Feb 27, 2007 · 12:17 AM
Playing with the Yakima goodies last week was like Christmas morning. Not only did they send me the SkyBox 12, they also sent me a selection of accessories—a silicon box liner, a cargo net, and and LED light.
The three together seem like they’ll be extremely handy, and were, for the most part, easy to install—with a couple notes:
Feb 26, 2007 · 01:51 PM
This weekend I decided it was time to get a professional wax and edge tune—and while at it, to get my bindings checked since, lately, I’ve been having problems with heel ejection.
Because I was in Dillon, CO and it’s convenient, I dropped the skis off at Christy Sports—a fixture among Colorado ski shops. A youngish ski bum with standard-issue “vintage” beany and a dead expression—let’s call him Bill—assisted me at the counter. His peevish tone revealed how inconvenient it was to have a customer and, after a grudging explanation of the differences between a binding test and a binding fit, he asked me when I wanted to have the skis back.
Me: “How about tomorrow?”
Him: “What time?”
Me: “First thing?”
Him [derisively]: “Of course.”
When I picked the skis up the next morning his colleague—let’s call him Ted—dragged himself away from the pressing task of standing in the corner of the shop to assist me. In this instance, there was no actual hostility—just consummate apathy. No eye contact, mumbled one-word answers, and the sense that existence is a drag.
By contrast, I have heard nothing but good things about the service and prices at a Virgin Islands Ski Rentals. $35 for waxing and edging is certainly competitive, but I’d spend plenty more than I did at Christy to come away without regretting the transaction. Needless to say, I’ll be trying Virgin Islands next time so as not to burden Bill and Ted again.
Image from Despair.com
Feb 22, 2007 · 10:30 PM
Having spent the last week consuming the better part of the garage, today the Yakima Skybox Pro 12 made its debut. Have I mentioned that it came in a gigantic box?
Makes me wish I was eight so I could build a fort.
So today was mounting day and after putting on my racks, I spent about an hour mounting the box. Yakima’s instructions were very easy to follow and the design of the Skybox’s clamps make it a snap to attach.
Feb 18, 2007 · 10:07 PM
Upon watching Olympic luge, what red-blooded man has not entertained the thought “I could do that”?
Well, big man, better don the spandex and start working those abs, ‘cause your chance has arrived: in a brilliant marketing synthesis of the dangerous and the obscure, Verizon is offering its “Luge Challenge” at various ski resorts around the U.S.
…the Luge Challenge is a FREE family-oriented event that lets participants experience the fastest sport on ice. Learn the basics of “sliding” from USA Luge National team athlete and coaches, cheer on the participants and register to win prizes.
Just think of the parents all across mid-America experiencing the joy of physically endangering their sons but simultaneously agonizing over the risk to manliness inherent in sports normally enjoyed by Europeans. But don’t worry, it’s a judged event, so you’ll be able to sublimate your mixed-emotions by screaming at the officials.
Don’t misread me: I’m so there.
Feb 18, 2007 · 08:55 AM
Saturday was the first outstanding day of my ski season. We came up Friday night, dragged ourselves out of bed early Saturday morning and made the trek to Vail in time for first lift. Man, was it worth it.
After booking to Mountain Top, we skied down to Teacup Bowl to get first tracks in 12"-14" of nicely wind-loaded powder. Thence we took Teacup lift back to the top of China Bowl and dropped in to Dragon’s Teeth for lots more untracked powder. Then Orient Express back to the top of China Bowl where two of us split off to check out conditions in Siberia and Inner Mongolia. As expected, lee slopes were wind-loaded with variable powder, and windward slopes were crusty and scoured. On the whole, Inner Mongolia and Siberia Bowls were not in great condition, so we met back up with our group at Orien Express, and made laps through the trees on the east side of China bowl, where we found copious amounts of excellent powder.
Feb 15, 2007 · 01:48 PM
About our editorial policies, I like to say “We’re Huggers, not haters.” But this is just too easy:
Don’t get me wrong: we love Vail—there’s no better resort in the U.S. But Vail, why can’t you bring that experience to your online presence? Of course everyone hates particular websites, and Vail Resorts with their big Flash faced sites is an easy target, but name a resort that has a good site.
Feb 15, 2007 · 11:30 AM
Wow, over at [snow]BrOADER they’re publishing a comprehensive series of reviews from ISPO, detailing all the stuff they saw in Munich.
Feb 14, 2007 · 11:51 AM
As I mentioned last month, one of the companies I met with at SIA was Yakima, and I talked to them mostly about their lineup of cargo carriers. I thought they had some cool new things and we talked about the possibility of Snow Hugger doing some reviews.
So on Wednesday a Yakima Skybox Pro 12 arrived. I expected it to be big, but I did not expect it to be eight feet long and delivered by a semi. Let’s just say that I would forgive the neighbors for wondering why I was taking delivery of a coffin.
Feb 13, 2007 · 03:20 PM
Tien Mao from Gothamist posts a nice little Flickr photoset documenting the Union Square Street Sessions in downtown Manhattan.
Snowboarders in the City? Why, that’s almost as cool as a German Rail Battle.
Feb 13, 2007 · 11:09 AM
Photo taken at Jumbo Pass, BC, January 28, 2007 by dinlaroche.
Feb 12, 2007 · 09:15 AM
After nearly a month off the slopes, on Sunday I returned to ski Arapahoe Basin. Summit and Eagle Counties have not had any significant snowfall in about a month, and it shows. At this time last year, we had the brown snow, but this year, it’s just brown. And that, combined with a busy travel schedule, is why I haven’t skied in a month—I believe in skiing for enjoyment and inspiration, and dodging rocks isn’t either of those. But Sunday, we decided to give it a try, so we packed up our carving skis and hit The Legend.
I have a certain ambivalence about A-Basin. In many ways, it is a laid-back, unpretentious resort with friendly mountain staff; Pallavicini is one of the most challenging “trails” anywhere; there are rarely significant lift lines; and a day of hiking the East Wall will kick your ass.
Feb 08, 2007 · 11:33 PM
Taken February 5, 2007, Niseko back country, Japan by altus
Feb 08, 2007 · 07:48 PM
There’s no particular news value here, it just tickles me to post a story from my hometown newspaper—especially one evidently written for shut-ins.
“Telemark is a term used for skiing using the telemark turn, which is a technique first popularized by Sondre Norheim, a famous Norwegian skier, and is also known as ‘free heel skiing.’
“Unlike alpine skiing equipment, the skis used for telemarking have a binding that connects the boot only at the toes — like in cross-country skiing. Telemark turns are led with the heel flat on the outside ski, while the inside ski is pulled under the body with a bent knee and lifted heel.”
Feb 08, 2007 · 04:20 PM
Both Vail Daily and the Denver ABC affiliate report that number of people busted for using ski passes fraudulently at Vail resorts has jumped substantially since last year. Sounds like Vail’s PR department is making a preemptive strike against spring breakers.
The number of convictions for pass fraud has increased by a factor of ten over the same period last year and can apparently be attributed to increased efforts by Vail’s ticket scanners who receive a financial incentive for catching cheaters.
It was not so long ago that it was prohibitively expensive for most locals to ski regularly. It’s only in the past ten years or so that the cost has come down with the introduction of inexpensive deals like the Vail five-mountain pass and the Rocky Mountain Super Pass. These passes are amazing deals when you consider how costly it is to run a ski resort, but they are not profit-rich—the main benefit to resorts is when a pass skier buys a meal, parking, or a pair of goggles on the mountain. They also hope that pass users will turn into proselytizers for their resort.
So when a cheat uses a pass fraudulently, they aren’t merely stealing from a resort, they are reducing the overall financial benefit to that resorts of having inexpensive passes. No matter how large, resorts are providing a valuable service and have a right to be paid for it, but it’s people who buy their passes fair-and-square who ultimately pay for cheaters in higher prices, more stringent limitations, and even discontinuation of these programs.
I say congratulations to Vail for nailing pass cheaters.
Feb 08, 2007 · 12:06 PM
This morning, Lou Dawson has a nice discussion of his prefferred digital camera rig for skiing—the Canon A6XX line. He makes some good arguments in regard to usability (slightly larger = easier to use with gloves) and points out both the highs and lows.
I really like my Casio Exilim EX-Z750. It’s now a couple of years old, but the features packed into this little champ are remarkable:
Feb 07, 2007 · 05:26 PM
Taken January 22, 2006, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia by bexjam
Feb 07, 2007 · 11:13 AM
As warmly as feel about Germany’s smoke-clogged establishments, jostling, impervious mobs, and World’s Second-Loudest Drunks, we had to pass this year on ISPO—the annual International Trade Fair For Sports Equipment and Fashion held in Munich.
Fortunately, over at the Goat, Rocky has been reporting from ISPO and we’ve been enjoying his snarky coverage. It’s almost like being there, only without having to air our our clothes out every night….or filter our words.
For instance, Rocky mentions some of the same thoughts we had about the absurd “no photos” policies of certain manufacturers—and he names names. His penchant for poking fun at ridiculous get-ups rivals our own. And he really knows how to cherry pick the best aspects of German culture.
Photo: Courtesy of Mobil’Homme. Some rights reserved.
Feb 06, 2007 · 12:13 PM
I can put up with a lot in the interest of a good snow day. Getting up at the crack of dawn, carrying my heavy gear from the parking lot to the base, standing in long lift lines, but the one thing I just can’t deal with is being cold. I spent years suffering with cold hands, cold feet, and cold cheeks (of both kind). Then one season, I decided that I didn’t have to suffer for my sport.
The first thing I did was switch from gloves to mitts. It’s just like being naked in a sleeping bag (for warmth, not the other reasons) — your fingers keep each other warm. Mitts also allow all of your fingers to have direct contact with a hand warmer or two. 
Chemical hand warmers cost a fortune at the ski slope, but you can often buy a box of 40 pair for $20-30 at Amazon
Feb 05, 2007 · 12:04 PM
Taken January 30, 2006 at Engelburg, Switzerland by Leahcim
Feb 03, 2007 · 11:01 AM
Yesterday, the Colorado Public Radio show Colorado Matters had a very nice interview with Chris Davenport (available as a podcast) on his successfully climbing and then skiing all 54 fourteeners in Colorado.
We made the summit at 1:30 p.m., five hours after setting out. Our spirits were soaring with the combined influence of such a beautiful day and the fact that we were so close to accomplishing my goal. I felt humbled and proud on that summit, yet kept focused on the task at hand, which was a fairly steep and dangerous ski descent.
Photo from SkiThe14ers.com
Feb 02, 2007 · 02:55 PM
I left my house in Fort Collins at 5AM on Sunday to meet up with an out of town friend who was staying at Breckenridge. Rolling out of bed that early is a drag, but I made it all the way to Breck in just over 2 hours. Clear roads; no traffic; life was good. Coming home, on the other hand, was a huge drag.
