57 Search Results for "ramp"

• Tabke, Charlet, Hargin, Dewey Tabke, Charlet, Hargin, Dewey Win FWT Stop No. 3 In Chamonix

  • From: gregfitzsimmons
  • Description:

    The venue for the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face in Chamonix, France.
    
    The third stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face took place in Chamonix, France last weekend. The field of men made the short trip to the French side of the Mont Blanc after the second stop in Courmayeur, Italy, and the female competitors met for the second time this season after competing on “Mac Daddy” in Revelstoke, Canada.
    
    Drew Tabke airs into his line. Photo by D. Daher.
    
    The North Face of the Aiguille Pourrie served as the venue for the comp. From the start gate at 2,400-meters, athletes had a handful of options to lace together a line that fit their style of skiing. A lot of the ski men opted for the ridge run skier’s right out of the start gate. With a big natural air on the ridge and playful hips or techy chutes lower down, the skier’s right side of the venue saw a lot of traffic. Directly falline of the start gate was an exposed and high-consequence zone of pepper, tight skiing, and the biggest air on the venue—that Canadian Laurent Gauthier dropped, found a perfect tranny, put the 50-plus footer to the bolts, and earned a top-ten spot for his efforts. And, if competitor’s ventured a little skier’s left and then fallline from the start gate they got to boost a large entry-air cornice and then have their choice of hips, chutes, and side-airs to play with.
    
    Men's ski podium: 1. Drew Tabke (USA) 91.67 2. Fabio Studer (AUT) 87.00 3. Willie Lindberg (SWE) 84.33. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    In the end, the winning line was hidden in left side over the venue, and it took Drew Tabke to find it and stomp it. Tabke, now the overall tour leader halfway through the season, linked a creative line from the top entry air via the cornice, finding a lofty natural hip that sent him about 60 feet into a chute, and then capping the run off with a sleepy three on the bottom portion of the venue. Tabke’s creativity and blend of big-mountain charging and trickery was rewarded by the judges with a score of 91.67, the highest score dolled out to any competitor on the day.
    
    In second place, Austrian Fabio Studer opted for the ridge on the skier’s right ridge. Studer put on a clinic stomping a hand-drag 360 off of the large natural air on the ridge then unleashing a cork 720 into an exposed section, and drawing aggressive fallline turns through the gnar. And, in third place, Sweden’s Willie Lindberg took the right-hand approach. Lindberg’s high-speed, full-throttle line included a large air into the lower chute, and then finding a keyhole exit into the Cham chunder fields.
    
    Men’s Snowboard podium: (Top 10) 1. Jonathan Charlet (FRA) 90.33 2. Ralph Backstrom (USA) 88.00 3. Sammy Luebke (USA) 76.33. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    Jonathan Charlet. Photo by Phillip Field.
    
    Ralph Backstrom in Chamonix. Photo by D. Daher.
    
    On the men’s snowboard side, French rider and 2012 FWT Overall Snowboard Champ Jonathan Charlet took the win in front of his home country’s fans. Charlet blasted two features up top, found pow on a ramp rider’s right, and exited off the ramp with a big air on the bottom. TGR’s own Ralph Backstrom came in second place, landing on the podium again after winning the Revy comp, and earning the overall leader position going into the fourth stop of the season. And, Sammy Luebke snagged the third spot on the podium for men’s snowboard.
    
    Women’s Ski podium: 1. Christine Hargin (SWE) 80.00 2. Nadine Wallner (AUT) 72.33 3. Pia Nic Gunderson (NOR) 70.67. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    Overall 2012 Champion Christine Hargin, of Ramundberget, Sweden, is putting together a serious bid for a repeat as World Champ after winning in the ski women’s comp in Cham. Hargin’s score of an even 80 was almost eight points higher than runner-up Nadine Wallner, of Austria, who scored a 72.33 to take second. Hargin’s back-to-back wins in Revy and Chamonix were done in similar fashion: strong, fast, athletic, and aggressive. Norway’s Pia Nic Gunderson came in third.
    
    Women’s Snowboard podium: 1. Laura Dewey (USA) 70.00 2. Margot Rozies (FRA) 69.00 3. Aline Bock (GER) 57.33. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    And, Snowbird’s Laura Dewey battled through a string of bad luck traveling—Dewey arrived in Chamonix less than 24 hours before dropping in to compete on borrowed gear because of lost luggage—to earn the victory in women’s snowboard. French rider Margot Rozies took second, the same result she had in Revy. Rozies’s consistent presence on the podium so far means she’s the current tour leader after two stops. And, in third place was German rider Aline Bock.
    
    After two big-mountain comps on the Italian and French sides of the Month Blanc that were as good as it gets, the FWT says “au revoir” to the Alps. The next stop will be stateside at Kirkwood Mountain Resort and is scheduled to go down February 27 in Kirkwood’s famed Cirque. Drew Tabke and Christine Hargin, Ralph Backstrom and Margot Rozies will be bedecked in the yellow bibs that denote the current overall tour leaders when the action gets going again in Kirkwood.
    
    Stay tuned for more FWT coverage.
    
    Men’s Ski Results (Top 10)
    1. Drew Tabke (USA) 91.67
    2. Fabio Studer (AUT) 87.00
    3. Willie Lindberg (SWE) 84.33
    4. Reine Barkered (SWE) 83.33
    5. Julien Lopez (FRA) 82.67
    6. Oakley White-Allen (USA) 81.00
    7. Jérémie Heitz (SUI) 73.00
    8. Charlie Lyons (NZL) 72.67
    9. Laurent Gauthier (CAN) 71.33
    10. Samuel Anthamatten (SUI) 69.67
    
    Men’s Snowboard Results (Top 10)
    1. Jonathan Charlet (FRA) 90.33
    2. Ralph Backstrom (USA) 88.00
    3. Sammy Luebke (USA) 76.33
    4. Irian Van Helfteren (NED) 71.67
    5. Flo Orley (AUT) 69.67
    6. Emilien Badoux (SUI) 67.33
    7. Ludovic Guillot-Diat (FRA) 66.33)
    8. Tim Carlson (USA) 61.33
    9. Jamie Rizzuto (CAN) 60.33
    10. Xavier de Le Rue (FRA) 42.67
    
    Women’s Ski Results (Top 10)
    1. Christine Hargin (SWE) 80.00
    2. Nadine Wallner (AUT) 72.33
    3. Pia Nic Gunderson (NOR) 70.67
    4. Lorraine Huber (AUT) 69.33
    5. Crystal Wright (USA) 64.00
    6. Anne May Slinning (NOR) 61.33
    7. Ashley Maxfield (USA) 55.00
    8. Jess McMillan (USA) 40.00
    9. Natalie Segal (AUS) 23.67
    10. Jacklyn Paason (USA) 16.67
    
    Women’s Snowboard Results (Top 7)
    1. Laura Dewey (USA) 70.00
    2. Margot Rozies (FRA) 69.00
    3. Aline Bock (GER) 57.33
    4. Casey Lucas (USA) 55.67
    5. Elodie Mouthon (FRA) 53.67
    6. Anouck Mouthon (FRA) 52.00
    7. Iris Lazzareschi (SAU) 38.00
    
    

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  • 5 months ago
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• Shop Drives Binding Screw thru Shop Drives Binding Screw thru Base

  • From: alpine2013
  • Description:
    This REALLY sucks, right? Brand New Gear RAMP Chickadees still in packaging. Tyrolia PEAK 12 Binding still in box with instructions. I have checked with RAMP. There is nothing peculiar or unusual about this ski or the binding. It is a very typical set up. (This is the binding RAMP recommends and sells with this ski.) Does the shop owe me new skis? What's the bottom line here? (Anywhere else I could post for further opinion?)
  • 5 months ago
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• Dynafit Debuts DIN 16 Tech Bin Dynafit Debuts DIN 16 Tech Binding - The Beast

  • From: leelau
  • Description:

    

    The rumors have been flying fast and furious. It might not be one of the worst kept secrets of next year's ski gear, but it has to rank among the top failed skunkworks. A tip of the hat first to Marius Schwager for pictures that fed Internet frenzy and piqued interest of drooling Eric Hjorleifson wannabes worldwide.
    
    Perhaps Dynafit doesn't keep secrets particularly well, but they sure design pretty stuff. The Beast 16 binding is designed for aggressive downhill performance, yet still has a reasonable weight at 935 grams per binding; which compares favorably to other bindings of its class and intended use. The Beast 16 is also frameless and is supposed to retain Dynafit's touring characteristics.
    
    It's worth noting that in a pique of marketing gobbledygook consistent with with the Free Touring moniker coined for boots, the Beast 16 is targeted to “Free Tourers.” Its attractive black and green colors are sure to complement your snazzy Dynafit Vulcan boots and Huascaran skis.
    
    The full set-up: Dynafit Huascaran skis, Vulcan boots, and The Beast 16 binding.
    
    The Beast 16 toepiece. Note that the toe pincers pivot out and in to clamp the boot from the side.
    
    A closer look at the toe piece. Note that the hole patterns will be different.
    
    The center piece in this shot is what you step on with your boot to engage the toe.
    
    First, I'll present some general features of the binding, then follow up with details courtesy of Drew Saunders, director of operations at Dynafit.
    
    General
    
    Some of this general information is further outlined in Dynafit's press release, while some is courtesy of Dynafit.
    
    Sales and accessories details
    
    - Expected price is $1000. Release date is Oct 2013
    
    - Brakes are provided in 105 mm, 120 mm, and 135 mm sizes
    
    - Crampons are in the works
    
    - Limited initial production run of 2,500 units
    
    General gear nerd talk
    
    - The binding mount pattern is unfortunately totally new. Basically, the binding pattern is designed to be wider underfoot. This makes sense given the intended target market that will be mounting this binding on wide skis (the minimum central width for the mount pattern is 80 mm).
    
    - The rear heel fitting is different. Boot retrofit kits can be purchased for any boot where the heel fitting is affixed with screws (I believe this means BD boots are SOL, feel free to point out in the comments any other boots that can't be retrofitted)
    
    - Frameless system – that means no frame is attached to the boot as it lifts in tour mode. This is worth mentioning, as it is a product differentiator from the competition.
    
    - Beast 16 will have 6 mm ramp angle (compared with Vertical/Comfort/Radical ST/FT 17mm ramp, Speed Radical 15mm and Speed Superlight 3mm). At 23 mm (heel) and 17 mm (toe) above the ski, the Beast is designed to have a low binding height.
    
    The Beast 16 heel piece in ski mode, brakes deployed and binding forward on track.
    
    The Beast with heel in tour mode. Such a chunk of metal should impress all the gnar bros.
    
    Close up of the boot-binding engagement point. The metal fangs should contact the boot bail (unknown if that improves retention).
    
    Closeup of the teardrop shaped heel pins.
    
    Closeup of the new heel fittings. Unknown how this will work as a retrofit. Sure hope no dremelling of fancy carbon/Grilamid is involved.
    
    Detailed gear nerd discussion:
    
    Thank you to Dynafit for patience and time answering all these questions.
    
    DIN:

    - The Beast is DIN 16. While all Dynafit binders are developed to ISO 11088 there is not an actual DIN standard for bindings past DIN 12, so that 16 measurement is from Dynafit.

    - DIN Adjustment is only via the heel. The toe release is not adjustable. As with the previous generation tech bindings, vertical and lateral release is adjusted via different screws (see picture 11 and picture above).
    
    Step-In System:
    
    Dynafit touts in the marketing material that the Beast is step-in. It's not quite what one would expect, as one might commonly view as step-in (think Marker, Fritschi or Salomon mechanisms, to cite some examples). You will step into the Beast's toe piece the same way as you step into the previous generation’s toe piece. In other words, there will still be the marrying toe fitting to toe pins fiddle factor, especially in deep snow. Where there is some purported improvement is in the heel, where less entry force is required for the heel. (see picture 5 below). The boot will contact the grey metal jaw and as it does so, depressing the gray metal jaw causes the entire heel unit to slide back on a binding track away from the boot. Once you clear the gray metal jaw, the heel unit slides back into place.
    
    
    
    Toe:
    
    The toe is on a spring mechanism, with a return to centre and rotates/pivots approx 10 -15 deg (see picture 2). While this mechanism lends to elasticity (in the sense of theoretically having some small bump absorption and return-to-center character), there is no adjustment mechanism for the toe.
    
    The toe pin attachment point is angled from the side in contrast to the previous generation Dynafits, where the toe pincers come at the boot tech fittings from the bottom and side. As you step into the center of the toe piece, the toe fittings are on two levers that swing in and engage the boot pins from the side. Theoretically, that side-loaded attachment point, coupled with the fact that the toe can rotate, should add to binding elasticity characteristics.
    
    Heel:
    
    There is forward pressure in the heel. I couldn't see if there was an adjustment mechanism to dial in forward pressure (perhaps that's inherent to the mechanism to adjust for boot sole length?) This should aid elasticity.
    
    Heel and toe attachment points are the same as in previous generation bindings. The heel pins are spring loaded and are guided into the heel insert track, then the spring load forces them back in to the center of the heel insert track (see picture 9). The heel slots are quite a bit wider than the previous generation of Dynafit bindings. Perhaps that, too, aids elasticity in that there is more latitude for the heel to move from side to side — but that's speculation on my part.
    
    One big issue with the previous generation of bindings was over reliance on heel pin strength, in that the entire boot rested on the binding with only incidental contact on the brake pad. With the Beast, the boot now rests on both the pins, plus the brake pad (see picture 8).
    
    Another change is the ovalization of the heel pins (see pictures 3 and 4). Previous generations of Dynafits had round pins, which by their nature only contacted the heel insert at one point. The ovalized pins contact the heel inserts with more surface areas. Better mechanical contact theoretically should result in more solid contact, which should then improve strength and retention, all things being equal.
    
    

    At this point in time, there are only a few athletes on the binding in BC including Hoji, Trevor Hunt and a few of Dynafits reps and marketing people. Skiing and performance impressions accordingly will have to wait.
    
    Shop for you next pair of Dynafit bindings at Backcountry.com

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  • 5 months ago
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• Video: Baby Parkour And Nitro Video: Baby Parkour And Nitro Circus Live In London - Roner Vision

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    
    Erik Roner heads to London to catch up with the Nitro Circus Live crew on this week's Roner Vision. Mixing it up from the usual ski routine, Erik gets in on everyone else's action borrowing Lindsay Pastrana's skateboard to session the Giganta Ramp, pulling a double backflip on James Foster's BMX bike, razor scooter front flips...turns out Roner is a real jack of all stunts. His closest call with death comes as a spectator, check the BMX impact he takes on the sidelines. Meanwhile back in Tahoe little Oskar Roner has been watching too many YouTube videos and takes Parkour to new levels at the playground. No Oskar!

  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
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• Riders, Artist, Musicians, Pro Riders, Artist, Musicians, Projects - RAMP Sports Ramps Up

  • From: brigidmander
  • Description:

    

    In 2010, a new player – RAMP Sports – stepped into a ski production arena full of small, athlete-driven boutique brands like Armada and 4FRNT, not to mention traditional industry powerhouses. The founding dreamer of RAMP (Riders Artists Musicians Project) was not an X-Games star, but 32-year veteran of the ski industry, Mike Kilchenstein.  And apparently, it hasn’t taken long for RAMP’s literally bulletproof skis to start stealing some of the spotlight.
    
    Filling a Park City, Utah, factory with domestically-sourced and produced skis and strict green business practices, RAMP has incorporated aeronautics technology to help make a better board by employing the same technique as composite helicopter blade production.
    
    Kilchenstein’s plan was to create an innovative company that leads by example with a business model that people can be proud of – as well as make boards that the best in the world can shred on. Now not yet two years old, RAMP sports a roster decorated with names like Charles Gagnier, Lindsey Jacobellis, Jess Cumming and Micah Black, as well as a few rock stars and Hollywood names lending support. It’s not a bad showing for an under-the-radar newcomer.
    
    While RAMP’s athletes and team say the skis are incredible to ride, it just may be not only its use of aeronautics engineering, but the commitment to domestic sourcing, made in the USA ethics, and adhering to professed values on green business that has caught a lot of attention. We decided to let Kilchenstein have the platform, to clear the air and explain his company and its product.
    
    RAMP Sports founder Mike Kilchenstein.
    
    We’ve employed vacuum molding technology at our factory, and the new process cleaner and more efficient. But we use more expensive components to make our product better – so we sell direct in order to get the margin we need. Our cores cost three times as much as the standard, Kevlar is seven times the costs of fiberglass, and we use higher quality, US-sourced pine resins, not petrochemical-based ones.
    
    A full-layer of Kevlar is being used on the boards this season. We tested many US-made composites; Kevlar resists stretching much more than fiberglass, and provides much more energy and rebound, and absorbs vibration 8 times better than fiberglass.
    
    We use Forest Stewardship Council-certified, domestic bamboo cores, which are nearly four times as hard as the industry standard of poplar.  The cores are expensive, but enhance performance – they have that rock solid feel you get from metal GS skis, but ours will still bend while freeskiing.
    
    In traditional press molding, the layers of the ski are squashed down at four atmospheres of pressure against a camber plate, in unnatural shapes. The vacuum molding process [that RAMP uses] seems to give the product a dramatically bigger sweet spot. What we do uses a quarter of that pressure, but evenly in every direction, not just down, and retains the natural shape. We found the skis are much easier to use, even our very high-performance boards, as they have a much bigger sweet spot.
    
    We went from zero in sales to $135,000 in our first season, which we considered very good, since nobody had ever heard of us and it was all through our website. Last year it didn’t snow much and the industry plummeted, but we still tripled our business. This season, we plan to triple again, and are so far 600 percent ahead to date on consumer orders. People seem really excited about our new product, our factory, and what we stand for.

    

  • Blog post
  • 8 months ago
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• RAMP Sports RAMP Sports

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:
    RAMP Sports
  • 8 months ago
  • Views: 250
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• RAMP Sports RAMP Sports

  • From: brigidmander
  • Description:
    RAMP Sports
  • 8 months ago
  • Views: 128
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• Interview: Tempting Fear With Interview: Tempting Fear With Andreas Fransson And Mike Douglas

  • From: kimhavell
  • Description:

    It is a human condition to seek adventure and challenge. The temptation to test both possibilities and limits is strong in some — Swedish ski-mountaineer Andreas Fransson pursues this temptation.
    
    On Friday, Oct, 5, at the Adventure Film Festival in Boulder, Colo., Mike Douglas and the team at Switchback Entertainment will premiere a film that traces an astounding few years of global ski adventures in Fransson’s life — “Tempting Fear.” It will show at film festivals worldwide and will release online as part of Season 6 of Salomon Freeski TV in 2013.
    
    Fransson is from the north of Sweden and grew up skiing in the Finnish mountains as well as in Riksgränsen, on the border with Norway at the extreme north of Sweden. From the age of 14 he quit other sports to focus completely on skiing. Finishing school, he did back-to-back seasons in Riksgränsen, the Alps, and Mount Hotham, Australia, earning a living by teaching and guiding skiing. But, it was through the exploration of the Norwegian mountains that he found his passion for steep and wild lines. The next obvious step for him was to move to Chamonix.
    
    I spoke with Douglas, who is in Whistler, Canada, getting films ready for the ski season as well as with Fransson, who is ticking off a few impressive first descents around the magical towers of Patagonia, a region generally known as an alpinist mecca.
    
    Andreas Fransson and Mike Douglas. Photo courtesy Switchback Entertainment.
    
    Part 1: Interview with Mike Douglas
    
    Teton Gravity Research: You dealt with heavy and serious subject matter in a sport that tempts more than just fear- did it scare you making this film?
    
    Mike Douglas: Well, luckily for me, Bjarne Sahlen did all the heavy lifting. He was out there filming Andreas in all the crazy spots, so physically, I had the easy job.  After 'The Freedom Chair', I wanted to do something different. I find Andreas' story and thoughts intriguing. Early on I asked myself if this was the type of project I wanted to take on. The decision wasn't easy. I've lost a lot of friends this year and this film provokes the question of whether or not it's all worth it. It's a question I find myself often asking.
    
    TGR: Why did you feel it was important to tell this story? Why did you decide to do this?
    
    MD: Andreas couldn't be further away from the stereotypical American view of what an 'extreme skier' is. He's calm, thoughtful, intelligent and doing things that nobody else is. I met him after he joined the Salomon team last winter.  At that point we were looking at doing a 5 minute episode of Salomon Freeski TV about him. After reading his blog, I realized that he shared so much insight and information that it would be impossible to do his story justice in a short format.
     
    TGR: What was it like working with Andreas? Did you walk away with a better understanding or respect (or not) of ski mountaineering?
    
    MD: Andreas has been great to work with. He completely put his trust in me. I have full respect for the person he is and what he does, but I don't necessarily agree with all his opinions. After watching the film over and over, I am not really sure what I think. I share a lot of his opinions, but at the same time I think we have different views of risk.
    
    As a filmmaker, I'm just looking for interesting stories. I find the world of alpinism and ski mountaineering interesting and sometimes harsh.  It makes me laugh how uptight people are about the details of how a climb or descent was done. There are people out there who refuse to give Andreas credit for his first descent of the south face of Denali because he had to down climb some sections to stay alive. The nice thing about Andreas is that he doesn't let the haters get to him. He's very comfortable with who he is and what he does.
    
    TGR: What do you admire most about Andreas?
    
    MD: He's a really nice guy! While we were working on the film he came to stay with my family for a week in Whistler.  My wife was impressed with how great of a house-guest he was. She'd have no problem if he wanted to move in with us [haha]. Aside from that, it's his intellect. He's a very smart guy.

    Andreas Fransson. Photo courtesy Switchback Entertainment.
    
    Part 2: Interview with Andreas Fransson
    
    TGR: Did skiing the South Face of Denali put you on the map? And, was it a turning point or a stepping stone?

    Andreas Fransson: On who’s map? I guess it did in the media, but I had done far more difficult things in Chamonix before I went to Alaska to do something I felt that with my experience I could and should pull off. But of course once I had done this better-known line, things got easier with sponsors and the media.  The funny thing is I had no idea of the impact it would have – I just wanted to ski this line.

    TGR: How do you make decisions about risk and routes?
    
    AF: I think it is a very open dialogue in the game of mountain decisions. It usually comes down to how much you want something and how much risk you are willing to take. Then you get to put your values on top of that. Whatever you do other people will judge you. I simply want to do things I define as fun that will give me something, maybe wisdom, in return and at the same time stay alive. There is no law book in the mountains, and one has to meet reality at every instant.
    
    TGR: How did you feel making this film? What do you hope audiences get out of this? Why were you willing to share your journal entries?
    
    AF: It was fun. I learned so much and I got to work with really talented people like Mike and Bjarne. It gave me a medium through which to share my thoughts with others. I made the decision to be open a few years back and I don’t think it would make sense to say no to doing so with an even bigger audience. I hope that people will enjoy listening. I don’t claim to say anything wise or with value in any other sense than it’s fun to ponder the mysteries of life and existence.
    
    TGR: What are your hopes and your future in pushing the limits of skiing?
    
    AF: I can’t promise anyone I will push anything. That’s one of the reasons why I keep quiet about my objectives. I simply don’t know what I will do next year or how my life will change. I feel steep skiing is a very intuitive thing to do. If the mountains, the weather and I are ready at the same moment then something fun can be done, but there might be periods when the combination of these three do not match.
    
    TGR: What is the significance of temptation and risk to you? What scares you?
    
    AF: I don’t fear death, but sometimes I fear not being able to realize the dreams I have. The temptation is to realize dreams before one is ready – the risk is we won’t get the perfection in the match.
    
    TGR: How do you set your mark for risk versus reward?
    
    AF: My gut feeling does it for me. If something feels worth it, I’ll do it. If it doesn’t, I’ll back off!
    
    TGR: How do you decide on your next projects? What are your parameters?
    
    AF: First of all I don’t like to talk about specific projects, but I think there has to be a general challenge involved. It can be difficult, have a rare beauty, be remote, or involve a physical or psychological challenge – any of these can turn on my inspiration.
    
    TGR: What was it like to work on a film of your life as a skier to date? Does it feel like a risk?
    
    AF: It’s great in many ways. And, now I can leave that behind me. The risk I see is that I get to talk more and more about skiing and have less and less time to actually do things. But I think it is part of my journey. First I have to have something to later be able to renounce it. It’s easy talking about renouncing things that are not your reality.
    
    TGR: You are currently doing some exciting descents in Patagonia. Tell us more.
    
    AF: We have two weeks left here. I got help from my friend Colin Haley, who knows this area well. He pointed out the Whillans ramp for me and said it would be one of the greatest ski descents to do in the world. [Note: Fransson did the first descent of this last week.] Once we are here we assess objectives and then go and try to do them. It’s really hard though. No one has ever tried to do the things we are looking at and there is no information. There are really long approaches. But that’s part of the game rules which makes it all much more interesting and fun.
    
    TGR: Tell us about a few of the other things going on that help balance your expeditions.
    
    AF: Yes, I have much to juggle, but I like challenges. I have a wonderful girlfriend with whom I want to spend time. I am working a lot for my sponsors, doing the Swedish mountain guide program, and I’m a ski editor for Epictv.com. I also try to run and climb, and I do yoga every day.
    
    TGR: What do you admire most about Douglas in getting to know him on this project?
    
    AF: Professionalism, creativity, the importance of detail and storytelling - it all comes from Mike so you could definitely say I admire him for that. Also, I’m very impressed with how nice, kind and generous of a person he is.

    

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  • 8 months ago
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• Interview: Julian Carr's Balls Interview: Julian Carr's Balls Are In The Air

  • From: brodyleven
  • Description:

    Discrete Headwear owner and professional skier Julian Carr drinks a beer in Chile. Photo: Chris Bezamat

    Sure, he’s on DVD covers, posters, and probably on top of whatever social media app you’re currently perusing, but Julian Carr does more than style his professional ski career. His business savvy is as on point as anyone else with 40-plus-hour workweeks; the difference lies in his ability to keep his 120-foot frontflips on point, too.
    
    World record holder, Discrete Headwear proprietor, and professional skier Julian Carr has a couple of balls in the air — and not only when he’s dropping cliffs. This week, he’s managing incoming shipments, hiring sales reps, dispersing product to retailers, designing the 2013-’14 line, revamping website content, and handling international brokering. He fails to mention maintaining contact with his thousands of social media followers, fans from around the world, and his entire ski career. All of this after spending the last three weeks in Chile, competing at La Parva’s Eye of the Condor event, which he won (People’s Choice and Best Photo Portfolio).

    Yesterday, I joined Julian for the second of his two time-trial trail runs of the day, on Salt Lake City’s Mount Olympus, bookending his long day at Discrete’s Salt Lake City headquarters.

    BRODY: Rank your abilities: 1) Skiing off 100-foot cliffs; 2) Instagramming; 3) Dog-owning; 4) Business-operating.
    
    JULIAN: 1) Decent; 2) Have a ways to go to catch @brodyleven; 3) Crush it; 4) Always learning.
    
    BRODY: Why did you start Discrete Headwear?
    
    JULIAN: Because I love creating stuff that people dig. I’m so appreciative of each of Discrete’s customers.
    
    BRODY: With the optimism of a skier, I will now claim summer to be officially over. So, given summer’s recent end, how did you spend the miserable season-that-shall-not-be-named?
    
    JULIAN: Europe in May, NYC, Vegas, Portland and Denver a couple times each, Bend, San Fran, Sonoma, South America. Portland has the best trail running and is home to my sister’s family and my mom. Vegas is the wildest. New York was a lot of working. Denver is where Icelantic, Spyder, and some new business relationships are based, so it rules. I raced $150,000 Audi R8’s in Sonoma’s Sears Point Raceway during the GoPro athlete retreat. That was so radical. Between trips I hang and hike and water ramp in Salt Lake. I work on Discrete wherever I roam, but have an incredible team holding down the fort when I’m away.
    
    Julian Carr at Discrete HQ. Photo: Brody Leven
    
    BRODY: Your social media following is more likened to a celebrity than a skier. How did that come to be and what does it mean to you?
    
    JULIAN: My nose for action is always sniffing and it’s super fun to interact with everyone. Thanks y’all!
    
    BRODY: Everyone knows you won two of the three awards at Eye of the Condor in La Parva. Last time I was there, I was living in a snow cave, hitchhiking to the mountain, and trying to find lift tickets. How are Condor athletes treated? Do you get discount lift tickets!?
    
    JULIAN: Between the marketing department, Mike Reff, and the mountain host, Rodrigo Medina, they took care of us. We skied, slept, ate and were merry. Very merry. It was cool being there with some heavy hitters like Rachael Burks, Ingrid, Davenport, Adam Clark, Sherry McConkey, Kaylin Richardson, Parker Cook, Bezamat, Roderick, the Widsix crew, the Icelantic crew and local Chileans.
    
    BRODY: I heard you got sponsored.
    
    JULIAN: Icelantic, Spyder, GoPro, Discrete, Backcountry.com, Smith, POW gloves, Suunto, Panda Poles, MFD bindings.
    
    BRODY: …speaking of bikinis, what is your ideal vacation?
    
    JULIAN: My own bed.
    
    Julian Carr goes big in the office. Photo by Brody Leven.
    
    Carr obviously has an undying and atypical desire to succeed. And while we all hold different definitions of success, it’s hard to disagree with Julian’s tireless work ethic, vigorous drive to be the best skier/CEO/person he can be, and ambitious determination in both the mountains and the office.

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• News: Snowboard Garden Festiva News: Snowboard Garden Festival 2012 – Movies, Art, Action

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    

     

    Grenoble, France – On October 11, 12 and 13 the Snowboard Garden Festival will once again take over Grenoble’s Parc Paul Mistral, bringing together production companies, the snowboarding industry and international level riders for three whole days.

    This year the festival will evolve around the Film-Art- Action triptych, and the awards ceremony will be held Friday night, rewarding the work of the best French riders of the 2011-'012 season. The whole French snowboarding scene will be present, and the garden party after the ceremony is sure to be rich with emotion.

    International Snowboard Films Festival

    An international selection of movies will be presented on a cinema screen. The projection will take place in a 600-seat pavilion, decorated with "snowboard art" , and access to the screenings will be entirely free, as for everything in  the Village. Riders and directors will present their movies, and will tell stories from the past winter to give a glimpse of how things work behind the scenes.

    Films presented will include :

    2112 from Standard Films
    The Dark Side from Videograss
    Eurotic from Lipstick Productions
    5 More Minutes Please from What We Want Films
    Resonance from Absinthe Films
    1000 Bornes from Almo Films
    Fool's Gold from Isenseven
    White Grave from Ero One Films
    Unique8 from Pirate Movie Productions
    Too from Givin Vids

    The Films Festival jury, made up of representatives of specialized media, will reward the work of the riders and directors at the festival’s closing ceremony with a selection of prizes.

    ART

    There will be a cobranded Spacejunk Art Center, art exhibitions and live performances in collaboration with major brands, a cobranded ACT Snowboarding photo exhibition that will bring together a dozen professional photographers (including a few international surprises), as well as a Snowboard Retrospective with vintage equipment and videos from the legends of the snowboarding world.

    ACTION TIME

    In a season where any true snowboarder is starting to wish for the first snowflakes and is getting the itch to be back on the snow, two novel board sports structures and a mini skateboard ramp will be present to fulfill those budding desires.

    The 7,000 square-meter SGF village will encompass two giant marquees, three dozen stands from the snowboarding industry, and as many animations as are designed to give out goodies, 1,000 square meters of covered terraces where you can enjoy a drink or a quick snack while protected from the elements, and most of all, numerous pro riders walking around in plain sight .

    In short: 3 days of 100% free Movies, Art and Action, big Garden Parties, Awards, Professional Snowboarders, Directors, Animations, and Goodies to be won. 

     

    Click Here To Visit The Snowboard Garden Festival Facebook Page

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• News: Momentum Splashdown To S News: Momentum Splashdown To Showcase World's Top Freestyle Skiers At Blackcomb

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    Whistler, BC - The third annual Momentum Splashdown will take place July 18, 2012, at the Blackcomb water ramp in Whistler B.C. from 4 - 6 p.m. This fun and spectacular event will showcase some of the best freestyle skiers in the world performing high flying multiple twisting flips and spins. AFP Champion Gus Kenworthy and X Games medalist James 'Woodsy' Woods will be among the competitors, as well as World Cup Mogul Champion Mikael Kingsbury and other members of the national freestyle team. Up and coming young Momentum campers will have the chance to compete against their coaches and idols.
    
    Come relax beside the refreshing pool, win prizes and let the world's best skiers thrill and entertain you!

    For more, check out momentumcamps.com

    

    

    

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  • 11 months ago
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• The Launcher The Launcher

  • From: campofchampionsbc
  • Description:

    The Launcher at the Compound Base was invented by Camp Of Champions and MSnow to replace water ramp facilities. Jump more, hike less and never swim. You can learn more tricks in an afternoon than you would believe. They start you out at 15 mph to let you get the feel of sliding on their dryslope, and then as you get comfortable with the system you can name the speed you want, up to 35 mph, to do the trick you want. Life is good at COC. Get Stoked!

  • 11 months ago
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• Bounce 2012 Bounce 2012

  • From: campofchampionsbc
  • Description:

    Bounce is in the Whistler Village, British Columbia. Campers learn how to do tricks on trampolines before taking them to the snow.

  • 11 months ago
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• Video: Roner Vision: Erik And Video: Roner Vision: Erik And Oskar Take Over Nitro Circus Live Australia

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    
    
    
    

    If you thought a shattered femur and dislocated shoulder were going to keep Erik Roner from participating in Nitro Circus's annual barnstorming of Australian stadiums on the Nitro Circus Live tour, then you haven't been paying attention. Get a Roner-eye view of the infamous Giganta Ramp, the dreaded Loop, the return of Wheelz, and little Oskar stepping in to take over his proud papa's spot in the live show.

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  • 11 months ago
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• News: Lib Tech EnvironMental S News: Lib Tech EnvironMental Surfboards Dang Difficult To Ding

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    Near Canada, USA - In a wave to mutilate the environmental and durability issues that have plagued traditional shaping practices and surfboards, Lib Tech, manufacturer of the world’s most environMENTAL snowboards, NAS, and skateboards have announced the launch of their Waterboard line. The Waterboard is a culmination of three decades spent surfing and experimenting with eco-radical watercraft by Lib Tech founder, chief surfboard designer, and composites guru, Mike Olson. Distribution of Waterboards from Lib Tech’s laboratory in Near Canada, USA, will begin in select shops on the West Coast, and will also be available online at libtechwaterboarding.com.
    
    Generated through Isotropic conFusion, the Waterboard is a homogenous gathering of 31 classified eco materials and components. They ride with the panache of a traditional polyester board, though as stated by Olson, “Every material used is completely new to surfboards. Every technique is completely unique---to any industry. It’s not only a new way of making surfboards, it’s a whole new way to make anything.”  These new environMENTALLY nicer technologies need no sandpaper, paint brushes, tape, or solvents except water. The de-classified components include:
    
    2D2D Volcanic Organic Basalt Honeycomb Technology: Lib Tech is the first to use Basalt in surfboard design. Volcanic Organic Basalt Honeycomb Technology is an incredibly strong, impact resistant layering of fibers that withstands heel kicks, has no additives, and is extremely lively underfoot. This technology is 2D2D - Dang Difficult to Ding!
    
    The Powerpop Airspring Foam Core: A lightweight foam composed of an exclusive closed-cell alloy formula that will not absorb water, has elastic qualities like a trampoline, contains up to 50% recycled content, and uses ozone friendly blowing agents. 100% of the off-cut foam produced while shaping is then recycled into new blanks. This is a new foam formula that didn't exist a year ago.
    
    LVR43 High Rebound Matrix: Instead of toxic industry-standard polyester resin or old-fashioned epoxy, Olson created LVR43 High Rebound Matrix, a chemistry that has higher elongation, extreme ding resistance, and responsive rebound.
    
    Elastomatrix Perimeter 2D2D Dampening Web: Rails are wrapped in rubberized metallic fibers to give the boards a silky smooth ride even in choppy conditions, and are also 2D2D.
    
    Lib Tech Leash Plug: It’s still just a leash plug, but it’s different. Lib Tech’s newly designed leash plug featuring an anodized 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum pin that will never rust and a super lightweight fiber-composite cup.
    
    MO BOX Fin System: To increase the adjustability of fin placement, all Waterboards feature Lib Tech’s new MO BOX fin system and come with four of Lib Tech’s new Maximum Intensity Leading Foil (M.I.L.F) fins, including a smaller trailer fin. The user has the freedom to adjust their fin to the fore or aft by 5/8th of an inch, creating a personalized fin setup for different conditions and styles of wave riding. The fin boxes are chemically and physically integrated into the board, and fit both Lib Tech’s new M.I.L.F Fin System, and the FCS fin system.
    
    Mike Olson and co-conspirator craftsman, Jeff Henderson, broke down every element of surfboard design in Lib Tech’s windowless Waterboard lab to build maximum functionality into the lineup. Ergonomic elements including grab rails (small channels on the rails) for maximum hold while duck diving and performing aerials, and a concave deck for rib comfort are standard in every Waterboard shape series; Ramp, Bowl, and Vert. These shapes were created to provide maximum eco-radicalness on the wave face and beyond: Ramp - A magically fast, short, and wide, low rocker series with a speedy thumb-tail and flipped stub-nose. A surf skate tailored to accelerate and take you over the coping in small to medium waves. This is a punk rock grovel master, air blaster, mini slasher!  Bowl - A magically fast quiver-killer in small to overhead waves, featuring a wide, speedy thumb-tail and pulled-in nose for aggressive modern performance. Medium-low rocker skates through flats sections and provides enough banana to pull through on pitching takeoffs. This is Lib Tech’s most versatile shape. Vert - A high performance design for high performance waves. Pulled nose, squared thumb-tail, increased rocker. Meant to be ridden at standard lengths and widths. Get pitted.
    
    For people who enjoy sliding sideways with art underneath their feet, Waterboards are available with the sublimated works of renown Lib Tech artists Jamie Lynn, Quincy Quigg, and Ryan Davis. For the purist, Waterboards are also available without graphics.

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  • 1 year ago
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• Mikey Basich's Big Boy Toys At Mikey Basich's Big Boy Toys At Area 241

  • From: shayjohnson
  • Description:

    When it comes to boys and their toys, pro-snowboarder Mike Basich stands out from the crowd. He’s built his own mountain playground in California, Area 241, on Donner Summit complete with a full-scale groomer. He’s designed the ultimate snow-chasing vehicle, and continues to expand his mecca with new inventions.
    
    It all began when Mike Basich bought the land near Donner Summit in North Lake Tahoe. Located three miles from the closest plowed road, he built his home in an area known for deep snow that requires more than a four wheel drive vehicle to get home. With an assortment of vehicles from a full-scale resort groomer to snowmobiles, it looks like Basich won’t be joining the Donner party anytime soon.
    
    Get outta Dodge: Mikey Basich transformed his Dodge truck into a snowboarder's dream rig.
    
    When it came time to search for a vehicle to take Basich to his next travel destination, he knew he was looking for a truck that could be converted into much more. 
    
    “I needed a vehicle that gave me the freedom of moving with weather and snow patterns,” Basich said. His checklist of diesel, horsepower, miles per gallon, stock parts and design were met with a Dodge truck. Instead of going the typical trailer route to haul his sled, he opted to design his own custom rig that combined sleep quarters with a sled carrier to handle the snowy roads from California to Alaska.
    
    “It happened really fast,” he said. “I went from the tradeshow to meet with sponsors to help raise money for the truck. GoPro was first on board from the beginning to make it happen. By the time I left the tradeshow, I had three weeks ’til Alaska. It was built in 17 days, roughly 12-14 hours a day.”
    
    From design to welding, here Basich transforms his truck into the ultimate mountain rig.
    
    The finished product is a completely redesigned Dodge truck with an insulated, carpeted, rear sleeping area complete with lighting. On the roof is the snowmobile ramp with a hydraulic backend that lifts up for more room in the sleeping quarters. The front seats spin around so you can sit comfortably facing the rear of the vehicle. It’s not just for winter, either. In the summer, you can take the canvas off to enjoy the cool summer breeze.
    
    When you live three miles from the nearest plowed road in Tahoe, you need a different kind of vehicle to access your mountain home. Four years ago, he replaced his first snowcat with a full resort groomer that he calls the “best thing he’s ever bought in his life.” With the amount of torque and power, now he can build roads, access new terrain and build his own features worthy of a backcountry freestyle contest.
    
    “I haven’t touched a shovel since I bought it.” Neither would we.
    
    “I needed something to get up and down with,” said Mike Basich.  “Now I’m using it for a lot of different things. In the spring when there’s still snow, I use it go get dead standing trees, haul them down and mill the wood in my sawmill to help build my cabin and other projects.”
    
    In the winter, the snowcat allows for him to build challenging and rewarding freestyle riding to his backcountry playground. In the beginning JP Martin taught him park building techniques of how to push and pack snow to make it last longer. Now he can hop in, build a 16-foot wide corduroy takeoff into bottomless powder and session it for hours.
    
    “It’s not like you spend half a day building a kicker that gets tracked out and it’s done,” said Mike Basich. “It doesn’t end there. My snowcat lets you keep going with the freedom of fresh lines, building stuff and waiting for it to snow.”
    
    Transforming backcountry access from sleds to SUV’s.
    
    Despite not having much of a sled selection, Basich makes use of what he’s got at Area 241. His mid-1990s air-cooled 380 Ski Doo has been something he really values for handling a variety of conditions from mud to snow throughout the seasons. He’s even snowmobiled over to Sugarbowl Ski Resort in the middle of winter. On the property are two other sleds that are newer that belong to friends and family who frequent the property.
    
    When his mom decided to get rid of her old SUV, it wasn’t put to waste just yet. Mike created his own homemade, true snowmobile lug tracks that could be driven in mud, snow, and pavement with the SUV. It lasted a year as a passenger vehicle for the drive to Area 241. In its final days it powered a towrope on the property before heading to the junkyard.
    
    With a fair share of challenges and inventions, Basich continues to build on his endeavors with toys that can handle the snow. It won’t be long before he’s riding the steepest lines in AK with his truck parked at the bottom awaiting him.
    
    For more, visit www.241-usa.com

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• News: RAMP Sports Announces U. News: RAMP Sports Announces U.S. Production

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    

    At a time when companies are moving their production to China, Taiwan, and Eastern Europe, RAMP has developed a new, more modern patent-pending manufacturing process. This new process produces a high-performance product offering complete flexibility in shape and ski design. Having total control over quality, R&D, and materials is a major development.

    Since the 1960s, skis have been molded using very large presses that are incredibly expensive and result in a process that is not clean or efficient. They also require very expensive aluminum molds carved out with a cavity for every model and every size. These molds are typically at least $6,000 a piece. These presses compress the layers against a camber plate at 4 bars of pressure, forcing the layers into un-natural shapes resulting in a very small sweet spot and loss of material benefits. With the new process RAMP has invented, the huge, old presses are avoided by using a more modern vacuum-molding system like what is used to make a composite blade for a helicopter. With vacuum molding, the pressure is equal in every direction and about 25 percent as much—the layers aren’t forced into any shape between the contact points. The camber results from the thermal expansion characteristics of each layer. This provides a much greater sweet spot and maximum material benefit. As RAMP doesn’t need to use traditional molds, this process allows for ultimate creativity in shape. This allows for incredible innovation—to be able to test and make any shape at will—instead of being stuck with molds that quickly become outdated in this fast-moving design environment. In addition, RAMP is using U.S.-made machines and U.S.-made materials such as bases, resins, sublimation materials and composites in order to support the “Made in America” attitude that has become so critical to an economic recovery and a new era of U.S. manufacturing.

    The way manufacturing migrated out of the U.S. is an interesting study. Companies took their exact same machines and processes and moved them as they were to places with cheap labor to make the same types of products at an inexpensive price. What RAMP is doing is spearheading an initiative to create a new, cleaner, more efficient process using materials that are better (e.g., a resin that uses pine by-products versus petro-chemicals, a much greener epoxy; an FSC Fully Certified Bamboo Core that is four times as hard as a normal poplar core, which provides an incredibly, solid precise feel. And yet, a core three times as expensive as what the other companies use but is so strong it eliminates the need for plastic sidewalls). By throwing out the old processes, RAMP is convinced U.S. companies can produce and thrive in America.

    It is a fact that most of the best selling models of skis and snowboards in the U.S. are made in China by companies such as K2 and Burton, brands that used to produce in America but now pay people—who have never skied or even seen snow—$200/month. RAMP is not willing to accept this and is excited to use the new technological advances it developed to offset this cheap labor and lack of environmental responsibility. For this season, RAMP will produce all adult skis, the following season snowboards as well.

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  • 1 year ago
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• RAMP RAMP

  • From: media-75233
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  • 1 year ago
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• Arapahoe Basin Closes for the Arapahoe Basin Closes for the 2011-2012 Season Sunday, May 6

  • From: media-75233
  • Description:

    

    Arapahoe Basin, CO  – Arapahoe Basin Ski Area will close for the 2011-2012 ski season this Sunday, May 6, 2012.  As hard as the staff has tried to keep the ski area open through May, unseasonably warm weather and lack of snowfall has brought the ski season to an early end.

    “This was a very tough decision.  Sometimes Mother Nature tells us it is time and, sadly, it is time to close,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin COO.   The season did have its high points with bluebird skies and an early opening.  A-Basin had one of its earliest openings on record on October 13, 2011 and by Sunday will have been open for 207 days.

    Join us at the Basin this weekend for a final weekend party.  On Saturday, May 5, take part in the Huck, Rock and Roll slopestyle event in the Treeline Terrain Park beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Compete for a chance to win cash prizes, sponsor gear and a RAMP snowboard.  John Truscelli and the Stolen Band will begin their free concert at 1:00 p.m. in the base area.  A-Basin will also be holding a luau and pig roast on Saturday. On Sunday, enjoy live music in the base area from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and get your last turns in on the slopes.

    Arapahoe Basin will be holding its inaugural Chili Festival on Saturday, May 19 and its Festival of the Brewpubs on May 27, 2012 with free live music in the base area.  A full calendar of summer events are also planned.  For more information on A-Basin events and closing day weekend, please visit the website www.arapahoebasin.com or call 1-888-ARAPAHOE.

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  • 1 year ago
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• Erik Roner - GoPro TGR Athlete Erik Roner - GoPro TGR Athlete Video Series Season 2 Episode 9

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Alaska has been going off this year.  Join Erik Roner in Haines as he shreds some big lines early season with Seth Morrison.  The conditions could not get any better for the boys.  Spines, ramps and deep pow - oh my….
    
    The GoPro TGR Athlete Video Series follows TGR athletes through the lens of their GoPro. Episodes are shot exclusively on the GoPro HD HERO2 and have been edited by the athletes themselves.
    
    Click Here To Watch More GoPro Athlete Videos 

  • 1 year ago
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