Fischer Team Video 11/12

Team Fischer getting after it around the world.  With lots of ski resorts hurting for snow so far this year, this is a little something to get you stoked for when the snow really comes!

Here is a review of one of my favorite new Jackets from Arc'teryx for the 2011/2012 ski season The Rush Jacket


My favorite feature of the Rush Jacket is: How light weight and flexible the jacket is.  You hardly feel like you have a jacket on while wearing it, its so light.  The fit is also relaxed easily allowing you to layer under the jacket as necessary.  Even though this jacket is super light, it is incredibly warm, living in Jackson Hole I deal with some of the harshest winters of anywhere in the lower 48, but normally i just wear a Arc'teryx RHO LT under it and stay plenty warm.  I also love the high collar and helmet compatible hood, this allows you to tuck your chin and face behind the jacket when the wind really starts to blow, and helps keep you warm on those cold chair lift rides.  The pockets and zippers are also very well designed in that you can use the zippers and get into the pockets while keeping your gloves on.  In addition If you ski in a backpack most days like I do, being able to get to the pockets while wearing a backpack is a huge feature.



The style of the jacket is simple and smooth:  No matter what color you choose in the Rush jacket you will look great on the hill as well during apres ski.  The color designs are both simple, yet stand out,  You wont be missed out on the hill while wearing a Rush jacket.  


One of the biggest keys to a ski jacket is toughness and durability of the outer fabric and the Rush as well as any Arc'teryx jacket will not disappoint .  The Gore-Tex pro shell used in the Rush is both extremely waterproof, while still providing excellent breathability and durability.  This jacket gives you the confidence that you will be able to wear it for years to come and it will perform the same as the first day you used it.   
 

The bottom line to this review is that the Rush is a great and versatile jacket that can be worn in the stormiest conditions mother nature can dish out, to a stylish Jacket you can comfortably wear around town.  I love this jacket, and would recommend it to anyone from an aspiring pro skier to the person who gets out for a couple weekends a year.  Not only will you look great on the hill, but wearing it around the city you will look both stylish, yet still have all the waterproofness and warmth you have come to expect from Arc'teryx.  

Opening Day Weekend in Jackson

Chairlift smiles

Finishing day one off right

Lisa all smiles

 The 2011-2012 season in Jackson hole started off with a bang this past weekend.  It was not quite the opening of last winter, but with the Gondola, Thunder, Marmot, Casper, AV and Teewinot open there was certainly plenty of terrain to play on.  The snow was a bit thin in places, but the sun was out all weekend making the conditions soft.  A band of high pressure is stuck over Jackson, with not much snow in the forecast it looks like it may be a few more days of ripping the groomers and bump lines.

Lisa and Mark having fun on the slopes

Winter kickoff party!

Its that time of year again!  The start of a new ski season, and once again the great people at Smith, Skullcandy and new this year Spacecraft are throwing a locals appreciation party at the Mangy Moose!  So come out for some good times, lots of free gear and help celebrate another winter in Jackson!

First Turns of the Year

Karen makes some light powder turns

Keegan enjoys the pow

 For the first time of the 2011-2012 ski season, I made it out to make some pow turns.  My roommate Keegan, our friend Karen and I skied first turn on Mt. Glory on Teton Pass.  The parking lot was fairly crowded as we geared up in a light snow and wind.  As we hiked higher the wind picked up, but the snow slowed.  Our pace was fairly slow as this was the first hike of the winter season for the three of us.  Once we reached the top, we dropped in to First Turn.  The top was fairly thin, as it usually is. However, once we got into it the snow was wonderful.  Soft powder, with not many tracks.  The wind was blowing pretty hard, and the visibility was poor.  We all skied tentatively, as the base is not to deep yet.  All three of us hit at least one semi buried rock, but overall the run was great.  Some really fun pow turns to kick off the winter.  With the resort opening saturday with over 3000 feet of vertical, this was a great way to get out and get the legs used to the winter hiking and skiing.  It looks like snow for the next three days followed by some sun for opening weekend.  Overall it was great to get out for the first time.  My new gear from Fischer Skis, Arc'teryx and Smith all preformed flawlessly!

Man Day

 With one of our good friend Travis Owen about to head back to Chicago for work we decided we needed a man day!  What is a man day lots of activities that involve beer, men and sports!  The crew of Matt and Jeff Annetts, Travis Owen, Eric Worth, Spencer Mortan and I did just that yesterday 8/25/11.  The day started off with a bike ride, then straight to mini golf at Snow King.  Once the mornings activities were over it was up to the lake.  Jackson Lake sits about 45 minutes north of Jackson in Grand Teton national Park.  travis has a boat he keeps on the lake so the 6 of us piled into his truck and with beer and sandwiches in hand up we went.  When we got to the lake there was a pretty good Teton thunderstorm in progress, and as the weather goes it cleared up in minutes and we had a perfetly calm Jackson Lake at our disposal.  After several games of "extreme" botchee ball and some swimming, it was time to get the board and skis out.  We all took turns wakeboarding and water skiing.  Then it was back to town for a BBQ and then the world famous Stagecoach for Disco night!  All in all a great day with the boys!!

Phelps Lake Rock

Phelps lake is a Grand Teton National park favorite.  A short 1.2 mile hike from the Rockafeller Center puts you at the base of Death Canyon and Phelps Lake.  The Lake is usually pretty warm, though early season, when its completely snow run off it can be a bit refreshing.  The jump rock located on the Northwest shore offers a great opertunity to enjoy the lake.  Its about a 20-25 foof drop into very deep water.  On a warm day the rock will be crowded with locals and tourists alike enjoying the sun, jumping, and of course a few beers. 

Tandem Flying at The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Last week I took good friend, photographer, kick ball team member and Marketing department employee Julie Weinberger for a Tandem flight for the Gondola as part of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's Summer Adventure series.  here is what we got!  Enjoy

Jackson Lake is ON!

As the weather heats up and the snow finally starts to melt, that means one thing for us.  Jackson Lake on the weekends.  Its pretty hard to argue that Jackson Lake is the most scenic lake in the country and up there in the world,  With the 13,660 foot Grand Teton and the 12,605 Mt. Moran practically coming out of the lake, makes for some great backdrops while wakeboarding and wake surfing.  The weekends are suprisingly not to crowded, and when the wind dies you can get some epic riding done with jaw dropping backgrounds.  Plus its just winderfull being on the water!

Speed Flying in Jhole

Here is a link to short edit i put together from speed flying the Butte's around the Jackson Hole area this spring and summer.  Enjoy  http://vimeo.com/26388883

Matt Annetts turns 31

June 30th our good friend a d frequent sending partner Matthew James Annetts turned 31, so of course we went on some adventures, starting the day off with some paragliding with Jackson Hole Paragliding, next we grabbed a raft from Jackson Hole Whitewater, and hit the snake just days before the river peaked for the season.  We hit the canyon at 24,000 cfs.  The rapids were great super fun wave trains especially the new DD rapid and lunch counter.  Post white water it was dinner at Pica's, then horse shoes at Cutty's followed of course by disco night at the Coach.  All together a great send day!

Panic and the 4th

The Fourth of July weekend in Jackson saw sunny weather, lots of BBQ's and 3 nights of Widespread Panic at Grand Targhee.  The shows drew over 4000 people handing out listending to music in the majestic backdrop of the Tetons.  Through out the weekend plenty of Red, White and Blue Budweisers were put back, horse shoes were thrown, hot dogs eaten and festive dogs ran the place.  Overall the paragliding was epic, the sun shown, the food was plentiful and Panic rocked out.  Overall another wonderful weekend in the Hole.  To cap the weekend off the town of Jackson provided                                                    a wonderful firework show at Snow King.

The flying is getting good!

Lots of Snow on launch

Flying Hadley Hammer off the Tram

Matt Combs playing on the Bowl

With the summer off to a slow start in the hole, the paragliding conditions have been less than ideal.  With most of our launch sites burred under 10+ feet of snow getting off the hill have been a challenge,

Jackson Lake

Summer has finally hit the Jackson Hole area.  Temperatures are climbing into the 80's which means its time to get out of the lake.  With the huge snow pack, the water is still super cold with winter snow melt, last week the water temp was hovering in the 40's. A bit cold but great times none the less.  Its just nice to be out on the water again.  Lets the good times and blackberry margaritas begin to flow!

Cat sking

Just got down to SLC for a little shooting and cat skiing fun with Arc'teryx!  Park City Powder Cats!  Will post pics tomorrow!  Should be good

January Pow

 January has just continued the great snow that blessed Jackson Hole in December.  Every couple days the mountain get a few more inches and the wind blows everything back smooth.  We have been getting after it in the post christmas lull.  With walk on Trams almost every day, stable snow pack, and even some blue sky, its been a productive January!  Were are a few photos proving my point.

A Dub nice little air

Tyler Horne charging Zero G

Andrew Whiteford deep.  By Julie Weinberger

Pow day

Base Jump Video

Check out this edit by Karl Steslicke of a huge crew of us base jumping and speed flying off the Rock Springs Butress http://vimeo.com/10481785