ski

It’s been a sunny spring in the greater Tahoe area, but there’s always at least one late season blast to throw things out of whack. That blast came in over … Read More

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

    179cm length = 139.5 mm(width at tip)-117 mm(width underfoot)-128.5 mm(width at tail) / 18 m turning radius 186cm length = 140.5 mm(width at tip)-117 mm(width underfoot)-129.5 mm(width at … Read More

by Thomas Como Top 10 Reasons You’re A Gaper   #10.  Neon – Unless you are wearing an outfit that your sponsors fitted you in, give it up. There is … Read More

The Top 10 Longest Vertical Drops at Ski Resorts in North America. Video of the action at each location…and one famous video of absolute HORROR that was filmed at one of the locations…

If you haven’t seen this yet, you need too. If you’ve seen it, you know it’s worth watching again. The word inspiration works, but for Shane, something else should be invented.

Visit the Shane McConkey Foundation page to keep the inspiration growing.

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

I suppose it’s better to be trapped in a gondola during a gale than on a chairlift in one.  If this occurrence aligns with crotchal-area-deep powder, that doesn’t hurt either.

Japan has been stormy this January.  Lets be honest, it’s stormy every January.  It’s clockwork.  Storms just don’t matter here.  A frigid NW wind comes over of Siberia, picks up moisture off the warm Sea of Japan, and collides with the 10,000-foot Japanese Alps that happen to be right on the beach.  That combination adds up to snow most everyday of January and February.

…A divine wind you might say?  

The Mongol fleet destroyed in a typhoon, ink and water on paper, by Kikuchi Yōsai, 1847

The above video is from Hakuba, Japan on January 25th, 2013.

From a local source in Hakuba, we have learned this about this avalanche yesterday:

- This avalanche occurred within a permanent closure at Goryu ski resort

- This terrain is accessed from a chairlift

- This avalanche occurred in a zone that is a major terrain trap where 5 gullies come together into one large gully that then ends in a 45 degree wall

- Last year a Japanese man was killed by an avalanche in the same zone that buried him 5 meters+ (16ft +) under snow

- This avalanche was caused by someone skiing above the skier in the video