The Dynafit Radical The proliferation of new tech bindings this past season is proof that the system has gained mainstream appeal. Of course, all the new options are sure to put pressure on Dynafit, the originator of the tech-binding concept. The Dynafit Radical binding is arguably the most widely used tech binding on the market. The Speed Radical, Radical ST and… Read More
Here’s a little pure ski inspiration – human-powered, big mountain fun in the Canadian Rockies . . .
2015 has been the year of the tech binding. The G3 ION, the Fritschi Vipec and the Marker Kingpin have all hit the market. Marker is the first big player to offer a significantly new take on the traditional pin-tech style heel attachment. The Marker Kingpin is essentially a hybrid binding featuring a tech toe and an alpine heel connection. The Kingpin’s… Read More
The new film, Search for Freedom, looks pretty interesting. The Search for Freedom is a story told through the eyes of a group of people who helped create a cultural phenomenon. It is about the freedom that is accessible to everyone; the freedom that comes from living in the moment and doing what makes us feel the most alive. An… Read More
G3 ION Ski Crampon I’ve been using the G3 ION tech binding this season in the backcountry and at the ski hill with great results. Given our less-than-stellar winter, I found I was in need of the ski crampon for the ION for a few adventures. Although the ski crampon functions much like any other AT binding crampon, the G3… Read More
Cascade volcano skiing season is going to be a bit shorter than normal this season due to the low Pacific Northwest snowpack this winter, but the access is opening up earlier than normal. Most access roads are snow-free, but a couple primary ones remain gated as of this week. I’d think this should change soon. In the meantime, you can… Read More
Here’s a cool window into the old-school wooden ski building process. Way to keep the tradition alive . . . Making Traditional Wooden Skis from S Ensby on Vimeo.
The Fritschi Vipec 12, having weathered a few initial glitches last season, hit the market in 2015 refined and I’ve spent the past couple months logging hours on the current model in the backcountry and at the ski resort. The bottom line is that Fritschi has set themselves up as a viable player in the tech-binding market and the Vipec offers… Read More
2016 backcountry skis – Ski testing part II In keeping with the first ski testing post’s focus on 2016 backcountry skis with 90-99 mm waists, here are a few thoughts on skis with waist widths in the 90’s. Generally speaking, for West Coast backcountry skiers, a mid-90’s waist on a backcountry ski is considered on the narrow side and remains a quiver… Read More
Here’s a quick time waster for your Tuesday. Volcano Skiing.
Burnie Glacier Chalet Spring is underway in the valleys, but the mountains still harbor a taste of winter and that’s exactly what I got while visiting the Burnie Glacier Chalet outside of Smithers, British Columbia at the end of March. Located in the Howson Range on the east slope of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, Burnie delivered cold snow in the alpine… Read More
In this winter of lackluster storms and roller coaster temps around the West, I have learned one lesson over and over: the mountains always deliver. A mid-March trip to Powder Creek Lodge on the west slope of British Columbia’s Purcell Range was a great example of this lesson. The snow gods had been fickle for almost two full months, and so… Read More
I spent the day testing a pair of handcrafted Paranormal Skis in Smithers, BC up at the local ski hill, Hudson Bay Mountain. James at Paranormal has been designing and building skis for about four years in his self-built workshop. His passion for the design/build process is as impressive as the equipment he has created in his shop. From his ski… Read More
The deepest snowpack in the Northwest this winter is in Washington’s North Cascades. I was lucky enough to catch a few bluebird days ski touring with North Cascade Heli and North Cascades Mountain Guides this month. We found some good snow hiding in the north-facing alpine reaches of the Washington Pass area. NC Heli offers a touring option where they… Read More
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.
