Snow Sports
ArchiveWith this Monday being Presidents' Day, many of you are likely headed to slopes for a long ski weekend. Below, a few clips, galleries, and other assortments to get you in the mood. And if skiing's not your thing, well, we've got you covered, too. Here's the stuff you should…
Courtesy of Flickr Chuck Allen, aka the “Godfather of Snowboarding,” passed away on February 14, according to Transworld Snowboarding. Allen was a founder of the United States of America Snowboarding Association…
At least something else besides the austrians came out hot: lunch in Bavaria. Nothing against America and the US Ski Team, but over the past few ski racing seasons it’s the Swiss who’ve kept my attention. Maybe it’s the age-old rivalry…
It's dawn on the Algerian border. A bone cold 7 °C. Wind screams across the erg, and in every direction, there’s sand. Metric tons of it. Arcine peaks and deep valleys marked with wave-ripples; all of it deep, rose gold. Our camels carry large canvas sacks of…
Big Cottonwood Canyon, one of three iconic alpine valleys outside of Salt Lake City, was clouded in and utterly white. Deep snow, in the form of 10 inches of Utah fluff, was at my feet and sprawling downhill for a mile or more from the top of a peak at…
The ski & snowboard season is halfway over, and Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Here's your mid-winter wrap up of the stuff you should click on. With One Pole:Bode Miller finishes 12th in the men's super-G at the World Championships (…
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Lyo27TZ4Fu8 All eyes in the ski-racing world this week are trained on the Bavarian Alps, where something of the sport’s Super Bowl is underway. Ski racing might not get the love it does in Europe (like live network coverage) but the World Ski Championships…
Eddie Bauer just posted this ski report from the First Ascent team. It's a short little clip that uses testing as an excuse to pack a ton of powdery porn into two-and-a-half minutes. Let it serve as a reminder that we're halfway…
The video below defies any sort of standard explanation, and so it must be watched. If you need more prodding, here are some of the keywords going in the meta data for this blog—axe, stripping, alcohol, mimicking a baby seal,…
I've struggled for years to find a way to keep my hands warm and dry in the backcountry. Inevitably, I sweat through my gloves on the skin up then freeze my digits on the descent. I currently have a light soft shell glove that I cover with an old hard shell for descending. Unfortunately, that gives me one more gear item to deal with on transitions, allowing my buddies drop in on the fresh line while I'm still fiddling. Travis Jackson, WY
Need a last minute gift for your ski mountaineer Valentine? Chris Davenport and his skimo cronies produced a pair of tomes as big, bold and beautiful as the mountains themselves. Ski the 14ers chronicles Davenport’s year long odyssey to conquer the majestic peaks of…
For the past few years, the focus in snowboards has been on camber: traditional, reverse, mixed. Everyone and their mother has been coming up with new ways to mix and match the various degrees and inversions of camber in different areas of the board (i.e. traditional between the feet with…
I am looking into learning how to ski. What would you recommend as a good pair of skis for a beginner? Andrews Morgantown, WV
Contour, maker of hands-free video cameras, announced today “March Radness,” a bracket challenge contest between skiers and snowboarders. The contest pits 16 snowboard videos against 16 ski videos, with the winner earning an all-expenses-paid trip to film with either Standard Films…
What do you recommend for ski pants? I'm not too worried about price. I'm an all-mountain skier who has outgrown his last pair.AndrewSeattle, WA
Miss the Winter X Games in Aspen this last weekend? No problem. We've got you covered. Here are the top ten tricks, tumbles, and triumphs from Winter X 15. 10. Tucker Hibberts wins fifth-straight SnoCross Gold: 9. Jacob…
Photo Courtesy of Alaskan Dude/Flickr Tour company Whistler Outdoor Adventure is under investigation for allegedly killing 70 dogs following a downturn in business after the 2010 Olympics, according to Whistler local website Question. An employee suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder…
The News Team has been hard at work this week, combing the web for the latest headlines from the world outside. Along the way we discovered these little gems, clips of people out doing what they love. Here's the stuff you should click on this week—video edition. If…
»¬°å¸ßÊÖShaun White Courtesy of Flickr Two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White wants to add performance driving to his resume. The action sports superstar has partnered with BFGoodrich Tires…
I need to purchase an avalanche beacon for my son who is skiing in Montana. The decision has come down to either the Ortovox Patroller (which I can buy off the NSP website at a pretty good price) I can source a Pieps DSP for a very good price (I have really good connections through my work). The cost difference will end up being about $80.00. Model to model, is the Pieps that much better than the Ortovox model?CliffNew Boston, NH
I'm looking for a waterproof hard shell outer layer, preferably three-ply, for winter activities...skiing, hiking, snowshoeing. Somewhere between bombproof and minimalist?MikeNewton, MA
Courtesy of Flickr The Kelly Clark Foundation announced today that it has distributed its first round of scholarships, according to TransWorld Snowboarding. The foundation, established…
Few people can claim even one of the following roles—pro freeskier, BASE jumper, Japanese video star—but that's everyday life for Suzanne Graham. The 24-year-old winner of the 2010 Red Bull Cold Rush travels the world BASE-jumping, and is currently the world’s only active female ski BASE jumper.
Courtesy of Flickr U.S. Snowboarding has announced its team for the 2011 World Championships in La Molina, Spain, according to TransWorld Snowboarding. Leading the team of 21 athletes are three Olympians:…
Courtesy of Flickr Billabong's all-girl Flaunt It Tour begins its fifth season on January 22 at Blue Mountain, Ontario, according to TransWorld Snowboarding. The tour, which is open only to females, is a series of slopestyle and rail…
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced last Wednesday that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011. The first fee free days will be this weekend, January 15-17, for the…
Freeskier Sarah Burke is ready to return to her winning ways and convince the world the halfpipe skiing is worthy of the Olympics.
The Missoulian reported what is probably the sixth death from deep snow and tree wells in a matter of a fortnight. Invesitgations in California, Montana, and British Columiba are still in progress on these non-avalanche, non-trauma deaths (one may be drowning and the other trauma). See my past…
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort at Lake Tahoe announced the second annual Take the Lake Triple Air Open ski and snowboard jump competition, which takes place March 18 through March 20, TransWorld Snowboarding reports. Competitors will show off their big-air moves on a triple jumpline…
Not exactly the usual view when peeking into Corbet's… photo courtesy Chip Carey Afraid to jump into Jackson Hole’s famed Corbet’s Couloir? There is one other way to get in there-but don’t count on it being an easier option. If you were among the…
A week into the new year, and already plenty to see. Here's the stuff you should click on so far for 2011. Worth a Look:The Top 10 Travel Stories of 2010 (New York Times) Worth…
What is the best soft shell for cross-country skiing? Paul Ely, MN
*O.K. These tips will work for men too. The only problem with ski mountaineering racing—or randonee if you want to get all Frenchy—is that barely any women in the US are doing it. Which begs the bigger question, why do women wait for men to embrace debilitating endurance sports before…
Pro cyclist Jessica Phillips has always raced road in the summer and taught skiing in the winter. The 32-year-old Aspenite admits that the switch is necessary, because women’s pro cycling alone doesn’t exactly bring home the bacon. This year, she’s taking her transition to a new level. World Cup…
Courtesy of Flickr American snowboarder Kelly Clark earned first place in the halfpipe semifinals today at the O'Neill Evolution 2011 in Davos, Switzerland, according to…
Last week, massive storms pummeled the mountains with snow. Unfortunately, in a 48-hour span, four more cases of tree well accidents were reported. On December 28, a snowboarder went out of bounds from a Tahoe resort and was found in a deat in tree well two days later. On December 27,…
Greg Hill (Tommy Chandler/Backcountry.com) After 266 days of climbing and skiing, and climbing and skiing, and climbing and skiing, Greg Hill hit his goal. His watch registered 2 million vertical feet on…
Greg Hill is 1.65 million feet into his goal of skiing two million backcountry feet in 2010. Will he make it?
Going up, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana Along with the bourgeoning sport of alpine touring, many skiers and snowboarders are skinning and snowshoeing inbounds these days, requiring mountain resorts to figure out how to deal with uphill traffic. Although you may hear grumbling on both sides, know that resorts need…
Early season conditions have been brutal across the west. But none are more so than at Jackson Hole, WY, where the locals are just ruined, and have been for weeks. The fault lies with the lift system…also known as the tram. Four thousand foot laps of powder on an empty…
From hot springs to mountain-town fiestas to one surprisingly easy island getaway, we've got you covered.
As the west gets pounded by storms in what has been a best winter season opening in years, hopefully everyone has been out powder farming the light, dry, deep crystalline snow. When tracking up my local backcountry stash this weekend, I spied giant tree wells, big as black holes. Be…
Aspen frequently shows up on our list of North America’s best ski resorts, and while we think it’s a great place to party, it’s family-friendly, too. Georgie Bremner, Limelight Lodge’s Ski School manager and…
Haggis potato chips, psychedelic snails, drunk lorikeets, an iPhone that speaks Spanish, and a carload of snowboarders. Our journey this week through the interweb to find stuff to click on was an interesting trip. ¡Es Loco! ¡Es MUY Loco! Best…
Last spring, Christy Mahon became the first woman to ski all 54 Colorado fourteeners. And she didn't brag about it.
Photo courtesy of nightthree on Flickr. Hundreds of skiers and snowboarders donned Santa costumes and took over Sunday River ski resort in Maine on Sunday, the AP…
When it comes to ski gear, the most discerning, jaded shoppers are without a doubt ski town locals. Since ski bums often have access to it all, and they are usually difficult to please. Quality, performance…and never forget style (hey-you’ve got to have your own steez) all factor in the…
After having skied in the Northeast for the past ten years, I have come to appreciate warm gloves and have always gone for the mitten approach. My Swany X-Change gloves just fell apart and I was thinking of buying a warm finger glove. I was looking at the Black Diamond Legend or Guide. Which would you recommend? CyrilBurlington, VT
Go time. Photo Courtesy of Flickr Jackson Hole kicked off the ski season in a big way this Saturday, with the first all-mountain opening of Rendezvous in its history, thanks to a record 130-inch base, reports the Associated Press. “There’s…
Wolf Creek, a ski resort in southeastern Colorado known for it's large early season snowfalls, issued a statement today that it's ski patrol director was killed in an avalanche today at 7:45 a.m. The man's name and not revealed in the statement, and no circumstances surrounding his death were revealed…
From couloir skiing to punchy chutes, the terrain at these resorts will keep you on your toes.
From ski school and childcare to tubing hills and mini-terrain parks, these four resorts put family first.
A group of Italian ski instructors visited the Pope at the Vatican on Monday and he had some blessed things to say about skiing. “This is an environment that in a special way makes us feel small, returns us to our true dimension as…
Lindsey Vonn dressed up as Sharon Stone from Basic Instinct for a shoot with ESPN The Magazine. Here's the behind the scenes video. –Joe Spring@joespring…
From Doug Chabot, director of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.
Ski mountaineer Greg Hill is on his way to skiing two million vertical feet in one year, and he's got a few tips for you. Listen up.
From billiards to big air competitions—downtown—these four ski towns have the best nightlife.
The X-Games gold medalist shares her top five tips to make the most of your ski trip.
What is the best ski pant for people who tend to run hot? Eron Los Angeles, CA
Splitboarding: A snowboard that can be separated into two parts and used with climbing skins to ascend slopes. The halves can then be connected at the summit to form a snowboard for descent Of course you've probably heard of splitboarding by now. Gear sales…
At 25, he has a pair of X Games medals, a blossoming photojournalism career, and a well-received memoir. But no legs.
Big-mountain snowboard king Jeremy Jones is leading the sport into a new era of responsibility—which makes him very uncomfortable.
(Above – one of your competitors) The Canyons is giving away the ultimate mountain gig this winter. The prize includes a four-month stay at the Waldorf…
What made big news last month? Scroll down to find out. Here are the top 10 posts from October. At least you'll be armed with good dinner party conversation. Number 10: The Top 10 Adventures in Scotland Number 9: The Top 10 Things To…
With Halloween and elections this week, you might have taken your eye off what else happening in the world outside. We've got you covered. Here's the stuff you should click on. Worth Watching This Weekend:Chilean (Miner) Edison Pena in NY for Marathon (…
Photo courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik on Flickr. Ski manufacturer Armada recently sent cease and desist letters to several ski companies, including Rossignol, for breaching Armada's patent on certain kinds of rockered skis, Gnolls.org reports. Rossignol fired back,…
Flying devils, physics: explained, a record high, a fine wine, and lo-jacked rhinos. We're just getting started. Here's the stuff you should click on this week. “Flying Devils” — Johnny Rooks: 1. National Geographic: 0. How High?Excalibur Billed As The World's…
Conditions: cold, clear, dry, and deep. For early season weather and snow beta, check the American Avalanche Association to find your local avalanche forcast center. Be careful out there. —Christopher Van Tilburg, MD …
I want to buy my cousin a pack to carry his skis up the mountain. He's 18 years old, just started school in Flagstaff, AZ. Should be some good back country stuff for him to try. What's a good pack for back country skiing? Nelson Alexandria, VA
Photo from Tony Wan Kenobi on Flickr A major winter storm that has pounded Jackson Hole since Sunday has already dropped 33 inches of snow, Transworld Snowboarding reports. The immediate forecast calls for even more snowfall. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort isn't slated…
Courtesy Red Bull If you consider plummeting from the sky and hitting rock at more than 100 kph a lucky thing, then welcome to Karina Hollekim’s world. The Norwegian professional freeskier, BASE and ski BASE jumper is currently on tour around the US as part of…
When the Nissan Freeride World Tour announced last month that it was dropping female athletes from its professional big mountain competitions, it didn’t go over very well, as we reported earlier. So, the tour has released a third schedule revision for…