January 2014 archive

OR Report: BCA wins shoveling competition

  Everybody hates a cocky athlete, but when they win, like Bill Johnson did in Sarajevo, you can’t be denying they might only be sharing their confidence before the event. So it turned out to be when BCA won the “Can You Dig It?” shoveling competition at the All Mountain event at Solitude resort. Results …

Keep making backcountry turns

Prepping for “Can You Dig It?”

Yesterday was setup day. Time to set up the scenario for the EarnYourTurns shoveling competition, to be held at Solitude ski resort at 1pm on January 21st during On Snow Demo day of Outdoor Retailer’s Winter 2014 show. The purpose of the shoveling competition is to draw attention to our collective need to practice this …

Keep making backcountry turns

1st Look: BD’s JetForce® airbag pack

  If you have ever used an airbag pack, even just practiced with one, you realize pretty quickly that you don’t want to actually be using the pack for its safety features. It’s too damn expensive. Even practicing costs you, not only with paying for a new cartridge or refill, but the time it takes …

Keep making backcountry turns

News: Sugar Bowl modifies uphill terms.

Sugar Bowl announced today that the era of the free uphill ski pass is over effective immediately. According to a press release issued Saturday, January 18th, 2014, Sugar Bowl has taken it in the shorts regarding costs associated with uphiller travelers who apparently did not fully comply with terms they agreed to abide by.

Keep making backcountry turns

Take 2: Fischer upgrades Ranger 12

As one might hope, Fischer returns for 13/14 with heat moldable liners for their Vacuum series of boots, which means the Ranger 12 gets a much needed revision to the touring comfort possible. All the other aspects of the Ranger 12 remain: a progressive flex for arcing the fall line, three levels of cuff motion, …

Keep making backcountry turns

Can You Dig It?

  Next week is the beginning of the ski industry’s trade show season. It kicks off with the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, where the backcountry ski industry has been announcing next year’s products for two decades. While the main focus of the week is going to be on gear, this is also …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Mammut’s Pro 35 PAS airbag pack

  As Mammut’s top of the line airbag pack you expect this to be the best they have to offer. Notwithstanding personal disagreements on what features should and should not be in a ski pack, the Pro 35+ is undeniably the pack with the most compelling feature set, and for a real backcountry ski tour, …

Keep making backcountry turns