THE MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE PASS

Here is an interesting new option that will enable discounted skiing & riding in Aspen, Jackson Hole, Alta, Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows...the MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE PASS. 

Great if you want to be on the move this winter, ready to go where the snow lands, or just don't want to commit to a season pass locally until you know what the snow is going to do. 

The Mountain Collective Pass 
Four dream destinations 
8 tickets included (2 days at each resort) 
No blackout dates 
Unlimited 50% discount on lift tickets at all 4 resorts
Lodging up to 25% off
COST $379

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I haven't missed a hurricane in nine years." 
                                 - Frank Merritt, regarding the swell in Florida

Reef 1, Frank 0

                  

The FINELINE girls' Alaska Rendezvous Photoshoot

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I can see how snowboarding is more fun than skiing...
it is like sledding, but standing up.

                                                      -Amber Franze

Swatch Freeride World Tour 2013

According to the Freeride World Tour press release, this year's hallmark extreme skiing and snowboarding events - the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR, Freeskiing World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding - will unite in a merger that combines all three tours under one unified global 5-star championship series. The new six-stop world tour, the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE, will include free skiing and big mountain snowboarding at each stop.

Freeride World Tour dates 2012:

1. Swatch Freeride World Tour Revelstoke 2013 by The North Face (yeah Revy!)
Dates:   7 - 12  January; Location: Revelstoke (CAN)
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard

2. Swatch Freeride World Tour Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2013 by The North Face
Dates: 26 January - 1 February; Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (FRA)
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard 

3. Swatch Freeride World Tour Kirkwood 2013 by The North Face
Dates: 27 February - 3 March; Location: Kirkwood (USA)
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard 

4. Swatch Freeride World Tour Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal 2013 by The North Face
Dates: 9 - 15 March; Location: Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal (AUT)
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard 

5. Stop No5 in Europe - Location To Be Confirmed

6. Swatch Verbier Xtreme 2013 by The North Face
Dates: 23 - 31 March; Location: Verbier (SUI)
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard

Pete Hunter's Offseason Exploits

This summer and fall Pete Hunter can be found exploring the endless trails surrounding Aspen as he covers more ground on his dirtbike. We think this is excellent cross training for snowmobiling.

Winter Wrap Up 2011-12

High flyin' heli action in Valdez, Alaska

Winter in Colorado was short, about two months worth of half-decent ski area conditions from January 10th or so till mid-March. The backcountry left a lot to be desired, as it was sparsely covered, wind affected and dangerous. Lots of people wrecked their sleds or themselves. After Meesch was caught in an avalanche she triggered during the Snowboard Freeride Co-op's Backyard BBQ Shredfest, the boys suspended part of their freeride project for this season. A second event to be held in Mammoth was cancelled. This accompanied various other cancellations and rescheduling which affected North Face Masters competitions and the Colorado Freeride Championships.

Most Orange Extreme Team riders set out for deeper snow.  Kaelin, AJ, Onna, and Tyler all hit the road. Tyler and Onna attended the first annual Tailgate BC in Revelstoke, with amazing snow conditions and fun across the board: awesome riding at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, insane sled access right from town, and dreamy heli boarding with Eagle Pass Heliskiing.

Onna and Ty then joined Kaelin and AJ at Tailgate Alaska in Valdez, where that dynamic duo worked for Big Mountain Taxi and did a stellar job getting people up high for big lines. Tyler and Kaelin both competed in the Flow World Freeride Championships during Tailgate AK, the pinnacle invitational big mountain snowboarding event founded by Mark Sullivan.

Kaelin Bamford and AJ Smollen, decked out in LOKI Gear, gettin' it done.

Brandon and Onna stokin' on the heli

Brandon Reid had an amazing season, also heading up to Alaska to learn to be a big mountain heli guide. He did well in his rookie season with a start-up heli operation out of Valdez. He was the first and original sponsored athlete on Team Orange. We're talking early Colorado Freeride Series and NFM Kirkwood 2009 days. Brandon has become an accomplished big mountain snowboarder, winning the Flow World Freeride Championships, also known as the King of the Hill. He was all smiles on heli finals day, even more so when he hoisted the samurai sword as champion and took home $10,000 prize money.

Dave Watson realized a big mountain dream when he was invited to shoot a snowboard video with Johann in British Columbia for a film project that is sponsored in part by Venture Snowboards. They rode and filmed in the backcountry of Nelson, BC, using splitboards to access the terrain.

Watson having an orange day

This spring Dave continues his backcountry hits tour in Oregon, and has recently ridden North Sister, Paulina Peak and Mt. Washington. Check out his freeride projects and photos on the Snowboard Freeride Co-op website.

North Face of Broken Top, Oregon

Onna and Pete chillin' at Alaska Rendezvous

Peter Hunter underwent a second knee surgery to remove hardware one year after shattering his patella while heliboarding in Valdez last spring. He spent most of this season snowmobiling prior to going back under the knife, exploring the backcountry near and around Steamboat. He plans to be up and running,  and Alaska-ready next winter.

Our other Pete (John Peyton) Hunter, Orange Extreme's top model, experienced Silverton Mountain for the first time this season, which included a day of heliboarding. He loved it and gave it major good reviews. He has already launched what is going to be a sick dirt biking season in Aspen. Spring in Aspen is feeling like summer, and the dirt bike trails are more than ready, they are perfect. Pete is filming his adventure rides on Go-Pro, stay tuned for his footage.

Pete Hunter in the Orange Extreme ball cap

Due to injuries sustained snowboarding the day before the King of the Hill, Onna was unable to compete in the Flow World Freeride Championships. She had really been looking forwrad to the event, as well as the opportunity for another top-10 finish. She placed 8th in the event last year.  The good news is that she lived to ride another day, and is currently doing intensive physical therapy to rehab her shoulder.  The story of the avalanche that ripped her off the mountain has been featured in the Aspen Times, and will soon also be included in this blog. Onna has been invited to compete in the World Heli Challenge in New Zealand this August, and hopes to be ready to ride in time for this renowned event.   

Onna ecstatic after an epic day of heliboarding with Alaska Rendezvous Guides

Revelstoked at Tailgate BC

Rollin' into Banff

On March 4th Orange Extreme Team rolled Northwest to the land of Big Snow, with trucks and sleds, to join the crew at the first annual Tailgate British Columbia in Revelstoke.  Twenty-two hours on the road took us on a scenic tour through Jackson Hole, greater Montana, Calgary and Banff National Park... and the legendary Powder Highway.

Downtown Banff

After all that driving, we took a day off to shred Lake Louise, which just had a good snowstorm.

How a base lodge should be

The spectacular scenery of Lake Louise was eye candy as we explored this huge mountain of 4200 acres on a powder day.

There we met a new friend, and sick rider, Ian Crawford. He happens to be Andrew Crawford's brother, who retired from professional snowboarding to pursue a career in aerospace engineering with NASA. Needless to say, Ian and I found the goods and shralped the gnar. Ian is an entrepreneur who started a visionary business designing custom furniture from recycled wine barrels, you can check out his unique work at Vinoture. He has a fabulous smile and is pretty much a rockstar, to boot.

Ian Crawford and Onna Konicek stokin' on Lake Louise tree runs

The stellar day at Lake Louise was followed by a stop at Snowpulse in Golden, BC, where we picked up our new avalanche airbag packs. We are thrilled by the awesomeness and high quality of our new avalanche airbags. Equiping our team with Snowpulse packs was made possible by Chuck Gorton at Snowpulse who supports the Orange Extreme Big Mountain Snowboard Team.

Snowpulse office in Golden

On March 8th we all started trickling in to the scene of action at the Great White North, where things were in full swing with snow safety education, snowmobile tours, and heli bookings.

Mark and Liz Sullivan and the Tailgate Crew had tons of fun in store for us Revelers, with parties, lift ticket deals, and exclusive heliboarding access to 270,000 acres in the Monashees provided by Eagle Pass Heliskiing (they fly in snowstorms...hardcore!) Aron arrived on March 9th to join the fun.

Our guide, Chevy, coined the term "Unbelievabiliality" to describe the epic off-the-charts stoke we experienced riding bottomless powder, an infinite supply of giant pillows and playful gullies in the famous Monashee trees. Aron and I were fortunate to have him all to ourselves for several runs and some of the best powder riding ever.

Heli Day: Aron Ralston and Onna Konicek with their guide Chevy.
Revelin' in Unbelievabiliality

Aron and I were blown away by the exceptional skill of the pilots, who flew in the buffeting winds of a snowstorm, skirting peaks and skimming just above the pine tree tops for reference. We had a blast, and will definitely be back next year for Tailgate BC 2013. We hope you will join us in the Revelrie!

Orange Extreme and LOKI unite

Jess Rigg of LOKI Gear came to Aspen last weekend to visit and check out what Orange Extreme has going on, taking time out of his maxed-out schedule for some mountain fun. We had a classic hot waxing session and tried on Loki jackets, then hit the town. Jess introduced me to my new favorite: anejo Tequila with a cinnamon-dusted orange :)

Jess waxing up a storm

On Sunday we took Jess out for a tour of Snowmass, shredding The Wall and Burnt Mountain.

Maroon Bells in the distance

It was definitely a stash tour, as we were a few days out from new snowfall, and blustery winds had ripped the snow off the high peaks.

Pete Hunter crosses the pond

This marks the beginning of an exciting new relationship between Loki and Orange Extreme. We will be product testing Loki outerwear this spring, and look forward to future collaboration. Be sure to check out Loki's website, where Orange Extreme Team rider Kaelin Bamford is featured. 

Onna and Jess stokin'

Many thanks to Jess and Loki for spicing up the weekend!

Quote of the Day

"I'm totally ready to fly by the seat of my pants, as long as I'm prepared for it."  
                                                                                              - Jordan Curet 2/27/12

ROAD TRIP

 

Kaelin and AJ heading northwest

As you know, Kaelin Bamford and AJ Smollen are off on a major road trip with a mission: get to Alaska and ride as much powder as possible on the way. They left Aspen on February 11th and have made it through Washington state, where Kaelin competed in the North Face Masters at Crystal Mountain. They are hittin' it hard in Squamish, BC right now, ultimately bound for Valdez and Tailgate AK. Check out their pics photographed by AJ Smollen. Kaelin is sponsored by LOKI, the Colorado-based maker of extremely cool, and highly functional, outerwear and accessories. Two of this year's Loki jackets are pictured below.

Kaelin chutin' the gap in a LOKI Meta Snowsport Jacket. Horseshoe Chutes, Crystal Mountain

Hikin' the ridge. Kaelin out in front in the LOKI Tak Light Shell Jacket.

TAILGATE BC and TAILGATE ALASKA: a lot to look forward to.

TAILGATE ALASKA AND TAILGATE BRITISH COLOMBIA are happenin! It's a very exciting 2012 with these high-poppin' big mountain events coming up soon.

Tailgate BC March 8-12 in Revelstoke

Tailgate AK April 1-12 at Thompson Pass

Be there!

KAELIN HITS THE ROAD

Kaelin Bamford is heading to Alaska! He set off on February 11th with photographer AJ Smollen in a fort on wheels - a super sweet camper rigged up on his truck, towing two sick sleds. This is the long haul, destination Valdez via the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Their first big stop is Crystal Mountain, Washington, where Kaelin is planning to compete in the North Face Masters. Stay tuned for updates on Kaelin's adventures.

A Very Orange Team

ORANGE EXTREME Riders:
Casey Vandenbroek, Onna Konicek, Dave Watson, Kaelin Bamford, John Hunter, Pete Hunter

Pete Hunter ripping

A taste of the deep pow action 

Aspen and Silverton top the powder charts

A much needed snowstorm has hit the rockies, bringing champagne powder with totals of 14" at Aspen  and Snowmass Mountains, and 19" at Silverton.  The new snow has bumped the avalanche danger to CONSIDERABLE for most slopes except South and Southwest aspects below treeline.  Things look good with snow in the forecast for much  of the week ahead. So get out there and get some! And wear your armor, as the overall coverage is still shallow and hidden obstacles are likely. 

Orange Extreme welcomes "Bionic" Peter Hunter to the team!

Pete going for it in deep pow