1262 Search Results for "time"

• Hi-Fives with Thomas Vincent o Hi-Fives with Thomas Vincent of Hi-Line Films

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Hi-Fives is a new column that puts the spotlight on badass people and places that are breaking the mold.  We kick things off by interviewing Thomas Vincent, a twenty-three year old passionate skier from Missoula, Montana. We caught up with Vincent at the top of Beartooth Pass, a remote backcountry mecca in Montana, during the Beartooth Summer Sessions a few weeks ago.

     

    Vincent was shooting with Hi-Line Films—a production company based out of Missoula, Montana—for its upcoming release, "the simple side." We happened upon him as he stood drinking a beer and smiling while holding a napkin to his bloodied cheek.  Despite fresh injuries, he graciously answered our questions about Hi-Line Films and what the heck they were doing in Beartooh.

     

    

     

    Give me the run down on yourself, name, age, job?

    My full name is Thomas Caywood Vincent the 5th. Let me look at my passport here, ah yes, I am 23 years of age. My parents introduced me to skiing when I was in kindergarden, so what...I was 5? I've been riding and filming with Hi-Line since the winter of 2011-2012. I'm currently studying digital film at the University of Montana and I often find myself following a bit of a fantasy more often than not. Since there aren't dragons flying around our heads, I put planks on my feet and slay snow ghosts. It's really my way of saying, "hey earth, do better....bitch." It feels good to ski.

     

    Why did you come to Beartooth Pass?

    I actually came here for redemption. Last year we came here at the exact same time of year with with Hi-Line Films. And last year, I found a way to break my jaw, so this year we decided I needed redemption-- I can't end on a bad note! So we came out here and I did what I sought to do, and I feel really, really good about it. This place is phenomenal. You drive up to the top of Beartooth Pass, your buddies drop in, you lap a couple of times, you hoot and holler and go home to your campsite and feel a lot better at the end of the day. It's incredible--it's big line skiing in June. 

     

    What has your experience in Beartooth been like?

    We got here late, super late on Tuesday night at like four in the morning. So we got up a little late and ended getting up to the pass at about noon on Wednesday. We got to Gardner Headwall and literally there is a road that will swing you up to this amazing face with tons of long lines, shoots, and, couloirs.  So we all rallied up and six of us hiked out to the top of our lines.  When we dropped in, we rode out this bulletproof chunder and did the best we could. We basically straight-lined the chutes, rode it out, and powered our quads through it, even if it brought tears to our eyes because it hurt so much to hold. But when you know you are getting filmed, you gotta hold it through. And we did it! 

     

    

     

    What went down on your second day on Beartooth Pass?

    The next day we built a massive jump on top of a cornice that Toy Solider Productions was working on last year. It's down and around from the Garder Headwall. We basically found a nice big cornice to build a jump on, to boost us up and over. We built a nice backcountry step-down. I did a starfish lincoln loop over it, which I was pretty happy with. 

     

    There was actually a carpool of British people at the base and they were ecstatic about it. They said it was the most “brilliant” thing they've ever seen in skiing--so I'm happy about that. Bringing back some old school. I like it. But a few of us were having some problems with speed on the jump. I was fortunate to stomp out some tricks, but some of the other members of the team were having a hard time and not stoked on it, but I really wanted, needed to get my redemption trick out of it. So I decided to try a cork 9 for true redemption, and I brought it to my feet a couple times, but we started seeing lightning and hearing thunder so we decided to call it, and headed back to our campsite. We got pretty rowdy at the campsite, had a raging fire, drank beers, talked about our lines and enjoyed the heck out hanging out. 

     

    Are you still seeking redemption, what happened today?

    This morning I woke up, wasn't sure if I would have the energy to go for that 9, but I got convinced. The Hi-Line crew stoked me up, so I decided to go for it. I hiked up to the jump by myself. We had the Hi-Line filmers posted up on the road, watching and tracking my progress through the telephoto lens. Once the sun peeked out, I went for it. First try, cork 9, to my feet--couldn't hold it. Second time, to my feet--couldn't hold it. Third time, started getting sloppy, cork 9 to my chest. Fourth time--almost broke my jaw again! I felt the ski come up to my jaw again, real tough. I landed the nine, and my ski just got stuck in the chunder and shot up straight into my face. So after that I decided to call it. But we're on top of Beartooth Pass, looking at Garder Headwall, right now, waiting for three of our guys to get on their lines. Ben [Zeimat] is actually setting up camera now. And shit, we're drinking beers, we're chilling, and we're loving it. This is enough for me.

     

    Editor's note, we stop the interview as the remaining three guys needled a tight, steep chute. We hooted, hollered, cheered, and got back to talking. 

     

    

     

    This place is no joke, you guys are gnarly . These lines are legit. So tell me what  other projects have you been apart of?

    I've been working with "The Trimming's" web series. It was produced by two Epic Planks pro riders, and the series has been fairly popular this season. And through that I have been getting a lot of practice. With Hi-Line, they have been primarily focused on backcountry. They really don't touch any resort, so you're going to see a lot of skinning,  a lot of hiking, a lot of effort, a lot disappointment and a lot of excitement in our film.   We're calling the movie, "the simple side" and it will be coming out next fall. 

     

    Who all is in Hi-Line Films?

    Ben Zeimat, is the filmer, director, producer. He is the man behind it all. He will commission additional filmers to get different angles. But yeah, it's been really interesting and an awesome experience working with these guys. Some of the other riders you'll see are T.J. Andrews, you'd be familiar with him from, "Come Find Us," the first Toy Solider Film where he was trying the triple cork, which, actually, was right over there,  right over there on that ledge. [Points to ledge.]  He became a legend in Montana for that. So that guy has been pushing the hell out of me this trip. But let's see, we're also with Sam Arroues, and Garret Umphress. So those three including me are kind of the core team. But we've had a bunch of friends claiming lines and adding to it.

     

    When do you plan to release "the simple side"?

    We'd like to get it into Missoula by mid-October along with premiere season. We're going to tour it around Montana. We might go into a couple different places,  but we know our market niche is in Montana. And we'll definitely have a teaser coming out soon. 

     

    What you guys are doing here is the core essences of shredding..living life, camping, waking up, hiking these huge lines, and getting shit done. It's awesome. 

    Ya, totally!  And tonight, we're going to party in a school bus at our campsite.  It broke down a few days ago en route to Beartooth, but we fixed it up, and tonight we'll be celebrating our successes out here and going for it! 

     

    Check out Thomas and the rest of the Hi-Line guys in the teaser below.

    the simple side. Mid Season Teaser from Hi-Line Films on Vimeo

     

    Riders:

    T.J. Andrews

    Sam Arroues

    Thomas Vincent

    Garrett Umphress

    Joel Anderson

    Brett Bacon

    Danny Arnold

    Luke Morris

    Riley Johnson

    Jake Fagrelius

    and friends

     

    Filming and Editing by:

    Ben Zeimet

     

    Produced By:

    Hi-Line Films and Generation One Media

     

    Photos: Gavin Gibson

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• The Dirtbag's Guide to Getting The Dirtbag's Guide to Getting Shit Done: Urban Camping

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Welcome to The Dirtbag’s Guide to Getting Shit Done. Twice a month, we'll dish out the dirty details on how to live the dream without breaking the bank.

    Forget what you know about camping. Sleeping next to a babbling brook and watching the sunset through your tent door are overrated. Unfortunately, the outdoor industry has been a little too successful romanticizing camping—or at least making it synonymous with alpine lakes and granite peaks.

    If you’re looking for an original adventure, try camping in landscapes defined by concrete, abandoned shopping carts, and a scarcity of vegetation. Typically avoided by those who eschew a love for camping, urban areas are the next frontier. You’ll find far more tents on Colorado Fourteeners or in the base camps of Everest than you will in Brooklyn. And although urban camping promises adventure (and the possibility of being charged with trespassing), it’s also a great way to save cash when traveling across the country or recovering from a recent eviction.

    

    Ask for Permission . . . Or Slip Under the Radar?

    Those who’ve spent significant time urban camping face a familiar debate—is it worth asking for permission? The answer often varies, as a single trip may require both approaches. Asking for permission ensures staying on the good side of the law and can open doors to new opportunities—playing Bingo with newfound friends at the VFW post, being invited to dinner by strangers, and watching Alf reruns inside a fire station. Asking for permission, however, does not guarantee you’ll receive it. It can also diminish the thrill of inhabiting a questionable site.

    When asking for permission, be ready to steer the conversation. In smaller towns, police stations, churches, and firehouses are solid places to start. Identify someone who appears to have an element of authority and get ready to pop the question. Just be aware that your body odor and mustard stained Winger t-shirt will initially raise suspicion.

    Open with an explanation of what brings you to town—it’s far better to state that you’re exploring America than that you’re selling meth from the trunk of your Chevette. If possible, emphasize that you’re looking for a place to camp just for the night and that you’ll be on your way early in the morning. Be prepared to preemptively suggest places to camp, such as the grassy area next to the police station, a city park, the rodeo grounds, or a ball diamond (if you have outstanding warrants, it’s best to skip the police station). Avoid inquiring about places like schools, where you stand to be the poster child of future “Stranger Danger” campaigns.

    

    In a city of significant size, consider hitting up the private sector for places to camp. Local businesses, fraternal organizations, gas stations, and junkyards are potential options. If a business is likely to have an employee handbook or a corporate office, it’s not worth asking to camp in the planter.

    If you avoid asking for permission, either make your site exceedingly obvious or escape detection by stealth camping. Hiding in plain sight often leads people to believe you have permission—unless they’re the ones responsible for providing it. String out your clothesline, hang up your underwear, and kick back with confidence. In the event that you face a confrontation, assess your accuser and work towards establishing the perfect blend of ignorance and apologies.

    Stealth camping obviously requires secrecy. It’s best to locate a site with little fanfare and set up camp in the dark. Cook elsewhere and then establish your site, climbing into your tent and disappearing as quickly as possible. Look for areas that are not readily visible by passing cars or curious neighbors—places like baseball dugouts, cemeteries, grassy spots behind buildings, and areas concealed by embankments, vegetation, or the bodies of previous campers. Such places may even provide a degree of shelter that allows you to forgo using a tent.

    

    Top Tips . . . or The Real Reason Tents Have Vestibules

    Regardless of where you camp—and whether your experience is accompanied by permission—a few basic tips can keep you comfortable and ensure you stay alive. When selecting a site, anticipate threats to your general safety and sanity. Although appealing, sleeping in a roundabout next to a sobriety clinic or pitching a tent adjacent to a crack house is not recommended.

    Equally important, anticipate whether or not your peaceful campsite will remain that way through the evening—and morning. The grassy parking lot at the fairgrounds may lose its appeal once visitors arrive with the sun. Conversely, don’t expect a campsite to become any better as the night progresses—unless you are prepared to drink heavily. Just because the Sonic drive-in closes at midnight doesn’t mean the staff turns off the lights and shitty music (compliments of the chain’s own live radio station).

    When it comes to biological necessities, some advanced planning is necessary. Unless you have a premium site—and aren’t afraid of potential onlookers—keep cooking simple. A city flowerbed is not the place to perfect your culinary skills. It is, however, the perfect excuse to indulge in a diet of Mike and Ikes and rotisserie hot dogs.

    With such a diet, nature will inevitably call. Consequently, it’s always good to identify nearby public restrooms—as well as when they may be locked for the evening. Better yet, find businesses that are open late and allow you to use their restroom without drawing attention to yourself. As there’s no shortage of urban sites that lack both restrooms and the privacy to piss anywhere, a tent with a vestibule might be your best friend. 

    

    The Best Campsites are Surrounded by Concrete

    Urban camping is not for everyone. That’s part of why it’s possible to find solitude in the midst of interstate on-ramps, convenience stores, and strip malls. Yet it can also be a catalyst for communion. While traditional approaches to camping involve experiencing nature (at least narrowly defined), urban camping can also be about experiencing humanity. Strangers may stop by to visit, share their local knowledge, and inquire about your travels. Even when stealth camping, you have the opportunity to observe humanity—albeit it from a strange distance. Camping in urban areas can transform how you look at things. Strangers are friends you have yet to meet and the world becomes filled with campsites. Soon, you may view a community garden, an overpass, or a public sculpture not for what it is, but for the campsite it could easily become.

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• 2013 Beartooth Summer Session 2013 Beartooth Summer Session

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    The Beartooth Summer Session might just be the best idea in skiing. It’s the typical ski adventure—camping, skiing, steep terrain, an abundance of dudes and a shortage women—but with the addition of the summer’s warm sun.

    Located between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana, Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area consists of two pommel lifts, an ancient camper trailer that serves as the mountain’s headquarters, and 1,000 feet of steep summer snow. For the past three years they’ve been hosting the Beartooth Summer Session, a week-long ski demo/party/big mountain skiing competition put on by ON3P Skis and Booster Strap. 

    We caught up with this year’s winner, Sander Hadley, to hear his take on the competition and the overall event.

    

    Teton Gravity Research: Why did you come to Beartooth Basin in the first place?

    Sander Hadley: Growing up, my friend/mentor, Tanner Rosenthal, chief of Panda Poles, used to attend the All Star Ski Camp that was held at Beartooth. He always talked about the savage summer terrain. 
Then back in 2011 shortly after I graduated high school, ON3P posted a story about doing a summer session at Beartooth. I figured it was the perfect time to check it out. After having a bitchin' time during that first visit, I knew I had to make it up there every summer from then on.

     

    TGR: What makes the summer session worth coming to?

    SH: Beartooth offers pommel-serviced steep/big mountain terrain that is unmatched in the North American summer ski scene. Mix that with a passionate, experienced park crew and you have yourself a versatile summer skiing experience. The dudes at ON3P, specifically Kip Kirol, Sam Caylor and Rowen Tych, know how to throw a laid back event, providing good times for everyone. 
Where else can you camp and ski with fellow competitors? The summer session is the most laid back event of my year, as well as one of the rowdiest, matter of fact, the rowdiest. I skied some of the gnarliest stuff I have all year, in June!

    

    TGR: What was special about camping?

    SH: Camping with folks provides the opportunity to really get to know people. At an event like the Beartooth Summer Session, we are all looking to have a good time and share it with new friends. I'd say we were pretty successful this year. Not to mention the sheer beauty of a place like the Beartooths, we had amazingly good weather and some spectacular lightning storms that didn't drop much rain.



     

    TGR: What was the best moment of the entire trip?

    SH: I'd say the party in the parking lot that took place after the competition on Saturday was the best moment of the entire trip. By that point in the week, we had all got to know each other relatively well. We were all sharing the stoke that summer shredding in the Beartooths provides.

    

    TGR: How would you convince someone to go next year? 

    SH: I'd tell them of the pommel-serviced steep terrain that flows into one of the best park jumps that I hit all year, the free camping that the beautiful state of Montana provides, and the amount of good people there is to meet at the event. I would also mention the laid back “anti-comp” feel that the Booster Strap Big Mountain Comp provides. I am not always someone who likes to compete, however, Kip Kirol & Sam Caylor from ON3P and Austin Hart (president of operations at Beartooth Basin) made sure to keep the comp as laid back as possible while providing a unique big mountain/slopestyle hybrid contest.

     

    TGR: Do you compete in other big mountain events?

    SH: That was my first big mountain event since the 2011 summer session. (which was the first in my life)
This year really opened my eyes. I feel like I can bring a unique freestyle influenced style into the big mountain arena. I plan on pursuing that side of skiing a lot more in the near future. 

     

    TGR: So you're not prone to throwing flat 3's off cliffs?

    SH: Growing up skiing at Pebble Creek Ski area outside of my hometown of Pocatello, Idaho we had a 10 foot tabletop jump and a handful of rails. Therefore, park was never my focus growing up. My friends and I learned our tricks on natural features around the mountain. That side of skiing has always been much more enjoyable to me as opposed to a cookie cutter terrain park, not to take away from what people are doing in the park. Pebble Creek taught me to do my tricks off of just about anything. I have just never brought them into a competition or film format. Doing those tricks off of variable terrain puts a smile on my face. 

    

    TGR: Do the terrain and snowpack at Beartooth Basin make that sort of stuff easier to try?

    SH: I'd say the terrain makes you think about things a lot more, because with a lot of the rock/cliff jump options the outruns are more rocks/cliffs. However, when it's warm out and the aches of pains of cold weather skiing are not present, it is much easier to find motivation for carcass tossing. Same goes for the snowpack, when it gets warm, the snow up at Beartooth Basin becomes soft, just what you want for fat ski hucking.

    

    TGR: Do you think you deserved to win, or was it a judge’s conspiracy?


    SH: Conspiracy, 110%. Feed those dudes enough beer and they'll do almost anything. Almost.
That's not very professional...But hey, this is the ski industry, not golf.


     

    TGR: That's going in for sure.

    SH: Hahahah gahd damn journalists.

    

    For a complete list of results, click HERE

     

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• Hit List: Kimmy Fasani Hit List: Kimmy Fasani

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

     

    Kimmy Fasani shreds harder than you. It's a simple fact. Whether she's in the backcountry or the park, this Mammoth native gets after it. But instead of begrudging Ms. Fasani for her awesome talent, we sought to get the inside scoop on makes her so damn good. For this week’s edition of Hit List we went straight to the source and asked Kimmy a bunch of hard-hitting questions, along with some random, unnecessary queries. Read on for all of Kimmy's unadulterated answers.

     

    Five Fun Facts about Kimmy Fasani:

    1. I have a three-pound Yorkshire Terrier named Reese

    2. I have a college degree in business marketing

    3. I am married to a professional skier—Chris Benchetler

    4. I was a gymnast

    5. I love sushi and Thai food 

     

    What's the weirdest thing that's happened to you while snowboarding?

    Walking out of the bathroom at the main lodge at Mammoth Mountain and straight into the rapper, The Game. He was at the hill snowboarding and I am a super fan. 

     

    If you could pick your favorite TGR Film of all time, what would it be?

    One for the Road, because my husband (Chris Benchetler) had a really cool segment. 

     

    What are the top three things you do to stay sane in the summer? 

    Bike, Yoga, Rock Climbing. Done and done. 

     

    Favorite places to shred your bike in Mammoth? 

    On the mountain I love the MTB trails Paper Route and Twilight. On the road, my go-to is the Benton Crossing Road. 

     

    

     

    What is the absolute best thing about being on Burton? 

    How involved all the riders are in product development!!!

     

    Olympics. What are your thoughts on them?

    I was going to give slopestyle a solid effort, but unfortunately had a big knee injury in December. I really respect the athletes who are pushing the sport in a positive way.

     

    What is one song you can always listen to and never get sick of? 

    Anything by Bob Marley. 

     

    What is the most creative costume you've donned for Halloween? 

    Chris and I dressed up as the main characters from Grease. We were Sandy and Danny. 

     

    What's one gig you could never do? 

    Something where I had to be around spiders. Couldn't handle that. 

     

    

     

    You spent your honeymoon in Africa, what was the most memorable moment from your trip?

    Seeing all the massive animals just ten feet away. Lions, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes. It was surreal. 

     

    What are your favorite boards these days?

    The new Burton Day Trader is an incredible women's powder board.  I also love the Anti-Social, Burton's splitboard for women. 

     

    What was the first concert you went to? 

    LL Cool J and Sir Mix A Lot! Holler!

     

    Most obscure place you've snowboarded?

    In the backcountry of Interior BC. Totally off the grid.  

     

    What's a better training food: Skittles or Sour Patch kids?

    Sour patch kids and/or Swedish Fish. I try not to eat them at all, but if I eat candy, those are my splurges. 

     

    Voila. There you have it, Kimmy Fasani in a nutshell.

     

    Photo credits: Blotto, Andy Mahre, Chris Benchetler

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• Vierli - RK1 Snowboarding Vierli - RK1 Snowboarding

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

     This time Vierli is RK1 Snowboarding's playground.

    Featuring the RK1 crew and Friends - Stale Sandbech, Alek Østreng, Trym Nordgård, Simen Neraker and Torgeir Bergrem!

    Instagram:

    @stalesandbech

    @alek0

    @olavstubberud

    @t_woolf

    @simenneraker

    @torgeirbergrem

    Edit by Olav Stubberud

    RK1 on Vimeo

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• Insta-Awesome: Dropping into T Insta-Awesome: Dropping into TGR’s Fantasy Camp with Tim Durtschi

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    This spring, TGR set up its Fantasy Camp deep within the Neacola Mountain Range in northern Alaska. The camp served as the crew’s home base while filming for "Way of Life." The trip produced some of the most progressive skiing and filming to date, which will be released in the movie in September. 

     

    We know you don't want to wait that long for the goods, so we're giving you a glimpse into the madness with our new series "Inside TGR's Fantasy Camp." We reached out to TGR team riders and filmers for their insights into life in Alaska. To provide the ultimate glimpse into their filming experience, the series will feature their insights and Instagrams, documenting their time at Fantasy Camp. Tim Durtschi guinea pigs this series, so read on for the inside info from his Alaskan adventure.  

     

    

    Photo: @timdurtschi #fantasycamp arrival! First impression: that's a big fire pit @tetongravity #birdseyeview

     

    How long were you at Fantasy Camp and what was your overall impression of it?

    I was at Fantasy Camp for ten days. Our trip got cut a little short because we had such good weather that we ran out of heli time before schedule. I had a lot of fun; it was cool because I really love camping, and to be camping with such a fun day activity (flying in a helicopter and not just cooking s'mores) was awesome.

     

    What are your favorite memories from Fantasy Camp?

    The firework show was a standout along with the bonfire. It was awesome to fly in at night and have dinner already on the table. Everyone was always in good spirits at camp, every night we would huddle in the media tent and watch shots from the day. The only thing I had to worry about was keeping my ski gear away from the heater—I think Sammy's boots got a little melted one time, haha. Also, my brother Travis who lives in Anchorage flew his airplane out to hang out with us for a day. My brother has owned a bush plane for 4 years now and knows the area we were in really well. He actually followed our heli up into the mountains one day to watch some of the action. He was running low on fuel though and had to return before we got on top of our lines.

     

    

    Photo: @timdurtschi Guys, that thing is filming us #fantasycamp #gss @tetongravity #helicopter

     

    How would you describe Fantasy Camp to people who don't know much about it?

    I would say its first class camping with an amazing staff who made sure we were well fed and warm at night. I still just feel so lucky that I got an invitation! I think everyone involved with the five week project had an experience that they won't forget, and I just have to thank TGR so much for coming up with such a crazy idea and making it work!

     

    What were some of the favorite lines you skied? 

    Every line was fun, even the free runs we took. Our crew for the last two weeks was Sammy, Dana, Sage and myself. We had a good dynamic going and it made for productive sessions. Sage had been at Fantasy camp for two weeks prior so he had the most knowledge on the zones. It was cool flying out everyday and seeing new stuff. It was a lot to take in that's for sure. I think I took over a 1,000 photos on the trip, mostly just of mountains and zones.

     

    

    Photo: @timdurtschi Couple of gents out here. @danaflahr @sageca @tgrtoddjones #fantasycamp #leatherjacket @atomicski #automaticbrothers

     

    What were some of the challenges you faced in AK? 

    There wasn't much that was tough to be honest. I kind of just went with the flow. I have been on heli trips before but never a big TGR heli trip. Everyone was super great to work with and I got into the groove instantly. It definitely feels good to have an awesome crew with you when your out skiing the big stuff. It also helped that I had skied with the guides, Kent and Beansie, in the past at AK Heli. It was good because it made decision making easier out in the mountains and it made me feel more comfortable stepping up to bigger lines.

     

    What was camp life in AK like? What did you do on down days?

    Our camp was set up in the foothills a few miles from the range so there were tons of options for some short day hikes. I took advantage of the mellow terrain to do some snowboarding. I have always had so much fun snowboarding so it was cool to switch over when I had the free time to do so. I honestly never heard someone say they were bored once the entire trip. There was always something fun going down. A lot of us would stay up late to catch the Northern Lights. We got really lucky and there were some good ones forecasted while I was there.

     

    

    Photo: @timdurtschi @sageca is lone man on mountain, with the volcano mt spur behind him... Hope it doesn’t go boom'! #fantasycamp

     

    How was Fantasy Camp different from other shoots and adventures you’ve been on?

    Fantasy camp was so unique, I was pretty much shocked when I got the invite. It was probably the coolest trip I've done just because you're out there all day, everyday, away from civilization. I enjoy the time away from cities and traffic and all of the man-made stuff, so the remote trip factor is definitely appealing to me.

     

    Although the film has yet to be completed, are there any segments in "Way of Life" that you are especially stoked about?

    I have no idea, I think that there is going to be a lot of stuff that I was there for and didn't get to watch that will be cool. I can't wait to see all the action from Fantasy Camp, because I know that a lot went down before I showed up for week four. I got to fly past some of the stuff that Sage, Angel, Ian and Todd skied earlier in the trip. I can't wait to see what went down on those lines. I can't say for certain, but I have a feeling that Fantasy Camp is going to be the best. 

     

     

    Photo: @timdurtschi These mountains are too much fun #fantasycamp @tetongravity @atomicski

     

    What are the biggest misconceptions about filming—and especially with TGR? 

    I guess sometimes people don't realize that you can't just go out and get the shots you want. There are so many variables that sometimes the shots I have in my head might take more than one season to accomplish. Those are the ideas that I just keep in my head and save for when the time is right and when everything lines up. I have the best time with TGR. This is my second season with them and I am looking forward to skiing with TGR in the future. I hope the audience realizes that TGR has a great group of athletes and filmers working together, and that our focus is always on getting shots and being safe in the process.

     

     

    Photo: @timdurtschi We left #fantasycamp with a bang @tetongravity @atomicski

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• The Co-Lab Voting Teaser The Co-Lab Voting Teaser

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    The edits are in and it's time to go vote! Public voting on The Co-Lab entries will run until July 18th, 2013. Decide the edits that will move on to the next round and have a shot at the 100k grand prize!

    WATCH ALL EDITS AND VOTE WHO WILL WIN 100K NOW

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• Jason Prigge: Designing the Fu Jason Prigge: Designing the Future

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Not long ago, Jason Prigge and Dave McReynolds sharpened their teeth in front of TGR's cameras. They starred in numerous films, including Uprising, Realm, Further, High Life, Tangerine Dream, and Subject to Change. 

    Although no longer hucking in front of the cameras, the two keep busy running MFD. We caught up with Prigge to learn more about his time with TGR, what motivates him as an industrial designer, and MFD's efforts to debut a new line of ABS packs via Kickstarter—which coincides with the brand signing Dash Longe to its team.

    

    Jason Prigge (Photo by Adam Clark)

    You’ve got a rich history with TGR, do you mind telling us a little about your pro career and time filming with the company?

    The first time I met up with TGR was back in ’97. I was nineteen years old and living in Jackson for my second season. It was a pretty rad time in skiing as big mountain skiing was just taking off and for the first time ever there was a freesking tour within the U.S. and Canada. The Alaska and Crested Butte comp had been around, but it was the first time for a full tour. 

    The first stop was in Jackson. My first comp ever and I got spanked. Picked a few things up though and did well in the next few and ended up winning the Nationals at Kirkwood. Brant Moles was the man that year and was pretty much chucking fifty-foot crotch grab airs every run and winning every comp. He must have missed his crotch grab in Kirkwood and I squeaked out the win. That caught the attention of Todd and Steve Jones. They probably wondered who the hell this grom was from their home town. So the next season I started shooting with them in Jackson for TGR’s third movie Uprising. After that year it just became standard issue—when you were in town and it went blue you showed up for the 8:12 and linked up with Todd for a day out looking for, as he loved to call it, mind blowing footy… 

    

    Although Prigge's paychecks no longer come from skiing professionally, he rips as hard as ever. (Photo by Adam Clark)

    Since walking away from filming, you’ve kept incredibly busy—creating products for a range of companies, developing the MFD AllTIME binding, and preparing to launch a new line of packs. What’s been the biggest surprise from all of these adventures? 

    The biggest surprise honestly has been running a company. There’s so many variables involved. We make every ALLTIME binding by hand, right here in Utah. Yes, we work with amazing suppliers around the region, but each binding is assembled right here in house. Logistically it all needs to line up just right for us to get product out the door on schedule. That’s one of the most challenging things, but the most rewarding comes when you meet up with someone in the lift line or out in the backcountry using the product. Especially the backcountry…Even if it’s just a day out with friends on MFDs, it’s just rewarding seeing that we’ve made something that solved a problem for us in the backcountry. Watching your buddy charge a line out in the backcountry with utter confidence or one of our athletes landing a thirty-footer switch—that’s rewarding. 

    Lately, what’s a typical day look like for you?

    Coffee…Feed the dogs. Usually I’m working unless it’s firing up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Then all goes haywire. Phone is blowing up. Checking, scanning reports, avy sites, weather…Trying to figure out what’s the best call for the day. Most of the time work wins over, but I always find ways to get out when I need to.

    

    We're guessing this is one of those days when it was "firing up in Little Cottonwood Canyon." It must be tough to get work done around the office. (Photo by Adam Clark)

    Arguably, as an industrial designer you make magic happen. What motivates and inspires you to do this day in and day out?

    What originally inspired me was working with sponsors. I always had an interest in art and science, but never knew what I wanted to do with it. One of my sponsors at the time was Oakley and on one of the trips down there I got a tour of their manufacturing facility—that was standard, but what really caught my eye was when we got to go into the R&D department. This is typically under lock and key so it was a big deal to get in there—even as an athlete. That was my first look at what an industrial designer does and at Oakley the designers are some of the best in the world. Mind blowing as Todd would say. I was hooked. 

    Fifteen years later and after finishing out my BS in Industrial Design, I really enjoy two things. Seeing other designers’ work and creativity and the process that goes into creating a product. Whether it’s a backpack, ski binding, or your iPhone. It all starts with a sketch. Then a better one, then a prototype, and finally you end up with something that can be produced. You and your team have done all that work to make it happen. That’s pretty cool.

    

    Mind blowing footy? Or just another day laying down lines? Whatever you call it, it sure looks good. (Photo by Adam Clark)

    What are some of the greatest lessons you learned as a professional skier? How have they shaped your approach to MFD and designing equipment?

    Through skiing I met some of the best people and skiers in the world. I would say that skiing as well as biking was the other influence that led me to where I am today. With design you can focus on anything you want—transportation, furniture, tech products you name it. My passion was outdoor and action sports and that came from as far back as I can remember. So there was my home. Even today, to help pay the bills, I still do work for other companies in those industries and I have been lucky enough to work with some great companies. I even came full circle by going back to fill in my design opus and working with Oakley designing and developing products for their surf, snow and mountain bike lines.

    

    Jason Prigge out earning turns. (Photo by Adam Clark)

    Who has inspired you the most in the ski world?

    Shane McConkey was a big influence for me to originally take the leap and start MFD. I was lucky enough to know Shane and get to experience some great times with him before his passing. Outside of being one of the funniest humans on the planet, Shane had an amazing ability to see things differently. He almost single-handedly laid down the path that has led freeskiing and skiing to where they are today. Fat skis, reverse camber, multiple profiles…all Shane. It wasn’t easy though; the companies didn’t want to listen. They had been making skis one way for decades and saw no reason to change. Skiing was dying. Shane wasn’t interested in that happening so he fought the hard fight and got his sponsors and the industry as a whole to wake up and listen. 

    When I was an athlete I saw some of the same problems. Sponsors would come to us for our ideas, make a big deal about it, and then just go off and make a soft version based on our feedback. So that’s what we are trying to fix at MFD. We listen to our athletes and community around us with the goal of making products that progress our sport. 

    

    Although Dave McReynolds aired this cliff over a decade ago, the drop is as impressive as ever. (Photo by Lee Cohen)

    What led you to team up with Dave McReynolds to create MFD? 

    Dave and I skied a lot together back in the day. We had both moved beyond our ski careers, but when I moved from Jackson to Utah he was pretty much the first person I called when the first snow fell. Around that time I had started prototyping the ALLTIME binding and ended up showing it to him one day. We went out touring and he was blown away that the rudimentary prototype I had created was the answer he was looking for to the challenges he was having in the backcountry. 

    Mostly though, Dave knows skiing. He also had industry sales experience recently working for Salomon, as well as years of knowledge from being an athlete for Rossignol, Scott, TGR and others. I knew he’d be the perfect fit. We started MFD from the core and we aim to keep it that way. 

    

    Jealous? When searching for photos of Dave McReynolds, Prigge had this to say, "Damn, the kid was so good, these could be published today." We agree. (Photo by Lee Cohen)

    Despite its youth, MFD has some rich roots with TGR. You and Dave filmed with TGR and now you just brought Dash Longe onto the team. What inspired you to bring him into the fold? 

    Dave and I knew Dash from skiing in Utah, but we originally met back in the day filming at some point for TGR. Another one of the guys involved with MFD is also really good friends with Dash so he knew that we were developing our new pack line with an ABS airbag option. Dash was going up to AK to film with TGR so he was interested in checking out our packs. He liked the designs and how the packs carried skis and gear. And although he liked those features, it was our ABS airbag option that really made him make the move to ride for MFD. 

    

    The newest addition to MFD's team—Dash Longe. (Photo by Adam Clark)

    You’ve just launched a new collection of backpacks and collapsible bottles. What was the catalyst for creating these packs and for debuting them via Kickstarter? 

    I think MFD a lot of times comes off looking like a far bigger company than we actually are. We are lucky enough to have hard working, talented people involved that make our online presence look better than most small startups. It also helps that most of the people we became friends with skiing are now also somehow involved in the industry. So we tie into our network to do our best to get the word out. 

    In reality though, we are still in our infancy and struggle with all the hardships of growing to be a successful, profitable company. We lack the distribution, marketing budgets and lines of credit that the large corporate ski companies have, so in order to compete we have to work smarter and come up with creative products that push the limits and almost speak for themselves. Even then it’s sometimes not enough to break into the system and force the change. So, that’s why we need Kickstarter. We don’t have million dollar advertising budgets, in fact we don’t even have an advertising budget…Kickstarter gives us the voice we need to reach out to the ski community and tell them about what we’ve created. Who is behind it, why we are doing it, and ask for the community’s support to come together and help us bring these products market.

    MFD's new 20L ABS compatible pack

    How about your ABS Compatible Backpack? How did that come into play?

    Our athletes demanded it. We were obviously aware of airbag packs and the safety benefits. We believed in airbag technology as a company but it was really our athletes (Eliel Hindert and Carlo Travarelli) that came to me while we were testing and said they were stoked on how the packs were functioning, but they were only going to use backpacks with access to an airbag system. 

    So that’s what made me take a deeper look. Originally I planned to take MFD into the airbag market after we had success with our initial launch, but now I knew we had to make the push from the start. 

    

    Disclaimer: don't deploy this thing on the tram.

    Why ABS?

    We chose ABS as our partner to create our ABS Compatible 20L backpack because in our opinion their technology is superior and they are also the original airbag backpack company with over twenty years of experience. ABS also allowed us to focus on the part we know best and leave the technology up to the experts. Our Freetour 20L backpack is a “zip-on” system that is compatible with the ABS Vario Base Unit. The problem currently is that almost all airbag backpacks focus on the airbag technology. That’s a good thing, but creating solid ski carry systems as well as internal organization are being overlooked. That’s were we saw the opportunity to make the improvement. 

    Further strengthening our decision, ABS is also the only company to use a twin air bag system. Even if the bag gets damaged in an avalanche you still have a backup bag. The system deploys from both sides of the bag so it also gives you a stabilizing effect during a slide. Another key benefit is that the bags deploy in a way that does not inhibit your ability to see what’s around you and, if you still have the option, there’s no interference to try to ski your way out of a slide. You don’t ever want to be there and we stress to take all the precautions, get all the education and experience you can, but in the end if you get caught you want the best tools possible to survive.

    

    Dash first rocked MFD's packs while filming in Alaska for TGR's Way of Life. He has since joined the brand's team of heavy hitters, which includes Carlo Travarelli and Eliel Hindert. (Photo by Adam Clark)

    What’s next for you and MFD? 

    First and foremost we are focused on funding our Kickstarter campaign. At this time we are one-and-a-half weeks in but need a big push to get to our goal. The way Kickstarter works is that people pledge to your campaign, but you have to hit your goal to receive the funding. No credit cards are even charged until we reach the goal. 

    We realize we are campaigning to sell ski backpacks damn right at the start of summer, but we need help to bring this program to life. It’s definitely hard to grab people’s attention, but if we are going to have an opportunity to deliver these this fall we are going to have to start building them now and we need the numbers to do it. 

    All we are saying is that if you like what you see consider pledging for one of our backpack systems or another pledge. Pre-check your backpack just like you do your ski pass. If you help us succeed come fall you will have a brand new backpack ready to go. 

    What’s next for MFD is more well thought-out products and our promise to not only always listen to the needs of our athletes, but our customers as well. 

    

    Prigge may call this "product testing." We, however, prefer to call it a sick day. (Photo by Adam Clark)

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    Just a big thanks to all our supporters and backers of our Kickstarter campaign and MFD. We couldn’t do it without you.

    To learn more about the brand, drop into MFD's site or back the brand on Kickstarter.

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• Last Call: Prancersising, Play Last Call: Prancersising, Playing in the Dirt, and Hating on Steven

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Welcome to Last Call. Dropping every Friday, this column serves as a wrap-up of our favorite stories and videos from the week—some old, some new, but all worthy of attention.

    
    

    Prancersising is Cooler than You Think

    “We're gonna really cut it loose and cut the noose with the Prancercise gallop.” With a statement like that, how could anyone not want to get involved with the new fitness craze, Prancercising? As seen in is this video, Prancercising is the new hot shit, and clearly the best way to stay in shape this summer. Yeah, it sucks there's not much snow right now, but who really cares when you can spend your time prancing about? We're backing this workout trend—along with its six million viewers—and think you should to. Because when in doubt, prance it out homies.  

    Big Kids Still Play in the Dirt

    Watch Lines of Lofoten for the biking. Watch it for the scenery. Watch it for the gratuitous shots of big kids playing in the dirt—but whatever you do, just watch it. Thanks to Antimedia and a stacked crew of riders, your jaw will drop.  Once you pick it up from the floor, you better hop on the prancersising bandwagon. After a solid season of prancing, you may be ready to throw down like the big kids.

    Everybody Hates Steven!!!

    There was a time when I thought I wouldn’t condone behavior like this. Then I realized that if I had embraced my awkward 13-year-old self, my Instagram account would probably be more popular today. But that’s not the point. This kid is hilarious, and is doing everything his perverse little imagination comes up with. In short Steven Fernandez is awesome because he’s acting out every junior high kid’s fantasies. This is universal, because none of us mature after junior high anyways.

    The Spokesman

    Consider The Spokesman to be a love letter to bikes—as well as a three minute history of them. The film focuses on James, who has collected a bike from every major era in cycling’s development. Regardless of whether you're a cyclist or someone who runs them off the road, you can appreciate the passion and history in this clip.

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• Ketchup Soup: TGR Announces Di Ketchup Soup: TGR Announces Discharge Energy Drink

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    TETON VILLAGE, WY—Teton Gravity Research announced today that it will begin distributing its long awaited DISCHARGE energy drink at the start of July.
    
    The company, once known for inspirational snow sports films and hanging Death Star replicas off the front of helicopters, is diversifying its offerings after lackluster performance across the snow sports industry. “It’s basic economics,” says TGR CFO Brett Mounds. “Ski sales are going down and obesity and diabetes are sky rocketing. The public has shown what it wants, and we’re delivering.”

    
    “We’ve noticed a serious gap in the energy drink market,” proclaims Mounds. “Nobody is using action sports as a thinly veiled marketing ploy to attract gamers, gas station attendants, soccer moms, or the elderly just wishing their lives were more fulfilling. Closing your eyes and slurping down some DISCHARGE can do that.”

    
    TGR has taken its time perfecting the formula for DISCHARGE, spending “at least three days on testing,” according to new Energy Drink Division Commander Scott Gnartels. “The formula for DISCHARGE was designed for our forum users, who actually spend most of their time playing World of Warcraft. It has caffeine, taurine, ephedrine, some other drines and sugar. It’s got a unique color and consistency our forum users are already familiar with. No other energy drink can offer similar performance.”

    
    TGR is hoping to hit a bigger audience through clever packaging. Gnartels hopes that selling DISCHARGE in a rugged screw top aluminum bottle will attract “those Prius-driving yuppie pricks” and “outdoorsy Timothy McVeigh types” as well.

    
    “Let’s be serious here, actions sports don’t get sold through actions sports any more, energy drinks do,” states Gnartels. “People already wear our logo on their helmets, they’ll drink our DISCHARGE too.” 

    
    The hardest part about launching DISCHARGE has been finding the perfect slogan according to Gnartels. “We really had to figure out the brand. We are Teton Gravity Research. We’re all about going down. All of us. We all go down as much as possible.” The brand eventually settled on: “Going down? Drink Discharge.”

    
    DISCHARGE will be sold for $3.99 a bottle and a small portion of proceeds will be donated to TGR’s staff supply of insulin.

    
    Ketchup Soup is TGR’s new weekly satire column aimed at poking fun at the sports we all love. TGR’s “Ketchup Soup” is a fictionalized, satirical publication. Its content should in no way be interpreted as an actual record of events. These stories are also not intended to be, nor should they be construed as, attempts to predict the future course of any individual or entity, but should be viewed only as parody. TGR’s “Ketchup Soup” is not associated with any other news service. Names used in “TGR’s Ketchup Soup” stories, unless those of public figures or entities, are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or entities is coincidental, unintentional, and accidental. Any event described in TGR’s Ketchup Soup” that actually comes to pass should also be considered coincidental, unintentional, and accidental.
    
    The moral here is laugh now, but remember, you’re probably next.
    

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• Lust: The Best Bikes for Hauli Lust: The Best Bikes for Hauling Shit

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    One of the occupational hazards of growing older is that you acquire stuff—snowboards, skateboards, rafts, chainsaws, gas station souvenirs, maybe even children. Luckily, there’s an arsenal of bikes eager to help haul your shit.

     

    

    Chainsaw and six pack sold separately

    Moots IMBA Trail Bike

    If your days are filled with building trail—or reenacting scenes from Scarface—the Moots IMBA Trail Bike is your partner in crime. Moots collaborated with IMBA and the Routt County Riders (its local IMBA chapter in Steamboat) to craft a bike that’s ready to ride—and haul some serious gear. In addition to a titanium frame and twenty-nine inch hoops, the rig features a chainsaw holder with a bar guard, stem clamps for hauling tools, and burly front and rear racks. Perhaps most importantly, the front rack is designed for hauling a six pack. Just be ready for some foam when shotgunning those beers. www.moots.com

    

    If you're opposed to traveling lightly, Surly offers a range of trailers in addition to the Big Dummy.

    Surly Big Dummy

    Garage sales? Curbside finds? Transporting cadavers? Surly’s Big Dummy has the space and capabilities to do it all. Built around the standard LongTail platform pioneered by Xtracycle, the Big Dummy can easily haul up to a hundred pounds and can accept a range of accessories—including all of those milk crates and zip ties you’ve been saving. The bike’s stout steel frame keeps things stiff while still dampening the ride. Surly sells the bike complete or solely as a frame—just in case you want to build it up with parts you’ve scrounged from dumpster-bound bikes. www.surlybikes.com

     

    

    What's better than two wheels? Six . . .

    Fairdale Roger

    Although founded by BMX icon Taj Mihelich, Fairdale makes bikes not for tailwhips but for life’s simple adventures—like cruising around town. Fairdale collaborated with Roger Skateboards to develop a bike for getting you to your favorite skate spots. The bike sports Fairdale skate and cargo racks, as well as art by Roger cofounder Michael Sieben. In the event that you get two flat tires, you can throw the bike on your back and roll on four wheels, as the bike comes with a complete Roger kit. This thing is bound to make you smile. www.fairdalebikes.com

    

    With the Edgerunner, you can cruise all over town to find sweet things in the trash. Likely, it can haul more than you can handle.

    Xtracycle Edgerunner

    Whether you’ve just been evicted or have adopted a four-hundred pound pony, you can count on Xtracycle’s Edgerunner to haul your shit with ease. What it lacks in beauty, it makes up for in brute force. Its unique design features a twenty-inch rear wheel. This creates additional strength, quicker acceleration, and a lower center of gravity—which make it perfect for hauling kegs or escaping the police. If you buy just the frame, it can double as an intriguing lawn ornament. If, however, you want to snag a complete setup, the bike comes with a twenty-seven speed drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes. The ultimate challenge for this bike? See if you can put your neighbor’s truck camper on its LongTail. When it’s time to actually haul this load, however, you may want to invest in Xtracycle’s electric version of the Edgerunner—as well as its assortment of racks and sidecars. www.xtracycle.com

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• Keeping Skiing Fresh With Samm Keeping Skiing Fresh With Sammy Carlson

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

     

    Sammy Carlson said, “last hit” ten laps ago. He drops again, and after tossing yet another double variation, no one gets ready to leave. We’re at Mammoth Mountain, perched above a private jump built for the US Freeskiing and Snowboarding teams, and an hour after the rest of the crew has left, Carlson is still lapping.

    Carlson has a bucket full of X Games Medals in slopestyle, and in 2013 he managed to win the first X Games Real Ski Backcountry. His versatility has allowed him to dominate the park and the backcountry. Carlson even spent a month filming with TGR in Alaska this winter. 

    

    Carlson isn’t missing any precious training time. “Skiing is skiing. The more you can be on your skis in general, the better,” states Carlson. In fact, Carlson thinks his time spent  in the backcountry gives him an advantage.

    “The mental focus that you need when you’re out there riding in the backcountry is such a different feeling than when you’re riding in the park.  It almost mellows it out when you get back in the park and you’re standing on top of a jump where you know nothing is going to slide out from underneath you.”

    

    Carlson is excited about the prospect of the Olympics and is excited to have skiing be seen by the public as more than “people going down the mountain, skiing through gates, and turning left and right.” He’s not, however, hell-bent on making it to them.

    The more that I get out and explore the mountains, and spend time on the mountains with my friends the, less [skiing] becomes about competitions and the less you want to compare yourself to other people,” says Carlson. “At the same time competition has always been a really cool part of skiing.”

    

    So Carlson takes another lap. After watching his umpteenth double in a row, it’s easy to forget Sammy hasn’t been on park skis in months. Coaches, cameramen, and a few extra onlookers take bets on how many more he’ll take before he stops. But his time in the backcountry has left him hungry for more park hits. Carlson says that one of his biggest fears is burning out, but every “one last jump” seems to drive that fear beyond the horizon. “I’m out here at Mammoth and it’s sunny and I’m riding park for the first time in a few months. It’s a fresh feeling again,” says Carlson.

    When Sammy Carlson finally calls it a day everyone has lost count of his laps. As soon as the cameras are put away, he puts on his backpack, and skis away only to hit the jump one more time. Clearly, for Carlson, skiing is still about having fun.

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• Dog Drops Corbets Couloir And Dog Drops Corbets Couloir And Stomps It!

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Elu the Powder Hound runs into Corbets Couloir for her first time and stomps it on may 1st.

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• Neil Donoghue - Bronson Play Neil Donoghue - Bronson Play

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    World class DH veteren and newly acclaimed enduro champion, Neil Donoghue is frothing at the mouth for this season of racing. Continuing on with the enduro based riding and looking to defend his UK Gravity Enduro title, he sets out to achieve some big personal goals and reach new heights with all new World Enduro Series kicking off shortly! But its not all about racing, winning, and competing for Donny, most of the time he just likes to get out on his bike...and just have a dick around!

    Photography & Videography: Laurence Crossman-Emms // laurence-ce.com

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• Lust: Pit Viper's The Jungle Lust: Pit Viper's The Jungle

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    Let’s face it: you suck. Every single time you manage to nail a solid turn in deep snow, you wake up. You’re not going to get any better, so stop spending money on fancy gear that just makes you look like a rich douche bag. Demand respect and authority with a pair of Pit Vipers. Spotted on every notable skier from Tanner Hall to your mom, Pit Viper shades level the playing field.

     

    Renaissance man Chuck Mumford brought about Pit Viper in the spring of 2012 while seeking to change the sunglass game. With hand-painted, military-grade glasses that  exude an attitude of "Don't mess with me, unless you're down to party," Pit Viper shades get the point across like a Rick James backhand.  

     

    Since its humble inception just over a year ago, PV has grown a steady cult following. The brand’s rise to infamy lead us to showcase Pit Viper's newest frame, The Jungle, in our new gear column, "Lust.” This column highlights unique products that you shouldn't live without.

     

    The Jungle is the first new color-way to be released since PV started production, so we got in touch with the man behind the radness, Chuck Mumford, and his trusted ally, Chris Garcin, for the nitty gritty on these combat-ready frames.  

     

    

     

    What makes Pit Vipers so badass? 

    Well, they are bulletproof. They are capable of stopping a steel pellet traveling at 7,800 inches per second. Not only that, but they also have three separate adjustable points: turbo, nose-bender, and earpiece spot (e-spot). 

     

    What are ideal situations in which Pit Vipers should be worn? 

    Since Pit Vipers are ideal for the majority of situations, we thought it would be easier to list situations in which Pit Vipers are NOT intended for:

     -Shirts on pool parties

     -Having a quiet night alone

     -Staying awake in class/work

     -Being a runner-up

     -Player hate'n

     -Being sober

     -On trial in a court of law

     -Sipping wine and weeping to Ghost

     -Awkward eye contact

     

    How does one become a Pit Viper Key Player?

    Key Players support the Pit Viper Movement (PVM, which may include taking over the world). Show us you are a keyplayer* by posting pictures with the tag #pitviperkeyplayer

    *You may be alerted at random if we think you rule. 

     

     

    Here are a few more dirty details straight out of the snake's mouth.

     

    The Pit Viper History:

    In the spring of 2012, founder Chuck Mumford was traveling to the Teton Mountains for a ski touring adventure. Chuck had his current "high-end” sport sunglasses in tow, which quickly broke and left him looking for more. He started developing Pit Vipers shortly after this trip. His goal: develop rugged shades that could be shot, sat on, shoved in pockets, and run over—and still maintain their sun and wind bucking ability. After the Pit Viper prototypes successfully passed Chuck’s tests, it was time to give them some attitude. Being an accomplished artist, Chuck began painting the PV's to match his extreme lifestyle and they looked damn good. Bottom line is that Pit Vipers may look like the most incredible thing in decades but they are also functional sunglasses—the perfect blend of style and performance.

     

    Pit Viper stats:

        ▪    Military grade.

        ▪    3 adjustment points for the perfect fit.

        ▪    Made in the good ole U S of A.

        ▪    Ballistic, solar, and Laser protection.

        ▪    Bullet proof: will stop a 15-caliber steel pellet at 650 feet per    second.

        ▪    Optimal peripheral vision.

     

    Want to see these Pit Viper's in action? Watch the ballistic test below, and get your hot little hands on a pair today: Pit Viper Sunglasses

     

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• Griffin Post Drops the Middle Griffin Post Drops the Middle Teton

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Words by Michael Sudmeier 

    The Tetons are loaded with classic ski descents. It’s one thing to survive these lines—it’s another to destroy them. This, however, is exactly what Griffin Post did when he recently terrorized the Middle Teton. After a seven-hour push to its summit, he laid down a line rich with style and worthy of reverence.

    Post was led by Exum Guides Nat Patridge and Zahan Billimoria and accompanied by a team of filmers and photographers shooting for TGR’s Way of Life. With a 2:00 a.m. start, the crew spent the first few hours of its journey navigating by headlamps and moonlight. “Our route led us up the South Fork of Garnet Canyon to the saddle between the Middle and South Teton, which was a seven mile approach with about 5,000 feet of gain with skins,” explained Patridge. 

    

    As the sun rose, Griffin Post neared the end of the first leg of his journey: skinning 5,000 vertical feet. (Photo compliments of Zahan Billimoria)

    From there, the crew traveled up the Southwest Couloir on the Middle Teton, using ice axes and crampons to climb nearly 1,000 vertical feet. En route to the summit, the group navigated terrain steeper than forty degrees and peppered with rocks and exposure. Adding to the challenge, a spring storm had just hit the Tetons. But unfortunately, this storm failed to leave an abundance of powder. “Despite receiving over ten inches of new snow the day before, the slick surfaces [of the Tetons] resulted in very little new snow up high,” Billimoria said. “The route was clean but very firm.”

    Billimoria and Patridge closely studied the snowpack throughout the ascent, as well as in advance of it. While using automated plots to monitor the snow depth, their concerns for the ascent began to shift. “It became evident that the snow was settling very rapidly,” noted Billimoria. “Instead of dealing with slab avalanches, we started to turn our attention to whether the surface would be too firm. What we found on the route matched that reality—there was little avalanche hazard, but a high hazard in case of a fall.”

    

    While Post and his crew headed up the Middle Teton, a team of filmers--including Chris Kitchen and Pat Mc Dermott--headed up Disappointment Peak to capture the "barbi" angle for Post's descent. (Photo compliments of Greg Von Doersten)

    Throughout the ascent, Post also kept busy trying to avoid thinking about the line he had yet to lay down. “Seven hours is a lot of time to think about one run—so I tried not to worry too much about the descent,” he explained. “I tried to laugh it off as best as I could. I was the only athlete—I think a lot of people would have been pissed off at me should I have crashed.” Although Post was concerned about letting the crew down in the event of a fall, everyone else was simply worried about his ability to survive one. After all, explains photographer Greg Von Doersten, “the top of the Middle Teton is an exposed no fall zone checking in at over fifty degrees.”

    

    Roped-in, Post and Billimoria paused to ready for the descent. (Photo compliments of Zahan Billimoria)

    As is often the case, the same things that made the Middle Teton so challenging also made it so appealing. “When people think of Grand Teton [National Park], they immediately think of the Grand and Bill Briggs’ classic ski descent—which is awesome for sure,” Post explains. “The Middle Teton, however, offers more of a classic big mountain ski descent—it’s more of a full throttle line 2,500 feet down to the drainage below.”

    

    The view from Disappointment Peak revealed that Post's line was more than a walk in the park. (Photo compliments of Greg Von Doersten)

    According to Billimoria, the east face of the Middle Teton provided the perfect canvas for Post. “I’ve known Griffin and skied with him for a few years so I have a sense of his style. He’s a super aggressive fall line skier,” offered Billimoria. “I wanted to line him out on a face that matched his skill set—not a tight couloir but rather a wide-open face where he could open the throttle.” And that’s exactly what Post did.

    “He dropped in off the notch at full tilt and opened it up like a downhill course, bending his ski like he was ripping fresh tracks on the corduroy—only this was a fifty-five degree face with huge exposure,” explained Billimoria. “After two turns, he committed to the blind rollover just above the col—a mistake there would have been entirely unforgiving. Griffin took the center line—aired the cliff and just GS’ed it down into to the canyon.”

    

    Before dropping the Middle Teton, Post and his crew got had the opportunity to contemplate their sanity. Here, Billimoria provides a glimpse of the line. (Photo compliments of Zahan Billimoria)

    For everyone watching Post, the cliff—and the firm landing that accompanied it—served as the crux of the descent. “Everyone held their breath during this because it was a big move and a must-land situation,” filmer Chris Kitchen revealed. “Otherwise, he would have been tomahawking thousands of feet to the basin.” Nonetheless, the entire line was worthy of recognition. “Griffin skied the East Face of the Middle in a way I have not witnessed before in the Tetons,” offered Patridge. “Only heli guiding in Valdez have I seen someone rip the big mountains like Griffin did.”

    Despite the seven-hour approach, Post skied the line in a matter of seconds. “Once Griffin got the notch, he pretty much sent that line like I’ve never seen anybody ski it before. It was a whole other level of athleticism to watch him ski that face in forty-five to fifty seconds,” explained Von Doersten. “It takes a skill level very few ski mountaineers possess to ski a line like Griff did.”

    

    Mid-descent, Post was dwarfed by the Middle Teton. (Photo compliments of Greg Von Doersten)

    Although Post’s mission to the Middle Teton will be remembered for the descent, the crew was quick to emphasize that it should not overshadow everything that led up to it. “With a line like the Middle, it’s about much more than just the skiing,” explained filmer Sam Pope. “We had been up since 1:00 a.m. and hiked 6,000 vertical feet in just over seven miles. It’s a huge ascent and most people are pretty wasted by the time they get to the summit, but for Griffin his work didn’t even start until he was at the top.”

    The approach, however, did nothing to phase Post. “Griffin skied a line with confidence and speed that most people make jump turns down,” noted Pope. “But that’s what makes him a pro.” Billimoria was quick to agree. “My guess is that the Middle Teton has never seen a descent like that,” he explained. “It was as impressive a performance as I think the high peaks have ever seen.”

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• World's Highest BASE Jump - Fl World's Highest BASE Jump - Flying From Mt. Everest

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Nearly 60 years to the day after the first ascent up Mount Everest, Russian extreme sport star Valery Rozov (48) flew off the north face of Mount Everest - the world's highest BASE jump ever - 7220 meters (23,688ft) above sea level.
    
    The ascent began on the Chinese side on the famous north route. It took him four days to climb from the base camp to the jumping location. At precisely 2:30 p.m. local time he leaped despite adverse weather conditions with temperatures -18 Celsius.
    
    Because the cliff at the top was not very high, the initial moments of the leap in the rarified high altitude air were the most critical phase. Rozov needed more time than usual in the thin air to transition from freefall to flying. After that he flew for nearly a full minute at speeds of about 200 km/h (125 mph) along the north face before he landed safely on the Rongbuk glacier - at an altitude of 5,950 meters.
    
    http://redbull.com

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• The Most Badass Toddler To Dat The Most Badass Toddler To Date

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    There is bonding time between a father and son, and then there is this. Not only is this little guy having a blast, he has the coordination to totally kill it. Lesson learned? Hockey sticks are the new Hula-Hoops. 

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• Aspen/Snowmass Open for Memori Aspen/Snowmass Open for Memorial Weekend

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Aspen Mountain Skiing May 23, 2013 - VNR from Aspen/Snowmass on Vimeo

    Aspen Mountain opens this weekend for summer operations and thanks to a very snowy late season, they will have lift serviced skiing and riding at the top of the mountain. Hopefully you haven't packed away your winter gear, because this is a weekend not to be missed. 

     

    The Silver Queen Gondola will run for regular summer hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the Ajax Express Chair will spin from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for skiing and snowboarding.

     

    Almost 90 acres of terrain will be open for skiing and riding, including: Silver Bell, Pussyfoot, Silver Dip, Blondie's, Dipsy Doodle, Dipsy Headwall, Summit, Buckhorn, Pumphouse, Tourtellote Park and North American.

     

    The Sundeck will be open, as well as Ajax Tavern.

     

    Ticket Information: Regular summer rates will be in effect for sightseeing tickets. Premier, Premier Silver and 6-and-under passholders always ride free in the summer with their 2012-13 winter passes. 

    
    All other Aspen/Snowmass passholders pay a discounted rate. For skiing and riding; adult, senior and youth passholders (age 13 and up) pay $18 and child season passholders (age 4-12) pay $9. 

    
    Skiing/riding tickets for non-passholders will be $36 per day for ages 13 and up, and $18 for ages 3-12. 

    
    Tickets will be sold at the Aspen Mountain ticket kiosk on Gondola Plaza from 10 am to 4 pm.   Tickets can also be purchased online at www.aspensnowmass.com and over the phone by calling 970-923-1227.

     

    Ski & Snowboard Rentals: Four-Mountain Sports, located at 520 E Durant Street, will be renting skis and snowboards for $29/day and will be open for rentals from 9 am to 6 pm In addition, enjoy the spring season by renting skis and a bike on the same day for just $50*.

     

    Need new shred gear? Now is the time to get it on the cheap. Check out these awesome deals here.  Don't blow it. 

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• HighSpeed Everest - Episode 5 HighSpeed Everest - Episode 5 - Chad Kellogg

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Take a look back at Chad's 2012 Everest Attempt. Originally Posted June 7, 2012 - For the past two years, Chad Kellogg has been preparing to best the established best-known time for a speed ascent of Mount Everest, training his body and mind to climb and descend the highest mountain in the world without the use of supplemental oxygen faster than ever before. On May 25, 2012, Chad made the summit push. Unfortunately, due to exhaustion and unforeseen complications lower on the mountain, he was forced to turn back about 200 meters below the summit. At Outdoor Research, we stand in awe of Chad's effort. And we have no doubt we will see further superhuman accomplishments from this relentless adventurer very soon. 

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