Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Aspen VS Vail, Duh!! help out and vote for Aspen.
Go to www.facebook.com/travelocity and click on the Cabin Fever tab to vote to bring the Travelocity Roaming Gnome to Aspen! VOTE NOW, VOTE OFTEN through 10 a.m. MST February 17. Please share this campaign with friends & family!
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Check out this site if you are interested in some information and pointers that will help humans reach their full potential.
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
Aspen, CO: Ski-mountaineering luminary and free-heel icon, Nick DeVore, is the most recent addition to Marmot’s global athlete team, ushering in a new chapter for Marmot’s product development team and fanning the flames of the 35-year-old company’s ski-mountaineering heritage. Considered by many of his peers as one of the top ski athletes in North America, DeVore (24) has earned his place in free skiing competitions since 2003. But it is the Aspen-based skier’s cool headspace and organic lifestyle–married to his passion for carving big mountain lines—which has created a mystique around DeVore for years, setting him apart from other ski athletes of his generation.
In May 2007, at just 21 years old, DeVore clipped into his telemark ski bindings on the 20,320-foot summit of Denali—North America’s highest peak. Together with his long-time friend Chris Davenport the duo skied the sustained 55-degree Messner Couloir: a 6000-foot line rarely descended on skis. That same season on the mountain, DeVore and Davenport skied the Orient Express and also made significant first-descents from Denali’s less-traveled North Summit.
For many of his peers, DeVore’s free-heel ski descents in Alaska came as no surprise. DeVore’s backcountry experience is extensive. From home-base in Aspen, he’s been skiing premier, off-piste lines for years, developing an all-mountain skill-set since he was a teenager. He’s skied even bigger lines from some of Colorado’s hardest 14,000-foot peaks–-demanding alpine objectives in the winter. “Ski mountaineering is a pilgrimage” explains DeVore. “It’s a test of strength, endurance, intuition, devotion, teamwork, as well as an expression of one’s style and creativity.”
“Watching Nick carving turns down a big mountain face is totally inspiring—he makes it look just effortless” explains Brian LaPlante, Marmot’s Category Merchandise Manager, a former competitive ski racer and backcountry skier. Marmot plans to work with DeVore in the years ahead as one of the company’s premier ski athletes—an ideal new snowsports ambassador to carry-forward Marmot’s ski-mountaineering legacy which has been emblazoned by legendary Marmot athletes like Mark Newcomb and Doug Coombs (1957-2006). LaPlante adds, “We’ll look to Nick to assist us in product field-testing and for innovative ideas to strengthen our snowsports collection.” LaPlante, along with an in-house team of designers have been developing the Doug Coombs Sidecountry Collection for Marmot, which will be available beginning Fall 2010.
“Mountains are my church and telemark skiing is my prayer” DeVore explains when asked about some of his top-line ideas about skiing. “When I have an epic run, I flow down the mountain like water would…skiing becomes effortless…its one of the few times in my life where I am truly in the moment, in the zone, focused purely on the now and the obstacles that quickly approach.”
In 2008, staying true to his religion, DeVore won the Telemark World Championship in Alyeska, Alaska (Chugach Range). Remarkably, he also placed 6th at the Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open that same year against an all-alpine pool of athletes. In 2009, at the Snowbird Freeskiing Nationals, DeVore placed 11th overall, also up against some of the best alpine skiers in the country. But with all the competition successes to his name, glossy publication coverage–-even movie appearances, DeVore’s spiritual philosophy and humble approach to his skiing have become the hallmarks of his career.
“Skiing is a form of meditation and prayer; it’s a yogic discipline that can bring tremendous happiness and energy. When I am skiing at my highest potential I am fully focused on nothing but the present and I am guided by a higher power,” explains DeVore. Tossing a refreshing note into to the mix, DeVore adds, “Skiing should not be about the ego…it should be about friendship, camaraderie and embracing nature.”
Ski Career Highlights:
11th place, Snowbird Freeskiing Nationals (2009); Telemark Freeskiing World Champion, Alaska (2008); 6th Place, Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open (2008); 7th Place, Elk Mountain Grand Traverse (2007); Out Door Idol Award (2007); Descents on Denali (June 2007) Messner Couloir and Orient express; Climbed and skied 24 of Colorado 14ers (2006); Champion, Colorado Freeride Series (2005) 1st & 4th against all alpine skiers:
Climbing & More:
U.S. Youth Climbing Team (2000-2001) 1st Place, Coup de Mond de Escalade 2000, Chamonix, France; 5.13s climbs; 3rd place, 24 hours of Moab bike race: Class Five kayaker
Lifestyle & Interests:
Yoga, mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, surfing, Permaculture (organic Farming) ecological design, natural building, dancing to good music, crocheting hats, playing didgeridoo and drums
For more information about Nick DeVore and Marmot’s Global Athlete Team, check out www.MarmotPro.com
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Sunday, January 17th, 2010
We recently opened up Gallery DeVore, a space dedicated to showcasing my fathers photography. It is across from the Gondola next to Cafe Ink in downtown aspen. Whats even more exciting is that we have started donation based yoga in the gallery, it is such a perfect space. Practicing yoga with all the art is amazing. Our idea is to create a sacred space where we can practice yoga and build a community of intention. Yoga, especially in aspen has staid from its pure form, yoga shouldn’t cost money, especially not $20 a session. Yoga needs to be free and embraced by the community as a prayer, as an intentional celebration of life. Do your self, each other, and the universe a favor and come practice yoga with cool people at Gallery Devore, Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6 and Saturday morning at 9. There will hopefully be live music, didgeridoo playing and tons of fun to be had!! Come celebrate life and explore your amazing body and mind, and enjoy the photography. Limited prints are for sale and prices will increase with the number, so get your limited DeVore print soon! Haha, spread the love and pray for snow!
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Friday, January 15th, 2010
After another semester of school in Prescott Arizona I am back in Aspen getting my ski legs under me and preparing for a winter full of adventures and face shots I hope. In Arizona I learned how to blow glass, took soil science, plants and humans, and ecological design. I was also busy with my backyard garden and rode my bike as much as possible. I lived in a sweet place, my neighborhood was called the “eco hood” because of all the sustainable practices going on. My yard was full of fruit trees, veggie gardens, and rain water catchment systems. There was a yurt dweller in my back yard and five yurts across the street. Every one grow vegetables and there was an empty house that held dontaion yoga classes with a talented didge, sitar player. It was a really fun and inspiring place to live in but I am stoked to be back home in paradise! We are huritng badly on the snow situation here in Aspen. Going as fast as possable down our epic groomers is starting to get a bit, not really actually but we really need some pow! I am practicing lots of yoga and am feeling very healthy. Stay tuned for stories and photos from my adventures this winter. Blessings to all in the is new year, may it be filled with posotive intention as well as collaboration!!
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Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Department of Goods confirms: ”Full Price is Dead”
New online closeout store brings wallet-relief to gear junkies
PARK CITY, UTAH (Nov. 11, 2009)—With the economy stuck on its crux move, savvy gear shoppers have been faced with the scary possibility that the only way to afford new gear this season is to scour the aisles of sticky-floored discount stores and drop-shipping closeout sites in the off chance that they’ll discover some affordable piece of out-of-season gear that isn’t a mauve colored size XXXL. But starting today, the era of settling for shoddy gear in questionable colors and tent sizes has passed. Today, the Department of Goods, a new online gear megastore, opens its e-doors — to the lucky few, that is.
The Department of Goods, another new store from the team at Backcountry.com, sells the latest and finest outdoor, surf, skate, bike, and mountain equipment from more than 400 pinnacle brands like The North Face, Marmot, Oakley, Volcom, Burton, Rocky Mountain, and Giro. The selection; the deep, in-stock inventory; the ability to find what you’re looking for fast; community reviews and Q+A; and the bend-over-backwards customer service you’ve come to expect from Backcountry.com, mean, simply, that you’ve stumbled upon the promised land of premium gear.
But there’s a catch. Not everyone can get in. Not yet, at least. The grand opening/beta launch is VIP only. To get past the velvet rope for the first shot at the goods inside the Department, you need to get yourself an invitation — or use your wily resourcefulness to track down a key code.
The lucky ones will receive an email invitation. Others will get in because they “know people.” But if you just show up at the door without an invite, the Department’s doorman will shut you down. You can politely ask for a code, but you’ll, politely, have to wait.
Once you’re in, you’re in. You’ll have immediate access to insane deals on amazing gear. And it’s worth your while to shop, because during the beta roll out, the Department of Goods will be giving away $200,000 in gear. A set number of first comers who place orders over $50 will be matched with a surprise prize from a bona fide grab bag of swag, with gifts ranging from socks, t-shirts, and multi-tools to kayaks, skis, and bikes.
On top of that goodness, one in 10 purchases will be comped at random for a limited time. Fully comped. So if you’re not beside-yourself-ecstatic because you’ve just paid pennies on the dollar for your dream cart, you’re completely blown away because you just scored that gear for free.
To keep up on the deals, to try to score a code fast, or for the inside scoop on what the in-crowd is taking away for free, check out the Department of Goods’ Facebook page.
Yes, this is Backcountry’s fifth store launch in 2009, in the midst of this Eeyore economy, and even the hard-working people within our walls that make these things happen wonder what the hell we’re thinking. Especially since Department of Goods is a replacement for the long-lived (but let’s face it, not very inspired) BackcountryOutlet.com.
But the Department of Goods is different. It’s the only place to find the breadth and depth in selection of high-end outdoor, bike and action sports gear (BackountryOutlet.com is seriously lacking in bike and action sports), leaving its predecessor lame and whimpering in the dust.
As for the fate of BackcountryOutlet.com? After we work out the kinks during the beta test and launch Department of Goods wide open to the public in early 2010, Backcountry Outlet will be taken out back and, unceremoniously, shot.
DepartmentofGoods.com: you’ll never have to choose between gear and groceries again.
XXX
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
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Friday, March 6th, 2009
Hakuba and Japanese Alps
It was a long journey from the north island of Hokaido to Hakuba Nagano on the south island, home of the 1998 Olympics. The day started early in the morning with a two hour drive to the airport where I almost missed my 2 hour flight to Tokyo. Then I took the train from Narita airport to Tokyo station where I found the shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagano and then somehow found my bus to Hakuba. Kato san was there to pick me up and bring me to my luxurious Japanese style hotel room, what a change from cramming into a small apartment with a bunch of stinky ski bums. The traditional dinner feast was fully enjoyed and then an onsen to finish up the exhausting day. We woke up early to a bluebird day and I was immediately awed by the spectacular Japan alps looming pink with the first rays of sunrise. We rode the Gondola almost to tree line where we started our long day of touring and baking in the hot sun. The day became raging hot quickly and I was soon sweating in just my long underwear top. I couldn’t take my eyes and imagination off the epic looking Alaska style mountains with endless dreamlike ski lines all over. Due to the extreme hot temps and sun the snow turned to cement and was challenging to ski but it was fun to just be out in such beautiful mountains on a sunny day with random Japanese telemark skiers. We ended the day with yet another great meal and some beers at a local restaurant. They had me try some strange Japanese food, like fish sperm, bird something that tasted like undeveloped bone, and stingray. Enjoy these photos from the Japanese Alps!!
Traditional room. A bed is then laid on the floor to sleep on.
Some rad mountains for sure.
Now thats a nice line!
I couldnt stop dream about skiing this. Am in Alaska?
I took many shots of this line.
Ken Slashing it like a wave!
So stoked after a slushy face plant, in true tele style.
One more angle for ya!
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