some minor refurbishing and capital projects have been undertaken, but other than that, nothing new. For those looking to get a chance to ski The Slides — 35 acres of hike-to open chutes at Whiteface Summit — your best bet is March, when the snow is deeper, stable enough to be skied and occasionally pow. Especially if another 250-inch season hits like last year.
Season pass: $720 for adults, $385 for teens and college students.
Day ticket: $79 for adults, $64 for teens.
Specials: The Empire Card goes for $89 and gets you your first and sixth days of skiing free and $15 off all other days.
The Lincoln Limo at Surgarbush.
VERMONT
A new, cheaper young adult pass (the adeptly well-coined “For20’s” pass) is being offered for $399. The resort saved 23 tons of C02 emissions last year by switching its off-road fleet to biodiesel. The Lincoln Limo, New England’s only “cat skiing,” gives you the chance to score snowcat-assisted first tracks before the lifts open on powder days. For those who want to shred Sugarbush’s endless Slide Brook Basin glades covering all 200 acres between Mt. Ellen and Lincoln Peak, and don’t want to spend a night in the woods, guided tours are available including with Warren Miller legend and Sugarbush mascot John Egan. Uncanny for the East, Sugarbush also has a Mountaineering Blazers program for kids where they skin around Slide Brook and learn backcountry skills, winter camping, and improve their big-mountain skiing.
Season pass: $1,569 for adults 30+ $399 for young adults 19-29, $479 for youth 7-18. Cheaper passes available for Mt. Ellen-only or Mt. Ellen Plus passes.
Day tickets: $58-$88, depending on type of pass.
Specials: SugarDirect card for $99 gets you your eleventh day and one other day free, and 20 percent off all weekend days (25 percent for weekdays).Also be sure to check out the benefit event for the Flyin’ Ryan Foundation, which was set up after Vermont freeskier Ryan Hawks died tragically at the Kirkwood stop of the Freeskiing World Tour last spring and seeks to provide scholarships for gifted but disadvantaged athletes and adventurers.
For those of you who didn’t get a chance to read about Jay’s $50 million expansion earlier this fall, there are some big things going on in the Northeast Kingdom. While no new terrain or lifts will be opened this winter, Jay’s taken a few big steps to combat their reputation of shady lodging and non-existent off-hill entertainment by opening a new Tram Haus Lodge with high-quality studios and a new bar and restaurant, a new ice rink, golf course club house, cross-country ski center and the Pump Haus and Conference Center, an indoor water park with a surfable wave, lazy river and a handful of waterslides including an aqua loop.
Season pass: $799 for adults.
Day tickets: $75 for adults, $55 for 6-18.
Specials: Anyone from Vermont or with a season’s pass at another mountain gets a day ticket for $55 any day of the year. The 581 card costs $99 and gets you $19 off any ticket you buy.A new high-speed quad replaces the former fixed-grip Fourrunner Quad that accesses Mount Mansfield, the resort’s most popular lift along with the Gondola. Although, you’ll still have to buy the locals just as many beers to find the goods. The Fourrunner should help clear out Stowe’s legendary weekend lift lines a bit quicker. Outside of that, a gondola ride now brings you across the Stowe parking lot to Spruce’s tamer trails and environmental award-winning luxury accommodations.
Season pass: $1,996 for adults, $499 for college students.
Day ticket: $88 ($92 Saturdays) for adults, $66 ($69 Saturdays) for kids.
Specials: The StoweSeven, StoweSix, and StoweFive season passes offer significantly cheaper passes that exclude holiday periods, Saturdays, or weekends altogether.Not too much has changed at the legendary co-op for this year; the single chair is still spinning, the snow’s all natural, snowboarding still isn’t allowed, and if you’re interested in buying a share in MRG’s unique co-op operation, they go for $2,000 a pop. Stop by Feb. 11 for the 2012 Ski The East Freeride Tour stop at MRG — the Unconventional Terrain Competition — which will give you a chance to compete in a big-mountain comp format on the cliff-strewn Liftline trail.
Season pass: $963 for adults, $609 for a Saturday-blackout pass, Triple Major College Pass gets MRG, Bolton, and Jay for $299.
Day tickets: $66 for adults, $50 for 6-18.
Specials: The Mad Card gets you 3 days for $144, and the 30 Day Ticket lets skiers and riders ride for 30 consecutive days from the day of purchase for $332. Might be good if your new ACL is set to go by March. …Not too much news to report from one of Vermont’s more affordable hills, which also has the most extensive night skiing in Vermont and an on-site wind turbine. While not packing as much vert as bigger hills like Stowe and Jay, Bolton’s down-home operation has some super fun woods and great backcountry for those who come equipped to hike around, or who want to take part in a guided tour of Bolton’s unmarked stashes that are stuffed with about 310 inches of snow annually.
Season pass: $599 for adults, $429 for Triple Major College Pass for Bolton, Jay, and MRG.
Day tickets: $55 for adults, $44 for youth, seniors and college students.
Specials: $199 Powder Pass gets you four days plus one free before Christmas.Three Vounteer Days this fall brought out a 100+ strong crew each day to clear glades and re-paint the classic Red Double — pretty much the only lift running at Magic and the only one you’ll ever need to access the small hill’s awesome and laissez-faire managed terrain. The co-op, a true bastion of Vermont ski culture, will also be having Danielle Lillard head up a new Freeskiing Team program at Magic. This will build on the success of the Magic Extreme Challenge as a key stop of the Ski The East Freeride Tour in establishing Magic as southern Vermont’s center for freeride skiing, and a welcome alternative to the tame blues southern VT’s more corporate resorts are known for.
Season pass: $449 for adults and teens, $149 for college students.
Day tickets: $59 for adults, $51 for teens.
Specials: a special Holiday White-Out Pass goes for $279 and gets you 19 days of skiing during Christmas Week, MLK Day Weekend, and President’s Week, when it will likely be less crowded than nearby Stratton and Okemo.
Skiing some epic powder at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Cannon Mtn., which received 248 inches of snow in the 2010-’11 season, the second highest snow total in its history, returns with the second season of the re-opened Mittersill double chair. Mittersill was a previously-shuttered and unmanaged hike-to face of the mountain that required a shuttle transfer back to the base, but is now accessed by a new double chair that opened 71 days last season, exceeding the resort’s expectations. The resort treats the area as an extended gladed terrain – i.e. no snowmaking, grooming, and limited patrolling. While several locals were distraught at the idea of improving access to their favorite stash, Cannon’s marketing director, Greg Keeler, heard almost no negative feedback from locals once the chair opened last January.
Season pass: $760 for adults.
Day tickets: $68 for adults, $55 for 13-18.
Specials: 2-for $68 every Tuesday & Thursday outside of Christmas and February vacation weeks, $36 every Wednesday for New Hampshire residents.
Cutting the Brackett Basin glade at Sugarloaf in Maine.
Shredding the Brackett Basin glade at Sugarloaf in Maine.
MAINE
If you’ve had a chance to read a recent issue of Powder Magazine, you’d know the big news is Sugarloaf’s gladed sidecountry expansion along the ridge toward Burnt Mountain. Last year, 270 new acres of glades opened up, and 100 more come on line this year, some from additional clearing in existing terrain, and some from further expansion along the ridge. As well, a new fixed-grip quad – the fastest model on the market – replaces the Spillway East chair, and has been built lower and is heavier to minimize closures and swinging chairs from Sugarloaf’s infamous high winds.
Season pass: $1,149 for adults, and $899 for teens — works at Sunday River and Loon Mtn. as well.
Day ticket: $77 for adults, $66 for teens.
Specials: Maine residents ride for $39/day every Wednesday, and the Frequent Skier Card, which works at Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Loon Mtn., New Hapshire, costs $97, gets you one free ticket, $15 off weekend tickets, and $25 off weekday tickets.If you make your way to Sugarloaf, you definitely have to take the hour drive over to Saddleback. Much like Magic Mtn. and Mad River Glen in Vermont, Saddleback is all fixed-grip lifts, great glades, and true New England ski culture. As well, the Kennebago Quad is separate from the more beginner-friendly areas and hosts the Casablanca glades, some of the highest and steepest tree skiing in the East. Some additional tree clearing went down on the glades off the Kennebago and several trails were graded smoother in order to be able to be opened with less snow.
Season pass: $699 for adults, $249 for college students, and $399 for 7-18.
Day ticket: $59 for adults, $49 for 71-18 year olds as well as college students.
Specials: Maine residents get a $29 ticket the first Sunday of every month.
Saddleback glades in Maine.
- Blog post
- 2 years ago
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Trip Report: New England Snow Trip Report: New England Snow Storm Leads To Triple Crown
- From: ryandunfee
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Description:
November 1, 2011
— Ryan Dunfee
While past Halloweens spent in college, Aspen and New York City have found me in every state of dress, inebriation and possible sleeping situation, this year the Gods sent me in a different direction. Every meteorologist, every surf forecasting website and the East Coast Roll Call was calling for me to put away the blonde wig, jean vest and Dr. McGillicuddy’s and to pull out my mountain bike, surf board and skis for what may have been the first New England Halloween Triple Crown. Ever.
The Triple Crown, the ultimate outlet of pent-up shoulder-season angst, involved pulling off three different action sports in as many days and all within 100 miles of each other. It’s as if you took the Tough Mudder, bottled all the misdirected energy of thousands of day jobbers yearning in their running shoes for the weekend, and threw it at something rad. Instead of paying an entry fee for a marathon of torture with an electric fence finish line, you pay for gas money to hunt down the best trails, waves and snow that a freak fall New England storm has to offer. It’s a challenge Johnny Tsunami would be proud of, and come to think of it, if I could have just figured out how to look Hawaiian and part my hair down the middle, I could have done it all in costume, too.
Ryan Dunfee's garage.
Saturday kicked off Parte Une of the Triple Crown with a mountain bike ride through the copious trail system of Exeter, New Hampshire, that included some mildly North Shore-esque bridge crossings across swamps and ponds. The sky was quiet and pale the whole time, a signature weather mark hiding the torment rolling from the North. By dinnertime, the wind was howling and even along the ocean, wet, sticky snow was falling — the earliest we’ve seen it here in over a hundred years. As the power went out around bedtime, all signs pointed to epic for the next two days.
Waking up early Sunday morning, I threw the 4 mil wetsuit, booties, gloves, hood and surfboard into the car. I slipped out the driveway around a fallen tree, the first of many along the way as the still-unfallen leaves were laden with snow and smacked with wind, bringing down serious trunks and power lines left and right. With a huge northeast swell being thrashed by an equally strong northwest wind, most New Hampshire surf spots were in full washing-machine mode. But after an hour’s drive south to the North Shore of Massachusetts, I found a reef break hidden enough from the wind to get on some big walls and steep drops. After a few good rides and one close-out set ripping my leash off and leaving me swimming for the beach, Parte Deux of the Triple Crown was complete.
Surf's up.
So pitted in New England.
Returning home to New Hampshire, the wind was now raging offshore and the buoys read in the teens for both swell height and period. Every rock, point, reef and beach was throwing up heaving, shacking waves that seemed to offer up repeat opportunities for stand-up barrells — a sight as rare as October snow. Unfortunately, with pounding whitewater sending most of the milieu of people who paddled out packing for the shore and snapping leashes and boards left and right, only a few of New Hampshire’s able surf shreds had the experience and confidence to put together some amazing rides from deep behind the peak.
With power still out at home, the scouting for the final day’s ski mission revolved around poring over snowfall maps and reading reports from the day’s missions on the East Coast Roll Call on our dying smartphones. This bizarre storm had brought serious snow to equally bizarre locations — normally you don’t hear about people going for a skin up Wachusett Mountain or bootpacking through thigh-deep snow at Berkshire East at all, let alone in the middle of fall. But by the time we arrived at central New Hampshire’s Mount Sunapee the next morning, with blazing fall foliage framing several 900-foot shots of foot-plus deep pow, the weirdness of it all, as well as the reality, had fully set in.
The slopes of New Hampshire's Mount Sunapee.
It's kind of like Lake Tahoe.
After the usual first day snafus — cursing old knock-off skins that glided like burnt carpet, forgetting to unbuckle my touring boots before locking them back in ski mode, getting stuck on a playlist of Aaliyah on the climb up — we were ready to drop. After a top section of wind-packed snow as creamy as a knife through Styrofoam threatened to ruin the stoke of Parte Trois of this epic adventure of East Coast radness, we found ourselves in some semi-funked, semi-baked, yet turnable, sweet, untracked snow on opening day. In October. While only two skin laps had exhausted our pre-season fitness level, once my ski legs were back under me, I found myself cruising boot-deep turns through untouched snow and fallen leaves and only scraping the bottom once. On the way back we stopped at the famous Mazelli’s deli to recharge on subs and goodies. Crushing a chocolate-covered pretzel to get my blood sugar back up, I threw one up in the air for Tsanami. New England’s first-ever Halloween Triple Crown was complete.
Ryan Dunfee skis New Hampshire's Mount Sunapee on October 31, 2011.
They just don't make sandwiches like that west of the Connecticut River.
- Blog post
- 2 years ago
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Blog: Farellones, Chile With S Blog: Farellones, Chile With Seth Morrison & K2's Factory Team Riders
- From: SethMorrison
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Description:
The time has come leaving summer behind to make the journey south to the winter wonderland of the Chilean Andes. K2 skis gave us the opportunity to come down and take part in a photo shoot based out of Farellones, 1.5 hr drive up from Santiago. After 50 or so steep switchbacks we reach this small town and ski area attached to El Colorado resort. Never being to these spots was a treat for me. Coming down here we leave the crowds of the US resorts and enjoy open mountain alpine terrain to ourselves.
South American Sunset
The crew of Factory Team riders (Pep Fujas, Andy Mahre, Sean Petitt, and Michelle Parker) lit up the surrounding slopes. Mostly beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders are here, besides the park and ski racers from North America that come for training. La Parvra and Valle Nevado lay on either side of us, offering a massive expanse of terrain to choose from. A short hike in La Parvra will get you to “McConkey’s”, a steep snow and rock face named in Shane’s honor. This and a road run zone will play into the annual Extreme Skiing event that draws many North Americans.
This was my first stop on a trip of new ski resorts to be visited. Many new experiences have been absorbed along the way of culture, food, wine, and good people. I look forward to my next stop in Termas de Chillan, or Nevados De Chillan as it has recently been renamed too.
South American Powder Turns
Here's a video from last summer of a tour I did in South America with Epic (of Epic Ski Pass) and Vail Resorts:
- Blog post
- 3 years ago
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Light the Wick Light the Wick
- From: PeteObrien
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Description:
After watching the teaser for Light the Wick, it was cool to reminisce about last Winter. Photos and video always conjure up memories of choking powder days, wet boots and passing out at 6:30PM.
If there's one thing I can take away from last season it's; you can wake up early for the best day of the year and get nothing, or roll up to the mountain late on a mediocre day and slay it. No matter how many weather forecasts and webcams you look at, there's no way of knowing the current conditions unless you're currently in them.
Thanks for another epic year everyone!
Pete
**I'm way into watching the footage from this cam right now.**
**January 7, 2010. 1st Snow Assessment Run in the Wasatch.**
**Dawn mission on a storm day in Tahoe.**
**Apres ski sighting: Hood, Barnhill, Collins, and Miller at the Snowbird Plaza.**
**I spent alot of this winter documenting the Deeper guys. This is Neil Provo scouting a peak in the high desert hills of Southern Utah.**
**Forrest big 180 at Alta on a splitboard.**
**April is usually a slam dunk month. This year I spent most of April in a hotel room. Dylan Hood.**
**That was a good day.**
**We spent a few days milking the Little to Big Cottonwood bus laps. This is Wiley and Ligare waiting for a full bus on a weekend morning.**
**First day in Whistler with my sled 4/10/10. Sammy, Rick, Ralphie, Sven.**
**Uh _ Ohh.**
**...or drive to Vancouver and buy a new shutter...**
**Where's Waldo? There are 7 ski photographers in this shot. What are their names?**
**Provo Bros. Avy control.**
- Blog post
- 3 years ago
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Park City Re:Session Premiere Park City Re:Session Premiere
- From: filmtour
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Description:
Short drive down to Park City from Jackson left us wanting more. Thanks to Justin and Mike for putting on another rowdy TGR premiere at Harry O's. Cody Townsend, Dash Longe, Todd Ligare and Tanner Hall all made it out to shake hands and kiss groms (all ages show at Egyptian Theater). Cries of "damn that screen is huge!" and "no pixels here" rang out throughout the evening.
When it was all over the showing of Re:Session and Aceyalone's performance blew minds. Thanks Blake and the crew for making another epic flick that puts everyone in the riding mood.
**Getting Closer to the Action**
**Harry O's**
**Todd Ligare Finessing the Guest List**
**The Crowd Fuels up**
**Ooooo Oakley**
**Don't Forget Your TGR Gear**
**Katie From Park City Foundation Fighting the Good Fight With Partner Protect Our Winters**
**Powder Mags Moonlighting**
**Todd Ligare, Cody Townsend and Dash Longe Spreading the Giveaway Love...Thank you TGR Partners**
**Volkls Make me Happy**
**Todd Ligare Giving Away a Pair of Rossignols**
**And the Crowd Goes Wild**
**Some More Wild Than Others**
**Splash**
**Aceyalone Featured on Re:Session Soundtrack Crushing it on Stage**
**One Bottle Ball at a Time...Just Doing our Part** - Blog post
- 4 years ago
- Views: 283
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Where the Buffalo Roam Where the Buffalo Roam
- From: PeteObrien
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Description:Chris Collins, Skogen Sprang, and Dash Longe just got back from a snowmobile ski trip to Montana. Every morning we woke up to a fresh blanket of snow on top of our sleds, which were parked right outside the hotel room. It was real convenient for shooting whenever the light got good. We also took some epic night rides on the sleds while it was dumping. Check it out.
Story and Photos by Pete O'Brien
** Emergency**
** Surgery **
** 1st day we scouted**
** Checking out the recon**
** Drive Thru smokehouse **
** Collins hid the whiskey bottle from himself...**
** under some pillows **
** Chris 720**
** Skogen 360**
** Skogen gap over a big slab**
** Dash warm up for**
** a Big 180**
** Cine Slash! ** - Blog post
- 6 years ago
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