Backcountry skiing, mostly because of the need to skin uphill to the top of a mountain, is a great cardio workout. But you never see nutritional drink products geared specifically toward backcountry skiers. Image a Gatorade-style commercial of free-heelers ripping up the slopes, then hiking back up for another lap as they sweat neon...
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Skiers like to say, “even when the skiing’s bad, it’s good.” In the case of backcountry skiing in Utah during a low snow year, a little creativity and knowing where to go can yield nice results; such as soft snow weeks after the last major storm. Even if there isn’t a face-shot in sight,...
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Forget about the Sundance Film Festival. Ditch the latte, grab an energy drink, and check out the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival instead. For one week, there will be screenings of ski movies, surf movies, skateboard movies, mountain bike movies, snowboard movies, climbing movies, an avalanche education movie, and even a film about motocross....
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After backcountry skiing in Grizzly Gulch twice in the last week, the difference in snow conditions was stark. The lack of snow, coupled with both sunny and cloudy days, wreaked havoc on the quality of the snowpack. The first day was bluebird with fine, recrystalized powder that was days old. There were a few...
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“Swift. Silent. Deep,” a movie that chronicles the history of the legendary Jackson Hole Air Force, is touted by the filmmakers as “the first true historical documentation of hardcore ski culture in the United States.” After watching the movie on DVD, I decided that statement is as true as the sun rises in the...
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Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has come up with a novel way to get people on the slopes and above the unhealthy air in the Salt Lake Valley. This “Red Air” discount of $20 off tram and chairs lift tickets on any day issued as a red air quality alert in Salt Lake County...
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The search for the perfect backcountry ski shell that breathes on the up but protects from the elements on the down can be a frustrating one. It’s a difficult task to find the balance between breathability and water resistance, so when a soft shell like the Patagonia Ascensionist Jacket comes along that does both...
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For moderate backcountry travelers, skiing the East Couloir of Kessler Peak can be a character building experience. First there is the steep 3,000 foot climb up a massive avalanche path called Argenta that leads to the top of Kessler. Then the couloir awaits. The East Couloir is something one may not ski normally due to avalanche...
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Fifteen states, including Utah, has declared January as “Learn a Snow Sport Month.” As obesity becomes an increasing problem in the United States, the snow sports industry hopes to motivate people to be more active during winter months when getting outside is less appealing. As a result, Utah Governor Gary Herbert officially declared January...
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While skiing at Alta during the New Years weekend, I was surprised to see that Icelantic Skis had set up a demo tent at the Collins base. Always one to try new things, compounded by the fact that I’ve always been curious about the strange shape of Icelantic skis, I didn’t hesitate to trade...
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