http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/email-letters-dec.-7-2011
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KVNF Radio Interview
7 DecKVNF Radio Interview on Outside Magazine profile of Tom Chapman
http://www.kvnf.org/local-newscast/kvnf-local-newscast-wednesday-december-7-2011
Backcountry Monopoly Gets Attention
5 DecOutside and I shared some of my reporting materials with Jason Blevins from the Denver Post. He wrote a companion piece (link there tohttp://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_19471244 0 which landed on the front page of Monday, December 5th Denver Post.
Lou Dawson also posted about the article on wildsnow.com, which is stirring up quite a debate going on that site. Click here (link to: to see what people are saying about Tom Chapman and Backcountry Monopoly (link to : http://www.wildsnow.com/6330/chapman-thomas-tomas/
The story was also mentioned in Monday’s GJ Daily Sentinel.
Koto Radio Segment on Backcountry Monopoly
5 DecHere’s an interview I did with KOTO radio on my Outside Magazine profile on Tom Chapman. Starts at 2:50.
Top Gear for 2011-12 on FOX 31
3 NovLast Tuesday, I was featured as a ski expert on FOX 31 / KDVR discussing this season’s top gear.
Robin Pope’s New Safari Lodge in Malawi
1 Sep
Robin Pope Safaris has been offering safaris in Zambia for over 25 years. Recently, they’ve branched out into neighboring Malawi. In July, RP opened Mkulumdazi, the only lodge in the Majete Reserve. No safari jeep traffic jams, or battling for camera angles–you’ll have over 173,000 acres of African wilderness all to yourself.
Zambiana Jane!
28 Jun
Here’s a story I wrote for Fathom, a new (read amazing) travel website and guide. From tracking black rhinos in the bush to swimming in Victoria Falls, it was the adventure of a lifetime. If you like adrenaline, as I do, put Zambia on your bucket list. Go.
Read Zambiana Jones here…
For details on how to do Zambia, click here.…
For the Thrill of It
27 Jun
Here’s some behind-the-curtains info on why I travel from Fathom’s Questionnaire.
Go North, Young Lady
1 JunJune 1st, almost summer, but I’m still dreaming of big lines and big snow–something like the one Chris Erickson slayed in Alaska’s Takinsha Mountains last spring.
Indiana Jane!
26 MayI recently did a segment with Peter Greenberg for his webisode series on Peter Greenberg Worldwide. Greenberg is THE travel guru, ie CBS’s travel editor, and I was honored to be featured as an adventure travel expert on his show. I especially loved the moniker “Indiana Jane.” I do love me some adventure.
Watch the video here….
Mamma Africa!
26 MayDeep in the Namibian desert, lies a lush oasis: &Beyond’s Sussuvlei Lodge, which boasts some of the clearest skies and brightest stars in the world.
Read more from my article in Robb Report….
Chris Davenport Slays Everest’s Lhotse Face
24 MayKastle poster boy Chris Davenport skied Everest’s Lhotse face in mid-May with fellow Aspenite Neal Biedleman, and followed that up with a successful summit bid with Beidleman, Telluride’s Bill Allen from Ophir, Colorado-based Mountain Trip, and a client, Ephi. Congrats, Dav and the rest of your crew!
To read more about his expedition, click here…
Tiger Fishing in Zambia
22 MayHere’s a little story about flesh eating fish. Last September, I went on assignment to Zambia to catch the elusive Tiger Fish, a 10-30 lb river monster with a mouth full of blade-like teeth.
Read more from my article in the Robb Report….
Ski Porn Featuring Adam Barker and Julian Carr
12 AprBottom line: Julian Carr rips and Adam Barker wields a camera better than just about anyone in the biz. The shot is from an unusual rocky formation in Utah. Get it, boys!
Ski Shangri-La: Telluride
10 Mar
Telluride is the a skier’s mountain and a skier’s town, so said Rasta Stevie in 1988′s ski porn classic, The Blizzard of Aahhhs. He got that right. Here’s an insider’s guide to Telluride.
Now, go get some. Read here for the skinny…
Cold-Smoke Confessions
9 Mar
Everybody loves a little ski porn. And powder. Check out this photo by Garrett Grove of Jeff Campbell slaying Mt. Shuksan. Woohoo, get it, boys!
Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls…
11 Feb
Unless you’re Zach Crist, a First Ascents skier who is quite accustomed to hucking 25-foot waterfalls. Check it out…
The Two-Million-Foot Man: Greg Hill
11 Feb
Over the course of one calendar year, Greg Hill skinned, skied, and climbed two-million-vertical feet. That’s the equivalent of climbing Everest 69 times. Crazy! On December 31, 2010, in the backcountry outside of Revelstoke, BC, Hill summitted the two-million-fo
ot-tall mountain. Then, he cracked a bottle of champagne and he skied some untracked powder.
Read about Hill’s adventure here….
Footloose & Fancy Free
4 Feb
Jones Pass, Colorado, catskiing with Powder Addiction and Wagner skis. Can someone please remind why I spent the last eight years in NYC?
Insider’s Guide to Jackson Hole
2 Feb
If you’re not headed to Jackson Hole this winter, you should be. Why? 25 feet of snow and counting–the most white stuff the mountain’s tallied by Feb 1 in recent history. With some of the steepest inbounds terrain in the country and arguably the burliest lift-accessed backountry in the lower 48, Jackson is an expert skier’s dream. Plus, with a Wild West vibe, get ready to get down–on the hill and off. Don’t forget to check out the “Roots” button on the article–a little inside info on how JH came to be.
Read more….
The Lost Art of Getting It On: Hotdogging 101
24 Jan
In the early 70s, a new movement rocked the ski scene: hotdogging. It was a dynamic combo of stunt skiing, ballet, gymnastics, and figure skating–all on snow. To music. Usually in glittery stretch pants. Since every “complete” skier needs some old school steeze in their bag of tricks, here’s an instructional piece on how to execute some of the era’s hottest tricks. Bust out the CB jacket and Vaurnet shades, turn up the Barry White–it’s time to get your hotdog on.
Read more here….
Natty Dread Ski
19 Jan
His name is Rasta Stevie and he had a vision for a ski-town Shangri La: “a funky unique place where dirt bags like myself can live in I-nity with Jah I-ration.” That line from Greg Stump’s ski film classic, The Blizzard of Aahhhs immortalized Stevie as the ultimate ski bum and Telluride as the ultimate ski bum town. His vision for a mountain paradise was transformed into reality when he landed a seat on Telluride’s Town Council in 1987.
To read about about Rasta Stevie, click here….
Kiss This: Take Two
15 Jan
Fresh off her stellar Olympic performance, Julia Mancuso is coming in hot to the 2010-11 World Cup season. She spoke with me about her lingerie line, Kiss My Tiara, her Verbier Extreme comp podium finish, and more.
Read the full article HERE…
Spider Sabich
1 Dec
He was a heart breaker, a gentleman and a helluva a guy. His name was Spider Sabich and he was a champion slalom racer whose life was cut tragically short when his girlfriend, Claudine Longet, shot him on a spring day in 1976. According to ski legend Bob Beattie, he was one in a million.
Respect, Spider. RIP.
Roots Racing
13 Nov
1968, the first World Cup race ever held in Canada. It was a wicked slalom set down Red Mountain’s double diamond face. Fans lined the course and the event was sponsored by Maurier cigarettes. Jean Claude Killy flew in on a private chopper, ran the race, won it, and flew out. It was all rock and roll back then. And I like it.
Photograph courtesy of Dave Heath.
Check out his photos. They rule.
Or check out the original item in Skiing Interactive here….
Austria’s Influence on All Things Ski
12 Nov
Without Austria, there would be no Aspen or Jackson Hole. No Bode, Daron, or Picabo Street. No yodeling, strudel, dirndls, or heliskiing. No apres ski.
Danke, Austria, for these are a few of my favorite things.
To learn more about Austria’s influence on American ski racing, read here….
Getting Ahead: A Profile on Head Skis
24 Sep
Yep, winter is just around the corner. Snow is starting to dust the Colorado high country, evenings are chilly, and my first ski story of the 2010-11 season just came out in Ski Racing Magazine. I’ll be covering the World Cup for Ski Racing all season. In January and February, I’ll be posted in Europe. Kitzbuhel, Wengen….here I come!
But first, a story on the rise of Head skis and the inside scoop on their star-studded roster of racers.
Read it here….
Dance Moves-Highlights from the Road
16 Aug
Nothing puts a smile on my face like someone’s unabashed thrash across a dance floor. Whether it’s yodeling and Polka in Austria, two steppin’ in a backwoods country bar, or breezy reggae skankin’, nothing speaks more about a person, or a culture, than their moves. Something about dancing brings out the best in folks.
Just watch Footloose.
With no further ado, here’s Goodtimes Gordy from Norco, CA. You might learn something. I did. Pop and lock. Watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/get_player
The Ride of a Lifetime: Me–Bullriding!
23 JulI’m working on a piece right now about cowgirls. For the sake of my story, I thought I’d give bullriding a twirl. His name was 50-50 and I rode him to the buzzer. It was the ride of a lifetime!
Yahoo!
http://www.youtube.com/get_player
How Julia Mancuso Spent Her Summer Vacation
21 JulConfession: I have a girl crush on Julia Mancuso. She rips on a surfboard and skis, has a lingerie line, a Lange girl poster, and 3 Olympic medals. She snagged 3rd place at last year’s Verbier Extreme comp. And, she’s in next year’s Warren Miller flick. Um yeah, she’s friggin’ wicked.
Here’s a little clip that I wrote on how she spent her summer vacation.
Kiss This! Julia Mancuso on her New Lingerie Line
28 Apr
Olympic medals, Lange girl, lingerie designer–jealous? Maybe, a little.
Take a peek at some outtakes from my interview with Julia Mancuso on her new lingerie line, Kiss My Tiara. And big thanks to Jon Selkowitz of Selko Photo for this killer image of Jules.
Live from the Weather Channel… Me on Ski Racing!
28 MarCheck out my TV spot on the Weather Channel from the 2010 Games in Vancouver. I was featured as a ski racing expert for their Olympic coverage.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/get_player
Bode’s Dad on Bode
22 Feb
With his gold medal win in Sunday’s super combined at the winter Olympics in Whistler, Bode Miller is smashing the record for the most medals earned by an American ski racer. Ever. I sat down with his dad to get the inside scoop on the man who is quickly becoming the greatest skier–turned superstar– of our generation.
Read more….
1-2 USA: Celebrating Ski History
19 Feb
It was a big day Wednesday for the US Ski Team when Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso took the gold and silver in the Olympic downhill. It was an occasion to celebrate and celebrate we did with an Olympic-style throw down. Here’s the PG version.
Baking Banana Bread With Lindsey Vonn
18 Feb
What does the best skier in the world do before the biggest race of her life? If you’re Lindsey Vonn you bake banana bread and shave a V into your little brother’s head. Apparently, it worked.
Behind the Scenes with Bode
17 Feb
So, what does one do after winning an Olympic medal? Eat sushi and drink sake if you’re Bode Miller. Here’s a glimpse into Bode’s race and what he did afterwards to celebrate.
10 Olympic Parties Not to Miss!
17 Feb
From keg rolling at the Saxony House to dub skanking at the Jamaican Bobsled Team’s HQ, here’s an insider’s guide to party hopping Olympic-style.
Inside the Wax Room
13 Feb
Why the guy who tunes your skis is as important as your coach–almost. A behind-the-scenes look at Alpine racing’s unsung heros: ski techs.
Making Ski Racing Safer
13 Feb
If charging a super-G course doesn’t scare you, it should. After a rash of early season injuries, race officials reexamined how racecourses are designed, making Olympic courses safer. Well, maybe. Check out my latest piece on CNN.com.
Olympic-Caliber Gear Comes from Vancouver
13 Feb
When it comes to Meccas of mountain equipment, there’s Boulder, Park City, and the granddaddy of them all, Vancouver. Home to Arc’teryx, Westcomb, and Prior, Vancouver is leading the charge in mountain gear innovation. Check out my latest piece for CNN.
The Olympics: You Heard it Here First!
4 Feb
Starting February 13th, I’ll be coming at you live with updates from the Olympics in Whistler as I cover the Games for Vanity Fair, Ski and Skiing Magazines. Stay tuned for the latest event and athlete updates and behind-the-scenes scoop!
Racing the Wind
2 Feb
The Olympics are rapidly approaching. Learn more about the US Ski Team and one of its premiere downhillers Marco Sullivan in my latest piece for the Weather Channel.
Breakfast of Champions
2 Feb
Whether you’re recovering from a late night of revelry or gearing up for a big day on the hill, here’s a guide to Whistler’s best breakfast spots. Be sure to check them out if you’re heading to Whistler this month.
An Insider’s Guide to Olympic Apres
25 Jan
So, you’re heading to the Olympics in Whistler. Be prepared for sick snow, world class terrain, sporting and revelry. Whether you’re celebrating an American victory or kicking up your boots after a day on the hill, Whistler’s watering holes elevate apres to an Olympic level.
Read More…
The Buzz on South African Wine!
20 Jan
The World Cup is not the only thing South Africa’s buzzing about this season–there are several sparkling additions to its burgeoning wine scene. Check out my latest piece in the Feb. 2010 issue of Conde Nast Traveler.
Sell Your Soul to the Heli-Ski Devil!
12 Jan
Sell your car, a cornea, your soul, but do whatever you’ve got to do to get to CMH’s Cariboo Lodge this season.
Under African Skies
11 Jan
Humming with young boho buzz, Cape Town has emerged from its rocky past as the creative capital of Africa. From high-stakes adventures (paragliding off Signal Hill) to creature comforts (crisp, local sauvignon blancs), the city will leave you breathless.
Birds of Prey Downhill: Marco Stomps the Beav
10 Jan
Marco Sullivan’s fan club, decked in “Marco Rocks” T-shirts and hosting cook-offs, proms, and costume contests, celebrated in style at the annual Birds of Prey World Cup Downhill at Colorado’s Beaver Creek over the weekend. Kelley McMillan reports from the grand stand.
Riding Dirty
9 Jan
U.S. Women’s Ski Team coaches vie for the sickest mustache in the name of prostate and testicular cancer awareness. Following this weekend’s World Cup in Aspen, we sit down with the winner of the mustache contest, women’s technical coach Chris Knight.
Test Drive Next Year’s K2 Skis…
8 Jan
Ever since Austrian expat and CMH founder Hans Gmoser yodeled his way across Canada, planted his flag in Banff, and introduced heli-skiing to the world in 1965, CMH has been at the cutting edge of backcountry adventure. This winter, they’ve upped the ante once again by partnering with K2 to launch the CMH/K2 Ski Demo Weeks.
