Adventure Sports Journal // Oct/Nov 2015 // Issue #87

Yosemite I Anthony Tashnick I Truckee Donner Land Trust I Event Profiles

Oct/Nov 2015

Issue #87

y a l P o Time t

y t r i D

ERE

N IS H O S A E S S S O CR

MTB

Trail Tips Last Ranger Standing

ttribute ib t tto a Si Sierra llegendd

SKI LASSEN Beer: Bottles vs. Cans

Mind Control the art of highlining

paddle smart, paddle safe

Open Up

To the slide

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Table of Contents

departments

6 8 8 10 12 14 19 20

Editor’s NotE

Listen powerfully

EAr to thE GrouNd

News & notes from the outdoor industry

Photo: Larry Duin Lakes

CAliforNiA BrEwiNG

Photo: Called To Creation

Bottles vs. cans

24 26

EPiC

Tahoe Donner Land Trust

Photo: Leonie Sherman

liquid iMAGEry

features

AthlEtE ProfilEs

16 18

Anthony Tashnick

Bottles vs. Cans

dEstiNAtioN

Photo: Nelly

ski lAssEN

A winter backcountry destination

MiNd CoNtrol

The art of highlining

21 22

PAddlE sMArt, PAddlE sAfE Preventing fatalities

lAst rANGEr stANdiNG

Tribute to a Sierra Legend

ExCEllENCE iN MtB

Etiquette tips for the trail

CyClo Cross

Cross stories and this year’s season calendar

Cover Photo Kurt Rummel runs through the peanut butter mud after choosing too hard of a single speed gear at last year’s CA State CX Championships at Lange Twins Winery. PHOTO: Jeff Namba

Yosemite

GEAr wE lovE

Goodies for your active life

DON’T MISS AN ISSUE – Subscribe to Adventure Sports Journal Mail a check for $20 to PO Box 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 along with subscriber name and address, or order online at adventuresportsjournal.com/subscribe.

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asj contributors how will the anticipated el niño affect your adventure plans this year?

PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL

Let it snow!! If we get the precipitation folks are calling for, I hope to spend a bunch of time exploring the back-country on skis and make up for the lack we’ve all been experiencing these past four years.

havenlivingston Like everyone in the west, boaters are hoping for a big precipitation year.

More rain means more kayaking through the winter. More snow means a longer kayaking season.

Either would be great!

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com INTERN Avery Robins avery@adventuresportsjournal.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Leonie Sherman, Haven Livingston, Dave Zook, Derrick Peterman, Kristin Conard, Dave Robinson, Ryan Gardner, Peter Duin CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave “Nelly” Nelson, Melissa DeMarie, Leonie Sherman, Jeff Namba, Spencer McNamara, Dave Cook, Scott McClain/ Called To Creation, Jeff Cricco, Larry Duin, Bruce Dorman, Bogdan Marian, Mike Albright Photography, Justin Beck

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peterduin I mainly anticipate the effects that an El Niño event could have on the winter surf conditions.

Large powerful waves surge through the local breaks regularly already, and ideal conditions can be hard to come by.

kristinconard I don’t think it will have much impact – I can go for a run in just about any weather. I’m pretty psyched for the idea of rain though praying for no big mudslides or problems!

ADVENTURE SPORTS JOURNAL PO BOX 35 Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone 831.457.9453 asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com

davezook PROUD MEMBER

CATAMARAN SAILING IN SANTA CRUZ

As an environmental scientist I’m predicting little to no precipitation for Northern California until after December. As a lover of brown pow, I’ll probably stock up on some WTB Wardens just in case.

EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION Steve Shaw steve@adventuresportsjournal.com All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editors.

OYC’s captains and the Team O�Neill are U.S. Coast Guard licensed, insured and inspected annually.

ryangardner

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Geoff James I 415.828.8322 geoff@adventuresportsjournal.com

Well, as a cyclocross photographer and ersatz racer, I really look forward to a wet winter!

Muddy race courses are traditionally one of the great features of cross; they make the racing that much more challenging.

daverobinson

COVER DESIGN Brooklyn Taylor brook@adventuresportsjournal.com DESIGN ASSISTANT Lindsey Johnson

65' Team O�Neill CaTamaRaN!

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PUBLISHER Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITORIAL/MARKETING Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

come aboard the

El Niño, if delivered will ensure I will at least get to ride some of the lovely lines that have been building up on my list for the last two years here in Tahoe.

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com 5

EDITOR’S NOTE

Listen Powerfully

An empty mind is the secret to inspiring communication

R

ecently I spent a weekend in San Jose taking an intensive professional development seminar aimed at increasing my communication skills. What I learned demonstrated once and for all that my entire history of communicating with others has been lacking in effectiveness due to some basic assumptions that are false.

During the course of the seminar I fully appreciated—for the first time in my life—the extent of the opportunity I have been missing because of poor communication skills. Career, relationships—everything hinges on good communication and the fact that I have been walking around thinking I am generally a good listener was a huge personal blind spot that has no doubt cost me a lot in personal effectiveness.

At some point during the seminar I had a breakthrough. Being a good listener is not about politely waiting until it is my turn to speak. Being a good listener starts with the willingness to bring nothing to a conversation with another person because communicating is a creative dance that happens powerfully only when both speakers feel connected. As it turns out, feeling connected starts with the appreciation that the mind of the other person is in neutral—a state of readiness that signals a desire to listen intently.

What I connected with personally was the curious and possibly sad fact that pretty much the only time I am a good listener is right after a workout or time spent playing outside. Why? Because while climbing or running or surfing or biking my brain slips into a meditative state that makes it easy to achieve the mental readiness necessary for good communication. Soon after playing outside—and this part makes me sad—I begin chewing on an endless loop of thought fragments that exist as my normal internal dialogue.

I’ve always suspected that my internal dialogue actually holds me back in life and the seminar really helped me see this clearly for the first time. Powerful communication is thwarted by the incessant chatter happening in our brains and in fact really poor communicators are “stuck in their heads” as the saying goes.

People who meditate regularly tell me that formal meditation is another way (besides outdoor sports) to achieve the mental readiness required for good communication. I have never really practiced meditation because playing outside has always served as a way to quiet my mind, maintain fitness and earn beer credits all at the same time.

However this usually requires a minimum of two hours and that is tough to squeeze into a busy day. With practice I am told that people who meditate regularly can achieve a powerful, quiet mind in fifteen minutes or less.

This is all pretty new for me. Before the communication seminar I never appreciated the value of meditation 6 ASJ ASJ—Aug/Sept — Oct/Nov 2015 2011

because I never made the connection between a quiet mind and effective communication. More importantly, I never fully grasped that all results in life hinge on effective communication— career, money, and relationships.

Once you realize that good communication is crucial for personal success and fulfillment it starts to become a high priority. If you ask yourself the question “what am I really communicating to others when I speak to them?” you have taken the first step towards learning to communicate powerfully. Since we are all very adept at picking up on verbal and non-verbal cues, you and I cannot access what is there to express powerfully the instant we determine that the other person is not listening—even to the slightest degree.

The practice of bringing nothing to a conversation is quite simply the willingness to listen with an empty mind when the other person speaks. This means that regardless of my agenda for any given conversation I should clear my mind and listen intently every time I engage in speech.

Not that this is easy. Since taking the communication seminar I have fallen into bad habits on multiple occasions. I was warned that it takes time and effort to reverse poor communication. What’s at stake here is a huge increase in personal effectiveness in all areas of my life, so needless to say I am willing to put in the work.

Which brings me to ASJ. Running, biking, surfing, skiing, climbing—all these activities will quiet your mind. What if we could achieve the powerful mental state that is reached while participating in adventure sports and maintain this mental readiness all day long?

In this issue once again our outdoor editors provide the lowdown on fall adventures while helping you get seriously pumped up for winter. From slacklining to cyclocross to kayaking to backpacking we’ve got you covered with a variety of ways to achieve a strong, empty mind that you can use to achieve results in every area of your life.

Do you agree that outdoor sports make you mentally strong? Send me an email to matt@adventuresportsjournal.com—I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks for reading!

— Matt Niswonger www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

7

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Outdoor News and Notes for the California Region

EAR TO THE GROUND Photo courtesy MTJP

with many others. Tuscany says, “This is the biggest loss for the action sports community, this is comparable to when Shane passed away,” Tuscany said.

“Everyone needs to focus on Erik’s family.” Roner leaves behind his two children and wife Annika, who says “Erik was a beautiful man, great father, wonderful friend and the love of my life.”

Bela Vadasz on Mt. Huntington

Climbing legend Alex Honnold releases new book

Outdoor Community Loses Two Beloved Members Respected ski and climbing guide Bela Vadasz, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 62 in a medical procedure on September 15. Vadasz founded California’s Alpine Skills International with his wife, Mimi, in 1979 and played a crucial role in creating the ski certification process in American mountain guiding, leading to American guides. For almost twenty years, he and Mimi ran a lowcost lodge at the top of Donner Pass near Truckee. Of many achievements, his proudest was the first American ascent (with Mimi )of the Peuterey Integral, an extremely challenging climb up Mont

8 ASJ ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011 — Oct/Nov 2015

Blanc. Vasasz was presented with the AMGA’s Lifetime Achievement Ward in 2008. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind two sons and countless other loved ones.

Less than two weeks after Vasasz’s sudden death, well-known action sports athelete Erik Roner was killed in a skydiving accident at Squaw Valley. Roner, 39, hit a tree in a skydiving performance as he attempted to land. He was pronounced dead at the scene.The star of MTV’s Nitro Circus was a supporter of High Fives Foundation, an organization that assists injured action sports athletes.

Roy Tuscany, co-founder and executive director of High Fives, was a close friend to Roner, and witnessed the accident

Alex Honnold is known for pushing the limits of free soloing beyond anything previously attempted, climbing without a rope, without a partner, and without any gear to attach himself to the wall. If he falls, he dies. In Alone on the Wall, Honnold recounts the seven most astonishing achievements thus far in his meteoric career, including freesoloing Sendero Luminoso in Mexico and climbing the Fitz Traverse in Patagonia.

Each chapter narrates the drama of one climb, along with reflective and introspective passages that show what makes Honnold tick.

More Than Just Parks Spotlights National Parks Brothers Will and Jim Pattiz are media professionals who have a passion for

our national parks. This past year they decided to put that passion to work using their talents to produce captivating short films about the parks.

The More Than Just Parks (MTJP) mission is to raise a greater awareness of America’s most treasured possessions – our national parks. MTJP hopes to inspire exploration and conservation of these incredible natural wonders and have embarked on an epic, nationwide journey to each of the 59 US national parks. They plan on creating a short film for each park, showcasing the things that make each one more than just a park.

California parks covered so far are Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California and Joshua Tree National Park in the southeast area of the state. The films are the culmination of several weeks spent exploring these parks, and both were shot entirely in 4K. To learn more about the making of these videos visit: morethanjustparks.com. To learn more about these national parks, visit: nps.gov.

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Photo courtesy Bell Helmets

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Debating canned vs. bottled beer

Bell Helmets Launches Joy Ride Collection for Women

Photo courtesy Called To Creation

Bell Helmets responds to the need for women’s specific helmet. Born from feedback from women riders of all levels, from trailside ride conversations to insights from a year of field research, the Joy Ride Collection is inspired by and designed by women who ride. Beyond the new, attractive, purpose-built helmets, Joy Ride is also about Bell’s ambassadors, employees, events and ways for female cyclists to be part of the brand.

Jessica Klodnicki, Executive Vice President/General Manager of Bell Helmets explains, “The inspiration for the Joy Ride Collection began in Santa Cruz, around Bell’s headquarters. A small women’s riding group started with four women and has now grown into 330 women of all levels looking for a fun, supportive and a social connection found only on two wheels. We’ve been inspired by these women to create the Joy Ride Collection. Our goal was to combine the performance of Bell in a package that women would appreciate, but also to take it a step further by developing a program to inspire women’s riding.”

Learn more at bellhelmets.com.

California Enduro Series Announces 2015 Champs at Kamikaze Bike Games Riders took on loose, fast pumice-laden terrain at elevation that pushed the limits of fitness at the series finale for the California Enduro Series (CES) at Mammoth Mountain September 2627, 2015. The CES 2015 season overall podium took place immediately after the race awards, with 2015 individual and team winners across a number of categories taking the stage on a perfect high Sierra afternoon. Marco Osborne took the 2015 Pro Men champ title, while Amy Morrison took it for Pro Women. Larkspur Bike reigned as top team of the year. For full standings and more information about the series, visit californiaenduroseries.com. ASJ is a proud sponsor of CES and we look forward to the 2016 season!

W

henever a brewery trumpets a new release of a beer packaged in cans, you’ll often find them saying something like “...and best of all, cans are better for the environment than bottles”. For years, plenty of craft breweries claimed cans are better than bottles for the environment since they are lighter, requiring less energy to transport, and are more recyclable than bottles. On the other hand, Tony Magee of Lagunitas declared his brewery will be the last in the United States to sell beer in cans, citing the environmental consequences of bauxite ore mining.

Seeking answers to what was becoming a complicated question, I turned to Cheri Chastain, Sierra Nevada’s Sustainability Manager and asked her point blank: “Which is better for the environment, cans or bottles?”

“I don’t have an answer for that,” she responded, laughing. Turns out, it depends how far back you look from the time either the can or bottle is produced from raw materials until the time you open it to enjoy a cold one. As she explained, “Bauxite ore mining is incredibly destructive on the environment. That said, aluminum is easier to recycle since it doesn’t break like bottles and weighs less, so it takes less energy for shipping, resulting in less fuel consumption and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a really difficult question to answer.”

Various studies attempting the answer this question come to similar conclusions.

Cans require about twice as much energy to manufacture than bottles. So beer must be shipped long distances, estimated to be at least a few hundred miles, before the energy savings due to aluminum’s lighter weight offset the increased energy of production. New Belgium Brewing Company, which like Sierra Nevada devotes considerable resources to environmentally sustainable brewery practices, has an interesting report on the matter posted on their website and declares no winner in the debate.

So what’s an environmentally conscientious beer drinker to do? “Draft is the most sustainable option for beer,” answers Chastain. Kegs are reusable and when used with a reusable glass or cup, the most environmentally sustainable option for beer. “I also encourage people to make sure to recycle whatever package they chose, whether bottles or cans,” adds Chastain. Supporting your local brewery is another thing you can do for the environment, since the shorter the beer travels before consumed, the less environmental impact.

— Derrick Peterman

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9

EPiC: Environmental Partnership Campaign

Tahoe Donner Land Trust Saving open space for all of us

By Leonie Sherman

R

umor has it that the Truckee Donner Land Trust started around a kitchen table, but one founder, John Eaton insists it was a fireplace. Twenty-five years ago he was working on land issues with local environmental and political groups. He became convinced that a whole new kind of organization was necessary to save open space and preserve the rural character of his beloved home in the northern Sierra.

“You really can’t save open space through just litigation. And you can’t really save open space just through zoning,” he explains. “if you want to preserve open spaces, you absolutely have to have a land trust.”

“Of course, I knew nothing about land trusts when I had this realization,” he laughs.

“But I talked to a friend who knew somebody who did, and they knew somebody who was interested, and pretty soon seven of us were sitting around my fireplace.”

They set their sights on 160 acres on Coldstream Canyon behind Donner Lake. With an all volunteer staff and very little experience, they managed to raise several hundred thousand dollars. As the number of volunteers grew, the group moved meetings to the infamous kitchen table and turned their attention to bigger projects. In 1996 they hired their first paid staff.

A quarter of a century later, the Truckee Donner Land Trust has preserved over 34,000 acres of stately forest, rolling meadows and historic landmarks. They have six fulltime staff and additional seasonal summer employees. They’ve engaged hundreds of volunteers and partnered with dozens of local and national organizations. And they’ve

raised millions of dollars to accomplish their goals.

In 2002, with the help of the Trust For Public Land, they tackled their first multi-million dollar project, raising over 2 million dollars to purchase an additional 2,200 acres backing onto Donner Lake.

Five years later they raised 23.5 million dollars to save Waddle Ranch in Martes Valley near North Star. “That land had underlying entitlements for more than 1300 homes,” says Executive Director Perry Norris. “To pull all of that out of the

PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: Perazzo Meadows.

(Elizabeth Carmel/The Carmel Gallery in Truckee); Royal Gorge, the world’s largest Nordic ski area (Mark Nadell, Macbeth Graphics); Mountain biking made available on the Land Trust’s protected open space (Emma Garrard/Sierra Sun); A proud and beaming Land Trust staff accepting a 25 Year Anniversary Proclamation (Susan Johnson); Black Wall climbing area (Susan Johnson); Young men from Troop 267 working on their Eagle Scout Project and helping with trail building and maintenance (TDLT).

Doing great work in California?

We want to help you reach your highest potential!

The EPiC program is ASJ’s way to spotlight the exemplary work of some of California’s non-profits that are dedicated to promoting stewardship and access for the adventure sports community throughout California.

EPiC

Adventure Sports Journal’s ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP CAMPAIGN 10 ASJ ASJ—April/May — Oct/Nov 2015 2013

Our mission is to provide inspiring coverage of California’s epic terrain, and to help the outdoor sports community preserve and maintain access for future generations.

We encourage outdoor non-profit organizations based in California to contact us for the chance to be featured in our publication and receive FREE display and web advertising space.

For more information, email asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com.

Follow us on Facebook and/or visit our website for more information:

adventuresportsjournal.com • facebook.com/ASJmag

Photo: Conrad Fries Photography

A quarter of a century later, the Truckee Donner Land Trust has preserved over 34,000 acres of stately forest, rolling meadows and historic landmarks. equation was a tremendous victory.”

Norris was hired as Executive Director fifteen years ago and he brought significant changes. “Prior to that we weren’t super effective or organized,” admits Eaton. “They first brought Perry on as a fund raiser, which he’s very good at. If there’s land that needs to be protected he’s going to make it happen.”

Eaton pauses. “Perry is also a very good negotiator. He’s brilliant at persuading people to sell us their land. His attitude has really carried us forward into the 21st century.”

With a lot of second homes in the region, the Truckee Donner Land Trust works hard for Bay Area families as well as locals. “People come up here to play, and we’ve expanded their opportunities to play enormously through our efforts,” explains Norris. “Nothing’s more gratifying to me than to drive by one of our properties and see the trailhead jammed with cars and see people hiking or on horses and bikes, enjoying the land we’ve saved.”

Some worry that all this recreation might lead to environmental degradation, but Norris remains optimistic. “People are going to keep coming to the mountains.

If we try to limit that, we risk becoming elitist. Our approach is to open up more space and funnel folks different places. So if one trailhead is becoming overcrowded, we try to point out other areas that aren’t as popular, but are just as beautiful.”

The Truckee Donner Land Trust sells some of the land they acquire to public entities, like California State Parks, the US Forest Service and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.”Usually those are bargain sales,” explains Norris. “Say we bought one property for 3.5 million, we’ll sell it to State Parks for 3 million.”

Recently public entities have become reticent about acquiring land because of costs associated with management. So the Land Trust picks up the slack; they currently own and manage around 2,200 acres of land.

“It’s not just about stopping development,” explains Stewardship Director John Svahn. “We spend two thirds of our operating budget on stewardship and restoration.” That ranges from people on the property with pulawskis and chainsaws building trails and removing windfall from winter storms, to conducting scientific studies on meadow ecology.

“You can’t fix hundreds of years of neglect with a bunch of hippies and hatchets,” Norris muses.

Mismanagement for fire suppression means some properties managed by the Land Trust have 600 trees per acre where there should be 60. So they use heavy machinery and cut trees.

“All of our forest thinning is dictated and prescribed by a habitat-oriented forester,” explains Norris. “Very few of the trees we cut ever get milled into lumber. Most of them either go to a

biomass generation plant or they get chipped and end up decomposing on the forest floor.”

One of the most controversial projects in recent years has been the rehabilitation of the Van Norden Meadow, at the headwaters of the Yuba River. “That property contains an illegal dam that’s impounding state water. We have two state agencies threatening legal action if we don’t do something about it,” explains Norris. “We’re going to have to drain the reservoir, which is unsettling, especially during drought.”

But in a functioning Sierra meadow, snow melts and goes into a creek. During spring floods, the meadow absorbs water like a sponge and throughout the warmer summer months it slowly releases cold water. “A meadow is like a natural aquifer, it’s a very efficient way to store water,” Norris says. “State agencies are finally waking up to this. But we need more education to get the public on board.”

Like most non-profits, their biggest challenge is financial. “We function on the good will and charitable intent of our supporters,” explains Norris. “We get 1,200 to two thousand contributions every year, ranging from five bucks to a million dollars. And we appreciate every single one.”

Without such a dedicated staff, that money would not leverage nearly as much impact. “Typically, for the amount of acreage we save, we’d have a staff of fifteen or so,” explains KV Van Lom, the Communications Director. “With only six of us, there’s a tremendous amount of pressure. But we’re all incredibly dedicated and passionate about what we do.”

Another significant hurdle is political.

The area is represented by two extremely conservative congressmen, LaMalfa and McClintock, who are often opposed to expanding public lands and recreational opportunities.

Despite this kind of opposition, the Land Trust and the organizations they partner with have permanently altered development patterns in their corner of the state. “At first developers didn’t take us very seriously,” Eaton remembers. “So we had to sue a few times. Now, most developers realize that they’re going to have to deal with environmentalists eventually and it’s more efficient to negotiate at the beginning. It’s rare to end in litigation these days.”

Eaton is convinced that local land trusts hold promise for wild lands everywhere.

“There’s just a continual demand for development,” he explains. “If you like to hike, or bike, or ski, you need a land trust to preserve open space. Not just for recreational opportunities, but for habitat. A little patch here and there isn’t enough. We need large connected areas.

That’s where a land trust comes in.”

Learn more about your local land trust at www.findalandtrust.org.

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Nelly’s Pics

Liquid Imagery

Anthony Tashnick Hometown: Santa Cruz

Stance: Regular

Forte: Big Waves

Sponsors: HLTN, Pearson Aarow Surfboards, Hotline Westuits, Pacific Wave Surf Shop, Stay Covered, Maui Fin Co. Learning to Surf: I grew up surfing along West Cliff and my parents and I lived about a half a block from the ocean in between Steamers Lane and Natural Bridges State Beach.

Goals: To find the ultimate wave.

Your scariest wave: Jaws. I was so scared I didn’t go.

Specialty: I specialize in getting into and out of the ocean daily. I also specialize in possibly dangerous situations when conditions may be life threatening in some people’s eyes. I strive to have as much fun as possible during the time I spend in the water.

Favorite board: I enjoy riding all kinds of different surfboards. so I guess I’d say that I specialize in R and D in a way. Simply because I’m curious to understand the way objects slide across water in different conditions. I decide what surfboard design works for me in terms of enjoying that session to the fullest given the waves that particular day.

What do you like to do when you aren’t surfing? When I’m not surfing I like to drink coffee, paint, take photos, eat at Miramar on the Santa Cruz wharf, drink good wine ... most of all I enjoy being outdoors and learning something new.

The last word: This year’s 2015/16 Titans of Mavericks surf contest during an El Nino year is the buzz that people are talking about.

To see more of Nelly’s photography, visit adventuresportsjournal.com/nelly 12 14 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Oct/Nov 2015 2012

To see more of Nelly’

s photography, visit

adventuresportsjou

rnal.com/nelly

ATHLETE PROFILES

Women of Snow Shred the Big Screen

Michelle is on the board of the High Fives Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life altering injuries.

Michelle also helped to launch an avalanche safety clinic for women.

Learn more about Michelle via her Facebook page at facebook.com/MichelleParkerAthletePage.

Ski athletes shine on the mountain and in the media Michelle Parker

M

ichelle Parker is one of the ski industry’s most versatile female skiers. She has appeared in over a dozen ski films including the highly anticipated Matchstick Productions’ film Fade to Winter. Other MSP films include InDeep, Attack of La Nina, Days of My Youth, Superheroes of Stoke. Michelle won Best Female Performance at the Powder Video Awards and at the International Freeski Film Festival for her segment in Superheroes of Stoke.

Born in 1987 in Truckee, California, Michelle began ski racing at her home resort of Squaw Valley at an early age, but by her mid-teens realized her passion was in freeskiing. After competing for a few years in slopestyle and halfpipe at the X Games and U.S. Open, she took on big mountain terrain, taking her park tricks to the backcountry.

22 ASJ ASJ—April/May Dec/Jan 2015 2013 2014 14 — Oct/Nov

PHOTO Jeff Cricco

Fade to Winter

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SP Films introduces its latest endeavor Fade to Winter – the latest in a long line of groundbreaking films from the production powerhouse. Following on the heels of the award-winning films McConkey and Days of My Youth, MSP’s newest feature film highlights the top athletes of today and their unfaltering dedication to the sport of skiing. Even when faced with challenging weather and conditions, MSP’s all-star cast of skiers dug deep within themselves to find the best in each experience. “It is just skiing, after all,” says executive producer Murray Wais, “and this roster of skiers that we’ve assembled for Fade to Winter takes the same pleasure in a day on the hill as you or I do.”

MSP’s 23rd annual ski film focuses on fun, because that is what skiing is all about – first-timers and professionals alike share that same mentality. Whether chasing deep powder in Japan, ripping with local groms in New England, searching for new lines in Alaska, or building backcountry jumps in Iceland, every aspect of this compelling new film showcases the inner spirit of every skier’s burning desire to get out on the snow.

The film’s athletes – many of whom are new to the MSP roster this year – bring a variety of skiing styles to the film. Markus Eder, Bobby Brown, Michelle Parker, Mark Abma, Tanner Rainville, Aaron Blunck, James Heim, Sean Jordan, PK Hunder, and others make up the all-star cast.

Fade to Winter will debut at the Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado on October 10, 2015, kicking off a worldwide film tour.

MSP’s ultra progressive camera techniques, editing, and production value have earned them many prestigious awards, including 2007, 2008, and 2014 Emmy nominations and an unprecedented seven “Movie of the Year” honors.

Watch the Fade to Winter trailer at skimovie.com and learn more about MSP at mspfilms.com.

Amie Engerbretson Amie Engerbretson has taken her charismatic personality and singular big mountian skiing technique straight to the big screen, with high visibility in editorial and print/video advertising spots as well. Amie stars in the new Warren Miller Productions film “Chasing Shadows.” She was also featured in the all-women’s ski film Pretty Faces by Unicorn Picnic Production.

The daughter of pro skier Jeff Engerbretson, Amie spent her first day on PHOTO contributed skis at ten months old, and was raised in the limelight on the slopes of Squaw Valley among the industry’s top athletes. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a Media Management degree, Amie traveled the world, then came back home to pursue a career as a pro skier and sports model. She is sponsored by K2 Skis, Smith Optics, Marker Bindings, Discrete Headwear, Squaw Valley and True Collections.

Amie has competed in such notable events as the Rahlves Banzai Tour and Salomon Extreme Freeride Championships. She is an international sports and skiing ambassador for global travel company True Collection, representing Lake Tahoe, and also serves as a guide and ski host for guests media relations at the Resort of Squaw Creek. Amie also enjoys mountain biking, paddleboarding, and dancing.

Learn more about Amie at amieski.com.

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Chasing Shadows

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his fall, Warren Miller Entertainment releases Chasing Shadows, the 66th edition of its annual winter sports film. This year’s installment of the iconic winter sports film series celebrates why skiers and snowboarders commit themselves every winter to a passion that’s guaranteed to melt away every spring. And, as always, Warren Miller’s annual film tradition marks the beginning of colder weather, winter exploration and premier cinematography that reignites the excitement for winter sports. Warren Miller once said, “A pair of skis are the ultimate transportation to freedom,” and in this year’s film, Chasing Shadows, skiers and snowboarders find that very freedom as they chase storms, snow and lines on the world’s highest peaks.

Follow the world’s biggest names in skiing and snowboarding on a breathtaking cinematic journey. Watch JT Holmes, Seth Wescott, Caroline Gleich, Steven Nyman, Marcus Caston, Ingrid Backstrom and more as they pursue turns on the mountains of our dreams—the French Alps, Alaska’s Chugach, Utah’s Wasatch, the Chilean Andes and the mightiest range of them all: the Himalaya.

“This year’s film will inspire viewers to search out their dreams and find freedom,” says Director of Cinematography Chris Patterson, who has been making films with Warren Miller for 24 years. “ Our athletes show us that anything is possible if your passions and desires are in the right direction.”

Take a glimpse into the world of the U.S. freestyle team and the snowsports that live on the fringe, like monoskiing, powsurfing and speedriding. Then explore what it is about culturally rich locations and snow-covered summits that motivate passionate skiers and snowboarders to keep searching and chasing after a feeling, a memory, a storm, a turn each winter and for a lifetime more.

The annual Warren Miller Film Tour for Chasing Shadows will kick off in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 16, 2015, and will hit cities in the Rockies, Midwest, California, Pacific Northwest, East Coast and Southwest on a national tour October through December 2015.

Attending a Warren Miller film is a tradition that marks the start to every winter season. Each attendee will receive exclusive resort and retail savings from Warren Miller resort, retail and manufacturer partners with the best values in the industry.

Additionally, moviegoers have a chance to win ski vacations, ski and snowboard gear, swag and the opportunity to meet athletes featured in the film.

Dates and show times can be found at warrenmiller.com.

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15

Skiing Lassen Lassen Volcanic National Park: An unassuming winter backcountry destination

PHOTOS

By Dave Zook

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he Cascade Range, with the Goliaths of Shasta and Rainier — as well as the lesser visited peaks such as Lassen and McLoughlin — are known largely for their incredible spring and summer corn skiing bounty.

In our “special” winter of 2014-15 I discovered the terrain in Lassen Volcanic National Park to be an enticing, easy, and affordable mid-winter escape from the lean conditions at Tahoe.

Lassen, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascades, is not so far from Tahoe to see entirely different snow conditions, but the area did receive a few storms that Tahoe missed, and packed on enough actual snow to create a legitimate base.

Skiing the 10,457-foot Lassen proper in the winter is only for the strongest of the strong as the highway that leads to its base stays closed off until summer. Still, there is a large playground of mellow bowls, tree skiing, and on up to rappel-required couloir entrances all within a day’s hike from Highway 89’s southern terminus at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. This called for

16 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Oct/Nov 2015 2012

exploration as the area is only three hours from our homes in North Lake Tahoe.

Round 1: The All-day affair I left Tahoe City in the pitch-black cold on Superbowl Sunday 2015 with friends Hazen and Spencer. Arriving at the visitor center, we thought that 9,087-foot Mt. Diller, a broad bowl that looked pretty sweet on Google Earth, was to be our loose objective. We wanted to avoid anything steep or technical, as the low tide snowpack was a limiting factor. Plus it hadn’t snowed for a few weeks and the north facing aspects were barely softening in the short days, producing the infuriating catch-22 where the aspects that caught the sun, and were soft, were baked off to almost nothing, and the shade-protected zones that had snow were rock hard.

We skinned up the unplowed road that continues toward Lassen. A steamy waft of rotten eggs blew our way as we neared a fumarole, a steam vents in the

Top: Hazen Woolson and Spencer McNamara take a break as the sun pops through with Mt. Diller in the background (Dave Zook). Middle: Hazen riding down the back on an unknown peak after the north-facing aspect was too firm (Spencer McNamara).

Bottom: Spencer cruises down the mellow face of Mt. Diller (Dave Zook).

Low Snow, High Fun

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inter has always been a guessing game, and now in California, it has been taken to a whole new level.

But even the last few winters have been defined by low snow, not no snow, so there are still options. Of course we are hoping for the whopper of all winters to hit this year, but if not, call around the nearby ranger stations in the area to see if the base is any higher in nearby areas. And for resorts, the amount of snow making capabilities in California has skyrocketed as of late, so you can get some sliding in guaranteed. Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe has one of the most sophisticated snowmaking systems in the nation, and man-made snow can cover 73 percent of the mountain’s 4,800 acres, and Snow Summit and Bear Mountain in southern California, albeit a lot smaller mountains, can cover 100% of its developed terrain with its snow guns. No excuses! planet’s crust. We turned left just before it and followed an old skintrack through dense evergreens. Pine needles, sticks, and gloppy snow made the travel slow, but the woods opened up into the Ridge Lakes area, and we became almost surrounded by a bending ridgeline and a handful of attractive lines.

“Future camping spot?” said Hazen, as the flat swath of land was only a 30-minute hike from the road. Diller stood to our north, an unknown peak beckoned straight ahead from our skintrack, and Brokeoff Mountain loomed to the south.

Intrigued by the unknown peak, we ascended via its southern ridge, a moody grey sky lingering. Whapping our poles over the cornice on the way up revealed a firm layer on the lines we hoped to ride.

“Those were pretty…OK turns!” said Spencer. We couldn’t lie about epic snow or creative terrain, but we were trying to harvest some corn turns in volcano country, which seemed better than watching Tom Brady wear spandex.

We then bootpacked straight up Diller after skinning the bottom half. The sun had returned and it became soft fast. We transitioned awkwardly on some exposed dirt as there wasn’t much of a bench to rest on and made some more half-decent turns with the sun shining bright. Two lines down and about 17 more scoped out, we called the day a success.

Round Two: RV Life is the Right Life Two weeks later I drove back to Lassen to meet Hazen, who arrived the day before with his camper and friends Katie, Rachel and Shannon. An enormous storm had just walloped most of California and made some tremendous precipitation deposits, but the snow level was obnoxiously high for most

Then we found a surprise redemption in the lower portion of the run. The low snow had sculpted a myriad of natural low-angle bowls like those found in a skatepark.

California peaks, and it rained a ton almost everywhere. Nevertheless, we had a camper, a lot of beer and goldfish snacks, and a fair amount of bacon and avocadoes, so the level of concern was very low.

The next morning we skinned toward Brokeoff Mountain and saw some eastfacing lines that passed through a cliff band and looked potentially threadable.

Upon closer inspection they were a little too bare and we would risk broken gear or bones, so we passed, but logged it in the mind’s eye.

Not to be dissuaded, the north aspect’s shoulder (the summit was a confluence of huge vertical craggy rock) had some short and tricky lines. But an attempt to gain the ridge was thwarted by a steep twenty-foot section of ice that didn’t budge after trying to kick in a bootpack.

Continuing to not be dissuaded, though perhaps a tinge frustrated, Hazen, Shannon and myself (the girls took off in the morning after a short run) lapped a few mellow lines in the pocket that came off the imposing rock face. The big lines looked like they might fill on a big winter and gave us another reason to return.

I doubt we felt collectively sated by the skiing action but we were highly piqued by what was on offer. We took a long run from the ridge to the car, starting with some wide-open slushy turns.

Then we found a surprise redemption in the lower portion of the run. The low snow had sculpted a consortium of natural low-angle bowls like those found in a skatepark. We blasted through about 15 slashes, hacks and small airs, laughing at our surprise terrain. Our minds were already thinking of cold brewskis as we stumbled into our most exciting turns of either trip.

We de-booted and had a few in the parking lot. An old-timer who was a fellow RV enthusiast came over and spoke of riding chairlifts at Lassen when a small ski area was operated from 1982 to 1993. He talked of the finer points of pop-up campers and interspersed info about several peaks and lines we didn’t know were around. Life was good and we knew we would be back.

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17

Mind Control The art of highlining Story by Peter Duin • Photos by CrazyLarry Photography

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s I slide out on a one-inch strand of polyester webbing, I look down. Hundreds of vertical feet below, a stream flows through a valley. Initially I can feel my heart rate elevate but through the control of my breath and thought, I make my legs stop trembling.

Keeping my attention on the end of the highline, I suppress my fear of the void lurking beneath. Letting go of the desire to control my situation, I find balance and begin to simply react to the vibrations in the line. Slowly but surely the raw beauty begins to sink in.

Slacklining is the act of walking while balanced on top of a section of webbing that is strung between two anchor points. Very similar to tight rope walking but without the balance pole, the webbing used in slacklining is flat and stretchy. Once feeling comfortable on a line that is low to the ground, one can increase the challenge by elevating the line to any height, and tying into it using a standard climbing harness. For protection, the walker’s harness is tied into a rope that goes directly from the harness to the webbing and ties to a pair of steel rings that slide along the webbing behind

Sneak Peak at Getting Started Interested in getting involved? You can join the slackchat page on Facebook to connect with slackliners around the world and view posts addressing previously established highlines. Keep in mind that highliners all learned to slackline low to the ground before taking it in the air.

Highlining involves specialized rigging knowledge that should not be attempted without expert instruction. If you have never tried slacklining before, the “primitive rig” from Balancecommunity.com or other slackline distributors is a simple and cost effective way to begin rigging lines of your own. Highlining festivals can be a great place to walk your first highline due to the supportive nature of the attendees.

This can be attributed to the teamwork, optimism, and perseverance that the sport fosters.

24 ASJ 18 ASJ—April/May — Oct/Nov 2015 2013

the walker. Due to the fact that the webbing stretches, falling onto the leash makes a fall that is smooth and safe, as long as the system is set up correctly. These characteristics help provide an adrenaline inducing sport that is of relatively low risk if the highline has been properly rigged. Falls put the most stress on the anchor points of the line, so naturally the anchor points are the main focus of rigging a safe highline. Trees, rocks, and expansion bolts are common features that are utilized for these anchors.

Due to the minimal requirements of establishing a new highline, the possibilities are seemingly endless. All that is needed is two anchor points with a deep swale or drop in between. I find myself exploring ridgelines constantly looking for gaps with competent anchor points for the establishment of a new line. Simply search highline in your browser and select images to see the inherent beauty of this sport.

Although it can be done solo, highlining is more safely done with a partner, as another set of eyes is another layer of safety, which is the elementary principle behind rigging a highline. As the community grows, so does the knowledge and number of newly established lines.

Although the sport has been around since the seventies where it was practiced in Yosemite as balance training for climbing, the modern version of the sport is still in its adolescence. The community is small and communicates often about acceptable practices. At times this knowledge is put to use during highline festivals where a group of highliners gather in an area with a concentration of highlines to enjoy each other’s company and push their individual physical and mental capacities through the act of highlining. Common meeting places for these festivals include; Smith Rock, OR; Arcata, CA; Joshua Tree, CA; and Moab, UT. The community of highliners who attend are welcoming and often incorporate musical instruments, juggling, and various other activities into their down time.

Being born into an active family has all but forced me into a lifestyle that revolves around adventure. As a young teenager I had moments of resistance to the idea of going out for another day of rock climbing with dad

when my friends planned a day at PHOTOS the movies or the pool. Growing Left: Peter Duin reaches older I came to realize these for balance in beautiful activities are not only how I want Lake Tahoe (Larry to focus my life, but that they have Duin). MIddle: Peter Duin taking his time in shaped my personality from the Moab, UT (Larry Duin) beginning. Adventure sports have Bottom: Feeling the brought me confidence as well as positive effects of a a desire to push myself to discover long vacation on this my true potential as a human first ascent in Oaxaca, being. Highlining has now become Mexico. the center of my discovery as it forces me to push through more difficult challenges, and has shown me that my thoughts manifest my reality.

For example, if I am out of balance in my head and my emotions have taken over, it is apparent on the highline.

When I am confident and feel at peace inside, I am in control on the highline and can accomplish things that may have seemed impossible just hours before. This understanding has challenged me to be more aware of my emotions and gain control prior to exposing myself to the challenges of highlining. Finding balance is the lesson here, not just with emotions, but in all aspects of life.

If I am out of balance in my head and my emotions have taken over, it is apparent on the highline. When I am confident and feel at peace inside, I am in control on the highline and can accomplish things that may have seemed impossible just hours before.

DESTINATION

Yosemite

Fall and winter offers something for everyone

By Kristin Conard

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osemite Valley, the “Incomparable Valley,” was set aside to be protected by the Yosemite Grant on June 30, 1864.

And it was four years later that John Muir first visited the valley. Thanks in great part to his writing about the mountains and valleys he loved and his lobbying politicians, Yosemite became a national park in 1890, and now, 125 years later, the valley has become a destination for millions.

Come fall and winter, things slow down considerably and there are few, if any, lines at the park stores or venues and no crowds on the trails or in the campgrounds. If you want to check on road conditions, call (209) 372-0200 – no matter what the conditions, you’ll need to have snow chains with you.

Natural Wonders

Yosemite Falls can dry up during the fall, but with snowfalls and rains of winter, it begins to flow again, and the spray can freeze, leaving a tall cone of snow at the base of the falls. John Muir described Yosemite Falls and its “snow cone” as “smooth, and pure white, the outlines finely drawn, the whole presenting the appearance of a beautiful crystal hill wreathed with clowds of irised spray.”

Around the second week of February, thanks to the angle of the setting sun, Horsetail Fall looks like it’s lit on fire.

The glowing orange and red spectacle along the east face of El Capitan is a tricky one to witness; it depends on just the right conditions: clear skies, a flowing waterfall, and good timing. It only happens for about ten minutes, but you’ll remember it forever.

Active Adventures

Since the 1930s, people have ice-skated with views of Half Dome and Glacier Point. The Curry Village Ice Rink comes complete with a rink side fire ring where you can make your own s’mores. It opens in late November and stays open through early March. Call (209) 372-8319 for more information.

To get more chances at snow, you can head up to Badger Pass, you’ll be at 7,200 feet. For the experienced crosscountry skier, you can spend the night at Glacier Point Ski Hut (Glacier Point Gift Shop during the rest of the year). You ski 10.5 miles through the backcountry from Badger Pass to Glacier Point and on the way, you’ll see one of the most impressive views of Half Dome. You’ll

receive dinner and a bed then breakfast and lunch the next day. Guided trips, $350 per person, and self-guided trip $146 per person. Call (209) 372-8444.

There’s an annual lottery for a chance to ski-in and stay at Ostrander Ski Hut. Badger Pass in Yosemite was the site of California’s first ski school back in 1928, and the tradition continues with relatively easy runs for skiing and snowboarding. Check out the ski school with rental equipment and ski shop.

Tickets start at $179 for adults, $149 for youth (13-17) and seniors (65+) and $69 for kids (7-12). For tickets, call (209) 372-8430; for snow conditions, call (209) 372-1001.

Culture and Luxury

Take a photography workshop from The Ansel Adams Gallery. The white, grey, and green colors of winter and the possibility of snow makes for amazing photos. Staff photographers lead tours and camera walks, some of which are free. For reservations, call (209) 372-4413.

The Ahwahnee was built in 1927 in “parkitecture” style – designed to blend in with the natural surroundings. You can walk right in the front door (take a shower and leave your climbing gear behind) and head to the Great Room, which is filled with comfy chairs that are reclined – it helps you take in the views from the ten floor-to-ceiling windows of Royal Arches.

The Ahwahnee Bar is also the perfect place to indulge in a drink after a long day of climbing or exploring. The Firefall ($13) has tequila, crème de cacao, hot chocolate, pasilla chile, and cinnamon, and the peppermint hot cocoa ($7) is flavored with peppermint syrup and topped with whipped cream.

If you want to go all out at The Ahwahnee, winter is the best time to go. For the holidays, they have the Bracebridge Dinner – an elaborate dinner show inspired by 17th century England. Then in January and February, the hotel hosts Chef’s Holidays. Some of the country’s best chefs give cooking demonstrations and serve up high-end, multi-course meals. Plus, it’s the only time of year you can take a tour of the hotel kitchen, which is larger than the dining room, which is saying something for those who’ve seen the cavernous dining area. Dinner-only tickets $199.

Two-night packages start at $449 per person; call (801) 559-4884.

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Gear We Love

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Goodies for your active lifestyle

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1. Tifosi Pro Escalate The Tifosi Pro Escalate with ICS is a frame interchange system that integrates full frame, half frame and/or shield eyewear in one complete kit. Tifosi’s unique Interchangeable Component System (ICS) makes it simple to fit your frame to your activity. Each frame type has a patentpending notch system that fits into the universal arms. Pivot the arm up and onto the notches until it clicks into place.

The Tifosi Pro kit is available in a wide variety of options, and each frame comes with an extra set of lenses so you’re always ready for whatever the day brings.

All Tifosi Pro kits include a set of universal arms, a custom zippered case to hold all components in place, plus a cleaning bag.

MSRP $99.95-149.95 • tifosioptics.com 2. Harlot Bike Wear Angie Jersey This ultra-light technical mountain bike jersey is the perfect top for female riders.

In classic Harlot Bike Wear style, the Angie is feminine, yet not dainty – this jersey stands up to the toughest trail conditions and work outs. Naturally wicking and antimicrobial, it’s made of 52% bamboo charcoal and 48% poly – an ultra soft, lightweight, fast drying fabric that feels amazing next to your skin.

A rear zippered stash pocket is large enough for your phone. Available in six colors MSRP $60.00 • harlotbikewear.com 3. Lumo Lift The Lumo Lift is a small, lightweight wearable solution to posture. Worn near your collarbone, it gently vibrates every time you slouch to remind you to sit tall and stand straight. Its unique biomechanic motion sensors have the ability to track your posture and activity levels throughout the day for progress tracking via the Lumo Lift app. The stylish device is clipped onto your shirt, right below your collarbone using a secure magnetic clasp to track your posture and activity. The customizable time delay for vibrational feedback allows for a personalized posture coaching experience, tailored to fit your every need.

MSRP $79.99 • lumobodytech.com 20 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2015

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4. Bell Helmets Super 2R MIPS-Equipped True all-mountain performance is all about adaptability. It’s about being prepared to tackle any off-road challenge with confidence, comfort and style. With its game-changing removable chin-bar, the Super 2R is two helmets in one.

Remove and stow the chin-bar in your pack or on your rack on long climbs, then lock it in place when you’re ready to rip more aggressive terrain. It’s a quick and easy 1-2-3 set-up. Add in Overbrow Ventilation, TAG fit system and a new breakaway camera mount, and you have everything you need to conquer all-mountain terrain. MIPS technology adds extra protection for your noggin.

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, which is a leading slip-plane technology inside the helmet designed to reduce rotational forces that can result from certain impacts. All tech talk aside, what we found extraordinary about this helmet is how comfortable it is, and its ease of use. The fit dialed in *just right* and it is remarkably light for how sturdy and secure it feels. The chin-bar is a snap (literally!) to put on and take off, and the design and production quality is clearly top-notch.

MSRP $200.00 • bellhelmets.com 5. Exofficio Calluna Fleece Wrap Style, comfort, and warmth are key during backyard or worldly adventures.

Two-front hand pockets and one security zip pocket on left keep your little musthave’s safe. Made of 100% polyester, the Calluna features a shawl neckline, hidden security zip pocket on the left side, back shaping darts for a better fit, a symmetrical zip front and thumb loops.

This is sure to be our go-to wrap this fall and winter!

MSRP $90.00 • exofficio.com

6. YETI Hopper 20 The YETI Hopper 20 is a leakproof, incredibly versatile and portable softcooler that boasts a 4.6 gallon capacity.

It’s tough-as-nails, built to withstand heavy abuse during any outdoor adventure and keeps ice for days. The Hopper is constructed from similar material used in whitewater rafts, making it puncture-resistant and leakproof.

Inside, it sports an anti-microbial liner that resists mildew and boasts 1 inch of ColdCell™ Insulation on the side and 1.5 inches on the bottom to provide a deep and lasting chill. The HydroLok™ Zipper is comparable to those used in survival suits and HazMat protective gear, making it waterproof and airtight.

MSRP $299.00 • yeticoolers.com 7. Patagonia Organic Fruit + Almond Bars Patagonia Provisions has introduced Organic Fruit + Almond Bars in three flavors to its line of food products.

The fruit bars, a pure and simple food, contain just organic fruit, seeds, nuts and juice, providing natural energy and the nutritional benefits of chia and baobab.

All three flavors of the Organic Fruit + Almond Bars were built around their belief that the human body evolved to function most efficiently on simple, natural foods, and that nature already has a leg up on the high-tech, heavily processed energy bars on the market.

Patagonia Provisions developed the fruit bars with the help of chefs and nutrition experts, resulting in bars that are delicious, nutritious and good for the planet.

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A Beer Worth Earning: Saint Archer Pale Ale

S

aint Archer is a San Diego brewery combining California extreme sports culture with California capitalism. Founded way back in 2013, Saint Archer has partnered with a number of snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding athletes to promote their brewery. An estimated three million dollars has funded an aggressive expansion of its distribution footprint throughout California and beyond. It’s even rumored to in discussions to be acquired by corporate beer giant MillerCoors. Lost in all the buzz is one simple thing: Saint Archer actually brews some really good beer. A great example of this is their Pale Ale. There’s nothing complicated about this Pale Ale and that’s why it works so well.

With fresh, vibrant grapefruit peel flavors from the hops standing front and center upon a crisp dry, neutral malt, it’s a Pale Ale hop heads will appreciate, while others will simply find thirst quenching. Maybe it isn’t the marketing, but the beer itself that’s causing Saint Archer to sweep this state.

— Derrick Peterman

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Paddle Smart, Paddle Safe Preventing fatalities

By Haven Livingston

I

n most cases, fatal paddlesport accidents are preventable. Period.

This was reported by the National Safe Boating Council for the American Canoe Association report in 2002, and holds true today, for all types of paddlesports.

This past August, during a training paddle for the Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge, Andres Pombo, 29, of Miami, drowned in the Columbia River after being blown off his standup paddle board by a gust of wind without a leash or life jacket.

Heather Bonser-Bishop, 39, was standup paddling on the Chetco River in Oregon when her surf leash attached at the ankle caught on a submerged snag causing her to fall and be held under water.

Jacob Austin, 52, and Mandi Walkley, 39, died after their sea kayaks overturned in rapidly deteriorating conditions near Sequim, Washington. The list could go on, but the point here is to motivate you to paddle safer, not depress you.

Accidents, by definition, are an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance. In situations like those described above, they are not caused by a rogue event, instead, a series of poor decisions made by an individual or group eventually lead to a worst case scenario.

Pombo not only chose not to leave a leash and lifejacket behind, he also separated from his group in a new-to-him body of moving water. Though the stretch of water that Bonser-Bishop paddled on the Chetco River appeared unbroken on the surface, the leash she used was inappropriate for the swift currents. The group that set out on a calm afternoon for sea kayaking was experienced and wearing lifejackets, but they either did not check the forecast or thought they were skilled enough to deal with potential conditions.

Because the missing links to safety in these stories all seem obvious, you probably won’t guess the true first step to safety: judgment.

You can have all of the safety equipment and training in the world and it still won’t keep you out of harm’s way if you don’t know how to use it or, (gasp) choose not

to. Safety starts with the way you think.

So, how do you get the right combination of equipment, know-how and most importantly, decision-making?

The DIY approach is great if you’re refurbishing furniture. Starting a new adventure sport? Not so much. Don’t let your ego get in the way of something that could cost you your life. Take a professional course in your chosen sport.

Not only will you start out safer, your learning curve will soar faster. Take a few classes, and then take a safety specific course for your sport. For river kayaking this would mean you take whitewater 101, 201, 301 and then a kayak specific swiftwater rescue class. These classes should teach you how to plan for and think your way through unexpected incidents in the simplest, safest manner while giving you an opportunity to practice in scenarios.

Exercise your judgment by following these key things any time you participate in a sport with a changing environment: w Think through the whole process of your adventure start to finish. w Research where you’re going and talk with people who know it and know your skill level to be sure it is within your abilities. w Check conditions online and inquire about new locations from local experts.

(Tip: the guy behind the counter may be selling SUP equipment, but may not actually be the best person to give advice: ask for an instructor or local paddle group leader.) w Pick the right paddle buddies and stay together. They are your potential rescue team and vice versa! That means they’ve got their own set of safety equipment and are on board with the level of safety you want. w Set your meeting point, but also know potential exit points. w Equipment differs per sport, so don’t assume that your sailing lifejacket is good for kayaking or your surf leash is good for SUP river paddling. Learn what safety means for each sport and use it. w Always pack an extra layer, food, water, and communication system.

Consider the extra weight good training.

This may all PHOTOS sound extreme for just a little Top: Fully equipped for paddle down adventure. Cali Collective the river, but guide Victoria Anweiller remember heads down the South what the Fork American River “three hour (Melissa DeMarie); Below: tour” turned Sara James is well into for prepared to hit the drink Gilligan?

(Melissa DeMarie).

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Post a photo to Facebook and/or Instagram of you and your bike in places you’d feel safer running the Bontrager Flare R Tail Light (Day & night, commute, spin, to and from trail, etc.) Post with the hashtags #ASJBontrager and #BeLouder by midnight November 18, 2015, and we’ll choose our favorite shot on November 20!

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7

Last Ranger Standing Oldest ranger in Kings Canyon NP celebrates 41years of service Story and photos by Leonie Sherman

A

dam left me delirious in a hastily assembled tent, 16 miles from the trailhead and three miles from the nearest trail. After five days of climbing, I’d collapsed in a meadow at 11,600 ft, shivering under the blazing mid-day noon sun. Alone and hallucinating, hours passed in feverish slow motion.

At the sound of footsteps I grasped for consciousness like a swimmer hitting the surface after almost drowning. A grizzled face appeared in the tent doorway. A regulation ball cap, a badge, a ranger.

Adam bobbed into focus behind him. “This guy just hiked me into the ground!” Adam gasped. “He’s like twice as old as I am!”

As I battled meningitis over the next three weeks, I saw dozens of doctors, nurses, and ambulance drivers, from Plumas County to Santa Cruz. The calm demeanor, respectful treatment and quiet confidence of that first ranger stayed with me. I always meant to track him down and thank him in person. When I finally sat down with him, four years later, I realized I’d been rescued by a living legend.

Dario Malengo is the oldest and longest-serving backcountry ranger in Kings Canyon National Park. This summer he celebrated his 41st year of service and his 70th birthday. Despite claims of an aching back and slowing down, he can still walk four miles an hour with a fully loaded backpack. Adoring co-workers call him a pair of lungs on two legs.

A lot of kids fantasize about being back country rangers. Dario never did. But in the summer of 1970 he joined four fellow counselors from a Boy Scout camp on his first High Sierra backpacking trip. The next two weeks determined the course of his life. “We didn’t have any grand ambitions,” admits Dennis Williams, the only other guy to complete that fateful trip. “We were just looking for a free place to stay.”

They left from the Old Cottonwood Rd., aiming for 12,310 ft. Old Army Pass. After climbing a grueling 5,000 vertical ft, they arrived in the blessed cool of Horseshoe Meadows at 10,000 ft. They were stopped in their tracks by the appearance of a road. Then a garbage truck rumbled by. Three of the group quit on the spot. Dario and Dennis grabbed some extra food from them before they departed. While their friends went looking for cold beer and comfort, Dario and Dennis went looking for adventure.

“ A lot of visitors are pretty wrapped up in their city lives, but time out here – immersed in this beauty and splendor – that can’t do anything but good for a person” — Dario Malengo 22 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2015 ASJ—June/July 2012

They visited with Lorenzo “Larry” Stohls, who had scored a position as a back-country ranger at the Crabtree Ranger Station in Kings Canyon National Park.

“Larry was our idol,” admits Dennis. “He worked like four or five months a year in the back-country and spent the rest of his time traveling around and living in Mexico.”

“It’s really thanks to the generosity and hospitality of Larry Stohls that I’m still here,” Dario explained, gesturing at the panorama of McClure Meadows, where he’s stationed this summer. After climbing Mt.Whitney in the moonlight, sleeping on the ground for two weeks and exploring neighboring peaks, Dario was hooked.

He’s been back every summer since.

“I applied to work in Kings Canyons National Park for four years,” Dario says with a sigh. “I was determined.

I finally got an offer in 1975. My first job with the park was surveying for blister rust. So I spent a couple of seasons wandering Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, surveying and measuring giant trees. But the whole time I knew that I really wanted to be a backcountry ranger.”

He finally got his chance in 1978, stationed on Forest Service land in Rowell Meadow and patrolling in the park. Since then he’s been stationed at Rae Lakes, Charlotte Lake, Le Conte, Crabtree, Tyndall Creek, McClure and Bench Lake, as well as several seasons as a roving ranger.

When asked which one is his favorite, Dario shakes his head and says, “They’re all great.” We pause to gaze out at the bulk of the Hermit, rising above the lush green of McClure Meadow, with the jagged Evolution range at the head of the valley.

“I guess my favorite PHOTOS is maybe McClure,” Main image: McClure Meadow and he admits. But I the Hermit, the view out the door from suspect he’s like Dario’s cabin. Left:Up to a hundred Peter Croft, whose strangers a day knock on Dario’s door.

Right: Dario interrupts dish washing to favorite climb is assist a visitor. the one he just completed. Dario’s favorite place in the Sierra is right where he finds himself when you ask.

This summer marked his 38th year of being a backcountry ranger, making him the oldest and the longest serving back-country ranger KCNP has ever seen. “I’ve never been tempted to leave,” he explains. “It’s really a privilege, this opportunity to interact with people who love the back-country and the mountains. I love the place where I work, the people I work with, the job that I do.”

The job he does and the way he does it have earned him a reputation that stretches hundreds of miles from northern Yosemite to the Golden Trout Wilderness. “All the new rangers want to be like Dario,” a LeConte backcountry ranger told me. “He’s a living legend.”

This year the park required Dario to take a Search and Rescue fitness test for the first time in 38 years. “You have to walk three miles with a forty-five pound pack in 45 minutes,” Dario explains. “Though there’s a lot more to being good at rescue than the ability to walk a four minute mile.”

Without any special training, Dario competed this fast walk in 44 minutes. “Young folks these days are so nice,” he explained. “Two kids passed me at first but then slowed down and walked with me the whole way.” I suspect they were thrilled to accompany the legendary Dario Malengo.

Of course he’s seen significant changes in almost four decades of patrolling the back-country. “Thanks to the advent of solar power, I now have to monitor my radio constantly. When we were using batteries I only had to check in every four hours,” he says with a small laugh.

“And now over half our rescue call-outs are initiated by some kind of spot or GPS device.”

“ ‘All the new rangers want to be like Dario,’ a LeConte back-country ranger told me. ‘He’s a living legend.’ ” He hasn’t seen anyone die and the worst injury he’s experienced is a broken finger when a rock fell on him during the search for missing ranger Randy Mortgensen. “A lot of times I show up with crackers and nut butter and a blanket, so even if the person has a broken leg, they’re happy to see me,” explains Dario. One time he had to follow a mentally unstable person out of the park, but medical search and rescues operations are not that big of a deal for this seasoned ranger.

“These Fresno doctors come out to do our back-country medical training,” he explains. “They deal with about 150 ambulance calls a day in the ER. We do a half dozen or so evacs in a season, a dozen if you’re stationed near Whitney.

So we’re pretty lucky that way.”

One of the most noticeable changes he’s seen over the years is a dramatic increase in visitor numbers. “There’s so many people hiking the John Muir Trail these days. Cross-country travel used to be much more typical,” he explains. “Now I get a hundred people a day through Evolution Valley. Pretty soon, camps will start showing abuse from constant use every night.”

On the other hand he sees a lot more diversity on the trails than he used to.

“I spoke to the only guy from Mexico attempting the entire PCT this year,” Dario says. “And I see a lot more young people and women traveling alone.

Knowing that more and more people feel safe out here, that’s pretty cool.”

“A lot of visitors are pretty wrapped up in their city lives,” he continues. “But time out here, immersed in this beauty and splendor, that can’t do anything but good for a person.”

Immersion in alpine splendor has certainly done a lot of good for Dario.

Despite working for the government for over forty years, living for months

without fresh PHOTOS vegetables or Top: Admiring the running water, view. Middle: The and having to hike place where Dario lays eight hours just his head each night.

Bottom: Where Dario to get cell service, whips up feasts for Dario has not a visitors. single complaint about his job or Special thanks to Cindy Outlaw for use his life. of her camera.

“After that first trip, he became like John Muir,” explains Dennis’s wife Colleen, who accompanies her husband on regular visits to Dario’s back-country office. “One time I was with him up high somewhere and a hummingbird flew really close to me. I’d never seen a hummingbird so high up before. I turned to Dario and said ‘Some people say hummingbirds are messengers from God.’ Without missing a beat, Dario said, ‘Everything out here is.”

The lessons Dario has learned from a lifetime of service to wild beauty are simple and straightforward, like the man himself. “Pay attention, whatever you’re doing,” Dario muses. “Travel light.”

He pauses, considering the thousands of people whose lives he has touched and the wilderness that has been his backyard for over four decades. “And don’t go too far too quickly, ‘cause you might miss something.”

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23

Excellence in Mountain Biking Etiquette tips for shining on and off the trail

By Dave Robinson

F

irst you hear a hoot echoing through the forest. Next the mechanical buzz of a free-wheeling rear hub.

Then you spot the bright flash of a jersey through the trees as a rider bursts from the grove in front of you.

Their bike is laid down at a 30 degree angle with the rider slung low, inside foot extended hovering inches above the ground as their suspension compresses in the apex of the turn. They pedal out of the corner with the front wheel lifting under the torque of their power as they blast past you. Moments later all that’s left is the dust hanging in the air around you. Was that the best rider on the hill?

Maybe, or maybe not. To many it isn’t the person who climbs fastest, descends quickest, or goes biggest. The best riders are the ones who personify the ideals that drive us to excel day in and day out, on and off the bike.

They are the ones who ride with passion, who show interest and concern with everyone they meet on the trail, and put in the hard work it takes to maintain and develop new trails. Not surprisingly, these are the folks who are surrounded by some of the nicest people on the trail as well.

Mountain biking is undergoing explosive growth in California and as such there is a risk that our swelling numbers will negatively impact public perception of our clan. Fortunately we are also seeing growing interest in trail stewardship by mountain bikers and a new type of rider is emerging, the advocate.

We all want more trail access to challenge ourselves and to share with our fellow trail users. The people who are making this happen are the true dirt heroes. They are the ones who attend the local mountain biking club meetings, step up to volunteer at the public events that portray mountain biking as a healthy, non-destructive outdoor activity. They attend the meetings on public land use and voice our need for more, sustainably built trails to our elected representatives. They show up on work days. They contribute to fundraisers and at annual giving. They are the lifeblood of mountain biking. And it isn’t taking up all their free(ride) time. Here is a quick primer on how you too can be a dirt hero.

24 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Oct/Nov 2015 2012

Communicate clearly with fellow riders and other trail users Your squealing brakes are not necessarily an introduction — consider a bell or better yet kindly announcing your presence on the trail to hikers.

Examples include “Beautiful day isn’t it?”, “Rider up” (rider approaching), “Rider back” (overtaking rider), “Just three of us” (three in our group). These messages improve the experience and safety of everyone in your group and others with whom you are sharing the trail.

Be aware of horses Every animal is different just as every person is so ask the rider as you approach how they would like you to pass, particularly if you’re approaching them from behind. Don’t be offended if they ask you to dismount your steed, it is for both your safety and theirs (trust that they know their animal.)

Give way to climbing riders It sounds utterly ridiculous to state the obvious but there are still individuals who don’t. We don’t care if your Strava time will suffer, we all suffer when trails are closed due to bad behavior. Conversely, if someone is coming up behind you at a quicker pace pull aside and let them pass, don’t be that guy on the highway who hangs in the passing lane.

Don’t ride singletrack if it’s sloppy With any luck we’ll get some moisture this winter and with moisture comes the opportunity for our trails to recover. Your tires digging a furrow into the trail isn’t recovery, it’s damaging. Seek out sandier soils, they drain far better and recover quicker. If you don’t know where those trails are, ask at a shop or on the bike forums.

Ride within your limits Riding out of control puts your riding future at risk (crashing) and trail access for others at risk as well (think trail closure due to bad behavior

and excessive rescues). If you’re feeling sketchy then take a lesson; a few hours with a pro will totally change the way you feel on a bike and make you far less of a hazard to yourself and other trail users.

PHOTOS Main image: Riders in fine form taking on Enchanted Loop at Wilder State Park (Bruce Dorman). Above: “Rider back” on 680 Trail in Marin (photo courtesy of Marin County Bicycle Coalition). Circle: Equestrians and mountain bikers working together to share the trails respectfully in Santa Cruz County (Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz).

Ride with Protective gear Use your head, don’t roll out of the driveway without your lid on. This is a non-starter for me; I won’t ride with folks who don’t wear a helmet and I’m certainly not going burden my ride crew with hauling my lifeless carcass off the trail if I go without. Consider pads if you’re pushing your limits.

Get into your local shop, ask the team what they’re using, and have them fit you in the right stuff. Elbow pads need to be well designed and snug so they don’t

“ The best riders are the ones who personify the ideals that drive us to excel day in and day out, on and off the bike.”

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slide up into your armpit when you slide out in a corner. Consider a full shin and knee combo pad if you’re dialing in your flat pedal technique. Lastly, don’t be put off by the cost of protective gear. If you calculate your insurance co-pay and factor in potential lost wages from missed work then it’s one of the very best cycling investments you can make.

Pick up a shovel and/or Attend a meeting “It isn’t my thing. I don’t have the time.

It’s another clique that I’m not a part of.” Wrong. If mountain biking is your thing, then contributing two hours to discussing the issues is the least you can do to support it. How many hours a month do you ride anyways? Are you willing to admit to not being part of the clique because you’re not willing to put in some effort to develop and maintain legal singletrack? Add your voice to the your local mountain biking advocacy organization, and pitch in to help build/maintain your local trails. Visit the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) website at imba.com to find a club near you.

Donate Membership in IMBA and/or your local trail organization is about thirty bucks and funds advocacy while growing membership rolls prove public support for more trail. Whining about a dearth of local singletrack is weak, donating dollars is powerful so demonstrate your commitment to the effort. Trails aren’t free and your dollars support advocacy and paid professional planning which results in better public perception.

B

Enter to win this amazing GRAND PRIZE package that includes dinner with a legend!

Do you wanna be remembered? Trust me, your Strava KOM is going down this week, but your name on the sign board over that incredible singletrack you funded will be praised every day by appreciative riders.

That’s a KOM that will stand the test of time.

PHOTOS Top: Pitching in to build and maintain trails demonstrates excellence in mountain biking (Bogdan Marian).

Bottom: Using bike bells helps mitigate user conflict on the trails in Santa Barbara (SBMTV).

Ride Turn off the office. Turn a friend on to the trail. Appreciate public lands.

Recharge your batteries. Take your time.

We will all benefit from you being the person that you want to be. Bikes can be the answer.

Dave Robinson works for The Ride Guides, a local mountain bike guiding and coaching service based in Santa Cruz. He is a staunch advocate for the environment and is passionate about developing inspired stewards via outdoor recreation.

EXTRA CREDIT: KNOW YOUR FIRST AID

e a trail superhero, brush up on your first aid and take a Wilderness First Aid course.

Excellence on the trail can take many forms and caring for a fallen rider places you amongst the best. One of the greatest things about mountain biking is how quickly we can travel into the wilderness far from civilization. It also creates a huge challenge – what do you do when someone gets seriously injured out there? How do you stabilize someone with a debilitating injury and transport them out of the woods before things get really bad? The prepared mountain biker carries the tools to repair their bike but what tools do you need to save a life? These are the things that you’ll learn in a dedicated Wilderness First Aid Course.

Backcountry Medical Guides offers mountain bike specific Wilderness First Aid Courses in Santa Cruz in conjunction with The Ride Guides: backcountrymedicalguides.org. REI offers training at many of their stores around the country: rei.com, and Bay Area retailer Sports Basement also provides training: sportsbasement.com.

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Bonus Prizes Nine additional winners will be drawn and will win the highly acclaimed, rechargeable Bontrager Flare R Tail Light.

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

25

Cross Over An Enduro pro takes on Cyclo-Cross

By Ryan Gardner

A

s bike riders it’s all too easy to get caught up in your chosen corner of the cycling world. We identify as downhillers, roadies, cross country racers, commuters, or trail riders. We buy specific clothes, and helmets, and accessories to fit our little niche, and generally we don’t stray too far.

As a recovering downhill racer and now self-identified endur-bro, I have been expanding my horizons little by little into the previously dark and actively avoided realms of skinny wheels and drop bars. With enduro becoming more and more popular, it seems everyone’s pace and fitness has been increasing yearly. Not to be outdone or left behind, I got myself a cross bike in an effort to gain those precious seconds that add up after every corner and eye crossing climb. For about a year I have been milling about the pavement, fire roads, and single track of the east bay and secretly enjoying the hell out of my Kona Major Jake.

However, the thought of racing a CX race never crossed my mind. Recently however, with some encouragement, I was persuaded to give it a try at the Central Coast CycloCross (CCCX) opener in Fort Ord, California. What awaited me as one of the toughest hours on my bike I have ever experienced.

First off, let me just say that riding bikes is inherently silly. We are a tribe of grown men and women who have realized that bombing around on two wheels is pretty much the most fun you can have. We drift corners, hop off curbs, and generally, act silly. If biking is inherently silly, then CX must wear the crown.

As a relative outsider, let me describe how I see CX. First you take a road bike, put

26 ASJ ASJ—April/May — Oct/Nov 2015 2013

“First off, let me just say that riding bikes is inherently silly.” slightly knobby tires on it, keep the drop bars, and then race it around on everything besides a road. This seems to include trails/fire roads/sand pits/mud bogs/pavement/stairs or whatever else happens to be available.

Oh yeah, then make sure you aren’t riding the whole time by putting in some barriers to run over. It’s silly. It also happens to be an absolute blast.

I lined up for my first race this past weekend with a few thoughts in my mind. What did I get myself into? If my friends see me wearing spandex, I’m never going to hear the end of it. I hope I don’t trip on those barriers...

These thoughts quickly changed into, holy crap are we going to pedal this fast the whole time? Holy crap you can ride road bikes fast down these hills!

Seriously?! Seven more laps?!

And then, as quickly as it started it was over. After an hour of all out suffering I somehow managed to cross the line in 4th place and quickly found some shade to collapse on the ground, a mound of spent energy and lactic acid.

Five years ago I would never have considered myself a fan of road riding, CX or XC. With the rise of enduro racing, it has become incredibly clear that

PHOTOS

being only fit or Top Left: Ryan only skilled is Gardner pushes not enough to hard through a compete at a high sandy course. Top level. Enduro is a Right: CCCX Ft. form of racing that Ord pro podium. invites anyone Above: Halloween from any corner of shenanigans (Mike the cycling world Albright Photography); to give it a try, Bottom Left: Battle but at the same Born Enduro practice time demands the (Called To Creation). top riders to be well versed in all aspects of riding and racing. I think it is that attribute that has played to its popularity and will continue to allow the sport to grow and gain participants. In the same vein, I think enduro (or mountain biking as some would call it) lends itself really well to cross training (or having fun on all kinds of bikes rather than just one). The mountain bike race season is winding down just in time to catch the CX bug. So get out there and try something new!

Ryan Gardner is a professional bike racer for Kona Bicycles and a sustainability consultant at Rincon Consultants in Oakland, CA. He splits his time between going as fast as possible on a bike and trying to make the world a greener more sustainable place to live.

Follow him on Instagram @ gofastgardner.

2014

2015-16 CX CALENDAR Spotlight on ... Caro Gomez Villafañe Born and raised in Patagonia Argentina, I never thought I would end up a professional cyclist until I moved to the U.S in 2005. I bought my first real bike, a Stumpy HT, and raced it at the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League.

When I graduated I put the bike aside to focus on college, but in 2012 I found my way back to the sport. I chose CX because it’s “quick and dirty.” One moment the whistle blows, and the next you’re done and covered in mud! I soon started working with Chris McGovern (coach), and Trina and Edwin (team managers) who really took me under their wings. My first year I cracked the top 10 at a Pro race, and by 2014 was racing a full UCI schedule. It has been exciting but rough. Traveling Tuesday, getting to the race by Wednesday, spinning Thursday, pre-riding Friday, racing Saturday and Sunday, resting Monday and do it all over again for 5 months! Racing has taught me how to be efficient with time, and how to rest properly. After the World Championships in Tabor I was not only proud of my accomplishPHOTO ments, but it was extremely rewarding Caro Gomez at the to have proven that a “pretty face” CCCX Cyclo-Cross can be a tough cookie too. Currently race at Fort Ord I’m racing for Specialized/Muscle (Justin Beck).

Milk, and excited for the season ahead!

2014

BAY AREA SUPER PRESTIGE BayAreaCX.com Oct. 4 – Candlestick #1 Nov. 7 & 8 – Sierra Point Night Cross and Repechage #2 & 3 Nov. 21 & 22 – Candlestick Point #4 & 5 Dec. 6 – CCCP Cyclocross at Coyote Pt #6 SURF CITY CYCLOCROSS Cyclo-X.com Oct. 26 - #1 Nov. 16 - #2 Nov. 30 - #3 Locations TBD CCCX CENTRAL COAST CCCXcycling.com Oct. 11 - Toro Park, #1 Oct. 18 - Manzanita, #2 Dec. 21 - CSUMB, #3 Jan. 3 - Toro Park, #4 Jan. 18 - Fort Ord, Series Finale SACRAMENTO CYCLOCROSS SacCycloCross.com Oct. 12 - Orangevale Park, #1 Oct. 19 - Maidu Park, #2 Nov. 2 - Lembi Park, #3 Nov. 15 - Gibson Ranch Park, #4

Dec. 7 - Miller Park, #5 Dec. 14 - Lange Twins Winery, #6 Jan. 4 - Mill View Ranch, #7 Jan. 17 - Historic Old Sacramento, #8 Jan. 18 - Yolo Brewing, Series Awards SAGEBRUSH CYCLOCROSS RenoCX.com Sep 19 – CrossReno #1 Oct. 3 – HiddenValley #2 Oct. 18 – Truckee Bike Park #3 Oct. 24 – Archive Clayton MS #4 Nov. 14 – Davis Creek Park #5 NCCX - LION OF FAIRFAX NCNCA.org Sep. 2 – Folsom RodeoCross #1 Sep. 9 – Folsom RodeoCross #2 Sep. 16 – Folsom RodeoCross #3 Sep. 23 – Folsom RodeoCross #4 Sep. 30- Folsom RodeoCross #5 Oct. 7 – Folsom RodeoCross #6 Oct. 21 – Folsom RodeoCross #7 Oct. 28 – Folsom RodeoCross #8

Nov. 14 – Sonoma County Fairgrounds Course Change #2 Nov. 15 – Championship: Spring Lake Regional Park #3 SEA OTTER CLASSIC CYCLOCROSS SeaOtterClassic.com Apr. 14-17 - Laguna Seca SOCAL CROSS PRESTIGE SoCalCross.org Sep. 27 – Verdugo Cross #1 Oct. 3 – Krosstoberfest #2 Oct. 11 – Storm the Beach #3 Oct. 18 –Velocity Cross #4 Oct. 24 & 25 – Spooky Cross Wkend #5/6 Nov. 1 – Monument Cross #7 Nov. 8 - Anza Crossing #8 Nov. 14 & 15 – SLO Cross Wkend #9 /10 Nov. 20 & 22 – UCI CXLA wkend #11/12 Nov. 29 – Turkey Trot Cross #13 Dec. 5 & 6 – Vail Lake CX #14/15 Dec. 12 – Prestige Final, Santa Cross Fever #16

SANTA ROSA CUP SERIES BikeMonkey.net Nov. 13 – Sonoma County Fairgrounds Night Race #1

For more information about cyclo-cross, visit usacycling.org.

PHOTO What’s cross without a bit of heckling? (Jeff Namba)

2014

We’re hitting the road again the road again July 30 - Aug 2 — Downieville Classic, Downieville We’re hitting the road again g the road again 2014 2015 2014 2014 Aug 9 — Tri Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz 2015 r’s events! this summer’s hottest events! er’s hottest hottest events! atatthis summer’s hottest events!

2014 Aug 14 - 16 — Ta-Hoe Nalu, Lake Tahoe booth for chances by our booth for chances oothCome for chances Sept 13 — The Fall Classic, Kings Beach Come by ourthe booth for chances We’re hitting road We’re hitting the roadagain again We’re hitting the road again ear and getaways Oct 3 — Mermaid Triathlon & Duathlon, Capitola to win cool gear and getaways We’re hitting the road again We’re hitting the road again at this year’s best events! at this summer’s hottest events! ar and getaways We’re hitting the road again ur sponsors! at this summer’s hottest events!

Oct 17 - 18 — Battle of the Bay, San Francisco to win cool gear and from our sponsors!

Come by our booth for your getaways Come by our booth for chances 2014 2014 year’s hottest atto win this best events! at this summer’s events! gain at this summer’s events! sponsors! chance cool gearbooth and hottest Come by our for chances to winfrom cool gear and getaways our sponsors! vents! getaways from our sponsors.

Come by our booth for your gain Come by our booth for chances Come by our booth for chances 2014 from our sponsors! to win cool gear and getaways ain nces vents!

We’re hitting the again We’re hitting the road again chance toroadwin cool gear and to win cool gear and getaways cool gear and getaways ways from our sponsors! nces at thiswin summer’s hottest events! ents! getaways from our sponsors. at this summer’s hottest events! ain ways Come by ourfrom booth forour chances sponsors! from our sponsors!

Come byhitting our booth for chances ces cool gear and getaways ents! to winWe’re the road again Oct. 17our— Biketboerfest & Battle of the Bay from sponsors!

Family Cycling has been the Title Sponsor to win cool gear and getaways ways ces at this summer’s hottest events! of CCCX Cross Series since 1997 Oct. 18 — Super Triathlon Nov. 1 — Mermaid Run fromKidour sponsors!

• We stock complete cyclocross bikes from ways Come Nov. by our booth for 6 —Warren Millerchances SC, Specialized, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Surly. cool getaways Nov.to 1, win 7, 8, 14 & 15gear — and Ski & Snowboard Festivals • We do custom and Pro Builds.

July 30 - Aug 2 — Downieville Classic, Downieville Aug 9 — Tri Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz

Aug 14 - 16 — Ta-Hoe Nalu, Lake Tahoe

Sept 13 — The Fall Classic, Kings Beach

Oct 3 — Mermaid Triathlon & Duathlon, Capitola Oct 17 - 18 — Battle of the Bay, San Francisco

(San Francisco, Sansponsors!

Jose & Sacramento) from our Nov. 21 —SF Bike Expo

• We carry a large variety of parts and accessories for the sport of cyclocross.

CCCX promoter Keith Defeibre. Photo CCCX

014

PHOTO Jeff Namba

Our staff, owner, and family love racing cross.

(831)475–3883 • familycycling.com www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

25

Event Profiles a sneak peek at some of the season’s best upcoming events SF Bike Expo

MERMAID RUN SAN FRANCISCO

SNOWBOMB SKI & BOARD FESTIVAL

November 1, San Francisco

Soak in the best views of San Francisco with the Mermaid. Choose from the challenging Sirena10 mile run that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge or the flat and fast 5k, 10k that take you around Crissy Field. All distances include classic views of San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco skyline.

This event has SOLD OUT in the past. Register early to guarantee your spot at the start line. Mermaids receive a stylish race shirt, finisher necklace and post race food. mermaidseries.com

WOMEN ON WAVES October 17, Capitola

Come on out to the Capitola Jetty to celebrate the Women On Waves (WOW) Surf Fest. WOW is well known throughout Santa Cruz County as a great local fundraising event that promotes women’s participation, of all ages, in the sport of surfing. It is an amateur event that showcases the talent and athleticism of local women.

Women on Waves participants come from all walks of life and all ages. Their enthusiasm for the sport of surfing is truly uplifting and a testament to the strength of our community. wowsurffest.com

A NIGHT WITH NELLY

Nelly

November 6, Santa Cruz

Exhibiting for the first time at the Surftech Santa Cruz Showroom, Dave “Nelly” Nelson presents his most iconic images and creative works. Nelly’s use of lighting, creative angles and flash photography is legendary in the surfing world. Nelly is donating 10% of all proceeds to the Jay Moriarity Foundation and Surtech Santa Cruz Showroom will be donating 20% of all board sales that day to the foundation as well. Join Surftech from 6:00 10:00pm for hors-d’oeuvres, beer, wine and live music for a Night with Nelly! Call 831.479.4944 x3 for more information.

BIG SUR HALF MARATHON BIKETOBERFEST MARIN

Eric Harger

October 17, Fairfax

With group road and mountain bike rides, cargo bike racing, 20 breweries tapping 35 different beers, great food, exceptional live music, and a comprehensive vendor expo, this year’s Biketoberfest Marin is not to be missed. Cyclists and west coast brewers alike in join forces for this popular family-friendly bicycle expo and brewfest that raises funds for local cycling advocacy organizations Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) and Access4Bikes (A4B) in their work to continue improving on and off-road bicycling conditions and access in Marin county.

As Marin County’s premier social bicycle event, Biketoberfest Marin draws over 5,000 brew and bicycle enthusiasts from throughout Northern California, and takes takes place at Fair-Anselm Plaza in downtown Fairfax, one of the Bay Area’s most popular bicycling destinations and home of the newly-opened Marin Museum of Bicycling. It’s a great way to have fun while helping a good cause. biketoberfestmarin.com 28 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2015

November 8, Big Sur

The Half Marathon on Monterey Bay attracts runners from all 50 states and more than a dozen other countries. There will be a two-day Health & Fitness Expo begining on Friday the 6th and The Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K and the By the Bay Kids’ 3K will be held on Saturday, Novebmer, 7th. Use coupon code ASJHM15 for a $10 discount. bigsurhalfmarathon.com

October 31-November 1, San Francisco November 7-8, San Jose November 14-15, Sacramento

The popular SnowBomb Ski & Board Festival series kicks off its 10th season in San Francisco (Fort Mason) October 31-November 1, then swings south to San Jose (San Jose Convention Center) November 7-8 and back north to Sacramento (Cal Expo) November 14-15.

Fans of SnowBomb will, as always, receive free lift tickets and deeply discounted season passes for Tahoe resorts like Heavenly, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley, Alpine, Northstar and many more.

That’s three SnowBomb events being held on back-toback weekends!

In honor of SnowBomb’s 10 year anniversary, they are offering low snow FREE general admission. For Powder Pass and VIP admissions, be sure to use coupon code “snow” at snowbomb.com/ski-board-festivals/ for a special 25% discount for ASJ readers!

“SnowBomb Ski and Board Festivals connect skiers and snowboarders with a fun slice of mountain culture in their own back yard,” says SnowBomb.com founder Jim McAlpine. “Whichever of the three venues you choose, expect incredible value and a fun day of interaction with the best ski resorts and industry brands.” snowbomb. com/ski-board-festivals

TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL November 13, Santa Cruz

The Telluride Film Festival (TFF) kicks off the 42nd edition of their series on Labor Day weekend September 4-7, 2015. TFF’s annual celebration of artistic excellence brings together cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers and artists to discover the best in world cinema. TFF screens over 75 feature films, short films and revival programs representing twenty-seven countries, along with special artist tributes, conversations, panels, student programs and festivities. The tour will soon visit Santa Cruz with documentary films that will explore the themes connected to Telluride Mountainfilm’s mission of exploring cultures, preserving environments and promoting adventure.

ASJ is proud to sponsor the Santa Cruz screening at the Rio Theatre on November 13 at 7 pm. For tickets and information visit riotheatre.com.

For more information on Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour, including tour locations and dates, visit mountainfilm. org/tour/upcomingtelluridefilmfestival.org

SF BIKE EXPO

November 21, San Francisco The SF Bike Expo is all things bicycle! Founded in 2008 and produced by rideSFO, the San Francisco Bicycle Expo represents the myriad interests of the Bay Area’s vast cycling community, from fashion and apparel to backyard bicycle fabrications. It is a local event that happens annually and has been produced for cyclists of all types.

Whether you are just starting to ride or have been cycling your whole life, the SF Bike Expo is the perfect venue to support those who share the same interest and passion for cycling. SFBikeExpo.com

Flip to pages 14 & 15 for info on

Warren Miller’s Chasing Shadows and MSP Film’s Fade To Winter premiere events!

Do you have an event you’d like to see featured in this section?

Contact us to learn about our event promotion packages – we specialize in raising visibility for YOUR events!

Adventure Events Calendar Visit us online for a full listing of upcoming California events.

Go to AdventureSportsJournal.com and click on the EVENTS button.

Biking

Climbing, cont.

October

October

10-11 — Coastal Challenge, Santa Monica. bikems.org 17 — Biketoberfest, Fairfax. 70 bike exhibitors and a handmade bike show, brewers, group rides, family activities, cargo bike jubilee, live music & more! biketoberfestmarin.com 17 — Solvang Autumn Double Century, Solvang. PlanetUltra.com 17-18 — Bay to Bay, Irvine to San Diego. bikems.org 18 — TBF MTB 50-Miler, Granite Bay, Folsom Lake. Endurance MTB Race with no time limit or fun limit. TBFRacing.com

November 21 — 7th Annual SF Bike Expo, San Francisco. Doors open at 11am with events, gear and everything BICYCLE! sfbikeexpo.com Guide-Led Moutina biking with The Ride Guys, Heaps of trails to choose from and a knack for finding what you likeour guides will dial you into the terrain that you crave.therideguides.com

Climbing Free Climbing Clinics Pacific Edge, Santa Cruz.

Topics include bolt & fixed anchor, bouldering, footwork, knots, belaying, slackline, spotting, system wall & womens only clinics. 831.454.9254 Kids Climb Santa Cruz. For children ages 6 to 12, $18/ child (831)454-9254 PacificEdgeClimbingGym.com

4 & 11— Next Move The perfect course to go from the climbing gym to climbing outside at Donner Pass. 530-5829170, alpineskills.com October 4 – Learn to Lead Learn the skills to be on the sharp end of the rope. AMGA Certified Guides. Donner Pass.

Visit alpineskills.com or call 530 582-9170

Miscellaneous October 13 & 15 — Matchstick Productions, Fade into WInter Film Tour, Featuring jaw-dropping action from Alaska, Iceland, British Columbia, Japan, Colorado, Italy, and New England, this film captures the spirit of nine skiers who go to great lengths for the sport that they love. Showing in San Francisco & Squaw Valley. skimovie.com

November 22–23 — WFA & CPR Wilderness First Aid Also counts as a WFR Refresher. With one of the best instructors in the field, Bill Seline. alpineskills.com or 530 582-9170 6--- Surftech Santa Cruz Nelly Photo Showcase, A showcase of Nelly’s most iconic surf photography. Prints for sale- as well as wine, beer, and Pupus. firstfridaysantacruz.com/

Paddling Kayak Connection Kayak Club, five week intensive sea kayaking course is a great way to learn how to paddle a closed-decked kayak and learn how to navigate

in open water. Try out some of the sleekest, fastest, most responsive kayaks in their fleet.

Choose your date at kayakconnection.com/ tours/ Baja Kayak Season Oct.–Dec. Kayaking Tours begin just south of Loreto. Come explore the remote coast most tourists never see. 800398-6200, TourBaja.com Kayak Fishing Clinic, Kayak Connection, best kayak fishing locations in the Monterey Bay and teach you how to get the best fish around. No experience necessary, but you will need to bring a fishing licence. Pick your date at kayakconnection. com/classes/santa-cruzharbor/ Paddling, Santa Cruz or Elkhorn Slough.For first timers of folks looking to increase their SUP skills.

KayakConnection.com Sundays in October — Intro to SUP, Santa Cruz Harbor. This is a fun beginner class for anyone interested in basic paddle strokes, gear, and rescue techniques in a sea kayak. Santa Cruz or Elkhorn Slough. 831.479.1121 KayakConnection.com

November 7 - 8, 2015 • bigsurhalfmarathon.org E! s.

FEader

Also presenting the Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K & By the Bay 3K

Y e TR rts r

EN po de F re S e co 5 F O tu h 1

Come for the run!

Stay and play by the bay!

RIDE & TIE

ng

ri t 0 ven se SJHM iste 1 g d U $ rA A re n Fo he w

TWO PEOPLE AND A HORSE ONE EXCITING RACE ...

A STRATEGIC EQUINE AND TEAMMATE PARTNERSHIP

November Nov 21 - 29 — Coast & Island Thanksgiving in Baja! Nine day full package kayak camping tour along the popular and beautiful coast and island route with Paddling South. Trips are planned to satisfy both active adventurers and those looking for a relaxing vacation. 800-398-6200, TourBaja.com

www.rideandtie.org Mentors and horses are available in many areas.

Photos: Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

Distances from 4 - 40 miles // fun & family friendly // walk or run // we share the trails and love nature. Learn more!

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

29

MARKETPLACE

Adventure Events Calendar Run/Walk

Snow, cont.

Tri(du)athlon, cont.

October

October

October

4 — Cow Half Marathon, Relay & 5k, Sacramento UrbanCowHalf Marathon.com

13 & 15 — Matchstick Productions, Fade into WInter Film Tour, Featuring jaw-dropping action from Alaska, Iceland, British Columbia, Japan, Colorado, Italy, and New England, this film captures the spirit of nine skiers who go to great lengths for the sport that they love. Showing in San Francisco & Squaw Valley. skimovie.com

3 — Mermaid Santa Cruz, Capitola.

All women triathlon and duathlon. For novice experienced runners, or fun! www.MermaidSeries.com

Run/Walk

Discover the best of Santa Cruz’s year round mountain biking with our premier guiding and coaching service. therideguides.com

831.818.6112 We’ll Show You The Way

10 —Skyline to the Sea Trail Run, Boulder Creek, Marathon & 50k.

PCTrailRuns.com 10 -11 — Bizz Johnson Marathon, Half, 10k & 5k, Susanville. Run through scenic Lassen National Forest. coastaltrailruns.com 11 — Fall Descanso Ride & Tie, one of the most unique races in CA! Horses and Runners together in one heart pounding race! rideandtie.org/ 18 — Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon, Folsom. folsomblueshalf.org 25 — Sac River Trail Run. 19.9-mile paved & dirt run around Whiskeytown Lake. sweatrc.com 31 — Stinson Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & 7k, Stinson Beach.

EnviroSports.com

November 1 — Mermaid Run, SF. Run for women and girls/ novice or experienced. MermaidSeries.com

November Oct 31- Nov 1 — Snowbomb Ski & Board Festival, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Gear, deals, wine, beer and FREE LIFT TICKETS! www. snowbomb.com 7-9 — Snowbomb Ski & Board Festival, San Jose Convention Center. Gear, deals, wine, beer and FREE LIFT TICKETS! www. snowbomb.com 14-15 — Snowbomb Ski & Board Festival, Cal Expo, Sacramento.

Gear, deals, wine, beer & FREE LIFT TICKETS! snowbomb.com

Surf October

17 — Women on Waves Surf Fest, Capitola. great local fundraising women’s surf contest. It is an amateur 7 — Bar H R&T and Equathon, Two event that showcases the talent and People, one horse, and one tough athleticism of local women in Santa race! rideandtie.org/ Cruz County. eventbrite.com/e/ women-on-waves-surf-fest-20158 — 2nd Annual Surfer’s Path 10k/5k, Participants travel the Surfer’s tickets.

Path, passing many of the world’s most famous surf breaks. There is plenty of surf music and celebration at October the finish area located in the heart of Capitola Village. runsurferspath.com/ 17 — Golden Gate Bridge Swim, San Francisco. 3k 8 — Big Sur Half Marathon, The www.WaterWorldSwim.com

Swim

Consignment boards, suits & accessories BLOWN OUT

WETSUIT REPAIR YOUR ALOHA SHOP

3055 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

831.475.4942

Rentals Service &, Sales

Stand Up Paddling, Kayaking, & Mountain Biking

209-753-2834 • BearValleyXC.com 30 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2014

weekend also icnldues a two-day Health & Fitness Expo begining on Friday the 6th and The Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K and the By the Bay Kids’ 3K will be held on Saturday, Novebmer, 7th. Use coupon code ASJHM15 for a $10 discount. bigsurhalfmarathon.com

Snow Warren Miller’s No Turning Back, Come pay homage to 65 years of mountain culture. Coming to California in Nov & Dec. Visit www.

WarrenMiller.com for tickets, trailers, photos & more.

18 — San Diego Sharkfest.

Tidelands Part to Coronado Bridge during “slack” tide. www.

EnviroSports.com

Tri(du)athlon October 17 — Scott Tinley’s 20th Anniversary Triathlon, Lopez Lake, San Luis Obispo. On-road and offroad triathlons. www.TriCalifornia.com

11 — Golden State Triathlon & Super Sprint Triathlon, Discovery Park. TBFracing.com 18 — Annual SuperKid Triathlon, Santa Cruz. This is a great event for the whole family and gives your children the opportunity to be triathletes! 14 and under.

FinishLineProduction.com

November 8 — Surf City Challenge, Santa Cruz. Iconic long couse triathlon distance.1.2m swim, 56m bike & 13.1run. www.FinishlineProduction. com

Looking Ahead October 6 — Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Cruz..

5k walk/run benefit for Toys for Tots.

FinishLineProduction.com 6— California International Marathon and MaraFUNrun, Folsom. runcim.org 13 — Hark the Herald Angels 12k & 25k™, Angel Island. www.

EnviroSports.com 13 — Santa to the Sea, Oxnard.

Half, 2 person relay and 5K fun run.

SantaToTheSea.com 27— PCTR Woodside Trail Run, Redwood City. 10 Km, 19 Km, 37 Km, & 50 Km, Run the beautiful trails inHuddart & Wunderlich Parks.

PCTrailRuns.com

View & list events for free on our website at Adventure Sports Journal.com

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