Thoughts: Stay Safe Out There!
0With the interesting winter season we’ve had so far here in Colorado, the conditions are sketchy at best in a lot of places. This past weekend, we had a nice snow storm dump a decent amount of snow on the mountains, which was much needed, and made for a lot of excitement. Unfortunately we also had several deaths due to avalanche scenarios, which could have been avoided. I’m of the belief that if you engage in any type of winter sport, you should understand at the very least, the basics of avalanche safety. We’ve had a rough go of the season here, and in various other parts of the US, so take some time, and be safe out there! Here are a few basics I tend to live by:
- Don’t ride alone
- Don’t ride out of bounds alone (or any run when closed)
- Make sure you have the proper gear (Shovel, Beacon, Water, Maps etc)
- Check local Avalanche forecasts
- Pick a safe spot in your line before dropping
Please keep safety in mind when you’re out riding this season, and check out the following links to get a better understanding of avalanche safety and being safe.
http://nsidc.org/snow/avalanche/
http://avalanche.state.co.us/ <– if you’re located in Colorado (Check your state or location for a local forecast center.)
Review: Pro-Tec Vigilante-X Helmet
0Having a rather large head (60-62cm) it can hard to find a helmet that not only fits properly, but looks good. I’ve ridden everything from Smith to Bern, and found that the Pro-Tec Vigilante lid works best for my head. Helmets are an important piece of the gear I ride with, and ensuring I make sure I purchase a true helmet and not a hard hat is important. The Pro-Tec Vigilante is on the top end of the pricing structure, coming in around $139-$140 retail pricing. It’s worth every penny!
Thoughts: SIA and Snow
0I haven’t posted much this past week, due to a knee injury that has kept me off snow for about two weeks really. It’s finally back to normal, and things should be good. We’re finally getting some snow in the rockies here, so definitely looking forward to heading up this weekend to make some turns. On another note, SIA is quickly approaching, and the on-snow demo’s are looking to be a blast. I’m trying to put together a list of boards I want to take out to get some reviews on, and if anyone has any suggestions, or wants, on boards/bindings or the like, don’t hesitate to leave a comment, and I’ll add it to the list. Hopefully the snow keeps coming this week and through-out the month, as our snowpack here in Colorado is really too low currently. Keep making turns out there! Any snow is better than no snow my friends!