GyroKumpass » Skiing

Whistler Downhill: Skiing The Dave Murray Course

Andrew Steketee — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:24:26 +0000

Skier and writer Sarah Ivey of the The New Zealand Herald explores the Dave Murray Downhill course at Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia.

“As the passing trees morphed into a blur of green, momentary lapses in concentration started to occur, and I started to wonder if taking this on was such a good idea after all.”

“Just Passing Thru”

Andrew Steketee — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:04:30 +0000

U.S. freeskiiers Matt Walker and Tom Wallisch embark on a 1,783 mile journey throughout Western Europe, searching for urban skiing opportunities in the United Kingdom and Barcelona, Spain.

Produced by Michael Clarke

KumpassPoints: Snow

Andrew Steketee — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:16:09 +0000

CO ski areas asked to help with beetle-ravaged forests: Denver Post
CEO Laurent Potdevin resigns at Burton: ESPN
Downhill skiing with Lindsey Vonn: New York Times
15 years in the snowboard industry with J.P. Walker: ESPN
19 year-old racer-turned-freeskier Angel Collinson: ESPN

“Winter Project”: Season 2 | Episode 5

Andrew Steketee — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:05:21 +0000

Spring Shoot: Swedish filmmakers Adam Falk and Nicke Jacobsson spend a few days documenting slushy jumps and rails in Gesunda and Funäsdalen.

Produced by Adam Falk and Nicke Jacobsson

“Powder Mountain Perspective”

Andrew Steketee — Mon, 03 May 2010 23:18:15 +0000

Skiing & snowboarding perspectives: Powder Mountain, Utah backcountry P.O.V footage.

Produced by Ian Provo

Swiss Environmentalists Protest Heliskiing

Andrew Steketee — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:24:31 +0000

Swiss environmentalists are worried that helicopter noise, “unjustified” fuel consumption, and landing sites in protected areas are just some of the problems associated with 15,000 heliskiing flights into the Alps each year.

“Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen valley is one of the busiest regions for helicopter traffic. And, on a sunny spring morning, more than 60 skiers are already lined up, waiting for their flights to the glaciers,” reports Imogen Foulkes of the BBC News.

“But helicopter companies and mountain rescue services point out that helicopters are a fact of life in the Alps. They are used to deliver food to mountain huts, to rescue climbers and skiers, and to take construction materials up to alpine villages.”

photo credit: Alex Grechman

Adventure-Themed Programs Growing At Sugarbush

Andrew Steketee — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:08:23 +0000

Vermont’s Sugarbush ski resort is looking for ways to deepen its on-mountain adventure experiences, offering cat-access skiing, in addition to camps and clinics focused on snow evaluation, shelter building, and backcountry rescue and first aid.

“‘People want and respond to new adventures,’ said Win Smith, the owner of Sugarbush. ‘So, yes, the snow and the terrain is your essential core appeal, but you see people’s eyes light up when you offer something unexpected.’” Bill Pennington of The New York Times reports.

KumpassPoints: Snow

Andrew Steketee — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:29:40 +0000

Sugarbush, Vermont’s untouched powder: New York Times
Ski training with Lindsey Vonn: National Geographic Adventure
Nick Paumgarten’s “The Ski Gods”: The New Yorker
Canadian snowboarder Alexa Loo: New York Times
Disabled Veterans hit the slopes: New York Times

“Etna Summit”

Andrew Steketee — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:15:29 +0000

Volcanic snowkiting: Italy’s Mount Etna, an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, has become a European locale for winter snowkiters.

Produced by Boulgakow

2010 “Cold Rush”

Andrew Steketee — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:20:53 +0000

The fourth annual Red Bull Cold Rush at Retallack, B.C.’s cat-ski operation: Sean Pettit and Suzanne Graham were the men’s and women’s winners of the 3-day event. “Red Bull Cold Rush gathers 12 of the best skiers in the world—veterans and newcomers alike—and gives them a big mountain playground where they compete in big air, cliff jumping, and big mountain disciplines.” Powder Magazine.

Produced by Red Bull