492 Search Results for "sports"

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

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    EYE OF THE CONDOR 3 from La Parva on Vimeo.

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

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• Stevens Pass: More Snow Than H Stevens Pass: More Snow Than Hype

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
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    Words and Images by Joey Mara

    The Cascades are loaded with underrated gems—and Stevens Pass is definitely one of them. Not only is the resort peppered with steep terrain, it also enjoys massive storms that make the mountain a freerider’s dream. Only eighty miles from downtown Seattle, Stevens Pass has been slinging lift tickets for seventy-five years. In that time, it’s been responsible for more than a few people calling in sick to sample the latest storm. With ten lifts serving 1,125 acres spread between the mountain’s front and backside, the resort accommodates skiers and riders of all ability levels. Nonetheless, the mountain is best known for its expert terrain.

    

    No one disputes that the snow in the Pacific Northwest is deep, yet its quality is often up for debate. A few locals will come clean, however, and reveal that labels like “cascade concrete” are misnomers designed to keep tourists away. The snow at Stevens is premium—and thanks to receiving over 450 inches of snow annually, there’s plenty of pow to go around. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the mountain to see upwards of 650 inches in a season.  

    

    After a storm, however, the snow at Stevens is typically measured in feet thanks to a unique weather phenomenon known as the Puget Sound Convergence Zone. West of Seattle, the Olympic Mountains split incoming storm tracks, forcing their wind and moisture to divide to the north and south and collide again when they converge at the Cascades. This concentrates precipitation in the vicinity of Stevens Pass. Consequently, storms may hammer the mountain while other resorts in the state receive only a fraction of this snowfall. Needless to say, the storms at Stevens make dreams come true—just come prepared with a snorkel. In December of 2012, for example, a storm dropped 39 inches at the base of Stevens and sixty inches at its summit in just a twenty-four hour period.

    

    Stevens Pass lacks the glamour (and excessive amenities) of a mega resort—and that’s fine with those who call the mountain home. For the courageous, Stevens has plenty of steep lines—perfect for those who like to push limits and occasionally piss their pants. Pillows, chutes, steeps, cliffs, and spines all litter the mountain, while the tree skiing is also world class. It might be worth befriending a local when you come to Stevens, as much of this terrain can be elusive to the uninitiated. To further maximize your time at Stevens, be ready for some serious storm riding. Locals revel in the free refills provided by Steven’s heavy snowfall. The mountain’s night skiing can also add a new dimension to chasing powder. And if you’re fortunate enough to catch a bluebird day, Cowboy and Rooster Ridges provide an ample canvas for laying down creative lines. It should come as no surprise that skiers and riders can explore Stevens season after season and continue to find new zones.

    Stevens Past to Present Celebrating 75 Years! from Joey mara on Vimeo.

    For those prepared to venture outside the access gates, the backcountry at Stevens Pass is the real deal. Due to the high amount of snow and steep terrain, avalanches occur frequently. Adding to the danger, visibility can change rapidly. That being said, a wealth of ridges, back bowls, and peaks can be accessed via the lifts or by touring from the highway or nordic trails. Much of Steven’s backcountry dumps skiers at the highway, enabling them to easily hitch a ride back to the resort.

    

    In addition to its natural terrain, Stevens Pass boasts a solid park. The Top Phlight park crew spends its days prepping dozens of rails and kickers of all sizes. Stevens also has one of the few halfpipes in the state of Washington. Thanks to the diversity of its terrain, the mountain is a breeding ground for well-rounded rippers.

    

    Stevens has remained under the radar thanks, in part, to a lack of accommodations at its base. For those wishing to stay close to the slopes, a variety of rental cabins are available on both sides of the pass. Most visitors, however, stay in or around the town of Leavenworth on the east side of the pass. Located forty-five minutes from Stevens, Leavenworth sports a Bavarian theme and offers plenty of entertainment for those looking to kick back and slip off their boots. During the winter months, the town is lit up with Christmas lights and the streets are packed with Seattleites hoping to escape the city, shop, and enjoy some food and drinks at German pubs. For those looking for no-frills lodging, the small towns of Skykomish and Gold Bar on the Seattle side of the pass offer affordable options.

    

    Stevens will never be a Whistler or an Aspen—and it does not want to be such a resort. And while the scene is mellow, the mountain is not. Needless to say, Stevens has no shortage of challenging terrain—and good company with whom to explore it. The people are friendly and the snow is deep. If you measure your seasons in faceshots and high fives, Stevens might be your soulmate.

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• Rahlves' Banzai Tour Finishes Rahlves' Banzai Tour Finishes Strong

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

     

    Truckee, Calif. (March 12, 2013) –Throughout the past two months, skiers, snowboarders and spectators alike have descended upon the Tahoe area to compete in and watch the rowdiest race in the Sierra. Rahlves’ Banzai Tour brought in tough competition from across the country to four renown Lake Tahoe resorts for the ultimate test of ski and riding skills.  The tour also entertained guests with quintessential pre and après ski parties, exciting results, and photo finishes.  

    Starting at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, athletes were challenged by “The Wall,” which proved to be one of the most challenging races to date, as competitors had to drop into an intimidating 20 ft. vertical wall right out of the gate. For the second tour stop hosted at Alpine Meadows, athletes were tested with fast and rough terrain, while spectators were entertained with the closest and most dramatic photo finish in Banzai history. With warm spring-like weather on the first day of the Squaw Valley tour stop, and formidable conditions on Sunday, Squaw tested the resilience of Rahlves’ Banzai Tour, as well as the dedication of tour participants. However, with fresh snow in the forecast, Rahlves’ Banzai Tour rallied for the final tour stop at Sugar Bowl Resort, home of the original Silver Belt Banzai.  

    The Sugar Bowl Final and Super Final concluded the tour in true Banzai style, complete with strong competition paired with music, barbecue, libations and the beloved Banzai atmosphere of camaraderie and healthy competition. Banzai veterans Johnny Bochenek, Kyle Coxon and John Lange took the top spots for men’s skiing during the Silver Belt, which also qualified Lange as the final athlete to compete in the Super Final. Men’s snowboarded Chelone Miller raced to first in the Silver Belt, while women’s snowboarder Kiana Putman and women’s skier Shannon Rahlves both secured the top spot in their respective categories. The men’s Super Final provided drama and a $5,000 paycheck to Salt Lake City skier Kyle Coxon. “The Sugar Bowl final and Super Final were awesome,” said Daron Rahlves. “It was a beautiful day, fans lined the course and the athletes delivered a great show. I wanted to be skiing in the Super Final, but instead was an excited fan like the rest watching and stoked for Kyle Coxon taking home the 5 grand. I will be back in the Super Final next year so those boys better start training now ha, ha.  I’m so grateful to my wife and kids for the endless support, all the sponsors, the fans and athletes for making this year’s tour the best yet. ”

     

    2013 Sugar Bowl Silver Belt Banzai Top Finishers Included:

    • Men Ski    1st Johnny Bochenek; 2nd Kyle Coxon;          3rd John Lange

    • Men Snowboard    1st Chelone Miller;     2nd Sylvain Duclos;     3rd Lucas Dehmlow 

    • Women Ski            1st Shannon Rahlves;  2nd Shelly Robertson; 3rd Hannah Jermstad

    • Women Snowboard    1st Kiana Putman;       2nd Macy Price;           3rd Carrie Hall

     

    2013 RBT Overall Top Finishers Included:

    • Men Ski          1st Johnny Bochenek;  2nd Kyle Coxon;         3rd John Lange

    • Men Snowboard  1st Chelone Miller;      2nd Lucas Dehmlow;  3rd Adam DeVargas

    • Women Ski        1st Shannon Rahlves;  2nd Shelly Robertson; 3rd Hannah Jermstad, 

    • Women Snowboard    1st Casey Lucas;          2nd Macy Price;          3rd Anna Weber

     

    2013 RBT total prize purse winnings:

     

    Men Ski

    •Johnny Bochenek$14,200

    •Kyle Coxon  $9,500

    •Jesse Maddex$3,900

    •John Lange$2,600

     

    Men Snowboard

    •Chelone Miller$8,150

    •Lucas Dehmlow$2,900

    •Adam DeVargas$2,150

     

    Women Ski

    •Shannon Rahlves$6,750

    •Shelly Robertson$2,000

    •Hannah Jermstad$1,000

     

    Women Snowboard

    •Casey Lucas$2,550

    •Macy Price$1,100

    •Iris Lazzareschi$750

     

    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 Rahlves’ Banzai Tour and expanding to stops at four of Lake Tahoe's premier resorts.

    The Rahlves Banzai tour is presented by Bank of The West. The Rahlves Banzai Tour is also supported by sponsors such as Red Bull, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Contour, CEP “intelligent sportswear”, North Lake Tahoe Chamber/VCB/Resort Association, Spyder, Atomic, Start Haus Ski Shop, Wend Wax, COAL, SVE/BOSE, The Bar Effect, World Cup Supply, Jagermeister, Snow Fest, Sports Insurance, Technical Equipment Cleaners, Resort at Squaw Creek, ZINKA, 101.5 Truckee Tahoe Radio, Tahoe TV, POWDER Mag, High Fives Foundation and CRUX Events, thereby creating an alluring $80,000 prize purse. For more information, to check out previous race results, videos and to register, visit www.rahlvesbanzai.com. For up-to-the-minute news, “Like” The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour on Facebook and follow @RahlvesBanzai on Twitter & download the free Official Banzai App on your smart phone at banzai.genzplay.com

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• Jeremy Jones Asks Obama To Ste Jeremy Jones Asks Obama To Step Up Climate Game

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    (Washington, D.C.) - Warning that “winter is in trouble,” 75 Olympic medalists and other winter sports athletes – including White House “Champion of Change” awardee and pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones – are sending a letter to President Obama today urging the President to take action on climate and clean energy.

    The representatives of the global snow sports community signing the letter include X Games champions and World Champion snowboarders, alpine/Nordic skiers and professional climbers, including:

    • Olympic gold and silver medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA)

    • Olympic silver medalist and four-time X Games gold medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO)

    • 10-time Big Mountain Rider of the Year Jeremy Jones (Truckee, CA)

    • Olympic silver medalist, three-time World champion, seven-time X Games champion Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton, VT)

    • Two-time Olympian and six-time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Truckee, CA)

    • Olympic gold & silver medalist, six-time X Games medalist, six-time World Cup champion Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT)

    • 2010 Olympian, Nordic skier Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK)

    • Five-time winner Powder Magazine’s Best Female Performer Ingrid Backstrom (Seattle, WA)

    • Two-time World Freeskiing champion Chris Davenport (Aspen, CO)

    • Two-time World Freeeskiing champion, Kit Deslauriers (Jackson, WY)

    • 2013 World champion, X Games medalist Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO)

    For a full list of signers, go to protectourwinters.org/athleteletter.

    “Without a doubt, winter is in trouble,” the letter states. “… at risk are the economies of tourist-dependent states where winter tourism generates $12.2 billion in revenue annually, supports 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries.  Those are the jobs and businesses owned by our friends and families, generators of billions in federal and state income.”

    Jones is being honored on April 11 at a White House ceremony along with other “Champions of Change,” in recognition of “ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”

    Jones is being recognized for his contribution to raising awareness about the impact of climate change on the winter sports industry by creating Protect Our Winters (POW), a foundation established in 2007 to unite and mobilize the global winter sports community against climate change.

    “This nomination is an absolute honor for me and the work we're doing at POW.  But it's now my responsibility to take this recognition and help secure a place in the climate discussions in Washington. The letter that's been enthusiastically signed by so many amazing athletes is a strong showing of solidarity from the leaders in snow sports on climate action, so together, we have to keep that momentum going,” Jones said.

    The letter to the president references a December 2012 report published by Protect Our Winters and the Natural Resources Defense Council highlighting the economic impact of inconsistent winters on the U.S. snow sports community and tourism-dependent states.  (See protectourwinters.org/climate_report/.)

    The athletes’ letter calls on Obama to follow through on the promise he made in the State of the Union address to fight climate change. He can do so by using executive authority currently available to reduce carbon pollution emitted by America’s power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution worsening climate change, and by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, which would add millions of tons of new carbon pollution to the atmosphere.  

    “Mr. President, it’s time to force our transition to clean energy, and we need your leadership,” the letter states. “…on behalf of 23 million of us who love winter and depend on it for our economic livelihoods, please take the action on climate change you have promised.”

    The full text of the letter follows:

     

    Dear President Obama,

    During the recent State of the Union address, you urged Congress to “get together, pursue a bipartisan market-based solution to climate change...but if Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will.“

    As professional athletes, representing a community of 23 million winter sports enthusiasts, we’re witnessing climate change first-hand. Last year was the warmest year on record, and once again, we’re currently experiencing another winter season of inconsistent snow and questionable extremes. Without a doubt, winter is in trouble.

    And with this lack of consistent snow, at risk are the economies of tourist-dependent states where winter tourism generates $12.2 billion in revenue annually, supports 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries. Those are the jobs and businesses owned by our friends and families, generators of billions in federal and state income.

    The good news is that because we know this warming is human-caused, we can do something about it and it can be done, now, from limiting carbon pollution from our nation's dirty power plants to rejecting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

    First, it is time to tackle pollution from the biggest emitters in the United States: power plants. We’re asking for you to issue standards under the Clean Air Act that cut carbon pollution from America’s aging power plant fleet - at least 25 percent by 2020, while boosting energy efficiency and shifting to clean energy sources. Power plants are our largest source of carbon pollution. Cleaning them up will create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs, meet the pollution targets set for the country, and restore U.S. international leadership.

    Furthermore, we urge you to reject dirty fuels like tar sands. Specifically, reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which is not in our national interest because it would unlock vast amounts of additional carbon that we can’t afford to burn, extend our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels, endanger health and safety, and put critical water resources at risk.

    Mr. President, it’s time to force our transition to clean energy, these are the first big steps and we need your leadership.

    Again, on behalf of 23 million of us who love winter and depend on it for our economic livelihoods, please take the action on climate change you have promised.

    Thank you.

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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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• TGR Acquires World's Most Adva TGR Acquires World's Most Advanced Gyro-Stabilized Camera Platform

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Teton Gravity Research Aerial Reel - The Bay Area in 4K from Teton Gravity Research on Vimeo.

    (Teton Village, Wyo.) - Award-winning action sports production company and lifestyle brand Teton Gravity Research (TGR) has become the first to acquire the new Gyro-Stabilized Systems (GSS) C520 system, the most advanced five-axis gyro-stabilized camera platform in the world. GSS, which specializes in the development of leading-edge camera systems and other custom stabilization technologies, has awarded TGR a number of exclusive benefits that position TGR as the premier carrier of this platform.

    The GSS C520 is the first fully upgradable and interchangeable portable gyro-stabilized system, able to accommodate a range of existing cameras like the RED Epic and Sony F55 that shoot at 4K resolution, as well as future advancements in camera technology. The portable platform allows TGR to capture stunning, Ultra HD cinema, about four times the resolution of regular 1080p HD. Widely predicted to become the new worldwide standard for HD programming, 4K footage approaches the limits of what the human eye can process. The Cineflex Elite, the current leading gyro-stabilized camera system, maxes out at 2K (just above 1080p).

    “In terms of technological adoption, this may be the most significant step TGR has ever taken,” proclaims Steve Jones, TGR co-founder. “We’re able to mount the GSS system on helicopters, automobiles, boats, planes, and all sorts of other vehicles to shoot the most stable, crisp, clear aerial/motion shots ever captured. In the near future, people will come to expect their content in 4K, and TGR will lead this Ultra HD movement through our feature films, television series, and commercial work.“

    “The GSS C520 is the most highly sophisticated 4K digital cinema system in the world,” adds Todd Jones, TGR co-founder. “This platform has the potential to redefine aerial cinematography at the highest levels of filmed entertainment and reshape the way we see motion pictures.”

    “We’re longtime fans of TGR’s athlete-driven productions in some of the world’s wildest environments, so they are a logical launch partner for us,” says Jason Fountaine, GSS Managing Director. “It’s taken us almost two years of development to bring this system to market, and TGR will have the first chance to show everyone what’s possible. We can’t wait to see what’s created with it.”

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• Sessions Outerwear Celebrates Sessions Outerwear Celebrates 30 Years With The Shane McConkey Signature Jacket

  • From: mikehardaker
  • Description:

    
    In celebration of 30 years of excellence, Sessions Outwear is bringing back the Shane McConkey signature jacket.  Featuring 20,000mm Waterproof/15,000g/m2 Breathability rating and fully taped seams, the McConkey signature jacket is perfect for keeping you warm and dry. The Original Shane McConkey Signature Design is available in True+ Fir color ways and will be sized XS-XXL.
    
    Retail price is set at $280. Available in Stores this September with proceed going to the nonprofit shanemcconkey.org.
    
    “McConkey,” Shane’s feature-length documentary is set to be released later this year showcasing the legend in all his glory pioneering the progression of his sports, and the path he paved to conquer his dreams.
    
    Check out the trailer of the film, which will be featured at the Tribeca Film Festival April 20, 2013
    
    

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• Coors Light/K2 Sports Promotio Coors Light/K2 Sports Promotion 1.jpg

  • From: mikehardaker
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    Coors K2 Cold Activated.jpg
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• Manhunt For Armed Fugitive Doe Manhunt For Armed Fugitive Does Little To Derail SoCal Shredders On A Powder Day

  • From: vandagyuris
  • Description:

     

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

    Big Bear Mountain Resort and Snow Summit Lift Tickets are available for Sale ONLINE through Liftopia.com
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• News: The 2013 Shovel Race Cha News: The 2013 Shovel Race Championships Recap From Angel Fire Resort

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    Hundreds of spectators and dare devils converged on the slopes of Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico this weekend, as competitors of all ages waxed up their snow shovels for the legendary Angel Fire Shovel Race Championships.  The annual challenge is fairly simple. Competitors sit on the scoop of a standard aluminum snow shovel, handle pointed downhill, and then lift their hands and feet to allow gravity to take them for a ride. Each rider gets two shots to clock the fastest time down the front of the Angel Fire ski mountain. Top speeds regularly exceed 60 miles per hour.
    
    “Shovel racing began as a simple contest here in the 1970’s when our lift operators would ride their shovels down the mountain at the end of their shifts,” explains Andy Whitacre, mountain operations, Angel Fire Resort. “It has since grown into a crazy competition on the mountain that includes speed suits, costumes and radar guns! No year is ever the same, as competitors always try and out do each other every season.”
    
    The organized competition has been held for over 30 years at Angel Fire Resort, and racers are expected from all corners of the country. The event has even been featured by national news outlets including ESPN, ABC Sports, MTV and The Travel Channel. Shovel racing was also once a featured sport during the early years of the Winter X Games.
    
    This year’s winners:
    
    Overall Top Man: John Strader, Albuquerque: 13:07 seconds; 67.74 mph
    
    Overall Top Woman: Paloma Gonzales, Angel Fire: 14:42 seconds; 61.40 mph
    
    Children as young as age 6 participated in the “Little Scoop” race category.
    
    This year the event also included a new category called “Women in Media.” 13 women from New Mexico TV and Radio stations competed for the fastest time. The race included KRQE Anchor, Jessica Garate, KRQE Meteorologist Kristen Van Dyke, KOAT Anchor, Marisa Maez and radio host Erika Viking among others. The winner of the Women in Media Event was KOAT reporter Angela Brauer who won with a time of 15.49 seconds.

    Angel Fire Resort Lift Ticket Sale - 42% OFF!

     

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• News: TGR's 2013 SIA Denver Pr News: TGR's 2013 SIA Denver Preview

  • From: jakedesroches
  • Description:

    

    Hello TGR community! My name is Jake Des Roches and over the next week I will keep you updated with anything and everything SIA.
    
    Wait, what is the Snow Show?
    The SIA Snow Show is the annual industry-only trade show for the winter sports market. Taking place from January 31 to February 3 at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, the Snow Show has over 400 brands exhibiting, hundreds of retailers attending, and is the only place in America where you will find thousands of snow business professionals under the same roof.
    
    Besides the trade show, SIA offers a fashion show, a job fair, and wraps up on February 4 and 5 with an on snow demo at Winter Park Resort and Devils Thumb Ranch.
    
    Some of this year’s highlights include:
    •    Fashion & Trends Show: January 30, 6:30P
    •    RECLAIM Project: January 31 – February 2
    
    
    

    The RECLAIM Project: The Process from 686 Technical Apparel on Vimeo.

    
    •    Malakye.com’s ShmoozaPalooza: February 1, 11A-4P (open to the public)
    •    Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks: February 1, 8:30P at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    
    Not only will I be covering the show for you, but I will also be working for SIA as part of the show management team (yes, I get a sweet badge that says “Show Management” on it).
    
    Today was actually my first day working, and work I did. I spent 9 hours in a conference room, stuffing bags of swag to give out to show attendees. While mind numbing, this is one greatest parts of the show. You can walk onto the show floor in the morning with an empty backpack (or no backpack), and leave three hours later with a bag stuffed with t-shirts, posters, headphones, lip balm, gloves, socks and maybe even a GoPro.
    
    Remember to come back daily for a show update, pictures, and maybe even an interview or two.

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• News: POW Gloves And Spacecraf News: POW Gloves And Spacecraft Collective To Join Forces

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
     
    POW Inc. CEO Greg Danielson announced today that Seattle based brands POW Gloves and Spacecraft Collective will be joining forces.
     
    Danielson, recently appointed CEO of POW INC., commented, “We are extremely excited to unite the assets and energy of POW and Spacecraft.  With both companies being Pacific Northwest based, having very similar heritage, strong brand strength and complementary products, the ability to bring them together should create significant opportunities for growth and profitability.” 
    
    POW Gloves, celebrating its 10 Year anniversary is energized to continue that momentum into its second decade of manufacturing “Built to Last” handwear. The merger of these two companies supports POW’s growth strategy to build both organically and through acquisition where economies of scale offer solid opportunity for increased revenue, profit, and return on shareholder investment.
    
    POW Gloves President and Founder, Dustin Goss said, “It has been a privilege to grow up alongside brands like Spacecraft. I’ve known both Sarah and Stefan for years and have admired their ability to grow the Spacecraft brand with intensity and creativity not limited to the snow sports industry.”
     
    Spacecraft Collective, also celebrating a decade in business, started as an art project culminated from midnight photography missions, Bali surf trips, and one iconic photo of the infamous Alpental snowcat. Spacecraft evolved into an established artist-collective with a focus on making unique headwear and innovative accessories.
     
    “I am extremely excited to be working with Greg and Dustin and the amazing team they have put together at POW”, stated Sarah Parker, President and Co-Founder of Spacecraft. “This merger will allow Spacecraft to further its mission to bring creative and interesting products to customers by combing our resources for distribution, sales and customer service.”
    
    The collaboration of these two grass root breakout brands will illuminate the Pacific North West already strong reputation for high functionality and top quality winter sport products.
     
    About Spacecraft
    Headquartered in Seattle, Spacecraft is an artist-collective that focuses on making unique headwear and innovative accessories using progressive imagery. Spacecraft participates in gallery shows and artist collaborations around the world, which facilitate the production and distribution of Spacecraft products.  Spacecraft Collective is focused on art, communicating through art, and investing back in to the product they create for the good of all involved.  www.spacecraftcollective.com
     
    About POW Gloves
    Since 2002, POW Gloves has remained committed to producing the finest performing hand-wear for the activities we love. Based in Seattle, Washington, POW is a global glove-specific brand with products for winter sports. POW is one of the fastest growing glove brands with distribution in over 37 countries worldwide. POW Gloves are “Built to Last”. For more information on POW Gloves, visit powgloves.com or call (888)POWGLVS.

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• News: 1st Annual ‘Beer & Gear’ News: 1st Annual ‘Beer & Gear’ Festival At Brundage Mountain, Idaho

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

     

    

    Drink local beers, demo the latest ski gear, and repeat – that’s what’s on tap for the first annual 2 –day Brundage Mountain Beer and Gear Festival taking place Saturday January 26^th and Sunday the 27^th.

     

    McCALL, ID – It’s a two-day celebration of everything that makes our local ski culture special. From hand-crafted skis to local craft beer, backcountry adventures to friendly hometown ski shops, the 1^st Annual Beer & Gear Festival is a one-stop celebration of skiing and riding in the West Central Mountains.
    
    “We’re extremely excited to partner with so many great local groups,” said resort spokesperson, April Russell. “With their help, we’re highlighting everything the McCall area has to offer.”
    
    Day 1, Saturday, January 26, focuses on the things that ignite our passions for snowsports. Guests can take a few runs on the latest demo gear offered by Gravity Sports and Hometown Sports in the base area. A Beer Garden featuring the liquid delights of Salmon River Brewery will be on tap from noon - 4 pm. Discounted lift tickets are available for this weekend and throughout the entire ski season for McCall locals and visitors. $54.00 lift tickets is to good a deal to pass up
    
    Day 1 wraps up on the third floor with Winter Wildland Alliance’s Backcountry Film Festival. The festival features 90 minutes of independent ski films including the award-winning Skiing the Void, TGR’s Further, and many more. Admission is FREE. Doors open at 5 pm, films start at 6pm. More details are available at: www.brundage.com/13737/new-the-beer-gear-festival/
    
    The SideStash Cafe will be open late serving draft beer, wine, sodas, soups and sandwiches. Local backcountry, avalanche safety, and gear experts from Brundage Mountain SnowCat Adventures, Payette Powder Guides, The Ullr Ski Company, Gravity Sports and Hometown Sportswill be on hand to answer questions about safely exploring the backcountry in our area.
    
    Day 2, Sunday, January 27, centers around exploring new techniques and new technology to make your time on the slopes even more satisfying.
    
    We’ll fuel up with a $7 pancake feed (includes bacon) from 9-11 a.m. Rent a favorite demo ski from Fall Line Tunes & Demo Shop here on the mountain or try  the 'unlimited switchout' option as the best way to experience all that ski technology has to offer.
    
    A variety of skier and rider improvement sessions will be offered from 1pm – 3 pm on Sunday at an amazingly affordable rate of just $10. Topics include turning with confidence, advanced carving, small and big bumps, and advanced tactics to challenge anything on the mountain. Participants may sign up on the day-of or pre-register with the snowsports desk at 208.634.4151 x 100.
    
    More details on the clinics are available at: www.brundage.com/13737/new-the-beer-gear-festival/

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• News: Julia Mancuso Leads Stro News: Julia Mancuso Leads Strong USA Effort in Super G

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) blasted through heavy snow to finish fifth and lead three U.S. Ski Team women into the top seven as Germany's Viktoria Rebensburg picked up the win. Leanne Smith (N. Conway, NH) was sixth and Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) seventh. Vonn remains second in the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup super G standings wth Mancuso third. It was the final speed event before next month's FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Schladming, Austria. The women's tour now heads to Maribor, Slovenia for a pair of technical races next weekend followed by the naming of the World Championship Team. Universal Sports Network will air the Cortina super G at 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. EST.
    
    “It was really tough to be fast today with it snowing so hard,” said Julia Mancuso. “It was OK until the bottom and I had to wipe my goggles coming around the corner but I don't think it cost me much time.”
    
    Click Here For Official Results

     

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• News: ESPN Introduces Music, S News: ESPN Introduces Music, Style and Film To The X Games Aspen 4 Day Weekend

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    If you’re a skier or snowboarder and you haven’t checked off going to see the X Games in Aspen, Colorado from your bucket list your doing it all wrong.  Watching the events from your couch can be nice if your lazy but hiking up the pipe, getting a prime spot and watching the invited athletes sore through the sky is truly amazing. 

    It almost always snows during the X Games, so bring your board or skis and take some runs. Like swag, who doesn’t?  Upon entering the X Games grounds everyone is given a bag full of sponsor freebies and giveaways.

    And to top that off now ESPN is showcasing music, film and art during this years X Games.

    X Games Aspen Kicks Off 2013 Global Expansion with Style, Film and Music
Major Lazer and Calvin Harris to Perform; Kevin Pearce and Green Day Present Their Films 


ESPN, the leading action sports content provider and creator of the X Games, is collaborating with artists, filmmakers and action sports icons to integrate cultural elements into the four days of action sports competition and festivities that is X Games. With relevance to contemporary youth around the world, X Games Aspen launches into 2013 and the six-event global expansion as a transformation from an action sports competition brand into an action sports lifestyle brand that will highlight new locations with enhanced cultural and digital elements around the world.

    X Games: FILM

    Premiering a few days prior at the Sundance Film Festival, HBO’s “The Crash Reel” is a jaw-dropping story of one unforgettable athlete, Kevin Pearce; one eye-popping sport, snowboarding; and one explosive issue, traumatic brain injury. Through 20 years of astounding action and verite footage, “The Crash Reel” chronicles the epic rivalry between Kevin and Shaun White which culminates in a life-changing crash and a comeback story with a difference.  The film is directed by Academy Award nominated Lucy Walker.


    Wednesday, January 23 at 8:15 p.m. - The Wheeler Opera House



    “¡Quatro!” pulls back the curtain and takes fans inside the world of Green Day, from the various spontaneous live performances in select cities across the U.S. to the chronicling of their creative process while conceptualizing and recording their current trilogy of albums: Green Day ¡Uno!, Green Day ¡Dos!, Green Day ¡Tré! ¡Quatro! is directed by Tim Wheeler and produced by Tim Lynch for Farm League X.

 

    Saturday, January 26 at 9:15 p.m. - The Wheeler Opera House.

    X Games: LIFT TICKETS

    
    Discounted lift ticket packages are available for the X Games  - 6 day Aspen/Snowmass lift access+ 6 - $20 dinning vouchers
    

    X Games: MUSIC



    While performances from top artists often have been part of the X Games experience, 2013 marks the debut of a special concert series dedicated to showcasing the best talent in each of the five countries set to host the events this coming year: the U.S., France, Brazil, Spain and Germany. X Games Aspen will launch the X Games: MUSIC series with headliners Calvin Harris and Major Lazer performing on the X Fest Stage and streamed live to XGames.com.

    Calvin Harris – Calvin Harris has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for “Best Dance Recording” for his hit single “Let’s Go” featuring Ne-Yo (Ultra Music) and “Best Short Form Music Video” for “We Found Love” by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris. Both tracks appear on HARRIS’18 MONTHS and these accolades mark his first Grammy nominations ever. Released in late October 2012, 18 MONTHS also includes songs with Kelis (“Bounce”), Example (“We’ll Be Coming Back”) and his smash radio track “Feel So Close,” as well as selections with guest vocals from the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Ellie Goulding, Tinie Tempah and Ayah, and collaborations with DJ/producers Nicky Romero and Dillon Francis.

    Major Lazer – Diplo (AKA Wesley Pentz) has risen through the ranks and has asserted himself as one of the most pioneering producers of his time. He is the Grammy nominated founder, owner and head honcho of Mad Decent records, which has not only garnered widespread critical and audience accolades since its inception, but has also deservedly earned a hefty reputation as a vanguard of groundbreaking releases. As Major Lazer, he continues to spearhead the current dancehall revival movement with the upcoming release, Free The Universe, dropping on February 19th, 2013.
 


    
    

    In addition to the venue concerts, X Games: MUSIC will also present four special shows at the Belly Up Aspen.

    Belly Up Aspen


    Bloc Party, Wednesday, January 23 at 8 p.m.


    Tyler the Creator, Friday, January 25 at 7 p.m.

     

    X Fest Stage


    Calvin Harris, Saturday, January 26 at 4:30 p.m.  


    Major Lazer, Sunday, January 27 at 4:15 p.m.

    
    

    X Games: STYLE

 

    Runway Shows – X Games Aspen 2013 will bring what's next in style with two presentations that demonstrate the connection between the action sports lifestyle and fashion. Some brands will be familiar, while others represent a growing trend now mashing up fashion, lifestyle and sports.
 January 23 at 7 p.m. prior to film showing at The Wheeler Opera House
 January 26 at 8 p.m. prior to film showing at The Wheeler Opera House.

     

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• News: Noah Morrison and Yuki T News: Noah Morrison and Yuki Tsubota Win At The North Face PPOS

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    The second stop of the 2013 The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series slopestyle competition concluded today under sunny skies and spring-like conditions at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada.
    
    Noah Morrison of Vernon, B.C. and The North Face team athlete Yuki Tsubota of Whistler Blackcomb, B.C. took top honors in the competition at Whistler’s perfectly manicured Nintendo Park. Competition will continue Thursday, Jan. 17 with the halfpipe competition in the Blackcomb Global Super Pipe. Fans from around the world can follow the action live via webcast available on http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/exploration/skiing-and-snowboarding/.
    
    “We witnessed the future of slopestyle skiing today in Whistler,” said The North Face Park and Pipe Open Head Judge Mike Atkinson. “It is evident park skiing is continuing to progress. Our winners today (Morrison and Tsubota) are relative newcomers but were able to lay down runs that would challenge the best in the world.”
    
    Noah Morrison started his winning run with a 270-on forward-out on the down rail, to a smooth left-side double cork 1080 mute grab, to forward-on misty 450 off the hockey stick rail, and capped off his run with a switch right-side double cork 900 Japan followed by a left-side double cork 1260 tail grab on the jumps. The performance earned him the top score of 91.4 and a last chance invitation to join Winter X Games 17 in Aspen.
    
    Following Morrison on the podium, James Campbell earned an 89.6 and 15-year-old U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Team member Willie Borm stole the third place seat with an 87.0.
    
    Leading the women’s park results Yuki Tsubota launched into her run with a forward-on, forward-off of the down rail, a flawless left-side cork 720 mute, to a straight on tail grab off the hockey stick rail, and then finished her run with a flawless right side 360 mute grab and a left-side 900 tail grab on the jumps. The judges awarded her with a winning score of 90.4.
    
    Rounding out the women’s podium Jamie Crane-Mauzy scored an 81.0. Mauzy’s performance was also enough to earn her a last chance invitation to join the upcoming Winter X Games 17 in Aspen as Tsubota is already on the X Games roster. U.S. Freeskiing Rookies Team member Alexi Micinski grasped third place with a score of 79.2.
    
    “The contest today couldn’t have gone better. The weather was perfect, the level of skiing was mind-blowing and open events are one of the biggest gems in our sport,” remarked NewSchoolers.com Editor Jeff Schmuck. “Much respect to The North Face for putting this series together for the athletes, who all took advantage of the opportunity and skied incredibly well.”
    
    The North Face Park and Pipe Open 2013 park competition at Whistler Blackcomb will be broadcast Feb. 7, 2013 (time TBD) on the CBS Sports Network.

    Click Here For Park Final Results
    
    
    

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• Interview: Hayden Price's Alta Interview: Hayden Price's Alta Life

  • From: brodyleven
  • Description:

    Hayden Price crushing in Alta. Photo by Adam Clark.
    
    Skiing around Alta with Hayden Price is like riding with the best skier you know, your best friend, and the best tour guide ever. Except he’s the guide skiing up to a cliff zone, throwing a huge 180 into pow, and only waiting for you because he wants to watch and give you a high five. You don't actually ski with Hayden at Alta as much as you follow him, graciously. The 26-year-old has had an Alta season pass for 24 seasons. He has a distinct style on skis—seemingly disinterested with passing trends, though invariably on the cutting edge. Hayden was the first skier I remember really watching—like, taking notes and emulating—when I moved to SLC seven years ago. He can't ski Alta without people following him, and you'd be intimidated by that fact if he weren’t the happiest, mellowest, and friendliest icon on the mountain. Everyone knows him and he knows the mountain from behind a set of powder-surfing eyes like none other. He's that popular local shredder at your little hometown hill…except he’s that guy at freaking Alta.
    
    
    
    

    BRODY: Hey dude. Where are you and what's been happening?
    
    HAYDEN: Hey Brody! I have been enjoying a better snow year here in Utah’s Wasatch mountains and am currently packing up my gear to head to Canada on a film trip.
    
    BRODY: Where did you grow up? How often did you ski?
    
    HAYDEN: I grew up at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. I skied mainly on the weekends.
    
    BRODY: Although you were frequently at Alta, your home was actually down Little Cottonwood Canyon’s Highway 210, in Salt Lake City. What differentiates you from a skier who has grown up living right in the Town of Alta?
    
    HAYDEN: Growing up in Salt Lake City was a true blessing. I had the oasis of Alta only a stone’s throw away and yet grew up in a metropolitan city. I believe this kept me open to the diversity that may not otherwise be found if I grew up in the bubble that is Alta. Seriously, it is a different world up there, and you feel it the moment you arrive.  SLC has a great music, art, and food scene that I really enjoy. Variety is the spice of life.
    
    BRODY: Speaking of variety, please describe your ski style and what influences it.
    
    HAYDEN: My style is a cornucopia. I spent years dedicated to the idea that I if I can ski it forward, I should be able to ski it backward. As that motivation evolved, I looked to other sports for inspiration because I felt skiing was a little dried up. I saw the way other action sports were using their apparatuses and wanted to emulate the moves they were doing on my skis. Skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing and mountain biking had a lot to offer my thirst for different skiing. Growing up at Alta, surrounded by loads of “classic” skiers, I strived to differentiate myself from the masses. I skied a whole season of resort riding without poles in hopes of cultivating a unique relationship with my edges and the way my skis flexed. Watching all the possibilities a skater has for doing tricks, I felt there must be more I can do on my skis. I am currently focused on butters, presses, scrapes and strange transitions. If there is snow, I’ll slide on it and find something that makes it interesting to me.
    
    BRODY: You ski huge cliffs, backcountry tours, park, natural jumps, and super deep pow. People don't understand what kind of equipment you use for such an array of pursuits. Do you have an arsenal of gear, or what? What is one piece of gear you couldn't live without?

    Hayden Price dropping into a line. Photo by Brody Leven.

    HAYDEN: I definitely have an arsenal. Skiing is so particular now that I choose my skis specifically for what I’m doing that day. I have a lightweight tech binding setup for long tours and soul pow turns, and multiple sidecountry setups consisting of Marker Dukes or Alpine Trekkers for hitting jumps and drops out of the resort. My inbounds bindings are Rossignol FKS. All of my skis are 110mm under foot or wider, and all have some type of rocker technology. I couldn’t live without my Full Tilt boots.
    
    BRODY: Surface employed your snow-snorkel expertise in designing a new ski. Please explain.
    
    HAYDEN: The Lab001. I look to other sports for inspiration not only for ski sliding techniques but also for the technologies they are using. The new Lab ski has a front-to-back “3 stage rocker” as well as “Deep Dish” technology. This idea comes from our desire to have a really surfy powder ski that has a catch-free feeling.  The “Deep Dish” is a left-to-right convexity on the base of the skis. Essentially, the ski is base-high by a few centimeters.  This really allows the ski to be tossed around at will and opens up the world of trickery in powder snow.
    
    BRODY: Do you film with anyone? Where can people see and follow you (besides as fast as they can at Alta)?
    
    HAYDEN: I filmed with Sweetgrass Productions last year in Nelson, BC. This season I have been focused on working with local [Little Cottonwood Canyon] boys, Dubsatch Collective. We have a great season lined up with some really fun ideas. Stay tuned, as webisodes are dropping frequently on dubsatch.com
    
    BRODY: Why Alta?
    
    HAYDEN: It is the birthplace of powder skiing. The quality and quantity of powder that falls at the end of Little Cottonwood Canyon is unmatched worldwide. You can’t beat the access, the people, and the terrain. Alta and the surrounding areas are pure magic!
    
    BRODY: Your skillset is not only strong but also uniquely diverse, how did it develop?
    
    HAYDEN: I watched my home hill heroes, like Sage, and wanted to do what they were doing while adding my own flavor to the mix. [As a teenager,] I would ride Chip’s Run at Snowbird with all of my snowboard homies, copying the style of tricks they were doing off the cat tracks and gaps. I ran a terrain park at Alta with my friend Jordan for a few years. We always pushed each other to do more creative tricks and to be able to do them in many ways and on different terrain. I am really into climbing and mountaineering, too. Combine the jib aspects and long distance pursuits for fresh snow and you get me, HP.
    
    BRODY: Who do you love to ski with? Do you like everyone following you?
    
    HAYDEN: I love to ski with friends and family. Skiing with any of the Dubsatch crew is always great and I don’t mind anyone following us around. Join in on the fun!
    Regardless of whether he grew up in the Town of Alta or twenty minutes down the road, Hayden is most at home on that mountain. His skillset reaches from one end of skiing’s spectrum to the other while being one of those skiers who you recognize through unique skiing style, not through his outerwear or the bottom half of his face in the liftline. Since that season seven years ago, when I first realized how capable he was in the mountains, I’ve watched Hayden’s mentorships and friendships develop within the Little Cottonwood Canyon ski community. Not only does everyone know HP, but they only have compliments to offer. Forthcoming video parts will finally expose HP to the world, showcasing his talents as not a park skier, backcountry skier or Alta skier, but as a mountain skier.
    
    Hayden Price on cover of Backcountry Magazine.

    Want to ski like Hayden, book your next Alta ski vacation online through http://mountainreservations.com
    

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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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• News: James Woods And Keri Her News: James Woods And Keri Herman Win At Copper Mountain

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    Copper Mountain, Colo. – Keri Herman’s (Breckenridge, CO) back-to-back switch tricks and clean landings sealed the deal for her second straight World Cup win at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix at Copper Mountain. Herman’s first run featured one of the best displays of grabs fans have seen in women’s slopestyle skiing. Her run included a lipslide first rail, bus stop to switch, switch right 720 safety-grab, switch right 540 Japan-grab, right 540 tail-grab. Great Britain’s James Woods took the men’s title.
    
    Americans took four of the top eight spots including Bobby Brown (Breckenridge, CO) fourth, Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN) fifth, Alex Schlopy (Park City, UT) seventh and Sammy Carlson (Hood River, OR) eighth. American women took four of the top nine with Ashley Battersby (Park City, UT) sixth, Jamie Crane-Mauzy (Park City, UT) eighth and U.S.Freeskiing rookie Jess Breda (Marshfield, MA) ninth at just her second World Cup. The event also doubled as the U.S. Slopestyle Championship with Brown and Herman taking titles as top Americans. The athletes gained valuable FIS Olympic qualifying points in addition to AFP Platinum level points.
    
    “I am so happy!” said Keri Herman. “At Dew Tour in December I finished dead last and this is great! It’s so cool to have won both FIS World Cup’s so far; it’s a real honor to represent the USA at the top of the podium. I tried so hard to grab well in my run and it worked out. The field of competition was tough and I am lucky the score from my first run held, because I fell on my second run. This is such a good confidence booster heading into X Games.”
    
    BROADCAST SCHEDULE (times ET)
    Sat. Jan. 19 2:00-3:00 p.m. –Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix, slopestyle, NBC Sports Network
    
    Click Here For Offical Results Men and Official Results Women

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• News: Kelly Clark, Luke Mitran News: Kelly Clark, Luke Mitrani Win At Sprint Grand Prix

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    
    Copper Mountain, Colo. - Under clear skies and chilly temperatures, Luke Mitrani (Mammoth Lakes, CA) and Olympic champion Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) led the USA finishing second at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain. Australia’s Nathan Johnstone and Torah Bright took the wins. Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) was third. It was the first domestic stop for athletes to gain Olympic qualifying points and 5Star World Snowboard event points. The event will be broadcast on NBC and NBC Sports Network, with initial airing Sunday at 4:00 p.m. EST on NBC.
    
    “My first run went really well and I was happy with how my double came together," Luke Mitrani
 said.  “My second run, I blew it so I was glad that I had the security from my first run. You know, I really like the halfpipe here at Copper and I am stoked to see how the Olympic qualifying period will continue to go, it feels good to be here and I am looking forward to the next Grand Prix at Park City.”
    
    Click Here For Official Results Men and Official Results Women
    
    Click Here For Full Event Schedule

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