May 2014 archive

Review: Voile Light Rail binding

First Impression The first thing you notice when pulling these bindings out of the box is how slick they look and lightweight yet solid feeling. All the moving parts articulate smoothly and feel nice n’ snug. These bindings get seriously light by reducing the baseplate down to mere bones. Sizing & Adjustments The bindings I …

Keep making backcountry turns

Technique: Stealth glading & construction

  Let’s just call him Joe, for the sake of obscurity. Joseph Robertson if you must know his full name. Friends call him Joe Bob for short. He’s a trouble maker from way back. One time he managed to rally over a 100 snowboarders to the top of some peaklet in the Cascades and the …

Keep making backcountry turns

Sierra spring skiing keeps delivering

  It’s the heart of spring across the American West and the mountains are going off! In Tahoe, just about every activity outdoor enthusiasts pursue are accessible these days. Paddleboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, kite surfing-you name it and people have been getting after it. If you haven’t hung up your boards for the season …

Keep making backcountry turns

Technique: Meanderthal Mind Games

  More than anything, making and taking a low angle skin track is a mind game. The natural tendency is to go steeper, afterall that is the shortest line and the shortest line should be the fastest, right? Indeed it can be, for a short pitch or a single ascent with a small group. However …

Keep making backcountry turns

Tech Talk: What’s a millimeter between 2-pins?

  Let me be up front here, this discussion may be too much minutia about something that only affects a small percentage of AT skiers. Nonetheless, it may provide insight for those who use Dynafit style tech bindings, or those looking to buy in. A number of people have complained, myself included, on the need …

Keep making backcountry turns

BCTalk: Colorado is STILL skiing

Colorado is reaping its just deserts lately. After several years of meager conditions, in spite of man’s meddling, God is sending a thrilling end to a solid season. Even in the parched Sierra, the storms continue to dust the land, but those same storms seem to be saving their full strength for Colorado. Witness a …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Devilish details of Fritschi’s Vipec

  First year products usually need a bit of refinement before they are solid. The devil is in the details they say, and some of those don’t reveal themselves until you add ignorance to the picture; something only a customer can provide. Fritschi Diamir’s new Vipec is no different. By and large it works well, …

Keep making backcountry turns