The Tatsuno Way: Snowmass, CO

Friends of the TatsVan: Drew Tabke wins 2nd Backcountry.com Sickbird Buckle!

Drew Tabke is another friend of the TatsVan. He is currently down in South America destroying freeskiing comps and bagging peaks after all-night, wine-fueled parties. Recently, Drew became the third ever freeskier to win a second Backcountry.com Sickbird belt buckle for his impressive skiing in Las Lenas, Argentina. http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg842/scaled.php?tn=0&server=842&filename=4dff.j...

Snowmass, again.

My friend Ed took this shot on my DROID. Epic night in Snowmass Village.

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 ...

The Tatsuno Way: Snowmass, CO

Posted By: Tats on November 10, 2009 in All New Posts, TatsVan Chronicles - Comments: No Comments »

Snowmass, the Tatsuno Way

I gave a quote to Jamie Lynn at the Snowmass Sun . She wanted to know about where I like to go when riding Snowmass. Here is an excerpt:

My favorite moment is cresting the top of the High Alpine chair, ready for that quick 10-min jaunt over to the Hanging Valley Headwall. From there, I click my skis on, set my speed and drop into the gutter chute with a long, slashed out turn to the right, making sure to spray a screen of snow off the end of Two-Trees, a 50-ft cliff just below. With a speedy straightline down the rest of the bowl, I like to throttle off a bit and bring the speed down just a hair to find that perfect tranny pump action through the Frog Pond Glades over to Wall 2.

Wall 2 presents its own speed section as I find myself gunning it through the powdery moguls and up the slight knole midway down the face. With enough speed, I boost up and over some smaller trees, floating out a smooth rodeo flip and coming back to earth with the softest of landings on the backside.

From there, it’s a classic Chinese downhill back to the bottom for another big lap (or three!) before lunch. It’s always more fun with friends; bring a group of four and consider the race is on!

CLICK HERE FOR A MAP OF SNOWMASS (and the other Aspen/Snowmass Mountains)

Tags: Aspen/Snowmass, Hanging Valley Headwall, Snowmass, SnowmassFreeride.com