This past weekend some friends and I took a professional videographer up West Baldy to try to nab some footage of Southern California backcountry skiing for a Ski Channel project.

After staring at West Baldy’s impressive west face from Iron Mountain two weeks ago, we really had no choice but to ski it. The skiing was sublime: silky smooth spring corn, baked to perfection by SoCal sunshine.

The day was clear and beautiful, with especially fine views of the L.A. basin and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Having a pro along to capture everything we did was fantastic. I think SierraDescents needs to get a professional cinematographer on staff ASAP! We spent the whole day up there, including staying for the sunset to catch shots of us skiing off toward the lights of the city below. Super cool!

I first saw it in January 2008. My friend Bill Henry and I were climbing Mount Baden-Powell for a modest day tour in Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains.

As we stood atop Baden-Powell and looked across the deep chasm to our south, we noticed a pencil-thin couloir shooting down an unknown peak several miles away. The line looked steep, remote, and desperate—maybe skiable, maybe not…(more)

It’s here at last: my comparison of VHoldR’s ContourHD 720p and new 1080p helmet camcorders, in which I give both cams the thrashings they so richly deserve—and then I tell you to buy one.

Both the VHoldRs are quicky and often frustrating little cameras, but they are also capable of capturing amazing results. For the full scoop on my ire and angst, please see my ContourHD 1080p Review.

Volkl Gotama

Since it’s been only five years since I’ve done any ski reviews, I made an extra effort this past week to add something new.

While in Telluride I demoed three Volkls: the Mantra, The Gotama, and the Bridge (spoiler: I ended up taking a pair of Gotamas home).

First up: the Mantra. Impressive is the word that comes to mind.

The Mantra really is an all-mountain masterpiece, capable of chopping through practically anything. But it is the Mantra’s capability on hard snow that really gets your attention. Edge grip is astounding for such a wide plank, and the feel is (relatively) stiff and snappy underfoot. Yes, you can run the Mantra as a one-ski quiver, from powder to hardpack to crud. And pity the poor fools on their narrow carvers who are trying to chase you. I say the Mantra is the perfect ski for old schoolers who want something wide for powder days without having to relearn how to ski.

On the other hand, there is a Big Idea sweeping through ski design, and its name is Rocker. The legendary Shane McConkey is credited with bringing rockered skis to market (some say this is his greatest contribution to the sport), and let there be no doubt, the rockered revolution is every bit as significant as the advent of shaped skis. Crusty old school bastard that I am, I still wanted to try a modern, progressive powder ski, so I chose Volkl’s Gotama, fully fearful that I’d hate these shiny new-fangled things as I generally almost always hate anything new.

On hardpack, you’re not totally hosed with the Gotamas, which is something of a triumph in rockered ski design. But get the Gotamas in soft, deep powder, and it’s like a lightbulb going off in your soul. If you’re going to get a dedicated powder ski, give these serious consideration. The Gotama is as superior to the Mantra in powder as the Mantra is better on hard snow. Either way, watch the evolution of rockered skis carefully. They are here to stay.

The Bridge seemed better in concept to me than in actuality. The ski “bridges” the gap between Big Mountain and Park skiing. In practice, it’s a twin tip that sits between the Gotama and the Mantra. I was hoping for a lighter, snappier version of the Mantra with good powder chops. Instead, the Bridge is lethargic on hardpack, and minimally better in deep snow. Park riders may find it perfectly suited to rails and half pipes, but everyone else probably will want to look elsewhere when it comes to skiing the rest of the mountain.

I’d been thinking about getting this shot ever since I first bought my ContourHD helmet cam: a continous clip skiing Telluride from the top of the Revelation chairlift, elevation 12,570′, all the way down to the Gondola station in the Town of Telluride, elevation 8,750′. Getting the shot proved trickier than expected, thanks to the weather and the many quirks of the ContourHD cam, but I love the result.

This is probably my favorite in-bounds ski run on the planet. Sure, there’s a bit of catwalk travel on the upper parts of See Forever until you pass Chair 9, but the flat sections just contribute to the run’s appeal, as they allow you to better enjoy the views of the spectacular San Juan mountains. And there are plenty of steep, groomed sections to let the boards run—culminating in the warp-speed fun of Milk Run or Coonskin. Finally, if I’m skiing this run, it means I’m in Telluride, which is always a good thing. 3800 vertical feet in a relaxing nine minutes. Enjoy!