55 Search Results for ""urban skiing""

• LJ Strenio 2012 Season And Inj LJ Strenio 2012 Season And Injury

  • From: line_skis
  • Description:

    The 11/12 winter season was on track to be the greatest season of LJ Strenio's life filled with fun park sessions in the US, powdery heaven in Europe and a trip to the urban rail mecca of Finland with Level 1. As we know too well with all this fun there is the possibility of injury & consequence. A shattered kneecap in Finland sidelined LJ for the rest of the year and through rehab, determination and the great attitude that LJ is known for is back for more!
    
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  • 2 months ago
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• Outdoor Research Review - 2013 Outdoor Research Review - 2013 Clothing

  • From: leelau
  • Description:

    
    Backcountry skiing usually isn’t a naked sport—one needs something to wear. Much like our birthday suits, all clothing is pretty much the same though, right? I thought I'd be a bit of a loss for words when Outdoor Research asked me if I'd like to try out some clothing. Luckily for them I'm usually quite verbose, so this winter found me fully kitted out in OR (Trailbreaker Pants; Ferrosi softshell hoody, Incandescent Puffy, Extravert gloves)
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    Outdoor Research Clothing winter 2012 - 13 - Selkirk Lodge - Feb 2013 from Lee Lau on Vimeo.
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    Test Conditions
    I wrote about OR’s gear after first using it for a few early season days on the Canadian coast. Since then I've skied this kit in more coastal conditions and some Selkirk interior pow. With a variety of weather conditions ranging from hardpack to neck-deep blower, from -20 degree C to pineapple express 0 degree schmoo. I daresay that I've had enough time to tell how OR’s gear will do.
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    Ferrosi Hoody, Trailbreaker pants. Duffey Lake Road, BC
    
    First off, the Trailbreaker Pants are insanely good. You can get all the technical features from provided links, so I won't bore you with them. Here's a list of Pros:
    
    •    Cargo pockets that are big enough for things like a VHF radio or a map
    •    These very same cargo pockets zip from bottom to top (pockets that zip top to bottom are useless for radio antenna)
    •    Cordura patches on bottom of leg. These help prolong pant life from crampon or ski edges. I note that I'd like the OR patches to be a bit wider. Being a hack, I have some cuts on the outside of the patches.
    
    •    Pockets accessible even while using a harness.
    •    Ass that doesn't wear too quick.
    •    Fabric that resists snow sticking to it.
    •    Zipper pulls that can be used with gloves.
    •    Integrated gaiters.
    •    Zippers at the end of the legs where you can zip open to accommodate ski boots.
    
    Last but not least, I absolutely positively love the super long thigh vents. At first I pooh-pooh'ed the idea of needing leg vents in softshell pants. Now I can't do without. This simple feature extends the useable temperature and comfort range of these pants. About the only quibble with these is that it would be nice to have some sort of integrated belt. Anorexia victims like myself usually need a belt to keep my pants from showing plumbers crack.
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    Ferrosi Hoody
    The Ferrosi Hoody is also an excellent layer. It’s light and packable, and I was surprised at the Ferrosi’s usable temperature range—it vents so well. I came to enjoy annoying my touring partners by never taking it off during climbs, then not layering over it when it came time to ski down. More surprisingly, it has a good deal more water resistance than expected, making it great for anything short of a downpour.
    
    A bit of adding frosting on the cake—the Ferrosi is wearing quite well. It has no wear and tear at scuff points where backpacks usually abrade. There are few downsides to the jacket, largely attributed to its minimalist design—the outside pockets are quite small so you can't do things like stuff skins or VHF radios in them (use the larger inside pockets for that). Also pocket location could be a bit higher as things like backpack hipbelts interfere with access.
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    Incandescent Puffy, Extravert gloves
    I can't say too much about either the Incandescent Hoody or the Extravert gloves. These are basic clothing items. The gloves in particular look thin and cold but are surprisingly warmer than expected. I also had the (dis)pleasure of using them when shoveling out from under 80cms of way-too-close-to-rain snow that fell in a 20 hour period. The outer layer of the gloves wetted through, but the inner layer was dry, much to my joy. The gloves lack a removable inner liner so if they do wet through, it’s tough to dry them out.
    
    The major issue I have with the Incandescent puffy is that OR incorporated a YKK two-way zipper in it. That zipper allows it to be zipped from the top or bottom, but it has a bit of a catch on it, making it a bugger to operate in the cold without removing your gloves. In my opinion, cold-weather effectiveness of any piece of gear is dramatically reduced if you need to de-glove to use it properly. It's a shame because the jacket is light, warm (800-weight down is about as good as it gets) and minimalist—no useless accoutrements for urban alpinists like hood adjustments or too many pockets—so it’s very packable. The temperamental zipper did limit the Incandescent jacket to hut-based or après-ski activities.
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    Incandescent Hoody, Extravert gloves, Selkirk Lodge, BC
    
    Check out the Outdoor Research Alpine Ski Gear Guide available at Backcounty.com

     

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  • 2 months ago
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• Manhunt For Armed Fugitive Doe Manhunt For Armed Fugitive Does Little To Derail SoCal Shredders On A Powder Day

  • From: vandagyuris
  • Description:

     

    Nothing could keep Big Bear shredders indoors when a mid-February blizzard dumped two feet of pow on the Southern California dome – even a deadly manhunt for murder suspect and former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner.
    
    Big Bear residents were put on high alert as schools closed, resorts shut down, and local shops locked up once the hunt for Dorner moved from Irvine to the mountain town above Los Angeles. Despite the warnings that the fugitive had stowed away in a cabin in the woods, Bear Mountain only shut down for one session. A thousand feet below, Snow Summit didn’t even blink an eye and carried on business as usual. With a record single snowfall of the season, mother earth’s gift of 24 inches overruled any fear of a convicted felon on the loose.
    
    Dorner was suspected to have launched a killing spree that allegedly began on February 3rd in Irvine. Four days later, Dorner’s burned out truck was discovered in Big Bear Lake, commencing a six-day manhunt. Found barricaded inside a cabin on February 12, authorities tried to smoke him out with pyrotechnics. The cabin caught fire and Dorner’s charred remains were identified a few days later.
    
    Throughout the ordeal, Bear Mountain offered a constant stream of updates on the status of the mountain on their homepage.
    
    Despite the media blow out over a mountain lockdown, skiers and boarders continued to chase down fresh powder in the wake of magically clear conditions.
    
    Undeterred shredders scrambled for first chair at Big Bear as authorities searched for murder suspect Chris Dorner. (Photo: Big Bear Mountain Resorts)
     
    Closing only for a single afternoon session on precautionary terms, Bear continued to operate with all runs open and their legendary fully loaded park – including the big girl and boy playground, Red Bull Plaza. The Plaza provides an urban oasis for expert riders with 32 foot stairs, K-rails, a billboard wall ride, and a marble ledge, just to highlight a few.
    
    The nonchalant tone on the mountain amidst national anxiety aligned with the essence of skiing and boarding. Sports so reliant upon Mother Nature to deliver opportunity, especially in a region like Southern California, cannot afford to waste a single snowflake. While tense vibes certainly permeated the community of Big Bear, on the mountain it was the crisp wind, the perfect sun and the smell of a fresh layer that reigned supreme.
    
    

    Big Bear Mountain Resort and Snow Summit Lift Tickets are available for Sale ONLINE through Liftopia.com
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  • 3 months ago
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• Why You Should Ski In Afghanis Why You Should Ski In Afghanistan

  • From: kausarhussain
  • Description:

    

    Afghanistan.
    
    Just the mention of the word sends images into the mind. Military units driving through deserts, windswept mud brick villages and broken arid urban landscapes. When I mention the possibility of going skiing in Afghanistan it can get some strange responses. Forget about the risk, the first question is, “Is there any snow?”
    
    Whilst it is true that much of Afghanistan is desert or semi-desert and that it hardly ever rains, it does snow. In the mountains it snows a lot. The snow is the lifeblood of Afghanistan. As it melts, it flows through the rivers that fill the canals that irrigate the fields.  A good snowfall ensures that the people of small rural communities will have a good harvest and can feed their families and livestock. A poor snowfall often leads to a drought and a famine. However, the snow in Afghanistan is both a blessing and a curse. Heavy snow cuts off villages in the mountain and every winter people freeze to death or are crushed by avalanches.
    
    Families wait for the snow to melt hoping to survive the winter until they can reap the reward that the snow will bring in the summer. For thousands of years there has been nothing for the people to do in the winter except wait for the Spring....until now.
    
    This winter young men from the villages of Kushkak, Jawzari, Ali Baig, and of the valleys of Qazan and Dukani and Foladi will pull on home made skis, crafted from wooden planks, with edges made from flattened tin cans and with poles snapped from a nearby tree. Some will be selected for training to represent their valley in a competition to see which valley can produce the best skier. They will be given modern ski gear to use. They’ll be taught how to ski, and they’ll receive basic training in first aid and avalanche awareness — skills they can take back to their village and potentially use to save lives.
    
    A handful of young men from Bamian, in Central Afghanistan have already begun guiding foreign skiers - both ex-pats from Kabul and visitors from around the world who are trickling into the region to try out Afghan skiing first hand.
    
    
    
    So how did this happen?
    
    At the beginning of the winter of 2010 almost no-one had skied in the province of Bamian. The valley's chief claim to fame had been the giant Buddha statues carved into the cliffs overlooking the town of Bamian. Tragically the two statues – which were about 1400 years old – were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 robbing the world of two of its most important ancient Buddhist relics, and robbing the people of Bamian of one of their key sources of tourist income. For Afghans, Bamian province was also well known for the lakes of Band e Amir  – a series of five lakes formed by natural travertine dams, that appear like a mirage in this high, arid landscape. In the summer Kabuli families come here to picnic and to escape the dust and heat.
    
    Bamian is also home to the Hazara people. The Hazaras are recognisable by their Mongoloid features. They’re Shia Muslims, unlike most Afghans, who are Sunni. In popular tradition they are reputed to be the remnants of the Mongol armies who came to the region with Genghis Khan. Historically they have been looked down upon by the ethnic Pushtuns and Tajiks who make up most of Afghanistan’s population. Some radical Sunnis — such as the Taliban — have seen them as heretics because of their Shia faith. Modern Afghanistan has always been ruled by Pushtun kings or Pushtun dominated governments who have tended to overlook the Hazaras. However, there have been important changes in Bamian since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. It is no Shangri-La —  there is little electricity, the province is one of the poorest in the country and by any standard it ranks as one of the least developed places on the planet. However, for the first time in decades there are signs of progress and positive change.
    
    Ten years ago, Bamian province had never had a hospital, a paved road, or a university. Now these all exist. There are still many problems, of course, but the Bamian valley is relatively secure and there is none of the anti-government fighting that plagues large parts of the rest of Afghanistan.
    
    An international development agency, the Aga Khan Foundation, saw the potential of promoting tourism in Bamian as a way of giving the people of the province an additional source of income. The Foundation has helped to develop guest houses, organise cultural festivals and provide information about the places of interest in and around Bamian.
    
    That’s fine in the summer when tourists come to the valley, but what about the winter, when guest houses lie empty? Well, the people of Bamian fall back on their timeless winter pastime of just surviving and waiting until the Spring.
    
    
    
    But taking their cue from other mountainous developing countries it was clear that any winter income was better than none so the Aga Khan Foundation began the Ski Bamian programme. With no infrastructure or lifts, the idea was to make the Koh-e-Baba mountains a new destination for ski-touring.
    
    In 2010 two American skiers were employed for the winter to map out potential routes. They brought only their own equipment so the Afghans had to get creative if they too wanted to ski along with them. Anyone with a small knowledge of Afghan military history will tell you that not having state of the art equipment never stopped the Afghans with competing with foreign powers.  Skiing with no ski equipment was not an insurmountable problem. Strips of wood with battered oil tins for edges were formed - - so, the bazaar ski was born.
    
    It quickly became clear that the mountains of Bamian were perfect for skiing and in 2011 a foreign ski trainer arrived to train the first batch of Afghan ski guides. It was early in 2011 that Ali Shah met Nando the Italian ski trainer at his village of Khushkak. Ali Shah was fit, young and spoke good English. Nando asked him what he wanted to be?
    
    “An engineer” said Ali Shah.
    
    “Why you wanna be an engineer? In Kabul there are a thousand engineers. You shoulda be a mountain guide. It's the best job in the world. You spend your whole life in the mountains with beautiful women.”
    
    It may not have been a textbook interview but Ali Shah is now Afghanistan’s best ski guide and Nando's singular teaching style set the basis for the success of the project.
    
    
    
    During 2011 and 2012 the annual Afghan Ski Challenge race (Rule number one — no weapons) was organised by a Swiss journalist and has became a focal point for the ski season (www.afghanskichallenge.com). With most Afghan Challengers having only one month’s ski training the Swiss organisers thought it an unfair challenge. They divided the race into Afghan and non-Afghan categories. The challenge is a classic ski touring route which includes skinning up as well as skiing down. They were right to divide the competition as most of the Afghans had finished before the foreigners had even got to the top.
    
    With donations from western organisations like gear4guides (www.gear4guides.com) there is now a well equipped ski rental shop in Bamian serving the local community and the ex-pat and international skiers that trickle in.
    
    My connection with skiing in Afghanistan began in 2009 when I bumped into a Scottish lad who worked for an Afghan aid agency. Ken was hiking with his girlfriend in the Wakhan region of Afghanistan in the far North East and I was leading a group of trekkers. The Wakhan region is the only other part of Afghanistan safe enough to consider these types of outdoor trips.
    
    He told me of a group of British and French skiers working in Afghanistan who regularly skied near Kabul in the winter and if I was serious about being an Afghan tour operator then I should be offering ski trips to Afghanistan. I said I'd join him on a trip that winter.
    
    On the first trip I made we took one of our regular drivers, Ali. For someone who has never skied it is quite hard to explain what we planned to do. Once we loaded up the poles and skis he had a rough idea of what we were up to and wanted to help. At the bottom of the Salang Pass, which crosses the spine of the Hindu Kush, Ali stopped at a small teahouse and ordered food for all of us. As any Afghan will tell you the best thing for breakfast if you are going to spend all day in the snow is Cow’s Foot. Boiled for hours, this gelatinous lump of bone, fat and gristle is never appealing to non Afghans and the French skiers particularly do not like it. We made a quick note that for the commercial trips, we wouldn’t let the drivers choose the dining options.
    
    But it was then that I saw how skiing was something that really appealed to all the Afghans who saw it. Standing next to Ali as we watched Ken fly down the slopes, he was awestruck. “He is a Djinn,” was Ali's response. Hazaras believe there are mountain spirits and clearly Ken was one.
    
    In the tea house where we stopped on the way back, Ali regaled the owners with the tale of Ken's exploits. Ken was described as a Djinn and I as a Boz (a goat). I hoped it was a way to describe my sure footedness in the mountains but I think it was more to do with my erratic skiing style.
    
    In keeping with Afghan tradition, the story was heavily exaggerated but it started a long discussion about skiing, mountains, snow conditions, avalanches and Afghanistan’s future.
    
    It was not only Ali who became a convert. I realised that, Cow’s Foot aside, this was an awesome way to experience Afghanistan in the winter. Skiing was something that was very foreign but the snow and the mountains was a common factor that could bring people together as it had done in that tea house. I also thought Bamian could be the perfect place for skiing.
    
    
    
    It has not always been smooth. A few elders in one or two villages are suspicious about the skiing fuss. They worry the young men will hurt themselves – preventing them from doing the hard farming work - or that skiing will be the thin end of the wedge and they'll get caught up in other foreign un-Islamic ways. This generally does not stop the young boys from hiking up the hills and skiing. “The only say it is bad because they don't know how to ski,” said one boy from Jawzari village.
    
    All the trailheads start from the villages and we have a code of conduct to help ensure that skiers behave properly. The Aga Khan programme representatives have discussed the skiing idea with all the local villages. We pay our respects to the village leaders and maybe take a cup of tea. There are many ways in which thoughtless skiers can cause offence, generally to do with women. In a country where the majority of people are illiterate and there is very limited access to the media, in these isolated rural communities, rumour is often taken as fact. If someone tells a man that the foreigners took a photo of his wife and put it on display in Kabul he will probably believe it. So Rule Number One is – Don’t take pictures of the women. Ever.
    
    Cultural sensitivity is key to the future of skiing in Afghanistan.
     
    When guiding a group of snowboarders last winter we spent a good hour discussing with the headman of one village what we wanted to do in their valley. The snowboarders were professional and were heading to a steep area that had not been ridden, so the villagers were suspicious. It took a great deal of persuasion until he agreed and let us pass around his village.
    
    As we walked around the village we were watched closely by the men on the rooftops, with no smiles or handshakes. We travelled far up the valley and soon the snowboarders were making jumps from the top of large cliffs. On the second attempt one of them failed to make his landing and crashed in a huge cloud of snow. Suddenly huge cheers rang out from the village below. All the village stood watching on the house rooftops. They liked all the action, but they liked the crashes best of all.
    
    On the way back down there was still staring and silence but we knew the ice had been broken.
    
    We went back to that area for three days and by the end we were inside drinking tea and joking with the local people.
    
    The key to a successful trip is that the Afghan villagers have  a positive experience as well as the visiting skiers.
    
    
    
    Afghanistan has always presented a contrast of lifestyles. An abiding memory of my first visit back after years away was of an old man and a young boy herding sheep down an unmade road. With his turban and billowing shalwar-kameez — a long, loose shirt and trousers, the man looked almost Biblical. A closer inspection revealed that his son was wearing a Megadeath t-shirt (presumably a charitable donation). The road they were walking along had a traffic calming feature – a half buried tank caterpillar track to stop cars speeding through the village. Introducing skiing to a small valley in the Hindu Kush seems to build on such contrasts.
    
    A typical night is spent in rooms heated by wood fire stoves called Bukharis. These are very efficient heaters. You fill them to the maximum before bedtime. It might be -25C outside but we would be sitting in our rooms in shorts and a t-shirt. As the night passes and the fire burns out the temperature plummets in the room and at dawn we'll be inside sleeping bags and the glass of water by the bed will have a layer of ice.
    
    Breakfast could be eggs or pancakes. Where we stay, the cook was trained at a US agency guesthouse. He knows exactly what hungry Westerners like to eat. Recently married, he returned to Bamian from working in Helmand province. The wages are much lower in Bamian but it is safer. In Helmand he always had to carry his ID card to get into the compound. However, if the Taliban stopped him and found this ID card he would be killed.
    
    On a very cold night the diesel will freeze in the vehicles used to take us to the mountains. We'll drink tea whilst a fire is built under the engine to defrost it, and perhaps watch the daily UN helicopter coming in to land at the Bamian military base, managed by the New Zealand army.
     
    Once in the villages at the top of the valleys, when we start to skin up we'll be invited in for tea by the village elders. Depending on the weather we'll either accept or continue uphill to make the most of the snow. I'll remind people that they should always remove their shoes when entering a house, never speak directly to the women -– and above all, no matter how serious their latest case of Kabul Belly, NEVER to fart in a room with their Afghan hosts. This is perhaps the greatest social faux pas of all.
    
    Often we'll be joined for all or part of the day by the local youths on their home-made skis. Making light work of skinning up and paying little or no attention to our avalanche warnings. they just laugh – “Inshallah” – if God wills it
    
    There is not much to do in the evenings. Alcohol is forbidden, but there is plenty of hearty traditional Afghan food and drink - kebabs, rice and hot drinks. With alcohol forbidden, we like to call this the Apres- tea scene.
    
    Skiing will not solve all the problems in Afghanistan. It won't solve the problems of Bamian but in a few small valleys in the Hindu Kush they are making a small positive impact to a handful of people and that is something worthwhile.
    
    Interested in traveling to Afghanistan, be smart and read up first.  Amazon.com has some grea books on travel and history throughout Afghanistan.
    
    
    •    Kausar Hussain is a guide and operations manager for Untamed Borders and arranges ski trips to Bamian every year. http://www.untamedborders.com www.facebook.com/untamedborders
    
    
    

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  • 3 months ago
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• Browers Ski Urban By Atomic Browers Ski Urban By Atomic

  • From: atomicsnow
  • Description:

    Kevin Brower and Mitchell Brower take thier skiing skills to the streets of Salt Lake City Utah. With backcountry visits to Grizzly Gulch and fun creative skiing on walls, rails, jibs and snow. While the browers style typically consists of big mountain freesking, jumps and powder, in this edit they stay below the Wasatch mountains for some exciting newschool riding.
    
    Watch More Videos By Atomic

     

  • 3 months ago
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• Seth Morrison VS JP Auclair: T Seth Morrison VS JP Auclair: The King Of The Hill Final Battle

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    
    It’s no wonder they made it this far - they are two of the biggest names in the ski game: Seth Morrison and JP Auclair.
    
    In December, when we launched The King Of The Hill athlete battle, we selected 32 skiers from 4 ski film production companies and pitted them against each other in a March Madness style bracket to see who would come out on top. The goal was to let the public decide which skier they liked the best. At that point, it was anyone’s game.
    
    Since then, there have been 30 different rounds of voting and it has all come down to this: Seth Morrison VS JP Auclair.
    
    So, who will it be?
    
    Will it be Seth Morrison?
    
    Morrison has one of the longest careers in freeskiing history all while maintaining the highest level of athleticism. Morrison, originally from Kentucky but now residing in Colorado, has starred in over 22 ski movies. He’s competed in countless extreme skiing competitions, and logged plenty of first descents. Ask any skier: Morrison has one of the loftiest backflips in the sport. From bold, big mountain lines to ski mountaineering in Chamonix, Seth Morrison is one of the best all-around skiers of all-time.
    
    Or will it be JP Auclair?
    
    Auclair, a French Canadian, helped Salomon launch the 1080 ski in 1998 – revolutionizing the freeskiing movement with the first twin tip ski. Then, in 2002, Auclair co-founded Armada skis, injecting new life into the sport with the slogan, “what skiing will become.” And let’s not forget Auclair’s street-skiing segment from “All.I.Can.” Since it came out, athletes and filmers are still trying to create something as engaging. From big mountain lines to urban to founding one of the best companies in skiing, JP Auclair is one of the best all-around skiers of all-time.
    
    So who will it be? Seth Morrison or JP Auclair? Only you can decide.
    
    Vote Now For The King Of The Hill: Seth Morrison VS JP Auclair
    
    

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  • 3 months ago
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• The End - ARcast Early Season The End - ARcast Early Season

  • From: armadaskis108111
  • Description:

    Follow Tanner Hall, Mike Hornbeck, and Brady Perron as they hit urban features, powder at Solitude, and the park at Park City all at the end of the year with the bulk of the shooting on December 21st, which many speculated as the “End of the World”.
    
    Here is “The End”, edited by Mike Hornbeck, Brady Perron, and Corey Stanton.
    
    Filmed by: Corey Stanton, Brady Perron, Mike Hornbeck, and Tanner Hall

    Watch More Armada Videos

     

  • 3 months ago
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• The Creep - The Clayton Vila S The Creep - The Clayton Vila Segment

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    While the competition scene steals the spotlight all season, Clayton has been lurking the streets of North America, robbing four second clips from behind people's backs. He has proved to be one of the most prolific film skier's by putting out three full street segments with Stept, Teton Gravity Research, and Poor Boyz Productions last season. Now, you get to see his best shots from all three movies, all in one segment, exactly how he wants it. Edited by the man himself, check out Clayton's best segment yet as he creeps his way to the top of the street skiing game.

    Order TGR's Newest Film, The Dream Factory, Featuring Clayton Vila

  • 5 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.
    
    

  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
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• claytonvila

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  • Since: 7 months ago
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• A Coop-erative Effort - Swiss A Coop-erative Effort - Swiss Vacation - Orage

  • From: orageouterwear
  • Description:

    Ain't it a bummer when you get some much snow that it makes it hard to make good on an urban mission? Sorry for complaining. According to the locals, there had been so much snowfall in Switzerland to date that the landscape literally changed. What were rocks and cliff drops last season had become rolls and filled in ravines this year. Where once stood stair sets and ledges in town, now stood head high banks of blown snow compliments of exhausted locals and their snow throwers.
    
    Looking for a change of pace, the Orage team headed into the neighboring town of Flims, Sui to find something to jib. Phil planned on doing what he does best, JP was on a mission to keep the All I Can street vibe rolling and Prevost was prepped to get his inaugural urban mission under his belt.
    
    They made it a few hundred yards outside our hotel lobby door and came across a ton of snow and a pretty rad feature... a few hours later, with one in the bag, Flims was next.
    
    Success came in pairs that day.

    Watch More Orage Videos Here

  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 7
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• JP Auclair – All I Can JP Auclair – All I Can

  • From: orageouterwear
  • Description:

    Arguably the most revolutionary film segment of 2011, JP Auclair reinvents urban skiing in a way that only he can. Imagination – All I Can by Sherpas Cinema.

  • 9 months ago
  • Views: 19
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• Sunny Trailer By Level 1 Produ Sunny Trailer By Level 1 Productions

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    Available for pre-order in both DVD and BluRay formats with a free T-shirt from Under Armour. level1productions.com/shop/category/new-releases/

    World Premiere scheduled for Saturday, September 8th in Denver, Colorado.

    They say the lack of sunlight affects our mood - that the natural balance of the human mind state quickly shifts with presence of the giant solar fireball in the sky. But this isn’t about winter blues or summer depression. Sunny is a mental disposition, and not just one reserved for beaches and fun parks. Level 1 injected a positive mood into the ski season – giving a dose of light therapy to dark northern landscapes of Scandinavia, Alaska, Japan and British Columbia. So sit back and relax, put your shades on and soak up the rays - the future looks bright.

    Featuring:
    Parker White, Chris Logan, Mike Hornbeck, Tom Wallisch, Wiley Miller, Eric Pollard, Will Wesson, Torin Yater-Wallace, Tim McChesney, Ahmet Dadali, Alex Bellemare, Niklas Eriksson, Adam Delorme, Josh Bibby, LJ Strenio, Tanner Rainville, Logan Imlach, Spencer Milbocker, Sig Tveit, Lucas Stål-Madison
    and Friends

    Shot on Location in:
    Sun Valley, ID - Portes Du Soleil, Switzerland - Flachauwinkl, Austria - Breckenridge, CO - Japan - Alaska - Denver, CO - British Columbia - Stevens Pass, WA - Crystal Mountain, WA 0 Mt Hood, OR - Arizona - Turkey - Finland - Sweden - Arctic Circle

    Directed by Josh Berman and Kyle Decker
    Produced by Josh Berman
    Principal Cinematography By Josh Berman, Kyle Decker, Freedle Coty
    Edited By Kyle Decker, Josh Berman, and Freedle Coty

    Click Here To Watch More Ski and Snowboard Movie Trailers

  • 10 months ago
  • Views: 570
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• Manifesto By Skilluminati Manifesto By Skilluminati

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    Teaser of upcoming latvian skiing movie ''MANIFESTO'' presented by Skilluminati.
    Description: This film is a skiers manifest, evidence that latvian skiing scene exists - being harsh and beautiful at the same time.
    Directed by: Reinis Stabins, Kaspars Ozolins.
    Edited by: Ernests Cerbulis.
    Featuring: Edvards Lansmanis, Reinis Stabins, Kaspars Ozolins, Ernests Cerbulis, Pauls Iklavs, Karlis Lusis and friends...
    Locations: Latvia - Riga, Cesis, Valmiera, Ventspils, Madona, Milzkalne.
    Estonia - Tallin, Viljandi, Parnu.
    Song for teaser: Woodkid - ''Run boy run''
    Full movie coming out on September 2012.

  • 10 months ago
  • Views: 50
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• News: Teton Gravity Research R News: Teton Gravity Research Releases Trailer For The Dream Factory

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    New feature-length ski and snowboard film will depict the history and modern progression of freeriding in Alaska.
    
    (Teton Village, Wyo.) - Leading multimedia action sports brand Teton Gravity Research (TGR) announces the release of its upcoming feature-length HD ski and snowboard film, The Dream Factory, and releases the trailer.

    
    For the past 16 years, Teton Gravity Research (TGR) has made the pilgrimage to America’s last frontier, Alaska: The Dream Factory. Throughout history, Alaska has been a place of dreams. From the early gold rush days, to the rise of commercial fishing, to the explosion of the ski and snowboard freeride movement, people have left everything to follow their dreams and journey to this foreign, mystical land. Like the frontiersmen before them, the pioneers of the freeride movement like Doug Coombs, Eric Pehota, and Trevor Petersen made the dream of skiing in Alaska a reality.
    
    Follow TGR's modern day athletes on this cinematic voyage through Alaska's awe-inspiring expanse, rich history, and colorful characters. Watch as the TGR crew ventures from AK training grounds Jackson Hole, WY and Pemberton, BC, and delves deep into the Alaskan way of life during last year's record snowfall in AK, skiing terrain most of us only dream about.
    
    Starring: Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Dash Longe, Dana Flahr, Tim Durtschi, Seth Morrison, Erik Roner, Chris Benchetler, Todd Ligare, Griffin Post, Ralph Backstrom, Daron Rahlves, Angel Collinson, Matt Philippi, Clayton Vila, Cam Riley, Dylan Hood, John Spriggs, Rory Bushfield, Max Hammer, Nick Martini, Dave Treadway, Maxim Arsenault, Forrest Shearer, Daniel Tisi
    
    On Location: Jackson Hole, WY / Valdez, AK / Haines, AK / Anchorage, AK / Whittier, AK / Northern Chugach, AK / Valdez Heli Ski Guides / Alyeska Resort / SEABA Heli / Alaska Heli Skiing / Girdwood, AK / Pemberton, BC
    
    "The Dream Factory is the most elaborate TGR film to date," says Todd Jones, TGR co-founder. "We shot over 50 interviews and uncovered the true history of skiing and snowboarding in Alaska. The story will take viewers through Alaska's history as a state, its skiing history, and showcase the modern progression of skiing and snowboarding - from steep spines and big mountain terrain, to urban and all-around progressive freestyle."
    
    The Dream Factory will premiere September 15, 2012, at the Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village, Wyo., followed by a worldwide film tour.

    Click here for information on iTunes, DVD, and Blu-ray releases.
    
    Photos, videos and stories from The Dream Factory
    
    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.

  • Blog post
  • 10 months ago
  • Views: 744
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• Video: The Nipwitz Crew Heads Video: The Nipwitz Crew Heads To Northwest Russia For Urban Ski Session

  • From: adambroderick
  • Description:

    The Nipwitz crew and Flatlight Films are known for going the distance to get the right shot. In this episode, they drive from their home country of Finland to Murmansk Oblast, Russia — a desolate, remote, northwest section of the country.  By utilizing top-of-the-line cameras and putting in extra effort to stage the perfect shots, they've once again epitomized urban creativity in a zone overlooked by many.
    
    Click Here To Watch "Polar Night" From Nipwitz 

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 116
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• George Rodney getting urban. P George Rodney getting urban. Photo by Noah Franklin.

  • From: gregfitzsimmons
  • Description:
    George Rodney (Photo by Noah Franklin)
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 102
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• Video: Clayton Vila And Sean J Video: Clayton Vila And Sean Jordan Slay Keystone And Breckenridge

  • From: SamPetri
  • Description:

    Man, this is a fresh edit. Jiberish produced this video welcoming Clayton Vila and Sean Jordan to its team. The music is filthy and the tricks are clean, shot and edited by Stept Productions, it’s no wonder this video spread like wildfire. Watch it in full-screen mode.
    
    This season Teton Gravity Research filmed with Clayton in Anchorage, Alaska, for our newest film The Dream Factory. We’re stoked to have him be part of the film and to see his career take off.  Keep it on the come up, Clayton!
    
    Watch Clayton in AK Power Plant - Almost Live Season 4 Episode 7
    
    Watch Clayton in Busted In Anchorage – Almost Live Season 4 Episode 9
    
    View photos of Clayton in The Last Frontier Of Jibbing – TGR Hits Anchorage, AK
    
    View photos of Clayton in Urban Assault On Alaska For The Dream Factory

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 190
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• Armada Skis Team Edit 2012 - " Armada Skis Team Edit 2012 - "We Recycle"

  • From: armadaskis108111
  • Description:

    "WE RECYCLE"

    
    The Armada Skis 2012 Team Edit featuring the best of the team's backcountry, urban, and park adventures with recycled footage from the 2010/11 Season from Poorboyz Productions, MSP, Level 1 Productions, Inspired Media, Sherpas, Chaoz, and 4bi9.
    
    Featuring the skiing of: Tanner Hall, JP Auclair, Riley Leboe, Phil Casabon, Henrik Harlaut, Mike Hornbeck, Gus Kenworthy, Torin Yater-Wallace, and more.
    
    Edited by: Corey Stanton
    Additional Footage: Corey Stanton & Blake Kimmel
    
    Music:
    Iron Maiden- Hallowed be thy Name
    BBNG- The World is Yours / Brooklyn Zoo
    Gangstarr- Speak ya Clout
    Ghostland Observatory- Glitter
    
    Click Here To Watch More Armada Videos

  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 21
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• TGR Urban In Alaska TGR Urban In Alaska

  • From: PeteObrien
  • Description:
    TGR Urban In Alaska
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 81
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