Polarmax® | The Base With Instinct

Polarmax® | The Base With Instinct

Winter driving tips by: The Ski Channel

We here at The Ski Channel love winter, for obvious reasons. It's by far our favorite season. There is, however, one aspect of the glorious days of white snow and cold air that we don't look forward to...driving. If you live in a ski town, you know what we're talking about. Driving in the winter when it's snowing a lot can be stressful, dangerous, and flat out hazardous. Never driven in snow? Check out an episode of last week's Daily Snow Fail to give you a taste...

So what steps can we take to bring us safer driving this winter? Well, part of it is common sense---drive slowly, don't make sudden stops, wear your seatbelt...but here's a full and comprehensive list of winter driving tips that are always welcome. Thanks to the Nevada Department of Transportation for this:

• Only travel in winter weather when necessary, leave enough time to safely reach your destination and plan your route to avoid snowy/icy areas and steep hills
• Before leaving home, check weather and road conditions
• Share your travel itinerary so others know when to expect you
• Remove snow and ice from all vehicle windows, mirrors, lights, turn signals and license plates
• Buckle up
• Turn on headlights to see and be seen
• Turn off cruise control
• Avoid quick starts, stops and fast turns. Accelerate, brake and steer smoothly and gradually
• Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions
• Do not slam on brakes. Apply steady pressure on ABS-equipped vehicles and pump the brakes if necessary on non-ABS vehicles
• Always comply with all posted chain requirements
• If your vehicle has snow tires, install and use them between October 1 and April 30
• Keep additional distance from other vehicles
• Watch carefully for snow removal equipment
• Do not pass without good distance and sight clearance
• Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses and shaded areas- they may freeze first
• Maintain a high fuel level
• If vehicle begins to skid, steer in direction of slide and slowly remove foot from accelerator
• Be aware of black ice
• If parked or stuck in snow, leave window slightly cracked for ventilation and make sure vehicle exhaust system is clear of snow
• Always carry tire chains, especially when traveling in mountain passes or typically snowy areas
• Remember – 4-wheel-drive vehicles cannot necessarily turn or stop any better than 2-wheel-drive vehicles

Carry these with you:

• Tire chains / tow strap
• Flashlight
• Spare batteries
• Ice scraper
• Cell phone for emergency communication
• Snow shovel
• Flares
• Jumper cables
• Small bag of sand for wheel traction
• Extra winter clothes / coat / gloves / socks
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Non-perishable foods / water
• First aid supplies / prescription medication
• Battery-operated radio
• Candles / matches or lighter
• State map for navigation in event of winter detour

And some snowplow safety:

• Use caution when following, passing or approaching snow removal equipment
• Drive a safe distance behind snowplows. Plows often travel slower than other vehicles to remove snow, apply sand and liquid anti-icers and assist stranded vehicles
• Before attempting to pass snow removal equipment, check direction of snow discharge to avoid snow and debris thrown from equipment. Remember that plows are wider than most vehicles and portions of the plow and blade may be obscured by blowing snow
• Don’t crowd the plow. Only pass snow removal vehicles when a safe, legal passing area is available and adequately clear of snow and/or treated with salt and sand
• Don’t travel beside a snowplow. They can shift sideways after hitting snow packs or drifts
• When a plow approaches you, allow the plow room to operate by reducing speed and moving to the right side of the road if there is room to safely do so
• Do not brake with unnecessary sudden movements when in front of a snowplow - plows cannot stop as quickly as an automobile
• Don’t drive through white out conditions caused by swirling snow around a snowplow. Safely pull to the side or slow to allow visibility to improve
• Remember that a snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you

Utahs first Winter snow

It finally happened. After 3 or 4 of the little teaser winter snow storms we had in October, winter may really be starting here in Utah.

I have not had the pleasure of riding the white goodness yet, so if you lucky few could send in some pictures of you skiing or snowboarding on the worlds greatest snow I would love it! I mean the people that find their way over from twitter will. I'm all about the people.

I will have snow totals in the morning on @Utahsnow , the twitter sidekick to this blog, but it looks and feels like winter is here in Utah to stay.

Keep doing the snow dance, it's working.

2009 Ski and Snowboard Shows

from: Mike Doyle's Blog

Here is a look at some major ski and snowboard shows and expos that are scheduled around North America this fall.

These shows are in major metropolitan areas and there are some in smaller cities, as well, that I don't have the dates for. So, watch the Sports or Entertainment sections of your local paper for dates and times of local ski shows near you.

November

• Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo, Denver, CO, November 13 - 15
• Bay Area Ski and Snowboard Show , San Jose, CA, November 13 - 15
• SnowJam Ski and Snowboard Show, San Diego, CA, November 13 - 15
• Silicon Valley Ski & Snowboard Festival, Santa Clara, CA, November 14 - 15
• Boston Globe Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Boston, MA, November 19 - 22
• SnowJam Ski and Snowboard Show, Las Vegas, NV, November 20-22
• Seattle SkiFever and Snowboard Show, Seattle, WA, November 20 - 22
• Sacramento Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Sacramento, CA, November 21 - 22

Second Utah Ski Resort Set to Open This Week

Second Utah Ski Resort Set to Open This Week

Solitude Mountain Resort launched the Utah ski and snowboard season this past Friday with its Moonbeam Express and Link chairlifts spinning, following a passholder-only sneak season preview on Thanksgiving. Now its neighbor, Brighton Resort, announced on Monday that it will get into the game as well this Wednesday, five days ahead of schedule.

Brighton will open for the 2009-10 season at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11 with limited trail access from the Majestic and Explorer lifts. Lift tickets are discounted to $30 for the Veterans Day opening.

The mountain is reporting 16 inches of snow at mid mountain.

"With colder temperatures coming to Utah on Thursday, our crews are hopeful that they will be able to open up additional lifts on the weekend," said Brighton spokesperson, Jared Winkler.

Solitude remains open with lift ticket rates reduced to $39 for ages 14 and up, and $29 for juniors 7-13 . Children 6 and under ski free.

Other Utah resorts are scheduled to open for the winter season as follows:

• Alta: Nov. 20, 2009
• Beaver Mountain: TBA
• Brian Head: Nov. 21, 2009
• The Canyons: Nov. 27, 2009
• Deer Valley: Dec. 5, 2009
• Park City Mountain: Nov. 21, 2009
• Powder Mountain: Nov. 28, 2009
• Snowbasin: Nov. 26, 2009
• Snowbird: Nov. 21, 2009
• Sundance: Dec. 11, 2009
• Wolf Creek Utah: Nov. 27, 2009

www.skiutah.com

2/3rds of ExtremePods on RSS Roundtable with Thom Allen

RSS Roundtable October with Extreme Pods from Drew Tyler on Vimeo.

We sat down with Senior and Jeff from ExtremePods.com to talk about how they use video in their podcasts and about the continued evolution of podcasting.

www.ExtremePods.com

Gwar, Free Flow Tour and Shaun White

Did You Know? by "South Of The Border"

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Did You Know? part 1: Gwar, Free Flow Tour, Shaun White

So Burton snowboards had a pet contest at their headquarters ast week. and GWAR judged. From Blabbermouth:

Speaking of pets and more specifically dogs, Oderus Urungus and Beefcake The Mighty served as celebrity judges in the 14th annual Burton Snowboard Pet Costume Contest yesterday in Burlington, Vermont.

Unphased by success, GWAR continues on their course as "the people's band". Band members Oderus Urungus, Beefcake The Mighty, and Balsac The Jaws Of Death. are seen below judging the 14th annual Burton Dog-Costume Show. The event is held every year to benefit CHILL, a charity group dedicated to giving underprivileged children a chance to try snowboarding and other winter sports.

"GWAR loves animals, and underprivileged children," said Oderus, "usually cooked, sometimes raw..."

Also it appears the Winter Gatorade Free Flow Tour Dates were announced so if jockin' out in the park and pipe is your thing here you go
Big Boulder, Lake Harmony, PA, Jan 9
Vail, CO, Jan 9-10
Mountain High, Wrightwood, CA, Jan 16
Tyrol Basin, Mount Horeb, WI, Jan 16-17
Killington, VT, Jan 23-24
Keystone, CO, Jan 23-24
Big Bear, CA, Jan 23-24
Loon, Lincoln, NH, Jan 30-31
Brighton, UT, Jan 30-31
Mammoth Lakes, CA, Jan 30-31
Mt. Snow, VT, Feb 5-7


I swear who is this red headed kid who keeps getting press. This go around it's the LA Times and Shaun White on his video game sequal and the obligatroy snowboarding questions. I tell you this snowboard thing is catchy even the Chicago Sun Times is gettin' on the band wagon. Smells like an Olympic year where non endemic media is smelling the cash that those crazy kids on a snowboad can bring.