It’s December, and it hasn’t really snowed much in the Lower 48.  That’s ok, because you’ve been holding the reins while desk jockeying and no snow doesn’t affect your daily routine.  In fact, it probably makes for a much easier commute.  Well, guess what – It’s going to snow, and when it does you’ll be jonesing to get out and play!

That’s why we at Tecnica/Blizzard designed the “Need to Get Out” contest in conjunction with Teton Gravity Research.  We know you are only slaving away behind a desk so you can earn enough dough to get out and road trip with your buddies.  Well, we want to make it easier for you and that friend to get out West and come slash some turns with the Tec/Blizz pro team.

Head on over to Teton Gravity Research’s website by clicking the photo above, and learn how to enter the contest.  Tell us your best story, include a rad photo, and come choke on some powder with us at Monarch Snowcat Skiing.  Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

-Tats

Check out more of Shaun and her winter exploits at TheLifeUnbound

EarlyUps.com has a weekly series which features pro skiers and the music they jam to.  This is a great way to update your music selection and get in the head of your favorite shredder.  It’s interesting to hear what pumps people up for the big moves on snow, or to find out how skiers get their groove on in the off-hill part of their days.  I was honored to be included in this list of athletes, following none other than Julian Carr the snow yeti himself.  Click the picture below to link to the feature and listen along to the mix provided courtesy of Spotify.com.

Click above to view the feature and listen to some Talking Heads

Trew Gear team rider Garrett Russell is back on skis after a knee surgery. Check him out and his wacky tricks in the new Traveling Circus. I love his approach to park features…so fun and so ego-less. Ya Garrett!

Alex Ferreira boosting in the pipe (Photo by Brian Walker)

My week as head chef and stoke coordinator for the POC house at the Breckenridge stop of the winter Dew Tour has come to an end.  It was a special treat to meet and hang with the athletes we have representing the brand in the park and pipe scene.  Kids like Alex Ferreira, Kyle Smaine, Broby Leeds, and Robby Franco had a chance to hot tub, chow food, and relax right alongside some of the bigger names in the sport like Joss Christensen and Tucker Perkins and Alex Schlopy.  It is great to see the camaraderie and teamwork that thrives between these athletes in an event where egos reign supreme.  I was impressed to see how down to earth and motivated each of them were in dedication to this wild sport, and then, to see them take on the massive superpipe and park features Breckenridge likes to build was truly awe-inspiring.

Throughout the week we had all walks of life from the competition scene visiting the house, with team reps from ski brands, GoPro stoke monsters, parents, world-class coaches, and web gurus.  Willie Ford, the new POC team manager, and I kept everyone well fed and full of beer (those of age, of course!) as the week went on.  I learned a lot about cooking for an army and how to manage a dishwasher and trash compactor all without losing a finger or scalding myself with hot water.  Whew!

Check out the following video from the prelims for superpipe: