Skiing & Snowboarding

The first stop of The North Face Masters has arrived at Crystal Mountain, Washington. With unfavorable snowfall for most of the country, the official first stop at Snowbird was postponed until April. But that didn't put a damper on things as riders arrived ready to put it all on the table. It was business as usual as riders took Tuesday to inspect the course and scope out their runs for the Wednesday qualifier on Northway. With a steady dumping of snow for part of the inspection day, around a solid 6 inches, there were big smiles and great vibes as riders dropped cliffs, slashed pow and took to Crystal's notorious big mountain terrain. Following a great day on the mountain we all settled into the base lodge for the rider meeting. Frankie Alisuag kicked off the event as usual bringing everyone together to celebrate the life of Aaron Robinson. A-Rob, as he is most well known, was a TNF Masters regular. Dominating the circuit over the past few years and claiming many podiums as well as the overall title for both 2010 and 2011. His style and demeanor were unmatched as he was well known on tour as a guy who would take the time to get to know pretty much everyone. Frankie made it clear that this should not be a time of sorrow but a time of celebration; because that's how Aaron would want it. This year's TNF Masters is in memory of A-Rob, even though it's not official, everyone knows it. He will be missed not only here on tour, but around the world. With that in mind it was an early morning as riders, photographers, judges and fans made their way to Tramway to watch the men and women battle it out for a qualifying spot in the finals on Silver King. With perfect bluebird skies, mild temperatures, a light wind and a beaming sun above, the Masters kicked off with the women's one run qualifier. Frankie Alisuag and Mark Sullivan kept it comical on the mic as they gave viewers the play by play on each and every run. Legend Tom Burt would once again take the demanding job of head judge along with Temple Cummins, Julie Zell and Andy Hetzel. Big props to these guys as they take on one of the hardest jobs in the game. You could say that this year at Crystal surpassed last year as the snow quality was above par. Even though Northway was slightly tracked out it was a huge improvement from 2011. Good snow or not, the ladies were sending it. Last year's winner Iris Lazzareschi was back to defend her title. Even though she was injured she navigated the course beautifully to put down a run worthy of tenth place and a spot in the finals. With a huge air at the top of the course, Crested Butte local and tour regular Marry Boddington would follow up with a high speed chute drop that sent the crowd into a frenzy. The no holds bar approach to her run and her willingness to put it all on the line landed her in the top qualifying spot. "Qualifying first feels awesome." Says Boddington. "It makes me a little nervous for finals as there's a lot of pressure going into the next day. But the run was really fun and that's what makes me ride at my best." Following Boddington would be Laura Dewey and Shannon Yates to round out the top three qualifying spots. Roughly 11:00pm would mark the start time for the men as the weather warmed up a bit making Northway that much softer. Even though the sun would be shining from behind it wouldn't hinder the guys from taking their riding to the next level. This qualifier felt more like a final as the men sent Northway's face like no other. From Kyle Clancy's cab 5 off the riders left cliff that landed him in the second qualifying spot to the perfect method of Jackson Hole's own John Rodosky. The guys never held back and it made for some intense viewing. The crowd was on their feet as 67 riders took their one run qualifier. Landing in the top qualifying spot was first time competitor Jamie Rizzuto from Fernie, BC. His resilience and skill took him on a run that dropped jaws. Without hesitation Rizzuto charged over cliffs, that most billy-goated, with grace like no other. There was no hesitation in his run. He stomped every landing with style, especially the waterfall that finished off a perfect run. "I'm really happy I stuck my line. That was the idea when I dropped in and to be on top is just amazing." Says Rizzuto. "I knew it was really boney at the top so I picked out a tree that would help me get through that section with ease and drop me into perfect position for the rest of my run. I had two airs to follow and white roomed on my second. Then I made it through the sketchy waterfall chute at the bottom and finished it off with a shit eating grin." Check out the qualifying lists on The North Face Master's facebook page. That's it from day one at The North Face Masters at Crystal Mountain. Tune in live tomorrow, February 16 at 10:30am PST to watch live as riders take to the legendary Silver King face. Visit us at snowboardmag.com/tnf-masters for live coverage. Stay tuned tomorrow for full coverage from the one run final at the first stop of the TNF Masters. To get behind the scenes shots check us out on Instagram (SnowboardMag) as we will be posting photos straight from Silver King.

Now that winter is in full swing we wanted to make sure you're dialed in with your iPhone. Whether you like to track your days on the hill, get discounted tickets and gear or love to forecast the weather to find the perfect powder day, we have you covered. Below are 9 free apps that will make your day on the hill that much better. Check it out and let us know what you think. If you've used any of these apps we want to know about it. Also, if we missed a cool app that you use let us know. Snocru Snowcru is "a revolutionary mobile app that connects you to the mountains - on all levels." From checking global snow conditions and tracking your days on hill to connecting with friends and finding the best aprés spot, this app does it all. Connect your account to Facebook and Twitter to share your adventures with friend and family. The real time map feature gives you locations of your other "cru" members so you can easily track them via GPS when on the mountain. It also tracks all sorts of stats from max speed to distance traveled, vertical feet, altitude, total runs and time spent shredding. Definitely an app worth checking out. iTunes Rating: 5 stars Liftopia If you're looking for a deal on tickets this is it. Liftopia gives you all the best deals (up to 80% off) in the palm of your hand. Book discount tickets, discover hundreds of ski areas, discover nearby resorts and find the latest snow conditions and ski reports. With exclusive low prices on lift tickets, lessons, equipment rentals and more at over 150 resorts, this is app will keep your pockets deep. iTunes rating: 5 stars OnTheSnow Snow Reports Personalized snow reports for your iPhone. Keep track of your favorite resorts and their conditions. With access to over 2,000 resorts from around the world, you'll never find yourself wondering where the snow is. iTunes rating: 2.5 stars Epic Mix If you long to track every single detail of your day on the hill Epic Mix is here to help. Activated by your lift ticket, Epic Mix tracks your vertical feet while you shred your favorite Vail mountain. The more you ride the more pins you can earn and share with friends and family through facebook and twitter. Compete against other riders on the Epic Mix leaderboard to see who rides more each season. New this year is Epic Photo where photographers snap your pic, scan your pass, and it's automaticly posted on facebook or twitter (if activated). You can also log on to epicmix.com and print out high-res glory shots of your best pow day. iTunes rating: 3.5 stars Open Snow This app comes straight from OpenSnow.com's meteorologists Joel Gratz and Andrew Murray. With hand tailored reports for most of the country's hottest ski destinations, Open Snow gives you daily snow reports for your favorite resorts. Get push notifications sent every time your favorite resort receives snow - all personalized to how much snow you want to see. If you're in Colorado you're in for a treat. Joel and Andrew hand craft the best snow days so you know when to call in sick. This is an app you can't afford to miss out on. iTunes rating: 4 stars TNF - The Snow Report Track your day, Post a photo to Facebook. Get snow conditions, weather forecasts, full trail maps and other details for just about any resort you can imagine. TNF pretty much gives you everything you want in an app for your next day on the hill. Its social integration keeps your friends updated on your travels and if you need some fresh gear you can locate their nearest store. The 5-day forecasts give you detailed information to keep you in the know and an avalanche advisory will make sure you have the info you need before heading into the backcountry. iTunes rating: 3 stars Rome - 100 day tracker The 100 day tracker is just that, a way to tack your days on the hill. Keep track of the mountains you ride, the weather, any new snow if you were lucky, the crew you rode with and more. Snap a photo each day to relive the glory of your entire season. Along with an easy to use shop finder to get gear on the fly you can kill time by watching shred flicks on ShredTV. iTunes rating: 4.5 stars REI Snow Report REI helps you find the best places to spend your time up at the mountains. Add resorts from around the world to your favorites list and receive push notifications when there is new snow, new lift and trail openings as well as in-depth 5-day snow forecasts. Along with their detailed snow reporting you can check out the message boards for a first-hand snow report, view live resort cams and check out twitter feeds from your favorite mountains. If you forgot some gear you can locate the nearest REI store to stock up on the essentials. iTunes rating: 4.5 stars Snowboard Mag Well obviously we are going to put our own app in the mix. Yes, we are tooting our own horn but why wouldn't you want the latest news on the best products, places and personalities in snowboarding right in the palm of your hand? Get our featured stories, videos and products sent directly to you whether you're on the lift or at the best aprés party of your life. With extras like Monsters (the best game ever) and snow reports that alert you when your favorite resorts gets over 4 inches of freshies, it's a no brainer. iTunes rating: 4.5 stars

Last night, Tom Wallisch, 24, won the Men's Ski Slopestyle gold medal Thursday night with the highest score in the event's history.

Check out Tom Wallisch, Kaitlyn Farrington, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa & other The North Face athletes as they ski & ride at Baldface. The Phantom camera & heli are out to capture every last amazing trick.

HyVent gear keeps The North Face athletes warm, dry & protected. Athlete tested. Athlete trusted. And backed by a lifetime warranty.

Sun Valley Resort's Dollar Mountain played host to the first ever Tom Wallisch Fantasy Feature Competition yesterday afternoon, drawing competitors and spectators from all corners of Idaho, and beyond. The event kicked off in mid-December as Scott reached out to the public in search of creative park feature designs, the best of which would be built by Sun Valley Resort's Park Crew and sessioned on competition day. Those who wished to submit a design were able to utilize a list of jibs provided by Sun Valley Resort (SVR)—the available jibs being those currently a part of its arsenal. After receiving myriad submissions, Wallisch—along with staff at Scott and SVR—narrowed the field and ultimately selected a design drafted by 24-year-old Patrick Sullivan of Gunnison, CO. For his efforts, Sullivan was extended an invitation to Sun Valley to partake in the event, or if he preferred, to join on the sidelines. Unfortunately, Sullivan separated his shoulder early this week and was unable to make the journey. Sullivan will instead be rewarded with a slew of Scott product. Despite his absence, Sullivan expressed his thanks to the staff at Scott via e-mail. He wrote, "Thanks for choosing my design, I'm really stoked you all liked it enough to choose it as the winner. I can't wait to see it built and skied by the best."

In this second episode of Wednesdays with Wallisch: Season 2, Tom gets tricky at Park City and then heads to Breckenridge to compete in the Winter Dew Tour. As you may or may not have heard, Wallisch topped the slopestyle podium at Dew, and the video below showcases the flawless style that propelled him to the top. Read more to check out last week's episode.

A super pipe is not a half pipe. Well, technically it is HALF a pipe, but it’s more, bigger-er, as Sun Valley’s just-opened super pipe demonstrates. It comes as Sun Valley celebrates its 75th anniversary, and it’s no accident that the Idaho mountain isn’t ushering in the calendar mark with retro crochet’d sweaters and hot toddies. Nope, they’re going big and new school, turning a decided back on sleepy tradition with the first mega pipe in the Northwest, trying to attract a little gnar attention. The super sucker is 18 feet high and considerably longer than a football field. It’s in in Dollar’s Old Bowl, beneath the Dollar lift, and you can expect some serious amplitude coming off its edge. But keep the newbies away, because what goes up…

It was Tom Wallisch’s day Sunday as The North Face athlete kicked off the winter season with a win in slopestyle at the Winter Dew Tour in Breckenridge, CO. After warming things up on run one, Wallisch came back in run two to grab the top spot. His run included a 270 on the down rail, a blind 360 switch-up over the gap rails into a switch right 900 and a double cork 1080 high mute, a b450 off the top of the wall ride, and back-to-back switch double cork 1080 Japans. The run was impressive and put Wallisch five points ahead of the field. Catch the winning run and be sure to check back for updates on Wallisch all winter.  

The big news for this year? Slope moves into the night and under the lights. Also: adaptive athletes get a shot at Snowboarder X, with an inspiring exhibition event. What else? Guess you'll just have to check out the competition schedule for yourself, and we'll see you in Aspen for four snow-filled days of awesome. Winter X Games 2012 comp schedule »

“Making snow is a simple process”, says snowmaking supervisor Scott Enos. “Snow is made by breaking water into small particles, throwing them into the air and letting them freeze. But there are an infinite number of variables that impact the process, including temperature, humidity, solar radiation and altitude.” Deer Valley makes a variety of snow types, from wet durable “crystals” in the early season which creates a long-lasting base, to lighter “maintenance” snow later in the season to augment Mother Nature’s contributions. Deer Valley currently has 100 snowguns operating around the resort, including four fully-automatic Puma® guns that turn on and off and adjust to conditions on their own. All guns are equipped with weather stations which transmit data to the main snowmaking office. Also new this year are 40 high efficiency snowguns which use 10% of the amount of compressed air as older guns, allowing for snowmaking at a much faster and more efficient rate. Snowmakers work around the clock, rotating between two 12-hour shifts to make snow on over 660 acres! We look forward to seeing you on the slopes at Deer Valley Resort.

SPY Optic™ today announced a partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW) and SPY Professional Snowboarder David Carrier Porcheron. DCP’s relationship with POW reaffirms his commitment to promoting environmental consciousness. He is active in a number of POW interests, including its Riders Alliance initiative—an athlete coalition—and Hot Planets/Cool Athletes program—a youth education series administered in conjunction with Alliance for Climate Education (ACE). “The POW Hot Planets/Cool Athletes program affords DCP the opportunity to engage kids about climate change and help influence the next generation of sustainability leaders,” say Kevin Casillo, SPY Snow Segment manager. “DCP is a longtime proponent of reducing his carbon footprint and, working with POW, he has a chance to reach an entirely new, young audience and connect to the snow industry at the same time.” With respect to the POW Riders Alliance, DCP joins a list of esteemed fellow athletes, including Gretchen Bleiler and Jeremy Jones, in leveraging their collective influence to affect public policy and promote environmental responsibility. Throughout the year, POW rallies the Riders Alliance behind renewable energy initiatives and enterprises designed to heighten awareness of greenness through community education, outreach and action, from local levels to Capitol Hill. “I have become aware of my impact on the planet in recent years and, a snowboarder, I appreciate being in nature so much—my career completely depends on it,” says DCP. “SPY and POW help me give back to the environment with a portion of sales of my signature snow goggle going to POW’s reinvestment with organizations that share our sustainability mission and focus.”

Pro rider Mark Carter just got a little more big city with the release of this six-minute sizzle reel. The native of Ten Sleep, Wyo. (pop. 304) and Jackson Hole has a new project in the works, aptly titled "Carter Country," and this preview promises some reality programming that's hotter than a cattle brand on a cold snowboarder's buttock. From big backcountry booters to tree taps and cliffs, the shredding in this is top-notch and on par with Carter's recent appearances in Standard, Absinthe and Brain Farm productions. Where it really gets interesting, though, is when the cameras follow Mark back to tiny Ten Sleep and go all IMAX on a calf branding, a pig roast and an elk hunt. (Warning: graphic pork content at 3:56 and spicy cowboy language throughout.) You'll see "backies" off the biggest rope swing you've ever imagined as well as Carter and Co. shooting some .50 cal rifle that can pop a target over a mile away. Bad guys: beware the Bighorns... Our favorite part is when Mark's dad, Richard -- a dude who seriously makes The Marlboro Man look like Tim Gunn -- recalls how much Mark enjoyed shooting as a kid. "Carter Country" is redneck renaissance man meet sideways styling in a way no other pro could possibly deliver. Classic stuff and well worth a few minutes of your day. http://espn.go.com/action/snowboarding/blog/_/post/7300770/carter-country?campaign=rss&source=unknown

Jackson Hole is requiring employees to wear helmets this season, joining Aspen and Vail in mandatory use of head protection. In 2009, patroller Kathryn Miller, who was not wearing a helmet, died of head injuries after a crash, and the state of Wyoming called out the resort for not doing enough to protect her. Most workers already have their own helmets, but for those who don't Jackson will provide them for free. The use of a helmet can reduce the risk of injuries by 35 percent, a Canadian study found.

Wednesdays can be a tough day: You're still a few days away from Friday yet Monday seems like it was a century ago. Well, your Wednesdays are about to get a little brighter, thanks to Tom Wallisch. His new video series, Wednesdays with Wallisch, will drop starting the first week in December. This edit is a teaser for all the midweek action to come, which Wallisch promises will include "more high quality action, behind the scenes fun, and random awesomeness than ever before." Adds Wallisch, "Each episode will be a cool, well filmed/edited look into my season and everything that happens along the way. I'll still be putting out fun short edits here and there, and you can always expect hilarious content from 4bi9 Media's Guacamole Sundayze series as well. I'm just super excited to add a little more production value to my webisodes, and hopefully produce some edits that everyone will enjoy watching over and over." http://espn.go.com/action/freeskiing/blog/_/post/7239585/wednesdays-wallisch?campaign=rss&source=unknown

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is attracting Point of View (POV) video footage from around the world as contestants enter the resort's Local Hero POV video contest on its Facebook page for a chance to win a ski or snowboard trip to Utah. "This contest is a great way for people who love to ski and ride to share their passion for the mountains with thousands of like-minded enthusiasts," said Dave Fields, Snowbird Vice President of Resort Operations. "The lucky two who win will have a trip of a lifetime to show for their creativity and passion." Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, The North Face, Powder magazine, Snowboarder magazine and Wasatch Powderbird Guides have teamed up to sponsor this ultimate POV video challenge. There will be two categories: Ski and Snowboard. The Grand Prize winner in each category will receive a trip for two to Snowbird, Utah for five days of Tram and chairlift skiing, four nights of lodging at The Cliff Lodge, access to an early Tram ride one morning, a day of helicopter skiing for one with Wasatch Powderbird Guides, a $500 gift card for one from The North Face, and two free subscriptions to Powder magazine and Snowboarder magazine. Videos do not have to be filmed at Snowbird, they may be filmed anywhere on the planet, at any time in history. Videos must be POV format and shorter than three minutes, with a theme of skiing or snowboarding. Videos must be submitted to Snowbird's Local Hero Facebook page on or before December 31, 2011 at 5 p.m. EST. The page can be accessed by going to www.facebook.com/snowbirdUT, then clicking the "Local Hero" tab on the left side of the screen. The four videos in each category, Ski and Snowboard, with the most "Likes" on Facebook will advance to a final round of judging for the Grand Prize. The Grand Prize winner in the ski category will be chosen by the Powder magazine editorial staff and the Grand Prize winner in the snowboard category will be chosen by the Snowboarder magazine editorial staff. The Local Hero Facebook application was built by Rally Interactive, a local Utah company. "By lending some of the technical know-how we've gained building Facebook apps for national brands like Intel and SlimJim, Rally Interactive is stoked for the opportunity to help Snowbird launch the Local Hero video contest on their Facebook page," said Thomas Cooke, Partner at Rally Interactive.

For its efforts addressing climate change Protect Our Winters (POW) is this year's recipient of Backcountry Magazine's first annual Keep The Deep Subscriber Grant. Last winter, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and other pro snow athletes teamed up with Protect Our Winters' Hot Planet/Cool Athletes program to educate high school students about climate change. "POW's Hot Planet/Cool Athletes program is really unique," says Backcountry Editorial Director Adam Howard. "A lot of us here at Backcountry have kids, so conveying realities of climate change to them is super important." POW will receive $3000 for their innovative program through the Keep The Deep Subscriber Grant. Hot Planet/Cool Athletes presents athletes with the unique opportunity to use the fame won on snow to make a difference off of it in local mountain communities. By coupling personal stories with climate science basics the athletes help to promote new awareness and activism inspired by the notion "protect where you play". "Backcountry readers are helping POW reach more students in more schools and communities, while supporting POW's mission to make sure that the next generation is better equipped to address climate change," says Savannah Cowley, representative and Athlete Liaison for POW. "The Hot Planet/Cool Athletes program is important to me because it is a unique opportunity to spread a positive message about conservation to the youth," says Sage. The takeaway message Sage extends to all his audiences: "Don't cut yourself short—you guys have a lot of power and the ability to make a difference." With a plan to reach 10,000 students by the end of 2011, POW is working for the day when the younger generation is united together by the very enthusiasm that Sage witnessed while visiting his first school: "I was psyched to see the passion and interest [the students] had," he says. "But most important was their eagerness to do things that can make a difference." Learn more at backcountrymagazine.com/keepthedeep and protectourwinters.org

Mathieu Soumet is The Intern. If that sounds like a line from a movie poster, well, it kind of is. Soumet, who's from France, needed an internship for school credit in the summer of 2009, and landed with the clothing and film company Voleurz in Whistler, BC. The company wasn't sure what his job would be, so Soumet improvised and found his way into the 2010 release "Look on the Bright Side" as a human prop. He returns for "That's Fine," which will be released online for free Nov. 21. How did he get that gig? ESPN Freeskiing caught up with Soumet to find out. How did you get the internship with Voleurz? I've always been super into skiing and I was feeling like trying to contact some ski companies and hopefully find an internship. More than 400 emails later, nobody wanted me. I emailed companies making skis, outerwear, accessories, even some super specialized Swedish cross-country poles. My classmates were all already in different countries working and I was still sitting home and refreshing my inbox hoping for some good news. Darren Rayner from Voleurz finally answered me, and a few emails and a phone call later, I booked my flight to Vancouver five days later and that was it. What was the job description for your internship? I had to gather and find information about film festivals, tradeshows and various business stuff, but nothing super important. I also had to upload on many websites all the videos Voleurz has done the years before. I never finished that one -- whoops! How did you become a part of the films? Since I'm definitely not good enough to be in a Voleurz movie as a skier I had to figure out how to make the cut. Matt Margetts tried a cork 3 hand-drag over my head the first summer I went to Whistler and we all thought that was pretty cool. The year after, Max Hill gave it a try one day to jib over me. We were all having so much fun that we decided to keep filming others stunts. What have you learned from being the human jib? I guess I learned to trust people. Like closing my eyes and thinking as hard as I can, 'No worries, he's got it, it's going to be a gentle one.' Most of the time it works. I've never been seriously hurt. Last year, I tweaked my knee kinda bad while doing that piggy-backing thing [with Max Hill] and this year I got a concussion trying stupid stuff off snow, but Max wasn't involved on that one. Hopefully you'll see this footage in 'That's Fine.' What do you do when you're not The Intern? Back home I'm a regular 20-year-old French guy, I guess. Eating croissants as much as I can and drinking wine at every opportunity. I'm still studying, I validated my license in management and I'll be doing for a master's in strategic management for the next two years. What's next for The Intern -- do you want a job in freeskiing? All the athlete management aspects of freeskiing interest me a lot and I feel like it's going to be more and more important in the next years since freeskiing is getting bigger and bigger. Any advice for other interns in the skiing industry? As cool and great the ski industry looks and sounds, people looking for internships have to introduce themselves professionally and show motivation and capacity to really help the company out. I think that would be my main advice. Also, trying to talk directly to the right person is better than emailing, so if you could, go to trade shows, I think it's hands down the best place to meet people from the industry.

In Breckenridge, Colorado, the debate over Breckenridge Ski Resort’s (BSR) Peak 6 development is still underway. The public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was originally set to end on July 25, but was extended through the end of August. According to White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams, the extension is the result of the complexity of the issue. In late June, the Forest Service released the DEIS (available here), a 600 plus-page document analyzing the potential environmental effects of the proposed development. According to breckenridgepeak6.com, the USDA website devoted to the project, the DEIS “discusses the purpose and need for the Proposed Action; alternatives to the Proposed Action; potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of implementing each alternative; and project design criteria.” The DEIS proposes three such actions, named Alternative 1 (No Action); Alternative 2 (the Proposed Action); and Alternative 3. The hotly debated action proposed by BSR (Alternative 2) includes the development of a six-person chairlift, a top terminal ski patrol facility/warming hut and a lodge at the lift’s mid-station. The proposal includes 550 new acres of lift-served and hike-to skiing. Alternative 1—No Action—is required by the National Environmental Protection Agency, and is defined as “a continuation of existing management practices without changes, additions or upgrades.” Given the anticipated environmental and social impacts of the proposal, many in Breckenridge exclusively support this option (Rare Earth: Backcountry Expansion in Breckenridge, CO). Alternative 3 is widely considered the “compromise option” as described by Breckenridge local Ellen Hollinshead to the SummitDaily.com. The alternative includes “trail and lift development within BSR’s currently developed lift and trail network as well as a proposed skiing pod immediately north of Peak 7.” This option would include the development of 33 additional acres within the existing boundary, three chairlift upgrades, and the development of terrain on Peak 6 ½, located just north of Peak 7. A high-speed four- or six-person chairlift would access 97 acres of below-treeline, and moving the boundary northward to accommodate this development would increase the lift-served terrain off of the Imperial Express Lift. The comment period on this development will remain open until August 26. To make a general comment on the project, visit breckenridgepeak6.com/general or view the entire document to comment on specific items, click here.

The green sign on the edge of Ten Sleep, Wyoming lists a population of 304, but it's probably edging toward 350 these days. Of course your dog might fetch Coors cans in the middle of Main St. all night and still never get hit. There are no cops, no hospitals, no condos, and definitely no Starbucks here. Ten Sleep is, however, home to one pro snowboarder: Mark Carter. Only a place like Ten Sleep -- a tiny ranching community snugged up into the foothills of the Big Horns -- could brew a bro like Carter, 31 this week. Working on his family's cattle ranch since childhood has made him both tough and well aware that there's no meat on your table if you don't show up ready to work. Aside from laying down serious pow lines the world over, he also guides elk hunts in-season with big brother RC, helping mountain-men-in-training lay a claim to the real thing. He can discuss guns, fishin', gourmet game meat preparation (elk tenderloin?!), snowpack and spines with equal aplomb. Heck, with just a handful of Carter's childhood troublemaking anecdotes any idiot with a camera could probably make a couple of good movies. Snowboarding-wise, Carter got kind of a late start on the sponsor front -- a real job will do that to ya -- but he's made up for lost time admirably. He's won a stop of TNF Masters big mountain comp and placed second in buddy T Rice's inaugural Natural Selection at Jackson Hole, where he lives during the winter. In the last few years you may have seen Carter's riding in Brain Farm, Absinthe, TGR, or Bluebird videos, and can see him this fall in Standard's hotly awaited "TB20." "This year I really felt I was part of the project," he says. "In the past, it's been film a week here and there and maybe get a cameo it the movie. Having Standard to film with all year gave me something to really focus on and and put a solid part together. It was definitely one on the best I've had and awesome riding for the first time with guys like Mads [Jonsson], Lonnie [Kauk], Mathieu [Crepel], Kazu [Kokubo] and [Sammy] Luebke. "Plus, traveling to new zones like Terrace, B.C. really opened my eyes and progressed my riding. My one concern going in though was it was expensive. I was dropping some serious dough on this trip like, Um, I hope it's sick... But, yeah: We got it. It was worth it. [Standard] has been going there for, like, nine years or something so they really wanted to break open some new s---, ride some new zones. We went to some of the old stuff but we rode plenty of new stuff; everything from pillow lines to pat-downs to legit lines, you know?" Carter also scored 12 days this winter at Baldface, one of the Interior's most beloved pow ops. "In a row!" he's quick to point out. "And it was deep, man. Epic conditions. The last day was a powder day -- of course -- and I was just done... After The North Face left, I stayed for a media trip: a bunch of 50-something skiers who do a TV show on RSN just up there schussing [laughs]. And it was Guch's [Bryan Iguchi] first tail-gunning job. I actually saved a girl; she fell in a tree well. Like, face down. Done. The schussers had invited this other girl who was just kind of hangin' out in the lodge, not a real good skier, 21 years old..." Long story short, Carter, riding at the back, was in a good position to locate and rescue the skier, capping off his 12 days in Baldface with some serious good samaritan action. Stories like this aren't even remotely surprising if you've spent even a tram ride with Carter. He's a pro snowboarder, sure, but, because of his deep history ranching, hunting, fishing etc. he truly appreciates the perks of the pro shred, seeing his snowboarding career as a privilege not some kind of right. He has a rock solid attitude and never lets his mouth write a check his ass can't cash. The massive flat screen Sony TV in Carter's laid-back living room in Ten Sleep seems a bit out of place and only becomes more so when you learn that it was a present from Justin Timberlake. Believe it or not, this ranchin' pro shredder has not only ridden with JT but, thanks to his girlfriend Rachael Yarbrough being JT's personal photographer, Mark has now sat Centre Court at Wimbledon with the man, had lunch at Elton John's and grown hoarse singing karaoke with Guy Ritchie. Small town boy done good? Damn straight...

Laura Hadar is a fascinating human being. Her raw, creative energy is infectious, and she is bold in a way that's not only ballsy bravado, but also feminine sheik. She was one of the first females to take her skills to the streets and has done it with fierce determination and an in-your-face attitude. She can hold her own with the boys, and this year, after a second-place finish at both the Snowbird and Crystal Mountain North Face Masters stops, she has also now proved that she's no one trick pony. After becoming Capita snowboards first professional female snowboarder and filming with everyone from Videograss to Peep Show, Hadar has nothing left to prove. But that doesn't mean she's done turning heads. Hey, how are you? I'm good. I'm in Hawaii chilling out with my girlfriends -- just having a little non-snowboarding vacay. It's my first one in a while. Did you travel a lot this last winter? Not a lot, really. I spent a lot of time up in the Northwest. I got two weeks up at Baker, which was awesome, then a couple weeks at Stevens. That was so cool -- the Northwest is so magical! They've got a good secret going on up there, huh? Yeah, we try not to let anyone know what we're holding. I know, right? I was thinking about getting a spot out there, but I want to hit some more street stuff, so we will see. I was surprised to see you at the North Face Masters. How were those contests? Those were so fun! I saw the one at Snowbird the year before because I was just riding around during it, because it was a crazy-good powder day. I saw Temple Cummins, Tom Burt, and Andy Hetzel, and I figured if all those cats were involved it had to be pretty cool. So I did the one at Snowbird this last season and did pretty well, and then I did the one at Crystal and did pretty well there. Then I did the Kirkwood one, but I suck under pressure. Wait -- you got second at two of them. You can't suck that much under pressure. [Laughs] Yeah, it's not too much pressure. You get up on the podium, but you don't have to be the winner. laura hadarTim ZimmermanYou can take a street girl to the mountains... So are you making the switch from street to big mountain? How do you feel about the differences in the two styles? Well, street riding is cool because you get to be in cities, you don't have to wake up super early, and you get to have late nights. Heading out into the mountains is so cool, though. It's so quiet and peaceful and it's something that's new for me, too. It's a different aspect of snowboarding for me, which is refreshing and super exciting. At the first Masters event at Snowbird everyone was taking pictures of lines -- I've filmed a line or two, but I've never taken a picture of a mountain and studied it. I bought a pair of binoculars and learned how to find different markers and everything which was really exciting. Do you think you will keep filming street stuff? I definitely still want to do street stuff, because I love the creativity of it. I love being in the city and it's easier then finding a good crew to get into the backcountry with. A lot of the boys who ride street dress like girls and want to be gypsies or pirates or something. I feel like you were the one who pioneered that style. Do you feel like you had something to do with that? [+] Enlargelaura hadar Tim Zimmerman [Laughs] That's awesome. I think Gus Engle and Eric Messier did that. They were the first dudes that I saw dressing like that -- I think I copped their style a little bit. Maybe I helped popularize it? That's super funny. I like that. I make fun of the guys who wear super skinny jeans and have super skinny legs -- that's gross. There needs to be balance. They should pad their legs so it looks like there's some beef under there or something. Yeah, they should wear football pads or something. So what's up with the new Capita video? Do you have a full part? Yeah, I have a full part. I'm so excited for the video. The Capita team is so stacked right now. We definitely have one of the raddest, most progressive teams out there. It's so sick that whole company just revolves around snowboarding. There are no skiers making big decisions; it's super grassroots. It's such a rad venue for snowboarding to show it's true spirit. I'm honored to be in the video.

I decided recently that I wanted to try a double misty off the up rail at Camp of Champions in Whistler. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done because the way the rail was set up it didn't have a big enough gap to get the rotation around. The camp was super accommodating with making changes for me and they helped move the rail back about 25 feet and propped it up on 3-foot-tall pad of snow. Measuring from the end of the rail to the beginning of the landing the new set up boasted a whopping 65 feet in distance and was exactly what I needed in order to attempt the trick. After a few painful crashes, a fat lip and a blackened eye, I landed the trick I set out to do -- the first ever double flip off of a rail, something I'm very stoked on. Thanks to the staff at COC and to Robin Macdonald for helping me set up the feature and for nailing the shot.

Board Of The Month: Bataleon Evil Twin Artist Edition The Bataleon Evil Twin Artist Edition, shot at Snowmass Terrain Park, Colorado. PHOTO: Chris Wellhausen Board Of The Month: Bataleon Evil Twin Artist Edition The world works in opposites. Snowboarding is no different; an air here is a bail there. It’s all about finding your balance, and on Bataleon’s revamped Evil Twin, that equilibrium is found right underfoot. Its wide, cambered, flat-based area between the bindings and three-way weave of fiberglass provide a stable launch pad. Hardwood stringers run tip to tail over the inserts for added pop and stability, and new for this season is a blunted tip and tail that helps lock into presses. Slams are inevitable though. That’s why Bataleon molds the board with Twin Triple Base Technology—a concave, spoon-shaped tip and tail for forgiveness and plowing through pow. With less catch and consequence at the contact points, you can keep your ollies, nollies, turns, stomps, and spins poised and on point. Available lengths: 152, 154, 157 Shape: Twin TBT (check the tech here) Camber: Traditional Ideal Terrain: Freestyle, all-mountain About The Artist Petrovsky & Ramone petrovskyramone.com Petrovsky & Ramone are a mysterious female duo that “travel all over the world, shooting people and places.” Their stark images show the world of contrast we live in.