Backwoods Freestyle Ski News

Rails 2 Riches Results

2012-12-08T18:49:00.000-08:00

Skiers - Men:
1st LJ Strenio
2nd Giray Dadali
3rd Steve Stepp AKA "Black Steve"

Skiers - Women:
1st Jackie Kling
2nd Kim Lamarre
3rd Catherine Warchal

UPDATE:
Video footage can be found here http://www.newschoolers.com/watch/589594.0/Rails-2-Riches?c=11

STEPT S.K.A.T.E. on snow - Clayton Vila vs Shea Flynn

2012-12-06T14:45:00.002-08:00

In the newest episode of "STEPT S.K.A.T.E. on snow" up-and-comer park/urban skier Clayton Vila takes on park veteran Shea Flynn, who mostly urban these days. Watch this episode to see these exceptional rail skiers battle it out in the park.

Tim Durtschi - Everyday is a Saturday

2012-11-22T13:21:00.001-08:00

Here's another one of my favorite segments, Tim Dutschi in Everyday Is A Saturday. This movie is a few years old, but holds its own compared to even the best parts in new releases. Durtschi turns the backcountry into a playground. The redirects off trees, jibbing trees, the backflip off the bridge, and the dub rodeo 9 over chads are my favourite tricks of the edit, but the whole 4 minutes is full of bangers. If you haven't seen this make sure to check it out.

*I do not own the copyrights to this video. To see the rest of the video check out "Everyday is a Saturday" by Poor Boyz Productions

2012-2013 AFP Predictions

2012-11-21T02:04:00.004-08:00

Here's my predictions for the top 5 slopestyle skiers in the 2012-2013 season (according to AFP results)

Slopestyle:

1. Tom Wallisch
Is there any explanation needed for this one? Tom dominated the 2011-2012 season. No one even came close. Some of his accomplishments were:

Accomplished the "3-peat" winning the first 3 major slopestyle events of the year (First 2 Dew Tour stops + X-games)
2nd at Dew Tour Snowbasin
2nd at X-games europe
1st at the Inaugural US Grand Prix
1st at rails to riches (not an AFP event)

"Wally" is the best rail skier in the game, he's the most consistent skier I've seen on both rails and jumps, and he's top 5 in terms of technical skills on jumps (bag of tricks). On top of being incredibly skilled, Tom has one of the smoothest styles around. His landings are seemingly perfect, and he makes his tricks look effortless. Wallisch is one of the few comp skiers who doesn't get hated on for having "robot style". He slays urban, bc booters, and puts out numerous movie segments every year, as well as a few edits. Tom is turning 25, making him one of the senior competitiors in the field, but he is in great shape. Judging by his footage from summer edits - watch out for this guy again. It's going to be another big season for Wallisch, and I doubt many people would dispute this. I expect to see both way dub 12 double japans.

2. Gus Kentworthy
Gus is one of the best all round park skiers. He kills big-airs, slopestyle, and half-pipe, and he's incredibly entertaining rider to watch; whether he's throwing a double off a rail, or a sw triple 16. I expect to see a more refined park run from Gus this year. We all know he has the bag of tricks to pull off a slopestyle win, and I have a feeling this year we're going to see the consistency and precision Gus needs to improve his slopestyle results. I can't wait to see what Gus throws in his slopestyle runs this year. Hopefully we will see a double rodeo or misty out of a rail. No idea about his jump line.

3. Nick Goepper
Nick Goepper came from nowhere last year and finished second overall in the AFP slopestyle standings. Nick had a 1st place finish at Dew Tour Snowbasin, as well as numerous podium finishes. Like many other comp skiers, Goepper receives hate for having forced style referred to as "robot style" by the freestyle skiing community, and for throwing extremely technical tricks referred to as "future spins". However he is incredibly talented on both rails and jumps, and I think we're going to see another big season from Nick. I don't know a whole lot about the guy besides what I've seen from him riding in dew tour + a few edits, but I expect another big year from Goepper.

4. Bobby Brown
Bobby is another skier who can go without explanation. He is arguably the best freestyle skier on jumps; Brown has numerous doubles on lock, and he's stomped a few triples. I don't expect to see anything less than a dub 12 on bigger jumps. Expect lots of mute grabs, but if you get lucky you might see a blunt.

5.Henrik Harlaut/Russ Henshaw
I couldn't decide between these two. Henrik is pushing skiing in a direction no other skier is going. Forward thrown double 10 flatspin stalefish (I don't even know what this trick is actually called but it's fucking crazy), bio 14 blunt, nose butter double 12 are just a few of the crazy, innovative tricks Henrik has thrown. He's an incredibly skilled park skier, who doesn't let technical based judging affect his style and uniqueness on the slopestyle course. And then there's Russ. Russ Henshaw is extremely consistent and talented, but more of a generic style of skiing than Henrik. Russ placed 5th overall last season. He has a very deep bag of aerial tricks, and I expect to see dub 12 variations and maybe a dub 14 in his run.

Leigh Powis - Grand Bizzare

2012-11-17T01:50:00.002-08:00

This blog is now going to be dedicated to freestyle skiing. I'll be posting cool pics, videos, and news, as well as discussing competitions and other industry happenings. Make sure to follow!

I'm going to start off by posting one of my favorite segments of all time. Leigh Powis in The Grand Bizarre. Leigh hands down has one of the coolest styles in the game. His creative and original bangers, combined with the perfect song choice and great filming/editing result in this masterpiece:

*I do not own the copyrights to this video. To see the rest of the video check out "The Grand Bizarre" by Poor Boyz Productions

Two girls four punches (non-ski)

2012-10-31T11:14:00.002-07:00

These are the kind of girls your parents hope you never bring home

Worlds Biggest Idiot (non-ski)

2012-09-10T01:55:00.001-07:00

I'm still not quite sure what this redneck with a Captain America costume was trying to accomplish

My Return To Blogging

2012-01-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, how's it going? I took a break from posting on my blog, but I've decided to come back and start posting again. Here's a funny ski video.

Top 5 Cheap Beers

2011-04-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

1. Carling
2. James Ready 5.5
3. Maclays
4. Pabst Blue Ribbon
5. Cold Shots

Feel free to comment on my list and/or post your own list in the comments!

Top 5 TV shows (non-ski)

2011-04-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

1. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

2. Dexter

3. How to make it in America

4. Californication

5. Entourage

What about you guys? Post your list in my comments

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (non-ski)

2011-04-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

Brad Hamilton: Why don't you get a job Spicoli?
Jeff Spicoli: What for?
Brad Hamilton: You need money.
Jeff Spicoli: All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.

Up to 11... (non-ski)

2011-04-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...

Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?

Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.

Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder?

Nigel Tufnel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?

Marty DiBergi: I don't know.

Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?

Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.

Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

Marty DiBergi: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

Nigel Tufnel: These go to eleven.

Chris Rock Quote (non-ski)

2011-04-12T21:38:00.001-07:00

Everyone has favorite criminals. Mine are pimps. We can all rob a bank; we can all sell drugs. Being a pimp is a whole other thing. - Chris Rock

Top 5 Beers

2011-04-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

My 5 favorite beers are:

1. Newcastle Brown Ale

2. Kokanee

3. Moosehead

4. Canadian

5. Carling (for when I'm short on cash)

List your favorite beer/beers in the comments!!!

Fubar - Merlin scene (non-ski)

2011-04-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

"Do you believe in god" - Farrel

"Well... fuck rights, I believe in somethin'. Like even a fuckin’ guy like merlin - you know. When he died - you know, whenever the fuck that was. He went to heaven. Probably. And you know, in the grand scheme being was probably like - you know, Merlin, you fuckin' cast some pretty - you know, evil shit on some people." - Dean

“Merlin.. Merlin wasn’t real. It's just a story.” - Farrel
“Fuck you Merlin wasn’t real.” - Dean
“It’s just a story.” - Farrel
“Merlin was part of King Henry’s court and he fuckin' won all the wars for him ’cause he cast spells. Fuck you man. That shit’s real.” - Dean
“He was part of King Arthur, not King Henry…” - Farrel
“Ya, it’s a fable. A fable is history.” - Dean

This scene from Fubar is shown at 2:50 in the youtube video in the previous post.

Scenes from Fubar (non-ski)

2011-04-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

Some scenes from the movie that inspired this blog

Fubar Quote/Life Motto (non-ski)

2011-04-09T16:52:00.001-07:00

"Just give'r" - Dean Murdoch

Fubar Quote (non-ski)

2011-04-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

"If I have five words left and I'm about to fuckin' expire and all I have left to say is to curse Tron, I'm probably not going to say, "Tron funkin' blow."" - Dean Murdoch