Author Archives: Jill Adler

Snowbird Freeride Comp Gets Them Amped

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I’m going to give it to you straight. The skiing out here really doesn’t suck as much as you think it should. I’m not saying this because someone gave me a lift ticket or free hotel stay (and I still wouldn’t sugarcoat our ski conditions; I want your trust). I’m saying this because I had a hard time believing the news myself.

We’ve had record-breaking warm temps all week, zero new snow, and heavy traffic at the resorts. Park City Mountain Resort had half-hour lines on a Friday! In my mind, conditions were hardpack on the groomed and hacked-off bumps everywhere else, crispy/crunchies in the trees. When friends skied Canyons Resort last weekend and announced things were “surprisingly good with creamy, buttery groomers and…light, loose snow in north-facing bowls” I had to ski it for myself to believe it.

After three days of aborted attempts (I dashed to don my ski garb first thing in the morning only to find myself sitting behind my computer making excuses for why I wasn’t heading out), I finally rallied. I used the Subaru Freeskiing comp at Snowbird as my motivator.

Photo courtesy Mountain Sports Int’l

Utah’s Mountain Sports International (MSI) is producing the premiere big mountain comp for the 18th season in both North and South America. This is the first stop on the four-event tour. The next SFS event will be March 4 in Telluride, Colo. The champions in both snowboarding and skiing will be crowned at the finals in Big Sky, Mont., March 25.

I stopped into the Cliff, grabbed my media credential and scooted up the Peruvian Lift. The winds kicked up as I hovered over Anderson’s and it grew increasingly wild. I got off and traversed skiers left past the trees, following the wind blown. Untracked and foamy. Sweet, I thought. It was a mixture of flour and pine cones.

I stopped at the comp arena to snap a couple of photos and was nearly blown into the bystanders by the 60 mph winds. It was raging at 120 mph at the top of Silver Fox where the ladies of skiing and boarding lined up for their run. They braved the line (though many biffed) to emerge with the top 13 women that will move into the finals tomorrow (Sunday). The wind put the kibosh on the mens’ runs so off I went to scout the Gad 2 terrain. It was really the only lift left. The Tram, Peruvian, Little Cloud, Mineral; all done for the day thanks to the wind.

Photo courtesy Mountain Sports Int’l

I followed the snow into the trees to skier’s left of Gadzooks and, voile, it was winter again. The snow was soft and caressing. Not deep but any standards but pliable. Everything I sought northfacing felt the same. A smile crept into my day as the trees protected me and the snow from the whipping wind. I forgot everything but my turns. That’s what skiing does to me. The bumps were smallish and soft too until the shots off Gad Gully. Those moguls were huge and firm. I rode up again for more. Soon it was time to head down. There were some patches of hardpack as I worked my way from Gad 2 to the Tram dock but nothing as rough as I had imagined. I wanted more but threats of stronger winds the next day kept me from making plans. Besides, I needed to pack for Jackson. My Wyoming adventure was near.

Organizers decided to postpone the Saturday SFS finals because of more forecasted wind (that never materialized) and will run them today (Sunday) instead. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for sunny, clear skies and low wind. Competitors will be up above North Baldy to drop in at 10 a.m. You can tune in to watch the event live at www.subarufreerideseries.com.

UPDATE:

LCC local Grant Howard won over the judges and crowd finishing first in men’s ski. In men’s snowboarding semis/finals, it was Snowbird local Harrison Fitch, 19, and Jonathan Penfield who took the show. Fitch did a never-before-in-competition front side rodeo-7 that blew the crowd away.

Since women ski and snowboard competed on Friday, their finals were based on a combined score of the two days. The top three women maintained the points to podium. Ashley Bembenek from Crested Butte, skied a fast, solid line to maintain her first place semi results for the win but it was Freeride Series veteran Crystal Wright who had the “winning run of the day,” with a huge, bold straightline air at the bottom that earned a major Sickbird nomination. 

HOW IT PLAYED OUT

Women’s Snowboard

1. Audrey Hébert, 112.50

2. Erika Vikander, 110.17

3. Robyn Borneman, 109.33

 

Women’s Ski

1. Ashley Bembenek, 131.33

2. Kele Thorsen, 129.00

3. Alaina Huestis, 127.67

 

Men’s Snowboard

1. Jonathan Penfield, 67.33

2. Harrison Fitch, 66.33

3. Cooper Kahlenberg, 62.00

 

Men’s Ski

1. Grant Howard, 75.00

2. Lars Chickering-Ayers, 74.00

3. Andrew Pollard, 72.67

 

SIA15: Big Lids Coming; Helmets in 2016

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It used to be that the toughest hurdle to finding the perfect helmet was fit. You looked for a good lid with a legit safety rating that didn’t sit on top of your head like a Q-Tip; and if it came in a more interesting color than white, black or graphite all the better. Then came adjustable straps, pads, built-in headphones, BOA nobs in back for customizable fit, venting, and the fact that everyone was getting into the helmet game, and soon choosing which helmet to buy became as tough as what toppings to put on your pizza.

helmets in 2016

Salomon’s lightweight backcountry helmet is just at home touring as it is rockclimbing.

Gauging from what’s on display at SIA 2015, tomorrow’s helmets will be getting even more complex as safety awareness in the backcountry and freeride country gets respect. Materials, construction and fine tuning should be enough to make you retire your old brain bucket and pick up one of these shiny, new babies.

Whether companies use the MIPS Brain Protection System developed by a Swedish company to address multi-directional impacts or create their own proprietary protection designs, helmets for 2015/16 are decidedly safer as well as cooler (literally and figuratively). POC’s ultra-light Jeremy Jones Pro Model and Formix Backcountry MIPS with an anti-stink liner are proof that all the rad kids are wearing helmets in the backcountry.

helmets in 2016

In fact helmet use nationwide is at an all-time high as companies find ways to make brain buckets more attractive and smart. The latest technologies focus on separating the outer shell from the inner lining to absorb the acceleration of the force; think bending your knees as you land versus landing with straight legs.

Sweet Protection has taken their whitewater helmets to the snow. The Grimnir Helmet with MIPS is made of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer and “impact shields” on the front and back. It’s also the only helmet on the market certified to work even if you’ve mounted a POV camera on it.

helmets in 2016

The Giro Range not only uses MIPS but a “Conform Fit” system to make a two-piece shell that conforms to your personal head shape for a low-profile, snug fit.

Uvex (pronounced OOO-VEX I just learned) has developed Octo+ for a soft, beanie-like fit no matter what your head shape. It also allows air to circulate more freely. helmets in 2016

There’s no excuse anymore not to protect head. Now all we need to do is figure out how to keep our brains safe at the speeds most of us travel. Currenty, beginners are psyched because these buckets are designed for protection at speeds between 12 and 14 mph. Too bad they falter at the speeds advanced skiers and riders normally attack (25-30mph). Perhaps at SIA2016 we’ll see more helmets that address this statistic.

Now that you’ve picked out your helmet here’s our cub reporter Sage Adler with tips on how to dress it up.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHnGQ1ckTXs&w=420&h=315]

The Show Must Go On; SIA 2015 Starts NOW

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SIA 2015

It’s not winter in the west. At least it doesn’t feel like it. People in Utah are biking to work and rock climbing outdoors. Then you look at the east and they’re rejoicing in western-like snow conditions (at least in the mountains). The world weather is doing flipflops and snowsports consumers don’t know what to predict for the future.

Regardless, more than 18,000 snow industry professionals will converge on Denver to hype the enthusiasm for winter sports and forecast trends for 2016. Thousands of next season’s products will be on display at the annual Snowsports Industry of America Show this weekend at the Colorado Convention Center.

The massive event is the place for alpine and snowboard buyers, reps and media to get a sneak peak at hardgoods, apparel, and accessories, and to learn about the latest trends in the industry through panel discussions, seminars and face time with those in the know. “All of us at Smith (Optics) look forward to SIA every year,” Cassie Abel told the SIA news team. “It’s a chance for us to reconnect with old friends and partners, see the progression of the snowsports industry, and get plenty of work done.” Josh Roberts, president of Milosport said, “SIA is important to maintain relationships, see complete line offerings from our brands and catch up with old friends.”

The mantra at these events always seems to be about “growing the sport” and this year is no different. The focus for SIA is about engaging backyard (and backcountry) participants- kids that are building jumps in their driveway, sledding in the woods and riding rails in their schoolyard- and selling them goods they can use anywhere.

Considering all the sketchiness attached to playing outside the boundaries it makes sense that we’ll see a lot of innovation and new technology in the accessories and helmet departments while boards and skis themselves will remain relatively the same. One thing we know from last year’s show is that we have pretty much kissed the super fatties goodbye. The popular waist-widths for next season will be between 98-110mm. The demand for alpine touring boots and bindings will continue to climb as both become higher performing without the additional weight.

As for ski design, we last season the way we’ve bid adieu to those epic powder days of the 2010 when we actually needed them. On the snowboarding side, boota and board designs stay simple with relatively little change.

No word yet on colors and styles for 2016 but the fabric technology takes advantage of the backcountry trend by making clothes that can easily morph from in to out of bounds. Helly Hansen has a new FLOW membrane to wick moisture from the skin, Patagonia’s making softshell/hardshell hybrid pants and jackets, and other companies are using four-way stretch in their outerwear for more fluid movement.

We may be hypothesizing but the big question at this year’s Show is going to have to be, “Who’s buying?” Retailers are still trying to sell through product from 2013, and airline baggage fees and $900 pricetags are encouraging those who might have purchased in the past to rent and demo instead. There are even companies like Get Outfitted that will rent you entire head-to-toe outfits for your trip.

The SIA show is a preview of what’s to come as well as an indicator of where we’re going. But no matter what the clime it will continue to spread optimism for the future of the ski industry which, out here in the west, we desperately need.

Follow #SIA15 and @pcskigal on Twitter for next season’s sneakpeak if you can’t make it to the show.

Lounging Around Sundance

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The theme song for Sundance could possibly be the one on the radio from Echo Smith- the chorus goes “I wish that I could be like the cool kids; cuz all the cool kids they seem to get in.” Oh, how true it is – many times a day- during the Sundance Film Festival.

We all wish we could be like the cool kids weaving in and out of the special sponsor lounges and suites peppering Main Street carrying paper bags filled with odd gadgets and beanies.

One of the cool kids

Bloggers are apparently the cool kids this year at Sundance. The hottest YouTube and Vine sensations are getting in on the networking here. I’m told that kids nowadays could care less about TV and film actors. They’re all about those three-minute wonders dishing on fashion, style, food or just themselves. (I couldn’t name a single one but I’m not under 13).

Companies staking tables inside Sundance lounges are responding like dogs to salami when you mention you blog. I tested it myself at the Talent Resources Suites inside the Blue Iguana Cafe. The reaction between saying “I’m a writer” versus “I’m a blogger” was mindboggling. The gal from Moose Knuckles outerwear couldn’t stop shaking my hand. I got all warm and fuzzy. I’d love to try out one of their coats.



We’ve already talked about the parties and the VIP party list, now let’s talk schmoozing. The gifting machine has changed quite a bit this year as advertising agencies try to figure out Park City’s latest batch of rules surrounding the operation of businesses as ‘pop ups’. A company (usually a branding agency) swoops in and rents a retail space on Main. Then they invite retail companies like Motorola or Sorel or Ex Officio to take a corner for meet and greets, gifting and photo opps.


Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte chatting up Westrock Coffee

Every year at Sundance, licensing for sponsors and sponsor booths gets more complicated and this year is no exception. “For some reason no matter how buttoned up or how experienced we are there is nothing easy about it,” said Talent Resources CEO Mike Heller about his company’s TR Suites. “The festival doesn’t love the pop up gifting suites so they make it extra hard to execute.” Heller says they work closely with the town to make sure they follow complete protocol. “Each year new rules and regulations are created that we have to make sure we update and adhere to.” TRS has been hosting brands for seven years.


The basic gist of the latest rule change is that every single business within a rented space that wants to gift has to get its own business license. The parent company who runs the space can purchase an umbrella license and save the other companies the hassle but there’s a deadline and there are stipulations. Then if you want to serve alcohol or food or be open late at night you’ve got even more rules to contend with. So it’s no surprise that there was less gifting and more massaging. “Gifting’s out. The trend is about creating a unique experience,” said Kate Elfatah. She started as a designer of the cutest kids dresses and she was hooked after her first experience showcasing at Sundance. Three years later, she’s running her own

Bang & Olufsen Lounge where film guests, VIPs and media can come for the pampering. There are massages, hair stylists, makeup artists, even eyelash extension appointments.

BeforeAfter

The space is also used for panel discussions and private parties. She did bring in clients for a tiny bit of exclusive gifting, however, and I doubt anyone’s complaining (or not taking).

Jaybird is featuring their new Reign fitness bracelet and app and the wonderful Urban Decay make-up gal reminded me why I love their Naked Foundation.


The Eddie Bauer Adventure House basically offered a place for a drink, cup of coffee with Califia Almond Milk, chat with an athlete and a chairlift photo while you’re sprinkled with fake snow made of bubbles. At night they had parties.


At Lipton Lounge you taste their new canned lemonade, you jump into a box of plastic balls, get a massage and have your nails done.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKNgv10F28E&w=560&h=315]

The EcoLuxe Lounge had a mixture of both experience and gifting. Plus, hosting at Cisero’s, they had the best food! I’d take pizza and spaghetti over a jar of lotion any day. They offered seated chair massages, open bar, makeup applications (with a gift of J. Andre natural cosmetic sponges)


and you could slide your feet into a cozy pair of Pakems you customize yourself while you lounged.


The TR Suites offered the more original gifting experience and celebs like Walking Dead’s Laurie Holden and Jane The Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez were clamoring for the swag.


Gifting is still the ideal way to get your products in the hands of influencers. It’s one thing to look at something it’s another to be able to take it home and play with it.

I loved being able to give the evil eye to those companies who don’t get that. Alex and Ani were showing off their new collection and it was fun to see them there.


Speaking of seeing, Vuarnet is back! The undeniably French brand that covered every skier’s eyes in the 80s fell off the map but with new owners and US distributors, the company is using Sundance to launch and rebrand themselves. The frames with glass lenses retail from $180-$500 and the company will position themselves as a luxury brand. I can’t remember how I could afford the Cateyes back then as a highschooler and now I really can’t imagine buying a pair. Fortunately, I was gifted my very own pair of with Polarlynx lenses.


CAT footwear was back and celebs were scooping up the boots. Nothing was left in my size but I’m still wearing a pair that look as great now as they did when CAT gave them to me.


UK brand Superdry has been at Sundance before but this time they partnered with TR to gift jackets.


TR Suites also had food like the very yummy Mellow Mushroom Pizza (now located in Sugarhouse!), Jackson’s Honest Potato Chips one of the only chips made with healthier coconut oil instead of polyunsaturated vegetable oils, Yellow Tail Wine and Westrock Coffee (bringing beans from Rwanda and paying locals a fair wage.)

To be honest, as much as I loooovvvee free stuff I’m kind of glad there wasn’t more gifting. I’d be stuck at home writing instead of out mingling. Off to the races!

Party Party Party on Sundance

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I’m in. The line for the Skullcandy party wrapped around the building that housed the Downstairs nightclub on Main. It wasn’t moving. A thought dawned. I could go home. I could crawl into bed and rest my lids and accept the zzzs. But I go home every other night, every other time of the year (except when SIA was in Vegas). This was Sundance. The vibe is electric.

Then the line moved and I was in. Actually if I’m being honest, my friend Brian knows the CEO of Skullcandy and he got me in. The parties at Sundance are ridiculous. Ad agencies will build the hype for their clients, take 800 RSVPs for a spot with a max capacity of 100 then make everyone stand outside in the cold for an hour to make a tiny party where pretentious people stand around an open bar look popular. And don’t get me started on the doorguys. Most are local Park City dudes with a power complex. If you party regularly in Park City, you’re in. They don’t care what names are on what list. If they like you, you’re in. But I’m sure it’s the same in any city. The problem is when it happens to be 16 degrees outside. On the bright side, there are almost as many parties as there are films so try someplace else because “the list” doesn’t really matter. But sometimes it does. You just never know.

Zoe Kravitz and Chris Pine Photo Courtesy Skullcandy

Some parties you go just to say you were there; they offer nothing but a change of venue. Some are more intimate like The Agency’s Owners Lounge at the base of the Village at the Lift where you can stop in for a drink, some cheese and crackers, and actually have a conversation.

The OL was coordinated by developers of Victory Ranch near Kamas, Utah. The luxury home sites are attracting all sorts of Hollywood bigwigs as the investors/realtors have roots in that industry. I appreciated meeting everyone as they are now “Parkites” and my neighbors- even if they are “the beautiful people” and way out of my league.

Moving to the Downstairs I knew it would be more my scene- ski bums and Redbull. I came to support the local headphone giant and hear good live music. Zoe Kravitz and her band Lolawolf were about to rock the house.

photo courtesy Skullcandy

I prefer parties with something more. On my dance card is ChefDance (LOOOOVE Chefdance, more on that later), ICM/Beaulieu Vineyard reception, Louisiana International Film Festival Mascarade, the Filmmakers Press Reception, the BMI Snowball, and my all-time favorite bash, Catdance- the Catdance happens tonight.

It’s their third year in a row and the buzz is building. I mentioned to someone that I was ‘on the list’ and they said they had heard it was one of the best parties at Sundance. I can’t say they’re wrong. The location has moved so we’ll see if that makes a difference tonight. Tune into @pcskigal on Twitter to find me.

P.S. Please don’t ask me if I can get you in somewhere. It’s super hard and I’m often struggling just to get one friend to come in with me. Your best bet is to network during the day and take names and numbers. You’re golden when you know the doorguy or the head of the party. Or, if you’re extremely hot with lots of hot friends. And don’t fear, some of the best bars in town are open to everyone and filmmakers like to hideout there too. No Name, O’Shucks, The Spur, Butchers, Cisero’s, Flanagans, Prime (if you’re a winedrinker). Good luck!!


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