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Hokkaido Drift - Japan Pow! Hokkaido Drift - Japan Pow!
- From: robintlee
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Description:
Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/58027692
After last year, coming back to Japan was a no brainer and this year was even better. After last year we did a bit more exploring and found some new zones and areas that we had never been before. We were in Niseko for just under 3 weeks and apart from one day when it rained, we got 15-25 cm of new snow everyday... it just didn't stop. I think we must of seen the sun no more than a handfull of times with only one bluebird day.
As well as scoping new zones, we hopped on Black Diamond Tours' famous Mushroom tour twice where we drove around in a van finding avi barriers, pillows, steep lines (which are hard to find in Japan) and snow almost as deep as we are tall. Thanks to Gordy, Colin, Mitch, Hayden and Jordy from Back Diamond Tours for taking us out.
blackdiamondtours.com/As usual it was hard to find a balance between skiing and filming but we managed it and had an awesome time during our short trip.
Hope you enjoy!
- 2 weeks ago
- Views: 16
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Stevens Pass: More Snow Than H Stevens Pass: More Snow Than Hype
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Words and Images by Joey Mara
The Cascades are loaded with underrated gems—and Stevens Pass is definitely one of them. Not only is the resort peppered with steep terrain, it also enjoys massive storms that make the mountain a freerider’s dream. Only eighty miles from downtown Seattle, Stevens Pass has been slinging lift tickets for seventy-five years. In that time, it’s been responsible for more than a few people calling in sick to sample the latest storm. With ten lifts serving 1,125 acres spread between the mountain’s front and backside, the resort accommodates skiers and riders of all ability levels. Nonetheless, the mountain is best known for its expert terrain.
No one disputes that the snow in the Pacific Northwest is deep, yet its quality is often up for debate. A few locals will come clean, however, and reveal that labels like “cascade concrete” are misnomers designed to keep tourists away. The snow at Stevens is premium—and thanks to receiving over 450 inches of snow annually, there’s plenty of pow to go around. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the mountain to see upwards of 650 inches in a season.
After a storm, however, the snow at Stevens is typically measured in feet thanks to a unique weather phenomenon known as the Puget Sound Convergence Zone. West of Seattle, the Olympic Mountains split incoming storm tracks, forcing their wind and moisture to divide to the north and south and collide again when they converge at the Cascades. This concentrates precipitation in the vicinity of Stevens Pass. Consequently, storms may hammer the mountain while other resorts in the state receive only a fraction of this snowfall. Needless to say, the storms at Stevens make dreams come true—just come prepared with a snorkel. In December of 2012, for example, a storm dropped 39 inches at the base of Stevens and sixty inches at its summit in just a twenty-four hour period.
Stevens Pass lacks the glamour (and excessive amenities) of a mega resort—and that’s fine with those who call the mountain home. For the courageous, Stevens has plenty of steep lines—perfect for those who like to push limits and occasionally piss their pants. Pillows, chutes, steeps, cliffs, and spines all litter the mountain, while the tree skiing is also world class. It might be worth befriending a local when you come to Stevens, as much of this terrain can be elusive to the uninitiated. To further maximize your time at Stevens, be ready for some serious storm riding. Locals revel in the free refills provided by Steven’s heavy snowfall. The mountain’s night skiing can also add a new dimension to chasing powder. And if you’re fortunate enough to catch a bluebird day, Cowboy and Rooster Ridges provide an ample canvas for laying down creative lines. It should come as no surprise that skiers and riders can explore Stevens season after season and continue to find new zones.
Stevens Past to Present Celebrating 75 Years! from Joey mara on Vimeo.
For those prepared to venture outside the access gates, the backcountry at Stevens Pass is the real deal. Due to the high amount of snow and steep terrain, avalanches occur frequently. Adding to the danger, visibility can change rapidly. That being said, a wealth of ridges, back bowls, and peaks can be accessed via the lifts or by touring from the highway or nordic trails. Much of Steven’s backcountry dumps skiers at the highway, enabling them to easily hitch a ride back to the resort.
In addition to its natural terrain, Stevens Pass boasts a solid park. The Top Phlight park crew spends its days prepping dozens of rails and kickers of all sizes. Stevens also has one of the few halfpipes in the state of Washington. Thanks to the diversity of its terrain, the mountain is a breeding ground for well-rounded rippers.
Stevens has remained under the radar thanks, in part, to a lack of accommodations at its base. For those wishing to stay close to the slopes, a variety of rental cabins are available on both sides of the pass. Most visitors, however, stay in or around the town of Leavenworth on the east side of the pass. Located forty-five minutes from Stevens, Leavenworth sports a Bavarian theme and offers plenty of entertainment for those looking to kick back and slip off their boots. During the winter months, the town is lit up with Christmas lights and the streets are packed with Seattleites hoping to escape the city, shop, and enjoy some food and drinks at German pubs. For those looking for no-frills lodging, the small towns of Skykomish and Gold Bar on the Seattle side of the pass offer affordable options.
Stevens will never be a Whistler or an Aspen—and it does not want to be such a resort. And while the scene is mellow, the mountain is not. Needless to say, Stevens has no shortage of challenging terrain—and good company with whom to explore it. The people are friendly and the snow is deep. If you measure your seasons in faceshots and high fives, Stevens might be your soulmate.
- Blog post
- 4 weeks ago
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Announcing The Further and Dre Announcing The Further and Dream Factory Tour Winners
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
The dust has finally settled from the 2012 film tour, and the grand prize winners have been drawn. Both films this year provided a whole slew of amazing giveaways, and hopefully you walked away with something fresh from our sponsors.
And the winners are…
Jeremy Jones’ Further, presented by O’Neill
Grand Prize: John from Bellingham, WA won the trip for two to ride at Squaw Valley. We connected with John just after his trip, and it sounds like it was a pretty epic adventure. “The bluebird conditions, variety of terrain and size of Squaw Valley were incredible! The mountain is so large that we were having trouble keeping track of which chair went where for the first two days! We're already planning a return trip for next year and will be bringing our friends from our home mountain, Mt. Baker. A big thanks from Belinda and I to Squaw Valley and TGR for making this amazing trip possible!”
Runner up: Karta from Boulder, CO is headed to Japan to shred powder courtesy of Cloudline Tours. After seeing the Japan segments from Further, she couldn’t have been happier, and we can’t wait to see the pictures.
Second Place: Last but far from least, the head-to-toe O’Neill outerwear and a new board from Jones Snowboards goes to Jennifer in Boston, MA.
The Dream Factory
Grand Prize: A heli-skiing trip for two courtesy of Alaska Heliskiing goes to Garrett from Colorado. Pretty sure we heard his screams of excitement all the way up in Jackson Hole. Garrett has yet to take the trip but we look forward to his report and some pictures.
Runner Up: Caroline from Kentucky scored the trip for two to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Unfortunately she is fresh off an ACL tear but Jackson Hole has been awesome in working with her to shift the prize to a summer filled with mountain biking and hiking rehab…Her dream of skiing Jackson’s legendary terrain is going to have to wait another year.
Second Place: Ben in Colorado is getting hooked up with head-to-toe outerwear from The North Face and a pair of skis from Atomic.
From all of us at Teton Gravity Research, THANK YOU for making the 2012 tour a memorable one. The tours reached close to 300 cities combined across the globe, and without your amazing support every year, it simply would not be possible. Enjoy the rest of your season, and see you next fall!
- Blog post
- 1 month ago
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Go Now: Selkirk Wilderness Ski Go Now: Selkirk Wilderness Skiing
- From: SamPetri
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Description:
“I don’t fuck around.” Dr. Powder says. “This is my 30th week up here. I only get two weeks each year to really ski, and I’m not going to blow it. I come here. I am not fucking around."
It’s hard to look directly into Dr. Powder’s intense, near-purple eyes as we chug uphill in one of Selkirk Wilderness Skiing’s bright-yellow snow cats on a bluebird Monday morning. Instead, I look outside in awe of Canada’s pillow-packed mountains. Dr. Powder is actually a heart doctor from California, and he’s serious about skiing. A quivering passion shows on his face when he talks about the sport, and he spends his precious little skiing time here. But he’s not alone.
Fanaticism runs deep in the clientele at Selkirk Wilderness Skiing, the first cat skiing operation in the world located in Meadow Creek, British Columbia, just two hours north of Nelson. It’s not a mystery why. The cats access more skiable terrain than Whistler/Blackcomb and Vail combined, and only see about 24 skiers per day. They’ve been quietly delivering stellar powder since 1975, when founders Allan and Brenda Drury literally changed the ski world by inventing a new way to ski.
It snowed 25 centimeters up high last night. In Freedom Units, that’s 10 inches. SWS lead guide and 20-year veteran Jason Remple, has seen fatter days, but he wasn’t complaining as we ended our first cat-assisted assent.
Ecstatic chatter cracks over the radios: “25 centimeters of new! Whoo Ha!”
Our crew of 12 applauds.
The cat stops and we file out into knee-deep snow. I just grin while looking the snow-caked, spine-filled mountains with pillow clusters and steep glades. There’s every type of skiing feature imaginable here. I search for my skis. Ian, our cat driver, has already laid them out on the snow for me, as he has with everyone else’s skis. How nice. I click in.
Remple, who also owns a business called Stellar Heli-Skiing, rallies the crew.
“Follow me.”
We’re off. We ski 12-deep in a mob, like some sort of Canadian cat skiing advertisement. “We really are skiing Canadian,” I chuckle to myself. We keep it up until we reach a convex rollover, the top of our main line. We stop.
Remple explains the layout of the run, and where people of different abilities need to go. Throughout the trip, Remple, Jeff Gostlin, and Carla Aldinger consistently guide us to the gnar. Every run has features to jump off of, leaving us repeating phrases like: “So sick!”
“You’ve got to understand this is a diverse group,” says Remple. “On any given run though, there are a lot of options and we can get into almost anything. There’s something for everyone.”
That might be the best thing about SWS—you can go there with your old man and have a blast. In fact, two guys in our cat were a father-son duo from San Francisco. While dad would ski the open powder field, his son, who we nicknamed “Big Air Blair,” would shred pillow lines. Both were fired up at the bottom of every run, ready for more. That’s quality family time.
It goes on all day. We ride up, blast down, each time linking back up with the cat. Rarely do you see the other cat out there. Each run from start to finish takes about 40 minutes or so, including time spent in the cat. Depending on the group, it’s possible to ski anywhere from eight to twelve runs in a day. Depending on the group, it's possible to get six to twelve runs per day. Most runs are about 2,000 to 3,000 vertical feet.
Helicopter flights jack you up for the next run, while traveling in a snow cat is like a relaxing bus ride through a powder forest. If heli skiing is a stimulant, then cat skiing is an opiate.
SWS serves lunch in the snow cat, and it’s one of the best things about the experience. It even comes with tea and cookies. This daily ritual happens every day at SWS. It’s amazing. Skiing needs more tea and cookies.
The lodge, located at an elevation of 4,000 feet, has a cool, community-style vibe where guests hangout together and eat together. There’s a pool table, ping-pong table, hot tub, sauna, and a serve-yourself bar stocked full of chronic Canadian microbrews that don’t show up in America. Oh yeah, there’s WiFi, but you’re here to unplug. Just ski. Don’t forget to eat though. The food is healthy, hearty, and delicious. Dinners are served family style, adding to the overall camaraderie one feels while at SWS.
The snow in interior BC, while feather-light, has a bit more moisture content than in the Rocky Mountains. This lets mini-AK-style spines, flutes, and pillow features form almost everywhere, allowing for playful bonks off terrain features without fear of dry-docking. I go all day without hitting a rock or crossing a track.
Back at the lodge we melt into the cushy chairs, kick our feet up by the fire, pop beers, thumb through Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine, play ping-pong, and soak in the tub. This is the place. Tomorrow, we’ll get on a snow cat at 8:15 a.m., and ski the best powder of our lives all over again. It’s no wonder Dr. Powder comes twice a year—he’s in on the Selkirk’s secret.
Book Now
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing TGR Special
March 24 to March 30. Both 3 and 5 day package are available at 20% off right now.
3 day – normal price/discounted price = $2580/$2150.
5 day – normal price/discounted price = $4300/$3440.
Photos by Steve Shannon - Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 192
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Hucking In Hochfuegen Austria Hucking In Hochfuegen Austria – Almost Live Season 5 Episode 5
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
In season 5 episode 5 of Teton Gravity Research's web series Almost Live Tim Durtschi, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Dylan Hood and Colter Hinchliffe continue the Austria road trip and head to the Bluebird Mountain Hostel to check out the skiing at Hochfuegen. During their stay, they get a sense of what its like to live in the Austrian countryside. On the first day at Hochfuegen, Durtschi finds a high consequence pillow line with a tricky entrance.
Teton Gravity Research’s Almost Live series takes you around the globe with the TGR production team and athletes. Get an inside look at what goes into first descents, building and hitting massive backcountry jumps, traveling throughout the most exotic locales on the planet, and the lives of the world's top riders. Almost Live plants you on location with the TGR crew. You will be able to track the crew’s progress throughout the season, and watch the drama unfold.
Music Courtesy of Jeff Cormack & Play Plus Record
www.playplusrecord.com
Music Courtesy of Engin Pedeveci
www.radioengine.de
Watch More Almost Live Episodes - 2 months ago
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Bluebird Pow Day At Jackson Ho Bluebird Pow Day At Jackson Hole
- From: jacksonhole
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Description:
February 24th was another special powder day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. With over a foot of new snow the sun decided to pop. There is nothing better than a bluebird powder day. It's DEEP out there, whether you call it 300“ or 25 feet of snow. This video showcases one run in the Crags with Kim Havell and Jess McMillan. With the #1 snow in the Rockies and deals as deep as the snow, now is the time to get to Jackson Hole.
Watch More Jackson Hole Videos - 3 months ago
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Hucking In Hochfugen With Dyla Hucking In Hochfugen With Dylan Hood
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Scoping natural features in Austria.
Words by Dylan Hood
Photos by Dutch Simpson
We have arrived here at Hochfugen, our second location of our Austrian ski trip.
Yet again, another beautiful valley with large mountains rising in all directions, making for amazing views. We are staying in the Bluebird Mountain Hostel, which is a dank little hostel located across the valley. The winding, single-lane road up to the hostel has hair-raising turns. And there is no Internet there, forcing us off the matrix. Most of the crew is fine with it, except for Durtschi, who is trying to pass Sage with the most followers on instagram.
The Hostel is cozy, quaint and now smelly because our crew of nine has taken it over. Luckily, we have been able to wash our clothes, but have to dry them outside in the mountain air, due to no dryer, which I think is awesome. The crew running the hostel is amazing, and have given us the best food and coffee we‘ve seen all trip. To give you an idea of the vibe here, the crew is using the money they make from this hostel, to start a surf hostel.
We arrived to some clear skies, and steadily warming temperatures. We have been able to get some cold snow on and off the resort. The mountain has all types of terrain from lines, to mini golf to rollers, allowing us to get into all types of skiing, which we have. We attacked the mountain as soon as possible knowing that warm weather was on the way. We have shot some jumps and lines, but have come to a holding pattern due to warming and clouds.
The weather is calling for a good amount of snow, so now we wait for the flakes.
Slashing a fin in the backcountry.
Stomping out a natural quarter pipe with Sage.
Booting lines.
About to drop an Austrian spine line.
Prepping to drop. 
Cork 5 off a backcountry booter.
Visit the Bluebird Mountain Hostel Facebook Page - Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 142
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Guide To Late Night SIA Partie Guide To Late Night SIA Parties
- From: mikehardaker
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Description:
For some, SIA is about going to meetings, talking to buyers, sales reps, and looking at next seasons' ski and snowboard gear. The other half of the convention rolls into Denver with one thing on the mind: partying! As important as figuring out next year's editorial calendar and what items will sell in your shop, the real SIA veterans come to town for one reason: free beer, concerts and exclusive industry parties.
The following is a list of parties open to the public.
Wednesday Night:
SIA/SOS Hockey Shootout
Never Summer, 686, Snowboard Colorado, Zeal Optics, PBR and Monster Energy are hosting the fourth annual SIA/SOS Hockey Shootout. Come watch as industry heads battle former NHL players on the ice. The event will kick off the SIA tradeshow with a competitive full contact hockey game benefiting SOS Outreach. This is a beer league event, PBR is sponsoring the refreshments and rowdiness is encouraged!
Tickets: Free Admission
8:45 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
http://bit.ly/127CzY6
Thursday Night:
InkMonster “Free 4 All” Party
Thursday night kicks off the 2013 SIA late night weekend with the 3rd annual InkMonster “Free 4 All” Party featuring Naughty By Nature and Rome (from Sublime) taking place at the EXDO Events Center. Who’s down with OPP? Entry to the event is Free and includes all the pizza you can eat, and booze you can drink. Remember Denver is a mile high in the air, SIA is a marathon not a sprint, pace yourself.
Tickets: Free Admission
9:00 P.M. - 2:00 A.M.
http://bit.ly/14sT2pk
Ana Sia Dance Party
Ana Sia one of the hottest DJ’s on the west coast is bringing her dance party to the Bluebird Theatre in Denver. Known for dancing as hard if not harder then her fans this will be a high energy show not to miss! Make sure to pack your dancing shoes, and good luck making your 9:00am appointments on Friday.
Tickets: $25.00
9:00 P.M. – 2:00 A.M.
http://bit.ly/XeV9rr
Friday Night:
Winter on the Rocks
Winter on the Rocks returns to the best concert venue in North America, Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The 2nd annual Winter on the Rocks is once again being presented by Icelantic Skis featuring live performances by Maclemore & Ryan Lewis along with openers Major Lazer, The Grouch & Eli, Neelais. Wear your layers as you will be sitting outside, under the stars with 10,000 of your closest friends.
Tickets: $50.00 + Fees
7:30 P.M. – 12:00 A.M.
http://bit.ly/VlXYWj
Transworld Riders Poll
The 14th Annual Transworld Riders Poll presented by New Era is once taking place at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium. Pro riders, industry bro’s and a few lucky random joes will all get together for what is hands down “the biggest night in snowboarding”. Unlike other industry award shows the Transworld Riders Poll was voted on by the top 100 snowboarders in the world, this is not a pay to play awards ceremony..
Tickets: $50.00
8:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M.
http://bit.ly/14sTAeZ
Saturday Night:
Snowdown
Snowdown presented by Neff will feature performances by hip hop artist Machine Gun Kelly, Bauer and Just Blaze is once again take over City Hall Amphitheatre. This is a true club like party. For the ballers in town bottle service for up to 8 people will be available for $1,000.00
Tickets: $22.50
8:00 P.M. – 2:00 A.M.
http://bit.ly/VShoEb - Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 262
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News: Markus Eder And Aurélien News: Markus Eder And Aurélien Routens Win At Freeride World Tour Courmayeur Mont Blanc
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
At the second stop of the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® (FWT), the international field of elite athletes threw down a spectacular show combining big mountain charging with impressive tricks on the “Tête d’Arp”, never ridden in competition before.
With the south side of Mont Blanc as the perfect backdrop, a bluebird day with fresh powder greeted the strong line up of 33 skiers and 15 snowboarders at the men’s only competition. The athletes enjoyed the great conditions and showed their top skills on the north face of Tête d’Arp. Excitement filled the air as no one had ridden the face in competition before. Riders described the top section as steep, 45 degrees big mountain style, and the lower part giving various options for more playful riding and multiple airs. Any style of riding could take victory at this interesting venue.
Italy’s Markus Eder clinched the skiers’ win with a score of 89.67 points, executing the most playful run of the day. As a late start number Eder chose a unique line entry, skiing down the ridge before hitting the steep face in controlled high-speed big mountain style. He then impressed the judges with an arsenal of tricks on the second half of the venue, pulling off a backflip, a huge left side 360 and even riding switch. On his first year on the tour, young Eder was definitely the biggest crowd pleaser of the day on home turf. “I’m stoked with my line,” said Markus Eder. “I didn’t expect to win as I did a little mistake on my backflip. I hoped to be on the podium but to win is really fantastic.”
Swiss Jérémie Heitz managed to repeat his performance in Revelstoke, Canada and claim the second podium spot with a hard charging big mountain line, giving him the score of 86.0 points. Heitz probably had the fastest run of the day. Third place finisher and reigning world champion Reine Barkered of Sweden, also skied full throttle, typical Reine style, mixing big air and fast riding, scoring 81.0 points.
Aurélien Routens of France was rewarded his first ever FWT win in the snowboard competition. Routens scored 83.67 points on a high speed run, with clean riding and solid airs at the exposed top steep section and finishing off with an impressive straight line.
John Rodosky, USA, took a well deserved second, scoring 78.67 points, riding creatively and bringing numerous solid freestyle tricks into the backcountry. Swiss Emilien Badoux chose a good line all the way through and hitting a nice backside 360 in the midsection, earning the third podium spot with a score of 76.0 points.
“For a third consecutive year we have had perfect conditions and an amazing playground here in Courmayeur on the south side of Mont Blanc,” said Nicolas Hale-Woods, FWT General Manager Europe. “The upcoming weekend the athletes will cross the tunnel and take on the north side of Mont Blanc in Chamonix.”
After two out of six events, Jérémie Heitz is leading Men’s Ski overall with two second podium spots. Today’s winner Aurélien Routens is leading Men’s Snowboard with the win and a third place in Revelstoke, Canada.
The women will join the men for the third event in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc on January 26th.
Click Here For Men's Ski And Snowboard Official Results
Xavier De Le Rue scoping out a line at Courmayeur Mont Blanc. Photo by J Bernard. - Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 130
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First Look: Black Diamond Equi First Look: Black Diamond Equipment’s Fall 2013 Freeride Skis And Boots
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
From Left to right, Black Diamond's 2013-14 Megawatt, Verdict, AMPerage, Convert, and Zealot skis.Sure, you may have just bought new skis, but they’re already obsolete. Sorry, next year’s boards have already been invented. Later this month, at the Outdoor Retailer and SIA trade shows, all of the winter 2013-14 skis will begin to be promoted, starting the annual cycle of ski-stoke and anticipation all over again. It’s just how it works. Everyone likes shiny new plastic toys, especially when they allow you have more fun on the snow than the year before. And that’s the point, to have more fun.
Last week, Teton Gravity Research office jockeys had the pleasure of testing out some of Black Diamond Equipment’s 2013-14 freeride skis and boots. These are the stiffer boots and fatter skis in the BD ski line. Black Diamond ski category director Thomas Laakso (who absolutely rips, by the way) brought up big mountain, all mountain, and freetour boards from Utah to the TGR offices in Teton Village, Wyoming. TGR staff went nuts skiing the new sticks at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and in the Jackson Hole backcountry.
In all we were able to test:
Big Mountain Series Skis
Megawatt - 188
AMPerage - 185, 195
All Mountain Series Skis
Zealot - 182
Verdict - 180
Freetour Series
Carbon Megawatt - 188
Convert - 180
Boots
Factor Mx 130 - Men’s
Ski testing is tricky business. What may be the best pair of sticks for one person could be the worst pair of planks for the next person – and that was the case a couple times here. Also, there were times when just one person got out on a pair of skis, so you only have their opinion to go on. There are so many factors: conditions, group dynamic, length of ski, what type of ski the “tester” is used to, type of skier, how much time they had on them, etc.
So, consider this a first look at BD’s 2013-14 freeride line.
We have listed exact dimensions, weights, and prices, then our thoughts. Many of these skis are already out on the market, but for 2013-14, many of the skis weigh less due to BD using pre-preg technology in their new factory in China that they say is eco-friendly.
If you don’t feel like reading this whole thing, here’s the take away: Everyone loved the 185 AMPerage and considered it a “one quiver” ski. Also, everyone loved the Megawatt in powder and thought is was “surfy.”
Other results varied and not everyone was able to get out on all the skis.
Anyway, here we go.
Megawatt ($899)
178cm: 150-125-131 9lb 1oz
188cm: 151-125-131 10lb 9oz
Two testers total on the 188
Stoke Level: 8/10
“It was really fun,” said TGR’s Than Volk, who is 25 years old, 5’10” and 150 lbs. “ I got one run of them, but that was all I needed. We skied [a fucking sick 3000-verical foot powder run in the Jackson Hole backcountry]. It was untracked with 12” to 18” of recent snow and the Megawatts were the perfect ski to be on. The width and rocker provided plenty of float to make really enjoyable big swooping, surfy powder turns. They reminded me a lot of my K2 Pon2oons, but are probably a little more versatile outside of untracked powder.”
TGR’s Sam Petri, who is 31 years old 5’10” and considerably fatter at 190 lbs, also found them to be “surfy.”
“The Black Diamond Megawatt was snappy on the hardpack and surfy in the pow," Sam said. "These are definately powder slayers and were best in even the slightest bit of fresh snow. On hardpack, if you tried to lay a carve down, they snapped you into each turn. It was a little weird on hardpack, like many skis that are 125 mm underfoot. If you carved a little less hard and “scrubbed” your turns, it was more enjoyable on hardpack. But they are not for hardpack, they are for powder, and in powder, you could straight-up charge and do anything.”
So, who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
“This is a quiver ski for deep power,” Than Volk said.
“This is a powder ski for the deepest days,” said Sam Petri.
AMPerage ($799)
165cm: 139-115-123 8lb 10oz
175cm: 141-115-123 9lb 1oz
185cm: 142-115-124 9lb 8oz
195cm: 143-115-125 10lb
Four testers total on the 185, one on the 195
Stoke Level: 8.5/10
“The AMPerage 185 is the ski I most looked forward to testing,” said Danny Holland, who is 29, 5’9”, 180 pounds, and rips decent, considering he is from Colorado. “A similar shape to my Atomic Automatics and Rossignol S7s, I was curious how they would compare. We stepped into the side country and found a magic run to really give these a test. The 185 AMPerage skied amazingly. It had plenty of float due to the 115mm width underfoot and carved exceptionally from top to bottom. This year’s model is also lighter by over 100 grams making the traverse out slightly less painful. Overall I would consider this a great one-quiver ski.
Danny Holland enjoys the 2013-14 Black Diamond 185 AMPerage in the Jackson Hole backcountry.
“I’ve always wanted to get on a pair of AMPerages,” Than Volk said. “I rode them on a warm bluebird day with about 6” of new wind-affected snow. We hit both off-piste runs (Rendezvous Bowl early, Headwall and The Crags) and groomers in between. What impressed me most about the skis were their versatility. In both conditions the ski was a charger. It’s fast, aggressive and agile. It reminds me most of my Atomic Automatic but is also categorically similar to my Hybrid DPS Wailer 112RPs (a less aggressive ski with more sidecut and less stiffness). This is a ski I’d definitely buy for myself and recommend to others.”
“The BD Amperage was a pleasant surprise in the versatility department,” said Brian Wulf, who is 25, 5’ 10” and weights 170 lbs. “We all dream of the days of endless resort pow and empty chairlifts, but that’s rarely the reality. Instead, we end up bumping around on hardpack searching for the goods and compromising in fun. We either find a sick all mountain ski that blasts through the crud or surfs in the deep stuff, but never both. The Amperage may make reality fun again. Initiating a turn on hard park wasn’t effortless, but never did it induce fatigue. And then comes the deep stuff. So easy to pivot, the ski was playful and poppy. I would however like the ski mounted a bit more forward.”
“I went out on a marginally deep, ‘dust on crust’ day with the AMPerage in a 185,” Sam Petri said. “What I found to be impressive was its ability to manage these variable conditions with ease. Whether I was floating in powder or navigating ice bumps, these skis were there for me. While 115 mm under foot may be fat for some people, I consider this one of the truest ‘one quiver’ skis I’ve been on in a while. Seems like you could put touring bindings on them or resort bindings and be equally happy.”
Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
“This ski is perfect for your big mountain skier,” Danny Holland said. “It’s for someone who wants something that performs well on various conditions and is a joy to ski when things are soft.”
“It’s a great all mountain powder ski for a resort like Jackson Hole,” Than Volk said. “It’s got the flotation and width for powder while maintaining the stiffness for crud and groomers once it’s tracked out.”
“The ski is versatile from trees, to crud, to pow,” Brian Wulf said. “But the shape certainly lends itself to the skier that likes a more fun and playful stick.
“This ski is for everyone,” Sam Petri said. “Again, I was so impressed by its versatility. I would be confused if someone were to ski this one and come back disappointed. I’ve never been on the Armada JJ, but all my friends have it and rave about it. I have to think this skis directly competes with it.”
Zealot ($849)
182cm: 135-110-123 10lb 2oz
192cm: 136-110-125 10lb 13oz
Two Testers on the 182
Stoke Level: Hard to say. Results are a little inconclusive on this one. Only two testers took this ski out. Danny was stoked, giving them a 9/10. Than, not so much, giving them a 5/10.
“I have been the type of skier that has traditionally ridden on wider and softer skis such as the Rossignol S7 and recently Atomic Automatics,” Danny Holland said. “My mind was completely blow away after getting on a stiffer hard charging ski like the Zealot. It was amazing to drop in and pick up speed, put in a turn and feel completely in control. It was like skiing on rails.”
Than Volk, not quite as amped, but would like to try them again.
“The day before I rode them had gotten pretty warm,” Than Volk said. “While we got 3” - 4” overnight, we were mostly riding off-piste and it was pretty much “dust on crust” conditions that would have been tough on any pair of skis. I have a pair of Volkl Kanatas and hoped they would perform similarly, but didn’t feel like I got a great chance to test that out.”
Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
“This is really a perfect big mountain ski,” Danny Holland said. “It is ideal on those days where the thicker sticks really are not needed and you want to rip tram laps as fast as humanly possible.”
“If it’s anything like a Katana it should be a great front side ski that also holds its own in powder,” Than Volk said.
Teton Gravity Research Advertising Guru - Than Volk
Verdict ($799)
164cm: 130-100-118 8lb 10oz
172cm: 131-100-118 9lb 1oz
180cm: 132-100-119 9lb 8oz
188cm: 133-100-119 10lb
One Tester on the 180
Stoke Level: 7
“The Black Diamond Verdict is a great ski but for the conditions that we had today I would have probably want something a little heavier and stiffer,” Said Johanna Murphy, who is 26, 5’5” and 135 lbs. “I would have loved to try these out in lighter snow because I think that’s where these skis would have shined. I felt somewhat sloppy because hitting any hard packed snow they almost flew away from my body making balancing challenging. In the hobacks where the snow was a little softer due to being in the sun these skies performed well. I was in control and smoothly going over the bumpy terrain.”
“My best moment on them was in the Hobacks – The Hobacks were pretty soft when we skied on them and the Verdicts were great handling that light slightly cruddy snow,” Johanna said. “The worst moment was on groomers – I didn’t feel like there was enough edge to catch on the icy groomers that we hit. I felt like the skis were chattering.”
So, who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
“This ski is for an all mountain skier that has lots of snow to play with. If you are a hard charging skier with a hardpacked mountain to ski on, these probably are not for you,” Johanna said.
Carbon Megawatt ($999)
178cm: 145-120-127 7lb 1oz
188cm: 147-120-127 8lb
One Tester on the 188
Stoke Level: 8.5
“For such a fat ski, I can’t believe how light these boards are,” Sam Petri said. “I skied these on Teton Pass and they were mounted with tech bindings. It was a true pleasure to hike with such fat skis that didn’t weigh so much. On the way down, it was mostly powder and I felt these performed similarly to the non-carbon version in powder – which is awesome. You can make both large and small turns and you can do that new school thing where you throw them sideways at high spped to make a giant powder plume. I would not ski these at the resort, though, as I think skiing an all carbon ski in resort conditions often leads to a ‘tinny’ feel.”
Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
“This ski is for the dedicated backcountry skier who has a quiver of skis and wants this one for the deepest days of the year and general powder crushing,” Sam Petri said.
Convert ($799)
164cm: 131-105-116 6lb 6oz
172cm: 132-105-116 7lb
180cm: 133-105-117 7lb 4oz
188cm: 134-105-117 7lb 11oz
One tester on the 180
Stoke level: 8.5
“There is no question that these Black Diamond Covert skis are meant for the pow,” said Joni McGregor, who is 23, 5’7” and 120 lbs. “They were super fun and fast in the wide open powder fields. They gave me confidence that I don’t get from my own skis in the deep snow. When we started hitting groomers and going through the trees, these skis were not as ideal. It was more difficult to make good turns on these runs. Overall, I had a great time on the Covert and it would be the perfect ski for the really deep days.”
Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
“An expert skier that likes to tour to find the pow.”
A few of us got to get out on the new Factor Mx 130 Ski Boot.
Black Diamond’s Factor Mx 130 boots offer an impressively alpine-boot like feel with an equally impressive walk mode. While everyone’s foot is different, these boots are a solid choice for those that want to ski hard and tour hard. We charged in and out of bounds in them. Below are some specs and some thoughts from BD ski category director Thomas Laakso.
Available in sizes 24.5-30.5
Weight: 4 kg (8 lb 3 oz) [size 27.5].
· Mx Direct Connect technology for unmatched lateral stiffness and Flex 130 fore/aft stiffness
· Mx Direct Connect Alpine and AT Sole Blocks (tech binding compatible) included, integrated heel shock absorber
· Resistance-free walk mode offers 40 degrees of touring freedom
· 30% lower profile buckles than previous Factor boots
· Performance 100 mm V-shaped last with 100% thermoformable Direct Connect liner
“Did you catch Johnny Collinson's run up at Revelstoke?” BD ski category director Thomas Laakso asked in an email. “I'm kind of biased but sort of think that was one of the sickest airs of the comp, along with a super technical line of which he got ROBBED… But anyways, of relevance, I think it was the first time anyone's really competed on a freeride boot like that. Stock Factor Mx boots and slaying a line like that! Along with the new Amperage as well which surely helped him stomp that 3 like a man. But it is pretty cool that he's competing in it, filming in it, touring in it, and slaying it. Same with Angel. Same with Callum Pettit who's not competing, but touring, filming and just monkeying around all in that one boot. And same with Samuel Antematten in Europe who's competing on it next week in Courmayer. There hasn't been a boot that you can do all that with yet. Who knew that a walk mode boot with 40 degrees of touring could also compete at the highest level where they were using plug race boots just last year!”
Thanks again to Black Diamond for letting us have the first look at the 2013-14 freeride line! Much appreciated!
Shop for Black Diamond skis, boots, poles and more at Backcountry.com while helping support TGR!
- Blog post
- 4 months ago
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Red Bull Linecatcher Final Day Red Bull Linecatcher Final Day - Atomic Airtime
- From: atomicsnow
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Description:
The 2013 Red Bull Linecatcher was undeniably the best one yet. An epic venue, bottomless pow and bluebird conditions had everyone as stoked as can be. Check out Richard Permin, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Tobi Tritscher and Tim Durtchi slaying the awesome competition face in Les Arcs.
Watch More Atomic Videos - 4 months ago
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Freeride World Tour Goes Off I Freeride World Tour Goes Off In Revelstoke
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
Ski and snowboard athletes put on a show on Mackenzine Face at Revelstoke Mountain Resort during stop No. 1 of the Freeride World Tour. Photo by B. Long.Words by Greg Fitzsimmons
The first stop of the newly structured Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face went down last Friday in a serious way. After waiting four days on a weather hold because of slow-moving storm that dropped 3 feet of snow on Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s 1,600-foot “Mac Daddy” face, 60-plus athletes from all over the world competed in men’s and women’s skiing and snowboarding.
With it all said and done, TGR’s Ralph Backstrom made a statement in men’s snowboarding, perennial podium-finisher Drew Tabke posted the day’s highest score en route to winning the men’s skiing title, Sweden’s Christine Hargin built on the momentum from last year’s overall FWT title with a win in women’s skiing, and Snowbird-based ripper Shannon Yates took home the hardware in women’s snowboarding.
It was clear from the first few men’s snowboarders to drop in on “Mac Daddy” that the conditions were no joke. Rider-triggered sluff exposed pepper on the skier’s right and skier’s left sides of the venue. But, creative competitors were able to find blower snow in zones unaffected by the slide activity.
Ralph Backstrom rages down "Mac Daddy" face on his way to win the first stop of the Freeride World Tour. Photo by B. Long.
Backstrom’s line perfectly exemplifies the creative approach to riding that had fans of “The Dream Factory” lauding his TGR segment and talking about his aggressive, full-on style. Being the penultimate snowboarder to drop in, Backstrom was able to observe a bit of the action before sliding into the start gate. Backstrom opted for a line on the skier’s left portion of the venue, and laced a high-speed triple drop before arching fast pow-turns through the trees on the bottom half of “Mac Daddy.” From the airs to the carefully dissected tree-line, Backstrom’s line was fluid, fast, and looked fun.
“I was a little nervous we wouldn’t have good light conditions after the past few days but was so excited to have bluebird skies,” explained Ralph Backstrom. “The super steep pitch of ‘Mac Daddy’ makes it difficult not to go over the handle bars when landing jumps. I really like the big features that exist on this terrain.”
Backstrom’s line earned him a score of 89.33, 10 points higher than runner-up Ludovic Guillot-Diat. La Grave’s Aurelien Routens rounded out the podium.
The field of men’s skiers dropped in next and the level of skiing on display in British Columbia was full-on. A lot of the chatter leading up to the comp centered around the “two dramatically different options” for line choices with the skier’s left lines described as “playful and flowy” and the skier’s right being “more gnarly and exposed, it’s traditional big-mountain skiing,” said longtime competitor Griffin Post prior to the event. No one took into account the direct fall-line approach that eventually earned Drew Tabke a mind-blowing score of 91 and a spot atop the podium.
The entire field of men’s skiers headed either right—runner-up Jeremie Heitz blasted through huge double at mock-speed in the exposed skier’s right zone—or left—third place finisher Julien Lopez skied a clean and controlled version of the triple that Backstrom rode on the skier’s left side of “Mac Daddy.” However, Tabke prospected an untouched line close to the gut of the venue, en route to posting the day’s highest score.
“When you look at the full image of ‘Mac Daddy’ face you see that if you go left your options for features ends pretty early and if you go right you have to traverse out,” says Tabke. “So, skiing the middle caught my eye. The line where I went was the most pure fall-line approach to the venue that still holds pow [and doesn’t slide].”
Along with the pow that Tabke was able to track up, his winning line included four distinct airs. “That exit air was the missing piece to my line,” says Tabke. “Once I found that air I moved uphill to connect the rest of the line. You can’t hit the first feature I hit and still get far left or far right. I think that top air is the best feature on the venue, but no one can hit it if you’re heading to the left or right. So, by choosing to do the last section I was able to get the top feature, too.”
Johnny Collinson spins a 360 at Revelstoke. Photo by J.ANTONIUK.
Aside from the top three men (Tabke, Heitz, and Lopex, respectively), Johnny Collinson’s line had everyone buzzing—in Revy and online. Collinson found a massive air on the skier’s right side of “Mac Daddy” and spun a sleepy three off of the downward takeoff. Despite augering in the landing, Collinson’s blend of big-mountain and freestyle skiing warrants mention.
On the women’s side, the female skiers and riders inherited a beat-up, sluffed-out, and debris-riddled venue after the men hammered “Mac Daddy.” The scores on the women’s side reflected the difficult conditions, with four of the 10 female skiers earning 40+ points. Defending FWT Champion, Christine Hargin, of Sweden, earned the win with a 65, followed by Norwegian Nadine Wallner and Aussie Nat Segal, respectively.
Shannon Yates stomped two airs and stayed on her feet to win the women’s snowboarding title, with French riders Margot Rozies in second and Elodie Mouthon in third.
Now, athletes are headed to the Alps for the second and third stops of the Freeride World Tour, with stops on the Italian and French sides of the Mont Blanc in Courmayeur and Chamonix. Italy’s Courmayeur hosts the second comp of the year on January 19th. CLICK HERE for the complete FWT schedule, and check back with TGR throughout the season for full coverage of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face.
Men's ski podium. Photo by R. SIHLIS.
Men's Ski Results
1. Drew Tabke, 91.00
2. Jeremie Heitz, 79.67
3. Julien Lopez, 73.00
4. Laurent Gauthier, 72.00
5. Charlie Lyons, 70.33
6. Griffin Post, 68.33
7. Sam Smoothy, 66.33
8. Nicolas Salencon, 62.33
9. Markus Eder, 59.00
10. Wille Lindberg, 56.33
Men's snowboard podium. Photo by R. SIHLIS.
Men's Snowboard Results
1. Ralph Backstrom, 89.33
2. Ludovic Guillot-Diat, 79.33
3. Aurelien Routens, 74.33
4. Tim Carlson, 70.33
5. Emilien Badoux, 63.67
6. Matt Annetts, 59.00
7. Joel Rouge, 54.67
8. John Rodosky, 53.67
9. Irian Van Helfteren, 44.67
10. Sammy Luebke, 41.67
Women's ski podium. Photo by B. Long.
Women's Ski Results
1. Christine Hargin, 65.00
2. Nadine Wallner, 58.00
3. Natalie Segal, 53.33
4. Pia Nic Gundersen, 40.33
5. Ashley Maxfield, 12.00
Women's snowboard podium. Photo by R. SIHLIS.
Women's Snowboard Results
1. Shannan Yates, 63.33
2. Margot Rozies, 58.00
3. Elodie Mouthon, 54.67
4. Casey Lucas, 50.33
5. Iris Lazzereschi, 43.00
6. Aline Bock, 40.67
7. Laura Dewey, 35.67
8. Anouck Mouthon, 33.33 - Blog post
- 4 months ago
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Bluebird Booters Bluebird Booters
- From: jack1233
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Description:
A couple backcountry jumps that we hit over the winter break. Riders are Dan Steth, Robbie Johnson, Dylan Ross, and Spencer Thackray.
https://vimeo.com/57177771
- 4 months ago
- Views: 33
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Swatch Freeride World Tour Ram Swatch Freeride World Tour Ramps Up In Revelstoke
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
The snow has been stacking up in Revelstoke. On Jan. 11, the first stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face is scheduled to pop off. Photo: D.CARLIER.
The Swatch Freeride World Tour Is Ready to Go
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by the North Face, and the action will go down on Mackenzie Peak at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Dubbed “Mac Daddy,” the face is a perfect venue for the best in the world. And, this year we actually get to see the best from all over. For years the North American-based Freeskiing World Tour and European-centric Freeride World Tour have run mutually exclusive contests during the winter, each crowning their own “World Champion” at the end of the season. This year, however, the tours have come together to create a unified world tour, aimed at pitting the best against each other and determining an indisputable World Champion in men’s and women’s big-mountain skiing and snowboarding.
The six-stop tour has handpicked venues throughout the world for big-mountain freeriding. In addition to this week’s Revelstoke comp, the FWT will stop on the Italian and French sides of the Mont Blanc in Courmayeur and Chamonix, in California’s Sierra Nevada at Kirkwood’s cliff-strewn Cirque, in the Tyrol Range where Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal exemplifies Austria’s terrain, and culminating in Switzerland at the infamous Bec de Rosses venue for the Swatch Xtreme Verbier.
Around 60 competitive big-mountain freeriders from all over the world have been posted up in Revy for about a week waiting for a weather window to run the contest. Just as the competitors started arriving, so did the snow. Upwards of three feet of snow has blanketed Revelstoke and set the “Mac Daddy” face up with insane conditions for Friday’s comp.
Among the competitors are TGR’s Griffin Post, Colter Hinchliffe and Ralph Backstrom.
Mackenzie Peak, the FWT venue, is just outside of the Revelstoke Mountain Resort Boundary. Photo via FWT.
“It has been snowing ever since we got here,” says Hinchliffe, who has been diligently icing and resting a banged up leg in the hopes of being able to compete. “Friday is supposed to be full-on bluebird, primo conditions. The fact that we’re waiting for the conditions to be right is going to make for a good show; it should be really sick.”
Post agrees: “It’s snowed probably two to three feet on the venue. If the snow locks up it should be all-time conditions.”
Relying strictly on a visual inspection — rather than being allowed to get into the venue to size-up airs, probe landings, and see first-hand what the conditions are like — athletes are constantly mulling over photographs of the “Mac Daddy” face to get familiar with the terrain and choose a line or determine a direction to head out of the start gate.
“There are two dramatically different options,” says Post. “Skier’s left is far more playful and flowy; whereas the skier’s right is more gnarly and exposed, it’s traditional big-mountain skiing. I’m pretty sure I’m headed skier’s left to get into some doubles and ski the less-exposed zone. I think the skier’s right is going to sluff super hard and with all of the new snow it is not the day I would want to ski it.”
“At this point I am doubtful rather than hopeful for Friday,” says Hinchliffe, “If I am feeling good Friday, though, I am looking at the skier’s right side of the venue, it’s exposed getting in but then there are a couple of nice features on the right side and that direction leaves a couple of options down low — a little roller or a third and fourth cliff. As far as the top, I’m looking to rip the face on the top and maybe find something to jump off.”
A skier gets deep in the fresh snow at Revelstoke. Photo: B. Long
With the merger of the North American and European tours, there are a lot of new names for fans US-based fans of big-mountain competitive skiing and snowboarding.
“The talent in men’s skiing is so deep,” says Post. “Pretty much every skier out there I’m excited to watch. There are younger guys who are super hungry and older, seasoned guys who are a little smarter. A few guys in particular are Sam Smoothy and Markus Eder, I always like watching Tabke, of course. It’s such a stacked field, it’s crazy how many really good skiers there are up here, and it’s anybody’s game.”
Hinchliffe shared his thoughts on the competition field.
“I am pretty stoked to see what Johnny Collinson is going to do out there," Hinchliffe said. "He seems to be feeling good right now, and he’s definitely not suffering from a leg injury. He’s been out there doing threes off of everything he can find. We’re on a similar wavelength. The standard Tabke show should be cool to watch, too. I’d like to see O’Meara kill it, I’m sure he will. I’m excited to see who pops up and who shines.”
Stay tuned for a recap of the comp.
Click Here To Watch A Live Stream Of The Event
Official Start List:Snowboard Men Last Name First Name Nationality Hometown Carlson Tim USA Stevens Pass Rodosky John USA Jackson Hole Badoux Emilien SUI Valais Alpes Van Helfteren Irian Holl Luebke Sammy USA Squaw Valley Rizzuto Jamie CAN Fernie Guillot-Diat Ludovic FRA Villard-de-Lans Annetts Matt USA Jackson Hole Charlet Jonathan FRA Chamonix Routens Aurelien FRA La Grave Rouge Joel SUI Alpes Vaudoises Backstrom Ralph USA Squaw Valley Orley Flo AUT Hochfugen Snowboard Women Last Name First Name Nationality Hometown Mouthon Anouck FRA La Clusaz Lucas Casey USA Kirkwood Yates Shannan USA Snowbird Mouthon Elodie FRA La Clusaz Rozies Margot FRA Pyrenees Bock Aline GER Innsbruck, Arlberg Lazzereschi Iris USA Squaw Valley Dewey Laura USA Snowbird Ski Men Last Name First Name Nationality Hometown Slemett Leo FRA Chamonix Mont-Blanc Lyons Charlie NZL Mt. Olympus Kappler Ryan CAN Revelstoke Coirier Adrien FRA Les Arcs Heitz Jeremie SUI Les Manecottes Gauthier Laurent CAN Whistler/Blackcomb Hinchliffe Colter USA Aspen, CO Salencon Nicolas ARG Bariloche Guri Kevin FRA Les Menuires Lindberg Willie SWE Rikgransen Post Griffin USA Jackson Hole Ducroz Aurelien FRA Chamonix Chickering-Ayers Silas USA Mad River Glen, VT Eder Markus ITA Klausberg Smoothy Sam NZL Treble Cone Lopez Julien FRA Tarentaise Tabke Drew USA Crystal Mountain Barkered Reine SWE Are, Sweden Hausl Stefan AUT Arlberg Michaud Seb FRA La Clusaz Collinson John USA Alta / Snow Bird Fornell Dani AND Ordino-Arcalis, Vallnord Nelson Luke CAN Fernie Ogilvie Benjamin CAN Fernie Haunholder Matthias AUT Fieberbrunn Daiek Josh USA Kirkwood Bijasson Mathieu FRA La Clusaz Collin Sean USA Squaw Valley O’Meara Kevin USA Squaw Valley Ski Women Last Name First Name Nationality Hometown Gundersen Pia Nic NOR Anstadblaheia Segal Natalie AUS Jackson Hole Slinning Anne May NOR Aalesund Wright Crystal USA Jackson Hole Walkner Eva AUT Dachstein Lercher Sonja CAN Blackcomb Paaso Jackie USA Squaw Valley Maxfield Ashley USA Jay Peak / Peak Hargin Christine SWE Ramundberget Wallner Nadine AUT Arlberg - Blog post
- 4 months ago
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The Pay Off - Sierra Storm Cha The Pay Off - Sierra Storm Chasing
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
The promise of precipitation was too much to ignore. A series of late November storms were lining up on the Pacific and barreling towards the Sierra Nevada. A lot of dialogue was swirling around about the systems, though, with everyone wondering, speculating, and predicting a full gamut of outcomes. Ranging from torrential rains up to 10,000 feet that could force the Tahoe communities to start from scratch, to rain at lake level foreshadowing copious amounts of blower above 7,000 feet. It seemed like every pow-starved skier and rider in Northern California fit one of two molds: Negative naysayer or eternal optimist.
For us, it was a worthwhile gamble on the last weekend of November. We knew full well that the potential rain would be a huge drag, forcing our crew to baton down the hatches of our West Shore cabin, watch football and drink whiskey in close quarters to pass the time, and ruminate and brood over what could have been. The other option that proved to be the impetus for us loading in the truck, weathering the pissing rain en route to Tahoe, and risking cabin fever can be summed up by one stat that had our heads spinning: The series of storms — if things lined up and it all came to a cold fruition — could drop as much as 100 inches on the Sierras.
It seemed like a no-brainer; we opted to head to Tahoe.
Friday afternoon was shit. Unrelenting rain followed us from Santa Cruz to Sacramento, but we held onto hope as we started climbing in elevation toward Donner Summit. If the temps started to drop as we climbed, the rain would turn to pow. But, as we crested Donner Pass, at 7,056 feet, the Truckee River raged with runoff and the thermometer on my dashboard read 36 degrees. That night was spent sipping on whiskey and hoping it was pounding up high.
Those predicting rain and a wet weekend nailed it for Saturday. We woke up early to check the snow reports, and drove to the base of Squaw hoping to see something different than what we read online. But, soaking wet tram operators greeted us in front of the closed tram doors. “Not today, guys,” they said beneath dripping hoods. “It’s snowing hard on top but the winds are too strong.”
So, biscuits and gravy in Rosie’s dining room — a Tahoe City institution — were followed immediately by IPAs at Rosie’s bar, which lead to pulling slots and playing cards at the Crystal Bay Casino. The precipitation didn’t stop, but neither did the winds. Kirkwood was spinning its chairs while getting buried by wet snow, but the chairlift-halting winds had most of Tahoe’s mountains in a holding pattern.
Finally, late Sunday morning the rain at lake level turned to heavy wet flakes that accumulated quickly. As the winds started pulling back in the late afternoon we pulled ourselves away from the slot machines and headed up to see what was happening at Mount Rose — the semi-secret hidden gem on the eastside of Lake Tahoe. With a base elevation of 8,260 feet, Rose offered a solid option to rectify the weekend and sample the snow. Skin tracks winding up to the Mount Rose backcountry were promising, 40-plus inches of fresh were sitting untracked on the mountain after two days of weather closure, and we decided to sit around one last night to see if Monday was a-go.
“That shift in weather on Sunday morning was very much expected,” said OpenSnow.com's Joel Gratz. “That was the cold front from the final storm that came through. That whole weekend event wasn’t one storm, but was a series of a few storms that drew a lot of moisture off the Pacific, which also drew a lot of warm air. That final storm was strong enough on Sunday morning to pull in colder air from the north. It just took a stronger storm, a stronger piece of energy, to drag that colder air down.”
As Mount Shasta was getting buried beneath 18 feet of snow, our guys called in sick to work on Monday. It proved to be a solid decision.
From Squaw to Mount Rose, the lift lines were sparse on Monday morning. Most of the pow-hungry masses were either at work or just over the weekend’s waiting game. But, Monday proved to be an all-time, early-winter day for the patient few whose priorities are straight.
Storm totals of 42 inches on the upper mountain at Squaw and 45 mid-winter inches blanketed Mount Rose, and bluebird skies sat over all of Lake Tahoe. The waiting game proved to be a war of attrition, but Monday’s conditions rewarded the patient.
What’s this mean looking forward and for everyone in Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho?
“There’s a difference between an individual storm and a general weather pattern. What happened last weekend in Tahoe was a series of individual storms, but what were tracking now is an overall change in the weather pattern,” Gratz said. “The storm pattern is going to shift to a different orientation which should hopefully bring in colder air for more areas and give some new areas a better chance to see snow. That’s not a guarantee that we’ll see big snowstorms, but at least it sets us up for the PNW, the northern Rockies, and down into Utah and Colorado to have better chances of consistent storms over the next few weeks. That’s the key: consistent cold storms. Some might be big and some might be small, but at least we’ll have [storms] every couple of days, which is the most important part when considering good powder skiing.”
So, here’s to hoping that all of our communal patience pays off this winter just like it did for us in Tahoe last weekend, because my body can’t handle much more waiting-game whiskey and my wallet definitely cannot take one more hand of “maybe-tomorrow-will-be-blower” blackjack.
It was a bluebird pow day at Mt. Rose on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012.
Is that a Soul Pole?
Cutting a rug at Mt. Rose.
Pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffttt.
Vapor trails.
What it's all about. 
Pretty much crushing it at Squaw Valley early December 2012.
This is what winter looks like.
Straighten up and fly right. 
Time to track the living shit out of this. 
And now we can all breathe a sigh of relief, winter is here.
Don't Miss Out On Another Storm, Stay Up To Date On Snowfall In The TGR SnowLab - Blog post
- 5 months ago
- Views: 156
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Opening Day 2012 At Aspen Moun Opening Day 2012 At Aspen Mountain
- From: aspensnowmass
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Description:
Snowmass and Aspen Mountain opened for the 2012-2013 season today with bluebird skies and soft groomed runs. Thankful skiers and snowboarders were all smiles on Opening Day.
Click Here To Watch More Aspen Snowmass Videos - 6 months ago
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Behind The Scenes - Corbet's C Behind The Scenes - Corbet's Couloir
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
In March of 2012, Teton Gravity Research filmed a segment for The Dream Factory on the most challenging in-bounds run in the United States – the infamous Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. On a bluebird day, the TGR crew put together what may be the heaviest session to have ever gone down on this run riddled with history. John Spriggs kicks off the session with a giant back flip, Griffin Post sends the West Wall, 13-year-old Daniel Tisi airs it bigger than most grown men ever have, Matt Phillipi spins a giant 360, Max Hammer throws a huge switch 180 and local Jeff Ledger does his signature front flip. There’s no doubt about it, this session was “all-time.”
Behind The Scenes – Corbet’s Couloir is a DVD extra from Teton Gravity Research’s newest film, The Dream Factory.
Go To The Dream Factory Film Page
Watch More Teton Gravity Research Web Videos - 7 months ago
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News: 2012 World Heli Challeng News: 2012 World Heli Challenge Now Under Way In New Zealand
- From: media-75233
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Description:
Wanaka, New Zealand – The 2012 World Heli Challenge is currently going down in Mt. Aspiring National Park, New Zealand. The event brings fifty of the world's best athletes together to compete in a big-mountain freeriding showdown. Venues are only accessible by helicopter and include skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers.
On August 16, scores will be combined from Freeride Day and Extreme Day to determine the best overall athletes. The photos herein were taken by Tony Harrington, avid extreme skier and founder of the event, during the freestyle competition that was held on the event's first blue-bird day.
Athlete Roster:
Skiers
Breeze Bohl, AUS
Conrad Lucas, AUS
Finn Bilous, NZL
George Pengelly, NZL
Hank Bilous, NZL
Harry Giddings, NZL
Jacqui Edgerly, USA
Jake Bohl, AUS
Joe Webster, GBR
Markus Eder, ITA
Mitch Reeves, AUS
Natalie Segal, AUS
Neil Williman, NZL
Sam Smoothy, NZL
Sandra Lahnsteiner, AUT
Victoria Beattie, AUS
Nick Devore, USA, Telemarker
Snowboarders
Abby Lockhart, NZL
Antti Autti, FIN
Drayden Gardner, USA
Jake Koia, NZL
Jett Elkins, USA
JJ Thomas, USA
Luke Staveley, AUS
Maria Kuzma, NZL
Quentin Robbins, NZL
Ratty Sheidow, AUS
Shin Biyajima, JPN
Will Jackways, NZL
Yuta Kiyohara, JPN
- Blog post
- 9 months ago
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Norway: Shredding Fjords And F Norway: Shredding Fjords And Fjells With Molly Baker
- From: brigidmander
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Description:
Molly Baker enjoys apres skiing on yachts in Norway.
Words and photos by Brigid Mander.
We put skins on in the drizzle on the side of the road, between the mountain and the fjord in Tromsø. Thick fog was above us; more than anything, I did not want to go skiing. There were no excuses, though — on a trip to Norway to ski with Molly Baker, we were going skiing.
Having seen the pictures and the edits and the movie segments over the last few years, we still didn’t know exactly what to expect when we first arrived in the Lyngen Alps. We were on our own program using topographic maps to find lines, climb mountains and ski.
If you lived in Tromsø, Norway, you'd ski that mountain after work. Five bucks if you know how to pronounce the ø in Tromsø. ... Alright, it sounds a lot like saying Tromso, except say it like you're getting punched in the stomach by a viking.
Norway’s continued appearance in ski and snowboard media over the last few years highlights its powder, pillows, AK-style descents and universe of accessible big mountain lines jutting up from the fjords. Here, in the land of ski touring and 24-hour sunlight, we learned you get what you give.
What you get might be the unexpected. A few hours after our rain soaked start, Molly and I were sitting in an apres-ski bar in Tromsø, relishing $12 beers 200 miles north of the Arctic circle, new friends, and were utterly stoked: our gamble in the rain turned out be a unforgettable descent in powder, under pink light at nearly 11 p.m.
Skiing off summits around midnight is pretty standard in Norway.
Of course, despite surging skier interest in the country, skiing is not so much a pastime in Norway as an intrinsic part of life and heritage — this is, after all, where people have been skiing for thousands of years and modern skiing originated. Every day we were blown away by the ski tracks slathered, up, down, all over so many peaks, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, there are many,easy to reach peaks to get after it on, and always fresh lines.
With no resorts to speak of nearby, and heli-skiing not allowed (unless by special permit), fitness and motivation are the keys to getting the goods. If you have a good crew, you can just slay peaks and couloirs, as many as you have energy for — one reason why Molly, fresh off a busy couple trips touring in BC for some magazine stories and filming at Icefall Lodge with Sweetgrass, was a perfect trip partner.
The ski route down to $12 beers.
We had spent the first week crammed into a cabin on a 46-foot sailboat by Boreal Yachting, which dropped us at icy beaches under peaks we wanted to ski. Access by boat can be key — the fjords reach in and snake around so much spectacular terrain. It explains the growing popularity of the ski/sail trip, by companies like Boreal in the Lyngen region or Ice Axe Expeditions on Norway’s Svalbard Island.
After the boat, we hit the road, driving to our starting points. Near the end of our trip, we found ourselves on top of a quintessential peak, Storstalpan, with an ethereal blue sea stretching north, spiky white peaks to the sides, and, under us technical summit descent followed by a couple thousand feet of fresh powder to a beachy finish.
In Norway, life's a beach.
“When you get a good day, the way the terrain is set up, and the views, a bluebird powder day is almost better than anything else – it’s so unique,” observed Molly, as we discussed a return trip before we even left.
You get what you put into it in Norway, indeed.
Getting embedded in the local culture, Molly Baker enjoys a dried fish stick in Norway. - Blog post
- 11 months ago
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Arapahoe Basin Closes for the Arapahoe Basin Closes for the 2011-2012 Season Sunday, May 6
- From: media-75233
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Description:
Arapahoe Basin, CO – Arapahoe Basin Ski Area will close for the 2011-2012 ski season this Sunday, May 6, 2012. As hard as the staff has tried to keep the ski area open through May, unseasonably warm weather and lack of snowfall has brought the ski season to an early end.
“This was a very tough decision. Sometimes Mother Nature tells us it is time and, sadly, it is time to close,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin COO. The season did have its high points with bluebird skies and an early opening. A-Basin had one of its earliest openings on record on October 13, 2011 and by Sunday will have been open for 207 days.
Join us at the Basin this weekend for a final weekend party. On Saturday, May 5, take part in the Huck, Rock and Roll slopestyle event in the Treeline Terrain Park beginning at 10:00 a.m. Compete for a chance to win cash prizes, sponsor gear and a RAMP snowboard. John Truscelli and the Stolen Band will begin their free concert at 1:00 p.m. in the base area. A-Basin will also be holding a luau and pig roast on Saturday. On Sunday, enjoy live music in the base area from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and get your last turns in on the slopes.
Arapahoe Basin will be holding its inaugural Chili Festival on Saturday, May 19 and its Festival of the Brewpubs on May 27, 2012 with free live music in the base area. A full calendar of summer events are also planned. For more information on A-Basin events and closing day weekend, please visit the website www.arapahoebasin.com or call 1-888-ARAPAHOE.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 215
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