A Sun Valley Christmas

Video: LINO’, an Animated Surf Flick

Check this video out...I've watched it ten times already. The music is super mellow, vibing well with the impressive stop-motion animation that makes those little Playmobil figurines look like they're just shredding some epic waves. Lino', made by Karim Rejeb of KarimRejeb-SurfArt.com, is a masterpiece fit for anyone who has played with plastic toys. His vision of the world of surfing, a...

Friends of the TatsVan: Scott McBrayer – Bull Rider

Scott McBrayer, better known on the Freeskiing World Tour as McSlayer, just rode his third bull at the Carbondale Thursday night rodeo. Known for tossing frontflips to a stomped landing off of 40 foot cliffs, it's his background as a hunting guide and cowboy that makes Scott really stand out. He didn't make eight seconds (the minimum time for a score) in this ride, but as any cowpoke knows...

Mobile Lifestyle: The Mobile Office

I have found two activities to occupy my time, each of which helping to engage the frontal lobe or get my heart pumping hard. On sunny days, the choice is easy: I grab my inflatable stand-up paddleboard (iSUP) and cruise with the bus and clients to the river put-in. I help unload the boats, ditch the deflated iSUP board and paddle, drop the bus at the bottom of the Shoshone Rapids section ...

Pingu Goes Skiing

This is a funny viral video that has hit the winter audience. Stop-motion animation is so fun! (WARNING: some adult language and themes) For those who haven't been following ski design innovation over the past few years, rocker technology is an ancient design that has found a new life in current ski brands. Ski companies are adopting the early-rise tips and tails of the old carved, wood...

Friends of the TatsVan: Leo Ahrens

This is especially true for the junior competitors, whose parents have had the foresight - and made the sacrifices - to know that these competitions are helping to groom their kids into the more well-rounded skiers which the greater skiing audience can identify with. For 17 year-old Leo Ahrens, that barrier has been broken, and he's got two shred-sticks on his feet ready to continue smashing...

Posted By: Tats on December 26, 2008 in All New Posts, TatsVan Chronicles - Comments: No Comments »

I know. I’ve been bad. It’s been a full two weeks and I haven’t updated the TatsVan Chronicles. However, I’ve been able to hop back on a pair of skis and shred the mountains the way they’ve been begging for it since last season. It’s snowed at every place I’ve driven into since my first run on Aspen Mountain in 18 inches of blower pow. I’ve been to Crested Butte, Snowbird and Sun Valley since then, but the story will soon come.

In the meantime, I have a little gem of a video for you to enjoy. It’s your chance to see what the Sun Valley Christmas Eve torchlight parade looks like from a skier’s point-of-view. Unfortunately, the higher-ups at the company wouldn’t let me up the lift (due to the fact that I’m not a ski instructor this season!), but my good friend Brie Wetmore was there to lend a helping hand, or head I should say. After clipping on my POC Receptor Bug helmet and turning on the VIO POV.1 helmetcam velcroed to the top, she hopped on the lift at 5:45pm, December 24th, 2008 and proceeded to capture a beautiful moment on skis.

The energy in this valley runs high during Christmas season, and all the tourists are out in full force. Sun Valley puts on an ice show at the Sun Valley Lodge ice skating rink and follows it up with a torchlight parade and a firework show. It’s a pretty magical experience, and if you ever get a chance to see it for yourself, you’ll know why.

But, without further adue, here is the video clip. Thanks Brie for giving us all the chance to see what you saw!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO