Had to get the dead dinosaurs changed on my car today, went and kicked it at a local coffee shop and read the paper while I waited for the spent pterodactyls to be replaced with fresh t-rexes. A lot of people say they don’t read the paper or watch the news because it’s all bad news, but read a string of articles today that I thought were all positive/interesting.
Wind energy’s success creates a power grid challenge – Yeah, obviously there is still a need to strike the balance between wildlife and alternative energy sources, but the fact that transitioning from hydroelectric or coal burning to wind power will certainly have long-term benefits that outweigh the costs. I think it’s amazing that the state of Oregon gets 7% of it’s power from wind already.
US water use down – Again, c’mon, that’s good news! Water use down on despite increased population.
Last one, oil profits down – I’m not one of the ‘we should levy a special tax on oil profits’ people because I don’t think they should be punished for succeeding within the framework that was laid out for them. However, I love the fact that part of their current down quarter is due to real demand for their product.
World-renowned action sports filmmakers Teton Gravity Research is proud to introduce Generations, a short film on the consequences of Climate Change upon winter environments and snow culture. Presented by The North Face in partnership with the non-profit group Protect Our Winters, Generations discusses climate change through the perspectives of those for whom snowy winters have a deeper personal significance. Going beyond charts and numbers, Generations humanizes the debate on climate change by exploring the delicateness of winter and the intrinsic value of snow to people across generations and cultures.
The original idea for Generations was suggested by outdoor manufacturer The North Face in a desire to produce a more potent call-to-action over the climate crisis. Teaming with Protect Our Winters (POW) and action-sports filmmakers Teton Gravity Research, the film poignantly captures cultural and personal reactions from those to whom mountains and snow represent an irreplaceable way of life. Founder of POW and professional athlete Jeremy Jones said of the film, “As a professional snowboarder I felt a real need for the debate on global warming to be humanized. It’s my hope that this film draws awareness and action toward a subject that holds dire consequences for an entire culture and sport.”
Just saw that the BD Avalung packs (and the standalone Avalung) are on sale for 20% off at Moosejaw AND they are offering free shipping as well. Seems like a pretty solid deal if you’re a BC skier or rider in the market for an Avalung or Avalung pack.
BD Outlaw Avalung pack
I’m sure everyone and their mom has seen the first person vid of the Avalung burial, but if not check it out here.
Next up in the ‘Boards I want to ride 09/10 edition’ (1st edition here) is the 2010 Libtech 1986 Snow Mullet. Reasons this board looks like a winner:
1) Taper. Just like the good ol’ days of boarding this board is narrower in the rear and bigger up top, just the way I like ‘em. More surface area in the nose = more float in the nose, while the tail drops like Dr. Dre’s ‘64.
2) BTX. That’s right, it’s got Lib’s Banana rocker with Magne-traction edges.
3) You can’t get a C2BTX board in anything longer than 164. While I’d love the combo of banana AND camber, it’s not available in any sizes, whereas the Snow Mullet is.
4) It just looks like fun, and in the end that’s what snowboarding is all about.
Yeah, I doubt I’d want to ride this board on a day-to-day basis, but for a custom split or the right powder day on chair 6 this looks like the bees knees.
The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center recently launched their new site and it looks like a great redesign to an already valuable resource. The below clickable forecast map is just one of the many offerings they offer the backcountry rider or skier, and it’s worth a bookmark as you’ll want to reference their reports when planning your next trip. Also, if you like what they are doing you should consider supporting them so they can continue providing their services.
Watch the trailers here, and catch the flick tomorrow night at Epic Snowboards (map).
The “How the Northwest Was One” premier tour comes to Portland, OR on Saturday Oct 24th.
Featuring
- Portland’s first showing of this year’s breakout hit “How the Northwest Was One”
- Music from members of the SandPeople
- Pro Skateboarding in Epic’s new Skateramp, bring your skate for mini-contests and prizes
- All Ages
- Free Pyramid Beer for 21+
- Starts at 8pm
Had to post these as I’m a sucker for a good quote. This guy is like the Yogi Berra of the ski world or something.
In a hundred years, all new people.
If I ask anybody who learned to ski after the age of five, they can remember their first day of skiing — what the weather was like, who they went with, what they had for lunch. I believe that’s because that first day on skis was the first day of total freedom in their life.
Streets are straight, houses are square, and our bodies are round. We don’t belong there. We belong outside, doing stuff.
Oh yeah, there’s status in skiing. My house is bigger than yours. How many days did you ski last winter? Thirty-eight. Well, this liar doesn’t have a chance, because the guy who asked him skied thirty-nine. But when you ask them if they ever saw the porcupine eating the bark off the tree on the way down: No.
When you get shit on from a height, you can walk around smelling, or you can go take a shower.
In World War II, Russia lost about ten million, Germany lost five million. We lost fifty-five hundred of the best marines in the world on Iwo Jima. Those guys, they’re the ones who ran out of the trenches, flew the airplanes, fought the wars. That was a two- or three-hundred-thousand-year-old gene pool getting killed. They would have been the grandparents of the world leaders today. And that’s my analysis of why there aren’t any great world leaders today.
One person out of one will die.
The best place in the world to ski is where you’re skiing that day.
Warren Miller (yeah, the annual ski movie Warren Miller) stepped up big recently. Long story short, he was interviewed for the film Refresh (trailer below) by Level 1 Productions. However, Warren Miller Entertainment, Inc. “owns the exclusive right, in perpetuity, in all media, to the name, the personal endorsement, use of voice, and the likeness of Warren Miller, when used with its existing business, and the fruits of its related efforts” stemming from when they bought his company twentysome years ago. So, WME goes after Level 1 for their “irreparably injured and damaged” brand (like really? beyond repair?). Level 1, the little guy, is obviously not poised to outlawyer WME. However, Mr. Miller himself filed a “motion to intervene”, basically asking WME to sue him and not Level 1. Insane.
A more verbose rundown of the events can be seen here and here. Read the 2nd one if you’re going to read either of them.
““I have never made ski films solely for the money,” he stated. “I have always done what I do out of my love for skiing, passion for people, and the freedom that I find while on the mountain.”
Somewhere in the world bombs are going off. In another part of the world children are walking 10 miles to find clean water. Back here in the US a big ski filmmaker is suing a little guy for interviewing a filmmaking legend. Perspective.
UPDATE: Spark R&D has sold out of their Ignitions. SnoCon has the Fuse bindings in stock though, and will give you free shipping.
So was just poking around the interwebs since my view of Hood is currently blocked by clouds, daydreaming about participating in some economic stimulation. Ended up on the Spark R&D website and first thing I see is their Ignition binding is on sale for $255 (was $365 last season!). You’re not going to find ‘em for cheaper, because if you wait til the end of season sales at your local shop they’ll be sold out (I know from experience waiting for the Snocon 50% off last year…), and good luck finding a pair used. I guess with their new, improved and drool worthy Fuse binding coming out they are blowing out the older model. Seriously, Will is cool as nuts, actually gives a F* about innovating their product by listening to the customers using it, and their bindings are the shit. Preface: I’ve never used ‘em, only fondled ‘em, but have witnessed the insanely quick transitions courtesy of bcrider, Tex and the rest of the splitboard.com crew. The fact that you’re getting a stiffer setup (if you can’t feel it just look at your feet next time you’re riding your OEM Voile setup while you’re riding…), dropping around a pound per foot off the weight you’re lugging uphill, as well as sitting about 1/2″ lower on the board is icing on the cake. If you’re even remotely interested in splitboarding and have the funds I’d recommend buying a pair of these while they are on sale…but please don’t buy ‘em all because I want to get a pair once we’re funded and I’m getting paid again!
