As some of us are getting early season turns, I bet we’re all amped for a full-on winter! We now move into our fourth winter season with avalanche education in the United States split into 2 tracks: recreational and professional. Here are my thoughts on this change and the current course structure. Make a Plan Like having a plan to …
If you read the reviews on the SuperCharger or V8, you know each ski is esteemed in the backcountry community. However, you might not know which ski platform is a better fit for you…
It takes relentless self-discipline to schedule suffering into your day. But if you do, you’ll find that at the other end of that suffering is a whole other life waiting for you. -David Goggins Backcountry ski fitness takes time. There is nothing that any of us can do to create more time. However, we can manage our time differently or …
Climbing, contrasting cultures, and the Creator When I was a little kid I loved to climb trees. Part of me loved the excitement and adrenaline of free soloing junipers and pine trees in my backyard. The other part of me craved the solitude and birdseye hideout. It was a place away from people, from responsibilities; a place to silently observe …
Bells on the door chime as you walk in while the shop dog lifts his head to acknowledge your presence before returning to napping. Aromas of burnt coffee and ski wax fill your nose while a Phish jam season plays through the speakers. Behind the sticker-plaster counter is the friendly face of your local shop employee, likely prematurely weathered due …
This blog started out as “10 Tips to Have an Awesome Trip to Japan.” However, as COVID-19 started to show up in late February here in British Columbia, it did not feel right to share a travel blog as we moved closer to a global pandemic. It has been a crazy year, to say the least. Japan in January 2020 …
Risk: possibility of loss or injury. Tolerance: the act of allowing something. From: Merriam Webster Dictionary As I was descending from the summit of Mount Matier to the saddle of the NW Face for our ski descent, I was awestruck by the beauty of the glowing, rimed snow pillars on the ridge. Distracted for a brief second during the exposed …
Meditation and mountaineering are more connected than you may think. When I am climbing mountains on my splitboard, I’ve realized that my attitude and thoughts influence how far and how fast I can go. I also notice how much better I feel after taking the time to meditate before and/or after a day of peak bagging. Exploring the validity of …
After nine years and several hundred combined expedition days, V-Team Ambassadors Aaron Diamond and Ty Guarino wanted to put together a body of information that was tailored to anyone looking to go on their first ski expedition; specifically, Alaska-style basecamp expeditions that maximize fun and minimize discomfort. Most of this information is universal for a ski expedition, but a few …
Before we dive into this Beginner’s Guide to Skimo Racing, let’s revisit my first-ever randonée race. I’ll never forget the experience: I was on a loaner ski setup that weighed 22 pounds. The boots barely walked and the skis were heavy powder skis, complete with frame bindings. It was a lap-style sprint race where participants try to get as many …
