tech

Blog Post: Top technology apps for tracking your season

Devin Reams — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:55:00 GMT

The air is crisp and snow has started falling in the mountains. There's no better time than now to start setting up your digital lifestyle to share and track your upcoming winter season. Here's a recap of the best tech to check out this season.

Instagram for sharing photos

Instagram is great for sharing photos. While most of us have used Facebook or Twitter or Flickr for taking good photos, Instagram arrived on the scene and focused on doing one thing really well: taking a photo and sharing it.

The approach paid off because Instagram has been bought by Facebook, but there is no requirement to have a Facebook account to use it. But, that means sharing photos, viewing them, and showing others what photos you "Like" on Facebook is a seamless experience.

Some features you may not be aware of:

Filters: to make your photos look like you chose specific lenses or film to create an even better-looking shot.
Share to social profiles: with just one tap you can connect to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare or Tumblr to show everyone the photo you just took (some of us have different friends and different audiences on each network).
See what your friends liked: add friends and explore new photos or friends with great shots.
Photo map: visually see all your photos pinned to a map and watch as you build out a travel profile ("it looks like I took a ton of pictures in Vail this season").

Foursquare to remember where you aprés

I've been using Foursquare since early 2007 when it launched and I can look back at all the interesting places I've visited. I can remember where I had brunch when visiting Sausalito, where we went for dinner after the concert at Red Rocks, heck I can even be reminded that the last time I saw a concert at Red Rocks was June 2011.

I've found a lot of value in keeping track of where I've visited and what I've liked. Plus, when I'm in new places or looking for somewhere to go, I can pull up Foursquare on my phone and see where my friends have visited.

I've used Foursquare in Breckenridge a number of times last season to answer questions like:

Where should I go for breakfast? I immediately saw that Blue Moose is popular on foursquare and my friends have visited Daylight Donuts. I tried both and loved both.
What places have happy hour? It's great to stay on the hill an extra hour to grab a quick beer. But, after pulling up foursquare I learned that Breckenridge Brewery has $3 pints during happy hour. I visit the brewery all the time, now.
Where are my friends? I once got up to the mountains late and didn't know where to grab dinner. After a quick look, I found a few had checked in at Eric's, were watching a football game, and I was able to join them.

Learn more and sign up at foursquare.com where you can download both iOS and Android apps.

EpicMix for tracking where you ski and ride

Once of my favorite apps, though, is EpicMix. We all know by now it tracks the expected stats when visited Vail Resorts mountains: which slopes did I ski today, how many days on the mountain this season, etc.

But, there is more to EpicMix than meets the eye:

Broadcast a message to friends: wake up early and send a note to see where your friends want to meet up. Breckenridge or Keystone today?
Check the weather and conditions: can't make a decision on where to go? Watch the live webcams and check the reported totals. Make informed decisions all within the app.
Find your way around: instead of learning how to fold a map, just pull open your app! (OK, that was corny)

Plus, EpicMix does so much more with on-mountain photos and the new EpicMix Racing. Set up your account and connect it to your season pass at EpicMix.com.

Blog Post: Best tools for tracking your summer mountain activity

Devin Reams — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:22:00 GMT

If you're like me, the mountain adventures don't stop once the snow melts. In fact, underneath all the powder and moguls you'll find hiking trails, wildflowers, and mountain biking paths. So, why not get back out and stay active on and near your favorite resorts?

Since EpicMix only tracks winter rides up the chairlift, you may be wondering: what are some of the best ways to keep track of all your summertime activities? I've pulled together some of my favorite tools and others that you might find useful.

GPS-enabled devices like the Garmin Forerunner

These GPS-enabled watches and hand-held units are typically multi-sport tracking devices allowing you to map your runs, hikes, bikes and more. In addition to a visual plot showing where you went, you can track changes in altitude, average pace, fastest miles, and so on. I find Garmin to be the among the consensus as the best all-around tracking devices and the devices include excellent software and online tools for storing your data. Plus, a handful of social networks allow uploading the GPS data (GPX and TCX files) to keep track of your activity and connect with friends.

Alternatives include handheld GPS devices and other sport watches from makers like TomTom.

Pedometers like the Nike Plus FuelBand

This passive tracker allows you to get a measure (in "Fuel") of how much activity you completed in a day. By logging in online or pulling up the data on your smartphone, you can get a good sense of how far and how intense your hike was for the day. Since the pedometers are typically fixed on your body (clip to your waistband or on your wrist) you don't get a full range of activity, so these work best for walking sports. The FuelBand is especially fun since it provides a great way to brag to your friends and see a leaderboard of who was most active this week, similar to EpicMix.

Alternatives include pedometers, the FitBit, and the Jawbone Up.

Social networks like Strava

One of my favorite parts of getting out and staying active is the ability to look back and visualize the things I've done. Maybe its vainity but there's something about seeing a chart of all the miles I've run and all the trails I've hiked. If you're like me then you should find a social network like Strava to store all your runs and rides and see how you stack up against your friends. Sites like these are great eye candy: everything from the charts, to reports, to maps, and more. If a hiker walks in the woods and doesn't post it online... did it really happen?

Alternatives include RunningAHEAD and Nike Plus.

Now that you have the tools to keep track of your summer activities, there's no excuse left: get out there and keep active!

Blog Post: Top tech tips for the trail

Devin Reams — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Skiing has become a gadget-friendly sport. Cameras, iPhones, iPods, Android phones, BlackBerrys, etc. all frequent the pockets of skiers across every resort in the country. Personally, I never leave a room without my smartphone on me, so It's no different on the mountain.

With my smart phone I have the best possible all-in-one device: a camera, music player, mini-computer, and GPS. In addition to a standard camera on the back, the iPhone 4 offers a front-facing camera (many people don't realize this, just click the arrows!) which allows effortless self-shots with friends on the chair. With dozens of apps for everything from snow and road conditions to EpicMix and GPS recording, there's a lot of potential to be unlocked.

Here are the best apps for skiing:

EpicMix
EpicMix is great for touching base with friends throughout the day. I always post the "where is everyone going?" broadcast while driving up in the morning. By the time we're near the tunnel I can make a smart decision about which mountain to go to (or avoid!) when my friends respond.

Plus, I can see which mountain I need to get some extra runs in at, as I'm a sucker for badges. If you're looking for a good approximation of your daily vertical feet ("I need to break 4,000!") this is a great app to check while waiting in lines or at lunch.

With the new photo capabilities of the app as well, EpicMix is becoming an all-in-one device too. For next season, Vail Resorts has announced that on-mountain photographers will scan your pass and take a picture of you that will be posted to your EpicMix account automatically -- all for free. So forget your own camera, EpicMix will be capturing the action anyway.

GPS apps
GPS tracking apps are one of those "how did we ski before this?" technologies. I'm a big fan of tracking numbers and adjusting. All you need to do is download one of the free apps (I use Ski Tracks), turn it on before you head up the first chair, and turn it off as you walk off the mountain. At the end of the day you're presented with fascinating stats including your top downhill speed and actual vertical feet covered for the day. Plus take pictures along the way and it will geotag and place them on a map which can be exported to Google Earth.

But, while you're busily fumbling for your gadgets, be smart. Here are some of my recurring fears:

Gadgets are easy to drop and lose in a quick "poof" of powder under the chair. Be sure to have a good grip on everything.
Gloves and poles succumb to gravity just as well as your electronic toys. Have a friend hold your gear if you're not certain with your juggling abilities.
If you must take a picture from the chair or the slopes, make sure you stay bundled. In extremes, it only takes a few minutes of exposure to catch frostbite. It's much harder to warm your hands back up once they get too cold. If you have a touchscreen, find some conductive liners to carry a charge through your fingers like the ETIP series from The North Face.
It's easy to take a camera out and have someone else accidentally grab it. I pick a specific pocket that I always put my phone in so I can quickly make sure it's still there.

I'm ready to get back out there, take lots of good photos, explore the mountain, and track my stats this season.

-- Devin Reams

Blog Post: Ski film editing tips

Cody Cirillo — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:57:00 GMT

Do you have a computer? Do you have a friend with a computer? Do you have footage and need to make a sweet edit? Does your friend have footage and need to make a sweet edit? Well, look no further, here's some tips that me and my friends use when creating a ski edit that will help you get the groove of it.

1. Song Choice
Although it may not seem big, song choice in a ski edit is extremely crucial. Make sure you pick something that seems to go with your skiing or the overall tone of the edit you would like to create. In most cases, Katy Perry is a good option.

2. Slow Motion
Slow motion can be both great and also very bad. Make sure to not overdo the slow motion or else the viewer will get bored. In most cases, do cuts from normal or fast speed to another part of your clip that you have put into slow motion. This allows for a great dynamic.

3. Edit to the Beat
Edits are nice and aesthetically pleasing when you edit to the beat. Make sure you simply time the in and out point of a clip right to the sounds of the beat. This way, you'll be able to edit just as the professionals do!

4. Extras?
Explosions, Lightsabers, Rainbows, Unicorns, Sharks with lazerbeams? I don't know what you're into, but add some of your own personal flare into the edit to make it extra awesome!

Take these tips into consideration when making your next edit in order to give it something extra. Who knows, maybe with these tips you'll find yourself landing a job editing a professional ski movie!

-- Cody Cirillo

Blog Post: How can I "go pro" with my GoPro?

Cody Cirillo — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:48:00 GMT

One of the new, latest fads in skiing and snowboarding is the Go Pro Camera -- a small, waterproof, high definition camera that allows people to film Point Of View action shots.

As the Go Pro's popularity has increased, many have been using it as a means to film friends as well, rather than a strictly POV camera. As many of you may think, the camera may seem too small to carry and have shaky, unstable shots while following a friend with the camera -- Well, look no more for alternative options, here's a little homemade invention that will allow you to achieve stability and function in getting those shots!

The Go Pro Pole Mount

Materials: Go Pro Sticky Mount (comes standard with go pro), old ski pole that you're willing to cut, saw of some sort (that can cut through metal), a mallet/hammer, a hard surface, safety protection, and a positive attitude!

Procedure:

1. First, you will need to cut the ski pole in half. It is essential to cut it where the pole has a wide enough diameter.

2. Next, you will need to put the cut end of the pole on a hard surface -- such as concrete -- and begin to flatten a small section of the pole, about 3 inches in length, with your hammer/ mallet.

3. Make sure the pole is flat in the 3 inch section on both sides!

4. Peel tape off of the Go Pro Mount, exposing sticky side.

5. Place Go Pro Mount on the flattened end of the pole.

6. Add some tape if you truly feel you need some extra support.

7. Slide your go pro into place and get filming!

Now that you've got a nice little pole to film from, your shots will be the smoothest, most stable, and most creative! Have fun and always remember to be safe when working with saws and hammers!

-- Cody Cirllo

Blog Post: EpicMix ad contest rules

Morgan Bast — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:22:00 GMT

VAIL FILM FESTIVAL EPICMIX^TM AD CONTEST RULES & GUIDELINES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE THE CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. BY ENTERING, ENTRANT AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES, WHICH SHALL BE FINAL IN ALL RESPECTS.

BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST, YOU AGREE THAT THE PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM YOU IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CONTEST MAY BE SHARED WITH BOTH CONTEST SPONSORS; COLORADO FILM INSTITUTE, INC. AND VAIL RESORTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY (COLLECTIVELY "SPONSORS").

1. ELIGIBILITY: Open only to legal residents of any one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. The following individuals are not eligible: Employees, contractors, directors and officers of Colorado Film Institute, Inc. and the Vail Resorts Management Company, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, distributors, Web design, advertising, fulfillment, insurance agencies, judging and Contest agencies involved in the administration, development, fulfillment and execution of this Contest (collectively, "Contest Parties") and the immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and spouse or "step" of each) and those living in the same households (those persons whether related or not who live in the same residence for at least three months during the twelve-month period preceding the start date of the Contest) of each such employee, contractor, director or officer.

2. CONTEST SCHEDULE: You may enter the Contest between 12:01 a.m. Mountain Standard Time ("MST") on February 1, 2011 and 11:59pm March 3rd, 2011 (Extended from Feb. 28th). ("Contest Period").

3. TO ENTER: To enter the Contest, go to http://www.vailfilmfest.com/epicmix-ad-contest/ ("Web Site"), during the Contest Period, and click on the login link for the EPICMIX^TM Ad Contest registration and commercial upload page. BEFORE YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE, YOU MUST EXPRESSLY AGREE AND CONSENT TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICIES OF THE WEB SITE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, PLEASE DO NOT USE THE WEB SITE OR ENTER THE CONTEST. Follow the on-screen instructions to properly complete and submit a registration form for the Contest. You will be asked to upload your original submission (each a "Submission") to the Web Site. Before uploading the Submission, you will be required to agree that you have (a) read or have had these Official Rules read to you and you are in agreement with these Official Rules, and (b) received permission for the use of the image/likeness of any and all identifiable persons appearing in your Submission.

You will be required to submit a release (to be provided by Sponsor) signed by each identifiable person appearing in your Submission granting Sponsor permission to use his or her image/likeness if your Submission is selected as a Finalist in the Contest. Submissions that do not include all required information and adhere to the Official Rules as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion will be considered void. Once uploaded, Submission will not be returned. Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, remove, delete and/or disqualify any Submission and/or Entrant it deems inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant.

CREATIVE ASSIGNMENT for EPICMIX Ad:

The creative assignment for the Contest ("Creative Assignment") is as follows:

* You will be creating a 30 second commercial for EpicMix

* Review the assets for EpicMix at epicmix.com, www.snow.com or www.vailfilmfest.com/epicmix-ad-contest/

* Get together your idea for an EPICMIX^TM commercial. Go for action-packed. Or go for funny. It's up to you.

* Create and submit a 30-second spot featuring EPICMIX^TM.

* Your submission should be in commercial form consistent with these Official Rules.

JUDGING REQUIREMENTS:

Judging Criteria ("Judging Criteria") is as follows:

* Originality and Creativity - 40%

* Adherence to Creative Assignment - 30%

* Overall Appeal - 30%

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

A Video File must be submitted:

Video File must be submitted - the Video file(s) must be exactly 30 seconds in length (all copyrighted material will be removed)
The Video file size should be kept at or under 100 MB for quicker upload/encoding time (max file size is 500MB)
Video Files must be provided in one of the following file formats: .MPEG; .MOV; .AVI; .WMV

For all video submissions shot in 16:9 aspect ratio, they should be center cut protected. Finalists may be asked to provide the original audio and video files used during production of the entry for broadcast purposes. This may include uncompressed QuickTime files, final audio mix and/or separate audio tracks for dialogue, music, and effects. These items are not mandatory to become a Finalist.

Upload time may vary depending on file size, Entrant's service provider, and the volume of entries being submitted at any given time. Entrant is responsible for ensuring that his/her Submission is fully uploaded prior to the conclusion of the Contest Period.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

* Submission must be primarily in English.

* All entries must be received by 11:59pm March 3rd, 2011.

* The person uploading the Submission will be deemed the entrant ("Entrant"). The Entrant is the one (1) person who owns the email address associated with the Contest submission form. If any group elects to collaborate on a Submission, they are required to designate one (1) person as the agent of the group to enter the Contest, agree to these rules and accept the prize on behalf of the group. Neither Sponsors nor any of the Contest Parties are liable for any disputes between collaborators arising under or related to the Contest.

* Each individual Entrant is allowed a total of five (5) Submissions, regardless of their Category designations.

* Limit one (1) Finalist Prize per person, household and/or email address throughout the Contest Period.

* Each Submission must comply with the Web Site Terms of Service, as well as these Official Rules. In the event of any inconsistency between these Official Rules and the Terms of Service, the terms in these Official Rules shall prevail.

* Each Submission must be the original work of the Entrant produced for this Contest; it may not have been entered in or won previous contests or awards; it may not have been published previously in any medium; it must not infringe any party's intellectual property or other rights; it must be suitable for display and publication on national television (e.g., may not be obscene or indecent, including but not limited to nudity or profanity); it must not contain obscene or pornographic material, it must not contain defamatory statements (including but not limited to words or symbols that are widely considered offensive to individuals of a certain race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic group), it must not include threats to any person, place, business, group or world peace, it must not invade privacy or other rights of any person, firm or entity, and it must not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations or network standards.

* Each Submission must not feature or refer to any lift ticket or ski resorts products other than EPICMIX and Vail Resorts' ski resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, including but not limited to third party names, logos or trademarks on street signs, panoramic views, vehicle license plates, clothing such as T-shirts, hats, etc.

* Each Submission must not feature distilled spirits (i.e. hard liquor), tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff), contraceptives, feminine hygiene products, fireworks, firearms and ammunitions, prescription drugs, illegal drugs and related drug paraphernalia, nutritional supplements, lotteries and gambling (including horse or dog racing and products or services related to gambling).

* Each Submission must not utilize live animals unless the Entrant has obtained the consent of the animal's owner and an affidavit from the animal owner or wrangler that the animal was not harmed in the making of the commercial. Entrants are encouraged to contact the local Humane Society prior to filming the Submission to verify appropriate animal safeguards on set.

* Each Submission must not contain any copyrighted works (other than as owned by the Entrant). You may not include any music except for the pre-approved music provided on the Web Site. Approved music provided on the Web may not be altered. Use of any unauthorized music may result in disqualification of Submission, in Sponsors' sole discretion.

* Sponsors reserve the right in its sole discretion to remove or blur or to ask the applicable Entrant to remove or blur any non-material elements (e.g. small logos on clothing, artwork hanging in the background, etc.) rather than disqualify an otherwise compliant Submission.

* If in Sponsors' determination it is necessary or advisable to make minor, non-material adjustments to an otherwise compliant Submission to comply with network or EPICMIX specifications or requirements for airing, Sponsors may, in its sole discretion, elect to do so, or may ask the applicable Entrant to do so. If Sponsors request Entrant to make these adjustments and Entrant chooses not to make these adjustments, Submission is subject to disqualification.

All Submissions will be reviewed for content before being published or judged; however, such review does not relieve Entrant from responsibility for compliance with all of the Terms of Service and these Official Rules. Submissions that do not comply in all material respects with the Terms of Services or these Official Rules or that otherwise contain prohibited, or inappropriate content as determined by the Sponsors, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified and will not be published or considered for prizes. Sponsors make the final determination as to which Submissions are eligible to take part in this Contest and be considered for a Finalist Prize. Certain Submissions may be featured from time to time on the Web Site during the Contest Period, in Sponsors' sole discretion; being selected as a featured Submission is unrelated to the Judging Criteria and does not guarantee selection as a Finalist in the Contest.

Entrants may use Sponsors' names, logos, service marks, trademarks, and other intellectual property ("Sponsor IP") for the sole purpose of creating their Submissions consistent with these rules and guidelines. Entrant understands that they will have limited, revocable, non-transferable license to use the Sponsor IP only for the purposes of creating and submitting their Submission and for no other purpose.

By entering this Contest and uploading your Submission, you irrevocably grant to Sponsors and their agents the unconditional and perpetual right to post, display, publish, use, adapt, edit and/or modify such Submission in any way, in any and all media, for any purpose, without limitation, and without consideration to you. Finalists agree to irrevocably assign and transfer to the Sponsors any and all rights, title and interest in Submission, including, without limitation, all copyrights and waive all moral rights in Submission.

All Contest Entrants further agree to release and indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsors and the Contest Parties from any and all claims that any commercial, advertising, presentation, Web content or any other material subsequently produced, presented, and/or prepared by or on behalf of Sponsors infringe on the rights of Entrant's work as contained in any Submission.

4. SELECTION OF WINNERS: Ten (10) finalist Submissions will be selected by a judging process in which a qualified panel of judges ("Judges") will evaluate each eligible Submission based on the Judging Criteria set forth above. In the event of a tie for the tenth Finalist spot, the tie will be broken based on the highest score in the first Judging Criteria, continuing thereafter to each Judging Criteria in order, as needed to break the tie.

The ten (10) Finalist Submissions, will be posted for the public (ages 13 or older) to vote on their favorite at http://www.youtube.com/vailfilmfestival starting on March 7, 2011 at 12:01 am MST and ending on March 14, 2011 at 11:59 pm MST ("Voting Period"). At the close of the Voting Period, the Submission that receives the most votes will be deemed the Grand Prize Winner ("Grand Prize Winner"). The winner will be notified on March 15, 2011. In the unlikely event that public voting results in a tie, the tied Submissions will be re-judged by the Judges based on the Judging Criteria stated above. Any use of robotic, macro, automatic, programmed or like voting methods will void all such votes. All Finalists are subject to verification, including without limitation, verification of eligibility, compliance with these Official Rules and completion of release forms (described below). If attempted notification is returned as undeliverable, if a Finalist cannot be verified, or if a Finalist is otherwise unable to accept prize, prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to an alternate Finalist provided sufficient time remains, in Sponsors' discretion.

Entrants agree that the Sponsors have the sole right to decide all matters and disputes arising from this Contest and that all decisions of Sponsors are final and binding. The ten (10) Finalists, by acceptance of being a Finalist, agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsors and Contest Parties, as well as each of their respective parent and affiliated companies, and each of their employees, representatives, contractors, and advertisers from any and all liability, loss, damage, cost or claim relating to any allegation regarding the acceptance or use of their prize, including but not limited to the airing of the commercial Submission.

If the actual, alleged or publicized conduct of any Entrant is illegal or, if any Entrant has been charged with or convicted of a crime, or in Sponsors' sole discretion is otherwise grossly offensive or violates generally accepted standards of behavior (including, but not limited to, illicit drug use or public intoxication) or otherwise leads the Sponsors to believe or conclude that the public association with the Entrant subjects Sponsors to ridicule, contempt, controversy, embarrassment or scandal, Sponsors in their sole discretion may disqualify Entrant and their Submission will no longer be eligible for this Contest.

5. PRIZE DETAILS AND VALUE:

TEN (10) Finalists will each receive two (2) All-Access passes to the 2011 Vail Film Festival (March 31 - April 3, 2011). Approximate Retail Value: $9,380.00.

ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE: The Grand Prize Winner will receive a check for $10,000.00 payable to the winner, two 3-day lift tickets, and two All-Access passes to the 2011 VFF. The winning Epic Mix commercial will also be screened during the 2011 VFF before all films in one category, on the VFF homepage, VFF Facebook, and through all of our partner filmmaker websites. Approximate Retail Value: $5,000.00.

THE MAXIMUM TOTAL ARV OF ALL PRIZES IN CONTEST IS: $24,914.00

6. GENERAL CONDITIONS: All Entrants must have a valid e-mail address. Grand Prize Winner is solely responsible for any taxes on the prizes, and will receive an IRS Form 1099 for the value of their prize. No substitution of prize is offered, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsors. Prizes are non-transferable. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. If a prize, or any portion thereof, cannot be awarded for any reason, Sponsors reserve the right to substitute prize with another prize of equal or greater value. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including without limitation, infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsors reserve the right, at its sole discretion to cancel, modify or terminate the Contest. Further, Sponsors reserve the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual deemed to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or any Sponsors or Contest-related Web Site; (b) violating the Official Rules; (c) violating the Web Site terms of service, conditions of use and/or applicable general rules or guidelines; or (d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. All claims relating in any manner to this Contest or to any Submission must be resolved in the federal or state courts located in Denver, CO.

LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE, DESTROY, TAMPER OR VANDALIZE THIS WEB SITE OR INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND THE SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

7. WINNER NOTIFICATION: Finalists will be notified by phone and/or email within two (2) weeks of the end of the Contest Period and will be required to complete, sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release, and, where lawful, a Publicity Release. Notification of Finalist status must be kept confidential until the Finalists are publicly revealed by Sponsors or your Submission will not be posted for public voting as a Finalist Submission. The Grand Prize Winner will also be required to sign a prize acceptance form prior to their Submission airing online or at the Vail Film Festival.

Any waiver of any obligation hereunder by Sponsors does not constitute a general waiver of any obligation to Entrants. By accepting a prize, Finalist agrees, and agrees in writing if requested, that the Submission will be deemed a Work Made For Hire under the Copyright laws of the United States, but if it cannot be so deemed, then the Finalist agrees to irrevocably assign and transfer to Sponsors all of his/her right, title and interest in and to his/her Submission, if any, including all but not limited to all copyright and trademark rights which he or she may have, in the United States and worldwide, therein, for consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged. Finalists hereby waive in favor of Sponsors, all rights of "Droit Moral" or "Moral Rights of Authors" or any similar rights or principles of law that Finalist may now or later have to his/her Submission. Sponsors reserve the right to alter, change or modify a winning Submission, in its sole discretion. Upon request of Sponsors, Finalist shall execute and deliver such additional instrument of assignment, as may be solely deemed by Sponsors, reasonably necessary to establish the ownership of record of the right, title and interest in and to the Submission and of the copyrights transferred and "Moral Rights of Authors" waived under these Official Rules. Should Sponsors fail to request the said assignment as stated, that shall not be deemed a waiver of Sponsors' rights and Sponsors may at a later time request the assignment.

8. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE: No liability or responsibility is assumed by the Sponsors or Contest Parties resulting from any user's participation in or attempt to participate in the Contest or ability or inability to upload or download any information in connection with participating in the Contest. No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Sponsors or Contest Parties for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Contest: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the Web Site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the Internet or the Web Site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Contest.

The Sponsors and Contest Parties are not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the Web Site. Use of Web Site is at user's own risk. The Sponsors and the Contest Parties are not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Contest, use of the Web Site or the download of any information from the Web Site. By participating in the Contest, the Entrant releases Sponsors and Contest Parties from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to such Entrant's participation in the Contest. By accepting a prize in the Contest, winner agrees that the Sponsors and Contest Parties shall not be liable for any loss or injury resulting from participation in the Contest, acceptance or use of any prize, or any travel related thereto.

Blog Post: Lessons from Snowcial: skiing goes tech

Morgan Bast — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:12:00 GMT

Gone are the days of boring conferences filled with trading business cards, power point presentations with no personality and stuffy ballrooms. Tahoe Snowcial, the conference where social media meets snow sports, is changing everything.

Mixed in with on-hill EpicMix competitions and concerts from MC Hammer and OK Go, social media and snow sports innovators took the stage and spoke on the future of these two industries.

Here are the top 10 lessons learned - both legitimate and fun.

10. Experience skiing both in person and online - Rob Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts
For Vail Resorts, the next big challenge is connecting a person's passion for the slopes with what they do when they go home. The answer? EpicMix.

"For us, it is our duty to find ways that allow people to fully engage with what they are doing," Rob Katz said in his presentation at Snowcial. "What EpicMix has been about is extending that feeling of a great ski day into the digital world."

9. Emotions are going to beat logic every time - Dr. J. Duncan Berry of Buyology, Inc.
According to Berry, we love the snow because of that connected moment. Social media has removed that barrier to experiencing something in person and that's why that works so well with the sport of skiing.

"The intangibles that you can't put on a spreadsheet - these are the ones that win," Berry said in his Snowcial presentation.

8. Go big with confetti - OK Go
Giving a concert in the South Shore Room at Harrah's Casino in Lake Tahoe? You'd better have truck loads of confetti and hand bells as well as a GoPro donned microphone. For the in-tune and online crowd at Snowcial, these fabulous displays from OK Go were just the thing to end the conference. Check out Josh Williams', founder of Gowalla, pictures from the show.

7. Ski with a guide - EpicMix Snowcial points challenge
On the last day of Snowcial, attendees competed in teams of four to get as many pins and vertical feet as possible. No matter how hard you skied (my team got over 25,000 vertical feet and two very difficult pins), you were nobody without a guide. The winning teams and skiers used guides to navigate the mountain and bypass lift lines. Next year, we'll cheat too. ;)

6. Unless you're the president, tweet yourself - MC Hammer
Just like in his action-packed concerts, MC Hammer likes to interact with his audience online. According to the rap and Twitter superstar, unless your name is Obama and there is a critical emergency, you have to tweet yourself or else there is no point.

"It's about humanizing the brand," MC Hammer said in the opening remarks to Snowcial. "Everyone wants to see a deeper connection between themselves and the person on the other side."

5. Social media isn't one-size-fits-all - Chris Elliott of MSNBC and National Geographic
According to Elliott, some businesses and individuals need to look at social media differently and gauge whether or not some pieces make sense for their brand.

"I'm just playing a devil's advocate, but I don't know if the social space is completely necessary with everyone."

4. Beware of cougars - Laura Lippay of Nine By Blue
Are you a young male with a goggle tan? Then you should probably check out Laura Lippay's flow charts. You might become arctic, Alaskan, or Western Cougar bait. Yes, there are different breeds and different things to watch out for.

3. Happiness takes experience and memories - Dave Morin, founder of Path
"The web is not about information," Dave Morin said in his Snowcial presentation. "It's about people. The single most important thing we can do for the internet is putting people's identities online."

Morin, who came from the ski team at the University of Colorado and went to Silicon Valley to help create Facebook places, thinks we've reached a state of equilibrium with our social networks. The answer? Choosing a small group of people to share important memories with. The true path to happiness, according to Morin, is taking that profound experience and turning it into memories.

2. When in doubt, Hugh Jackman - Josh Williams, co-founder of Gowalla
Sitting in a series of presentations on social media? Throw in a few slides of gratuitous Hugh Jackman pictures. In Josh Williams' presentation there were three.

(Fun fact: The name of Gowalla was created from 'Go' and 'Wallaby' after the founders saw the movie "Australia," starring Hugh Jackman.)

1. There is no substitute for actually visiting a place - Josh Williams, co-founder of Gowalla
Josh Williams asked the Snowcial crowd, "Why do you post pictures on Facebook?" to which everyone secretly responded "'cause I want my friends to like my stuff!" Williams said we are all looking for social validation. We all want people to share our experiences. We send those postcards and post pictures to have that "Wish you were here" moment.

However incredibly designed and easy to access those "wish you were here" moments are, according to Williams' there is no substitute for actually going and visiting a place.

"Game mechanics and badges aren't the special sauce that makes everything tasty," Williams said. The trick is "connecting that moment with their lives."

Need more reasons to hit up Snowcial last year? Check out this article from Transworld, the #Snowcial twitter feed and Snowcial on Facebook. See more photos from Snowcial here.

Sidenote: SHOE

--Morgan Bast

Blog Post: The EpicMix lowdown

Cody Cirillo — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:41:00 GMT

So, I know many of you have heard of the new EpicMix, yet I'm sure not many have tried it out. Well, let me say from first-hand experience, it is a whole new way to experience the mountain.

EpicMix allows for you to be checked in at different Vail Resorts and check all of your skiing statistics online. Because of the handy RF scanning system in season passes as well as Peaks tickets, collecting data is easy: every scan of your pass registers data.

EpicMix will calculate your vertical feet, days skied, and lifts ridden. A very fun and interactive part of the EpicMix is the pins feature. For different accomplishments on the hill, such as skiing in less than 5 degree weather to checking in a day late for a powder day, EpicMix will award you many different pins.

Compare your pins to your friends by sharing your statistics on your Facebook or Twitter page and let the bets for the most pins begin (I currently have 16 more pins than my brother! Cody: 31, Louis: 15)!

Along with your statistics being at snow.com/EpicMix, you can even check them on your mobile device with the EpicMix android app! Registering is very easy - just go to snow.com/EpicMix, enter your pass number and last name and you're ready to start!

If you have not registered already, I encourage you to do so and give this one of a kind feature a try!

-Cody

Blog Post: Activate your EpicMix account now

Morgan Bast — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 14:28:00 GMT

The new application from Vail Resorts that can track your vertical feet and days skied as well as award you for your accomplishments on the hill is now live in beta form!

Activate your account now to share your achievements on Facebook and Twitter. You'll get the most out of EpicMix if you activate your account and choose "social" to connect all your data to your social networks.

If you have a season pass or are a PEAKS card holder, you can see all of your results from the season so far. EpicMix has been actively tracking your stats since Keystone resort opened on Nov. 5, so all of your data have been saved including vertical feet skied, the pins you've earned and what resorts like Heavenly ski resort, Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek, or Vail you've skied at.

Some pins take effort to achieve. Check out the top 6 hardest pins to earn here.

Besides earning pins, bragging rights, and total knowledge of your skiing or snowboarding capabilities, you can also enter in for a chance to win $100,000. As EpicMix has been tracking every passholder's vertical feet skied so far this season, money was entered into the EpicMix Contest pot. $1 was put in for every 30,000 vertical feet. Recently, that pot maxed out at $100,000. The only way to get a chance at that pot is by activating your account by Feb. 22, 2011. Check out the full rules here.

If you have questions on EpicMix, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or if you have feedback or comments, please submit it using the feedback tab. EpicMix is still in beta mode so we'd love to hear from you if you have questions or comments. You can also review a list of known issues with the website that will be remedied in early 2011. In addition, you can call the Vail Resorts customer service line at 800-743-0242 to receive answers to your questions or report any issues.

"We want to be certain that we take the time to ensure each new piece of EpicMix functionality is ready before it is launched. We recognize there remain a number of known issues surrounding the robust functionality of this ground-breaking online and mobile application and we intend to continue to work through them with real-time feedback from EpicMix users," said Heidi Kercher-Pratt, chief marketing officer for Vail Resorts.

More functionality like comparing your friends as well as the iPhone and Droid apps will be coming in January 2011.

Other things you'll see on EpicMix website as well as on the smartphone site:

A live mountain feed of what is going on at each of the resorts
A points tracker that lets you know what sort of score you're earning on the mountains
Explanations of each pin that you've earned
The amount of vertical feet you've skied each day
Your rank in the EpicMix leaderboard derived from a percentile earned. The leaderboard is updated every night.
How many days you have skied

-- Morgan Bast

Blog Post: How to shoot pictures in the cold

Morgan Bast — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:52:00 GMT

It's pretty rough for aspiring ski photographers out there. Half the time the camera doesn't work or the lighting isn't great or that one perfect shot was just too hard to get. Add in the cold and it's almost too easy to call it quits.

Even for professionals like Jack Affleck, director of photography at Vail Resorts, shooting in the cold can be rough, yet rewarding, he says.

"An ideal day for us out on the hill is 15 degrees [Fahrenheit]," Affleck says. "Don't be discouraged by the temperature - it's the best snow and no one is out there. If you want those great fluffy action shots, [the temperature] is going to be between zero and 15 degrees."

That may sound too cold now, but when you're looking back at your great photos from your ski vacation, you'll only have warm, fuzzy memories. Take these tips from Affleck to make sure your photos turn out great.

Keep your hands warm.
There's no sense in losing a finger to frostbite, Affleck says. If you shoot quickly, both your subject and your skin will thank you later.

"Know to go inside," Affleck says. "Things go wrong quickly when it's cold outside. Mother Nature can sometimes be a cruel equalizer. She can slap you. Be aware of the people around you, yourself, and your ability. Thinking gets compromised when temps drop below zero."

To keep himself warm on frigid days, Affleck will wear spring gloves (so he still has dexterity), gets the shot off quickly and gets his hands back into his jacket to revive them.

Keep your camera warmer.
A few things happen when your camera gets cold; the shutter speed slows down, battery life gets sucked up, and the lenses can get frozen.

"Keep your camera inside your coat if possible," Affleck says. Another ingenious suggestion he has to keep that camera warm? Put a pair of Toasti Toes on the camera itself. "It'll block some of the view screen but it is something to keep your camera warm if you are out on one of the near zero days."

Another problem cameras have in frigid temperatures is going in for lunch. Taking your freezing camera into a humid, hot lodge may kill your camera for the day. Moisture will gather on the lens, fogging over, and it will freeze when it gets back outside. Some cameras have up to seven elements in the lens - making it impossible to wipe off moisture on more than the first element. Affleck keeps his backpack and camera outside so that the camera stays at the same temperature and is ready to go after he's warmed up.

Embrace the cold.
According to Affleck, the best conditions for taking a great photo are in the cold. No one's around, the skies are clear, and the snow is as light as can be. Preparing yourself for freezing temperatures will help you get off the perfect shot, he says.

"If it's a brilliantly bright and it's freezing cold, we'll go for it," Affleck says. "Embrace the cold and be prepared for it."

To get ready for those below zero days, Affleck will acclimate his body for the cold by not wearing a coat the first few times he walks to the car or purposely sitting outside for lunch on a chilly day. He'll also make sure his subjects don't look cold in the photographs he takes - asking them to remove their neck gaiters and extra layers.

"You don't want people to look at your photo and say 'Man, that guy looks freezing.' You would never know that the skier that just has a hat and goggles on also has a neck gaiter in his pocket," Affleck says. "Don't make a cold photo. Make a great photo in the cold."

--Morgan Bast

In previous articles in this photography series, Affleck spoke about taking pictures in flat light, getting a great action shot, and compiling the perfect ski vacation album. "Like" Jack on Facebook to be sure to see the latest images from this talented photographer.

To see more action shots from Jack and get explanations on how he set up each one, check out our gallery on Jack Affleck's photos explained.

Blog Post: How to get a perfect ski vacation album

Morgan Bast — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:57:00 GMT

Bragging rights on Facebook are reserved for those with the coolest pictures in the most extreme locations - a photo album with the ability to make your friends drool with jealousy. At least, that's the idea.

For most, the standard "this is me smiling. This is me with a pretty backdrop. This is my kid doing something cute," isn't going to cut it. While your friends may like to see what you're up to, if you really want to make them jealous , your pictures need to be perfect.

Jack Affleck, director of photography at Vail Resorts, knows the drill in compiling the perfect ski vacation album. Last week he shared how to take great action shots and the week before he talked to us about taking ski pictures in flat light - this week he'll explain how to combine these skills with a variety of shots into the perfect ski vacation album.

"You are putting together a photo story," Affleck says. Here is how to take pictures to do that.

Get the details
When Affleck looks through most vacation albums, he sees horizontal pictures that are taken from eye level and five feet away. While those are nice, he says, they can get predictable and a bit boring.

"Try and go through a day of shooting without snapping a shot while standing up and five feet away," Affleck says. "Get detailed. Shoot someone's hands, and get that small moment. A leaf, a wine glass or mug of cocoa. Anything that can be part of a picture montage,"

The idea, he says, is that when you are looking at all the thumbnails of your pictures, you're seeing a bunch of different varieties. Other ways to mix it up include shooting a picture cockeyed or off angle horizontal, getting down on your belly for a different shot, and shooting looking down on the subject. In other words, "get funky," Affleck says.

Get up early and stay out late
"Great photographs are usually inconvenient," Affleck says. "Most people have a leisurely breakfast, get on the mountain around 10:30am, then complain about the harsh light, lack of fresh snow and crowds. They'll take some photos at noon and wonder why they didn't come out great. On one of your vacation days, get up before everyone else, be the first one on the chair and shoot that beautiful magic."

By getting your photography over with in the first or last half hour of the day (when Affleck says 80 percent of great ski photos happen), not only will your friends be impressed with your incredible lighting skills, but your family will thank you for giving the shutter button a break.

Create a playful moment among friends
Not all the best pictures are of the little ones skiing, Affleck says. Asking your subjects to show off the environment in other ways can give your album a fresh look of your vacation. The tricky part is getting them to cooperate without being too cheesy or awkward.

"Say I need to capture the joy of life," Affleck says. "I encourage [the subjects] to overact and be goofy. Be silly. Roll around. Look at the camera after all that's happened and you'll be surprised what a cool shot that gets."

Other suggestions Affleck has for getting your friends feeling loose? Think blue steel. Yes, the ridiculous Zoolander reference has a place in your album. Take a few shots of the model pose and you'll be happy with the smiles that happen after - and the pictures that are the result.

-- Morgan Bast

Check out Jack's other tutorials on shooting ski photography in flat light and how to take ski action pictures. Coming next: how to take pictures in the cold. Got a question for Jack on shooting ski photography? Ask him on our Facebook page.

"Like" Jack on Facebook to be sure to see the latest images from this talented photographer.

Blog Post: How to take ski action pictures

Morgan Bast — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:43:00 GMT

It's a common story: you press the button, the camera takes too long to think because it's a basic point-and-shoot and its cold out on the mountain, and you miss that perfect shot of your buddy hucking himself off a cliff. Rather than curse the heavens and chuck your camera off that same cliff, listen to Jack.

Jack Affleck is the director of photography at Vail Resorts and last week spoke to us about how to take a picture in flat light. He says he's missed his fair share of action shots because of lag time and has some suggestions so that it won't happen again.

"A lot of the times I screw up because I didn't think things through completely," Affleck says. "What you have to do is think about the photo you are going to take and plan it. It's more about the environment and playing in it."

Take these tips to take better action ski photos.

Plan the shot
"A lot of people look up the run and pan the camera, shooting pictures as [the skier] comes down," Affleck says. "I would suggest framing a great background and having the person ski into the frame." To make that one great shot, you have to trust your skier and your abilities. Affleck says you only really need one photo, but most people take a series of pictures hoping one will work out. You never know when that lag time after the shot will kill the perfect picture. Click the button once and know it will work.

Communicate
Affleck is extremely specific with his subjects. Communication is essential. After discussing what shot he'll be going for, he'll ski down to a mid-point in the run and throw a snowball in the exact place he wants a skier to turn so that person knows the target and aims for it. He'll also explain what the shot will look like and what kind of action he wants the skier to make.

"Find that spot where you can create one big, explosive moment," Affleck says. "Have them carry the speed that will generate the intensity and energy in one big move." Affleck suggests coaching your skier or rider in diving into the snow and bringing a lot of energy to the shot.

"Shooting skiing and riding is difficult because it's often times just shooting the person the way they normally ski. You want to have them get after it and dive into the snow where they almost stop - that photo will really emphasize the energy, the snow, and the play in the environment."

Set your camera up right
What kind of camera takes the best action shots? "The most expensive one," Affleck says. But if you don't want to drop $8,000 just to get that one action shot, put the camera on the right settings.

"Program mode will be the slowest," Affleck says. He suggests putting the camera on "Kids & Pets" which is great at getting sports shots and not using flash, as that slows everything down. In the end, "the camera you have in your hand is the best one" he says, as missing a photo is the worst shot to take.

Know the environment
Taking a sweeping groomer shot is really different from taking a picture of someone bursting out of powder. Knowing the difference and setting up the shot to match is key, Affleck says.

"It's actually very difficult to make a great, compelling groomer shot," Affleck says. "One of the things to do is emphasize the corduroy by lying down and putting the camera on the snow. You get these corduroy ridges that look like they are eight inches high.

"On the other hand, it's pretty hard to take a bad powder shot, according to Affleck. Shoot a person from the side, from down below, whatever - just frame the shot and get the timing right.

Wait for it.
People get too excited when they take action shots and press the button too early, Affleck says. "Frame the shot. Toss the snowball. Talk. Wait for it. Wait for it. Wait for it," he says. Don't get sucked into the "Oh my god, this is it," mind frame. Timing your shot just right will ensure that the picture comes out just right.

Jack spoke last week about taking pictures in flat light. Next week, he'll explain how to compile the perfect vacation album. Want Jack to explain something else about ski photography? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter. "Like" Jack on Facebook to be sure to see the latest images from this talented photographer.

To see more action shots from Jack and get explanations on how he set up each one, check out our gallery on Jack Affleck's photos explained.

Blog Post: 8 Techie Must-Haves for the Trail

Kate Bongiovanni — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:09:00 GMT

Love technology? Do you have the latest and greatest gadgets? Make your hiking, camping or backpacking pack trail-ready with these eight technical must-have pieces of gear.

Freestyle Nomad
Wear this watch on your wrist and you'll be completely in tune for your journey. An Outside magazine top pick for 2010, you'll not only get your basic digital watch but also a barometer, altimeter, compass, alarm clock, chronograph, and temperature display. $160

HIKE GPS App
Forget phone calls and wifi, make your iPhone really work for you with this app's collection of more than 300 free recreational maps that span the U.S. Brought to you by the American Hiking Society, the maps are embedded onto the iPhone so you'll never have to wait for a signal deep in the backcountry. It will also help you geo-code your pictures so you can accurately track your adventures. $9.99

AllSport GPS App
Want to know how far you're traveling, how fast and how many calories you're burning? This iPhone app steps in to track your elevation, distance, top and average speeds, and calories burned when you're out running, hiking or biking. Import it online when you're back home and you'll be analyzing your data until the next time you hit the trail. $5.99 per month, plus normal usage rates apply.

Pentax Optio W90
No trek would be complete without a camera. But you want one that's going to perform in any condition and still produce beautiful images. Voted one of Outside's Gear of the Year, this camera is waterproof (up to 20 feet), weatherproof and shockproof while boasting specs comparable to other marketplace hits: 12 megapixels, 720p HD video, and 28-140mm digital zoom. $330

Quik Pod
It's not always easy to find a random person to snap your photo when you come across an eye-catching view. Attach this hand-held extendable tripod to your camera, DSLR or point-and-shoot, set the timer, and you won't have to worry about capturing a too-close image of yourself or slicing someone out of the frame. $49.95

Princeton Tec Remix
Whether you're out as the sun's setting or you're up early to knock out some trail before the sun rises, let this headlamp guide your way. Easy to use with only one button to tinker with, it can run for up to 200 hours on the lowest setting. $45

Camelbak Vantage 35/Vista 32
Add this gear-plus extra layers, a tent and sleeping bag-to this lightweight pack that works well for day or weekend trips. Backpacker magazine named the Vantage (men's specific) and Vista (women's specific) the best hydration pack in its 2010 gear review. This pack includes a 100 ounce reservoir to make sipping fluids a cinch. $150

Oakley Split THUMP
These sunglasses are coupled with an MP3 player and removable speakers. You'll protect your eyes from the elements and you can opt to rock out or stash the speakers when you want to enjoy nature's sweet sounds. $299

-- Kate Bongiovanni

Blog Post: How to take ski pictures in flat light

Morgan Bast — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:01:00 GMT

"God bless anyone that tries ski photography," Jack Affleck, director of photography at Vail Resorts says. With the elements to battle, skiers' egos to stroke and harsh lighting - Affleck may be right. Ski photography is hard.

But it doesn't have to be. In this series on taking great ski pictures, Affleck shows the amateur photographer how to avoid the typical pitfalls of capturing your vacation: overexposure, dull action shots, and consistently boring subjects. Follow these easy tips and you'll go home with a Facebook profile-worthy shot or something that will fit perfectly into the Christmas card.

"What kind of camera is best to use in flat light? A flat camera!" Affleck jokes. He says he avoids shooting in flat light when possible, but knows what to do when it's absolutely necessary.

These tips are designed to be used with a point and shoot camera and not to be considered advanced photo tips.

Fill in flash
"People tend to underexpose their images when they are shooting in flat light," Affleck says."Shooting on snow, especially with bright sun, is difficult because the camera is seeing three times more light than is really there because you are getting that reflection. Taking control of the camera and putting a little flash in flat light will really enhance everything."

Affleck recommends overriding your camera's manual settings to always use a flash. "Never ask, always flash," Affleck says. For action shots in flat light, the situation changes slightly. Use flash when you want to help your friends update their Facebook profiles, Affleck says.

Switch the mode
Shooting pictures of your friends? Put the camera into portrait mode. Action shot? Use the "Kids & Pets" setting. Manually overriding the camera's program mode will allow more light to filter in through the flash and will capture the smaller details more easily.

"Turn these obstacles into opportunities," Affleck says.

Adjust later
"If you want to take better images, take control of the camera first then take control of the photograph afterward," Affleck says. Adjusting the exposure, contrast and saturation of any photograph, but especially those taken in flat light, will amp up the shot and bring out what you were trying to capture in the first place.

"These three things are what's missing in flat light [photos]," Affleck says. Any photo editing program from Photoshop to iPhoto can adjust exposure,contrast, and saturation. Microsoft Office Picture Manager, which comes standard on most PCs, can adjust contrast.

Forget the photo, enjoy the day
Getting frustrated with flat light? "Don't worry about missing the shot and go and enjoy the day," Affleck says. He says he personally tries to avoid shooting in flat light where possible, but appreciates any photos he can get. "Any photo is a good photo, but a great photo is one that's usually planned."

Knowing when the best light hits and getting out there to get that shot then is inconvenient, Affleck says, but worth it to avoid taking bad pictures in flat light. Plus, going out early to get pictures gives you the rest of the day to enjoy the mountains.

Next week, Affleck explains how to nail the action shot. Got a request for photography tips from Jack? Let us know on Facebook.

-- Morgan Bast

Blog Post: Runkeeper: Summer & Winter App

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:22:00 GMT

I got done with a summer run both wishing for the coolness of winter and hoping that a new application I tried out, Runkeeper, worked well. The application, which is built to help runners track their runs, works really well. It takes the GPS signal from your phone and uses the data to track where you went and how fast your pace was.

It worked flawlessly telling me that I am a slow runner. Is it snowing at Vail Ski Resort yet?

Thumbing through the app's options, I found "Snowboarding," "Cross-Country Skiing" and "Downhill Skiing" as sports it can track. The best summer application just might be the best winter one too. The GPS data used for tracking running could be used to track your turns.

If you are shopping for a GPS unit to track your runs on the mountain, check your pocket because it might already be there. The huge downside is that the app will suck your battery life, but at the price in the app store, it is a bargain. I plan on using it to track a few runs (especially if I find a great line that I want to share with you fine buzz readers).

Runkeeper works on the Android and iPhone, and is damn impressive (if I may say so myself). The big question for me is if it will work in the back bowls at Vail Ski Resort where service generally drops. There is promise, however, as GPS will work in some very remote places.

Has anyone used this application in past seasons?

Blog Post: Tech On The Mountain

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:31:00 GMT

There is an interesting and long brewing debate in reference to technology on the mountain. From new types of gear to music players to cameras, it seems that everyone has a different take on what is acceptable.

I remember just a few years ago when you could hire someone to film a run and would give you a dvd of it. Now, an HD camera setup runs you under $300 and the footage can be uploaded without a computer. The only constant to mountain culture and technology is change. It seems everyone is armed with an iPhone or Android to take pictures, video and instantly share information.

The experience is shifting from personal to community, from solitude of cutting turns to the experience of having a group participate.

There is an interesting perspective with all of this: is tech shifting the experience on the mountain or is the mountain shifting what we see in technology? Can we look at trends in New York and see if they will effect Blue Sky Basin’s grilling culture? Likewise, how can the devises designed to work well in the cellphone less back bowls help out messaging platforms?

It is an exciting time to look at technology on the mountain. For those of us that are more excited about the gadget in our pocket than the planks on our feet, it has never been better.

Looking forward to the winter!

Blog Post: GPS Without the Extra Weight

Jake Norton — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:30:00 GMT

Pros: Works on any Android phone with GPS capability; exports tracks to Google Maps or Google Earth; lots of features

Cons: GPS via phone is not as accurate as a handheld model; running GPS drains your phone battery quickly

Bottom line: If you have an Android phone with GPS and want to be able to record tracks, open them in Google Maps or Earth, and share them with friends, this is a great app. Not perfect, but very good.

MSRP: Free from Android Market.

If you're like me, your smartphone makes most trips into the backcountry with you. Often, though, I want to be able to record the data of a given outing: location, distance, speed, etc., but don't want to bring a full GPS unit with me.

Welcome "My Tracks", an Android-based app that turns your smartphone into a full-fledged GPS.

Free from the Android Market, My Tracks can be downloaded and used on any Android phone with GPS capability. Once installed, the app is very user-friendly and intuitive. Simply hit "Record track" from the menu, wait for the GPS to find your position, and start your adventure. En route, you can check your distance, elevation gain, speed, and, if you have data coverage, see real-time views of your location via Google Maps.

When your trip is over, you simply stop recording, save the track to your phone's memory, and can then share it with friends, share it with the Google community, or export it as a link, GPX, KML, or CSV file.

I use My Tracks on bike rides, hikes, climbs, and most any outdoor adventure where I'm hoping to track my movements and record data. Most recently, I used My Tracks to record my Grizzly Peak to Lenawee Mountain traverse. While not 100% accurate, My Tracks got 98% of the 17 mile, 5 hour loop correct. Check out the screenshot from Google Earth below, and also download the KML file of the trip here.

Group: tech

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:07:00 GMT

Latest in the world of technology.

Blog: Dispatches

buzz — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:07:00 GMT