The Levitation Project Video

Here is a video edit of The Levitation Project ski team... It's awesome and makes me want to go ski lines IMMEDIATELY! Come on winter!!!

My 2010 Salomon Ski Review

A huge perk of being a professional skier is the amount of gear we will receive from our sponsors. Salomon is no exception and in fact are one of the better companies in making sure their athletes have exactly what they need. Thus, I basically have the entire Salomon Freeski line in my garage with a whole range of skis to select from. So what do I choose? This is the question that I would like to discuss and give my personal review of what I ride and why.

Basically I ride the Geisha 75% of the time, the Czar 22% and the Lady or Mai Tai the other 3%. Here is my explanation as to why...

The GEISHA
dimensions: 128-99-118 mm
lengths: 164, 173 cm
300 mm of rocker in tip
Full woodcore with a layer of bamboo
Basalt dampening system


The Geisha is the twin sister ski to the men's Shogun. The skis are exactly the same except for the graphics. This ski is a replacement of the Gun and Scarlet, a ski I would ride a lot, but with much needed improvements (like a switch to a full woodcore instead of a foam core). I ski on the 182 length, which isn't going to production due to the lack of interest by the buyers, but if you're a charging female that wants a longer ski just opt for the Shogun. If you can't find the Geisha in your size, get the Shogun because you don't want to miss out on this ski.

This is the ski I choose to ride about 75% of the time. The reason I prefer this ski the most is it is the most all-around ski in my quiver. The ski is playful from the bamboo giving it a pop-like response yet it's still stiff enough due to it's full woodcore, I know this sounds like an advertisement but both of these components of construction really make a difference. I find that the Geisha rallies really well off the groomers (off piste)- in powder, crud, ice, whatever- and totally rips on groomers/hard pack just as well.

When I compete on the Freeride World Tour I never veer away from this ski. This is due to the fact that if I was to hit an icy or more hard pack section in my run, I am more confident that these skis will hold.

When I film I choose the Geisha the majority of the time because I can stomp cliffs better than on the Czars. Due to me being lighter in weight I have a hard time sinking the Czars thus being more prone to either wheeling-out or back-slapping, neither of which I want to do. The unfortunate side to choosing the Geisha over the Czar, however, is the potential to really butter turns or float quite the same way you can on the Czar or other reverse camber skis. The Geisha has a little bit of reverse camber in the front of the ski, which makes it better for powder than the traditional camber ski, but it's not the ski I choose for the ultimate deep powder day. That ski would be the Czar...

The CZAR
dimensions: 131-111-121 mm
lengths: 166, 174, 182, 190 cm
670 mm of rocker in tip
Full woodcore

I believe the Czar is an approachable reverse camber ski that just about anyone can have fun on. I admit, the first run I ever took on these skis a few years ago I wasn't that excited, but then I adjusted to the ski and found them opening up a side of skiing I wasn't accustomed to, the reverse camber. The reason this ski works for all skiing abilities is the fact that there is only reverse camber in the front half of the ski, thus allowing the ski to be able to handle hard pack, groomers and crud much better than a full reverse camber ski. I'm not fond of feeling like a gaper when I hit groomers or a funky patch of snow that was affected by the sun in the backcountry, so I particularly like the reverse-camber-only-in-the-tip feature because it makes the ski more versatile. Another factor of versatility that I have found is the dimensions of the ski, it's not ginormous underfoot so I'm able to manage the ski, not let the ski control me.

I also find this ski to be very playful. It's a ski that is really easy to maneuver. The Czar took my potential to throw my ski sideways and butter a turn to a level I had never experienced before, so much fun! The skis seem to have a lot of pop to them as well. I feel like I can bounce and catch air off of anything.

I ski the Czar on different lengths, depending on the circumstances. I generally ride the 174, but when I get lucky and head up to Alaska to ski bigger lines I ski on the 182. I feel that since I am smaller in size the 182 Czars are like my version of the big daddy Rockers.

The LADY:
dimensions: 128-86-114 mm
lengths: 153, 161, 169 cm
210 mm of rocker in tip
Full woodcore

The Lady skis are great all-around skis, but I don't ski on them very much because I prefer the beefier Geisha. The Lady skis feel lighter and less stiff than the Geishas and thus turn easier. I think this is a good ski if someone chooses to ski groomers a lot more than off-piste. They do not handle speed and crud like the Geishas do, but I expect the female that would like these skis better does not prefer to ever ski the crud or be the fastest person on the groomers. The times I choose to ride this ski is when it's a softer spring day and I plan to go in the park to hit the pipe or jumps. This ski is a little stiffer than a park & pipe ski due to its full woodcore, and thus a more all-around ski than a park specific ski.

Powder Magazine Reader's Poll 2010

The 2010 Powder Magazine Reader's Poll is on! The Powder Awards are like the Oscars in the ski industry, so go vote for your favorite skiers (hopefully I'm included!) If a name doesn't pop up you can still type it in and it counts. Just click on this link... Powder Mag Reader's Choice Poll

Salomon Freeski TV Episode 3

This episode of Salomon's Freeski is about the stories behind the photo. There is a photo of myself by Will Wissman, Matt Walker by Erik Seo, and Christopher Frankum by Mattias Fredriksson. Exciting! Can't wait for winter...

Fall in Tahoe

Biking on the North Rim Trail with Lindsey, Cody, Andy Miller and Quincy Young- this was so much fun!!!

The fall season in Tahoe can be a great thing, but it carries its hardships as well. Basically, if the temperature drops to ridiculously cold (okay, it's not as cold as Jackson Hole but... it's California, and everyone is a bit on the soft side in Cali- even an Alaskan) and brings in precipitation that is not in the form of snow it can be REALLY frustrating. Plus, sports can become a bit on the not-so-fun side when it's rainy and frigid. On the upside, when the climate is acting a bit more Californian the outdoors are great. A bit of biking and fishing become a must!

Cody got jealous of the view that was distracting me so he turned to his no-fail talent of impressing me with his muscles by running uphill with his bike instead of actually using it- I'm such a sucker

Jessica Broyles onlooking as Cody brings in a fish on the East Walker River

Jess following suit

Taking a late afternoon break with Betsy

Photo in Powder Magazine

The November Powder Magazine recently graced newsstands and I have a photo in it! I am so excited. The photo was taken by Will Wissman during a three week trip in February I took to Utah to film with the Levitation Project. The snow was so deep and light it made for great landings off any huge cliff you could muster the courage attempt. Did I stick this air? You'll have to find out when the Levitation Project puts out their film edits this coming November at www.thelevitationproject.com.

Road Trip Part VII

Hitting up Slough Creek for Rainbows and Cutthroats

I have done plenty of posts on the road trip that Cody and I took in September, but it was so amazing with so many great things to see and do I have to indulge and do one more post so bear with me. Plus, I can't leave out the fishing and buffalo from Yellowstone, that would be blasphemy! In addition to daily sightings and being stuck in traffic due to the buffalo, it never got old to come across these huge beasts. Cody and I did witness a rutting battle between two males, they have so much power and strength it was mesmerizing to watch.

A familiar sighting in the northeast corner of Yellowstone

Working on my false casting- guess how many times I got my fly stuck in the trees? Well, just a few but not in this spot

The crisp nights and changing colors of the leaves were signifying that winter is just around the corner

Fishing in Yellowstone is not as easy as you would think. Yes, there are a lot of rivers to fish but because there are so many people that visit Yellowstone for the sole purpose of engaging in this fine sport the fish feel a lot of pressure. As a consequence the fish have become really smart and make it a more difficult task to catch these suckers. Game on!

Fish on!

Fall beauty in the central area of Yellowstone

Where the buffalo roam

Psyched on the sights

A typical cause for traffic congestion in Yellowstone

Biking near Mammoth Hot Springs on the Bunsen Peak loop with the Gardner River in the background

Cody and I decided that since we had our bikes with us we really wanted to get in a bike ride. However, there are not many places that you are able to legally ride your mountain bike in Yellowstone. We went out on the Bunsen Peak loop, a trail that use to be open to motorized vehicles. As we rode we came across a trail head for the Osprey Falls. Our curiosity got the better of us so we stashed our bikes (like everything else this trail was off limits to bikes) and descended over 700 feet into Sheepeater Canyon to the Gardner River. The journey's end is a magnificent 150 foot waterfall. It is a truely special spot in Yellowstone, I think magical things happen in this majestic place!

Even though it is on a major park stream and so close to a major tourist spot, very few people visit the Osprey Falls- it's a special thing to have a glorious Yellowstone sight all to yourself

Absolutely loving our adventures in the Park

Biking from the Falls. It is 12 miles roundtrip to the falls, 3 miles are the mandatory hiking. We were really glad that the other 7 miles we were able to do quickly on bikes.

We had many things to celebrate on this trip and there's no better way than including a bottle of champagne