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Avalanche Decision Making Survey

J Dogg — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:38:28 -0400

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CAA needs our feedback, here's the scoop... The Canadian Avalanche Centre, in conjunction with Simon Fraser University, is seeking survey participants for a study on out-of-bounds avalanche decision making. Findings from the study will be used to develop tools for communicating avalanche risk and assisting out-of-bounds decisions making.

The study includes an online survey with questions about experience and background, typical skiing/riding partners, perceptions of avalanches and ski patrol and an interactive ‘pick a run’ exercise.

All participants will be entered in a prize draw for:

One Ortovox S1 avalanche transceivers
Two Black Diamond AvaLung backpacks

At the conclusion of the study interested participants will be emailed a personal analysis sheet that includes a comparison of your avalanche hazard consideration to other study participants.

The survey can be found at: http://www.outbounds.rem.sfu.ca

Your support for study would be much appreciated. Please pass the link onto to anyone you know who would be suitable for this study.

Helmet Follow Cam in Corona Bowl

AndreCharland — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:42:47 -0400

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Good news: my cheap flip video camera can double as reverse helmet cam

Bad news: The last day of Whistler for 2008 was cold, icy and uneventful.

Thanks to Jamie, Lotte and Danielle for being troopers though.

Alaska - World Championships - Highlight Video

J Dogg — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:13:47 -0400

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Here's the highlight video from the Finals at the World Freeskiing Championships in Alyeska. PS - Whistlerites Brett Crabtree and Jen Ashton to the World Tour titles this year! Yeeeaaaaaah.

Last Park Standing at Echo!

Echo Mountain — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:46:24 -0400

Start: 2008-04-26 04:44

Timezone: Etc/GMT-8

Saturday, April 26, Echo Mountain will hosting its grand finale, Last Park Standing! This is the last comp of the season and is sure to be a blow out celebration of the 07-08 season with live music, the sponsor village, and much more. There will be an amateur rail jam to kick it off at 9am, followed by a pro slopestyle competition at noon! With more than $12,000 in cash and $4,000 in prizes, be sure you don’t miss out on the best comp this spring! Pre-registration only, online at www.echomt.com!

World Tour Final Stop: Alyeska w/ Videos

J Dogg — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:42:46 -0400

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Just in case we get too busy skiing this weekend to report on all the hot action at the Freeskiing World Tour Finals at Aleyska, here's where you can catch the videos. They'll run Snowbird videos until there's something to show from Alaska. Here's a super mini version for small people with small eyes, everyone else can click the link below.

Watch The Video Full Screen>>>

Go Crabtree Go! Go Crabtree Go!

Snowbird US Freeskiing Nationals: Photogs, Hotdogs, & PT Cruiser

Holly — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:16:17 -0400

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I arrived at the base of West Baldy and set up camp on he photog hump at the bottom of the venue at 9am. I as tired. North Baldy had been destroyed from the qualifier and skiing down with a backpack full of PBR tall boys, hotdogs and oh yeah, camera gear was no easy task when sleep deprived.

I had decided it was a good idea to sleep 4 hours Thursday night so I could get in a day of deep pow at Mount Baker on Friday en route to the Seattle Airport. This made for wet gear upon a late arrival to Salt Lake and lesser sleep Friday night. But who cared, I had made it to watch the finals with photog Re Wikstrom and we had packed a good picnic. It was my Spring Break '08 baby. My slogan: Girl Gone Wild. The catch: I felt nauseous.

My phone rang at 10am. Brianne Taylor had landed at SLC airport in full ski gear and was getting into her rental car. Or should I say red hot PT Cruiser. "Take the second Snowbird entrance and drive all the way to the front, park it valet," I had told her at the end of the directions to the Snowbird. The whole thing was so awkwardly funny.

Brianne made it up to the venue just in time to help Re and I polish off some more tall boys and take on hotdog duty so we could continue snapping shots of competitors. In my sleep deprived confusion I realized my memory card was full and switched it quickly for another one.

Where it went I don't know? In the snow? In the hotdog? Lost forever? Rookie photog move. If someone finds it let me know. it has the women's super final runs on it. so apologies to all the women out there, I failed you. Please don't hate me. For the rest of you enjoy the pictures.

Words n' some photos by Holly Walker

RIP John Nicoletta

J Dogg — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

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At approximately 3:45pm this afternoon, 27-year-old John Nicoletta of Aspen, Colorado, died due to injuries sustained during a fall while competing on the first day of the Freeskiing World Championships at Alyeska Resort, Alaska. Nicoletta was the 47th competitor of the day down the Headwall below Alyeska Peak.

Alyeska Professional Ski Patrol reached Nicoletta within seconds of the accident and evaluated his injuries. After stabilization, he was transported via toboggan and helicopter to the Alyeska Aid Room where he was unable to be revived despite efforts by local physicians, paramedics, Girdwood EMS and the Alyeska Professional Ski Patrol. Time of death was reported at 4:45pm.

Contrary to initial press stories, Nicoletta had a loss of control after a 20-foot cliff drop and was propelled into an exposed rocky area.

A veteran freeskiing competitor, Nicoletta was an accomplished, well-known, and extremely respected athlete. An experienced skier, he has appeared in ski movies, been a featured athlete in television interviews and recently finished second at the Telluride Freeskiing Open in February 2008. Mountain Sports International extends our deepest sympathies to John Nicoletta’s family, girlfriend, and friends. This is a deep blow to the freeskiing community.

After discussion with the competitors this evening, the decision was made to continue with the event tomorrow. Athletes will make the hike to the top of the peak together in a celebration of John’s incredible life and love of big mountain freeskiing.

Echo's End of the Season Bangers!

Echo Mountain — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 17:07:27 -0400

Start: 2008-04-09 09:03

Timezone: Etc/GMT-8

Evergreen, CO – April 9, 2008: Contests and cheap passes are at your fingertips. Echo Mountain is offering you the best season pass and lift ticket deals around. So save your money for the things you want and purchase the pass that you need.

$129 Season Pass: It’s as simple as it sounds. Echo Mountain is offering this discounted pass with unlimited access to the 2008-2009 season, for only $129. It’s your ticket to avoid traffic and get up to a mountain faster. For a quick purchase, follow this link: http://echomt.com/echocart/products.php?cat=1. (While supplies last)

$20 Lift Ticket: This ticket pertains to the shredders who already own a season pass to a different resort. We are open until May 4th, so if your mountain is closing too soon, head on down to Echo and we’ll help you get a few more days in. It’s only $20 for a full day of riding the most unique and fun terrain in Colorado.

End of Season Contests: If it’s the contests that you’re interested in, you’re in luck… Echo Mt. has a lot in store for you:

- The Jockey Intergalactic Pond Skim: Goes off this Saturday, April 12th. Echo’s turn to show what a real pond skim looks like with our signature twist.

- The College Battle: The battle begins on April 19th. Representing your college has never been this fun…ever.

- Last Park Standing: Set up for April 26th. You can always count on Echo Mountain for your last chance at good shredding and prize winning.

Check out these events by clicking this link: http://www.echomt.com/upcoming_events.php

If you are interested in what Echo Mountain has been up to all season, follow this link to Echo TV http://www.echomtnpark.com/podcast/echopodcast.html . Enjoy!

Dana Flahr in Alaska - TGR In The Making

J Dogg — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 00:00:25 -0400

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Looks like Dana has been up to no good in Alaska this spring. Be jealous. Be very jealous...

Deal of the Century!

Echo Mountain — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:51:50 -0400

Start: 2008-03-31 05:50

Timezone: Etc/GMT-8

As all the area resorts are getting ready to close their doors on the 07-08 season, Echo Mountain is gearing up for sick spring riding! With two comps to go, Echo is not letting up on the season. For the month of April, bring up your season pass from any other mountain, and get a day pass to Echo for just $20 bucks!

For more information visit www.echomt.com

Jockey's Intergalactic Pond Skim at Echo Mountain!

Echo Mountain — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:50:36 -0400

Start: 2008-04-12 05:48

Timezone: Etc/GMT-8

Echo Mountain will be hosting Jockey's 2008 Intergalactic Pond Skim on Saturday, April 12! As many know from last year, this comp rips! Echo will a add feature in the middle of the pond for skiers and riders who want to step up their game. There will be sweet prizes, including a $1,000 first place prize, for those who skim with style. Jockey will provide new underwear for all contestants who enter, and if that doesn’t convince you to come up and enter, what will?

Snowbird Men's Finals Part 2

J Dogg — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:30:49 -0400

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Check the vid from the Snowbird Men's Super Finals

Cold Smoke - Shredding on WB

J Dogg — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:18:33 -0400

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This is actually Jamie sneaking into Matt's account and uploading this video from a couple weeks back on Blackcomb. Looks like good times.

Blower Pow, Pillows and Exposure in La Grave

AndreCharland — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:37:00 -0400

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The last couple days of skiing in La Grave have continued to deliver!

With the snow pack tightening and skies still mostly clear we able to get onto some steeper slopes ski some bigger runs to the Valley. Pan Rideaux was the most exciting with some steep turns, serious exposure and deep pow. But Chirousse the 2400m vert epic was a close second. Rocky Garden provided blower pow under blue skies so all good. I can't wipe the grin off my face! Lars Krantz and Even Ofstad of BigTrix.com are awesome guys to shred with. More to come...

Getting into the Alpine in La Grave

AndreCharland — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:30:44 -0400

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So the storming stopped finally and we woke to blue bird skies and about 40cms of fresh. Lars, Ida and I hit up a bunch of alpine chutes and the hit the Freaux couloir all the way down to the rode. We stuck mostly lower angle and sheltered slopes as avalanche danger is high. As stability improves we should be able to start skiing higher and steeper lines.

La Grave is Getting Nuked!

AndreCharland — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:13:19 -0400

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I just arrive in France and the snow started falling in La Grave. Yesterday winds were over 100kmh in the Alpine, it snowed about 30 to 40cms so Lars and I decided to go for a small ski tour.

Today is blue bird:)

Team Faction Video

AndreCharland — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:39:33 -0400

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Sick vid of the of the Faction boys shredding in the Whistler area.

North Joffre Ice

Chris Christie — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:46:51 -0400

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Got a call from Bruce Kay the other day to join him on a project he had in the North Joffre area. I'm alway's a little apprehensive when BK calls, an epic is usually on the menu.. He must have been pretty far down his phone list cause I had hardly swung an ice tool on anything steeper than 50 deg in the past 2 years. Anyway, Before I knew it we were heading up the drainage towards the wall and I started to wonder what I had signed up for. The route was waaaaay bigger than he had suggested. The snow ramp to the 1st pitch of ice was steeper than anything I had skied this year. Bruce took off like it was nobody's biddness and 40 feet out with no gear, started to get hammered with spindrift from 1000 feet up. It lasted about a minute at a time and breathing was super difficult not to mention the ice cream headache from having half the mountain stuffed into your helmet. After some time BK climbed the 1st pitch and I started off.Stupid hand, buldging calves and screaming barfy's quickly became reality . The route consisted of blue ice, Snice, ( mix of ice and frozen snow) sticks were pretty good with sparse protection. The cruxes were usually overhanging sugar snow with no gear in sight. A BK speciallty and he is so damn casual about the whole problem. Anyway the route ended up going a 1st ascent at 8 Pitchs, WI4+ with a few mixed rock moves thrown in.. We simu climbed the last 3 pitches with constant heavy spindrift.. I was getting clobbered by his leftovers.. Pretty dry mouthed the whole time. He forgot his headlamp and we topped out at 8pm in the dark not knowing the way down.. Crossed a 400 foot 45 degree hanging hanging slab for more pucker action above our route and found a fairly easy snow ramp down to the bowl and another 30 minutes to our skis. Images of the climb were shot from the hip as the walls of snow coming down were pretty pant shitting.and I was already multitasking untangling frozen ropes and dodging bullets... Left the truck at 8 am returned at 10pm. Not bad for 2 chocolate bars and chomping on ice for hydration, Cheers, CC

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Arlberg, Austria report 2008

Pat Mulrooney — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:50:50 -0500

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Danielle on her way down Ochsenkopf to Zurs.

During a perfectly good drinking trip to Europe in January, Danielle and I decided to throw some Austrian Alp pow into the mix. So after a couple weeks in the Czech Republic and Ireland we rented a car and headed for the hills. I seem to have horse shoes up my arse everytime we go to St. Anton. During what I would call not one of their best seasons it started puking within 12 hours of us arriving there!

Sluff Management on the Flexen Spitze at Zurs.

After only a full day of snowing the Alpine recieved over 1 meter of fresh. The skies cleared and the Alps delivered. The valley is so big that it takes more than a week to get skied out!

The endless lines on the Mittagspitze.

The next few days we hit all the villages in the Arlberg Valley. Lech Back-country. Above the Village of Lech.

Descending the Hassenfluh. It's still a drinking vacation!

Liptricks Not Lipstick at Echo Mountain!

Echo Mountain — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:59:26 -0500

Start: 2008-03-01 06:55

End: 2008-03-02 06:55

Timezone: Etc/GMT-8

Saturday, March 1, 2008 Echo Mountain will be hosting Liptricks Not Lipstick. This comp is a one-of-a-kind rail jam, with creative new features to session. This year, we plan to push the limits! With huge prizes at stake, this is one comp you won’t want to miss. Space is limited, so sign up early! Entry to this spectacular event is just $8 online, or $10 the day of the event. Registration starts at 9am!

Who: All Skiers and Riders

What: Liptricks Not Lipstick Comp

When: Saturday, March 1, 2008

Where: Echo Mountain

Time: Registration at 9am

For more information please visit www.ehcomt.com.