Surfing goes neoprene free
Let’s be honest: Surfing in a neoprene wetsuit is like going camping with a tent that’s made from trees — the ecological irony is undeniable. Yet, it’s not something that gets talked about much in the lineup. Perhaps it’s because the idea of finding an alternative to...
Reviving Shane McConkey
The new documentary 'McConkey' explores the life and untimely death of ski BASE jumper Shane McConkey, one of extreme sports' most innovative athletes. J.T. Holmes, McConkey's ski BASE partner, watched his best friend die trying to do a double back flip into a...
Who You Calling a Bum?
Ski towns are changing — so are the skiers who live in them. I don't care what my friend Andrew says, he's a ski bum. He'll remind you that he works at least 50 hours per week as an executive chef and pulls in enough to cover a mortgage in tony North Lake Tahoe. He'll...
Split Standard: Splitboarders Take on the Ski-Centric AMGA
As splitboarders earn their stripes in the world of professional guiding, a few pioneers are rewriting the ski-centric certification model of the American Mountain Guide Association In the spring of 2009, snowboard guide Jamie Weeks was facing a tough climb. He was in...
A Splitboarding Adventure in the Beartooths
Splitboard touring is fast paced and fast growing — drop into the deep end in Montana’s remote Beartooth range. As I hit the exposed summit ridge of Mount Fox, an 11,240-foot peak in Montana’s Beartooth range, there was simply no escaping the arctic wind. But the...
Cloud Seeding Can Help Increase Snowfall — But Should It?
With low-tide snow years on repeat, a couple of old snowboard bums are using cloud seeding science to make the flurries fly, and they’re getting better. It’s late March in the High Sierra, a time when the 8,600-foot ridgeline that Frank McDonough is standing on would...
Are Climbing Gyms the New Crossfit?
Dozens of massive climbing facilities, decked out with yoga studios, fitness areas, and juice bars are luring a new breed of fitness buff. It's a Monday evening in New York, and the after-work rush is on at gyms around the city. Mike Rocks, a 32-year-old account...
Dive With Sharks and Live to Tell About it
Everything You Need to Know About All the Sharks You Can Swim With When Australian pro surfer Mick Fanning fended off a shark on live TV last year, he instantly became the world’s biggest badass. Of course, if you ask Mick about it he’ll just shrug and say “fending...
A Mysterious Death at the South Pole
During the 24 hours that Rodney Marks's life was slipping away from him, he had plenty of time to contemplate his predicament. He knew he was trapped, cut off from adequate medical attention, about as far from civilization as one can get on this planet. He knew that...