All I Can : JP Auclair, Urban Skiing and the Beauty of Old Snow

Gritty. Grimy. Rough. Unpolished.

The JP Auclair segment from the highly acclaimed All.I.Can ski flick has "urban" sewn into its very foundation. From the water dripping off the eaves of a soot-caked roof to the sparks that fly up as metal ski edges catch hold of coarse concrete, this five minute motion exploration of urban skiing encapsulates the untold bits of a sport that trends towards glitz and glamour.

A JP Auclair example: It's hard to deny the charm of a French-Canadian

Auclair, who tops the charts as one of my favorite skiers (along with Seth Morrison), not only has the dashingly good looks of the French Canadian tribe (yes, being one, I am biased) but also the skills that take his skis to the air, initiative that makes him a leader in ski manufacturing, and a heart that takes on more than self-interest. These traits combine to make a well-rounded ski celebrity who is worth keeping tabs on.

In this clip, Auclair guides us through the "behind the scenes" of urban rail slides and jibbing. There's no glossy magazine spreads here, no brightly clad masses of teen boys trying to impress themselves. Auclair, the singular star of the moment, almost becomes second to the sport itself- rare in the world of urban skiing- as he traverses the demands of a frozen cityscape.

For many, it is difficult to find beauty in the mundane aspects of winter life. However, when brought together by masterful film artists, perspectives open and we begin to almost welcome what was previously abhorred. It is in the world of these artists that we discover the beauty of old snow, crystalized into grains, as its movement is caught in slow motion. We see the aesthetic contribution that wiry, barren, winter trees make against the cold sky as birds are flushed out of its tangled branches. Most importantly though, as Auclair navigates the bleak surroundings of a city cloaked in snow, we find an exuberance in simply skiing.

Enjoy.

Giving Back by Shopping Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

It's the holiday shopping weekend that has almost become a holiday in itself; many folks are scouring ads and the web for deals. We are also sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas, holidays that teach us to give thanks and give to others. Many of you know I'm a big believer in supporting the little guy, so I'd like to combine the first two statements of this post into one idea and present it to you: Instead of heading straight to the store or its website, why not look over your favorite blogger's affiliate links and order through them? Yes, this might sound a bit self-promotional, but hey, a traveling blogger has to eat, and this advice presents no extra out-of-pocket expenses for you all.

Of course, I'd suggest first that you make something handmade: bake a batch of your finest cookies, repurpose an old pallet into something you saw on Pinterest, or just gift some of your time to a loved one. Spending time—not dollars—on someone shows you are willing to give up what is becoming increasingly rare in order to make them smile.

However, as extra time is so rare these days, some will think they simply do not have it (you do) or will resort to purchasing gifts, even with the best intentions of finally making it a home-made Christmas. If this is you, here's how you can do a kind deed for two people with one purchase:

When you pick up a gift for someone through the affiliate links on your friend's site, your dollars are pulling double duty and you create a win-win situation. These links often have the same deals you would get if you went straight to the source, so you're not paying a penny more. However, instead of just forking the money over to the big retailer and helping no one in-between, by using a blog's affiliate links, the blog's author will get a bit of compensation for their hours of research, writing and editing. When you choose to shop online through affiliate links, you're showing bloggers you value their time, their opinion, and their blog. You help them stick through with their commitment to bring value to your "screen time."  Bonus: you'll come away knowing you helped your favorite blog, its community, and have supported a small business—that's what blogs are, after all! 

Ski Snowbasin This Thanksgiving!

Although I believe all our Utah ski and snowboard resorts have claims to fame when it comes to beauty, one that takes my breath away is Snowbasin. Located between two picturesque valleys about 35 miles north of Salt Lake City, Snowbasin is...

(Just wanted to share my latest article at http://www.outdoorwomensalliance.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-at-snowbasin.html - go check it out! :)

Life Lessons from The Matrix

I've never seen the Matrix, but I assume a lot of you have. While doing some online research (really, do I need to qualify this with "online" anymore?), I came across a leadership conference video where the speakers took clips from the Matrix to create a platform for their points.

That's when I learned the Matrix is full of life lessons.



While I don't condone jumping from very tall buildings in an attempt to let go of fear, doubt and disbelief, I do condone finding what "tall buildings" you've let stand in your way and then changing your view to the truth of the matter: that they are merely hurdles- and hurdles can be jumped.

It is our mindset that is our biggest obstacle. Once we let go of the three dream killers: fear, doubt and disbelief, we understand that we are not faced with anything insurmountable in this life except death. So go live.

A Plea From a Broken Heart: Utah Ski Season 2011-2012

No hiking at all for me today

It was like Christmas Eve last night and I was the six year old child trying to keep my eyes squeezed shut long enough for the early signs of dawn when I could jump out of bed and race to my... computer.

Yes, this is what I have been reduced to- a spectator of the ski season beginning. All the wonderfulness of winter begins today in Utah with my beloved Big Cottonwood Canyon resorts in the lead. My own dear Solitude resort opened with three lifts. Three! Yet, here I dejectedly sit, about as far as you can get from participating from this yearly celebration. As I write this, I stare out on a vista of palms and a slow, winding river filled with gators. I'm in Florida, kids. Feel my pain.

Usually I love being home. I grab the old canoe, paddle around the herons, egrets and manatees and explore the channels cut through the swamp by the Army Corps of Engineers to control the swarms of mosquitos that once plagued the area. I can be at the beach within 7 minutes and practicing my sand castle building skills. But to be here on the one day that marks the beginning of the best time of year? That's torture.

I've already pored over photos from last winter, stalked the Solitude Facebook page, and dug deep into the Twitter feeds from both resorts. Now all I can do is sit, and wait, for Utah to wake up, get their freshly tuned skis and boards loaded into their Subarus and hit the snow so I can live vicariously through my fellow (but much more luckily situated) snow enthusiasts.

Good readers, won't you please have some pity? This troubled heart needs compassion and it can only come in the form of you telling me details of your day. Photos, tweets, updates on Facebook- whatever. Yes, I actually want to hear how much fun you are having. Chalk it up as doing your good deed for the day- you'll be lifting the spirits of one who lives for snow but is stuck with sand.

All my thanks in advance. Now go make some turns.

photos included in this post are from my blissful days last season at Solitude. Ah. Pass a tissue, please. 

Solitude, Skiing and the Wisdom of Julian Carr

"Whether you think you can or think you can't- you're right." - Julian Carr hucking it 

off some Solitude terrain. 

Julian, you're my hero for the day. Not only did you put up a photo which demonstrates the defiance of rational thinking, but you used it to symbolize the succes of taking those risks (as you are still here to tell the tale). 

Yes. Risk taking is, well... risky. But what would we gain if we didn't huck ourselves off some cliffs once in a while? We'd never progress, we'd never inspire, we'd never push ourselves past our current "limits." And we certainly wouldn't have this amazing photo from Julian. 

Thanks for thinking you can, Julian. 

Sand Messages (Pt II)

Sunday I put up a post asking what you all would like written in the sand. I headed down to the beach yesterday to fulfill the requests. A storm was coming in and it was high tide- not the best time for drawing pictures, but it made for a pretty scene.

After rescuing a little bird from the tangled seaweed that had been pushed on shore, I cleared away the soft sand to get to the harder sand beneath and started drawing.

Do you have anything you want drawn on a sandy Florida beach? Let me know. Limited time offer as The Most Epic Trip is taking off soon!

Sand Messages

Today I want to do something kinda fun for you. While I am here in Florida on The Most Epic Trip and in close proximity to the sandy white beaches of Daytona, tell me what message you would like written (keep it clean, kids) and I'll go down to the beach and do a little artwork in the sand for you with your message.

It will look better than above... I was in a hurry there. A hurry to enjoy the sun. ;)

P.S. Feet not included.