193 Search Results for "la"

• Sony Eye of the Condor 3 Previ Sony Eye of the Condor 3 Preview

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    EYE OF THE CONDOR 3 from La Parva on Vimeo.

    The final chapter of the saga comes to fruition for its third and final year. Ski La Parva is thrilled to announce that it will once again be host to the annual Sony Eye of the Condor – a weeklong film and photo competition set high in the heart of the Andes.

     

    This year’s event will showcase teams of skiers and snowboarders hailing from around the world August 2 - August 9. Discrete Headwear, and Icelantic Skis are among some of the teams returning but the competition will also feature some exciting new faces that will be making a first time appearance for the events third and final year. With all-star alumni featuring icons such as Andy Mahre, Pep Fujas, Sean Pettit, Tanner Rainville, Ingrid Backstrom, Rachael Burks, Seth Morrison, Chris Davenport, and more, you never know who will show up this year.

     

    “Sony Eye of the Condor has been such an important event to us the past several years, and we would love to see more events with this format, but all good things must come to an end and we have decided to put this trilogy to rest and look forward to what is next. To those teams out there thinking about making the trip this year, I am going to make you an offer you can’t refuse!” says La Parva Director of Marketing and Sales Rodrigo Medina.

     

    In addition to the competition, which will award cash prizes to the best video and photography portfolios, Sony Eye Of The Condor will present its annual forum discussions led by industry leaders examining the role action sports and media play in our society at large.

     

    The week of festivities will culminate in the booming metropolis of Santiago Chile for the second annual iF3 La Parva/Chile (International Freeskiing Film Festival). The film festival will play host to the Sony Eye of The Condor awards and will include a celebration of the global Freeskiing film community, complete with athlete autograph sessions, film screenings, vendors, and live music.

     

    The winning films and photos from Sony Eye of The Condor will be showcased not only in Santiago but also around the globe at the other iF3 events, including Montreal, Quebec; Annecy France; and Innsbruck, Austria.

     

    Eye of the Condor is presented with the support of Sony. Please address press and other inquiries to La Parva Team eotc3@laparva.cl

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• Viva La Vie By Arc'teryx Viva La Vie By Arc'teryx

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    American climber, Jonathan Siegrist, embarks on a journey to France to pay tribute to the roots of modern sport climbing. After teaming up with Swiss superstar, Nina Caprez, the two climb the hardest routes the Verdon Gorge has to offer. Shortly thereafter, they stumble upon the greater meaning of climbing when they were least looking for it.
    
    3 Strings Productions
    Directed by: Andy Mann & Keith Ladzinski
    Edited by: Andy Mann & Scott Neel
    Produced by: 3 Strings Productions
    
    

  • 5 days ago
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• Through the Lens: Jason Thomps Through the Lens: Jason Thompson

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:
    Words by Kim Havell and Jason Thompson
    Images by Jason Thompson
    
    
    Upon graduating from Montana State University in 2004, photographer Jason Thompson joined Big Sky’s Ski Patrol and also worked as a mountain guide in Washington and Alaska, steadily building a career in adventure photography. His focus is on creating skiing and climbing imagery that captures the essence of action adventure.
    
    
    With a style that Thompson describes as “raw and unposed”, he strives for simplicity. His images are the product of his lifestyle, telling stories inspired by nature, adventure, and the human experience. At twelve years of age, Thompson decided to pursue photography with an old-school Olympus camera. He took photography classes in high school while shooting action photos of skiing, backpacking, and soccer.
    
    
    
    
    
    Thompson is currently on an expedition to University Peak in Alaska with friend and ski partner, Forrest Coots. When asked about Thompson, Coots shares, “JT has a strong skill set built from years of guiding. He is comfortable climbing and skiing big lines, while also shooting, which allows him to capture that raw-feeling. His images reflect his travels through the mountains via ice climbing and ski mountaineering in iconic locations around the world.” 
    
    
    
    
    The Start—Insights from Jason
    As a kid, I was drawn to the mountains and loved the winter months. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I was exposed to some of the finest mountain terrain in the lower 48. The Olympic Mountains served as my launching point for adventuring as well as capturing the escapades with my camera. The Washington experience extended from childhood through high school. 
    
    
    A high school friend gave me a flyer for Montana State University. That was the first time I realized the power of marketing; there was a skier on the front page of the flyer. I was sold. I had also seen many of Kris Erickson's pictures and read many of Hans Saari's words. It was an easy move to a place where two creative adventurers that I had looked up to had made their home base. In the fall of 1999, I moved to Bozeman, without ever having been there, two days before classes started. Five years later I graduated with a degree in photography. The community in Bozeman welcomed me and it’s been home ever since. 
    
    
    
    
    Breaking Through
    For me, the photography process has more been a series of ups and downs with a continual ebb and flow. There have also been great moments that have provided me with bigger surges. 
    
    
    In 2008, Tyler Jones, Seth Waterfall, and I received a Hans Saari Ski Exploration grant for a trip to Mount Shkhara in the Republic of Georgia, located in the Svaneti Region. I had to plan a major trip from a climbing/skiing perspective as well as from a photography perspective. It was a great learning exercise. The expedition was powerful for the three of us, visiting a place that we knew little about. It left a mark on me in my young photography career.
    
    
    In issue #36 of Alpinist Magazine I had a double page spread. The article, written by Joe Josephson, was about ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon here in Bozeman, Montana. I was humbled and thrilled at this incredible opportunity to be involved.
    
    
    
    
    
    Inspiration
    During my junior year of university, Kris Erickson came in and gave a talk to my photography business class. It was groundbreaking for me. I remember being blown away by the images he was showing, the adventures he had been on, and the people and places he had seen. It was an inspiring forty minutes for me. I remember thinking that, yep, I could do that for work. 
    
    
    Since then I have had a chance to get to know Kris better. The insight he provided that day and since then has motivated me to follow suit in many ways and has helped me to carefully evaluate how I mold and shape my photography and my brand.  I have heard Kris mention so many nuggets of wisdom over the years. When I used to shoot slides, I built myself a light table, made of out of cheap plywood and plexiglass. I would write quotes or ideas that I had heard which inspired me or had caused me to take pause. Some of my favorite nuggets written on that light table were from Kris. I wish I had kept that light table—somewhere during the many moves I lost it.
    
    
    
    
    Safety
    I have always wanted to be a photographer and that has always been my number one goal. But, I tactically decided early on to pursue ski patrolling and guiding in order to give me a solid foundation of management, in particular from a safety standpoint. I heard Will Gadd explain his philosophy and outlook on life as a “positive, negative outlook.” Meaning, the universe is out to kill us. As Will put it, if you get hit with that piece of ice that is your fault. No one else can be blamed for that. He preached personal responsibility. I agree.
    
    
    
    
    
    As a ski patroller at Big Sky Ski Resort, I learned a lot over the years about avalanches and helping others with medical incidents and avalanche mitigation. I also started mountain guiding, spending time in the Alaska Range and on Mt Rainier.
    
    
    
    
    I have a very open dialogue with athletes with whom I am shooting. Safety is number one. Just because there is a camera does not mean that you have to accept a risk that you wouldn't normally take. The industry trend is to make everything look very sexy. Often times the careful calculations are not shown or exposed. That is one of the things I want to bring to the table as a photographer. Showing the process of how the hazard is being evaluated and what steps are being taken in order to minimize “our” exposure to that risk or hazard. 
    
    
    
    
    
    The Creative Process
    The creative visual process has only begun to take shape in the vertical terrain. I think that we have just seen the beginning. As a visual adventure artist I try and pre-visualize how an athlete will ski a certain line or climb a certain line. I use the athlete as my brush stroke on a blank canvas to generate the exclamation point to the already stunning landscape. 
    
    
    Hans Saari stated this idea beautifully: “ The vibrancy of the line means everything. Like a cello, there is no sound until the string is taut. The more you struggle, the tighter the string, the greater the music.” 
    
    
    
    The Business
    With the current status of the industry, it takes creativity to approach the visual side of things and to see things from new angles. If I use a business model that my mentors used previously, chances are that I probably will not last too long in this industry. 
    
    
    The digital age has shifted many things. But, I believe that relationships propel us forward. It’s the human connection. As a viewer of images, you are drawn to the content that captures that soul. One of the quotes that I had written on my plywood light table twelve years ago was from Kris Erickson—“It’s about the relationships.“ 
    
    
    
    
    
    Just like any business that is starting out, a plan of action has to be put into place. Still, taking that first step into the unknown is still probably one of the biggest adventures upon which I have embarked. But just like climbing or skiing a big objective, after the first few pitches your nerves calm down. I have been able to realize that “yeah, I can do this.” It’s something that you have to commit to. It’s a lifestyle. Creative artists pour their lives into doing what makes them passionate. 
    
    
    
    
    Partnerships
    Time spent with friends exploring and adventuring inspires me the most. I've found a greater personal joy in the expedition style shooting versus the one-day shoots. It is a chance to get to know my subjects in greater detail and see more of their personalities shine.
    
    
    
    
    
    There are several folks with whom I really love working:
    
    
    - Ice climber Andres Marin has been a great friend of mine for a very long time. His energy is contagious. Andres has a drive for perfection and professionalism that is very admirable.
    
    
    - Forrest Coots and I met for the first time while in Chile during the fall of 2011 on a ski trip. We meshed right away. I enjoy Forrest's desire to take trips to places that require some thoughtful planning. Forrest and I have sat in our tents during storms and shoot texts back and forth dreaming about trips and different ideas that spark our passions for skiing in the mountains.
    
    
    - Tyler Jones and I met in 2005 while we were guiding for the same company. Tyler has since gone on to finish his AMGA guiding certifications as the youngest American to complete the process. His meticulous attention to detail is somewhat astonishing. Tyler is one of my best friends. From the Republic of Georgia, Montana, Alaska and La Grave, our mountain time has played a huge role in our friendship. I've learned a ton from Tyler in regards to hazard mitigation.
    
    
    - I was recently on a shoot with Conrad Anker. His vision, dedication and outlook on life is inspiring. He would prefer to talk about his new route the “Nutcracker” than talk about his last summit on Everest without oxygen. His psych for climbing is contagious, his energy transcends generations, his talents are inspiring to watch, and his mentorship helps many. Conrad never stops learning and he is a proponent for adaptation. That’s just rad. 
    
    
    
    
    The Future of the Industry
    I believe the future involves a lot of creative collaboration. Sharing ideas and collaborating can be very rewarding. It will most likely evolve and morph on a much larger scale. I know of some climbing projects that are in the works based on wide scale submissions from climbers willing to submit content from a whole season’s worth of footage from one location. So instead of one or even five filmers being involved, there will be fifty contributing work. 
    
    
    
    Career Highlights
    - Every year I make a little more money than the previous year as a photographer.
    
    
    - Having my first image published in a Patagonia catalog and then having them re-license it for a store display in the Seattle store—that was a goal of mine that year and it felt really good to nail it. 
    
    
    - Being awarded the Hans Saari Ski Exploration Grant for a Ski trip to Mt Shkhara in the Republic of Georgia. 
    
    
    - Double page spread in Alpinist Magazine #36
    
    
    - The moment I realized that I actually had an audience that was listening to me and actively following my work. It was a moment that shifted my mindset and challenged me to work even harder. It wasn't just my mom who was looking at my pictures anymore. 
    
    
    - Being asked to give a talk at Montana State University in the same business photography class in which I had heard Kris Erickson give his talk. 
    
    
    - The friends I have made and the many interesting people that I have been fortunate to meet over the years because of photography. 
    
    
    - Being invited on the Cerro Castillo ski trip in Patagonia with Drew Stoecklein, Chuck “The Pit Viper King” Mumford and Forrest Coots to work on and create the short film “Take The Ride.”
    
    
    To view more of Jason's work, drop into http://www.jthompsonphotography.com
    
    
    
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• 5 Awesome Apres Skiing Bars in 5 Awesome Apres Skiing Bars in North America

  • From: kenholden
  • Description:

    
    No day on the slopes is complete without a little after-party. Apres skiing is by no means a new concept, but it’s something that can turn even the worst conditions into an epic day. Every now and again, we’ll come across gems, some hidden and some not-so-hidden, that were simply meant to complete your trip to a specific resort.
    
    Homewood Resort - Big Blue View
    Sometimes, simplicity does it best. This small resort on the west side of Lake Tahoe offers one of the finest views in California and Nevada. New to the resort is the Big Blue View bar. Head up the Madden Chair on the northern portion of the resort, and look for the bright blue chairs and listen for the reggae beats. It might not be the greatest spot when the snow is dumping, but it’s going to be perfect for the blue bird and spring snow days. As most visitors will claim, the view overlooking Lake Tahoe from the Big Blue View is probably the best one of any Tahoe resort.
    
    
    
    Mammoth Lakes – Clocktower Cellar Pub
    Whiskey and skiing go together like peanut butter and jelly. While it’s not the easiest venue to find among the vast Mammoth Lakes village, it’s worth taking the time to look for it. The Clocktower Cellar Pub is a small basement bar, a far cry from the usual large restaurants and nightclubs that surround the world-famous ski resort. What attracts us to this specific bar is the exhaustive list of more than 100 whiskies from around the world. A few samplings and you’ll love the feel of this smaller bar, complete with a juke box for your après skiing entertainment. Make sure to ask the bartender about their personal favorites, you might get a taste of a secret stash not available on the menu.
    
    
    
    Mont Tremblant – Microbrasserie La Diable
    For the microbrew lover, good beer is hard to come by. As ski resorts grow and streamline their operations, the microbrew always seems to take a backseat. Fortunately, for the lovers of the Tremblant Ski Resort, you’ll never have to worry about that with the Microbrewery La Diable. Whether you’re just grabbing an après ski beer, or want the 20-minute tour, free samples of each beer are readily available. They usually have six or seven beers readily on tap for your eclectic pleasure, and the lounge-style jazz music makes it one of the most relaxing joints in the area.
    
    Still look at Apres ski when your vacation is over?  Check out this amazing Apres Ski wall art from Amazon.com
    
    
    
    Vail, Colorado – Garfinkel’s Restaurant & Bar
    When you’re done on these epic slopes, head down the Eagle Bahn Gondola and into the Lionshead to find Garfinkel’s. Trust us, you can’t miss it. This bar and restaurant is enormous, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. This place isn’t for the quiet-time après skiing, but for those who want to party well into the evening. With more than 20 different bottles and drafts, a full lineup of signature cocktails, and a menu spread that’s sure to please any palette, there are no bad days here. If you’re in the area, their New Year’s Eve party is one of the finest of any ski resort in North America.
    
    
     
    Killington, Vermont – McGrath’s Irish Pub
    For the lovers of Guiness out there, perhaps your ski priorities should be on the bars in the area. While the Wobbly Bar in Killington always seems to take the mainstream cake, the Irish lovers out there should detour to McGrath’s Irish Pub. This small Irish joint takes pride in serving Guiness the way it was meant to be…perfect. The owner is always out and about making sure that everyone is enjoying their selection from one of the best Irish menus on the east coast. In the summertime, McGrath’s only gets better. The parking lot is also a lot for some of the best trailheads, making it the perfect place to start and end your visit to Killington.
    
    Plenty of skiing and riding left in the season, in fact March is the best time to Apre and shred pow.  Save big when you book your lift tickets online through Liftopia.com

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• Mont Tremblant – Microbrasseri Mont Tremblant – Microbrasserie La Diable

  • From: kenholden
  • Description:
    Mont Tremblant – Microbrasserie La Diable
  • 3 months ago
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• News: Large Snow Storm Slams I News: Large Snow Storm Slams Into Southern Colorado

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    Colorado skiers and riders are heading south in search of pow and finding it big time at the Wolf Creek Ski Area and Silverton Mountain, where winter has returned.
    
    Winter weather slammed the Wolf Creek Ski Area in Southern Colorado dropping 42“ of powder in 4 days. While Silverton Mountain picked up another 48” of fresh snow. 
    
    Southern Colorado seems to be favoring the current La Nina weather patterns especially the Wolf Creek Ski Area which has received 197“ of snow this season. Known for having one of the lowest lift ticket prices in Colorado, great terrain and lack of crowds Wolf Creek is a powder skier or riders dream come true.

     

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• Freeride World Tour Heads To C Freeride World Tour Heads To Chamonix For Stop No. 3

  • From: gregfitzsimmons
  • Description:

    The Swatch Freeride World Tour By The North Face venue in Chamonix, France.
    
    The third stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face will go down on Saturday, January 26, in Chamonix, France. And, as has been the fortunate circumstance of the newly unified FWT so far this season, Chamonix’s conditions and terrain are primed for a great show.
    
    The Alps will have hosted 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. Prior to settling down in the French hub of freeriding, the second stop of the FWT went down last week on the rocky and steep venue in Courmayeur. The male field of ski and snowboard competitors battled it out during the event in Italy.
    
    
    A recap video of FWT stop No. 2 in Courmayeur, Italy.
    
    Courmayeur recap:
    
    With deep pow underfoot, blue skies over head, the south side of the Mont Blanc as the backdrop, and Courmayeur’s gnarly 1,200-foot Tête d’Arp as the venue, the male competitors—33 skiers and 15 riders—laid it down. The Tête d’Arp terrain offered something for every approach to competitive big-mountain skiing and riding. With a technical, rocky top section out of the start gate, a playful mini-golf zone down the ridge, and steep chutes to air into and link up, the venue allowed for full-tilt chargers and park-inspired jibbers to do their thing.
    
    In the end, Italian big-mountain-jibber Markus Eder posted the highest score of the day in front of his home crowd. Eder opted for the playful mini-golf zone off the ridge and laced high-speed turns before lofting a huge, sleepy, left-side three in an exposed section. Eder managed to throw a backie and make some switch pow turns, too. His blend of big-mountain blasting up high and playful tricks on the lower portion earned him a score of 89.67 and the top spot with the men.
    
    “I’m stoked with my line,” said Eder. “I hoped to be on the podium but to win is really fantastic.” 
    
    Swiss skier Jérémie Heitz has gotten comfortable on the podium this season, with consecutive second place finishes at the first two stops of the FWT. The consistent skiing from Heitz means he’ll be donning the yellow jersey in Chamonix, which denotes the overall tour leader. Heitz is quickly making a name for himself for his charging, fall-line approach and patented high-speed doubles. So far, Heitz’s insanely fast runs have left spectators spinning and has forced judges to go back to a replay because both of his technical runs have taken place in a flash.
    
    Sweden’s Reine Barkered, last year’s overall FWT Champion, rounded out the skiing podium in Italy. Other highlights included Julien Lopez’s all-or-nothing approach. Lopez was the last skier to drop into Tête d’Arp, and rather than playing it safe and keeping his line to his feet, the “Flying Frenchman” pointed ’em. Unfortunately, Lopez lost control and took about 10 high-speed tomahawks down about 300-vertical-feet of the venue; fortunately, Lopez didn’t bang himself up and walked away to collect his “yard-saled” gear. (Check out the footage of Lopez’s crash; it’s full-on!)
    
    On the snowboard side, Frenchman Aurélien Routens snagged his first FWT win ever. Routens nuked through the venue with a fast, clean run that included a few exposed airs at the top steep section. Routens capped off the winning run with a sick straight line at the bottom, earning a score of 83.67.
    
    “It’s very emotional for me to win here,” said Routens. “It’s the first time I take the first step of the podium at a FWT stop. I was just riding as I am used to ride in my hometown La Grave. It’s a nice surprise and I am super happy.”
    
    Jackson Hole’s John Rodosky’s creative line garnered him a second place finish with a score of 78.67. Rodosky found a handful of cool natural terrain features to throw his freestyle tricks. Swiss Emilien rounded out the Snowboard podium.
    
    
    The Swatch Freeride World Tour By The North Face Stop No. 3 preview video.
    
    Chamonix preview:
    
    Now, after the short commute through the Mont Blanc Tunnel—or the ski to Chamonix via the world-renowned Vallée Blanche that a few athletes opted for to get from Courmayeur, Italy to downtown Chamonix, France—the field of male skiers and riders have met up with the female competitors for this weekend’s comp in Cham.
    
    The third event will go down on Saturday, January 26 and there will be a live feed of the contest on TetonGravity.com. Due to snow conditions, the FWT had to change the venue to La Flégère at the top of the Index lift. And, the venue looks sweet.
    
    On the men’s skiing side, you always have to tune in to watch Tabke, Chamonix local and past champ Aurélien Ducroz, Sweden’s Reine Barkered, and New Zealand’s Sam Smoothy. But, a few other names to take note of are current obviously overall FWT leader Jérémie Heitz, American skier Lars Chickering-Ayers, Zermat-based mountain guide/pro skier Sam Anthamatten, and Utah’s Oakley White Allen; all four bring a similar fall-line strategy to the Chamonix venue that could easily be rewarded by the judges—if they stay upright.
    
    Jackson Hole’s longtime competitive skier Jess McMillan has made the trip to Cham to compete against reigning FWT overall champion Christine Hargin, and the rest of the women’s field. (I’d bet the house on McMillan, she’s talented, strong, and a seasoned competitive skier.)
    
    You’d be a fool to overlook Chamonix local Xavier de Le Rue and Squaw’s Ralph Backstrom during the Men’s Snowboard contest. Both have had a lot of success in Chamonix and could be interchangeable atop the podium if they stand their lines up. Lastly, Margot Rozies and Elodie Mouthon—the two women from France that finished second and third, respectively, in Revy—are ready to represent their country in Cham when Saturday’s event gets going.
    
    CLICK HERE to watch the event live on Saturday Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. CET (that's 1 a.m. MST).
    
    And, check out the #FWT13 hashtag on Twitter for updates.

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• Through The Lens Of Jim Harris Through The Lens Of Jim Harris

  • From: kimhavell
  • Description:

    Chris Davenport skis a chute in Antarctica. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    “Through The Lens” is a regular column on TetonGravity.com that highlights the work of a photographer in the ski and snowboard industries. The series exists to celebrate the photographers who bring us extraordinary imagery, to get to know who they are, and to understand their process.
    
    Jim Harris is a TGR success story. An athlete with an artistic eye and a photographer of great strength and perseverance, Jim hit the big time from an unlikely start. Through honest and thoughtful posts on the TGR web forums, Jim unwittingly developed a huge following and grabbed the attention of industry players. Proving himself time and time again in the field and at the computer, Jim has photographs, stories, and drawings featured across varied media spots, print and online, in the world of adventure sport. He is humble, adventurous, and bright, and gets things done.
    
    Jim has been behind the lens for Sweetgrass Productions, Powderwhore Productions, Camp4Collective, First Ascent, Powder Magazine and more. From scaling 20,000-foot peaks in Bolivia to descending steep couloirs in Antarctica to negotiating a pack raft down Alaskan rivers, this motivated talent keeps at it as he proves that with heart and hard work, success will be a reality.
    
    Jim’s sincere and straight-up approach resonates with his audiences. Follow his creative journeys as “GnarWhale” on TGR and as Perpetual Weekend online at his Blog, Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter sites. www.perpetualweekend.com
    
    Forrest McCarthy melts water at a ridge line campsite as a storm rolls in. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    The Start.
    
    I was first interested in photography when I was a kid playing with this all-metal Nikormat that my dad had brought back from Japan a decade or two before I was born. I didn’t develop a twitchy shutter button finger until I was around 16 and started documenting the graffiti scene where I grew up. Looking back at those boxes of prints, I was pretty much just mechanically recording ephemeral art. A few years later I extracted myself from that scene by moving to Montana where I enrolled in Wildlife Biology and Fine Art courses. The blend of planning, creativity, daring, and community that made the street art scene compelling also runs through mountain culture. It didn’t take but a few weeks in Montana before I began pointing my camera at people on mountains.
    
    Studying Wildlife Biology seemed like a good route to finding a job that combined adventure with critical thinking, plus I was good at plant and animal identification. An empirical science education has proved to be a good framework for learning about the world, even though I never took up wearing one of those flat-brim Smokey hats. The fine art courses were just for kicks, but I regret missing the memo that my university had a Photo Journalism school.
    
    Andrew McLean skis the Chugach Mountains in Alaska. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    TGR.
    
    While I’d been registered on TetonGravity.com’s message board for years, I rarely visited until I moved to the Wasatch Mountains in 2007 and discovered it offered a way to meet backcountry touring partners. Then I began posting photos of ski tours and that led to invites on more missions. One of those photo essays prompted Gordy Peifer to offer me a spot on one of his Straightline Advenutures Ski Camps, and another trip report garnered an invite to shoot with Powderewhore Productions in Alaska. That AK trip, in turn, resulted in my first print-published words and photos (Powder Magazine 40.1 “Beast out of the Earth”). Then I won a TGR and Smith Optics photo contest where the prize was an Ice Axe Expeditions ski cruise to Antarctica.
    
    I was sharing just for the sake of sharing and that idealism struck a chord with people. If I suddenly couldn’t sell photos and stories about the sort of trips I like to take, I’d be okay going right back to doing them just for the intrinsic rewards.
    
    Hi-fives with Andrew McLean after discovering and skiing a rad chute in the Wrangell Mountains of Alaska. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    Inspiration.
    
    Media-makers who also are high-performance athletes hold a role I admire. Photographers who can climb and ski alongside top athletes are the ones who, most often I think, bring back something insightful to share.
    
    Galen Rowell about tops my list of “photographers I wish had reincarnated as me.”
    
    Christian Pondella has crafted a career shooting photos with skis on his pack, an ice axe in one hand and that shines through in his photos.
    
    The Camp 4 Collective team brings boots-on-the-ledge perspective to their productions and it’s apparent in the art and illustrations of Renan Ozturk, Jeremy Collins and Adam Haynes.
    
    Leslie Anthony writes with legitimacy in his words and Fitz Cahall’s Dirtbag Diaries carry that too.
    
    What all of them have in common is this gonzo journalism approach where, because they can hang athletically, they’re able to convey a first-person narrative that offers candid, humanizing insights into the lives of super-human athletes.
    
    On the business side, I admire the people who help others to create content in our ski media ecosystem. When done well, enabling other peoples’ creativity is good for one’s own income. The TGR Forums empowered me and I hope the web ad revenue more than pays for the server space.
    
    Photographers Adam Barker and Chase Jarvis both open source some of their knowledge via web interviews and tutorials. They’re investing their knowledge in aspirant photographers while legitimizing their expertise at the same time. It’s both altruistic and shrewd.
    
    Sunrise on Illimani, Bolivia, while the city of La Paz still sleeps. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    The Challenge.
    
    I want to be a really good storyteller. Sometimes when I speak, my thoughts branch into a tangent, then a tangent of that, until I’m caught in a spiraling fractal of storylines and everyone has stopped listening. So it takes some intention for me to spin a story well. Photo essays keep me on point and the narrative jogging along.
    
    At some heady level, wilderness adventure stories like the ones I want to tell are another variant of Joe Campbell’s monomyth: the hero marches off into the wild, conquers something untamable, perhaps then realizes that the real conquest happened inside his or her head, and then returns home to share the new wisdom.
    
    My challenge is that I don’t want to just tell those stories but want to actually watch them unfold too. Going up and down difficult mountains with interesting people carves as close to living that myth as I know how to get.
    
    Alan Schwer hops down a steep ski line at 19,000 feet on Volcan Pomarape, Bolivia. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    The Business.
    
    The business-side of working as a self-employed creative is a murky learning curve. There’s no roadmap to “making it” and even things as dry as sending photos for an editor to review turn out to involve diplomatic maneuvering. Many working photographers will tell you that your photos are only valuable if you keep ‘em squirreled away, unseen by anyone but the editor, right until they appear in print. While I see the wisdom in that approach, the only reason I’m paid to take photos now is because I’ve enjoyed sharing pictures in the past. So, I’ve continued to post photos on TGR, though I’ve become more strategic about sharing.
    
    The ski photo world is a tough one to find recognition in, in part because much of it has fallen prey to this syndrome of collaborative competition where somebody says “Oh! Look at what they’re doing.  We should be doing that too.” Photo buyers, photo makers, and athletes all push one another to converge. One outcome is that photographers face an uphill battle when it comes to creating marketable work that also conveys individual style.
    
    On the other hand, who wants to feel like they’re leaving money on the table because they’re too elitist to take routine photos? Faced with that question, I’m no strict idealist. I’m not exactly shooting decorative cupcakes, but I’ve dug into commercial projects, studio opportunities, and jobs outside the ski industry. Sometimes they feel like art school assignments where students replicate some Old Master’s painting. Even if it’s not an approach that I’m particularly interested in, it’s impossible not to glean something useful. Those Elinchrom-lit sets are great for learning technique but they’re not where my aspirations lie.
    
    Tyler Jones leads a climb in the Waddington Range while Seth and Solveig Waterfall follow. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    Being Diverse.
    
    When I was about ten I was way into these Redwall books about mice doing medieval things. My parents took me to a reading by the author, Brian Jacques, at the neighborhood bookstore and he described to us kids around him that he’d worked as a sailor, and a truck driver, and a milkman, and some jobs that I’ve forgotten before he eventually became a writer too. The notion that one could do a lot of things in a lifetime, rather than be stuck with just one profession, took root in my ten-year-old cortex that day.
    
    Photography has been my main focus for the last year or two, but it’s not my only outlet. I still dabble in woodcut printmaking, painting, shooting video, writing, and teaching. If this photo gig stops working out, I’ll always have the latitude to sidestep into one of these other roles.
    
    Solveig Waterfall skiing from the summit of Mt Waddington, BC over a cavernous crevasse. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    Expedition Style.
    
    One thing that distinguishes me from the pack is that I like unstaged, one-take, expedition shooting. Long and difficult trips are full of little victories and disappointments and they make for great photographic moments. As a member of an expedition team, I share credit and blame for the ups and downs I’m chronicling. Every bit of the process from planning, traveling, climbing, skiing, cooking, laughing and just surviving together is rewarding.
    
    There are a couple big hurdles to being an expedition shooter. One is keeping one’s gear alive in the cold, wet, sandy, camera-killing places. That takes diligence but isn’t rocket surgery. Another is that one has to learn to suffer with grace. That takes practice and some balanced brain chemistry.
    
    The biggest hurdle, however, is managing the dual loyalties of being both a weight-pulling team member while also caring enough about one’s audience to stop helping your buddies and grab the camera. Jabbing a camera in someone’s face in a cruxy moment can be a bridge-burning move. It takes a pretty keen awareness of the group dynamic plus articulate communication to balance photographic and team needs.
    
    Before leaving for our first trip together, ski mountaineer Andrew McLean told me he was willing to ski for the camera but that he didn’t intend to re-hike anything for a missed shot. If you’ve skied with Andrew, you know that he zips uphill then right back down. Either I had to bully him into slowing down or learn to be quick on the draw, get the shot the first time, and not sulk when I misfired. I went with the second approach and haven’t regretted it.
    
    One-take shooting is an ethos I’ve embraced. Shooting actual skiing down actual lines, as opposed to the ubiquitous one-turn-wonder approach, feels truthy. As a bonus, there’s a lot more skiing involved in a “work” day.
    
    Chris Davenport skiing in Antarctica. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    Turning Point.
    
    Three years ago, three friends and I spent a month backpacking and then rafting across Wrangell St Elias National Park. That trip changed my view of what’s achievable by a small, unsponsored team. I felt empowered by our success and humbled by the times I faltered.
    
    Back at home, I tried to summarize the story via a long column of captioned photos. The resulting trip report garnered a lot of attention that I never expected. Something about our mix of ambition, unique route, and amateur status really resonated with people, and not just the outdoorsy ones. Traffic poured in from Digg, Reddit and other link-sharing sites.
    
    Years later, I’m still feeling the reverberations of that trip. I’ve been back to the Wrangells once and have plans for another trip this year. I’m also packing today for a crazy Mexico adventure that I’ve been invited on because a couple of Alaska’s most-audacious wilderness travelers saw my photo essay and thought I’d be a good fit for their team. Looking back, it is comical how many doors have opened for me based on something that I never guessed would have much impact.
    
    Forrest McCarthy midway through a 120 mile traverse of the Abaroka Beartooth Mountains. Photo by Jim Harris.
    
    Future Direction.
    
    There’s been this recent uptick in the ski industry’s acknowledgment that what we do is risky. At a fundamental level, action sports culture pushes the idea that “advancing the sport” or “pushing the envelope” is the loftiest goal an athlete can strive for. I think that presumption deserves some scrutiny because it is steering our risk-taking. We’re not going to revert to blue-square level skiing in movies but it’s worth acknowledging that there are perhaps less death-defying ways to “advance the sport.”
    
    For me, that means looking for trips that are challenging because they’re remote, or because they require an endurance component, or because they offer a quirky perspective on the norm. Both writers and photographers search for unique angles. As someone with a growing grasp of both pursuits, I’m positioned to connect interesting story ideas with smart photos.
    
    Jim Harris' Powder Magazine cover photo. Skier unknown.
    
    Game Changers.
    
    A few years ago, I watched an acquaintance trigger and then swept by an avalanche. It was formative.  It changed how I communicate with partners, how I plan for a tour, and is a continual reminder to make conservative choices.
    
    Soon after that incident, I began teaching avalanche classes. Now that I’ve shifted to proselytizing wilderness skiing for a living, teaching the prophylactic aspect of it feels essential. Not only does it feel like righteous work but teaching avy classes also helps keep my skills honed.
    
    At the other end of the spectrum, one of my photos is running on the cover of the new Powder Magazine Photo Annual. For someone who’s only been making a living as a photographer for just over a year, it’s like putting boots on at 9:30 and somehow still catching first chair. That cover isn’t recognition I’d expected to have so soon in my photo career, but I’m grateful for it.
    
    Want to shoot like Jim, start with some high end DSLR camera gear available at Amazon.com

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• Sunrise on Illimani, Bolivia w Sunrise on Illimani, Bolivia while the city of La Paz still sleeps. Photo by Jim Harris

  • From: kimhavell
  • Description:
    Sunrise on Illimani, Bolivia while the city of La Paz still sleeps. Photo by Jim Harris
  • 4 months ago
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• Freeride World Tour Goes Off I Freeride World Tour Goes Off In Revelstoke

  • From: gregfitzsimmons
  • 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

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• Project 1936 Project 1936

  • From: project1936
  • Description:

    We have teamed together of 4 of the best snowboarders in Verbier, to compete in the World Freeride qualifiers in the 2013 season. Most of them have competed before and our aim is to help them have the best season possible and hopefully get them to qualify for the Freeride World Tour in 2014.

    We have come up with the format of 'Project 1936' to follow the riders in training and competition through out the season. We will video and broadcast every aspect of their season, in order to promote them help fund their them and create the best team conditions to help them improve and succeed.

     

    The season have start well in Verbier and the powder is deep. Good for the legs and prepare for the first competition in La clusaz mid january.

     

    Follow the project 1936 and their 4 rider on facebook for the latest news, photos and videos.

     

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  • 5 months ago
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• la clusaz radikal la clusaz radikal

  • From: project1936
  • Description:

    rider : Jam sébastien 3th place

    The project 1936

  • 5 months ago
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• Mission Antarctic Teaser By Th Mission Antarctic Teaser By The North Face

  • From: thenorthface
  • Description:

    “I went there out of curiosity, but I still remember that surprise on the first morning when I opened my eyes over the peninsula. Antarctica is the most powerful, beautiful, unexplored riding spot on the whole planet.” - The North Face snowboarder, Xavier De Le Rue.
    
    From November 21st through December 21st, 2012, Mission Antarctic will be a journey of snowboard exploration. Team snowboarders Xavier de le Rue and Lucas DeBari will set sail from the Falklands, through the Drake Passage and around the Fjords of the Antarctic peninsula in search of the best lines to ride on the continent.
    
    Click Here To Watch More Videos By The North Face

     

  • 6 months ago
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• Athlete Driven By The North Fa Athlete Driven By The North Face

  • From: thenorthface
  • Description:

    The North Face exists to innovate for athletes. Conrad Anker and The North Face designed gear to get one of the toughest first ascents ever. We collaborated with Xavier de La Rue following his avalanche experience to build our most advance pack with avalanche airbags. The North Face keeps you protected in the world's harshest conditions. Get athlete driven innovation at www.TheNorthFace.com.
    
    Music: 'Eyes Turned Skyward' An original music composition by Dynamite Laser Beam
    
    Click Here To Watch More Videos By The North Face

     

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

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

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

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  • 6 months ago
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• ABS Avalanche Airbag System ABS Avalanche Airbag System

  • From: thenorthface
  • Description:

    The North Face snowboarder Xavier de la Rue and Action Sports Product Manager Austin Robbs explain the development and features of the ABS Avalanche Airbag System, found in the Powder Guide ABS Vest and Patrol 24 ABS Pack.

    Click Here To Wath More Videos By The North Face

     

     

  • 6 months ago
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• On The Ascent: Liz Daley On The Ascent: Liz Daley

  • From: mollybaker
  • Description:

    Liz Daley rips in La Parva, Chile, this past August. Photo by Adam Clark.

    If you’ve lived in Washington’s mountain communities, you’ve probably heard of Liz Daley. Born in Tacoma, Wash., the 27-year-old backcountry snowboarder, climber, and mountain guide has used the Cascade Mountains as training grounds her entire life. With multiple expeditions and first female descents on many of the cardinal peaks of the Pacific Northwest — Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Mt. Shasta, and Mt. Adams — Daley has been preparing for a flourishing future in snowboard mountaineering. Throw a few seasons in Chamonix into the mix, new relationships with Jones Snowboards and Patagonia, and Liz might just be on the road to becoming one of snowboarding’s leading ladies in backcountry and mountaineering.
    
    Or is she already there?
    
    I get in touch with her to chat about the upcoming season just before she rushes out to an event in Seattle. It’s a few hours before and she’s a ball-of-energy, but excited to revel in the recent snowfall, intentions to climb in Utah all of November, and a hut trip she has planned for December on Roger’s Pass. Following her social media stream is enough to make even the most keen climbers and snowboarders jealous. Liz doesn’t let a day go by without getting outside.
    
    “For years I've been seeking out ways to ride as much as possible and travel — becoming a professional snowboarder just helps facilitate that,” explains Liz candidly. “But, I don't like the idea of being solely a professional snowboarder. I want to develop an array of skills. That's why I got into patrolling and guiding.”
    
    Liz Daley in Portillo, Chile. Photo by Adam Clark.
    
    Brilliantly blonde and always outgoing, Liz is unassuming when it comes to a high-profile resume of big lines around the world. The first time we met, in Mt. Baker’s only après bar, the Tap Room, her long blonde hair, pink pom-pom hat, and perfect, white-toothed smile glowed in a room full of grungy ski-bum dudes and mountain employees. She resembled a backcountry Barbie of sorts (minus the psychosis and other plastic-girl stereotypes), but with all the characteristics parents should want their daughters to emulate. She’s obviously motivated, confident, and modest at the same time about her achievements, including missions like the first female snowboard descent of the Coleman Headwall of Mt. Baker. How hadn’t I heard about her before? How had the narrative of Liz Daley, a competent and multi-faceted snowboarder chick, who splits her time between the Cascades and Chamonix, been kept silent?
    
    Liz Daley and Drew Tabke climbing in Chamonix. Photo by Davide De Masi.
    
    “Liz has come into her own as a competent mountain guide and snowboard mountaineer at a time when excitement around these sports is really growing,” says professional skier Drew Tabke, who’s been on many mountain adventures with Daley over the years. “I expect a lot of options to open for her as far as travel and expeditions to virtually anywhere — and Liz has the motivation and enthusiasm to tackle anything.”
    
    For an all-around athlete and mountain girl like Liz, representing companies like Patagonia and Jones isn’t the only way she’s going to find her way into the outdoors. With EMT and Outdoor Emergency Care certifications, a guide resume with the American Alpine Institute, and a recent stint on the Canyons Ski Patrol in Utah, her career options in the mountains are clearly diverse and easily attainable. She’s even spearheaded her own splitboard programs with AAI, which start in December near Mt. Baker.
    
    Liz Daley shredding the Coleman Headwall. Photo by Davide De Masi.
    
    “Last spring I was teaching six-day Basic Alpinism courses on Mt. Baker, where I demonstrate crevasse rescue and ice climbing techniques. It’s fun, but walking down any mountain sucks,” says Liz. “I'm hoping all of my courses fill up so I won't have to walk down another mountain ever again.”
    
    This winter, even if Liz won’t be walking down mountains, she’ll still be climbing and riding them. That’s inevitable. Her upcoming season involves a few early season objectives in Washington and BC, followed by her AAI clinics, and then she’s off to Chamonix — a place where a long list of lines to ride has begun to accumulate.
    
    Climbing the Cosmique Arete in Chamonix. Photo by Davide De Masi.
    
    “There are a couple big lines I've had my eyes on for years, but they haven't been in,” she explains. “In Cham, you don't ride something if it's not in, so I'm waiting until conditions are right. I've also yet to summit Mont Blanc.” 
    
    Regardless of her job or whether you’ve heard of her or not, Liz will be out ripping around in the mountains of the world. Not a few times a week or a handful a month. This girl is out there all the time. And her skills are transcending those of other women in her discipline because of her intrinsic motivation to go out everyday.
    
    For Liz, being in the mountains isn’t a job or hobby; it’s a daily affair. 
    
    Some spring shredding on the Easton Glacier in Washingotn. Photo by Davide De Masi.

  • Blog post
  • 7 months ago
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• Liz Daley rips La Parva Chile. Liz Daley rips La Parva Chile. Photo by Adam Clark

  • From: mollybaker
  • Description:
    Liz Daley rips La Parva Chile. Photo by Adam Clark
  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 316
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• News: The Meeting 8 Snowsports News: The Meeting 8 Snowsports Film Festival Kicks Off This Weekend In Aspen - Full Schedule

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    Aspen/Snowmass will once again host The Meeting, September 27 - 29, 2012. The Meeting is the premier gathering of snowsports filmmakers, athletes, sponsors, media and fans.  The 8th installation of The Meeting will deliver a packed schedule of the top 2012-2013 ski and snowboard movies, panels, speakers, networking, music, art, and fun. See the full schedule below. And be sure to catch showings of TGR’s newest films: Jeremy Jones’ Further and The Dream Factory.

    We'll be there, so follow along on Twitter and Instagram @TetonGravity with the hashtag #TheMeeting8. Aspen/Snowmass will also be posting updates @AspenSnowmass.
    
    Buy Tickets To Movies At The Wheeler Opera House Here
    
    Buy Tickets To The Belly Up Shows Here
    
    Register For The Meeting
    
    Thursday, Sept. 27
    NEPSA Video Awards – Wheeler Opera House – $10
    
    6:30 p.m. – Doors Open
    7 p.m. – NEPSA Video Awards
    
    Showing 1 – Aspen Mountain Sundeck – $15
    
    9 p.m. – Gondola Upload Begins
    10:30 p.m. – MOVIE 1: Level 1- Sunny
    
    Friday, Sept. 28
    The Meeting Sessions & Lunch: Limelight Hotel – Registration Required
    
    10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
    The Meeting Greeting - Limelight Hotel - Registration Required
    
    3 p.m. - Happy Hour
    
    Showing 2 – Wheeler Opera House – $10
    
    4:30 p.m. - Doors
    5 p.m. - MOVIE 2: Jeremy Jones' Further
    6:30 p.m. - MOVIE 3: Burton - 13
    
    Showing 3 – Wheeler Opera House – $15
    
    8 p.m. - Doors
    8:30 p.m. - MOVIE 4: MSP - Superheroes of Stoke
    
    Showing 4 – Belly Up Aspen – $33 advance / $35 door
    
    9 p.m. - Doors
    9:30 p.m. - MOVIE 5: Givin - Too
    10:30 p.m. - Musical Performance featuring Stephen Marley
    
    Saturday, Sept. 29
    Industry Activity
    
    8 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Cart Racing at Woody Creek Race Track – Registration Required
    
    The Meeting Happy Hour: Limelight Hotel – Registration Required
    
    3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Happy Hour
    
    Showing 5 – Wheeler Opera House – $10
    
    4:30 p.m. - Doors
    5 p.m. - MOVIE 6: Voleurz - Kill Your Boredom
    5:45 p.m. - MOVIE 7: PBP - WE: A Collection of Individuals
    
    Showing 6 - Wheeler Opera House - $15
    
    7:30 p.m. - Doors
    8 p.m. - SHORT 1: Sent Productions - Vaya a la Cumbre
    8:25 p.m. – MOVIE 8: Teton Gravity Research – The Dream Factory
    
    Showing 7 – Belly Up – $35 advance / $39 door
    
    9 p.m. - Doors
    9:30 p.m. - MOVIE 9: Pirates - Unique8
    10 p.m. - MOVIE 10: Standard Films - 2112
    11   p.m. - Musical Performance featuring Brit Floyd

  • Blog post
  • 8 months ago
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• Choose Your Own Adventure by P Choose Your Own Adventure by Powderwhore Productions

  • From: powderwhores
  • Description:

    Powderwhore Productions, a backcountry ski film company based in Utah, is proud to announce its eighth annual ski movie, called “Choose Your Adventure.” The film will premiere at Brewvies in Salt Lake City on September 26th 2012. Followed by a 50 city TOUR through ski towns throughout North America.

    This movie is such a mixed bag of characters, exotic locations and action that we wanted to get that point across with the title. You really can’t guess what’s coming next in this film, like the Choose Your Own Adventure book series we enjoyed growing up. We’re exploring an abandoned mining town in the Arctic, dropping cliffs with Hugo Harrison in British Columbia, plunging into the Antarctic Sea in speedos, blasting through deep powder, catching up with crusty locals in the Wasatch and more.
    Our interest lies in finding people with real stories and ski objectives. We wanted to tag along and capture their actions and motivation for heading into the mountains, creating more of an authentic experience. We traveled light and moved fast to avoid interfering with the actual adventures as they unfolded.

    Despite the underwhelming winter of 2011-12, in which snowfall reached near record lows and unstable avalanche conditions,the Powderwhores were able to make the most of the conditions at home and abroad, with trips to Cerro Castillo, Chile; La Grave, France; the Antarctic Peninsula; Svalbard, Norway; Mount Foraker, Alaska; British Columbia, Canada, and the Wasatch Mountains in Utah.

    The film features an array of characters from salty backcountry veterans to some of the top skiers and snowboarders, including Chris Davenport, Jake Sakson, Andrew McLean, Seth Wescott, Dylan Freed, Noah Howell, Matt Reardon, Drew Stoecklein, Forrest Coots, Ian Provo, Neil Provo, Chuck Mumford, Darrell Finlayson, Bob Athey, PY Leblanc, Jason Thompson,Todd Stuart and Hugo Harrison.

    In the end, this is a feature-length ski film that celebrates exotic locations, wild adventures, and the dedicated personalities writing their own stories in snow.

  • 8 months ago
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