Porters Sports

Party in the Park

Zak.Shelhamer@gmail.com (Zak.Shelhamer) — Sat, 01 May 2010 21:59:00 +0000

Well I would say it was a pretty productive few days, it was hard work running around and shooting photos and video at the same time but I think it payed off. Check out the video of Eric Willett doing all sorts of Doubles and Chris's mad style. Click to photo to see more.

Chamonix is insane

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Benson) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:16:00 +0000

I recently spent about three weeks in Europe skiing around and checking out the scene. I must admit that my mind was blown. I never really understood what Chamonix was all about until I experienced it for myself. Luckily I had a friend to show me around or I wouldn't have gotten into any of the cool lines that I did. Here's a few memorable moments and the photos that go with them.

Climbing to your line is often the most exciting part of the day. Using two ice axes at the same time does not seem ridiculous... In the photo below we're climbing 55 degree snow, exposed over a 100 plus foot cliff above a huge broken glacier... not your average climb, unless you're in Chamonix.

The mountains are huge and covered in glaciers. Steepness was redefined for me on this trip. Take the photo below for example. I'm skiing pow on a 45 degree face about halfway down the line, blowing a turn would result in a 1500 foot ragdoll. Falling is not an option pretty much anywhere in Chamonix. Once at the bottom of a line like this you have to ski through a massive cracked glacier and underneath the super huge hanging seracs that are all around.Moving through the mountains is a little different in Cham than other places. Sidestepping through rocks is one thing, sidestepping, sideslipping, rappelling, and climbing all over rocks pretty much every run is what you may get into. The photo below is of some pretty average manuevering, and don't fall....
Once again, falling is not an option. Dropping into a line like the Cosmiques without a rope, on "firm snow" (ice),with a little exposure beneath you is definitely an acquired taste. My buddy Dave really likes the way "you fall you die" skiing tastes...
Skiing with ropes and using them (not for rescue) is really fun. Adding the dimension of ropes into your skiing opens a lot of doors as to what is possible and accessible. Plus, ropes are heavy in your pack and it would suck to ski around with it all the time if you didn't use it... Dave raps into the fun zone next to the heart of the Rond, remember, rocks are vertical.
The scale of the mountains in Chamonix takes a little getting used to. Around Tahoe we ski 50 degrees for a hundred feet at a time, in Cham you ski 50 degrees for 2,000 feet and there 2 begschrunds at the bottom. If you get off on being scared while you're skiing, then Chamonix might be the place for you.
In any event, I had a great time and I'd highly recommend travelling to Europe to go skiing to anyone. Not only is the ski experience different but the culture and lifestyle is also very different. Smoking cigarettes, eating cheese and lots of chocolate is the norm, and somehow everyone is skinny, I could get used to that....

Alyeska Resort, Alaska in April

elysesaugstad@gmail.com (Elyse Saugstad) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:57:00 +0000

The gorgeous view of Cook Inlet from Alyeska. In my opinion it's one of the best views if not THE best of any ski resort in the world. You've got the ocean (and in this picture it is at low tide) at one side of the valley, a resort at another, and the remaining area is surrounded by beautiful mountains and glaciers.

Being a sponsored athlete of my hometown resort, Alyeska, I was given the opportunity to head up to Alaska and get in the last throws of winter once I returned from France. I was pretty excited about this, Alyeska was on its way to breaking 800 inches of snowfall. In the beginning the weather was full of precipiation- snow on top and rain on the bottom. Something to be expected in April when the temps start to warm up, the base of the resort is at sea level after all. Nonetheless, as long as it was snowing up high the rain wasn't much of a factor. After a week the sun finally broke and I was able to work with local photographer, Simon Evans, to do some photos for Alyeska. Fortunately, the Resort was really helpful and willing to cater to our needs- access to closed terrain where we wouldn't be competing with the crowds. This ended up with us hiking up Center Ridge and dropping back into Glacier Bowl, thus skiing terrain that hasn't been open for at least the last 3 years. So lucky! It was sooo steep and the snow was sooo good, those few runs were definitely the highlight of my trip up north. Ohhh Alaska. The BEST place on earth to ski.

Scott Hillard, one of the Alyeska patrollers who assisted us while shooting, getting in a fun run after us. What a great job to have! And lots of thanks to the Alyeska Patrol!!!

The top of Chair 6

Christmas Chute and the North Face are right behind me

Cody is all smiles for plenty of reasons. He decided to stick around and get in some more great skiing after his film trip with MSP was over, which apparently was THE film trip of his life. Can't wait to see his segment with Henrik in next year's movie!

Alyeska's annual Slush Cup - with the sun comes the crowds!

Someone taking a digger. This particular pond crossing is 3/4ths gapers so it makes for a great show!

So many good reasons to bring out the cheesiness!

Stuck in Amsterdam

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Parker) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:29:00 +0000

I just made it home from an adventure in Europe. I originally left to go to Kamp K2 (which was awesome) for three days, but ended up staying for eleven because of the volcano. I had a layover in Amsterdam...and that's where I ended up for five days. It was amazing to get to see the city and enjoy a little extra time in Europe!

Line Traveling Circus Season Finale

nickyb5323@hotmail.com (Nicky B son, aka Turka Lurk) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:16:00 +0000

The Line Traveling Circus makes their way back to California to shred some spring park. 8 people divided into a subi and a VW hatch back covering over 2000 miles of the golden state. Great episode and a great season by the TC crew, nice job guys. I look forward to next years season and hopefully meeting up with the crew at Mt Hood over the summer. Enjoy the season finale and remember if you want to listen and download the TC theme music visit www.myspace.com/nickybfromtc

ENJOY!

Courtesy of Newschoolers.com

BackFlip Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Timy) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:33:00 +0000

Timy BackFlips on Facebook is having a BackFlip contest for a Black Upton Sessions Jacket. Become a Fan and post your BackFlip Clip for a chance to win this sweet jacket!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Timy-BackFlips/108135209218436?ref=ts

Squaw Belmont Park Laps-Foy, Horgan, Drury

noreply@blogger.com (Brendon Drury) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:08:00 +0000

Check this edit out of Belmont Park laps at Squaw with John Foy, Alex Horgan, and Brendon Drury. The Go Pro head cam edit from a paint stick works out a pretty cool angle thanks to Alex Horgan the installer of this angle. You gotta love the spring days of mini shred and hot tubs. Peace!

Mamasake Eating Contest for FRO

noreply@blogger.com (Timy) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:50:00 +0000

This is the annual Mamasake Eating contest. It starts with the spicy tuna handroll speed division that Ryan Mooya has dominated for years. And never the less took home #1 again. The second division is the speed wasabi division, which is just not that good of an idea. The man that goes by the mysterious name "Number 9" took home #1 only because he was the only one that could hold it down after the 3rd round. I would say good job, but that seems a little off for this situation.

WARNING: If you don't like puke, you probably should not watch this. And sorry for the shaky camera work, but I couldn't stop laughing

Mamasaki Eating Contest, GO FRO! from Tim Dutton on Vimeo.

Whistler/Blackcomb Grenade Games

noreply@blogger.com (Brendon Drury) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:04:00 +0000

Whistler BC-I came up to Whistler to ride for a while and meet with my board sponsor Endeavor Snowboards and ride Grenade Games! It's been so good up here with everything that is going on right now. There is also the telus festival, which is annual this time of year and brings sick live music and events on and off the slopes! It's crazy how much is actually going on at all times. So riding all day at both Whistler and Blackcomb parks is so sick. I can't get enough. Check the art photos as well from the Red Bull art show that they had in the village-art pieces from the best. Enjoy!

Ken Block Gymkhana 3.0 Car Preview!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jason) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:32:00 +0000

Rally car racing... Gymkhana... Ken Block... If any of those names ring a bell then you might be jealous of the event we were invited to on Tuesday night in San Francisco. Ken Block unveiled his new 2011 Ford Fiesta that he will be using to film his future Gymkhana 3.0 video. In 2008 Block rented out the El Toro airfield to practice his driving skills after the gymkhana series he was supposed to compete in folded. He had built a car specifically for the racing series and suddenly had nowhere to drive it. They put the video from the practice on YouTube and the rest is history. Over 30 million have viewed his display of insane driving skills and there will soon be more. This time, however, it will not be with a Subaru, but with his new sponsor, Ford. The 2011 Ford Fiesta that was revealed Tuesday night is a specific gymkhana car. It packs 650 horsepower (even though it is capable of 850!) and can do 0-60 mph in 2 seconds. The transition from Subaru to Ford is probably quite a change considering he has driven the AWD cars for so long. Block already did a test run in the U.K. in the new Fiesta and is pleased with its performance. Gymkhana 3.0 is due out in the summer, so check back here at www.porterstahoe.com. We will be sure to post the video as soon as it is released.

Porters Softball Debate

nickyb5323@hotmail.com (Nicky B son, aka Turka Lurk) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:24:00 +0000

Roldal Freeride Challenge in Norway

noreply@blogger.com (Timy) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:05:00 +0000

RFC 2010 from Fri Flyt TV on Vimeo.

Tahoe Dangerzone Episode D-Unit

noreply@blogger.com (Brendon Drury) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:26:00 +0000

Check this super fun day at Kingvale...the setup is super fun right now and the vibes are flowing well with so many good people making laps and features to make you ride with no breaks! We filmed this episode on the idea of riders who wear tight pants on the norm wearing baggy pants for the episode. Then we had some riders who do wear baggy gear join in. The idea was to bring everyone closer to riding for what it is instead of parting into separate groups because of different styles. We all snowboard bc it's fun, not because it's the cool thing to do! Everyone was stoked- Enjoy and I hope to ride with many of you soon. Peace

Dangerzone Season 2 Episode 17 - "D-Unit" from Nick Visconti on Vimeo.

A Day in Annecy

elysesaugstad@gmail.com (Elyse Saugstad) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:57:00 +0000

At the end of my month long adventure in Switzerland and France I left the mountains to spend my last day in the beautiful city of Annecy. I love it when I have the opportunity to take a day in my travels abroad to experience a bit of culture. Annecy has all the touches to make it an ideal place for a tourist to visit: a charming, old part of town strewn with cobblestone streets, beguiling rivers flowing throughout, a mesmerizing lake nestled right between the city and mountains, and great French Savoie food to tease your palate with. Here are a few images from my enchanting day...

Just For Laughs

noreply@blogger.com (Timy) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:22:00 +0000

2010 High Fives Trains Event

nickyb5323@hotmail.com (Nicky B son, aka Turka Lurk) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:13:00 +0000

Here is the Nicky B style GoPro edit from the High Fives Trains Event.

Squaw, Chimney, Center Line

noreply@blogger.com (Miles Clark) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:16:00 +0000

Holy Schnikies! it's April 13th and Tahoe is still going off Make it stop!!!
Here is a head cam of Center Line first thing this morning, then some other fun skiing with John Rockwood.

Chimney - Center Line from UnofficialSquaw on Vimeo.

Nick's Tough Day in the Backcountry

noreply@blogger.com (Porters Tahoe) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:36:00 +0000

Nick's Tough Day in the Backcountry from Nick Visconti on Vimeo.

Alaska Twenty-Ten

codytownsend@gmail.com (Chunder) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:26:00 +0000

There is a reason that the best skiers in the world are obsessed with Alaska. That reason...well, it's hard to explain. Sure I could blast you with the typical superlative skiing adjectives like 'steep', 'spiny', 'powder' and 'epic'. But words don't really encompass the feeling that Alaska imparts on you. I've heard every description of Alaska you could ever think of, and guess what, none of them make me feel, much less reminisce, about the sensation of standing atop an Alaskan peak, skiing down and getting to the bottom. So I apologize for the lack of verbal descriptions, they just aren't gonna cut it. In the meantime, here are some photos from what was likely the best skiing day of my life.

The objective and the method. CPG helping us achieve nirvana.

Warm-Up wall. The first line I skied in AK this year. And by warm-up, this was still a 800' foot wall with a 45 degree pitch. Better than most of the best lines at any ski resort.

Warm-Up Huck. Thought it was a 30 footer. Turned out to be a 60-65 footer. Great warm-up stomp too!

Peak 6500'. The two airs on the right were the closest thing I've ever felt to flying. The 20 foot cliffs on a 50 degree pitch allowed for a sail of up to 60 feet. Pure bliss.

Henrik Windstedt, my partner in crime on this trip slashing some turns with some massive sluff roaring behind. Take note of the big cliff above and to the left of Henrik because...

It turned out to be one of the funnest lines I've ever skied in my life. Super spine, raging sluff and a 60 foot exit air with a perfect landing. It's the line I've been dreaming of skiing for decades.

Oh and check the entrance view to the line before. As if the line wasn't scary enough, the super blind entrance had to make it down right terrifying.

And then the mecca of spine zones. If heaven looks like this I'm going to start going to church.

One of the most beautiful places in the world.

The Crystal Castle. Where would you go?

Heli-Angle fly-by. Seriously exposed and dangerously steep. Yikes!

Well that's where I went.

Edge of the world line. Steep, scary and fun.

Stoked to be in AK with Henrik!

Sun up to sun down.

Shook-Up Goes Hollywood

noreply@blogger.com (DiggaFletch) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:12:00 +0000

The Last Middle Finger of the year

noreply@blogger.com (Miles Clark) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:08:00 +0000

By Miles Clark
Here's a fun edit from April 3rd at Squaw. It was my last (I think) Middle Finger run of the year, but it was my favorite.

A day in the life at Squaw Valley from UnofficialSquaw on Vimeo.

Four Days of Shredding

noreply@blogger.com (captain short shanks) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:51:00 +0000

Here is little update on team old guy....have a peep!

Castel Peak to Watson..4 days of shredding from Kasey Wiese on Vimeo.

High Fives "Trains" 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Bradley) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:19:00 +0000

High Fives "Trains" 2010 from Timothy Bradley on Vimeo.

February Flash Back with 382 productions

nickyb5323@hotmail.com (Nicky B son, aka Turka Lurk) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:50:00 +0000

Here is a little February flash back with the 382 crew. Filmed mainly at Alpine Meadows the 382 crew kills it. Peter Kukesh, Pat Melvin, and Andrew Putnam are among some of the skiers featured in this edit. Props to 382 for the edit

Courtesy of Newschoolers.com

Chamonix Steeps

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Benson) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 09:54:00 +0000

My friend Dave told me that lines in Chamonix were steep. I knew that they were, but had never really experienced it for myself, until now. Today we went up the Grand-Montet and headed back into the Argentierre Basin to ski a line that Dave was keen on skiing. When we got there we found that the wind and the sun had done a number on the recent snow, so we opted for the line that looked like it had the best chance of being good. In the photo below, Dave hikes toward the Col de Courtes, pretty much directly in the center of the photo.
So we skinned to the bottom of the first Bergschrund, and went immediately for our crampons and ice axes. This thing is steep, and not only is it steep, but it is also long. Apparently this line is 50 degrees for 2,000 feet, or so... This picture gives you a good idea of the pitch, about a quarter of the way up, just past the 2nd bergschrund.
At one point I took over bootpacking for a while and looking down was a little scary. Not only was I being followed by Giulia Monego and Jon Minogue, but the pitch we were on was unrelentingly steep.
Eventually we reached the top and waited for the other parties on the slope to make it to the top. Dropping in on top of them would probably have been a little rude, and might have sloughed on them pretty badly. While waiting for them to arrive I had a chance to get a shot of the whole run. This things holds its steep pitch all the way to the bottom. Falling is not recommended. Unfortunately the snow in here wasn't perfect pow, we had hoped that the wind wouldn't have screwed it up, but it had. The variability of the snow made dropping in on this thing a little more puckering than it could have been, but it was fun nonetheless.
If you look closely you can see Italian freeskiing sensation Giulia Monego making turns down the steepest thing I've ever skied. This line was a first for her, and coincidentally was the first true line I've ever skied here in Chamonix.
About halfway down my buddy Dave skis the chalk like he means it. The steep lines here in Chamonix are very commitiing and you aren't out of harms way until you're down on the glacier, and even then you're on a glacier which isn't the safest thing in the world either...
Having skied some "steep" lines in the Sierra, I thought that maybe I already had some steep skiing experience. Little did I know that I know pretty much nothing about steep skiing. Chamonix is the Sierra on steroids, probably about three times bigger... While my buddy Dave may have called the conditions today in the Col de Courtes "the worst I've ever skied it", it was still an eye opening experience for me, and definitely the longest steepest run I have ever skied in my life, I thought it was pretty sweet.