Powder Skiing

The reports from home were grim. After four snowy weeks skiing in Alaska’s Chugach Range it sounded like more people were psyched to mountain bike than ski in the Sierra. … Read More

Gulmarg, India No matter how you do it-as a ski bum-or a weekend warrior-skiing is an expensive sport. With most major lift tickets in the U.S. going for close to … Read More

Whoo Hoo! The spotlight for this edition is the return of winter and powder skiing to the greater Tahoe area. The stoke meter has been high and no matter where … Read More

This past weekend the best park and pipe skiers in the world headed to Park City, UT to compete in a Platinum level superpipe Grand Prix event. Platinum essentially means “Olympic Qualifier.” The event also showcased a Paul Mitchell Big Air Progression session.

Christian Allen getting rad at the top of the pipe

The Paul Mitchell Big Air was won by Gus Kenworthy with a double 14 tail, Alex Schlopy in second with a double 16 tail, and Joss Christensen with a double 12 japan.  Nicky Keefer cashed in with a G note with his rodeo 9 safety winning Best Air for the level of style Nicky is known for.

Looking down the pristine 22′ PC Superpipe

The event was in Park City for the superpipe however. With the Olympics debuting Superpipe and Slopestyle next year, the best superpipe skiers in the world were all here trying to be invited to the party. You had the Canadians Mike Riddle, Matt Margetts, and Simon D’artois.  The Wells family was representing with Jossi and his 17 year old brother Beau-James who qualified for finals for the first time. Frenchmen Kevin Rolland, Thomas Krief, and Benoit Valentin also qualified for finals.  Simon Dumont, Torin-Yater Wallace, David Wise, Tucker Perkins, and a 16 year old Crested Butte wiz kid Aaron Blunck.

Luke “Ocho” Allen with Angeli VanLaanen prior to her start

Each athlete had two runs to impress the judges and the competition was pretty insane. Standing in the start gate you see this competition is about pushing yourself, yet it’s also a huge get together of friends pulling for one another.  The start gate is an interesting place before any competition. Every athlete has their own individual way of getting into the zone. Here, it was Jossi Wells arm around his brother Beau-James seconds before he dropped in offering encouragement and advice. It was Matt Margetts trying to stoke out everyone in the start gate by stating he’d be bringing moon rocks back after his first hit (which he did with a gigantic Flat 5 Japan).  It was also Simon who is calm, collected and adjusting his music. They all are uniquely focused when the starter says “the pipe is yours” and they drop in.

Torin Yater-Wallace first hit out of the pipe. Stillshot – Drew Lederer

What went down that deserved props?

Torin Yater-Wallace’s runs. Both of them. Every hit. He’s wearing green chamo pants and it starts at 2:40

Beau-James cork 5 tweaked safety at the top. He has on a black jacket and beige pants, check the shot out at 2:07

Simon’s massive airs starting at 2:22, he’s wearing all red and rocking no poles due to two broken wrists.

Matt Margetts run starting at :21 going massive with the flat 5 japan

Were you skiing in Utah the last few days? If not, HaHa Sucka! It has been mega epic in the Wasatch for the last 4 days with the deepest fluff flying on the 29th. I was too lazy to make a video, but luckily Nate Fillnow and his friends made a rocking 2:30 edit to showcase the goods at Alta.

Awesome crash into a tree at 1:50!

Check it and weep….for joy because you live here, or for sorrow because you don’t;)

Bring it on!

Cold. Dry. Light. Fast. Perfect. These are a few words that most accurately describe what Tahoe area backcountry skiers and riders have been experiencing for the past few weeks. It … Read More

1. Salomon Rocker2 122 When things get deep, you bring out the big sticks.  And the Salomon Rocker2 is big.  When it comes to surfing pow, ripping through the trees, … Read More

Friday night (10-19-12) was the World Premiere of Warren Miller Entertainments’ Flow State in Salt Lake City. The event is annually held in SLC and it was a much larger … Read More

Earlier this summer Kaya Lampe from Sessions Outerwear put together a trip up to Mt Hood to film a short video with several local groms. These 4 kids represent motivation, talent, and drive.  They are also 4 really good kids that are enjoyable to be around on- and off-the-hill.

Kaya Lampe, Hunter Simpson, Rals White, Mike Jones, Charlie Ingalls heading up to Mt. Hood.

This video will be featured at SnowGlobe December 29-31 and features 2 of the artists who will be appearing. I was stoked with the summer shredding and fully expect to see big things from all 4 of these guys this winter.  The level of talent beginning to develop with the young Tahoe park skiers is already impressive. With a facility like Woodward just down the street, it’s going to skyrocket. Super-groms Cody Laplante and Aspen Spora are just a few years behind and we could see some new Tahoe Olympians in the coming years. Good luck guys and keep killin it.

I was stoked on the music and it got me excited about SnowGlobe this winter. The skiing starts at :41 seconds in.

Take a couple of good looking skier girls and stick them in AK with some guns and snow machines and see what happens.  This happens! Nice line from Sierra Quitiquit at 1:24. What do you think your chances of keeping up with these ladies are? I think not good….

Bring on the Winter!