Archive | January, 2015

La Graving

La Graving

Somehow, following “Downside Up” with this vid on “La Graving” just seems appropriate . . . i like anything that pokes fun at ski touring and freeride ski culture.

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ski alpinism

Ski Alpinism French Style

The French have always helped to define the edge of ski alpinism (think Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant) and this clip shows modern French skiers still pushing right to the edge. These guys are crazy, but I really like how the choice of music and their smiley, nonchalant attitudes give the footage a light-hearted tone. What they are doing on… Read More

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old world charm

Old World Charm

The community of Val de la Clarée, France looks like a hidden gem of old-world charm and human powered backcountry ski access. One more place to put on the list  . . .

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binding inserts

Binding Freedom Inserts

Binding Inserts There are a couple of solutions available for skiers looking to swap between two sets of bindings on a single pair of skis or use one set of bindings on two pairs of skis, Binding Freedom and Quiver Killers. I recently installed a set of Binding Freedom inserts to accommodate Marker Tours and Dynafit Radicals on a set… Read More

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waterproof snowmobile bag

Waterproof Snowmobile Bag – Giant Loop Torngat Tunnel Bag

Along the Highway 20 corridor in the North Cascades, snowmobiles provide valuable access to backcountry skiing and having a solid set-up to keep your gear dry and attached to your sled is paramount. Giant Loop from Bend, Oregon makes a  great waterproof snowmobile bag that suits backcountry skiers well. A quality gear set-up prevents the miles-long yardsale of gear and helps mitigate some of… Read More

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united we ski

United We Ski – T-Bar Films

New England may not be home to the gnarly steep and deep terrain that inspires today’s ski films, but it is home to the longest running ski culture in North America. United We Ski, a short film about the rise and fall of small New England ski areas by T-Bar Films, came across our desk last winter and proved to… Read More

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dynafit patrol jacket

Dynafit Patrol Jacket – Review

The Dynafit Patrol Jacket is a lightweight, minimalist shell designed for all-weather touring using Gore-Tex Active 3-layer fabric. As a longtime softshell jacket convert, it’s the rare day that I seek the protection of a waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex type shell. So, when the Dynafit Patrol Jacket arrived at the office, I wasn’t convinced of its utility. Nonetheless, it was noticeably light. In fact,… Read More

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