Ski Bum Poet

There are some memorable summer sunsets tucked away in my head. I have surely been touched the same way in winter months, but since I moved to Utah in ’98 the June/July sunsets stand out to me. If you’re a fan of day turning to night, then you have it made here.

On Friday, December 30th 2011 we headed up to Timberlakes to change over our Utah mountain cabin rental for some guests bringing in 2012 up there. In that subdivision when you drive up the hill @Lake Pines you’re heading northeast. The entrance is also in a tight canyon, so there is no west view regardless.

As we crested the hill near our house, and pulled into the driveway, I could see there was something special in the sky that night. I was drawn to it. I walked up on the front porch and stood there mesmerized. It did not last long, but I was able to snap a picture with my phone while the colors were peaking.

The photo directly below is from our porch, an unobstructed view of a surreal winter sunset. The other photo is compliments of the Powderhouse Ski Shop via their “LCC Sunsets” Album on their Facebook page…taken from Alta’s Wildcat base in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Looks like it was taken about the same time.

Now it’s safe to say that a memorable winter sunset stands out to me as well Happy New Year 2012!

Here is a good one from Salomon Freeski TV. It’s about five minutes long, featuring some LCC local shredders who have been Alta pass holders since they were very small children. Fluid, natural, powder skiing…worth a watch.

From time to time I have been known to share killer ski deals from ski shops. This is one of those times. With the Thanksgiving weekend underway, outdoor stores from around the web are offering plenty of opps to save. I am not going to put the ads in your face here, but if you want to check out the offers click the banner above.

Updated to include Cyber Monday Ski Deals for 2011.

I did not know Jamie, but I felt compelled to post about him. Our LCC paths crossed here and there but now, based on some of the things I have read over the last few days, I wish I had the opportunity to know him better.

A down to earth guy who valued what was best for his family. Someone who wanted a quiet place with less distractions, less people and more skiing.

The quote above is from the write-up on an interview/farewell with Bomb Snow Magazine I just watched, on his recent new chapter in Montana. Of course the loss of any ski industry icon is devastating, and it seems to be happening way too much lately.

Powder Mag and Brent Benson also put together a great tribute featuring over a decade of photo slides from the Wasatch and beyond. Click the image below to read the story and view the slideshow.

Teton Gravity Research premiered their new film, “One for the Road,” last Saturday in Jackson, WY. Here is the play-by-play. I went to a premier up in Jackson once before, but considering it was almost a decade ago I couldn’t tell you which of their films it was that I saw. That was a lot of brain cells ago for a guy like me. I do remember wild energy in the theater back then, so I can only imagine what it must be like now.

TGR is a true media success story for the ski industry, and I think they have a lot to do with the progression of skiing over that past decade.

Now for the fun stuff… Every year I look forward to seeing some of Sage’s highlights from the previous season (check this or this from Alta–although not from a ski film)…and every year he keeps stepping it up more. Check out the trailer for the new film below, and this piece on one of Sage’s segments. Gulp.

Don’t think it’s available quite yet, but soon you should be able to get this film direct from TGR or from web retailers like evo or backcountry.com.

You may have seen “Lucid” logos on bikes or cars lately around Park City, Utah. Lucid Cycles was started by my friend Kris, and he has been building handmade steel mountain bikes and custom 29ers for a few years now… made to order, made to shred.

I do not own a Lucid, YET. But I will soon enough when the time is right. Yep and as soon as that happens I’ll be fortunate enough to be on custom powder skis and a custom trail bike, both hand built by two long-time friends…and two real craftsmen.

Check out some of these rigs…pics below! If you’re interested in learning more about how to acquire your own Lucid custom steel 29er or other mountain bike check out LucidCycles.com, and tell Kris the Ski Bum Poet sent you.

Black Velvet 29er Single Speed

Barron Von Slayer 29er Single Speed

The Antifreeze Super Snow Bike

Espresso Love Touring 29er

And a quick shout out to Kris! He was the one who introduced me to SS 29ers & the Park City “Wobbly XC” movement a few years ago, so I have to thank him for that. I took some time off from trail riding, what with our childbearing and all. It was certainly a rough go getting lungs and legs up to speed again, especially on a fully rigid one speed 29er (punished myself for almost two seasons on a fully rigid trail bike to get back to feeling every nook, cranny, root and rock; and to finding the path of least resistance).

Looking back not sure what I was thinking straying away from long trail rides, but I can say this much: I’ll never go back to a standard 26″ mountain bike for trail riding again.

Over the course of our cold, rainy and snowy spring I watched the dedicated crew from Progressive Trail Design work on Trailside Bike Park here in Park City. We pretty much see it from our house, and it’s easily seen from route 40 (if heading towards 80 look to the left as you approach exit 2/silver summit).

This morning I took the kiddos to the top of a dead end road that overlooked the park, and took some photos. There are also some killer shots on the PTD blog, so have a look. The two photos below are from the opposite hilltop, and I also threw in Ellie’s #badass Skuut video…from the lowest zone by the pump track.

Kudos to Progressive Trail Design for a job well done and to Snyderville Basin Recreation District for making this happen. We look forward to seeing the additional development phases!

Trailside Bike Park Overlook w/Ellie

Trailside Bike Park Overlook Closeup

I keep saying that one of these years I am going to come out of ski bum retirement, and get back to more LCC powder. Keep in mind 8″ of low density snow at Alta after a dry spell is “dust on crust”. I am talking about plentiful deep or storm ride days……..

At the risk of too much rambling, I should get to the point. My friends Matt and Rick started building skis in the last year (or two?), and I was fortunate enough to get my pair this season. Must admit I was a bit intimidated at first, just by looking at them… but not anymore. I do not know their dimensions, but these things I do know:

• They are big and fat skis.
• They are on a flat rocker profile.
• They render deep powder snow helpless.
• They like to buttttter the terrain.
• They dump speed instantaneously.
• They have an ash wood core.
• They allow me to feel like I’m 12 years old again.

So although I am not getting as many big storm rider days…when I do get them, I am locked and loaded with skis conceptualized, designed and built from friends that collectively have 1000s of days skiing in the Wasatch (and far beyond). Incredible insight and workmanship on these, and the word is out. Just about every time I am @Alta lately someone asks me if they are Garage Skis.

From the comment thread @YouTube… “the definitive version of this song”

The Ballad of Love and Hate, Live at Memorial Hall

…from the documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made is Black Belt Jones, and here is the intro. Hope it lightens your day a bit, as it did for me