About a month ago, JT was going to be featured on 60 minutes flying in his wingsuit. Here’s the full video. It’s a great watch!
Doug Coombs was an icon in the ski world as I grew up. Watching him flowing down lines that the majority of America thought of as “extreme” and the freeride community thought of as EPIC was the height of skiing for me. From numerous huge decents all over AK to 3900′ 55 degree decents in La Grave, Coombs made skiing look easy. I think it is only fitting that such a hero to our community is added to the Ski Hall of Fame. McConkey’s next. Read the full list of Ski Hall of Fame Inductees on US Ski Team.com.
Enjoy some video of Coombs tearing up lines all over the world…
You can read the accident report for Coombs and VanderHam here: http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2006/04/10/coombs-vanderham-accident-report/
Main image from: http://www.freshworship.org/node/292
Adding to the radness that Jones is, a post on Teton Gravity shows him and a bud getting after it in mid October on the Dana Plateau’s own Coke Chute. A great line any time it has snow… even in early October! Put the bike aside and head down to the upper elevations and slash some well earned turns on Tioga Pass!
Check out the whole story on TGR’s website.
I’m not saying I wish I hadn’t gone, but my last SUP paddle was a bit of a frigid challenge. It would be my last shirtless Paddleboard
Out for only 15mins, my body heat still chilled I contemplated scapping the paddle for the warmth of my car several times and accepting that I was indeed underdressed. In relative question of my own desision, I pressed on thinking as long as the sun is in the air I can make it to my destination about an hour’s paddle away. Reaching the goal beach with totally numb feet I gratefully scramlbed into the lone public restroom and stuck my toes into the hot water the sink provided.
With warm feet and the wind at my back I ventured out on my return trip to find the sun chasing my every stroke. Bit by bit I gained on it though and my trip back to the bay I call home was no longer the only thing on my mind. The lake and my surrounding choked me with beauty. This I thought, is really cool and in fact a grand desision in the end.
Since buying a standup paddleboard I have been paddling much more than I thought I would given my lack of free time in the summer, but Tahoe I have come to realize is a perfect venue for distance paddleing. Kayaking to me is a bit boring for the legs, and it pales in efficency to the paddleboards swiftness. The paddleboard not only offers you panoramic views of the lake from a birds eye perspective, but it is a perfect core workout for our favorite winter sports.
If you have not yet cruised Tahoe on a SUP, you might just be missing the best activity the lake has to offer. Check it out as soon as you can and preferably when the weather is friendly!
Local Squaw Valley Legendary Ripper Jeremy Jones Introduces Jones Snowboards. Who better to build snowboards that are tougher than nails, rail harder and lighter than the competition? Jeremy Jones has been the focus of many movies and what the’s! from pro riders all over the world. Taking his huge amount of knowledge and desire to ride harder and steeper lines, Jones Snowboards will become major players for sure!
Watch Jeremy Jones Rip Alaska in TGR’s Lost and Found!
From Jones’ website:
The 125-year-old, family owned Swiss manufacturer Nidecker was chosen to engineer and manufacture Jones Snowboards because of their long-standing reputation as one of the most innovative and technologically advanced snowboard producers in the world.
“Jeremy’s talents have always inspired us here at Nidecker,“ says Henry Nidecker, company president. “We are excited to collaborate with him on this new project and offer Jones Snowboards both the award-winning technologies and the commitment to quality that we’re well known for after 25 years of building boards.”
With prototypes already in production, Jones Snowboards will make their first appearance at SIA and ISPO 2010. Expect worldwide distribution for the 2010-2011 winter season.
Check out Jeremy’s website at: http://jeremyjones.net
JT Holmes has been skiing Squaw Valley since 1982. He has stared in many ski movies over the years including 1999 and Immersion
Ski BASE became a reality when the legendary Shane McConkey convinced JT to Ski BASE off Lovers Leap near South Lake Tahoe in early 2003. Since then JT has been all over the world laying down huge lines, long free falls and flying 140 mph+ in his wing suit. Watch JT Holmes Ski BASE at Alta Utah. CBS 60 Minutes is featuring JT Holmes in “The Birdmen” on Sunday, October 11th at 7 pm ET/PT. Don’t miss it!
Large Image up top from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1148745/Incredible-pictures-daredevils-hurl-mountain-wearing-wingsuits.html
McConkey’s ashes were spread at the top of Eagles Nest, now named McConkey’s. This is so proper. One of my favorite ski shots is of him on that steep face is in black and white hanging in the Keoki Flagg gallery. Amazing shot of the legend doing what he did best. A couple of blogs posted some great comments on the spreading of McConkey’s ashes. I’m stoked for this season to get up there check out the Eagle and rip down McConkey’s.
Check out:
Men’s Journal did a great writeup on Shane’s life, as did all the ski magazines worth any notice.
“We need heroes because they draw us on to become better versions of ourselves.” – Wally Bock
McConkey was a humble legend in Tahoe. He’s going to be missed for sure. I loved watching him rip down KT on powder days. You just knew it was him by the way he skied. Everything was fast and fluid, like he was created just for the mountains. Visit his memorial website at: ShaneMcConkey.org
