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Blog Post: Lindsey Vonn recaps her return to World Cup competition

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:05:00 GMT

Lindsey Vonn recently returned to World Cup competition after a three month recovery period. Lindsey reports regularly from the tour in collaboration with Denver Post ski writer John Meyer. This excerpt was from her most recent dispatch.

It was really hard for me to take three weeks off from the World Cup to come home and train to get my strength back after the intestinal illness that hit me so hard before the season.

I had never missed a series of races like that, never taken a big break from the World Cup. To be away from the tour, missing the adrenaline and competition, seeing other people on the podium and doing well was really hard. I felt like my body let me down.

Martin Hager, my trainer from Red Bull, was with me. We worked out every day, three times a day. It was perfect, not only to get me strong, but also to regroup and be ready mentally when I came back.

I had to rebuild all the fitness I worked so hard to attain in training last summer. I had lost all my strength and endurance. It came back slowly, but I'm at a good place now. I still have to do weight training and things like that, which I've never had to do in-season before, because I'm playing catch-up.

To read Lindsey's full dispatch visit the Denver Post's article.

Blog Post: How Lindsey Vonn does so well

Chris Anthony — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:06:00 GMT

Lindsey Vonn is quickly closing in on becoming one of the most successful female skiers in world cup history. Currently sitting with 49 wins (as of Jan 30, 2012) she trails Swiss Vreni Schneider who is retired with 55 victories and Austrian Annemarie Moeser-Proell also retired with 62 victories. In the United States Vonn is the most successful female skier in US Ski Team’s history. This is in the wake of some huge names such as Tamara McKinney, Picabo Street, Diann Roffe, Gretchen Fraser, Eva Twadorkens, Christian Cooper, Holly Flanders, Hilary Lindh, Debbie Armstrong, Cindy Nelson and so many others that have come before her. In fact, at the moment the women’s US Team is an international powerhouse that includes Julia Mancuso who has also become one of the top three Americans of all time.

I could write pages about each of their careers. But at the moment I would like to just focus on one run in Lindsey Vonn’s career. Her SG win at Beaver Creek in Dec of 2011. Mainly because it was done in my backyard and most likely the women will not get to ever race on that course again. It was a make up race and unlike most courses that have a history to them. For the women this one did not have any. It was new for all of them and Lindsey ended up on top of the podium after Tebowing in front of it. (The form of Tebowing = to kneeling and bowing in prayer – made famous by Broncos quarter back Tim Tebow.)

What really makes this run spectacular is how many times Lindsey loses and than regains the lead. She made significant mistake near the top of the course where she loaded her left ski up so much on a right turn than hits a transition in the slope and it almost top sides her. In short, she is goes up to one ski. The inside one and is unable to get weight to the outside ski and create the proper angles for a hard left turn. She pulls the turn off from her inside ski but its not clean. Plus she loses her line

At the stage in the game and your career you know when you have made a mistake like this. And you know you need to take some chances to make up time. Bode Miller is a master of this. But the hard part to figure out is just when you should take the chances and do you have the ability to pull if off.

View this video of breaking down Lindsey's run>

Further down the course Lindsey is able to ski herself back onto the proper line and than takes a chance by straighten out a part of the course other racers did not. Instantly she not only makes up for the lost time but also is going faster than any of her peers. But this comes at a risk because right when is ahead on the clock again she has to almost throw her skis sideways to stay in the course. Dumping a ton of speed just prior to a flat section of the course. Losing sped prior to the flats is the worse possible place to do so. Since gravity does not play a significant roll on the flats instant acceleration is not possible. She once again falls behind on the clock.

The lower part of this Birds of Prey Super Giant Slalom drops off again. Huge swiping turns on a very steep pitch. As if Lindsey had an internal clock she put the hammer down and skied the bottom part of the course more aggressively, cleaner and more powerful than any one. What becomes so apparent here is her strength combined with good technical skiing.

Lindsey can hold a greater angle on a tighter line than any of her peers. She is just plain strong. She creates the edge angle well before the fall line. Than she starts powering from the top of the turn and the front of her ski so it bends. She can ski on a stiffer ski than her fellow racers so if she does this right she can carry greater energy into and through the arc of the turn. Ultimately skiing a cleaner and tighter line and a greater rate of speed. Even scary is that she can exit the arc and actually be gaining speed from the inertia she built up through the arc. Than she transfers this extra energy towards the next turn an ultimately towards the finish.

Lindsey did this so well in the bottom of the course she made up time from the mistake from higher up in the course and than eventually once again obtains the lead.

A lot can be learned from this run. How mistakes are made and where time can be made up.

--Chris Anthony

Blog Post: Easter Bunny Looking for STYLE!

SnowSquadApplicant — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:54:00 GMT

It's SPRING! And though I'm sad to be closing down the snow season... It's my last chance to throw out one more little challenge to find me hopping through the woods!

If you do, I've got CHOCOLATE! Yes, that little 'Dora the Explorer' back-pack I've got is the PERFECT size for my little easter basket bearing Hershey's chocolate kisses!

I'm on the look-out today for those of you that have the most STYLE on the mountain... guess what that means? Probably no chocolate for the plain jane black on brown outfit that blends in and looks like everyone else on the mountain! BORING... and SOOOO 2000 and LATE!

Even if you don't really care much for the chocolate... I've got a camera just WAITING to take fun and fabulous shots of you and your crew riding in STYLE! And I can't wait to capture it and share it on my page!

Look for me in my pink helmet with my white bunny ears and white bunny tail hopping on my snowboard through-out the mountain... I'll be on the look-out for YOU! Show me whatchya got!

Blog Post: A Weekend At Erickson's Bowl

SnowSquadApplicant — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:26:00 GMT

If you live in the mountains, you know an important part of your ski season is finding powder turns all season. If you experienced the '09/'10 season at Keystone and many surrounding resorts, this is particularly true. Our solution is to hike. Keystone happened to provide challenging and maintained hiking access to numerous bowls. Our favorite happens to be Erickson Bowl. If caught before a sun bake it has the best terrain at Keystone, in my opinion. Whether it is wide-open powder turns, slashing through trees, or getting ambitious with a substantial drop, it's all in Erickson’s. Featured in these photos was a day in February of '11 where we caught a late hike. The snow at Keystone that particular day wasn't great by any means. However, after our first couple of turns in Erickson's it became evident that we were definitely in a different world. Upon learning this exciting information we decided to try and find a cliff line that we had spotted from the Outback the previous week. We skied to the bottom of the cliff, determined that it was a realistic option and hiked back up to the top. The snow was way too deep to pass up an opportunity like this. These photos depict how that session played out. Next time you feel that your lungs are deep and your legs are fresh, don't be discouraged by the hike. You may just encounter some of your best and most unexpected turns of your season.

Blog Post: Parks of seasons past: A 10/11 freestyle breakdown

SnowSquadApplicant — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 06:56:00 GMT

The fall season is on the distant horizon and opening days are tailing in its wake. Park managers only know what lies in store for us in this year's Vail Resorts terrain parks and our best guesses can only draw from the freestyle mastery of seasons past. Here's a breakdown of last year's VR parks for those rats and adventurers wondering about their 11/12 freestyle options:

Keystone: Keystone's huge segmented park was insanely fun and flowy with a constantly changing layout and bizarrely creative features. Sectioned by feature size and full of sick lines, A51 was almost never crowded and the mini park was set aside for smooth, low pressure progression. The Stone will be under new park management this year, so continuity of last year's insanity is not 100% guaranteed, but I've got high hopes.
9.5/10 Stars

Breckenridge: Breck's 2011/12 Park Lane jumps were consistently smooth, poppy, and stacked for just the right amount of speed, and the massive Freeway kickers were just as precise, if not better. A 22 foot pipe maintained from the Gatorade Free Flow tour was, quite simply, perfect. The only drawback to Breck is the crowds; on the lifts, at the top of the park, and above features. Props to the park crew, but not so much to the lift lines.
8/10 Stars

Vail: There's no doubt that Golden Peak's pipes, three upper jump lines, and several other features were well built and maintained, but wide spacing and lack of fellow shredders most days dragged on the overall atmosphere. Bwana, beneath the gondola, had more of the flow we crave, but none of the length. But with last year's record snowfall, no one can really be blamed for tumbleweeds rolling through the park.
8/10 Stars

Arapahoe Basin: Treeline, Abay's upper park, had only three small jumps and four jib lines at the peak of the season, and High Divide was short and small, making Abay easy to forget. But what made up for Abay's lack of options was the creativity and maintenance of the park crew, the lack of heavy crowds, and the fact that hitting both parks called for a long lap with trees, cliffs, and side hits to play on the whole way down. Not to mention the whole open-on-the-fourth-of-July thing.
8.5/10 Stars

Beaver Creek: Starting at the top of Chair 8 Beaver Creek can take you on a 40 minute shred-venture with two parks, tons of hidden tree jibs, and secret pow stashes along the way. During the 10/11 season, Zoom Room included features that were fun for most skill levels, and Rodeo stepped it up with some strange innovations and intimidating hits. The Lumber Yard, formerly bridging the gap between Zoom Room and Rodeo, will be sorely missed, but BC's parks were well built and tons of fun.
9/10 Stars

Excitement for the coming winter is building, fueled by premier season and the startup of college clubs and teams. A snowy release from a summer of sidewalk-rippling heat is exactly what we need. So check your options, check your wallets, and bust out the funds for your sweet pass to snowy release. The season will be here sooner than you think

~Sierra MP

Blog Post: Tales of an Adrenaline Junky: What to do in the Summer months.

SnowSquadApplicant — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:33:00 GMT

Ever since I started snowboarding I have lived for the adrenaline rush that I would get from riding in the terrain park and riding gladed pow lines on the ski slopes. I live for the thrill that I get from spinning onto a rail knowing that if I miss my landing I may get injured and be out for the rest of the season. My second adrenaline source is riding glades on pow days and finding lines ducking in an out and sometimes over trees on my way down.

When winter comes to a close and summer begins there are other great ways to enjoy the mountains while getting the eminent danger thrill that I live for. My first choice in the summer is riding Downhill Mountain Bike.

These bikes usually have 8-9 inches of suspension travel and use hydraulic disk brakes similar to those found on motorcycles. The courses are typically a little wider than a single-track run and are littered with rocks and tree roots of varying sizes. The courses are lined with trees and corners can sometimes be very tight. On some courses riders may reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

Another great sport to get your adrenaline fix is river Kayaking. When the snow melts and the rivers and runoffs start to fill up Kayakers come out. Careening down narrow gorges between rocks with as much as 5000 cubic feet per second of water rushing around you. Kayakers definitely see some thrills during the summer runoff.

The last sport on the summer adrenaline fix list is Longboarding. When the roads are freed from snow and gravel Longboarders hit the hills. There is something about flying down the hill at 30 miles per hour doing hand dragging power slides around corners to give you that nice rush during the summer months.

With any of the sports that I have listed here injuries are common and sometimes fatal. If you are interested in starting to participate in any of these activities do some research first and find someone that has been in the sport for a while to take you out for your first few times.

Blog Post: It's all about rocker!

SnowSquadApplicant — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:14:00 GMT

Call it rocker or early rise, but walk into any ski shop in town and chances are the skis will all have a turned up tip.

What this means for the average skier is more float in powder without reducing performance on hardpack. It's the best of both worlds and it's the hottest tech to hit the ski industry since "shaped skis" hit the market in the 90's.

Rocker is perfect for those powder days where you want a ski narrow enough to rip the hard-pack but still give you the float in the powder. Guess what else? No more doing the "lean-back" to keep those ski tips out of the snow and that means less thigh burn and longer days enjoying the fluffy stuff.

If you're still not sold on the new tech, you owe it to yourself to visit one of the great in-town ski shops like Troy's Ski and Bike to demo some rockered skis for a day. It'll change your ski-life and make your vacation that much more enjoyable.

Blog Post: Anxious to hit the snow? Get ready now!

SnowSquadApplicant — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:42:00 GMT

Two days ago I woke up and swear I saw frost creeping across the window. Yes, it is August and no, I am not lying. Summer is a fleeting season in the mountains and the first signs of winter always make me realize that it's never too early to start getting ready for the ski season.

If you are a semi-disorganized person like myself, preparing for a change in seasons can result in a lot of searching, rummaging and under-the-bed-digging to find that matching glove that you swore you put in the closet last year. Do yourself a favor and start getting all of your winter things out of storage early so you can have a chance to make sure everything is in working order. There is nothing worse than trying to head out the door on the first day of the season only to find your roommates dog ate the foam padding in your goggles, trust me on that one.

First things first, gather up your outerwear and take a big whiff. Smell that? If your gear smells like last season's sweat mixed with musty closet throw everything in the wash. Be sure to wash your outerwear with a mild powdered detergent, liquid detergent can clog the pores in the waterproof-breathable coating and powdered detergents rinse more thoroughly their liquid counter parts. Don't be afraid to put most of your stuff in the washing machine just make sure you are checking all the tags in case there are any extra-special washing instructions, when in doubt you can always check the company's website for further care instructions.

Next, put on your boots for a quick comfort test. Ski and snowboard boots can wear out easily if you are using them more than 30 days in a season and a great way to breathe new life into your boots is through new insoles and liners. Insoles are pretty reasonably priced and after I bought a new pair last year I noticed a huge difference in how my feet felt after a long day of skiing.

Storing your skis or board at the end of every season can get tricky, especially if you live in a small apartment with little closet space. Making sure to store everything in a dry area is crucial and if you do have to apply any wax or P-tex to your base it helps if the ski is slightly warm as it will be harder for wax to stick to a cold ski. Next, check the edges for burrs, those little nicks in the metal along the sides which can easily be removed with a hard diamond stone which you can find at most ski shops for around 20 bucks.

Another advantage to getting your winter gear ready to go in the late summer is that if you do need to replace anything you can usually find some pretty good deals or sales from retailers trying to unload last year's equipment.

So even though ski season is still a few months away, plan ahead and get yourself organized. While you are at it, don't be afraid to walk around the house wearing only your long-underwear and goggles, there's no judgement here.

Blog Post: Reclaiming Native Status

SnowSquadApplicant — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:10:00 GMT

It feels weird to move East. Even if you're born in Colorado, you can still get the pioneer's itch to venture off. For the past three years, I've lived in Seattle as a consolation for ski bumming in Whistler. Seattle is a great place surrounded by natural beauty combined with a thriving urban environment. As much as I enjoyed the surroundings, Colorado was still my home and I always put this place on a pedestal.
Let's compare the two to the recent characteristics set forth:

Clothing
Seattle is one of the more metropolitan cities where Patagonia is commonly referred to as Patagucci. They get four seasons and yes, it rains. I'm still set-up. One thing I am looking forward to is not using my shell almost every day because skiing in the rain won't be a common occurrence. I might even buy a down jacket again... on pro deal, of course. I haven't paid full price for gear since I was in high school.
Advantage: CO My swimming jacket (the ubiquitous NW 20k mm if not 3-ply shell) has seen plenty of days between January rain and late fall salmon fishing.

Transportation
Two bikes: check. One has gears, one doesn't. I will not admit here how old or the condition of my geared steed, but I can say with pride that my single speed is not a fixie (which are useless in Seattle but still a cool kid accessory.) Having said that, I never walked my bike up any hill in Seattle. Actually, not that much has changed about transportation but I'm probably going to drop the bike a few times once the frost settles on the road. Bumper stickers: check. My car fits in a little better up here.
Advantage: WA Regular bike commuting while navigating the Seattle geography is a good base for keeping your leg strength.

Weekends

The stereotype of a pasty, cafe dwelling Seattlite is fairly misplaced. There's an entrenched bike culture, great fresh and saltwater fishing, plus the Cascades and all the opportunities they offer for adventure and exploration. My cure for the winter gloom was skiing. The more it rained, the more it was snowing. That ended driving home this past February after a huge dump. I hit the rain line and it was absolutely pouring.
Advantage: CO This is rain at the base of an area in January. I'll be out there no matter the weather but the Cascades didn't get any spring skiing conditions till June this year. Powder is awesome, just not in April when all you want is one nice spring skiing day.

Food
I'm going to have to give this one to Seattle. It's been a hub of local food before local food became a nationwide ideal. The 100-mile diet isn't much of a sacrifice there. In Seattle, I scoffed at high-class steakhouses who couldn't give me any real source info on their cattle. Here though, sushi will be only for special occasions when I can afford a place that gets their fish on two flights. 'Jet fresh.' I'll have to get used to that again. I am excited to try all of the local farms putting out great quality, organic livestock and you can't beat a Palisade peach right about this time of year.
Advantage: WA Even though the state of Mexican food up there is pretty weak.

Transplanting
The differences aren't too drastic. I always thought that Seattle was much like Denver, just bigger with a lot more water. I might have moved to Portland but it felt a little too similar to Denver in size. Seattle is filled with transplants searching for a life similar to the Colorado settler. Being a Coloradan is definitely more a state-of-mind, not just your physical origins. It's always been a destination since the state was settled so it's no surprise that there isn't a distinct Colorado accent. It's just a combination you've picked up along the way. Colorado cliche, that one shows up on all the "You know you're from Colorado..." lists. I say "y'all" after working in ski rentals through high school but sometimes have a Minnesotan emphasis on my vowels from my mom.
Advantage: Draw I would give it to Colorado but I'm biased.

The J-O-B
When I went to Seattle, I went looking forward to a great job with a successful adventure and commercial photographer who cut his teeth in the ski industry. But it was more of resumé builder and by the time I wanted to leave, I was somewhere between wage slave and urban ski bum. Granted, working in restaurants gave me great opportunities to make a quick buck for adventures (I won't be able to snag flights to Maui for under $300 going out of DIA) but something wasn't right. It might have been when I picked up a paycheck before heading out for a ski trip and the payroll guy said, in February,
"Oh, there's still snow?"
Advantage: CO Snow Squad is a good start!

Collecting Hobbies
I've been able to shake the gear nerd proclivities I picked up as a teenage shop rat, but I feel lit coming back. I need a new bike so I won't get laughed at. I need to pick up bouldering again. I need to knock out a few fourteeners now that I'm here. I wanna start making my own beer.... Uh-oh.
Advantage: CO A little change of scenery is always good for motivation. It looks different here but still the same beautiful state that inspires people to get out and be more than their job title. Or to live their job title to the fullest.

WINNER: COLORADO!
It's not to say that the Seattle-area isn't livable, but I'm feeling happier just from getting more vitamin D. Summer didn't start in Seattle until I left. It's good to be home, now on the level with all of the other adopted natives who realize this place is really hard to beat. If only we had an ocean...

-Ian Kirkpatrick

Blog Post: Felix Coudouy

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:49:00 GMT

11 year old freeskier Felix Coudouy drops in to the superpipe at Vail, and wows the crowd and fellow compititors. Felix never really wanted to get techincal with his run, he want just to have fun and show off his ampitude. I set up with my camera at what would be his first hit. To my surprise Felix boosted so fast and high, that i only have part of Felix in the frame. Felix continued down the pipe as other rider stop in their tracks to watch.

sorry i am doing this in the last 30 minutes of the deadline. i have all the photos on file but would need a little more time getting those.

thank you

mikie

Blog Post: Major Storm System to Bring Serious Snow This Weekend!

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:47:00 GMT

Been looking at the model runs for this weekend and starting to get excited about the first big snow of the year!

Those traveling up from Denver may want to get a head start Thursday night, because Friday the roads will probably be a mess with significant traffic delays leading up to the tunnel.

The average first real snow hits mid October above 9,000 feet. We're on track to see an early start to the ski season given accumulations like this.

I'll be out on the slopes enjoying it after the weekend!

By the way I'm submitting this super fast to meet the deadline!

Blog Post: Summer Travelers Head South

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:37:00 GMT

We started in Cusco, Peru, often referred to as the "adventure capital" of Peru. Most tours leaving to hike the various trails to Machu Picchu start from Cusco and meet their tour guides here. The most common trek is the Inca Trail. Upon hearing that the Inca Trail sometimes feels like a traffic jammed highway, we chose to take the path less traveled. We hiked over 50 miles of mountainous terrain in four days while only encountering one other group during the entire trek. Our group included myself, Dan, Jen, a couple from San Francisco, and a couple from Norway. Every night our chef would cook incredible food, our porters would set up our tents, and our wonderful guide told fantastic stories. In this picture you see the ancient civilization built by the Mayas. Machu Picchu was only recently discovered and since has become a destination for many curious travelers. This is a trip that should be at the top of your list, an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Blog Post: How to Stay Alive on Vail Pass

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:30:00 GMT

As the clouds came rolling in, I started to wonder what was taking them so long. I unclipped from my bindings and began stamping my feet to keep warm. Any minute now, I was sure, my friend would come popping out of the trees, and her husband would show up with the sled to take us both back up for another run. Or maybe back to the car, I thought, eyeing the flakes of snow that had just started to drift down around me. They made me think of ice cream and I suddenly realized how hungry and thirsty I really was. Snacks were all on the sled, though. Too bad. And why wasn't my walkie talkie working? Weird.

Hours later, we still hadn't managed to get the sled started, and my friend's broken ankle had her vomiting from the pain. The engine was flooded from a bad roll her husband had taken messing around in the powder while he waited for us, and we didn't think to bring the first aid kit with the pain killers for just a quick day trip. Our food and water was pretty much all gone, and it was getting dark. The walkie talkie had run out of batteries, and my friend had somehow lost her beacon in the fall that broke her ankle. So much for her career as a ballerina that season. "Hey," joked her husband as he tried to start the sled for what must have been the hundredth time, "at least nobody got buried in an avalanche!" Nobody laughed. The avalanche danger was actually super high that day.

Eventually we abandoned the sled, hitching a ride out with a ranger who just kept shaking his head and muttering to himself about rookies. I was too exhausted and scared to protest that we'd been skiing back here for years without any trouble. Amongst his mumbling, I managed to catch a few words of wisdom that I will always remember to this day:

1) No trip is too short for the first aid kit. Always carry it with you, even at a resort. You never know when you'll find yourself lost and injured in the trees.

2) Beacons are great, but if the batteries aren't charged up they're just extra weight. Same goes for the walkie talkies. Always charge your batteries. And remember the shovel - knowing where your buddy is buried isn't going to help if you can't get to him!

3) Bring more food and water than you think you need. A couple of power bars and another bottle of water isn't going to matter, and it may save your life if you have to spend the night outside.

4) Same goes for extra layers. It can get REALLY COLD. Also, definitely practice building a snow cave before you need to do it for real.

5) Finally, just remember that even if you've done something a million times no problem, that doesn't mean that THIS time is going to be just as easy! Accidents happen to everyone, from the most prepared to the biggest rookies.

Stay safe out there, and happy shredding!

Blog Post: Two things you can do to get a free trip to Vail!

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:22:00 GMT

Vail is incredible in the summertime and now you have a chance to experience it! Basically, Vail.com and a local Vail TV station (TV8) have joined forces to create a contest about Vail in the summertime. All you have to do to win is watch TV8's live morning show, Good Morning Vail from 7a-9a each day on www.livestream.com/tv8vail. Once you see a film about Summertime in the Vail Valley (called Vail Summer Sweepstakes) you can Enter to Win 2 Two Round-Trip Airline Tickets To and From Eagle Airport by:

1. Texting the word Vail to 94932

2. Registering to win at Vail.com

See two simple steps...enjoy the tip and hopefully the trip!

Blog Post: 4th of July at Arapahoe Basin

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:08:00 GMT

Even the kids are loving closing day, spring conditions at A-Basin.

Blog Post: GoPro 3D Hero case review

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:58:00 GMT

Back in April, GoPro announced their new 3D case for their HD Hero cameras. Being the proud camera geek that I am, I just had to get my hands on one of these magical cases. I bought one within the first 2 hours of the case going on sale. Saying I couldn't wait to get it would be an understatement.

I am fortunate in that I worked in the television industry for a few years, so I actually managed to build my own 3D GoPro case with 2 HD Heros at one point, but their case made it much easier to do, and the resulting video is much better as well.

There are several reasons why I would recommend this case:

1.Software - Software is important for 3D video, because you need a way to sync the two video feeds effectively. When GoPro decided they were going to make a 3D case, they didn't cut any corners when it came to software. GoPro acquired a company called CineForm, which is known for quality video editing software, and more importantly, they also acquired the CineForm 444 codec as well, which results in outstanding 3D video.

In addition to the case itself, GoPro 3D case owners also get GoPro CineForm Studio software as part of the package, which includes all the adjustments necessary to render your 3D video with a variety of different viewing options.

2. Ease of use - One of the best things about the 3D case, is the fact it comes with a nifty orange sync cable. In order for the 3D effect to work, the frames in the two video feeds must be synced up just perfectly. The orange sync cable completely eliminates the need to sync the video feeds manually, and takes out all the pain in the process. Even though there are two cameras in the case, there is only 1 shutter button. All you have to do is press the single shutter button, and the sync cable takes care of the rest.

3. Size - The 3D GoPro is the smallest 3D camera currently on the market. In addition to the overall packaging being small, it's size also allows it to get the two lenses closer together which means that the 3D GoPro can create a 3D picture with a subject closer than any other camera.

4. Versatility - Another one of the amazing attributes of the camera is that it uses 2 standard HD Hero cameras to do it's magic, which eliminates the expense of having to upgrade to new cameras. Another benefit to this, is that if you don't need to film something in 3D, you can split up the two cameras into the cases that they came with, and get 2 different camera angles. The 3D GoPro is the only camera on the market that I am aware of that can do this.

5. Durability - The 3D Hero case is made of the same durable materials that helped put GoPro on the map. I haven't had any extreme cases of abuse for my 3D case yet, but I have done all sorts of torture to my standard HD Hero case without issue. I even managed to sheer my camera off a dirt bike while crashing at around 70 mph, which did finally break the case, but the camera inside was just as perfect as the day it came out of the box.

6. Cost - This can be a good thing or a bad thing. The cost is definitely relative. If you don't currently have an HD Hero already, the sticker shock of having to buy 2 new cameras plus a case doesn't sound like fun, but considering the cost of other 3D cameras on the market, this thing is a steal. For those who already have an HD Hero or two, the cost looks really good.

Having used the camera for several months now, I completely love it. The 3D effect is spot on, and the image quality lives up to tough standards that GoPro set with their HD Hero in the first place. I would highly recommend this case and cameras to anyone wanting to take their normal mountain filming and step it up into the world of 3D. A sample of the video can be found here, which leads me to a side point and that is how others can see your 3D videos.

The camera is capable of making 3D video viewable on your computer, as well as the format to burn 3D blu-ray disks for viewing on your TV. In addition, YouTube has a great 3D video viewer as well, which takes all the hard work out of sharing your GoPro 3D video with the internet. You simply upload your video to YouTube in the "side by side" format, then include a 3D tag in the video description, and YouTube does the rest by converting the video to all the different 3D viewing formats available.

- Tommy Newnes

Blog Post: Top 10 runs at Vail Mountain

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:48:00 GMT

Top 10 runs at Vail Mountain: One Snowboarder's Perspective

With 5285 acres and 193 runs to choose from, possibilities are endless. Here are a few noteworthy runs with snowboarding in mind. No catwalks here, just seriously fun pitches.

10. Resolution Trees
You won’t see a lot of Blue Sky runs on my list. Its just a long haul back there on a snowboard. Resolution, however makes it for the trees on the side of the run. Super fun on a pow day.

9. Gandy Dancer />Usually an un-groomed and bumpy run, but once groomed, Gandy Dancer is a rolling run with 30 foot airs possible. Make sure you have a spotter and fire away.

8. Riva Glade
Wedged between Christmas and Riva, Riva Glade is a fun bouncy run in deep pow. Finish with the usually groomed and fast portion of Riva Run and you can’t go wrong.

7. Apres Vous
Located off of the new high-speed chair 5 lies a single fall line slice of heaven. It’s a sketchy, bumpy ride out to it but bliss after. Watch out for the last gully to exit back to the catwalk, and please…after you!

6. Ouzo
Located in Game Creek Bowl, Ouzo is a moderately steep run to tackle late on a powder day. It can sometimes stay nice when other runs are tapped out. Just act like a local and drop on in.

5. Lost Boy
Speaking of Game Creek Bowl, lets discuss Lost Boy. This sometimes overlooked green run is rarely crowded and offers lots of fun jibs on it’s riders left wall. It sits on this list for its proximity to some hikable terrain that I just can’t tell you about. You’ll have to do your own homework on this one.

4. Golden Peak Terrain Park
Get your jib on in Vail’s largest of three parks. From small to large features this park has it all including an 18 foot pipe. Easily viewable from Chair 6 , you can watch the action or go show off to all the riders on the lift. Don’t forget to read all of the Smartstyle information at the top and then go kill it.

3. Cady’s Café
Strange name, cool run. Cady’s is a natural half-pipe at the top and a boardercross like gully at the bottom. This is one of the best places to get creative. Think ally-oops, nose blocks, and double-ups. Expect leg burn and a smile when you spill back into Riva.

2. Lodgepole
How can a groomed blue in the middle of the mountain be so much fun? With a large gap, spin-able ledges, and tree jibs lining the bottom section this is a fast paced fun session. Take the single’s line at Chair 2 for faster laps because Lodgepole has so many ways to hit it. When it comes to groomers, this is my favorite.

1. Favorite Trees
What? Really? I can’t give it all up. Go explore and find out why people make Vail a home. There is more out there than anyone thought possible.

Happy Riding
-Tommie B

Blog Post: Guide to Riding the Beav Like a Local

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:14:00 GMT

Do you ever want to avoid the lift-lines and long traverses at Vail on a powder day, but still get some good riding in? Who doesn't? There's no doubt that Vail can be epic on a powder day, but just down the road at Beaver Creek you can have just as much fun and avoid the crowds. Here's how me and my buddy, a local for 10 years, rode over 50 days at Beaver Creek Last season.

Parking: The absolute best parking lot has to be Arrowhead. It's the only place in all of Vail and Beaver Creek you can park for free instead of paying $25+. You also will not have to take a shuttle because it's only a 300 yard walk to the lift. It's only closed the first and last few weeks of the season when Arrowhead shuts down, but for 90% of the season this small lot tucked away behind the Arrowhead gates gives you quick access to some of the best riding, quickly. During the week it's almost never full, but on the weekends you should get there before 10am.

First run: If you want to get to the good tree lines right away you're going to have to take a groomer first, but it's a good one. It's also the fastest way to get over to Bachelor's Gulch. We call it "The Bridges" because you go over two bridges, and go under two more. It's always groomed perfectly and it's nice to go ripping over and under bridges while looking at nice houses on both sides of you. I always enjoy this as the first run day. To get there, head off the lift to the left (skiers right) and hop on the green called Little Brave, not far down you'll see a hard right over the first bridge onto the blue call Roughlock.

Powder time: Now you're on the Bachelor Gulch lift and you've only been on the slopes for 15-20 minutes. By this time at Vail you'd still be waiting to get on the gondola because your shuttle took for-ev-er... or you'd just be dropping into the back bowls only to take another long green to get to the good stuff. Once at the top of Bachelor's Gulch lift you can find great mellow trees runs to your left and right. These are great runs to start the day and get you warmed up in the trees. All will lead back to the same lift.

Now you have choices: The secret to getting to the main mountain is getting to the bottom of the Strawberry lift. From the top of Bachelor's you can take Intertwine to get you there. Now you have a choice to take Strawberry up and ride trees to the right of the lift as you're going up... Or you can take the short walk over the bridge to the Centennial lift. If you take Centennial up the best options are to comeback down through Stickline which is a nice steep tree run. Although it gets tracked out early because it not a very wide run and it's the main mountain. You also have the option of going straight to the Cinch lift. From the top of Cinch you can head out just to the right of getting off the lift to some of the best tree runs BC has to offer. If you hike about 100 yards you can drop the Football Fields or hike out about a 1/4 mile and find similar runs. Steep open pitch for 10-15 good turns before you hit the trees. This is also the way you hike to the top of the Bald Spot. All of these lead to a really fun creek bed mile long creek bed traverse out.

Hopefully this will get you started on a fun day out at Beaver Creek. Obviously, there's so many other ways to ride the Beav, but this is a great way to get out there quickly and be waist-deep while your buddies are waiting in line at Vail.

Blog Post: No Powder? No Problem! Bring the Kids out.

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:42:00 GMT

Nothing beats the feeling of making new tracks in fresh powder. The sound of the quiet seems to sooth the soul. BUT...those weren't the conditions today. Today was a bit like spring skiing. It was warmer and since we haven't had snow in a few days the hard-packed conditions weren't the therapy I needed.

Sitting at home trying to decide what to do with my stir crazy 3 year old I had a revelation. Take him to the mountain! That's what I did. It was the cure we both needed. Sunny hard packed days are perfect for taking the family out. The kids love "slower" snow and you don't have to worry as much about them.

Jackson and I headed up for our first run. It was magical. From waiting in line chatting about the snow, to helping him up and on the chair he was so excited and I was too. I tucked him under my arm and we headed up the chair. He pointed out things to me that although I had been on this chair dozens of times, I had missed. His genuine awe at nature was a refreshing change from some chairlift conversations I have had.

On the slope it was slow going. He was a bit afraid but I was able to nudge him on until he got the bug. He got his legs under him and his skis under control for a moment. I knew what he was feeling. It is adrenaline and excitement. It’s feeling out of control for a moment and then taming the mountain, for a moment. There was a nervous laugh and then the crash. He rebounded and we took a break for some hot chocolate.

Jackson and I spent the afternoon making memories. He reminded me why I love skiing; why I love being on the mountain. He had fun, and that is why we were there. I don’t think he is going to be a little shredder this season. I just want him to have fun. I want him to associate skiing with quality time with mom, with fun and self-confidence. If I can do that he will love skiing. We will have years of memories stored up that can never be taken away. Not powder, but not bad!

Blog Post: SERIOUSLY, It's Like Nothing on Earth.

SnowSquadApplicant — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:05:00 GMT

Having left behind any doubt that I wouldn't have the time of my life out here in Vail, I have completely embraced everything this mountain can throw at me. Today, I must say, was one of those days that has set in concrete the fact that I love this place. With over 3 feet of snow in the past two days, it was endless powder slashes, non-stop facials, and that grin on everyones faces you get when you know you've done something you won't forget . Steep and Deep has a whole new meaning this week because its always steep, but deep can be totally redefined after this one. If you haven't already made your way back to Blue Sky Basin, the time is now, and as the great Warren Miller says, "no matter where you go there will always be someone who says you should've been here yesterday," so get it while its deep!

One of my favorite apres spots in Vail is the Tap Room at the top of Bridge St in Vail Village.. Its a laid back spot where you can come and grab some beers and a burger, and relive those powder stories with your buds. Nothing beats being out there laying down the tracks when its good, but at a close second is that first cold brew laughing it up with your friends that just shared the same stoke as you.

Tomorrow will bring another day of riding, but its the opportunity we get to experience a place like none other on earth. Vail has it all, the powder, the memories; a little bit of everything for anyone.