Ski Site Blog

New Ski Designs - How Do You Pick Your New Set of Skis?

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:59:00 -0500

So much is happening and has happened in ski shape and design in the last 5-10 years that many skiers are confused as to what would make a good purchase when investing in new skis. First of all, the wider skis work, and they work really well. Last year I bought a pair of K2 Coombas at 174 length. The first day I skied knee-deep to thigh deep powder at Mammoth Mountain. I could not believe the difference the wider skis made! I skied better than I ever had the first day I skied the wider skis. I had been skiing skis with a 88 centimeter waist. They worked good on firm snow and groomed snow, but were very unpredictable in soft powder and crud. I actually found myself avoiding powder on powder days and here's why. When I would ski powder, most of my turns were fine. But on maybe the 10th or 20th turn, I would break through the crust making my body overroate in the end of the turn. This was so unpredictable when it would happen that I found myself focusing intensely trying to catch these breakthough/ overrotations, and it spoiled the fun of skiing powder and crud. With my K2 Coombas (102 centimeter waist), they float better in the powder which provides less resistance in the turns, and is really helpful on traverses in soft snow and powder because you don't sink in as deep. The other design feature I really like on my new skis is the wide point of the shovel is moved back which makes it ski like a shorter ski, and is much more predictable in my turns. But the newest feature in modern skis is rocker. I have to admit that rocker in a ski does not make sense to me logically. But that does not mean it does not work. I tried my instructors K2 Hardsides last year which are similar to my Coombas with rocker in the tip. The day I skied them was an ugly day, and the lifts shut down just after I tested the skis. I found I did not like them, but honestly it could have easily been the conditions. Now on powder days at Mammoth Mountain most of the locals are out on their rockered powder skis. I can see the advantages of being able to "smear" your turns in powder and crud, but I am looking for skiers with experience skiing rockered skis. What do you like about rockered skis and what do you not like? Most design "breakthroughs" are taken to an extreme at some point where the design change is no longer an asset, and you certainly don't want to get stuck with one of those sets of skis. So I'm looking for some guidance from those of you that have experience with rockered skis. Can you tell me your experiences, what you have learned, what model of skis you prefer and why? I plan to test rockered skis on a powder day at Mammoth Mountain soon. What skis do you suggest for an expert skier, 53 years old, 160 pounds, who skis Mammoth Mountain 80+ days a year? Please give me your advice so I can share it with the visitors to this blog, OK? And I will share what I learn when I demo skis at Mammoth Mountain. Larry Conn has snow skied since 1968, and loves visiting Mammoth Mountain ski area so much he moved to that area in 2005. He offers daily ski reports and safety information on his blog at http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/blog/ Now Larry is reviving Mammoth Ski Club for active adults who want more fun, activities and involvement with snow skiing and other activities at Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes resorts. Get your complimentarty gifts, special report, and be entered in a drawing for a free Mammoth Mountain Season Pass ($1675.00 Value) by visiting http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/

What Type of Tire Chains Work Best When Going Skiing?

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:55:00 -0500

Chains are a necessary part of the ski experience if you do not have 4 wheel drive on your ski vehicle. If you do have 4 wheel drive, you can simply get snow tires, and you will have better traction in slippery conditions. I recommend against the "all weather" tires because they are not true snow tires. Please remember that 4 wheel drive is a traction advantage for acceleration only, NOT BRAKING. A 4 wheel drive vehicle brakes the same as a 2 wheel drive vehicle, so slow down especially when going downhill. So what type of chains work best when they are required? I have a very strong opinion about this and yours may be different. If so, please add your comments and advice below. My personal preference is for chain, not cable devices. Chains are bigger, and heavier, but they break the ice under your tires better than the thin cable "chains". When you need chains, you really want them to dig in, break the ice, and work. Cable and other devices are lower profile and make it possible to drive more quickly than real chains, but you are more likely to lose control because they do not dig into the slippery surface as well. So where are the "curve balls" in getting, fitting, and installing chains? First of all you want to go to your tire chain supplier and be sure you get chains that fit your exisitng tire size. Most people think this is all there is to do to fitting chains, but there is one more step. What you want to do is install your chains while you are still home in your driveway. You will need a way to cut some links in your chains like a bolt cutter. You can borrow one from a friend if you don't already have one. Once you have the chains fitted on your drive wheels tires (front for front wheel drive and back for rear wheel drive), you'll need to cut off the extra links on the INSIDE of the tire. If you have more than one extra link past where the chains connect to the hook, it will hit things and cause problems. Links on the outside of the tire can be managed by clipping a lose end into your chain tensioners, but excess links on the inside need to be cut off. So leave the link the hook attaches to on the inside of the tire and 1 more link for easy fitting when you need them in the snow. This is not something you want to be doing on the side of the road in the snow. So fit your chains and tensioner on in the driveway to get the right fit so you do not experience delays getting to the slopes. That is too frustrating! One more tip on installing chains. Drape them over the top of your drive wheels, tuck the chains under the tire, and then drive over them (getting the chain under your tire)so the chain is still draped over your tire. This is alot easier than trying to fight gravity and pull them up over your tires. I find I can put on 2 chains simultaneously by myself in under 10 minutes. If you don't have a 4 wheel drive, you need to be framiliar with installing and fitting chains so you can get to the fresh powder. Then you can put a 4 wheel drive vehicle on your "wish list". What are your experiences with chains? If you have any insightful or funny stories, please share them with us, OK? Larry Conn has snow skied since 1968, and loves visiting Mammoth Mountain ski area so much he moved to that area in 2005. He offers daily ski reports and safety information on his blog at http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/blog/ Now Larry is reviving Mammoth Ski Club for active adults who want more fun, activities and involvement with snow skiing and other activities at Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes resorts. Get your complimentarty gifts, special report, and be entered in a drawing for a free Mammoth Mountain Season Pass ($1675.00 Value) by visiting http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/

10 Tips, Tricks and Tactics to Avoid the Crowds When You Ski Mammoth Mountain

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:55:00 -0500

This morning is another blissfully wonderful powder day at Mammoth Mountain, my home ski resort. Mammoth Mountain just got more fresh powder over its already generous snow base. Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort now boasts a snow base of 12.5-19 feet. Most Mammoth Mountain skiers know it gets tons of snow, but they are a little in the dark as to how to avoid crowds on the mountain after a big dump. I have for you 10 tips, tricks and tactics I use to avoid waiting in really any lift lines when I ski Mammoth Mountain my 80+ days per year: 1) Ski midweek if possible. Mammoth Mountain Ski resort is visited most on weekends by hoards of Mammoth devotees from Southern California that have regular jobs and work during the week. Wednesday is my favorite day because you can most always ski right into any chair. 2) Get to the mountain early on weekends. The first hour is the best hour on weekends. I like to be standing in line when they open the chairs at 8:20-8:30 am. You can easily ski right into the chair for the first hour before the rest of the Mammoth devotees arrive. 3) Avoid the bottom of the mountain once you get there. Usually the biggest lift lines are at the bottom on chairs 2, 10, 8, 16, and the Village Gondola. Stay on chairs 3 and 5, or 22 and 23 to find smaller lift lines. The gondola is more crowded than chairs 22 and 23, which serve similar terrain. 4) Move around to avoid lift lines. My daughter and I ski most every Sunday together. We are able to move around the mountain and avoid all lift lines even on a Sunday. Learn which sequence of chairs works best for you. With the popularity of the Village Gondola, I stick nearer to the Main Lodge where there are less people these days. 5) Be prepared for wind and snow at all times. Mammoth Mountain has a history of underestimating the wind. If the website says it is calm or a "Slight breeze" that means nothing. Several days ago they said the winds were calm when they later closed the mountain due to wind. Check local wind gauges like the one on chair 1 for the accurate wind speed so you can dress appropriately. Wind chill is for real at Mammoth Mountain's high altitudes. 6) Mammoth creates its own microclimate. Two days ago, I left my home 40 miles from Mammoth, and it was clear and sunny. The sun was out until I turned on the turn off to Mammoth Lakes. There I saw a cloud around the town and mountain. I continued to my favorite parking lot, and when I got out of my car and it was snowing. It snowed all day while I was skiing. And when I drove out of town, it became sunny out by Hwy 395 again. When you ski Mammoth Mountain you need to be prepared for any type of weather because you are likely to experience it. 7) Chairs 25 and 12 are perfect for intermediates, and less crowded than most. Experts will love chairs 22 and 23, which serve the steepest terrain, and rarely have lift lines. 9) Wear a Fleece balaclava, or carry one in your pocket at all times. I can't tell you how many times I thought I did not need face protection, only to do one run and feel like my face was going to freeze. By having a fleece balaclava in my pocket, I can put it on while riding the next chair, and not have to return to my locker or car to have the right gear. 10) Wear a helmet. You can never predict what will happen to you, or when you will need you helmet. It takes only an impact of 11 mph to be fatal when bodies collide with each other or a stationary object. Do you have any tips, tricks and tactics to avoid crowds at Mammoth Mountain or your favorite resort? I invite you to share them here with your comments. OK, I have to go sample the powder. Until next post, I'll See You On the Slopes! Larry Conn has snow skied since 1968, and loves visiting Mammoth Mountain ski area so much he moved to that area in 2005. He offers daily ski reports and safety information on his blog at http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/blog/ Now Larry is reviving Mammoth Ski Club for active adults who want more fun, activities and involvement with snow skiing and other activities at Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes resorts. Get your complimentarty gifts, special report, and be entered in a drawing for a free Mammoth Mountain Season Pass ($1675.00 Value) by visiting http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/

Being warm and fashionable on the slopes without breaking the budget

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 01:30:00 -0500

Let's face it, we all want to be warm, comfortable and stylish on the slopes. Usually this combination comes at a price. If you're like me and need to outfit a family including kids that are always outgrowing clothes from season to season, this can quickly burn a hole in your pocket and leave you with less money in the budget for lift tickets than you'd really like. I've found that bargain stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls offer some great discounts on brand-name gear from Spyder, Columbia, Marmot, North Face and Smith Optics (just to name a few). You've got to time it right (normally late fall is when their winter inventory starts to arrive), and you've got to be prepared to look around. The people in my area generally live fairly comfortably, yet these stores still get picked over pretty quickly, leaving nothing but XS and XXL sizes. Typically if I go to some of the same stores a few towns away, there's often plenty of items to choose from. Using this strategy, I'm able to save between 50 and 60 percent off RRP, and those extra dollars in the family piggy bank sure help to offset the costs of our days spent skiing. While bargains might be hard to come by this late into the season (late enough to see swimwear appearing on the racks as I write this), be sure to mark your calendars for next fall so you can grab some savings before next winter. I've even heard of people pouring through the racks at these stores, finding the best deals, and then re-selling the items on eBay for a nice profit. Bravo for their ingenuity - I wish I had thought of this sooner ! Anything to save (or generate) a little more cash for lift tickets is always a bonus in these hard economic times.

Winter Dew Tour Snowboard Superpipe Finals at Breckenridge

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:13:00 -0500

With the first stop of the Winter Dew Tour halfway over, the men and women competed in the Superpipe finals. Results for the Top 3 are as follows: Women's SNB SP Finals 1. Queralt Castellet 2. Elena Hight 3. Kaitlyn Farrington Men's SNB SP Finals 1. Louie Vito 2. Matt Ladley 3. Greg Bretz The snow storm conditions made the pipe pretty slow, so the tricks were difficult to really throw them down. To add to that, the sound system totally broke down for about 10 minutes, so everyone was scrambling around to get things going. With an odd silence, you don't realize how much the music and announcers add to the event, so be greatful for them. The Toyota Yeti took a run down the halfpipe to keep spectators entertained. And Kevin Pearce made a visit to cheer on and congratulate the riders (he was the one that got the severe brain injury just before the Olympics). Last year's champ, Danny Davis, was also out of the game today due to an injury. Tomorrow brings the Slopestyle Finals, so there's more to come! I'll try to fit another blog in, in between riding all the new powder...

Checking out Loveland Ski Area

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:30:00 -0500

With Loveland being almost always the first ski resort to open, I wanted to check out why it's so popular even though a small area. I found out the three reasons: closest ski area to Denver, cheap lift tickets, and a nice variety of terrain. I happened to go to Loveland on Thanksgiving day, which, surprisingly, wasn't too crowded, but it was awfully cold throughout Colorado. With the wind chill, it was well below 0. So unless you were covered from head to toe (including all those tiny spaces exposed on your face), you weren't protected from the elements and joined the crowds inside the lodge for a few hours. Taking the lift up the south side, we rode the bowls (try Lift 1 to 6 to 2). The views were amazing - you'd never think these open spaces would be so close to Denver. It was pretty awesome. The wide areas are good for beginners, but riding in and out of the trees and through a park area made for more advance skills. If you want to get out the wind, take Lift 1 straight up. If you're looking for more of a challenge, when it's open, head over ridge up top. The terrain is cool, but the people can be a little strange (think old Star Wars bar scene). You've got a little bit of everything at Loveland, including a lot of old school and hippie types. It makes for great people watching in the lodge. Whodathunk there are still people skiing and boarding in jeans? or a leather jacket! The thing is that they really think they're are "IT". So yeah, take it all in as you enjoy the great outdoors! Because Loveland is first resort open, several ski teams come to practice up here. When I was there, the French Ski Team was rolling in. If you need lessons, there's a great program. And best idea yet is that Loveland has a special rental deal that sets you up with everything you need to wear and ride for one price. Great for visitors who didn't plan on riding. Because Loveland is a smaller resort, they don't have lodging right by the mountain. If you choose to want to stay as close as possible, you'd be in a nearby town (check out www.SkiLoveland.com for more info), or if you plan on checking out more ski areas in the vicinity, stay centrally in Summit County. So overall, for the price and location, by all means ride at Loveland! You've got to experience it at least once and soon enough you'll be slapping on their bumper stickers like everyone else! Easy and fast to get to mean more ride time.

The Olympic Games to see a new Sponsor

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:18:00 -0500

Held on February twelfth through the eighteenth, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver brought in over 2,600 athletes from all over the world. There were 86 different events featuring seven different sports, including: " Bobsled " Skeleton " Ice Hockey " Luge " Figure Skating " Speed Skating " Short Track Speed Skating " Curling Featuring summer and winter sports, The Olympic Games are a major international event that draws in millions of viewers. They are held every two years, rotating both summer and winter activities. So respectively, winter games are held every four years, as are summer games. The games are typically sponsored by large selection of wealthy sponsors like Mcdonalds, Visa, Kodak, GE, and so on and so forth. This year, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) has made the decision to become an official Olympic Sponsor. CEO and Chair Andrew Liveris announced on July 16th, 2010 that the company has become a Worldwide Olympic Partner via The Olympic Partners Program (TOP). According to a press release by Bob Plishka of Dow, they will be know as the official "Chemistry Company" of the Olympic Movement. Congruently, they'll be partnering with the IOC or International Olympic Committee and National Olympic Committees around the world all the way through 2020. The International Olympic Committee is composed of a large number of both national and international sporting organizations and federations, media partners, athletes, judges, officials and any other related institution that agrees to follow the rules of the Olympic Charter. They are response for the following duties: 1. Choosing a hosting city 2. General Planning of the games 3. Updating and approving the program at hand 4. Negotiating Sponsors and distribution of rights In a statement to the press: "With our long-standing commitment to global sustainability, innovation, scientific excellence and addressing world challenges, we believe Dow is perfectly matched to the vision of the Olympic Movement, which is about peace, progress and the world coming together to celebrate our common humanity," said Liveris. He goes on to mention that the partnership will only create new opportunities for both organizations and be a great growth catalyst for Dow and some of its newer ventures. President of the IOC, Dr. Jacques Rogge, welcomed Dow with open arms at the same press conference, stating "We are delighted to welcome Dow to the TOP Program...As a Global leader in the chemical industry and an innovator in sustainability, Dow will provide much more than critical financial support to the Olympic Movement. They will also bring industry-leading expertise and innovation to the Games themselves. Dow will be an important partner in making our vision for sustainability and global cooperation a reality."

You can't use your skis to death because they will kill you first

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:35:00 -0500

This spring I learned a difficult lesson: You can't use your skis to death because they will kill you first.I knew this past winter was the last year I was going to get out of my skis because the lamination was splitting in the back and I had more dings and dents in them than a junkyard Chevy, but I thought I could get this one last year out of them and get a new pair next year. So on my last vacation to Breckenridge on my first day out just before lunch I'm skiing down peak 10 flying smooth as silk when oddly my left boot just came out of my binding... I was like..."what the??" Flying forward I'm thinking."oh this is going to be a good one", and slammed down on my right knee with my leg twisting around, and of course that boot DIDN'T release. I was at the base below the chairlift, and I could hear people above me going, uh oh... Lost my goggles, helmet, headband, and gloves. Scrambling to get myself reassembled I knew my knee was really wrenched, but in total optimism , I got my skis back on , got back on the lift and thought, maybe I would feel better if I had some lunch. When I got off the lift I knew something was very wrong because my adrenalin was through the roof, like I could have lifted a fire engine, so I knew something was very wrong, so I skied to a ski patrol fella on a snowmobile and tried to angle my way into a snowmobile ride down to the bottom. To make a long story short, I didn't get a snow mobile ride, I got a ride in a sled to the ER, where I was told I had a tibial plateau fracture and needed surgery. Upset that this was my first day of vacation , I blew the doctor off and actually drove back to my hotel with my broken leg and then had to call an ambulance to go back to the ER, had surgery and spend 3 months on crutches. The doctor called my accident "pre-release" My bindings were old and just released for no good reason. I was in love with my skis , they were Head Monsters, guess they didn't love me back.

Summer in Deer Valley, Utah

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:51:00 -0500

After few months of down time in Park City, Utah and cool weather things are beginning to look a lot like summer. Besides the weather the surest sign that summer is here is when the festivals begin. Today lets focus on Deer Valley, Utah. Deer Valley has turned into a year round resort with hiking, biking, dining, summer adventure camps for the young ones and many other exciting activities within a small drive. The biggest draws to Deer Valley in the summer is its summer concert series. Here is a list of major events through the 4th of July: June 23: Motherlode Canyon Band June 30: Las LaRue July 3: Utah Syumphony - Patriotic Celebration July 4: St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series - OneRepublic Ski Rentals Deer Valley Ski Rentals

Murphy's Law of Winter Gear

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:05:00 -0500

Instead of a healthy retirement portfolio, my husband and I have gear. In the back of our minds, the plan must be we'll die of exhaustion before we can succumb to retirement. We have gear for all seasons, several sports, and varying conditions. But it's the winter sports that really eat up space and finances. Our ski quiver would be truly impressive if it weren't for the fact it really does represents a huge chunk of what should be in retirement accounts. But once past intermediate skiing, you learn quickly that different skis work better in different conditions and are oh-so-much more fun. And isn't fun now much more important the saving money for when we're too old to have Epic Fun? Since we play in three disciplines, cross country, telemark, and alpine, and in widely varying conditions (hard pack, ice, slush, rain, sub-zero and this year Ullr, the Norse God of Skiing, has even wrought upon us heaps and heaps of powder) we "need" and use it all and then some. (Yes, there's still a list of Wants.) In deference to our dwindling retirement accounts, this is the year we decided to put our second home, which is in a ski area, into a vacation rental program. Our cabin has served as our winter gear annex. But we needed to reduce the number of personal effects, so we had to make decisions about what to schlep back to house #1 home and what we could leave. It made sense to to bring home the alpine gear which we can use at nearby resorts and leave the real mountain gear back in the mountains. Makes sense, right? Sense to everyone but Murphy. Murphy's Winter Law has been decreed: You will never have the gear you need, when you need it, or where you need it. We are now looking down the barrel of our second two-foot snowstorm of the season...at our flat land house. And not a snow toy to be had. Deep snow boots? Other house. Gaiters? Other house. Cross country skis? Other house. Snowshoes? Other house. The upside to renting our vacation home is that we ski other places now, but the logistics of that, courtesy of Murphy, seem insurmountable. Since Murphy passed this new law, it never fails that some key equipment is missing. No matter how many times we check the snow reports and forecasts and plan for contingencies, pack and repack, we just can't seem to get it right. My favorite gloves will be stuffed in the pocket of a coat I didn't bring. We'll bring the groomer skis and find beautiful bumps begging for the short skis. My personal favorite is the ice melting off the lift soaking through every layer...on the first two runs of the day. I was spoiled by not having to suffer the discomforts of day-trippers. Yet one thing this Murphy character can never spoil for me is that any day playing in the snow, no matter the conditions, is far better than anything that can be had under a roof. So bring it, Murphy. You can't wipe the smile off my face, especially when it's frozen by snot.

Adrenalin and Endorphins: You Can Have it All Free-Heeling

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:51:00 -0500

Cross country skiing can still be done on the cheap and provides unparalleled enjoyment for millions of folks every year. Most people opt to stay with skinny skis and leather boots. The options are many: You got your ultra-lights, skate skis, race skis, carbon poles, and special gear enough to make you blush and broke. I entered the free-heeled world from alpine skiing. I like my heavy boots, that feeling of being locked and loaded, of carving tight turns and skiing glades. I also love solitude. While I could find plenty of adrenalin downhilling, untouched powder and quiet were hard to find. Skiing regularly with an expert telemark skier, I was convinced it was time to make a break for the backcountry. A confident and very competent skier on alpine equipment, I was eager to strut my stuff on the wimpy slopes at the neighboring Nordic venue. I opted for Karhu 10th Mountain Division backcountry skis over the skinny skis and had some burly Hammerhead binding slapped on. I paid about $200 for some high end Alpina backcountry leather boots. Going up wasn't too bad. I was grooving. The skis and boots were weightless. Granted, they felt a little flimsy. Ok, a LOT flimsy. As we switchbacked up on a green trail, I knew this was a sport for me. So quiet. Beautiful, pristine wilderness and not a lift line or a snowboarder in sight. This is IT. Two sweaty hours later, I slid none too gracefully onto the summit of Bald Knob. I was now ready to cash in on some turns I had earned. "This," I thought, "is where the fun begins." Not so much. Leaning forward in my flimsy boots with a free heel brought about predictable results. Superman I. I gathered myself and my dignity up and adjusted. I leaned back and promptly fell flat on my tail. For the next hour and a half, I weebled and wobbled all the way down. On greens. Groomed greens. No fresh pow for me. I couldn't even stay in a set track. I reverted to snow plowing and prayer. And I kept falling. The real workout for me was in getting up 20 or 30 times. Wait a minute. I ski expert slopes. Bumps. Trees. Steeps. And I can't do this??? Let us bow our heads for a moment of silence in remembrance of my hyper-inflated ego. I made it back physically uninjured, snow covered and exhausted. I struggled to free myself from the tele-bindings. Even that's harder. After several moments of self-pity and self-flagellation, I traded my Aplina boots for some Garmont Excursion, hard plastic boots. And I went out again the next day. The beefier boots gave me a modicum of control and much more importantly, confidence. The next weekend I took my stuff over to the downhill resort and started again. And again and again. I took telemark pointers from my husband. And I fell some more. After a few weeks I managed to ski a two-mile green without falling, linking wobbly telemark turns the entire way down. I wasn't finding adrenalin, but I was punching my tickets for freedom. What I gave up in adrenalin was more than replaced by finding endorphins and satisfaction. This year, we passed on buying season passes at the alpine resort and saved several hundred dollars with season passes as a Nordic ski area which actually offers more vertical than the neighboring downhill venues. This is the year that Ullr, the Norse God of Skiing, has blessed us with epic powder. I am now skiing back country powder clumsily and haltingly, but I'm doing it. And every successful tele turn is as sweet as clover honey. I am now rewarded with both adrenalin and endorphins. I still strap on my alpine gear for some flawless runs at lift-serviced resorts, but there's nothing sweeter than earning a turn. Nothing.

Enjoying the View from Oregon

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:34:00 -0500

(The view from atop Mary's Peak the day after Thanksgiving. The fog was as thick as gravy [pun intended]) "Alis volat propriis"-the motto of Oregon, which translates roughly to "we don't tan in summer, we rust!" Yes, Oregon gets enough rain to justify keeping an ark in the garage. Thats Oregon. And the Beaver State sure loves beards and flannel and of course, beer. Portland has more microbreweries than any city in the world, including any of those found in Germany or Belgium, who are also apparently fond of the stuff. But Oregon is more than IPAs and lumberjacks. Its also got some solid mountains, snow, climbing, surf, world class whitewater and loads of public land (almost half of the total land area in the state is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and BLM). Viva socialism! The outdoor recreation opportunities in the Beer State are endless. The past 72 hours for this author have included 6-10 foot surf (with sea lions for company), a last-minute hike of 4,000 foot high Mary's Peak (highest in the Coastal Range-bigger ones lie just east in the Cascades), and a split lip sustained from mountain biking in one the many nearby forests. Just for good measure, there was also plenty of quality beer (may I suggest Bridgeport's IPA and Ebenezer Winter?). Click below to continue [More]

Ski and Snowboard Expo

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:42:00 -0500

So the Beginning of another season and I can only dream it's gonna be a good winter. The weather so far has been somewhat normal,I wish it was a lot colder and the snow guns were firing away everywhere. With that said lets move on to the subject at hand. The Boston Ski and Snowboard Expo at the baside Expo Center. I will be attending this Saturday Nov. 21st. It runs from Nov 19th to the 22nd. I went last year and grabbed a bunch of discount and free lift passes, not to mention I won a free trip to the berkshires. It is not just for northeast resorts either, there were canadian resorts there, Tahoe region, and Colorado. I brought my 2 and 4 year olds and they had a great time. I cannot say enough good things about the Expo. All I can say is if you are a serious Skier or Rider you needto get there for at least one day. You'll save alot of money in the long run and have a blast while your there. SO if your in the Boston area this weekend and want to see the hottest new gear, grab some killer gear discounts and possibly lots of free stuff, stop in. You won't regret it. See you on the slopes folks Bryan

No Serious Injuries, No Shark Attacks Make Nelscott V a Success

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:38:00 -0500

Thankfully, Oregon's brief moment on the surfing map has ended. The 2009 Nelscott Reef Tow-in Classic has wrapped up after lucking into some solid surf. Known more for cold waters, sideways rain, surly locals, and hungry sharks, Oregon's coast is recognized once a year for its big wave surf. In 1995, Nelscott Pioneer John Forse braved the monstrous surf he had observed breaking a half mile offshore for years. Using a zodiac to reach the lineup, Forse pioneered what is now considered the most consistent break on the Pacific big wave contest circuit. Hosting its 5th annual event in Lincoln City, the Nelscott contest has not missed a year due to lack of surf, protest by organized sasquatches, or the spotted owl. While certainly not the biggest wave on the Tow-in scene, Nelscott Reef is no pushover at 20-30 feet, excluding the 20 foot logs that commonly float in Oregon's lineups and wait patiently to chop a surfer in half. This year was no different. Sets of 30+ foot waves steamrolled into the lineup through what was a foggy morning, a common theme on the Oregon coast. Much of the day remained perfect with no wind, however, a sadly uncommon theme on the Oregon coast. Even the sharks stayed away, most likely looking for less psychotic prey elsewhere. (click for more and video) [More]

The Skiers Itch

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:01:00 -0500

My Utah ski vacation guide turned up a few weeks ago. Right on time. On its tail came the avalanche of gear catalogs. This is my late summer, early fall fix, the seasonal opposite of the lifesaving arrival of gardening catalogs in the dead of winter. I'm done with summer. Done. There's just way too much sweating for so little exhilaration. I say bring on the snow. Epic snow. Shut down the schools, ground flights, stock up on a year's supply of toilet paper and milk, gridlock a city snow. My friends at White Grass have been pumping up theories of an epic winter. I'd be okay with it starting tomorrow. I'm done. Cooked. I find myself lost in thoughts of crisp air stinging my eyes and sinuses, breathing deep, and letting go. In summer (spring and fall, too, really), I plod, peddle, and paddle. By the end of the sweating season, I'm weary of the predictability and repetition. And did I mention the sweating? And the mud? And bugs? I probably play harder in summer than I do in winter. At least it feels that way. I know I come home with more marks. I long for a clean run, pristine snow, and the freedom from gravity and laundry. All summer long I've been hiking up or biking up trails and spending hours cleaning up gear. It's time for some gravity magic and some of the stuff that doesn't stick. In July, we hopped on horseback and rode many of the trails on which we ski both downhill and cross country. We spotted wild turkeys, a black bear, and plenty of blackberries. The wildflowers were lush in the open sections and in other places, the trails seemed impossibly narrow and wet. And steep. The horses thought so, too. As we switchbacked up and back down the mountain, I found myself looking for new lines. As much as I've always felt there's no better way to spend a day than on horseback, the skier's itch seized me. The stack of ski gear that needs repair is now calling my name. My ski mechanic (also known as my husband)has a full complement of skis to tune and wax. And then we'll watch for the Weather Channel, itching and scratching, for signs from above that it's time.