Lofoten: the magic archipelago
Going up north on the west coast of Norway in late winter is a big highlight for me every season. When the sun is returning after months of darkness and harsh winter weather, I dare claim that this may be one of the most beautiful places in the word - at least for those with a love for the combination of mountains and the ocean.
photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / www.digitalnatur.no / www.camplofoten.no
Lofoten is an archipelago of magic mountainous islands stretching out from the coast towards the North Atlantic, well above the Arctic Circle. Historically known for the great cod fishing feeding large parts of Europe, it is now a well-known destination for tourists, including climbers, skiers and surfers. Snow covered lines between huge, clean granite walls with white sandy beaches and clear blue water below them may well be a tourist brochure cliché, but it is also actual reality.
This year the ski conditions in the north of Norway started out very bad, with little snow and extremely cold weather, but got sorted out and turned perfect just in time for peak powder season, March and April. Going this far up north earlier than these months would anyway be for those possessing special interests in lots of darkness, lots of down days and lots of time to get in touch with the Nordic alcohol culture. Keep in mind most of the Alaskan territory does not even touch this far north...
Using another cliché, the big contrasts is what makes this place special: from 24 hr darkness in winter to 24 hr sunlight in summer, from mountains to fjords, white snow to blue water and from skiing to surfing in the same day. It is actually magic, and it just gets better every time I go there. Try it yourself; just bring some backside skis and skins, a thick wetsuit and a surfboard, some climbing shoes and a rope. Also bring a big down jacket as well as a pair of shorts, you might very well need both of them in the same day.
photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / www.digitalnatur.no / www.camplofoten.no
photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / www.digitalnatur.no / www.camplofoten.no
photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / www.digitalnatur.no / www.camplofoten.no
photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / www.digitalnatur.no / www.camplofoten.no
I got to join the annual gathering Camp Lofoten again this year, to enjoy the skiing, surfing and good times together with a happy bunch of enthusiasts. On the last day, after a late good bye party I rode a line together with snowboarder Håvard Ånesen, a couloir that in many ways sums up the essence of skiing Lofoten: alpine terrain, short approaches, magic views and skiing all the way down to the ocean. Join us for both the climb up and the ride down in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dntnfvx9Ow
more Camp Lofoten video here: http://vimeo.com/10418632
See you in Lofoten next year!
/ Torkel Karoliussen, K2 Adventure Team telemarker
Roman in AK
Hey guys
I´m up here in Girdwood, Alyeska since 1 week!
We got perfect conditions; first 3 days we got 50cm every day, last 3 days - blue bird!
we shreded some really nice faces!
tomorrow i´m heading back to europe - to the famous KAMP K2
see you there
r
pics by Michi Neumann
AMGA Guide Certification - Dispatch 2
The second in a series of posts from K2 skier and AMGA-certified Ski Guide Evan Stevens, as he teaches and evaluates students in the AMGA’s Ski Mountaineering Guides Course in BC this month:
Burning the Candle from Both Ends
Sometimes that is what the guide certification process is about. The alarm goes off at 5:45 am, coffee maker is turned on, weather is checked, bag is packed, lunch made, thermos filled. Skins? Check. Ski boots? Check. Gloves, hat, goggles, sunglasses, warm hat, gore-tex....check check check. And then the candidates show up at my house at 6:55am for the morning guide's meeting and briefing. We discuss the overnight changes in the weather and snowpack, the anticipated hazards associated with our day, and then review our plans. We pile out of the house and head up to the hills for more ski touring fun.
That is how every day has started for me lately, and they haven't been finishing until around 7pm at night, when the tours are done, the candidates debriefed, weather and snowpack discussed and plans finalized for tomorrow. Then its dry out my gear, unpack, eat dinner and go to sleep. Repeat the whole process the next day.
But we have fun out there everyday, because after all it is ski touring/mountaineering, and we are climbing peaks and skiing mostly powder. This week has been a blitzkreig of spring storms, that are seeming more like December than April. Low freezing levels on the coast of BC, has resulted in over 120cms of cold smoke at Whistler this week. It just doesn't stop...which isn't necessarily that great if you want to do some ski mountaineering! The last few days have been spent going over short roping and glacier travel, and attempted ski of Cayoosh on the Duffey Lake Road, tree skiing on Chief Pascale on the Duffy, and some more touring in the Blackcomb Backcountry.
Here are some shots to give you some visuals of what we have been doing this week.
Snowpack evaluation on Chief Pascale
Short roping up Disease Ridge at Blackcomb
Disease Ridge
More Disease Ridge
Coming around to Blackcomb Peak
Fundraiser Event for First Female US Ski Team Ski Tech - Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
US Ski Team Members and local skiing legends will join forces to host a fundraiser for long time South Lake Tahoe resident, Pam Warman, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The Fundraiser will be held at Sierra-at-Tahoe on April 13th, 2010, with fun races, dinner party and auctions, including items donated by current and former US Ski Team members, friends and local businesses.
A Native of Chile, Pam has been living in South Lake for last 15 years working in the ski industry. She started her career in Portillo, but it wasn't long before she had a passion for the precision of a well tuned ski. Upon moving to the South Shore, Pam worked as a ski instructor at Heavenly Mountain Resort during the day and ski shops at night.
Word quickly spread about her skills and within just a few short years of learning to ski, Pam was one of the most respected ski techs in the industry. The pinnacle of her career came when she became the first female service person for the US Ski Team on the World Cup circuit.
Known to be the best female serviceperson in the world, current and former members of the US Ski Team are rallying around Pam and showing her support. Several team members, including Bode Miller, Julia Mancuso, Bryon Friedman and Steve Nyman, have donated items - some from the Olympics - to be auctioned off during the fundraiser with all proceeds going to support Pam's medical needs.
For more information: http://www.pamwarman.webs.com/
--Fran Tone, NORCAL Regional Alliance Member.
Girdwood AK - CPG
Roman is out in Girdwood AK, at the CPG - having a good time and shredding some awesome pow. weather should clear up next 3 days! heli is ready!
here some pics
cheers
roman
Fundraiser to Celebrate Life at Squaw Valley-April 11, 2010
Squaw Valley is hosting a fundraiser for the Tahoe Forest Hospital Foundation ... Cancer Survivors, their friends and family are invited to ski and ride and take FREE LESSONS. Lift tickets are $29 for the day. Squaw Valley Snowsports Instructors are donating their time and wages to the cause. The event includes free rentals and an apres party at Bar One! A fun day on the hill honing skills and party - in celebration of life!
Call the Squaw Valley Snowsports School to Pre-register for this Event. (530) 452-7263. http://www.squaw.com/ride-slide-cancer-survivors-fun-day
--Fran Tone, NORCAL Regional Alliance Member
Spring in the Park
The Spring in the Park 2010 with K2 Skis is still taking place up on the Zugspitze in Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Germany. Until the 11. of April 2010 the Terrain-Park Zugspitze is in its best condition. Over the last weekend lots of people came, also due to the good weather, to the Sprin in the Park and had fund on the mountain. One of the attractions of the weekend was the BigAirbag. Everybody who wanted to try out new tricks on a huge Kicker could easy do this and hand a soft landing.
K2 Skis Teamriders Feliw Wiemers, Severin Guggemoos, Maxi Böhme, Lucas Mangold and Maria Bagge were there and gave useful tricks during the coaching sessions.
Everyday K2 fotographer Alex Schneider is up on the mountain to take pictures from all the riders. Everybody can dowload them for free on flickr.com/zugspitze.
more informations about the Spring in the Park www.zugspitze.de
all pictures taken by Alex Schneider
Zoom Two Royal Jibb Seelisberg
Ende Februar fand in Seelisberg in der Innerschweiz der Zoom Two Royal Jibb statt. Ein cooler Contest in der wachsenden Innerschweizer Freeskiszene, die sich erfreulich kreativ entwickelt! Natürlich waren auch diverse K2 und Line Teamrider sowie Shoprider am Start, und haben mit Tell's Söhnen um die Wette gerockt!
K2 und Line waren vor Ort mit dem 360°Shop aus Stans vertreten. Die Teilnehmer und Besucher hatten die Möglichkeit die neusten Skimodelle 10-11 aus der Nähe zu begutachten. Alles in allem ein sehr gelungener Event, der Laune auf mehr macht!
K2´s travel notes with the BMW X1
After touring the eastern part of Europe the K2 team hit the Alps again visiting the K2 Women Touring Camp in Kühtai, and the BMW X1 Live stops in Davos and Tignes, and they found some nice powder on their way over. Enjoy.
WOW Finale
Our final WOW session was amazing....can you say POWDER?! Fluffy, light & deep - the conditions couldn't have been any better. Not bad for March 31st, eh?
We wrapped up the day at Uncorked Wine Bar in the Squaw Valley village, where lucky participants received raffle prizes and yummy glasses of wine, as we toasted a great season of turns together.
Thank you to everyone who made our inaugural season of WOW such a big success. We couldn't have done it without you and are looking forward to more fun adventures with you all next year!
- Posted by NorCal Alliance member, Julie
