182 Search Results for "magazine"

• Third Annual Beartooth Summer Third Annual Beartooth Summer Session Presented by ON3P Ski Company

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

     

    The Third Annual Beartooth Summer Session is set to occur from Wednesday through Sunday, June 5th-June 9th at Beartooth Basin Ski Area, formerly Red Lodge International Summer Ski Camp, and in the surrounding backcountry. 

     

    The little ski area, near the top of Beartooth Pass on the Montana/Wyoming border, features two high-speed poma lifts, steeps,  chutes, cornices, and a terrain  park at the bottom.  The ski area was first opened in the 1960s as a venue for summer  ski race training.  During the late 1990s and early 2000s the ski area saw an influx of newschool skiing. Mickey Price, Tony Gilpin, Glen Plake, and Donovan Power trained and coached alongside Tanner Hall, Wiley Miller, Paul Cotter, and many others.  Prominent film companies such as Teton Gravity Research, Team 13, and Toy Soldier Productions have featured  footage from the Beartooth Basin Ski Area in their films.

     

    The Second Annual Beartooth Summer Session  brought approximately 100 skier visits and 40 competitors from all around North America. Writers from Teton Gravity Research, Sking Magazine, Bomb Snow Magazine, and Explore Big Sky covered the event.

     

    ON3P Ski Company and other sponsors will be working with the ski area to host the session and build a quality terrain park and competition course. The event, terrain park, and ski area will be open to the public as well as to invited riders and photographers. In addition to world-class, lift-accessible summer skiing, the surrounding area has excellent backcountry access, including day-long tours, boot packs, and car shuttle laps.

     

    On Saturday, June 8th, a big-mountain/slopestyle competition will take place at Beartooth Basin. Competitors will take top-to-bottom runs and be judged on style, technique,  amplitude, and consistency.

     

    ON3P will have its fleet of demo skis available free to the public. Tickets to the ski area will be discounted for session attendees to $40 per day. Half day tickets for $35 will also be available.

     

    More details including group lodging options, competition  registration, and a roster of invited riders will be published at www.beartoothsummersession.com . View the rest of the media gallery here. We hope to see you next month in the Beartooths.

     

    Get ready for the summer season with awesome gear deals here.

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• Orage Masters 8 Orage Masters 8

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    On April 6, 2013 The Orage Masters, aka the Anti Comp, now better known as the craziest scene skiing has ever seen crash landed for its 8th event at Sun Valley Resort, Idaho and officially became a thing of legend within the world of ski contests.
    
    8 teams of skiing's elite film crews featuring the likes of Level 1 Productions, 4bi9 Media, Traveling Circus, Step Productions, Inspired Media, The Kids, Toy Soldier Productions and Me Gustan Aviones came costume clad, ready to throw down and eager to claim bragging rights and the $10,000 cold hard cash compliments of Go Pro that come with 1st place.
    
    Level 1 took top honors and the white dinner jackets.
    4bi9 Media claimed second and a trip to Retallack lodge.
    And The Traveling Circus rounded out the top 3 earning a 5 day trip back to the host resort, Sun Valley.
    
    Call outs to Johnny G's subshack for feeding the crews and of course Freeskier Magazine for playing the role of our fantabulous media partner of choice.
    
    www.orage.com
    www.facebook.com/orage

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

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

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

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• Go Now: Selkirk Wilderness Ski Go Now: Selkirk Wilderness Skiing

  • From: SamPetri
  • 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

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  • 2 months ago
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• The Anti Comp Returns - Orage The Anti Comp Returns - Orage Masters 8

  • From: orageouterwear
  • Description:

    The Orage Masters is what ski events were always meant to be.  After a 2 year hiatus the Anti Comp is back. Don't miss the craziest scene skiing has ever seen. April 5-7, 2013 at Sun Valley, Idaho.  Presented in partnership with Sun Valley, Go Pro, Freeskier Magazine, Retallack, Johnny G's and Orage.
    
    Watch More Orage Videos

     

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

  • From: brodyleven
  • Description:
    Backcountry Magazine Cover
  • 4 months ago
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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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• Jim Harris Powder Magazine Cov Jim Harris Powder Magazine Cover Photo

  • From: kimhavell
  • Description:
    Jim Harris Powder Magazine Cover Photo
  • 4 months ago
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• Live Stream: Watch The 2013 Po Live Stream: Watch The 2013 Powder Magazine Video Awards Live

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    The 2013 Powder Magazine Video Awards are tonight in Park City, Utah.
    
    Watch the awards live starting at 7:30 p.m. MST.

    Below are the official 2013 Powder Awards presented by Icelandic Glacial nominees:
    
    Best Line
    Pep Fujas – WE – Poor Boyz Productions
    Parker White – Sunny – Level 1 Productions
    Corey Felton and Topher Plimpton - Because – Two Plank Productions
    Erik Hjorleifson – Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    
    Best Powder
    Chatter Creek - Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    Griffin Post and Todd Ligare – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    Jay Peak - No Matter What – Meathead Films
    Erik Roner – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    
    Best Natural Air
    Sean Pettit – WE – Poor Boyz Productions
    Tim Durtschi – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    Parker White – Sunny – Level 1 Productions
    Max Hammer – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    
    Best Manmade Air
    Russ Henshaw – Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    Henrik Harlaut – The Education of Style – Inspired Media Concepts
    Karl Fostvedt – WE – Poor Boyz Productions
    Dana Flahr – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    
    Best Jib
    Clatyon Vila – The Eighty Six – Stept Productions
    Tom Wallisch - Sunny – Level 1 Productions
    Will Wesson – No Matter What – Meathead Films
    Leigh Powis – WE – Poor Boyz Productions
    
    Best P.O.V.
    Dana Flahr – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    Corey Felton and Topher Plimpton – Because – Two Plank Productions
    Mike Henituk – WE - Poor Boyz Productions
    Russ Henshaw – Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    
    Best Cinematography Presented by GoPro
    The Eighty Six – Stept Productions
    Few Words – Process Films
    Sunny – Level 1 Productions
    The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    
    Best Editing
    Act Natural – Toy Soldier Productions
    Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    Sunny – Level 1 Productions
    The Eighty Six – Stept Productions
    
    Best Female Performance
    Michelle Parker – Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    Angel Collinson – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    Elyse Saugstad – Kill Your Boredom – Voleurz
    Ingrid Backstrom – Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    
    Best Male Performance
    Eric Hjorleifson – Superheroes of Stoke – MSP Films
    Candide Thovex – Few Words – Process Films
    Sean Pettit – WE – Poor Boyz Productions
    Dash Longe – The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    
    Best Documentary
    Tempting Fear – Switchback Entertainment
    Choose Your Own Adventure – Powderwhore Productions
    Few Words – Process Films
    
    Movie of the Year
    The Dream Factory – Teton Gravity Research
    The Eighty Six – Stept Productions
    Few Words – Process Films
    Sunny – Level 1 Productions
    
    Awards will also be presented for Full Throttle presented by Icelandic Glacial and Breakthrough Performer and Best Web Series, as well as Reader Poll honors for the top 10 men and five women as voted on by fans and POWDER readers.

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• Angel Collinson Segment From T Angel Collinson Segment From The Dream Factory TGR Ski Movie

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Teton Gravity Research skier Angel Collinson is nominated for the Best Female Performance in the 2013 Powder Magazine Video Awards. Check out her full segment from TGR’s newest film, The Dream Factory, where Angel rips the northern Chugach mountains in Alaska with Seth Morrison, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Dana Flahr.
    
    The Dream Factory synopsis: For the past 16 years, Teton Gravity Research has made the pilgrimage to America’s last frontier, Alaska: The Dream Factory. Throughout history, Alaska has been a place of dreams. From the early gold rush days, to the rise of commercial fishing, to the explosion of the ski and snowboard freeride movement, people have left everything to follow their dreams and journey to this foreign, mystical land. Like the frontiersmen before them, the pioneers of the freeride movement like Doug Coombs, Eric Pehota, and Trevor Petersen made the dream of skiing in Alaska a reality.
    
    Follow TGR's modern day athletes on this cinematic voyage through Alaska's awe-inspiring expanse, rich history, and colorful characters. Watch as the TGR crew ventures from AK training grounds Jackson Hole, WY, and Pemberton, BC, and delves deep into the Alaskan way of life during a record snowfall year in AK, skiing terrain most of us only dream about.
    
    Order The Dream Factory
    
    Watch More Dream Factory Edits
    
    Buy Tickets To The Powder Video Awards

  • 4 months ago
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• Dash Longe Segment From The Dr Dash Longe Segment From The Dream Factory TGR Ski Movie

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Teton Gravity Research skier Dash Longe is nominated for the Best Male Performance in the 2013 Powder Magazine Video Awards. Check out his full segment from TGR’s newest film, The Dream Factory, where Dash rips the Northern Chugach.
    
    The Dream Factory synopsis: For the past 16 years, Teton Gravity Research has made the pilgrimage to America’s last frontier, Alaska: The Dream Factory. Throughout history, Alaska has been a place of dreams. From the early gold rush days, to the rise of commercial fishing, to the explosion of the ski and snowboard freeride movement, people have left everything to follow their dreams and journey to this foreign, mystical land. Like the frontiersmen before them, the pioneers of the freeride movement like Doug Coombs, Eric Pehota, and Trevor Petersen made the dream of skiing in Alaska a reality.
    
    Follow TGR's modern day athletes on this cinematic voyage through Alaska's awe-inspiring expanse, rich history, and colorful characters. Watch as the TGR crew ventures from AK training grounds Jackson Hole, WY, and Pemberton, BC, and delves deep into the Alaskan way of life during a record snowfall year in AK, skiing terrain most of us only dream about.
    
    Order The Dream Factory
    
    Watch More Dream Factory Edits
    
    Buy Tickets To The Powder Video Awards

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• News: Patagonia Signs Kye Pete News: Patagonia Signs Kye Petersen And Pep Fujas To Global Ambassador Team

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Kye Petersen is now a Patagonia Ambassador. Photo via Spatziba.
    
    Ski Athletes Pep Fujas and Kye Petersen Join Patagonia as Part of The Company’s Growing Ambassador Line-Up and Expanded Commitment to Snow Sports
    
    VENTURA, Calif. — Patagonia Inc., a leading designer of core outdoor, surf and snowsport apparel, equipment, footwear and accessories, is pleased to announce that Pep Fujas and Kye Petersen have joined the company as Ambassadors. Both individuals embody the company’s core values, come equipped with a life-long dedication to skiing and a desire to ride in the best outerwear possible. As a company, Patagonia has increased its focus in the snow sports category with a major update planned to its outerwear line in Fall 2013. Fujas and Petersen, like other Patagonia Ambassadors, will collaborate closely with the company’s designers to provide first-hand input on every aspect of product performance and design. 
    
    “We’re excited to welcome Pep and Kye to the Patagonia family,” says Josh Nielsen, Patagonia’s Global Category Marketer for snow sports, “Both athletes embody the values and direction of Patagonia Snow and we look forward to working with them closely as we continue to build and evolve our technical product range to meet their needs and the needs of the core end user.”
    
    Kye Petersen, hailed as one of the most talented multidiscipline ski athletes of his generation and winner of the 2012 Powder Magazine Full Throttle and Best Natural Air awards, notes about Patagonia, “I wanted to partner with Patagonia because of their quality, long-lasting products. Everything is well thought out and simple, nothing you don’t need. I like how the product is trustworthy and also the fact that it’s made from recycled materials.”
    
    “I think my skiing style fits with the brand as I’m often exploring new mountains by foot and finding myself deep in the backcountry of remote and pristine mountain ranges,” continues Petersen. “I’m also spending long days in the mountains in all kinds of conditions and putting my gear through rigorous testing. I’m super stoked to start a collaboration and help each other continue to get better in what we are doing!”
    
    Pep Fujas is now a Patagonia Ambassador. Photo by Chris Benchetler.
    
    Fujas, a ski film icon regarded for his innovative approach to skiing and distinct style says, “Part of the reason I joined Patagonia is that they practice exactly what they preach.  The company philosophy isn’t just a moniker or marketing scheme, it’s a way of life that is lived by each and every employee, one which is mindful of their impact on the natural world from creation and design to production and distribution.”
    
    “Patagonia has the highest quality products and they take pride in every garment they make,” continues Fujas. “I know with Patagonia that they have so much experience and have made quality gear for so long that I will be able to perform without having to think about being cold or wet or uncomfortable.” 
    
    Fujas and Petersen join a team of Ambassadors that includes Josh Dirksen, Carston Oliver, Ryland Bell, Forrest Shearer, surfing’s Malloy Brothers, Gerry Lopez and climbing’s Tommy Caldwell, Sonnie Trotter, and other notable athletes at the height of their sports.

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• Rachael Burks Is Forming A Wol Rachael Burks Is Forming A Wolfpack

  • From: brigidmander
  • Description:

    
    
    For the last two years pro skier Rachael Burks, one of free skiing’s most visible female personalities, has been laying relatively low. Burks has not been resting, however, instead she has been busy creating a new action sports website, femalewolfpack.com.
    
    The website will feature video content of female action sports athletes, ranging from dirt-biking, surfing, slack-lining, to BASE and mountaineering. The goal, according to an announcement from the website, is to “specifically increase female visibility in action sports.”
    
    A soft launch, which will have about ten videos on it, will be followed by an official launch on January 1, 2013, and a video of the week moving forward.
    
    Burks’ ability to out-ski, and out-party, and out-backflip many men in the industry has earned her magazine appearances, profiles, and film segments ranging from Warren Miller Films, TGR, and the Levitation Project, and Powder Magazine reader’s polls, among others. 
    
    Burks says she decided to create the website after recognizing that to gain recognition in action sports is tough, but it is often even tougher for females.
    
    “I got to a point in my ski career where it felt like my progress depended on how much money I could get together, which didn’t make sense to me. So I decided to give women a platform where they can get visibility without being reliant on financial alliances,” Burks said.
    
    “In action sports, it is difficult to have progression for anyone. Hopefully this will give girls from all over the world an opportunity to showcase their skills, maybe pick up a sponsor, and pursue being a pro athlete,” she said.
    
    
    
    One of the website’s goals is to collect female content in one easy-to-find viewing location. Burks also hopes that a consolidated arena where female athletes are showcased pushing the limits will influence women’s action sports as a whole.
    
    “The best way is to lead by example. Sometimes all it takes is one person showing everyone else what is possible,” she said. “The idea is to let women be inspired once they are able to see what other women are doing, what is possible, and to up the ante.”
    
    The target audience of the site is everyone ranging for sponsors looking for new talent, to people sitting at a desk looking for a cool way to kill some time.
    
    “I don’t want this to be only for women, either. I think guys are interested in what the girls are doing, too,” Burks said.
    
    Burks will personally select the videos chosen to go up on the site. Edits sent for submission can be new or existing video, pro or amateur, and should be sent to femalewolfpack@gmail.com for the rest of the month. After the January launch, videos submitted for consideration can be uploaded directly to the site. According to Burks, there will be no commentary, no editorials, no thumbs up or thumbs down, just visual content.
    
    
    
    
    Athletes are already getting on board with the project.
    
    “I think it is awesome! It’ll be a cool place to express ourselves, have fun, and put up rad content,” said Nat Segal, a Jackson Hole-based pro skier and competitor on the Freeride World Tour. “It’s going to give up and comers a place to showcase their abilities and get exposure, which sometimes girls really have to fight for. And it will give younger girls a place to see what other women are doing. I’m stoked. I already sent her some edits.”
    
    

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

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

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

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• News: Rahlves’ Banzai Tour Ann News: Rahlves’ Banzai Tour Announces Tour Dates

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Truckee, Calif. –Rahlves’ Banzai Tour is back, showcasing racing in its purest form of four at a time going head-to-head over natural terrain in ski and boarder-cross style action. The 2013 dates for this annual favorite have been announced, so mark your calendars and get ready to compete in the ultimate test on the mountain. With tour stops, pre and après parties spanning four weekends from Feb. 2nd through Mar. 10th at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl Resort, the Rahlves’ Banzai Tour is sure to be a showstopper.
    
    “There is no other race like this in the world,” said Rahlves. “Last year's low tide conditions forced new routes down each venue and produced exciting competition and a great show for spectators.  I was impressed with the competitors attitude and level of commitment.  What's so unique about this race is every day ripper’s line up against pro level athletes and have a shot at the title of Rahlves' Banzai Champ.  It's a competition among competitors, but ultimately it's against the mountain.”
    When the gate drops, it's on as four competitors battle it out for the holeshot and an early lead. Tactics, skill, strength and calculated risk are put to the test attacking terrain and skied out snow conditions found at any resort off the groomed runs. Watching the battle is simply awe-inspiring and commands respect.
    
    The final stop on the tour at Sugar Bowl Resort, where the race originated, will feature the “Super Final” in which former World Champion, 12-time World Cup winner, X-Games Gold Medalist and four-time Olympic skier, and Sugar Bowl Resort Ambassador Daron Rahlves will race against the four men’s skiing division winners from each stop on this year’s tour. This grand finale will not disappoint, as it provides the only opportunity during the tour to witness Rahlves putting his technical skills and all out effort to the test against the crowned winners of the tour who will be vying to beat Rahlves and to take home the title of “Banzai Master” with a cash prize of $10,000; winner takes all.
    
    Friday night before each tour stop, competing athletes, sponsors, media and special guests are invited to the event kick-off, “Rahlves' Banzai Welcome Party”. The location will be announced closer to the event dates. On Saturday after the solo qualifying timed runs to seed Sunday's Finals and heats of four, all competing athletes, sponsors, media and fans are invited to celebrate all things Banzai at the 3-6pm “Rahlves' Banzai Après Party” thrown by High Fives Foundation, a Truckee, CA based non-profit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for athletes who have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action sports community. A portion of the proceeds from Sierra Nevada beers purchased throughout the evening and raffle prizes will be donated to High Fives.
    
    Competitors aged 18 and up are encouraged to start polishing up on their schussing big mountain skills and get ready to enter the men’s and women’s ski and snowboard divisions for the tour.
    Make plans to catch the high-speed action at each tour stop including:
    
    •    Kirkwood Mountain Resort    Feb.  2-3,   2013
    •    Alpine Meadows                       Feb.  9-10, 2013
    •    Squaw Valley                            Mar. 2-3,   2013
    •    Sugar Bowl Resort                   Mar. 9-10, 2013
    
    For those who are curious about the tour’s name, Banzai is a Japanese term expressed as an exuberant cheer meaning, “Long Life!” or “Hurray!”  An apt name for a high-spirited downhill ski and snowboard competition, the Silver Belt Race first took place in the 1940s at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and was re-introduced with the head-to-head action by Daron Rahlves and Sugar Bowl in 2009. The race continued with one event for another year, and then Rahlves decided to take the show on the road, officially launching the Rahlves’ Banzai Tour and expanding to stops at four of Lake Tahoe's premier resorts.
    
    Building on the tour’s success and evolution, Rahlves has designated the worthy High Fives Foundation as the tour’s official non-profit partner, while leveraging big name sponsors such as Red Bull, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Contour, CEP “intelligent sportswear”, North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, Jagermeister, Spyder, Atomic, Start Haus Ski Shop, Wend Wax, COAL, The Bar Effect, World Cup Supply, Snow Fest, Sports Insurance and CRUX Events, thereby creating an alluring $80,000 prize purse.
    Media coverage will include, Live event coverage on Sunday by 101.5FM Truckee-Tahoe Radio, Tahoe TV event edits for web / local tv, POWDER Magazine coverage and more.
    
    For information, to check out previous race results, videos and to register, visit www.rahlvesbanzai.com
    Event Registration begins January 2013
    
    For up-to-the-minute news, “Like” The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour on Facebook and follow @RahlvesBanzai on Twitter.
    
    For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Switchback PR + Marketing at 530-550-2252
    
    

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• News: The North Face Announces News: The North Face Announces Sixth Annual Masters Of Snowboarding Schedule For 2013

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows host premier snowboard Freeride World Qualifier
    
     SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - The North Face Masters of Snowboarding presented by PrimaLoft will take place February 13-17, 2013 at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, California. The event will feature top big mountain snowboard competitors battling for The North Face Masters of Snowboarding champion title, $15,000 in prize money and a chance to advance to the 2014 SWATCH Freeride World Tour by The North Face.
    
    The event will feature one open 2-star Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ) event at Alpine Meadows (Feb. 13-14) with the top five men and top three females advancing to the Masters 4-star Championship event. The Masters Championship event will take place over two days (Feb. 14-17) at Squaw Valley immediately following the qualifier event at Alpine Meadows. Riders participating in the Squaw Valley competition will also earn 4-star FWQ points. A seeding list will be created to qualify athletes for the 4-star event based off 2012 Masters of Snowboarding results.
    
    “We are truly thrilled and honored to welcome The North Face Masters to our mountains,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “The North Face Masters is undeniably one of the most prestigious events in big mountain snowboarding, and we look forward to watching the best snowboarders test their skills on our legendary terrain.”
    
    In addition to the championship title, The North Face will also grant the A-Rob award in honor and memory of the late Master’s champion Aaron Robinson. The A-Rob award captures the spirit of the community and desire to explore the mountains.  Another award up for grabs is The Young Gun Award for the under 21 rider who demonstrates raw talent, an innovative riding style and exemplifies true sportsmanship and passion for the mountains.
    
    “Now in it’s sixth season, The North Face Masters is one of the largest big mountain snowboarding competition in the country, providing an opportunity for established riders, as well as up-and-comers, to put together a winning run during competition,” said The North Face Director, Sports Marketing Katie Ramage. “Utilizing control, fluidity, creativity and style in choosing their line, riders embrace the natural features within the venue to showcase their sport which continues to advance. We’re excited to bring this event to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows given their world class terrain and history of attracting world class riders.”
    
    The North Face Masters is part of the Freeride World Qualifier system. FWQs are rated on a 1 to 4-star scale with competitors earning more or less points at events according to venue difficulty and scale, competitive pool and other factors. The Masters is the top-level qualifier event and a pivotal step for athletes hoping to advance to the SWATCH Freeride World Tour by The North Face.
    
    Athlete registration will open on December 4, 2012 at 10 a.m. MST. The North Face Masters is open to all men and women age 18 and above. For more information, please visit www.thenorthfacemasters.com or www.facebook.com/thenorthfacemasters.
    
    The North Face Masters of Snowboarding is presented by Primaloft and supported by Subaru of America, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Mountain Sports International, Snowboard Magazine, Clif Bar, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows.

  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
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• Outtakes From The Dream Factor Outtakes From The Dream Factory - Episode 1

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    We teamed up with Freeskier Magazine to bring you some behind the scenes footage from the making of The Dream Factory. Between Todd Ligare splitting his arm open and Nick Martini skiing his first gnarly line in AK, you'll surely enjoy what we've rounded up for you.

    Order The Dream Factory online at Amazon.com

  • Blog post
  • 7 months ago
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• News: Whistler Blackcomb Honor News: Whistler Blackcomb Honored With Six Recognitions In Annual Resort Rankings

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    The annual resort rankings are in and again Whistler Blackcomb is on top with six “best overall” wins and over fifteen No.1 “category” wins. These accolades have positioned Whistler Blackcomb as one of the best ranked ski and snowboard destinations in the world.
    
    “We are thrilled to be recognized among the best mountain resorts in the world,” says Stuart Rempel, senior vice president of marketing and sales at Whistler Blackcomb. “These awards are a credit to Whistler Blackcomb’s focus on improving every aspect of our business. We start with amazing physical assets - our mountains and reliable snow. Then we layer in our huge lift infrastructure and our commitment to the environment. On top of it all are our people. The guest relations team, groomers, snow makers, terrain park rangers, instructors, patrollers, front line staff and everyone in between all work together to exceed our customers’ expectations. We believe this approach is why Whistler Blackcomb is consistently ranked the No. 1 resort in North America and positions us among the best in the world.”
    
    This year Whistler Blackcomb was recognized by SPIKE Marketing as the highest rated resort in the world for customer satisfaction and performance. The company’s Ski Base Results 2012 Survey involving 18,000 UK respondents ranked Whistler Blackcomb as the No. 1 resort they would recommend to a friend or colleague based on quality of skiing, accommodation, value for money, restaurants and bars, lifts and activities outside skiing. This ranking is a credit to Whistler Blackcomb’s attention to exceeding customer expectations in every aspect of its operations.
     
    Whistler Blackcomb Awards and Rankings 2012.2013
     
    No. 1 Overall
    
        SKI Magazine, USA
        Freeskier Magazine, USA
        SBC Resort Guide, CAN
        Best overall in B.C., onthesnow.com, USA
        Powderhounds.com, USA
        Findthebest.com, USA
    
     
    Whistler Blackcomb Category Wins:
    
        Top 50 Best Ski Resorts, The Independent, GBR
        Best Net Promoter Score, Spike Marketing, GBR
        Best in Snow Business, Canadian Ski Council, CAN
        2012 BC Hydro Power Smart Excellence Awards Winner in the Power Smart Leader category, CAN
        One of Canada’s Greenest Employers, Canada’s Top 100 Employers, CAN
        One of Canada’s Best Employers for Young People, Canada's Top 100 Employers, CAN
        Best Ski Run & Lodge for Whistler Blackcomb & Fairmont Chateau Whistler, National Geographic, USA
        Best Terrain: SKI Magazine, Powderhounds.com
        Best Apres/Nightlife, FREESKIER, Powderhounds.com
        Top Family Resort, CNN.com, Familyvacationcritic.com, USA
        Best Park in the West, SBC Resort Guide
        Best Terrain in the West, SBC Resort Guide
        Best Lifts, Powderhounds.com
        Best Winter Destination & Best Summer Destination, Georgia Straight Newspaper, CAN
        Best Off-Piste, Powderhounds.com
    
     
    Other “Not too Shabby” Placings
    No. 2
    
        Steep Skiing, FREESKIER
        Service, SKI Magazine
        Lodging, SKI Magazine
        Off-Hill Activities, SKI Magazine
        Digital Presence, SKI Magazine
        Romantic Getaway, Georgia Straight Newspaper
    
    No.3
    
        Dining, SKI Magazine
    
     
    No. 4
    
        Powder Stashes, FREESKIER
        Terrain Parks, SKI Magazine
        Overall Satisfaction, SKI Magazine
        Scenery, SKI Magazine
    
    No. 5
    
        Challenging Terrain, SKI Magazine
        On-Mountain Food, SKI Magazine
        Lifts, SKI Magazine
        Best Resort in North America, TransWorld SNOWboarding, USA
        Halfpipes, TransWorld SNOWboarding

    For More On Whistler Blackcomb

     

     

  • Blog post
  • 7 months ago
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• News: Amplid Ambush Acedemy Of News: Amplid Ambush Acedemy Offers New Way To Become Sponsored

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    Amplid has launched a completely new concept in athlete sponsorship, the Amplid Ambush Academy. Amplid has teamed-up with GoPro in a search for 20 talented, unsigned snowboarders and 20 ripping skiers who are hungry for an opportunity to prove themselves to a potential sponsor.  Over the course of a season, they will compete in riding, filming and photo challenges that reflect the expectations on pro riders in the industry today.
    
    “It’s crazy how being a pro rider has changed in only a few years. Building a career five years ago meant begging to get on magazine trips or praying that sponsors could afford to pay for a spot on next season’s big movie. Now it’s all about filming and editing your own movies and using social media to promote yourself. Amplid needs team riders with this complete skills package and the Amplid Ambush Academy is about finding them.”  Says Amplid co-founder Peter Bauer.
    
    At the start of every month throughout the season, a member of Amplid’s International Cartel Team will set the 20 chosen shredders their challenge; there will be five in total. In addition to awarding prizes to the winner of each challenge, at the end of the 2012/13 winter season, Amplid will offer the Academy members that have really impressed a place on the team.
    
    Those applicants who make the cut and are accepted on to the Academy will receive a welcome pack with a GoPro Hero 2, the best way to capture that killer footage in crisp HD; a soft goods pack and a huge Proform discount on Amplid gear.
    
    Riders that think they have what it takes to be a part of the Amplid Ambush Academy can access more information and apply at www.amplid.com.

  • Blog post
  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 157
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