Snow Sports
ArchiveSkate time with the Telluride Snow Leopards The author's little rippers have fun on the track [Emily Shoff] In his spare time, Scholtes helps coach the Snow Leopards, a local Nordic ski group for school-age kids. The only drill…
From weekend escapes for beginners to weeklong expeditions for seasoned pros, the best destinations on the continent for taking flight
Discover what a passion for winter really means by schussing in the shadow of the Eiger, chowing down on five-star fondue in a slope-side farmhouse, or partying in Kitzbühel with the world's best skiers.
After a 13-day cruise to Antarctica to ski virgin powder with 22 of the world’s best guides, Kim Havell has some advice to share
Does a “3-in-1” jacket seem like a gimmick that can't possibly deliver on all fronts? 3-in-1 jacket means that the inner insulating layer and the outer jacket shell can each be worn individually, or they can be worn together for a third dual layer option.Columbia shows that…
Nordic skiers and cold-climate runners will love this aerobic-oriented jacket, which has a wind-blocking front face and a thin, breathable back.
I recently discovered the website, Kids Who Rip. Not sure how I missed this one, but it’s rad little video library of kids killing it on bikes, skis, kiteboards, surfboards, skateboards, balance beams, and pretty much every other conveyance and game known to childhood. You can submit…
The world's top alpinists continue to push the boundaries of human suffering and exposure with climbs of ever more technical peaks. Gear companies like The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, and Marmot don't sell a lot of high-end, alpine gear, but they need to keep their athletes happy. Clients willing to…
A recent spate of avalanche deaths near ski resorts sparked a flurry of media reports, many declaring that so-called sidecountry skiing is becoming an increasingly dangerous pursuit. It's just not that simple.
One Step Beyond is a profile of snowboarder and BASE jumper Geraldine Fasnacht. You can buy the film on March 8 at director Seb Montaz’s site.
In the heart of New York City, a power struggle is under way at the century-old Explorers Club—with claims of tyranny aimed at Lorie Karnath, the current president. She says her detractors are mired in the past, and in a fight this rough, somebody isn’t coming back alive.
Heading toward the Wasatch resorts. Photo: Flickr/CountryLemonade Vail Resorts this week announced that it is acquiring Northern California's Kirkwood Resort. Some of K-Wood's loyal fansare is dismayed, fearing that admission into Vail's empire could change Kirkwood's small-resort…
An avalanche in Washington State killed three skiers but spared a fourth who was wearing an avalanche air bag. For years, experts have warned skiers never to travel in the backcountry without beacons, rescue shovels, and probes. Is it time to add one more piece of gear to the list?
Ride Duster: Having trouble finding a ski helmet that fits? The Ride Duster works for all head shapes, thanks to independently moving panels that conform to even the eggiest noggins—all without pinching or squeezing. The company says the helmet's “Zone-Flex technology” consists of flexing pieces of certified-to-protect-your-head-in-a-crash…
What are the best running pants to wear in the dead of winter when the wind is blowing and the snow is flying?
Even if you dad chucked his old wafflestompers and canvas backpack before you were born, you can still have legit heritage gear that’s as functional as it is cool looking. Here are four of our favorite old-is-new pieces: LL Bean Maine Snowshoe: To celebrate its 100th birthday, LL…
Have you ever left your snowshoes home because they were too bulky to carry, only to regret it mid hike when you were postholing to your thighs in deep snow? Stories of stranded snowmobilers mired in the woods after they ran out of gas inspired Alaskan oil field worker Rick…
By late February, you reach a point where you need the promise of warmth just to get outside. The hot springs at Avalanche Ranch and Nordic trails at nearby Spring Gulch, outside of Carbondale, Colorado, will give you the kick you crave, and then some. Kids and…
Some of us are scoring powder days, while others are getting skunked. Either way, it’s shaping up to be a weird and dangerous winter all across the country—and nowhere is this truer than the backcountry. So far, 8 skiers and boarders and four snowmobilers have…
Lindsey Van talks about the new film Ready to Fly and her struggle to get women's ski jumping into the 2014 Winter Olympics
When the head of the FIS said ski jumping was not safe for women, Lindsey Van fought. This movie chronicles her struggle. Interview | Gallery…
Globe-trotters: we've got you covered. Our 2012 Travel Awards honor the best destinations on seven continents—everything from idyllic beach escapes to camping safaris in Kenya to a mountain-bike expedition in Tibet. Plus: Outside-endorsed outfitters, adventure insurance, and more.
Jimmy Chin gets caught in an avalanche and is taken for a 2,000-foot ride in Wyoming’s Teton Mountains.
A multimedia guide to seven of North America’s best adventure destinations—featuring Duct Tape Then Beer’s new videos series
Electric snowmobile prototype by University of Wisconsin, Madison. Photo: Clean Snowmobile Challenge A typical mid-winter's day in Yellowstone National Park used to belie all notions you may harbor of a peaceful, quiet mountain hideaway. “People would go in and wait…
Snow is finally falling in the Rockies and on the West Coast, and snow-starved skiers and snowboarder are chasing untracked lines like hunters searching for deer. Now, a new free app makes the hunt easier. Freshy Map, in beta, tells you which resorts and backcountry areas…
Duct Tape Then Beer skis epic powder in the sidecountry of Washington’s Mount Baker. Here’s how you can repeat the trip.
I’ve been reading about a lot of avalanche fatalities recently. What do I need to stay reasonably safe in avalanche country?
Beach bliss, off the beaten path: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua su casa @ Pelican Eyes Also on Groupon this week: a three-bedroom ski cabin “near” Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Admittedly, the Teton Springs Lodge & Spa isn’t in Wyoming—it’s…
Scouring the country’s premier film festival for the best environmental and adventure documentaries
Outside picks the best gear for your alpine-touring setup, including the K2 WayBack skis.
From hidden fishing rivers in Chile to mountain biking in Whistler, our guide shows you where to go and the gear you'll need to take your adventures to the next level.
I'm planning a snow-cave camping trip with some friends. What gear do I need to build the cave?
At the Outdoor Retailer and SIA shows last month, one thing was clear: more and more people are venturing into the backcountry on skis and snowboards. Whether you're dipping out of bounds at your local ski hill, or boot packing from the road to the summit, these done in a…
Let's cut to the chase. Here are a few of the most eye-catching new survival tools we saw at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City. Wenger Hypex Jewelry: Having a multitool on hand at all times is ideal. But with airline restrictions and general paranoia about people carrying…
Ski-in, ski-out/drive-in, drive out @ the GMD Another bonus: Kids who learn to ski at Alta are pretty much destined to become rippers. On one ride up Collins, we saw three or four kids launch off a small cliff at full speed on…
Six nightmare scenarios that keep the best adventurers up at night
According to the Peltzman effect, helmets and seat belts cause people to ski, drive, and ride more recklessly, if only slightly. We don’t suggest you trash your lid, but consider these numbers.
I’m planning a long weekend of cross-country skiing in the West. Which national park is a better option: Yosemite or Rocky Mountain?
You may have noticed a slight absence from the blog over the last couple of weeks. That's because I was busy checking out the best winter gear from Outdoor Retailer and SIA—and writing reviews of the ten best products for winter 2013. Here…
Finnish freestyle skier AJ Kemppainen gives us an inside (literally) look at what it’s like to train in a country consumed by darkness for most of the winter.
Dustin O’Brien catches a freak fall from the top of New Hampshire’s Tuckerman Ravine. Read True Tales Behind the Web’s Best (Worst) Moments for the behind-the-scenes story.
Wearable cameras aren’t just changing the way we watch sports—they’re changing the way we play.
Black Diamond's new Carbon Megawatt is light enough for touring and fat enough to float atop soft snow.
[all photos: La Ferme du Soleil] It’s been snowing in the Alps, and we’ve got schussing on the brain, especially since we stumbled across this choice ski-in, ski-out mountain hideout at 4,200 feet the Haute Savoie. La Ferme du Soleil (“Farm of Sunshine”) is Sound of…
I need a new ski pack for resort and backcountry skiing. I'm looking for something that can carry skis, water, and my gear on day trips out of bounds, but won't get in the way on chairlifts.
Scott's Off-Grid Goggle allow you to adjust the shape of the frame to fit your face.
Atomic and Salomon have collaborated to create a powerful alpine touring ski binding.
Aksel Svindal has three Olympic medals, two World Cup titles, and the affections of fellow ski racer Julia Mancuso. But can he transcend the sport and become the next Hermann Maier? HAMPTON SIDES tracks down the Norwegian beast slopeside to talk about the 2007 crash that nearly ended his career and his chances of dominating the 2012 World Cup.
A barefoot running shoe for winter. Ali Carr talks footwear at 2012’s Outdoor Retail Show. Read more here.
Good times for all in the Whistler high country [Photo: Paul Morrison] Now that the snow is finally falling in the Pacific Northwest, Rockies, and Northeast, it’s time to start chasing powder. Given the steep costs and major schlep factor, family ski trips can…
The smartest, most useful, and most inspiring blogs to keep your winter stoke high
Outside Presents the 2012 Gear of the Show awards for OR Winter Market, including The North Face Powder Guide ABS Vest.
A couple weeks ago on Raising Rippers, I wrestled with the dilemma we face when writing or posting about rad kids and their outdoor antics. Are we exploiting them for our own purposes or holding them up as inspiration to all? The answer is obvious when you…
What are the best non-tropical places to go scuba diving in the winter?
A group of skiers fly into British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains for a week of backcountry skiing.
As she spins 360s and grinds rails, keep in mind that Kelly Sildaru is nine.
In the hunt for powder with snowboarders Xavier de le Rue, Anne Flore Marxer and Victor de Le Rue. The first video in a series from www.timelinemissions.comwww.timelinemissions.com.
Top 10 Winter Bike Commuting Essentials
Photographer Tristan Gresko experiments (very successfully) with tilt-shift photography in his short ode to the world’s smallest ski resort.
In an interview from Sarah Burke's bedside, friend & fellow ski star Kristi Leskinen gives Grayson Schaffer the prognosis.
In a week, all of the outdoor gear companies will convene in Salt Lake City to introduce their new skis and boots, jackets and baselayers, beacons and solar powered iPhone devices, sleeping bags and packs, trekking poles and tents, and all sorts of other outdoor gear and gadgets. We’ll be…
The Outdoor Retailer show is next week! We'll be onsite to see the latest gear for fall 2012 and we'll be handing out awards for Gear of the Show. Here are some attention grabbing early releases for backcountry skiers that just hit our…
Ski filmmaker Nick Waggoner talks to Caty Enders about losing two friends while producing Solitaire, the story of a ski pilgrimage through South America
Highlights from this year’s ski mountaineering championships in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
I received a zero-degree down sleeping bag over the holidays and I'm eager to do some winter camping in Colorado later this month. I've been on plenty of warm-weather trips, but this will be my first winter camp. What else do I need to stay warm?
Watch Nick Waggoner's ground-breaking backcountry ski film Solitaire
An early season reminder that avalanche conditions are high across much of the West. Here are some tips from snowboarder Jeremy Jones on how to stay safe in the backcountry. …
Some people like to head to the tropics in the winter. I like to bask in the snow and cold. What are your favorite winter carnivals in North America?
In case you hadn't heard, headphone technology has gotten much better—and more specialized—since the advent of the mp3 player