Showing posts with label Snowboarding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snowboarding. Show all posts

Video: How to Ski Powder

After providing a series of excellent short videos on how to care for our outdoor gear, REI returns with a new clip that offers tips on skiing soft powder. You would think that this wouldn't necessarily be all that tough, but the change in conditions can be hard to shift to if you don't have much experience in fresh snow. This video will offer some suggestions on how to handle the change. It doesn't offer much advice on where to find said powder this year, as it has been in short supply in some areas.

Video: The Last Hill (Until the Next One)

This fantastic short documentary comes our way courtesy of the folks at Patagonia, and it follows a team of skiers and snowboarders who set out from Reno, Nevada on bicycles. Carrying their skies and other gear with them, they set out for Mt. Whitney, exploring some epic backcountry along the way. The only problem is, they are definitely better skiers and snowboarders than they are cyclists.

The Opening and Closing Dates of Every Major Ski Resort in the World

If you're a skier looking to hit the slopes this winter, I've come across a great resource you may want to add to your bookmarks. A website called SnowPak has published a comprehensive list of the world's major ski resorts from around the globe that indicates both their opening day, and their estimated closing date as well.

The list is in alphabetical order starting with Alpe d'Huez in France and running all the way through Zermatt, Switzerland. It also not only indicates the opening and closing dates for each of these places for the 2017-2018 season, but shares historical data for the past three seasons as well, giving readers an indication of just how long the ski season has been at each of these places in recent years. For instance, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado is well known for its long ski season, and that is confirmed here. Last year it ran from October 21 through June 11, and it is expected to be even longer this season.

For those planning on traveling throughout the ski season, this recourse can definitely come in handy. In addition to listing the opening and closing dates, each entry on this very extensive list also links to SnowPak's resource page for that resort, which lists sats on the mountain, number of list, a breakdown of the terrain, total number of runs, and so on. And if you need help getting lift tickets for any of these places, SnowPak can help with that too.

To find out more and checkout the opening and closing dates for your favorite hill, click here.

Outside Presents the 2018 Winter Gear Buyer's Guide

Looking for some new gear to see you through the coming winter? If so, then you're in luck, as Outside magazine has just released its 2018 Winter Buyer's Guide online, giving us plenty of insight into the best new equipment to keep us warm and safe in the cold months ahead.

The guide itself is broken up into individual sections that cover layers, ski and snowboards, fitness, and essentials, which covers things like packs, helmets, and other snow-sport specific gear. Each of those sections is further broken down into subcategories, with things like the best jackets and the best base and midlayers found under the layers heading, while the best running shoes and cold weather workout gear is found under fitness.

All told, there are literally dozens of gear items to sift through on the list, including suggestions for the perfect skis, snowboards, and snowshoes, as well as goggles, helmets, and camera equipment too. You'll find the best choices for gloves, the top picks for winter camping gear, and even the best winter fat bikes. In other words, everything you need to survive and thrive in winter weather.

If you're in need of some gear for your cold weather adventures, check out the Outside 2018 Winter Buyer's Guide now.

National Geographic Offers the Best Backcountry Ski Huts in the U.S.

Now that the holidays have come and gone, a new year has started, and winter is in full swing it is definitely time to start thinking about retiring to our favorite outdoor adventures. And to help out with that endeavor, National Geographic is offering a list of the best backcountry ski huts in America. These are places you can stay while out exploring untouched powder along remote trails that are far from the crowded slopes that most people visit. And just because you're in a remote place, that doesn't mean you can't have a cosy place to relax at the end of the day.

In all, ten huts make the list, ranging from places like Baxter State Park in Maine to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska, with plenty of amazing places in between. Most of the huts are found in the western states, with Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho well represented.

Each entry onto the list offers some insights as to why that particular lodge stands out from the crowd. Those descriptions give skiers an idea of what to expect in terms of the hut itself, but also the trails they'll get to ski while visiting. You'll also learn how to get to these places, some of which aren't exactly just off the parking lot. But of course, that's part of the fun, isn't it? This is backcountry skiing after all.

If you're looking for some amazing places to find fresh powder his winter – and by most accounts there is plenty of it to be had – than this list will give you some ideas of where to go and where to stay. The huts are all impressive places to seek refuge after a hard day of touring, but after a good night's sleep you'll be ready for more in the morning. And since it is only January, there is still plenty of time to plan a winter escape. Perhaps one of these lodges is just what you've been looking for.

Read the full story here.

Nat Geo Adventure Gives Us 39 Destinations for a Great Long Weekend

Looking for a few suggestions on where to get a nice long weekend adventure? If so, you're in luck, as National Geographic has compiled just such a list. But this one is quite extensive, offering 39 different places in the U.S. to make a quick getaway, but still enjoy a surprisingly great outdoor adventure too.

Now, lest you think this is one of those quick and dirty  lists that is vague in its description of the place, each of the locations is given a solid introduction and shares inside tips from an expert on that particular place. You'll learn where to hike, bike, climb, ski, and paddle, as well as where to eat, drink, and stay too. You'll also learn about the favorite spots for the locals as well, most of which aren't well known to visitors. All in all, the individual posts for each destination are filled with useful info to help you to decide just where you want to go, and what to do when you get there.

So what are some of the places that earn a nod? The list begins with Salida, Colorado, expands to Hood River Oregon and Lake Placid, New York, before spreading out across the U.S. to other places like Ely, Minnesota and Whitefish, Montana. Of course, the list is populated with plenty of destinations you've heard of, but it is also long enough to slip in some new ones that you probably haven't encountered before too. And whether you like to play in the snow, desert, mountains, or on the water, you'll find something here to draw you in.

As 2016 grinds to an end, and the holidays draw ever nearer, most of us probably don't have a lot of free weekends at the moment. But, 2017 is just around the corner and after the New Year comes and goes, I'm sure we'll all be looking for an escape. Check out the full list here and start planning.

Men's Journal Gives Us the 50 Most Adventurous Men

If you're looking for something to read today that is equal parts inspirational and educational, than have a look at Men's Journal's list of the 50 Most Adventurous Men on the planet. You'll find more than a few names that get mentioned here on The Adventure Blog on a regular basis, as well as some that you may not have encountered before.

The list reads like a "who's who" of adventure, with guys like Alex Honnold, Kilian Jornet, and Conrad Anker all making the cut. Others who earn some recognition from MJ include Ueli Steck, Eric Larsen, and Mike Horn, all of which I've written about and covered their expeditions extensively on this very website.

Of course, those well known names are just the tip of the iceberg so to speak, with numerous other interesting, daring, and downright visionary individuals making their way onto the list as well. The article spotlights mountaineers, rock climbers, ocean rowers, explorers, and more. Each of the profiles includes a brief introduction to the person's accomplishments, some insights into their career highlights, and a glimpse of where they may be headed next. All in all, it is a pretty great way to learn about some of the men who are shaping the way we explore the world today.

While 50 individuals is a fairly lengthy list, there are always some who are left off. I'm sure that like me, you'll be able to think of a few individuals that probably deserve to be mentioned with this group such as Simone Moro for instance. There are others as well, but this is still a pretty interesting list and well worth a look for sure.

Now, when is someone going to do a list of the 50 most adventurous women?

Nat Geo Shares 15 Unexpected Places to Go Skiing

Winter is here, and if you're lucky you have plenty of snow to play in. But, if you're one of those winter warriors who is always on the lookout for new places to ski and snowboard than National Geographic has some suggestions you may not have considered in the past. In fact, they've assembled 15 of the most unexpected ski areas that you'll want to put on your radar.

Some of the suggestions include Malam Jabba in Pakistan, which is the only ski resort in a country that is filled with impressive mountains, and Masikryong, North Korea, which falls behind the veil of secrecy and propaganda that permeates that nation. And if neither of those are unusual enough destinations for you, give Riksgränsen, Sweden a shot. It is home to the northern-most ski area in the world, a full 200 km (125 miles) above the Arctic Circle.

Whether you enjoy skiing remote backcountry or unique resorts, this list has something for everyone. Ranging from Lebanon to Afghanistan, to Alabama, you'll find a ski area to fit your needs, including some in the most unexpected places.

Check out the full list here.

Video: Adventure Highlights From 2015

Now that 2015 is squarely behind us, we can look back at the year that has passed an think about some of the amazing adventures that took place over the course of those 12 months. There were some amazing expeditions, challenges, and accomplishments for sure. In this video, Redbull reviews their own very adventurous year with some great clips of climbing, BASE jumping, mountain biking, and so much more. It is a good video retrospective of some of our favorite activities. Here's to another adventurous year in 2016!

Video: Snowboarder Xavier De Le Rue Paramotors into the Alaskan Wilderness

Extreme mountain snowboarder Xavier De Le Rue is well known for going to great lengths to reach some of the most remote areas of the world. In this video, he shows that spirit once again as he and his team use paramotors to fly into the Alaskan wilderness to reach places that no one has ever snowboarded before. This is certainly a unique way to travel, and very different from taking a helicopter into the backcountry, which is the way many of these videos are shot. In the clip below, you'll fly along with Xavier and his crew through some beautiful landscapes before they drop off and snowboard down some incredibly steep slopes. It is an impressive display all around.

Video: Trailer for Teton Gravity Research's Paradise Waits

Do the dog days of summer have you yearning for a bit of cooler weather? Are you counting the days until the first snowfall? Than Teton Gravity Research is here to help. They've just released the trailer for their latest full-length ski and snowboard film entitled Paradise Waits, which is scheduled for release this fall. It follows a team of tops winter athletes for an entire season, giving viewers a look behind the scenes as these skier and snowboarders travel the globe looking for the best powder. As usual with TGR, this looks like it will be fantastic.

Video: Snowboarding With Handheld Jet Engines

A snowboard + handheld jet engines = pure craziness. It also equals a fairly entertaining video to start the week.

Snowboarding with Jet Engines - Jamie Barrow from Jamie Barrow on Vimeo.

Video: Hilarious Spoof On Adventure Films

This video came my way last night via Facebook (Thanks Kate!) and is a day late for April Fool's Day, but it is worth it none the less. I'm not going to give too much away, other than that it is a great spoof of the adventure films that we all know and love so much. Enjoy!

Video: Snowboarding On The Streets Of New York

Last week we had a video of paddlers in the U.K. kayaking through the streets after a flood, and today we have snowboarders on the streets of New York following a blizzard. The two videos have a bit in common, as the paddlers and snowboarder were both pulled along by a vehicle. This looks like a lot of fun, and a great way to make lemonade out of lemons.

Thanks to Nat Geo Adventure for sharing this.

Video: Backcountry Snowboarding With Jeremy Jones

The adventure in snowboarding and skiing these days is found in the backcountry. That's exactly what compels pro-boarder Jeremy Jones to head to the mountains to find new places to ply his craft. In the video below, Jeremy talks about what drives him to visit these remote places and what has enabled him to do so in recent years. But it will be the stunning visuals that will stick with you. Jeremy runs some seriously steep vertical and carves narrow runs in the backcountry. Pretty amazing stuff and a long way from the groomed slopes most of us stick to.

Video: Journey To Bear Island

There aren't many expeditions that you can go on that allow you to ski, snowboard, climb and surf, but that is exactly what the Wegge brothers got when they visited remote Bear Island off the Svalbard coast. The video below is a teaser for an upcoming film of their adventure, which judging from these two minutes of footage looks like it was filled will all kinds of interesting activities.

Thanks to my friends at the Adventure Journal for sharing this one.

BEAR ISLAND TEASER from weggebros on Vimeo.

Video: Shredding Backcountry Powder With Eric Jackson

Yesterday's wonderful snowboarding video was so well received that I thought another one was in order. Today we have pro snowboarder Eric Jackson shredding some steep lines in the backcountry in one of those scenes that is great to look at but I wouldn't want to try it myself. I'll leave these antics to the experts while I work on mastering the bunny-hill. If this doesn't get you stoked for winter, I don't know what will.

ERIC JACKSON - FULL PART from Friday on Vimeo.

Video: Let Me Take You To The Mountain

With winter just around the corner I know many of you are looking forward to breaking out the ski and snowboards so you can hit the slopes. To get you ready, checkout this beautifully shot video that features pro snowboarders Travis Rice, Chris Davenport, John Jackson and Lynsey Dyer as they head out into the backcountry in search of the perfect line. Honestly, snowboarding videos don't get much better than this.

Outside Magazine Announces 2014 Winter Gear of the Year

Looking for some suggestions for gift ideas for your favorite outdoor enthusiast? Outside magazine has you covered with the latest edition of their Gear of the Year list. This time out, it's the best gear for Winter 2014 with suggestions on what to buy for the season ahead.

Some of the items that make the list include Eddie Bauer's new Neoteric Polartech shell, skis from both Rossignol and DPS, a snowboard from Burton, running shoes from New Balance and a backpack from Millet, amongst other things.

If you're looking forward to winter and may need some new gear for your snowy endeavors, Outside has you covered. Most of the gear is available now and should represent some of the best new items available as we head into the months ahead.

It is hard to believe that it is snowboarding and ski season already. Where did this year go? Most of the major resorts will be opening in the next few weeks and snow has been plentiful already across the western U.S. It appears that we should be in for an excellent season. That is, unless you just don't like playing in the snow, which means you're probably not looking forward to the arrival of winter at all. But like I always say, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. This list will help remedy that. 

Video: Trailer For Ski Film Elevation

Where I live the temperature today is expected to hit 100ºF/38ºC. It's hot and muggy which makes the arrival of the trailer for the new ski film from Powderwhore Productions entitled Elevation all the more welcome. At least it gives us some hope that winter isn't as far off as we think and cooler weather will soon be here. It doesn't hurt that his film looks to add adventure back into skiing with some backcountry excursions that should be amazing. The Trailer below gives you a hint of what to expect. The full film will be available on DVD October 1 with digital download coming soon.