Archive for the '12 Random' Category

7 Summits Presentation

Published on May 16, 2012 by a ok.

Check out a compelling story at Black Diamond’s Salt Lake City based retail store Thursday night, May 17th, at 7 p.m. as Johnny Collinson recounts his successful efforts to summit the highest point on each continent. Not just another hardman or hardwoman ‘7 Summits’ presentation, this story will present the journey through the eyes of a kid. See, Johnny started very young, and nabbed the last of the 7 summits by the age of 17. Surely there will be something to be learned about achieving a higher level of determination and focus than average.

As for backstory, the Collinson family has been based out of Snowbird, Utah where Johnny’s dad has been on the Snowbird patrol and helping lead snow safety efforts since the 80’s. When the snow melted, the family headed out in a van to climb on distant peaks. Summer and winter, these folks were in the mountains..

In an age where electronics just might be keeping average kids from experiencing any sort of deep relationship with the outdoors personally – other than through YouTube videos – it’s bound to be a more inspiring story than average.

Admission is free. Shopping at Black Diamond is not.

Located in 11 Perspective, 12 Random and Wasatch 0 Comments Tags: , .

One of the Worst Ski Days of My Life

Published on April 17, 2012 by a ok.

It’s difficult to nail down my exact worst day of skiing. Short of a full burial by avalanche, every other episode probably pales in comparison. I say probably because that’s what I’ve heard from survivors.

Anyway, it had to happen sooner or later.. Perhaps it’s fitting that shortly after my best pow day of the season, I treated myself to one of the worst ski days of my life. After all, the idea fits the theme of this season perfectly: best year ever last season, worst year ever this season. Why wouldn’t my life resemble Mother Nature and her manic ways?

Much of the day, this was as good as it got. Is that an overhanging cornice? Underhanging? Is there a difference between ground and sky? Are you certain?

I’ve had days like this before, but as far as I can remember, this one provided just that little extra tickle to the funny bone, assuring that it wouldn’t be classified as just an ordinary off-kilter day. In my view, days like this are largely about sheer Continue reading ‘One of the Worst Ski Days of My Life’

Located in 03 Adventures, 11 Perspective, 12 Random and Wasatch 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Denied

Published on April 13, 2012 by a ok.

Aiming for something fun and interesting to ski, Swain and I ended up retreating in the face of unstable snow – widespread cracking on a large slope – and simply skied low angle powder in the vicinity of both Red Baldy and Patsy Marley. I think we spent more time pushing our way out through deep snow than actually making turns. Did I mention that the warm snow stuck to our skins mercilessly on the up, despite the addition of skin wax? Right around 9,000 feet, there was a  noticeable change in the snow consistency, switching from a heavy, cream cheese consistency to light Utah finery. Didn’t matter, both types stuck to our skins. It was a thrill a minute.

Jon gets more skin wax happening.

Fortunately, we received compensation both for being denied, as well as having to push our way downhill. On our final run to the car, we were both treated to full-on face slushies as Continue reading ‘Denied’

Located in 12 Random and Wasatch 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Encore

Published on April 10, 2012 by a ok.

How does that saying go – You can take the racer out of the race, but you can’t take the race out of the racer? Err, something like that. That in mind, for anyone who hasn’t heard, there is another of the low key, informal, and free rando races coming up this Friday, April 20th. Still at Brighton, however, a slight change as the starting time will be earlier than the Thursday night fiestas; plan to be racing at 5:30 p.m. Friday instead of the usual 7 p.m.

Not sure if it’s purely racing (with this crowd, it might be silly to expect otherwise) or a group ski, but the plan appears to also include a BBQ, so bring some edibles and something to sit on afterwards if that’s your style.

If you’ve been sitting in the wings all season long, wishing that the races were on a different night than Thursday so you could attend, now is your chance. Come on up to Brighton for what may be the last Wasatch rando race of the season. Yes, the last race already happened a while ago; but please refer to the first sentence of this post…

 

Located in 12 Random, Going Light(er) Fast(er) Far(ther) and Wasatch 0 Comments Tags: , .

Update on Dynafit Radical Series Climbing Post Breakages

Published on March 14, 2012 by a ok.

As some of you have already heard – but hopefully not experienced – the Dynafit Radical Series bindings can suffer a climbing post breakage, in which nearly the entire top of the binding plate shears off. As noted in the link, once the pieces are found, one can be skiing on their merry way. Skinning for the  remainder of that day, however, will be tough as the only position then available is the ‘flat on the ski’ heel riser setting.

Dynafit has looked into the issue and come up with ‘hydrogen embrittlement’ as the cause behind this occurrence. For those of you who might be wondering, hydrogen embrittlement is not a fancy way of saying, ‘metal too thin!’ Rather, it’s a manufacturing issue. For more details, I’ll turn it over to Jim Lamancusa, Director of Sales and Marketing at Dynafit:

Dynafit has seen a recent increase Continue reading ‘Update on Dynafit Radical Series Climbing Post Breakages’

Located in 12 Random, 13 Gear Testing and Industry News 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Dynafit TLT Speed Radical Failure

Published on February 20, 2012 by a ok.

Dynafit has offered the TLT Speed Radical binding design for 2011/2012. By now, many of you have seen – and some even bought – these tech binders. Rather than solely spinning the heel piece to achieve different heel lifts (or locked in, ski mode) as past generations of Dynafit bindings required, the Radical design offers a speedier, easier riser height adjustment.

Two risers mesh together and await the user employing their services. One riser position – attained by flipping one lever – for more moderate skin tracks, and a maximum height selection – attained by flipping the second riser into place – for even steeper skin tracks. Voila, all was radically designed.

The news has been out for several months about the TLT Radical series requiring a technical upgrade. The reason for the upgrade is that a weak pin sometimes breaks on some users in the field. Dynafit calls this a non-critical upgrade, and it sounds like it’s probably not a huge deal.

A bigger deal involves the Radical binding failure I witnessed today. The upper plate on the Dynafit TLT Speed Radical’s heel piece is presently made of plastic. The two risers are attached to this plastic plate. Put too much stomp into your step while the risers are employed, and you’re looking at what my ski partner experienced today: risers that completely break off and fall into the snow. Ouch. After he noticed the issue and I sifted through some snow, I found the pieces. The plastic had Continue reading ‘Dynafit TLT Speed Radical Failure’

Located in 04 Gear I Use, 11 Perspective and 12 Random 9 Comments Tags: , , , , .