Greg Pronko and Mike O’Reilly got sick of shipping snowboards and displays in oversized boxes stuffed with landfill-clogging Styrofoam peanuts. The bloated shipping costs bothered the founders of Glissade Snowboards and Bender Brothers almost as much as the destructive environmental effects. Their newest venture, Eco Ship, provides lower-volume, sustainable shipping supplies like biodegradable, corn-based polymer bags, foam and boxes. “These are the biggest materials in the garbage,” explains Pronko, “so we reached for the lowest-hanging fruit.” Pronko, who is talking with Amazon, is also working toward an discounted ski/snowboard industry prices. “Right now the bio materials are too expensive,” Pronko says, “but there will be a tipping point and we hope to be there when it tips.”
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The annual pond crossing at the bottom of KT-22 is scheduled for tomorrow, which is also the last day of the season for KT. Check out video of the crossing > I’ll post photos of tomorrow’s event here tomorrow. Also, friend, neighbor and heli ski guide at Points North just returned from Alaska. I’ll post a report and a slide show here soon.
On a stormy April afternoon in 1978, the Cable Car at Squaw Valley came off of one of its cables, dropped 75 feet and then bounced back up, colliding with a cable which sheared through the car. Four people were killed and thirty-one were injured. Robert Frohlich tells the full story of the Squaw Cable Car tragedy and the heroic rescue effort in this Moonshine article >>
The birds are making noise, the snow is melting and temperatures are supposed to reach 67 degrees today in Truckee. Despite the huge snows we received in January, the snowpack has dipped slightly below average. But there’s still plenty of snow in the mountains and spring skiing is excellent: firm in the mornings, creamy from 11-1 and getting slushy in the afternoons. It was a big season for Squaw in more ways that the snow. Patrol opened more terrain in Silverado and extended the boundary in Sun Bowl. Even more terrain at a mountain that was anything but lacking terrain to begin with!
Next to powder, corn snow is the most fun to ski. So live it up this weekend because a cold front with gusty winds will likely move in on Sunday night and firm it all up.
Check out new shades from companies like Spy, Smith, Dragon, Electric, Giro, Uvex and Zeal.
Preview new sunglasses for 2008-09 here >>
Here’s a preview of new helmets and goggle systems for 2008-09, including descriptions of features and photos, from all the major manufactures: Smith, Giro, Salomon, Electric, Spy, Scott, Dragon, Marker, Zeal, Swans, K2, Bolle and Uvex.
This season is just starting to wind down, but manufactures are already ramped up for next season with their new lines of fatties and twins. Here’s a preview of new skis for 2008-09, including dimensions and photos, from all the major manufactures: Rossignol, Palmer, Karhu, Dynastar, Elan, Icelantic, K2, Line, Movement, High Society Freeride, Scott, Volkl, Salomon, Black Diamond, Atomic, Fischer and 4FRNT.
Opedix sent me a pair of its new Knee Action Ski & Board tights to test last month. They’re reinforced with extra supportive material running down the outside of the legs from waist to ankle and completely surrounding the knee. The added support was notable when I wore them downhill skiing, x-c skiing and while practicing yoga. Instead of having to focus on tightening the quad, hamstrings and glutes, the muscles felt like they were already tightened and engaged, letting me make the next turn or stride more powerfully and easily. Read the full review here >
I just got a new wheeled carry-on bag from High Sierra! Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, High Sierra is the official bag supplier for the US Ski and Snowboard teams. The best thing about this carry-on is that it’s not black! Mine is bright green, sure not to be mistaken for someone else’s on the conveyor. It’s also made of ultra-durable fabric and packed with thoughtful features. The main bag has wheels and zip-out shoulder straps. A detachable backpack also zips on to the front in case you decide to check the bag or for easier transport when your bags aren’t checked. All the compartments are well-padded and it’s got dual-sided water bottle pockets and an mp3 player headphone port. It’s the small things like this that keep me from feeling like as much of a junk show while navigating through airport security.
After our recent storm and all the ones that hit in January, the snow levels in the mountains are high (a friends’ 7-year-old skied Squaw’s Main chute yesterday) and I’m off to the tropics! I leave for Hawaii tomorrow for some diving, snorkeling, surfing and general beach loungery. Sadly, I won’t be skiing or writing during the week I’m there. But you can ski on Hawaii. Mauna Kea on the Big Island is almost 14,000 feet and covered with snow. You can drive to the top and the 360-degree view from the summit is spectacular. I’ll try to grab some photos of it while I’m there. Aloha!
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