‘Snow Sports’ Articles
Written by Brian O'Connor on 26 December 2011
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is tough country. The winters are long, cold and over 200-inches of snow can fall in a year. Not only are the winters long, but the days are short at a mere eight hours. The area was heavily settled by immigrants from Nordic countries so it is no surprise that residents of the Upper Peninsula (Yoopers) have a great affection for winter sports. The website KewennawTrails.com is reporting that Michigan Tech is opening certain Nordic trails to snow bikes, those bikes that have tires wider than 3.5-inches and tire pressures of less than 10 psi. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: fat bike, Michigan Tech, Nordic, ski, snow bike
Posted in Cycling, General, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 26 December 2011
Looking to get a grip? The ChukGrips might just be the answer. These are multi-positional, ergonomically correct pole handles that can be used for hiking, walking, cross-country skiing and even mountain climbing. These provide a good position of the hand and wrist in relation to the poling stroke, and is ideal as well for those with large or otherwise bulky gloves, making these good for use in snow sports and for trekking through deep snow.
The grips can be attached to existing poles without too much effort, or are available as a complete package. Either way these are good for those looking to get a different kind of grip for their poles.
ChukGrip Official Website
[Via Snow Shoe Magazine: ChukGrips Transform Everyday Trekking Poles into Essential Snowshoeing Equipment]
Tags: ChukGrip, Hiking, skiing, snow sports, snowshoeing
Posted in Equipment, Low Tech, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 23 December 2011
Minnesotans know cold, or so we’ve been told. So who better to design and manufacture cold weather gear? How about a husband and wife team whose expertise and experience includes dog sledding, expeditions to the North Pole, clothing design and living in Minnesota. For almost 20 years, Wintergreen Northern Wear has been designing and manufacturing cold weather outdoor clothing from the small town of Ely, Minnesota. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: dog sledding, Made in USA, snow garments, Wintergreen Northern Wear
Posted in Apparel, General, Made in America, Made in the USA, Outdoors, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Les Shu on 21 December 2011
The chances of you ever having to face an avalanche are slim, but when you hit the slopes you should keep in mind that the risk of being buried by one is real. Survival times are also very limited, which makes rescue efforts even more critical especially when you are with few people. Experienced skiers and board riders who venture into avalanche backcountry are usually prepped in case they have to deal with an avalanche, such as a tracking beacon and shovel, and now they can add another safety tool: the Rotauf MRK5 Avalanche Marking Device. The module is small and can be integrated into your jacket or pants, unlike avalanche airbag systems that require a dedicated bag. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Avalanche Airbag Safety System, Rotauf MRK5, winter sports
Posted in Apparel, concept, Outdoors, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 21 December 2011
Setting sail on December 15th, the maiden voyage of the new British Iglucruise ship was promising to bring skiing to the Caribbean while sailing the open seas. Not water skiing, but a snow-like downhill skiing experience on a slope “situated on the top deck and…made with the innovative Perma-Snow all weather ski carpet and serviced by a button lift.” According to the itinerary, the cruise should now almost be complete. As many websites and blogs, including Yahoo, wrote of this new vacationing option for those wanting to cruise and ski , my curiosity was peaked and I too wanted to see photos and video of this new ship. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: cruise ship, Iglu, ski
Posted in concept, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 06 December 2011
Winter is coming, and for bicycle commuters that means either having cold ears or trying to fit a cap under a typical cycling helmet. But Bern has another solution, as noted by our friends at BikeRadar. At Interbike, while it was still warm and mostly sunny, the helmet maker showed off its line of winter-friendly brain buckets, which are now available.
The men’s G2 and women’s Cougar 2 feature Bern’s Zip Mold in-mould construction process that includes a detachable soft-peaked liner. The helmet features three-position air vent slider on top as well, so on a warm day the vents can be left open so the wearer doesn’t get too heated, but on the colder/wetter days the vents can be closed up. These weren’t actually developed with cyclists in mind, and were actually first used on the slopes – so whether it is for snowboarding or cycling through the winter these will keep the head warm! And while we’d like to think that this could prevent brain freeze but that’s not something effected by weather! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bern, Cougar 2, Cycling, G2, Helmet, snowboard, Zip Mold
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Outdoors, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 01 December 2011
Earlier this week we noted that there was the new Bean Bag Sled, which made for more comfortable runs down the hill. On the exact opposite end of the spectrum there is the Slegoon, which won first prize in the UK IOM3 Design Innovation in Plastics competition back in 2003. Now the new heavy duty sleds, which sort of evoke Mad Max on snow, have evolved into serious competition where full contact between the vehicles during a downhill run is not only part of the race but strongly encouraged. We wouldn’t be to be on a bean bag when these things come at us! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bean Bag Sled, sled, Slegoon, UK10M3 Design Innovation in Plastics
Posted in Equipment, Outdoors, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 28 November 2011
Sometimes the simple things are what make the holidays so special. And while there have been plenty in the way of innovative with carbon fiber sleds, and high tech options for snowboarding, how about going low tech this year.
This week Hammacher Schlemmer is rolling out a sled that is anything but high tech, yet looks like loads of fun. Introducing the Bean Bag Sled, which features an inflatable air bladder that is surrounded by the 2mm polystyrene spheres found in bean bags. Designed in Italy, the Bean Bag Sled is made from double-stitched PVC coated 100 percent polyester to ensure endless runs on the slopes! At $299.95 it is a lot more than a food tray but likely a lot more comfortable!
Bean Bag Sled at Hammacher Schlemmer
Tags: Bean Bag Sled, Hammacher Schlemmer
Posted in Low Tech, Outdoors, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Matt Madsen on 25 November 2011
Base waxing supplies: Swix Base Cleaner, nylon brush, scraper and wax
As the snow begins to fall, it is time to get your skis or board ready for the season. Depending on the shape that you left them in will determine how much attention they’ll need. If you are lucky, a good wax is all you’ll need. If your edges are rusty, dull, or in rough shape, it is probably time to get them tuned up, which includes edge sharpening and possibly a base grind. You have two options – 1) take them to your local ski shop or 2) learn to do-it-yourself.
For the do-it-yourself type people out there, a few basic supplies and quick tutorial will get you ready. At The Garage, we recommend the book Alpine Ski Maintenance and Repair by Seth Massia. Another option, contact to your local shop to see if they offer any ski tuning classes, if they are anything like the staff at The Garage, they would happy to walk walk you through the basics of base waxing.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: base wax, Maintenance 101, ski, snowboard, The Garage, tuning
Posted in Equipment, General, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 23 November 2011
There are things that are done simply because someone can do it. That is sort of what resulted in the iShred, a snowboard that has an iPad embedded in it. Created by the crew at Signal during one of their Every Third Thursday events, this is the latest of some wacky combinations – previously they put a boom box in a board, as well as an electric guitar.
This time around the group put an iPad in the board, and to accomplish this meant going with aluminum – the reported drawback being that the board is a little tough to control on sharp turns. But with an iPad on deck, it seems that you can’t have everything! Video after the jump
Tags: Every Third Thursday, iBoard, iPad, iShred, snowboard
Posted in Computing, concept, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 22 November 2011
Airbags save lives. This is generally true in automobiles, but airbags could be making the way from the car to the slopes. Last winter we noted that Backcountry Access had developed an avalanche kit that included an airbag, and now North Face has a new Avalanche Airbag Safety System (ABS) as well.
According to reports somewhere between 20 and 30 people have lost their lives in avalanches every year since the early 1990s, and while this may seem a small number compared to other accidents, the ABS system could help further reduce those numbers.
The system includes two small inflatable bags, which will the pull of a string can expand with a little help from some nitrogen. The bags could help a hiker, skier or snowboarder stay close to the top of a snow pileup in an avalanche, and by minimizing the depth of a burial – or even avoiding – the chances of survival are increased.
With this system North Face is also introducing it with two new fabrics: Thermoball and Flashdry. Thermoball uses small balls of synthetic fiber to create a light weight warmth which can also repel water, while FlashDry uses micro-porous particles to wick away water and moisture.
The ABS pack is actually reusable as well, although we think that surviving an avalanche would be enough to keep someone from going out on the slopes again!
[Via Discovery News: Air Bags Could Make Alpine Sports Safer]
Tags: ABS, airbag, Avalanche Airbag Safety System, Flashdry, North Face, snow sports, Thermoball
Posted in Equipment, Hiking, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 21 November 2011
The SIA Snow Show is still more than two months away, and winter is still a month off itself, but already the annual industry trade event is poised to sell out. Predictions of a bad winter is good news for the snow sports industry, which expects to draw more than 19,000 attendees including snow sport suppliers, retailers, reps, athletes and professionals from around the world to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver for the January 26-29 event.
The Snow Show, which sold out in booth space last June, will feature over 900 snow sports brands throughout over 330,000 sq. ft. square feet of exhibit space including 96 new exhibitors, which are brand new to the Show or returning after taking a hiatus. 2011 Video Recap after the jump
Tags: Colorado Convention Center, Devil's Thumb Ranch, ON-Snow Demo, SIA Snow Show, Ski-Ride Fest, Winter Park Resort
Posted in Equipment, Outdoors, SIA, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 17 November 2011
What is the cyclist to when the white stuff starts falling? Hang up the bike and grab the skis, or grind out the miles on an indoor trainer? With the newer breed of snow or ‘fat’ bikes hitting the market, the cycling season does not have to stop in the winter. The folks behind Twenty2 Cycles of Vail, Colorado agree with this idea and have introduced their own line of snow bikes, the Bully and Big Fat Bully (BFB).
These snow bikes utilize over sized tires to help the rider and bike float over the packed snow or even sand and other loose terrain with ease. This means that once the snow melts, these fat bikes can be taken to your favorite sand dune in the summer – a true four season bike! However, making a snow bike is not as easy as slapping on a set of fat tires, it requires a specific bike frame.
There are about a half of a dozen companies currently making snow bikes, all small to mid-size organizations. Each one builds frames that fit an over sized tire ranging in size from 3.7-inches to 4.7-inches, almost 1.5-inches wider than the standard mountain bike tire!
Twenty2 Cycles differentiates from the competition in that they are offering their customers a wider selection of options. Not only are they offering both titanium and steel frames, but both material options are available in either the original fat bike standard tire width of 3.7-inches or the newer mongo 4.7-inch tire. Additionally, Twenty2 Cycles is one of just a few manufacturers that are producing its frames in America with U.S.A. made raw materials.
Video after the jump
Tags: Big Fat Bully, Bully, fat bike, sand bike, snow bike, Twenty2 Cycles
Posted in Cycling, Snow Sports | No Comments »
