Ski Utah Blog - Articles by Author Jake
Showing 10 articles out of 58.
Man Survives Brighton Avalanche
Posted by Jake on April 6, 2009
Good example of playing it safe in the backcountry. The skiers had shovels, beacons, and were trained about how to play it safe. Glad they made it out ok, it could have been a lot worse.
A Salt Lake City man who tumbled about 300 feet in an avalanche at Brighton Ski Resort survived to walk from the slide.
Eric Railsback, 45, and Andrew Starr, 46, were hiking Sunday up a ridgeline at Mount Millicent to ski down the back side, said Salt Lake County sheriffs Lt. Don Hutson.
About halfway up the ridgeline about 9:45 a.m., Railsback triggered an avalanche that carried him down about 300 feet of rocky terrain, trapping him up to his chest in snow.
Despite the cold and the rough ride, he was able to dig himself out with a shovel he carried with him and walk down the mountain, Hutson said. He twisted his knee, but was not transported to a hospital, Hutson said.
"He's incredibly lucky," he said. "There was no one there to help him."
Starr, meanwhile, was ahead and out of sight. He didnt realize there had been an avalanche and continued into the backcountry.
When Railsback reached the bottom of the mountain, he did not know his friend was okay, Hutson said. A Salt Lake Countys Sheriffs Office search-and-rescue operation started, but switched to a precautionary probe when Starr was found. No one else was found in the area.
The slide was about 50 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Through police, Railsback declined to be interviewed.
Avalanche danger could increase as newly warm and sunny weather affects more than 100 inches of snow that has fallen in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons over the last two weeks, said Craig Gordon, a forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center.
"Folks should be prepared for their own rescue, carrying beacon shovels and probes," he said. Sundays slide was triggered when a cornice, a formation caused by blowing snow, fell.
"Its a common mistake in the mountains to get too close to overhanging cornices," he said.
He recommended people check the Avalanche Centers Web site at www.utahavalanchecenter.org or call 888-999-4019 for forecasts.
"The best avalanche is the one we dont trigger," he said.
lwhitehurst@sltrib.com
Fat Kids Gotta Eat
Posted by Jake on April 2, 2009
Some Facebook friends spent some time up at Brighton taking laps in the endless freshies yesterday. No, this wasn't some kind of weird April Fools joke, but tons of powder here in April. I wonder how long we can keep this up...
Spring Skiing Doesn't Mean Waist Deep Powder
Posted by Jake on March 29, 2009
Unless you live in Utah.
Hell Heck Yeah.
After it kind of being a garbage morning, I made it up to Brighton after seeing this post. Surely, this had to be one of the best powder days for the entires state, but Big Cottonwood was looking gorgeous, and I need some powder satisfaction.
Next leg of the journey, I headed up Crest for some tree skiing. I know what you might be thinking, Crest? On an powder day? My friend, rest assured, Between Snake Creek and Crest, there is some of the best tree skiing in Utah. Hands down. Three quarters of the way up the lift, my thoughts were confirmed when I saw only ONE TRACK under the lift. It was going to be good...
If you are looking for fun run, head down Pacific Highway, and take a right into the trees after Tantamount. You will soon find yourself waist deep in powder. As you get near the bottom, stay kind of to the right, to avoid a flat spot.
Spent the rest of the day taking laps on Snake, there is so much powder in the trees over there, it goes untracked for days. With another couple storms in the mix, lots more powder inbound here in Utah. Make sure to take advantage before it is time to break out the two-wheelers...
Brighton #7 on Vimeo
Posted by Jake on March 23, 2009
If you aren't already on the hill, here are a few more reasons to get up there. Snow, jumps, trees, powder, and you might see a few friends too. Turn up the volume on your computer at work and blast the Pantera from this video...
32 Day Wrap Up…
Posted by Jake on March 8, 2009
March 2, 2009: 3.2.09, also known as Thirty-Two Day ay Brighton,
Utah. The ThirtyTwo Crew decided to head up to their favorite mountain
to throw a little party, and at the same time have a lot of fun. A
crazy downhill banked slalom race on thirty-two berms and bumps
followed by a rail jam were the orders of the day, and more than 132
racers and jibbers came out to have some fun and show off what they
got. Timed trials yielded some fast times early on, with Brighton park
ripper Ben McGill throwin’ down the fastest time the first half of the
day. It took until the last few races for the fastest time of the day,
though, when Tyler Eamond beat out everyone else by 6+ seconds, with a
lightning-fast 123.01 down the treacherous course. Wiki Jones, all the
way from Australia, made the women proud with a very respectable 139.72
time that beat all but about 15 of the men.
The overall women’s award went to top chick Wiki Jones in the Thirty spot, and second place went to Midori Oatari in the Two spot…
Since the $320 cash was given to the best overall riders of the day, Chris Brewster took home the top honor of the Thirty spot, the cash, and the 32 x StepChild collab snowboard, as well as shoes and gear from etnies and ThirtyTwo. “I’ve never had so much money at one time in my whole life,” said Brewster. Somehow, we believe it… Mr. Brewster is a real character. Carson Pippin, who ended 5th in the jib jam and was a respectable top-twenty in the race, got the other snowboard, boots from ThirtyTwo, and more gear, ending up in the Two spot…
Thanks to everyone at Brighton, ThirtyTwo, and MiloSport for the support and help with the event… Where will you be next year on 32 Day?
Read More full the full results: 32 Day Wrap Up… .
Shaun White Wins Intelligent Design at Park City | Transworld Snowboarding
Posted by Jake on March 8, 2009
From TransWorld Snowboarding:
Pipe riders haul ass up icy 22-foot walls, rail kids dull their edges and 270 in, kicker killers point it and send it—but it’s all just snowboarding, right? That’s roughly the idea behind Park City’s all new Intelligent Design competition, featuring a grab bag of all of the above in one course at the base of Utah’s most park-friendly resort. Starting off with a 60-foot kicker into a unique step-up hip jump, jib section, Superpipe, and finally a massive quarterpipe to finish things off—this outside-the-box contest venue makes being an all around snowboarder a total pre-requisite.
Up until the last minute, the event had commitment from a wide range of top riders—from Marc Frank Montoya and Mason Aguirre to Torstein Horgmo and Andreas Wiig—but at the very last minute the roster thinned out savagely. It seems that there were some end-of-season injuries Aguirre broke his rib etc., but evidently some folks just couldn’t wrap their head around the concept. Says event mastermind Jim Mangan, Park City’s Director of Action Sports Marketing, “There were some riders who said to me, ‘Jim, it’s just too much,’ but you know we’re pushing things and this is what needs to happen for the sport.”
Read More: Shaun White Wins Intelligent Design at Park City | Transworld Snowboarding.
Quick Post - 32 Day at Brighton
Posted by Jake on March 2, 2009
Banked slalom, couple rails and jumps, $32 dollar lift tikets.
Why aren't you here?
32 Day at Brighton
Posted by Jake on February 24, 2009
Umm... Banked slalom. How cool is that.
March 2nd, Brighton will feature the 32nd annual banked slalom and 3.2 rail jam. The Banked Slalom will run down evergreen to milly lodge and will feature 32 mind blowing bumps and berms. The 3.2 rail jam features 3 rails and 2 boxes front row seats at milly lodge (heckling encouraged)!!
Over $320 in prize money, $32 lift tickets all day long. Awards ceremony promptly at 4:32. Intense after party at molly greens!! Sponsored by Brighton, Milo and ThirtyTwo.
Date: 3-2-09
Place: Brighton, Utah
Registration: 8:30-10:00am
Event Kicks off at 10:30am
If you are looking for a cheap day at Brighton, this might be the ticket.
For more info check out brightonterrainparks.com or thirtytwo.com
The Big LePowSki At Brighton
Posted by Jake on February 17, 2009
Benefits the Billy Poole Foundation and Winter Wildlands.
The event is aimed at all freeskiers who read Powder cover to cover, but who don’t have the cash to fly around the world. This event invites the everyday season pass holder, weekend warrior, off-piste skier and ski enthusiast to do what they love most in wintertime, with their favorite rock star athlete. 9A.M. start of morning clinics. Cost is $75 with Lift Ticket and Clinics $40 just for Clinics. Must have a season pass or lift ticket to ride lifts. Clinics List:
- Asses and ski Steep Terrain
- W’s Specifc How to Ski Steep Terrain
- Air Awareness 101
- W’s Specific Air Awareness 101
- How to throw a 360
- Safely Drop a Cliff
- Properly Slide a Rail
- Advanced Air Tricks
- Assess Good Backcountry Travel
- Properly Film Your Friends
- Choose a line and ski it
- Drop a Cliff on Freeheel
- Spin a 360 Freeheel
- W’s How to Link a Freeheel Turn
- How to Step out of your comfort Level
- Steep Terrain travel and Assesment Snowboard
This event looks awesome, I can't wait to attend. For more information, check out the Brighton blog, or registration at Black Diamonds site
Brighton Terrain Park Blog
Posted by Jake on February 13, 2009
If you have been into the mountains this last week you probably acted as I did.
- Got your gear on.
- Rode the lift
- Basked in the glory of endless powder and gazed into the the sky in utter disbelief of how good the conditions are.
I don't think that I would be alone when I say that there has been some epic riding conditions. Some pictures from Brighton. You ought to head up today.
