141 Search Results for "technical"

• 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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• Filming for The Co-Lab Filming for The Co-Lab

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

     

    Hailing from Bozeman, Montana, The Bridger Brigade’s Axel Peterson has been hard at work filming an edit for The Co-Lab. He and his crew have been hard at work skiing film worthy lines with speed and aggression for quite a while now and he thinks it’s his time to shine. TGR caught up with him on his attempt at $100,000 and The Co-Lab glory.

    TETON GRAVITY RESEARCH: What motivated you, besides the $100k, to enter The Co-Lab?

    Axel Peterson: I have been creating ski edits for four years now at a somewhat underground level, and I thought this competition would be a good way to get our name out there and see how we stack up against everyone else.  

    TGR: What do you think the most important aspect is, in a winning edit? (Music, Athlete, Location..etc.)

    AP: I think all play an important role in creating a quality and unique edit. Number one will be the athlete, not the 'Name', but rather the level of skiing.  A nice mix of burly lines and stomped tricks will make for the most enjoyable edit to watch.  Also, a mix of terrain such as pillows, gnarly lines, couloirs, natural features, etc. will be an important aspect for a winning edit.  I'm a big fan of using lesser known music rather than mainstream songs for an edit.  Personally, I love edits where I hear a song I've never heard.  A good song will be important in setting the mood, pace, and overall feel of the edit. 

    TGR: What’s the biggest obstacle you came across in creating your edit?

    AP: So far, the biggest obstacle has been timing.  On numerous occasions we have been hiking perfect pow lines in the sun, and by the time we reach the top it is socked in and puking snow.  So just getting unlucky with weather, and also me forgetting my memory cards for my camera (haha) have been the only issues that have cost us a few good shots.

    TGR: Who are you most excited to see enter the Contest?

    AP: Of course I'm stoked to see what the 'top dogs' come up with, but mostly I'm excited to see what the lesser know filmers and athletes create.  It's awesome when an unknown team blows everyone's mind. It is going to be a high level of competition, and I can't wait to see every edit that is entered!

    TGR: Who are you working with on the edit?

    AP:I've been skiing every day this season with Randy Evans. It's been super fun filming with Randy this year and watching him push himself.  He has really stepped it up this winter by stomping some technical lines and sweet tricks.  We already have a few quality shots in the bag so far, and we will be working hard through the end of May to produce an edit that hopefully stacks up with the other entries. Randy just won the 'Ticket to Tailgate' competition, so we are heading to AK next week to stack some more shots! I have also been filming a lot this season with Steve Popovich. I know he is planning on submitting an edit, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

     

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• Interview: Ralph Backstrom Interview: Ralph Backstrom

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    Ralph Backtsrom is no stranger to the podium on the Freeride World Tour circuit. The overall title has eluded him till this year when he dropped into the infamous Bac de Rosses face with aggression and not only won the day, but the overall title as well. We caught up with him to get his take on his first ever world championship.
    
    TGR: Ralph, after a few years of near misses, you’re the FWT World Champ. Has that set in yet?  How does it feel?
    
    Ralph Backstrom: It's been a long road of near misses, and yes, it has set in.  I'm super stoked.
    
    TGR: You dropped first and wound up staying on top.  Tell me about your line choice. Also tell us how nerve-wracking  it was to be in the hot seat for the entire competition.
    
    RB: I knew I was going to be dropping first 2-3 days before the comp; just had a really strong feeling.  The only thing was that I thought the skiers were going to be going first.  When we heard that the snowboarders were going to go first, I knew I still had the 1st bib.  It can be a bit nerve wracking going first, but most riders in AK prefer to go first, right?  I had been in Verbier for 5 days or so before the comp and had picked a line out.  After 2 bad line choices/falls in the prior comps, I picked the first line that spoke to me when I saw the face.  Then, the night before the comp, I kept having these micro dreams/thoughts that parts of my line were too tight for the amount of slough that would be moving, and kept having trouble visualizing individual turns.  So I woke up super tired, and the fog didn't help me feel any more awake.  I definitely wasn't in a state to ride a technical line.  I changed my line minutes before I left the judges tent to start hiking to something less technical and less exposed.  It wasn't until I saw my score that I knew how good my run was.  I had flown passed some features I'd planned to hit, so thought I'd be easy to beat.  I definitely dodged some bullets sitting there at the bottom watching the others come down!
    
    TGR: You were in third coming into the finals at Verbier. How did that affect your decision-making when you were picking your line?
    
    RB: I try not to let stuff like overall points get into my head for decision making, so I just tried to pick something I knew I could stomp most of, with some bigger airs that were maybe questionable.
    
    TGR: What was going through your head when you dropped into the Bec?
    
    RB: I was so rushed before we dropped I didn't have time to think at all.  A couple riders and myself were talking to Nicolas Hale-Woods on speaker phone about contingency plans if the fog didn't clear.  It cleared right then, and he said, “forerunner in 2 minutes!”  After he dropped, the starter said, “Ralph Backstrom 2 minutes!  No, 1 minute!”  I even forgot to put on my backpack up there.
    
    TGR: The tour lasts all winter. What do you do to stay on your game when you aren’t competing?
    
    RB: I try to stay in shape, have a good time riding, and stay healthy.
    
    TGR: You’ve had some pretty awesome film segments. What drives you to compete in the Tour?
    
    RB: Competition lines and film lines are pretty similar, and doing either of them is good practice for the other.  I do think comp lines generally tend to be a little more difficult due to conditions, tracks, etc, and are therefore good preparation for filming.  It's a good way to travel the world with cool people too.
    
    TGR: What venue is your favorite one to compete at?
    
    RB: Revelstoke, Mack Daddy Face.
    
    TGR: After finally getting the overall title, are you planning on competing next year?
    
    RB: That's hard to say at this point.  The tour is great, but I think there are still a few things that could use some polishing, and you never know what other opportunities will come up...
    
    TGR: What are you going to do with the rest of your winter?
    
    RB: I'm in Laax right now for the GoPro Snow Camp, heading back to Tahoe in a few days for the Pain McShlonkey, then up to Alaska.

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• Outdoor Research Review - 2013 Outdoor Research Review - 2013 Clothing

  • From: leelau
  • Description:

    
    Backcountry skiing usually isn’t a naked sport—one needs something to wear. Much like our birthday suits, all clothing is pretty much the same though, right? I thought I'd be a bit of a loss for words when Outdoor Research asked me if I'd like to try out some clothing. Luckily for them I'm usually quite verbose, so this winter found me fully kitted out in OR (Trailbreaker Pants; Ferrosi softshell hoody, Incandescent Puffy, Extravert gloves)
    ________________________________________

    
    Outdoor Research Clothing winter 2012 - 13 - Selkirk Lodge - Feb 2013 from Lee Lau on Vimeo.
    ________________________________________
    
    Test Conditions
    I wrote about OR’s gear after first using it for a few early season days on the Canadian coast. Since then I've skied this kit in more coastal conditions and some Selkirk interior pow. With a variety of weather conditions ranging from hardpack to neck-deep blower, from -20 degree C to pineapple express 0 degree schmoo. I daresay that I've had enough time to tell how OR’s gear will do.
    ________________________________________
    
    
    Ferrosi Hoody, Trailbreaker pants. Duffey Lake Road, BC
    
    First off, the Trailbreaker Pants are insanely good. You can get all the technical features from provided links, so I won't bore you with them. Here's a list of Pros:
    
    •    Cargo pockets that are big enough for things like a VHF radio or a map
    •    These very same cargo pockets zip from bottom to top (pockets that zip top to bottom are useless for radio antenna)
    •    Cordura patches on bottom of leg. These help prolong pant life from crampon or ski edges. I note that I'd like the OR patches to be a bit wider. Being a hack, I have some cuts on the outside of the patches.
    
    •    Pockets accessible even while using a harness.
    •    Ass that doesn't wear too quick.
    •    Fabric that resists snow sticking to it.
    •    Zipper pulls that can be used with gloves.
    •    Integrated gaiters.
    •    Zippers at the end of the legs where you can zip open to accommodate ski boots.
    
    Last but not least, I absolutely positively love the super long thigh vents. At first I pooh-pooh'ed the idea of needing leg vents in softshell pants. Now I can't do without. This simple feature extends the useable temperature and comfort range of these pants. About the only quibble with these is that it would be nice to have some sort of integrated belt. Anorexia victims like myself usually need a belt to keep my pants from showing plumbers crack.
    ________________________________________
    
    
    
    Ferrosi Hoody
    The Ferrosi Hoody is also an excellent layer. It’s light and packable, and I was surprised at the Ferrosi’s usable temperature range—it vents so well. I came to enjoy annoying my touring partners by never taking it off during climbs, then not layering over it when it came time to ski down. More surprisingly, it has a good deal more water resistance than expected, making it great for anything short of a downpour.
    
    A bit of adding frosting on the cake—the Ferrosi is wearing quite well. It has no wear and tear at scuff points where backpacks usually abrade. There are few downsides to the jacket, largely attributed to its minimalist design—the outside pockets are quite small so you can't do things like stuff skins or VHF radios in them (use the larger inside pockets for that). Also pocket location could be a bit higher as things like backpack hipbelts interfere with access.
    ________________________________________
    
    Incandescent Puffy, Extravert gloves
    I can't say too much about either the Incandescent Hoody or the Extravert gloves. These are basic clothing items. The gloves in particular look thin and cold but are surprisingly warmer than expected. I also had the (dis)pleasure of using them when shoveling out from under 80cms of way-too-close-to-rain snow that fell in a 20 hour period. The outer layer of the gloves wetted through, but the inner layer was dry, much to my joy. The gloves lack a removable inner liner so if they do wet through, it’s tough to dry them out.
    
    The major issue I have with the Incandescent puffy is that OR incorporated a YKK two-way zipper in it. That zipper allows it to be zipped from the top or bottom, but it has a bit of a catch on it, making it a bugger to operate in the cold without removing your gloves. In my opinion, cold-weather effectiveness of any piece of gear is dramatically reduced if you need to de-glove to use it properly. It's a shame because the jacket is light, warm (800-weight down is about as good as it gets) and minimalist—no useless accoutrements for urban alpinists like hood adjustments or too many pockets—so it’s very packable. The temperamental zipper did limit the Incandescent jacket to hut-based or après-ski activities.
    ________________________________________
    
    
    Incandescent Hoody, Extravert gloves, Selkirk Lodge, BC
    
    Check out the Outdoor Research Alpine Ski Gear Guide available at Backcounty.com

     

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• Chickering-Ayers, Paaso, Bell, Chickering-Ayers, Paaso, Bell, And Rozies Win FWT In Kirkwood

  • From: gregfitzsimmons
  • Description:

    
    
    3 Americans and 1 Frenchie take the top spots at the fourth stop of the FWT, TGR's Ryland Bell posts the highest score of the day.
    
    By Greg Fitzsimmons
    
    “Variable” was the word of the day at the fourth stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face at Kirkwood. Variable snow conditions underfoot made the challenging Cirque venue — the permanently closed terrain at Kirkwood — heavier than normal. There were a lot of high-speed crashes and tooth-rattling backslaps during the only stateside comp of the season. In the end, the winners of the male and female ski and snowboard fields displayed solid fundamentals en route to earning their titles.
    
    Mad River Glen’s Lars Chickering-Ayers took home the win in the men’s ski field, showing total control in the difficult conditions. Chickering-Ayers has found a home on big-mountain contest podiums in recent years, but he excelled on the variable snow in Kirkwood, linking a technical line in his typical full-throttle assault that fans of big-mountain competitive skiing have come to expect. Without any hesitation, Lars billy-goated through volcanic rock, pioneered a mandatory air into a chute, and laced clean GS-turns through the venue, making exposed and difficult terrain look fun.
    
    
    “I wasn't really planning to win here,” said Chickering-Ayers. “I just came out to spend time with family and have fun. I have skied these types conditions in competition in the past and knew how to deal with them. The skiing was my favorite part of the day.”
    
    Chickering-Ayers was awarded a score of 75.33 to take the top spot at Kirkwood. The “Flying Frenchman” Julien Lopez and Kiwi FWT rookie Charlie Lyons rounded out the podium in second and third place, respectively.
    
    
    Tahoe local Jaclyn Paaso won on the women’s ski side with a score of 71.67. Paaso had a difficult first half of the season on the FWT, but skied a fluid line en route to winning the comp. The Squaw Valley female skier known for sending huge cliffs skied a smart comp line. Paaso stomped a cool air off the ridge over exposed rock, cleanly navigated a tight s-turn chute, and skied out of a bottom air on the venue to take the top spot in Kirkwood.
    
    “I have had a number of crashes this season and really needed a win. It feels great to come out on top,” said Paaso. “I took my run down a notch this time because I needed to stay on my feet. Making it to the finish line was the best part for me.”
    
    Paaso’s win made her the first female skier to dethrone Sweden’s Christine Hargin this year. Hargin was perfect so far on the FWT with wins in Revy and Cham (the women didn’t compete in Italy this year), but Hargin took a hard fall during her run in Kirkwood. Pia Nic Gunderson of Norway took second and the third place spot went to American Ashley Maxfield.
    
    
    Squaw Valley’s Ryland Bell parlayed a wildcard entry into a win in men’s snowboarding. Bell, one of the stars of the Further movies, spun a backside 360 off the ridge and a frontside 360 into a chute during his line. His score of 87.67 was the highest score awarded by the judges to any competitor throughout the day. American Sammy Luebke took second and Swiss rider Emilien Badoux rounded out the men’s snowboard podium.
    
    “This was my first win ever,” said Bell. “My stoke level is really high. I wanted to do tricks, try to flow, and have fun.”
    
    
    After consecutive second-place finishes on the FWT, French rider Margot Rozies finally won in Kirkwood. Her consistent riding throughout the season meant that Rozies was the overall tour leader going into Kirkwood. After her fast and fluid winning line, Rozies has a firm grasp on the tour title with two stops left. Elodie Mouthon and Shannon Yates finished in second and third, respectively.
    
    Now, the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face heads back to Europe for the last two comps of the year. Fieberbrunn, Austria is on-deck before all attention will focus on Verbier’s famed Bec de Rosses venue for the FWT finale.
    
    Overall Ski Men Standings
    
    1 Tabke, Drew     (USA) 6500.00
    2 Heitz, Jérémie (SUI) 6200.00
    3 Lopez, Julien (FRA) 5820.00
    4 Lyons, Charlie (NZL) 4900.00
    5 Barkered, Reine (SWE) 4595.00
    6 Studer, Fabio (AUT) 4340.00
    7 Gauthier, Laurent (CAN) 4180.00
    8 Eder, Markus (ITA) 4048.00
    9 Lindberg, Wille (SWE) 3900.00
    10 White-Allen, Oakley (USA) 3885.00
    11 Ducroz, Aurelien (FRA) 3685.00
    12 Guri, Kevin (FRA) 3470.00
    13 Post, Griffin (USA) 3445.00
    14 Chickering-Ayers, Lars (USA) 3395.00
    15 Collin, Sean (USA) 3070.00
    
    Overall Ski Women Standings
    
    1 Wallner, Nadine (AUT) 6025.00
    2 Gundersen, Pia Nic (NOR) 5980.00
    3 Hargin, Christine (SWE) 5975.00
    4 Maxfield, Ashley (USA) 4895.00
    5 Paaso, Jacklyn (USA) 4630.00
    6 Wright, Crystal (USA) 4265.00
    7 Slinning, Anne May (NOR) 4200.00
    8 Huber, Lorraine (AUT) 3255.00
    9 Segal, Natalie (AUS) 2955.00
    10 McMillan, Jess (USA) 2260.00
    
    Overall Snowboard Men Standings
    
    1 Backstrom, Ralph (USA) 6325.00
    2 Luebke, Sammy (USA) 5980.00
    3 Badoux, Emilien (SUI) 5585.00
    4 Guillot-Diat, Ludovic (FRA) 5290.00
    5 Routens, Aurelien (FRA) 5200.00
    6 Charlet, Jonathan (FRA) 4095.00
    7 Carlson, Tim (USA) 4060.00
    8 Rodosky, John (USA) 3870.00
    9 Orley, Flo (AUT) 3730.00
    10 Van Helfteren, Irian (NED) 3615.00
    11 Rizzuto, Jamie (CAN) 3220.00
    12 Rouge, Joel (SUI) 3215.00
    13 Annetts, Matt (USA) 2715.00
    14 Bell, Ryland (USA) 2500.00
    15 De Le Rue, Xavier (FRA) 2130.00
    
    Overall Snowboard Women Standings
    
    1 Rozies, Margot (FRA) 6900.00
    2 Mouthon, Elodie (FRA) 5805.00
    3 Dewey, Laura (USA) 5415.00
    4 Lucas, Casey (USA) 5400.00
    5 Yates, Shannan (USA) 4480.00
    6 Lazzareschi, Iris (USA) 4205.00
    7 Mouthon, Anouck (FRA) 4040.00
    8 Bock, Aline (GER) 3435.00

    Staying at Kirkwood is the way to go, sure beats driving from South Lake Tahoe.  Book your next Kirkwood vacation pacakge at: http://mountainreservations.com

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• News: Team Europe Takes Top Ho News: Team Europe Takes Top Honors At Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 In Zermatt

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    Zermatt, Switzerland - Team Europe took the SWATCH SKIERS CUP trophy back from defending champions Team Americas today, with a masterful team performance on the Backcountry Slopestyle course. Today’s 10 – 6 win follows their victory on Big Mountain Freeride day, making Team Europe the event champions with a final score of 21 – 11.
     
    A crisp, sunny day greeted spectators and competitors as they emerged from Zermatt’s spectacular Gornergrat Bahn ski train. Riders found the competition face in perfect condition, with 20cm of untouched powder blanketing the venue. The top section of the course featured steep, freeride-style terrain, while the middle and lower sections were filled with hand-sculpted jumps, with the riders taking full advantage of the variety of possible lines and airs.
     
    Team Europe’s Fabio Studer (AUT) had the standout run of the day, entering the course with a switch cork 540 (taking off backwards with one and a half off-axis rotations) off the ridge, drawing cheers from the large crowd as he flashed effortlessly through a hidden couloir, before finishing with a flawless cork 720.
     
    Sverre Liliequist (SWE) kept his momentum from Big Mountain day going with a creative double cliff drop to backflip and a huge double front flip attempt. “Even though Slopestyle isn’t my strength, it doesn’t make me nervous to give it my best try. I know I’m stretching my abilities super far, but the features are very safe and the vibe here is so encouraging that it creates the perfect environment to push your comfort level,” said Liliequist.
     
    Team Americas laid down standout performances as well. Rory Bushfield (CAN) skied an extra run to replace the injured Tim Dutton (USA), nailing all three of his super technical, stylish lines. The last competitor of the day, Charlie Ager (CAN), nearly pulled off a switch landing on his cork 900 in the deep powder of the final jump.
    
    
    The successful week in Zermatt points to a bright future for the SWATCH SKIERS CUP. “Bringing together 16 of the best riders in Big Mountain and Backcountry Slopestyle has proved to be a winning combination and I’m pleased to be able to announce today that the event will go on. Thanks to our key partner SWATCH, we’re looking forward for the next two editions which are confirmed,” said head event organizers Nicolas Hale-Woods.
     
    The two captains for the 2014 SWATCH SKIERS CUP have just been confirmed, with legendary riders Julien Regnier (FRA) to lead Team Europe, and JP Auclair (CAN) to head Team Americas. Look for the host resort of the next edition to be announced soon on www.swatchskierscup.com.
     
    Today's Quotes:
    
    “For my second run, I knew we were out of reach of getting the trophy, with no mathematical way to win. So at that point I told the boys to just go have fun, and for myself, I decided to give this crowd a show and go for my double cork 1080. The rotation was right on but I just went a little, ok, a lot too big. But it was just so much fun.
    After that epic Big Mountain day, and then to top it off with today? I mean, it was honestly one of the greatest contests I’ve ever seen.” Cody Townsend (USA) – Team Americas Captain
     
    “We deal with huge challenges to make this event happen. Putting in tons of work on the jumps, and the safety protocols, and judging, and then hoping mother nature cooperates. It’s a job, but I love it, and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”
    Julien Regnier (FRA), jump shaper and judge.

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• News: Team Europe Leads Swatch News: Team Europe Leads Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 After Big Mountain Competition

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    
    Zermatt, Switzerland -​ After the first day of competition at the SWATCH SKIERS CUP, Team Europe emerged with a commanding 11 – 5 lead over Team Americas, with Sunday’s Big Mountain event held on a heli-accessed face high in the peaks above Zermatt, Switzerland.
    
    The 2012-2013 winter has been full of snow in this part of the Alps, and deep, fresh snow coated the impressive venue. Organizers have just confirmed that the second day of competition will be held on Thursday, February 14, at Breitboden (Zermatt ski area) at 9 a.m. for the Backcountry slopestyle. Contest is accessible for the public from the slopes.
     
    “The venue we have for Backcountry Slopestyle is ideal – really good terrain for a variety of jumps and the incredible backdrop of Zermatt,” said head jump shaper and event judge Julien Regnier.
    
    
     
    
    Big mountain contest recap:
    
    The competitors had two runs each, one on each half of the venue. The conditions resulted in descents not typically seen in big mountain freeride competitions. The snow was so deep some competitors struggled to find enough speed to hit features and jumps as planned.
     
    Standout runs came from riders who took a higher speed, less technical approach, like Chamonix local Sam Favret. His runs had few airs – instead he shredded the snow spines and walls at full bore.
    
    “I’m influenced by snowboarding and skating, and I was really inspired by today’s venue to bring that surf style to the big mountain,” said Favret.
     
    Other highlights included Team America’s Tim Dutton nearly landing a huge double backflip, coming up the slightest bit short for the landing. Sverre Liliequist triggered a small windslab avalanche near the end of his run yet went on to stomp a backflip off his final air, skiing away with the slide at the tails of his skis.
    
    “I haven’t done a backflip since the first SKIERS CUP in Chile in 2011,” laughed Liliequist, “that felt so good!”

    Shop for Swatch watches while supporting TGR at http://amazon.com

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• Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Intervie Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Interview - Atomic Airtime

  • From: atomicsnow
  • Description:

    There is something very unique to the way Sage Catabriga-Alosa skis. Text-book technical skiing combined with a certain unpredictability and the tendency to stomp almost anything, makes humble Sage stand out amongst his peers. The Atomic team sat down with him to discuss, amongst other things, the nature of creativity and how it influences his skiing. An interesting interview with one of the legends of the sport.

    Footage Courtesy of Teton Gravity Research
    Purchase The Dream Factory
    
    Edited by: Patrick Wagner
    Interview filmed by: Mark von Roy
    
    Watch More Atomic Videos

     

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

  • From: gregfitzsimmons
  • Description:

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

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• News: Ted Ligety Finishes 13th News: Ted Ligety Finishes 13th In Wengen Slalom

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) started 13th, finished the first run in 13th and ended the Wengen slalom in the same spot to close out the 83rd Lauberhorn weekend in Switzerland. Ligety remained third in the overall Audi FIS Alpine World Cup standings but slightly closed the gap to Aksel Lund Svindal, who is in second. Germany's Felix Neureuther won by .21 over Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall and slalom leader Marcel Hirscher of Austria. Warm temps overnight created aggressive snow conditions and made for an incredibly tight race. The tour now heads to Austria for Hahnenkamm weekend in Kitzbuehel for the final weekend of racing before naming of the World Championships team.
    
    “Between the super combined and today, it was some of Ted's most promising slalom skiing of the year,” said Mike Day, technical head coach. “But he had some difficult sections and some bobbles that held him back from a bigger result. It was also really tight racing today. He was in a good position after first run and unfortunately couldn't move up. Ted is already on his way to Kitzbuehel and looking ahead.” 
    
    Click Here For Official Results

     

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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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• First Look: Black Diamond Equi First Look: Black Diamond Equipment’s Fall 2013 Freeride Skis And Boots

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    From Left to right, Black Diamond's 2013-14 Megawatt, Verdict, AMPerage, Convert, and Zealot skis.

    Sure, you may have just bought new skis, but they’re already obsolete. Sorry, next year’s boards have already been invented. Later this month, at the Outdoor Retailer and SIA trade shows, all of the winter 2013-14 skis will begin to be promoted, starting the annual cycle of ski-stoke and anticipation all over again. It’s just how it works. Everyone likes shiny new plastic toys, especially when they allow you have more fun on the snow than the year before. And that’s the point, to have more fun.
    
    Last week, Teton Gravity Research office jockeys had the pleasure of testing out some of Black Diamond Equipment’s 2013-14 freeride skis and boots. These are the stiffer boots and fatter skis in the BD ski line. Black Diamond ski category director Thomas Laakso (who absolutely rips, by the way) brought up big mountain, all mountain, and freetour boards from Utah to the TGR offices in Teton Village, Wyoming. TGR staff went nuts skiing the new sticks at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and in the Jackson Hole backcountry.
    
    In all we were able to test:
    
    Big Mountain Series Skis
    Megawatt - 188
    AMPerage - 185, 195
    
    All Mountain Series Skis
    Zealot - 182   
    Verdict - 180
    
    Freetour Series
    Carbon Megawatt - 188
    Convert - 180
    
    Boots
    Factor Mx 130 - Men’s
    
    
    
    Ski testing is tricky business. What may be the best pair of sticks for one person could be the worst pair of planks for the next person – and that was the case a couple times here. Also, there were times when just one person got out on a pair of skis, so you only have their opinion to go on. There are so many factors: conditions, group dynamic, length of ski, what type of ski the “tester” is used to, type of skier, how much time they had on them, etc.
    
    So, consider this a first look at BD’s 2013-14 freeride line.
    
    We have listed exact dimensions, weights, and prices, then our thoughts. Many of these skis are already out on the market, but for 2013-14, many of the skis weigh less due to BD using pre-preg technology in their new factory in China that they say is eco-friendly.
    
    If you don’t feel like reading this whole thing, here’s the take away: Everyone loved the 185 AMPerage and considered it a “one quiver” ski. Also, everyone loved the Megawatt in powder and thought is was “surfy.”
    
    Other results varied and not everyone was able to get out on all the skis.
    
    Anyway, here we go.
    
    
    Megawatt ($899)
    178cm:  150-125-131  9lb 1oz
    188cm:  151-125-131  10lb 9oz
    
    Two testers total on the 188
    
    Stoke Level: 8/10
    
    “It was really fun,” said TGR’s Than Volk, who is 25 years old, 5’10” and 150 lbs. “ I got one run of them, but that was all I needed. We skied [a fucking sick 3000-verical foot powder run in the Jackson Hole backcountry]. It was untracked with 12” to 18” of recent snow and the Megawatts were the perfect ski to be on. The width and rocker provided plenty of float to make really enjoyable big swooping, surfy powder turns. They reminded me a lot of my K2 Pon2oons, but are probably a little more versatile outside of untracked powder.”
    
    TGR’s Sam Petri, who is 31 years old 5’10” and considerably fatter at 190 lbs, also found them to be “surfy.”
    
    “The Black Diamond Megawatt was snappy on the hardpack and surfy in the pow," Sam said. "These are definately powder slayers and were best in even the slightest bit of fresh snow. On hardpack, if you tried to lay a carve down, they snapped you into each turn. It was a little weird on hardpack, like many skis that are 125 mm underfoot. If you carved a little less hard and “scrubbed” your turns, it was more enjoyable on hardpack. But they are not for hardpack, they are for powder, and in powder, you could straight-up charge and do anything.”
    
    So, who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
    
    “This is a quiver ski for deep power,” Than Volk said.
    
    “This is a powder ski for the deepest days,” said Sam Petri.
    
    
    
    AMPerage  ($799)
    165cm:  139-115-123  8lb 10oz
    175cm:  141-115-123  9lb 1oz
    185cm:  142-115-124  9lb 8oz
    195cm:  143-115-125  10lb 
    
    Four testers total on the 185, one on the 195
    
    Stoke Level: 8.5/10
    
    “The AMPerage 185 is the ski I most looked forward to testing,” said Danny Holland, who is 29, 5’9”, 180 pounds, and rips decent, considering he is from Colorado. “A similar shape to my Atomic Automatics and Rossignol S7s, I was curious how they would compare. We stepped into the side country and found a magic run to really give these a test. The 185 AMPerage skied amazingly. It had plenty of float due to the 115mm width underfoot and carved exceptionally from top to bottom. This year’s model is also lighter by over 100 grams making the traverse out slightly less painful. Overall I would consider this a great one-quiver ski.
    
    
    Danny Holland enjoys the 2013-14 Black Diamond 185 AMPerage in the Jackson Hole backcountry.
    
    “I’ve always wanted to get on a pair of AMPerages,” Than Volk said. “I rode them on a warm bluebird day with about 6” of new wind-affected snow. We hit both off-piste runs (Rendezvous Bowl early, Headwall and The Crags) and groomers in between. What impressed me most about the skis were their versatility. In both conditions the ski was a charger. It’s fast, aggressive and agile. It reminds me most of my Atomic Automatic but is also categorically similar to my Hybrid DPS Wailer 112RPs (a less aggressive ski with more sidecut and less stiffness). This is a ski I’d definitely buy for myself and recommend to others.”
    
    
    
    “The BD Amperage was a pleasant surprise in the versatility department,” said Brian Wulf, who is 25, 5’ 10” and weights 170 lbs. “We all dream of the days of endless resort pow and empty chairlifts, but that’s rarely the reality. Instead, we end up bumping around on hardpack searching for the goods and compromising in fun. We either find a sick all mountain ski that blasts through the crud or surfs in the deep stuff, but never both. The Amperage may make reality fun again. Initiating a turn on hard park wasn’t effortless, but never did it induce fatigue. And then comes the deep stuff. So easy to pivot, the ski was playful and poppy. I would however like the ski mounted a bit more forward.”
    
    
    
    “I went out on a marginally deep, ‘dust on crust’ day with the AMPerage in a 185,” Sam Petri said. “What I found to be impressive was its ability to manage these variable conditions with ease. Whether I was floating in powder or navigating ice bumps, these skis were there for me. While 115 mm under foot may be fat for some people, I consider this one of the truest ‘one quiver’ skis I’ve been on in a while. Seems like you could put touring bindings on them or resort bindings and be equally happy.”
    
    Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
    
    “This ski is perfect for your big mountain skier,” Danny Holland said. “It’s for someone who wants something that performs well on various conditions and is a joy to ski when things are soft.”
    
    “It’s a great all mountain powder ski for a resort like Jackson Hole,” Than Volk said. “It’s got the flotation and width for powder while maintaining the stiffness for crud and groomers once it’s tracked out.”
    
    “The ski is versatile from trees, to crud, to pow,” Brian Wulf said. “But the shape certainly lends itself to the skier that likes a more fun and playful stick.
    
    “This ski is for everyone,” Sam Petri said. “Again, I was so impressed by its versatility. I would be confused if someone were to ski this one and come back disappointed. I’ve never been on the Armada JJ, but all my friends have it and rave about it. I have to think this skis directly competes with it.”
    
    

    
    Zealot  ($849)
    182cm:  135-110-123  10lb 2oz
    192cm:  136-110-125  10lb 13oz
    
    Two Testers on the 182
    
    Stoke Level: Hard to say. Results are a little inconclusive on this one. Only two testers took this ski out. Danny was stoked, giving them a 9/10. Than, not so much, giving them a 5/10.
    
    “I have been the type of skier that has traditionally ridden on wider and softer skis such as the Rossignol S7 and recently Atomic Automatics,” Danny Holland said. “My mind was completely blow away after getting on a stiffer hard charging ski like the Zealot. It was amazing to drop in and pick up speed, put in a turn and feel completely in control. It was like skiing on rails.”
    
    Than Volk, not quite as amped, but would like to try them again.
    
    “The day before I rode them had gotten pretty warm,” Than Volk said. “While we got 3” - 4” overnight, we were mostly riding off-piste and it was pretty much “dust on crust” conditions that would have been tough on any pair of skis. I have a pair of Volkl Kanatas and hoped they would perform similarly, but didn’t feel like I got a great chance to test that out.”
    
    Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
    
    “This is really a perfect big mountain ski,” Danny Holland said. “It is ideal on those days where the thicker sticks really are not needed and you want to rip tram laps as fast as humanly possible.”
    
    “If it’s anything like a Katana it should be a great front side ski that also holds its own in powder,” Than Volk said.
    
    Teton Gravity Research Advertising Guru - Than Volk
    
    Verdict  ($799)
    164cm:  130-100-118  8lb 10oz
    172cm:  131-100-118  9lb 1oz
    180cm:  132-100-119  9lb 8oz
    188cm:  133-100-119  10lb
    
    One Tester on the 180
    
    Stoke Level: 7
    
    “The Black Diamond Verdict is a great ski but for the conditions that we had today I would have probably want something a little heavier and stiffer,” Said Johanna Murphy, who is 26, 5’5” and 135 lbs. “I would have loved to try these out in lighter snow because I think that’s where these skis would have shined. I felt somewhat sloppy because hitting any hard packed snow they almost flew away from my body making balancing challenging. In the hobacks where the snow was a little softer due to being in the sun these skies performed well. I was in control and smoothly going over the bumpy terrain.”
    
    “My best moment on them was in the Hobacks – The Hobacks were pretty soft when we skied on them and the Verdicts were great handling that light slightly cruddy snow,” Johanna said. “The worst moment was on groomers – I didn’t feel like there was enough edge to catch on the icy groomers that we hit. I felt like the skis were chattering.”
    
    So, who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
    
    “This ski is for an all mountain skier that has lots of snow to play with. If you are a hard charging skier with a hardpacked mountain to ski on, these probably are not for you,” Johanna said.
    
    

    
    Carbon Megawatt ($999)
    178cm:  145-120-127  7lb 1oz
    188cm:  147-120-127  8lb
    
    One Tester on the 188
    
    Stoke Level: 8.5
    
    “For such a fat ski, I can’t believe how light these boards are,” Sam Petri said. “I skied these on Teton Pass and they were mounted with tech bindings. It was a true pleasure to hike with such fat skis that didn’t weigh so much. On the way down, it was mostly powder and I felt these performed similarly to the non-carbon version in powder – which is awesome.  You can make both large and small turns and you can do that new school thing where you throw them sideways at high spped to make a giant powder plume. I would not ski these at the resort, though, as I think skiing an all carbon ski in resort conditions often leads to a ‘tinny’ feel.”
    
    Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
    
    “This ski is for the dedicated backcountry skier who has a quiver of skis and wants this one for the deepest days of the year and general powder crushing,” Sam Petri said.
    
    
    
    
    Convert  ($799)
    164cm:  131-105-116  6lb 6oz
    172cm:  132-105-116  7lb
    180cm:  133-105-117  7lb 4oz
    188cm:  134-105-117  7lb 11oz
    
    One tester on the 180
    
    Stoke level: 8.5
    
    “There is no question that these Black Diamond Covert skis are meant for the pow,” said Joni McGregor, who is 23, 5’7” and 120 lbs. “They were super fun and fast in the wide open powder fields.  They gave me confidence that I don’t get from my own skis in the deep snow.  When we started hitting groomers and going through the trees, these skis were not as ideal. It was more difficult to make good turns on these runs.  Overall, I had a great time on the Covert and it would be the perfect ski for the really deep days.”
    
    Who is this ski for? What type of skier would benefit from this ski?
    
    “An expert skier that likes to tour to find the pow.”
    
    
    
    
    
    A few of us got to get out on the new Factor Mx 130 Ski Boot.
    
    Black Diamond’s Factor Mx 130 boots offer an impressively alpine-boot like feel with an equally impressive walk mode. While everyone’s foot is different, these boots are a solid choice for those that want to ski hard and tour hard. We charged in and out of bounds in them. Below are some specs and some thoughts from BD ski category director Thomas Laakso.
    
    Available in sizes 24.5-30.5
    Weight: 4 kg (8 lb 3 oz) [size 27.5].
     
    ·      Mx Direct Connect technology for unmatched lateral stiffness and Flex 130 fore/aft stiffness
    ·      Mx Direct Connect Alpine and AT Sole Blocks (tech binding compatible) included, integrated heel shock absorber
    ·      Resistance-free walk mode offers 40 degrees of touring freedom
    ·      30% lower profile buckles than previous Factor boots
    ·      Performance 100 mm V-shaped last with 100% thermoformable Direct Connect liner
    
    
    
    “Did you catch Johnny Collinson's run up at Revelstoke?” BD ski category director Thomas Laakso asked in an email. “I'm kind of biased but sort of think that was one of the sickest airs of the comp, along with a super technical line of which he got ROBBED…  But anyways, of relevance, I think it was the first time anyone's really competed on a freeride boot like that.  Stock Factor Mx boots and slaying a line like that!  Along with the new Amperage as well which surely helped him stomp that 3 like a man.   But it is pretty cool that he's competing in it, filming in it, touring in it, and slaying it.  Same with Angel.  Same with Callum Pettit who's not competing, but touring, filming and just monkeying around all in that one boot.  And same with Samuel Antematten in Europe who's competing on it next week in Courmayer.  There hasn't been a boot that you can do all that with yet.  Who knew that a walk mode boot with 40 degrees of touring could also compete at the highest level where they were using plug race boots just last year!”
    
    

    Thanks again to Black Diamond for letting us have the first look at the 2013-14 freeride line! Much appreciated!

    Shop for Black Diamond skis, boots, poles and more at Backcountry.com while helping support TGR!

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• News: Sam Favret Wins Red Bull News: Sam Favret Wins Red Bull Linecatcher 2013

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    Les Arcs, France - Sam Favret, of Chamonix, won the fifth installment of Red Bull Linecatcher. American Parker White and Nicolas Vuignier, of Switzerland, took home second and third, respectively.
    
    The 2013 edition of the Red Bull Linecatcher featured a high level of competition on the White Circus face, in the Savoyard resort of Les Arcs, France. As expected, the day had clear skies, little wind and very cold temperatures, allowing the snowpack to retain its lightness. On this beautiful face covered with powder, 20 skiers decided to do what they do best: go huge in the backcountry.
    
    
    Red Bull Linecatcher 2013 podium. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    A native of Chamonix, Sam Favret, impressed the judges with breathtaking descents. In his last run, Favret skillfully combined the techniques of freestyle, freeride commitment, and creative line choice, convincing the jury he was the No. 1 skier of the day.
    
    After a switch cork 540 on the right side and a left cork 720 off two kickers on the top of the face, Favret skied with aggression and fluidity in the second part of his line, embellishing his descent from a 360 on a natural air before drawing in large turns toward the finish line.
    
    “Happiness! What a day! There were really great [jumps] on this contest,” Favret said. “I have overcome the pressure and ski relaxed and it allowed me free rein and [to ski] my best. This is awesome. ... This result bodes well for the rest of the season.”
    
    
    Red Bull Linecatcher 2013. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    Parker White, a 21-year-old American ski prodigy and the youngest skier in the race, climbed to the second step of the podium. He won the heart of the jury by making two very technical airs perfectly on his first run, throwing a 720 and a butter cork 720.
    
    “Today was a magical day,” said White, of Vermont. “I did not expect at all to finish second and I'm really, really happy.”
    
    Nicolas Vuignier, of Switzerland, who is the only one of the three winners to have already participated in the Red Bull Linecacher, completed the podium. It was during the 2011 edition that Nicolas had crossed the qualifiers but could not confirm at the final stages. This year, is his last run, he seized his chance. He chose a strange line, beginning his descent with a 360 on natural terrain before two kickers: a cork 7 and 360, all at full speed and flawless.
    
    “Everyone has skied so well that it must have been really difficult for the judges. I am very pleasantly surprised and super happy,” Vuignier said while leaving the podium.
    
    
    Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
    
    Finally, the special prize of “Best Natural Trick” (best is on natural terrain) was awarded to Léo Taillefer of Val d'Isère for his superb skiing and a 360 over a bump in the natural entrance of his run.
    
    This fifth edition of the Red Bull Linecatcher has been a great success and resulted in a very diverse showcase of freeskiing.
    
    The final standings:
    
    1 - Sam Favret FRA
    2 - Parker White USA
    3 - Nicolas Vuignier SUI
    4 - Fabio Studer TUE
    5 - Sage Cattabriga-Alosa USA
    6 - Dylan Hood USA
    7 - Markus Eder ITA
    8 - Romain Grojean FRA
    9 - Tim Durtschi USA
    10 - Dash Longe USA
    10 - Tom Leitner ALL
    12 - Oakley White Allen USA
    13 - Eliel Hindert USA
    14 - Leo Taillefer FRA
    15 - Tobias Tritscher TUE
    16 - Richard Permin FRA
    16 - White Tomas ARG
    18 - Rory Bushfield CAN
    19 - Mathieu Imbert ENG
    20 - Arnaud Rougier FRA

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
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• News: Patagonia Signs Kye Pete News: Patagonia Signs Kye Petersen And Pep Fujas To Global Ambassador Team

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

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

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• Trewth Bib 2012/2013: Trew Gea Trewth Bib 2012/2013: Trew Gear Review

  • From: warpigsinfin
  • Description:

    About the Reviewer: 5'10", 190 lbs, 33" waist skiing backcountry pow in the Teton Range of Wyoming.  I bought a pair of the size LARGE Trewth Bibs but they were too long and baggy for me so I traded them in for a pair of MEDIUMS which fit me perfectly.  I wear size LARGE in Trew jackets, but prefer their size MEDIUM pants.  I got my hands on a pair of the 2012/2013 Trewth Bibs from Trew Gear and have skied ~15 backcountry days in these pants.

     
    Ideal uses for the Trewth Bib:
    *resort riding in any temps/conditions
    *sled riding in any temps/conditions
    *backcountry riding in colder/deeper conditions (these pants could be too warm for sunny spring tours)
    *the deeper it gets, the happier you will be with these overbuilt, snow-shedding, water-resistant bibs!
    *any mountain activities in cold/wet conditions that don't involve a lot of crampon us (these bibs are too baggy around the boots for safe crampon use... unless you duct tape them tightly around your boot)
     
    The Good:
    * super durable fabric feels really solid and blasts through the brush without a scratch
    * overbuilt seams to prevent tears and splitting whilst unintentionally tomohawking
    * full-length zips offer plenty of ventilation for warm days, long, hikes, avoiding swamp crotch while skinning, and stripping down for whatever reason...
    * beefy water-resistant zippers throughout
    * loads of large, functional pockets (three up top, two at the waist, and two cargo pockets on the thigh)
    * belt loops in addition to bib suspenders
    * adjustable velcro powder gaiters with elastic and hooks to keep them strapped down
    * comfortable, loose fit (doesn't restrict movement while skinning or bootpacking)
    * extra fleecy layer under the butt to keep your tush warm while riding lifts or sitting in the snow
    * exceptionally overbuilt cuffs won't get shredded 
     
    The Bad:
    * full-length side zips are more likely to fail catastrophically than the half-length side zips of other pants
    * elastic strap material used for bib suspenders could be more technical and durable (it feels like it will lose its elasticity and wear out quicker than the rest of the pant)
    * sizing is a little tricky (I wear LARGE Trew jackets but the LARGE Trewth bibs were too big and baggy.  The MEDIUMS fit me just right.)
    * thigh cargo pockets restrict uphill movement when full of stuff (as should be expected, I suppose)
     
    Overall Assessment:
    These pants are ideal for resort, slackcountry, sled, and heli-accessed riding.  They are also great for backcountry touring in colder/deeper conditions.  Even with full-length side zips, I found myself sweating in these bibs when the temps were above freezing.  These bibs are stylish, comfortable, technical and durably overbuilt.  At $420 the price is most certainly right...
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• News: NWT3K Introduces New Lev News: NWT3K Introduces New Level of Customization to Outerwear

  • From: nwt3kouterwear
  • Description:

    

    Northwest Technical Outerwear Allows for Individuality in Snow Sports Apparel
    
    New company allows skiers and snowboarders to build & customize Jackets.
    
    Seattle, WA December 18th, 2012 – Last week, Northwest Technical Outerwear (NWT3K) began a new era in the
    winter outerwear market by introducing the first high-quality, affordable, and customizable jacket available to
    the public.
    
    NWT3K recognizes that skiers and snowboarders love individuality almost as much as they hate seeing their
    name brand jacket sitting mirrored next to them on the chairlift every season. NWT3K aims to shake up the
    industry by utilizing new website technology that offers a simple interface for consumers to pick colors they
    love and the features they need. Customization aligns with high-quality technical jacket features, designed
    specifically to combat common problems riders face on the slopes. From wide cuffs that easily fit around your
    gloves to durable, color schemed velcro, Northwest Technical Outwear caters to the distinct, die-hard snowbird.
    
    Founder and CEO, Nick Marvik, strongly believes that you should be able to express your personality through
    not only your riding style, but also your outerwear style. “Most companies release only a few jacket options
    per season, so it’s inevitable that you’ll see some look-alikes on the mountain. Our brand means that you
    are able to represent yourself through a jacket design that is timeless. With NWT3K, your gear will never be
    considered ‘last season’s jacket’.”
    
    NWT3K is also a passionate advocate for keeping their products USA-made. The company has ensured that
    production remain in its home city of Seattle, WA – without passing the cost on to customers. This supports
    local businesses and allows for riders to receive their custom jacket directly from the factory, resulting in a
    much faster time to delivery.
    
    NWT3K’s custom jacket builder allows riders to:
    
    -Choose from 12 different colors for the body, arms, and hood areas of the jacket

    -Choose from 10 different zipper colors

    -Choose from 10 different velcro colors

    -Choose from 16 different zipper layouts

    -Add additional features such as pits zips
    
    Custom Jackets start at $289. Visit www.NWT3k.com for more information.
    
    About Northwest Technical Outerwear
    
    Northwest Technical Outerwear, LLC is a start-up outerwear company that streamlines their ski and snowboard
    jackets around customer personalization, satisfaction, and experience. The company’s design allows snow
    addicts to customize the colors and technical features featured on their jacket, while stile providing the durable,
    high quality elements enthusiasts expect from big-name brands. As a new player in the snow sports apparel
    industry, NWT3K hopes to shake up the standards for product technology, design, and innovation. Founded
    and scaled by a full-time college student and ski junkie, NWT3K jacket features are developed with the avid
    skier and practical functionality in mind. They are also advocates for “USA Made,” and have managed to keep all
    production based directly out of their headquarters’ city of Seattle, Washington.

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
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• News: Mark McMorris Takes The News: Mark McMorris Takes The Win In Snowboard Men's Slopestyle Final

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    From 31 to the elite twelve, the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle at the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado consisted of the best snowboarders in the industry riding on what many have been referring to as “the best slopestyle course ever.”

    As the final event of the last stop of the 2012 Dew Tour, spirits were high from riders to fans, and despite some winds and snowfall flurries, the level excitement and talent on display was something to be remembered.

    When the semi-final came to a close back on Wednesday, Torstein Horgmo ended the day leading the pack and earning him the top qualifying spot after taking his two runs. Similar to the semi-final, riders in the final each were allotted two attempts to take to the slope in an effort to get that single highest score of the day.

    After all the riders finished their first attempts on the course, it was Mark McMorris who nailed every trick and took the highest score of a 90.00. Then, during the second laps, McMorris upped the ante again growing from his previous score to a 95.00, which put the pressure on the remaining men left to drop.

    Maybe it was the added confidence McMorris gained from the night before when he won the first-ever Big Air at Dew Tour, maybe not. Whatever it was, the Canadian snowboarder came out swinging in both runs stomping everything he tried – a feat in and of itself.

    In the end, nobody was able to unseat McMorris and he rode out of the final stop of the 2012 Dew Tour with two titles! McMorris’ best run of the day was his second run that included a lipslide to fakie, switch hard 270 onto the next down feature, a cab double cork 900, frontside 720, backside 360 to tap on the iON camera feature, a double wildcat and a frontside double cork 1260 to cap it off.

    “This course is sick! Four jumps, three rails – it’s a really technical setup. When you get to ride a really big course it is so much more fun… A lot of times you are limited to two or three ways of spinning, but with four jumps it makes for endless opportunities for lines you can choose – it makes for a lot more creativity,” said McMorris after he received his second Dew Cup in two days. McMorris went on to express his approval for the new Dew Tour’s change to a one-stop format, “[Dew Tour] is on the right track, one hundred percent!”

    Chas Guldemond and Staale Sandbech rounded out the rest of the podium, respectively.

    Results

    1^st Place – Mark McMorris 95.00

    2^nd Place – Chas Guldemond 90.75

    3^rd Place – Staale Sandbech 85.75

    4^th Place – Sebastien Toutant 84.24

    5^th Place – Roope Tonteri 79.75

    6^th Place – Peetu Piiroinen 65.00

    7^th Place – Torstein Horgmo 75.00

    8^th Place – Sven Thorgen 70.25

    9^th Place – Sage Kostenburg 50.00

    10^th Place – Eric Willett 43.75

    11^th Place – Maxence Parrot 30.25

    12^th Place –Ulrik Badertscher 23.75

     

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  • 5 months ago
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• News: Rahlves’ Banzai Tour Ann News: Rahlves’ Banzai Tour Announces Tour Dates

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

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

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  • 5 months ago
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• Interview: Eric Hjorleifson On Interview: Eric Hjorleifson On The Evolution Of Touring

  • From: leelau
  • Description:

    Eric Hjorleifson holds the Dynafit Mercury on the left and on the right is his frankenboot Titan that started it all.
    
    On November 23, Eric “Hoji “ Hjorleifson gave a talk titled “The Evolution of Touring Gear” at the Escape Route in Whistler. Hoji has been instrumental in the development of a lot of gear, but lately, in particular, has contributed knowledge to the current lineup of Dynafit “Free Touring” boots. For those of you who aren't backcountry gear geeks, these are the Dynafit Vulcan, Mercury and One. These boots come about as close to the ideal of having an excellent walk mode and lightweight, while maintaining stiffness and burliness for downhill performance. This line of boots seeks to marry downhill and uphill performance in one package, but at different price points.
    
    Hoji is no stranger to skiing enthusiasts. Much to his own self-admitted surprise, the way he annihilates powder and pillows skiing on Dynafits opened the minds of many a skier who'd previously viewed Dynafits as specifically for the one-piece scholler sausage-stuffed skin suit crowd. Footage had started circulating almost two years ago about his exploits on those bindings.
    
    
    
    Hoji's talent and fetish for modifying gear had also caught the attention of the denizens of internet forums, many of whom seem to have way too much time on their hands and have dissected and discussed Hoji's gear choices. Indeed the gear-queer interest has been so stalker-ish that there have multiple threads dedicated to Hoji and his gear including Ask a Hoji, Ask a Hoji Part 2 and no less than two threads dedicated to Hoji's custom Frankenboot modification of the Dynafit Titan.
    
    This interview continues the Hoji stalk and was supposed to be short, just talking about boots. However, Eric is an articulate and astute character, a thinking man's skier if you will. His thoughts about skiing, ski touring and gear were well formed and informed. On with the questions.
    
    Lee Lau: How old are you, where did you start skiing, when did you start heading into the backcountry and where do you live now?
    
    Eric Hjorleifson: I'm 29 years old. I started skiing in the Canadian Rockies. Lake Louise was my home mountain. I first started heading to the backcountry when I was about 16 or 17, and I now call Whistler home.
    
    LL: You're known for your skiing segments. You showed some versatility this season by bagging some lines in the Freshfields Icefields north of Golden and more notably the North Face of Clemenceau (with Martin Lefebvre, and Chris Rubens). How much mountaineering or ice-climbing have you done?
    
    EH: Not much pure ice-climbing. A bit of mountaineering. Most of my climbing is limited to front-pointing on crampons. My good buddy Matty Richard has been trying to talk me into doing more but I always end up skiing pow.
    
    LL: Finally, before we talk boots, some people might be surprised to know that you edit your own videos. Why did you start doing that and how did you learn?
    
    EH: Around the time that MSP did “Push” in 2009 they gave athletes the opportunity to edit their own segments. I'd always been fascinated by how videos came together and was sometimes disappointed when particular lines or mountains I would ski would end up not used. You can't really blame the editors for that. They weren't there so there's no way they could know how I was feeling on a line and they have to work with constraints of time and flow. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get involved in the creative process. For that I owe a bunch to Scott Gaffney who helped me learn how to edit and put footage together in an artistic package.
    
    Basically, I sometimes have a strong emotional connection with a particular segment, or day, or trip. It's a feeling that's hard to put into words. Learning how to edit my own segments allows me to try to put something together that tries to capture the moment.
    
    It's hard to keep on top of editing software, but I try as much as I can. The technology moves so quickly. As soon as I learned Final Cut, people are now moving on to Avid. But it's fun to try.
    
    
    
    
    LL: Let's talk about your boots and your modifications. A lot has been written about the boots which gave you notoriety: the Dynafit Titan. What is your title with them and why did you start modifying boots?
    
    EH: Officially, I'm a consultant to Dynafit in a contractor capacity. What this means is that I share my ideas about the boots and give them insight. You've got to appreciate that the North American market is a small part of the overall market for backcountry and that my modifications were for a North American market. To be more accurate, it’s even smaller than that because the people who were really looking for something like my modified Titan were from BC, the Pacific North West, or the Western US, so the market's even smaller than that.
    
    I was actually a bit surprised by the attention paid to the boots. I mean, I knew that people were curious about them, but I didn't know to what extent. Personally, from skiing in racing boots all the time and using alpine-trekkers, fixing broken gear was getting kind of old and I knew that if I didn't look into something with a walk mode I'd be looking at losing toenails or maybe toes when I got older.
    
    I won't repeat what I did with my Titans, as it's been described in a bunch of different articles, but basically, I customized the boot so it fit my skiing style, which is centered and relies on lateral movement. I also wanted to improve the walk mode so I modded the Titan so I could remove the tongue when skinning. In the 2009-’10 season I was filming with Matchstick at Golden Alpine Holidays and I was shooting footage of self propelled lines with Dynafit FT12 bindings, my 4FRNT skis and my modified Titans. I developed a ton of confidence filming and skiing on that setup and I've never looked back from there.
    
    The Escape Route is a longtime Whistler locals' backcountry gear hangout and a fine place to display Hoji's art. In the top picture from L to R: modified Titan, frankenTLT5, Dynafit Mercury and Dynafit One. The Vulcan is in short supply and the only pair the shop had were bought that very day.
    
    LL: There was quite a stir when Dynafit took you on in 2011 and then made it long term in 2012. How did you come to meet Dynafit and then ultimately they become comfortable enough for them to take you on in an official capacity?
    
    EH: It started out here at this store. Escape Route was a Dynafit Competence Center, which basically meant that the staff had a lot of technical knowledge and expertise about the product line. Around two years ago, I first met with the folks from Dynafit who were there to talk to Escape Route and a bunch of Whistler locals, who were longtime users of the products, raced ski-mountaineering and hard-chargers in their own right. Some people from Dynafit were there and were kind enough to let me show the modified Titan. I showed them footage of what I skied at Golden Alpine Holidays with Dynafits on these modified boots.
    
    To be honest, I didn't know what they thought initially. These guys practically invented a lot of the gear we took for granted, so maybe it was a bit much to expect them to open up right from the start. I get the feeling we're coming at this from a different perspective than they are in some parts of Europe, as you can probably appreciate. But credit where credit's due, the guys, especially Federico Sbrissa, were open to suggestions and as we worked together more and more we meshed.
    
    What was a revelation, too, was the first time I saw the DNA boot. It was meant for a totally different application than the way I ski or approach lines but I could see the direction it was going and it was a great direction. Then the TLT5Performance came out and I had a chance to use that boot as I was coming back from knee surgery. I wasn't charging quite as hard as I had in the past due to rehab and I really got a chance to appreciate the lateral stiffness and that fantastic walk mode. Of course, I modded that boot, too, and ideas really came together as we were marrying the technology and features from that boot into something that also had good downhill performance yet could also be light. And we wanted to keep that fantastic walk mode. After lots of work, what came together is the line of Free Touring boots.
    
    LL: Something's that not well known is that you don't get prototype boots very quickly. You wear a size 25.5 boot and most prototypes are size 27. How do you get around that when in the middle of the product development cycle?
    
    EH: Like I said, I ski a ton with Matty Richard. Matty's a size 27 foot. Matty's actually part of the test team and he gives me a ton of feedback on the boots and how they feel. I get a chance to see how the boot is working. Because I ski with Matty a lot, I can also sometimes guess or he'll tell me if he feels like there's something off or not quite perfect. As you know, the prototype Vulcans aren't quite the same as the production. The productions will be a bit stiffer.
    
    It's a good thing they don't have to wait for my go-ahead for the Vulcans. Those boots are in short supply. I don't have boots yet ... Dynafit's taking care of paying customers first - good for them, but maybe you and I have to be patient!
    
    Hoji with the modified TLT5 Performance on picture left. Matty Richard is Hoji's skiing partner in arms on picture right.
    
    LL: Speaking of stiff boots, I'm 160 lbs. You're about the same weight. Matty is also not a big guy. It seems a little crazy that people are now “complaining” that the Vulcan is too stiff, given that for so long the internet skiers have been asking for a stiff boot. What do you think about the Vulcan versus the Mercury?
    
    EH: I was just talking to Julian (Stoddard - the Dynafit rep) about this. It's almost the case that guys our size can't really stress gear out the way that bigger guys can. Mass matters. I do think it’s kind of funny that people are now saying the Vulcan is too stiff. It's got the kind of crazy lateral stiffness that I like because my skiing style is to really carve hard and move laterally - something that probably comes from the racing background.
    
    Right now I'm on prototype Mercurys, and I'd say that almost all the time it's perfect for me. Everyone's different though. They have different sized bodies. Different ski styles and ski in different conditions. Of course, there's also a big difference in price between the boots so I'd say that it's good to have choices.

    LL: Some people are modifying the Vulcan/Mercury. For example some people are modifying the tongue so it can be more easily removed in the uphill/downhill transistion. How much do you still tinker with gear?
    
    EH: I don't think I'll every stop modifying gear! I'm never happy. Whenever you think something's perfect you'll find some way to improve it. The difference now, though, is that I've got the company behind me and lots of people - very experienced people - to use as sounding boards, and to bounce ideas back and forth. It's a huge advantage to have support. I can't talk much about what's in the works, but wait till next year. I know – it’s ridiculous that this season has just started and we're already talking like that.
    
    One example mod for the Vulcan/Mercury is the James McSkimming modification (right) which is to cut off the square tab from the external hard plastic tongue thus making the tongue easier to remove. Keep the tongue on for the downhills and take it off for the uphills for free-floating stride.
    
    Click Here To Buy The Dynafit Mercury

    Click Here To Buy The Dynafit Vulcan
    
    Lee Lau is an avid skier and outdoorsman embarking on many adventures with his loving, and sometimes concerned wife, Sharon. He has over 15 years of experience skiing, ski-touring and dabbles in mountaineering. In the “off-season” he is occasionally found working in his day job as an intellectual property lawyer when he is not mountain biking. As a resident of Whistler and Vancouver, British Columbia, Lee's playground extends mainly to Western Canada, including South West B.C. and the Selkirk.

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