New Zealand? Possibly

Argentina? Maybe

How about Chile?

Strike three. None of the above.

Kästle athlete, Chris Davenport has spent the last week climbing and skiing some of Antarctica’s super steep couloirs. Surrounded by breathtaking icebergs, thousands of Gentoo penguins, Weddell seals, and Humpback whales Chris has had quite the adventure.

Click on the links below and read more about Dav’s time in Antarctica

Red Bull Skiing

Chris Davenport’s Website

From Outside Online
For the past few years, Mountain Khakis, the upstart pant maker out of Jackson, Wyoming, had the market cornered on tough-but-casual pants. In case you’re not familiar, they’re basically a cross between Gap chinos and Carhartts. Stylish and low-key enough to wear to the office or bar, but tough enough, thanks to their durable ten-ounce cotton canvas material and things like triple-stitching and reinforced rear cuffs, to stand up to weekends of abuse outdoors. (Note: If you bought a pair when they first came out, like I did, the legs were tapered a bit, not nearly as bad as your old Gramiccis, but not quite wide enough to fit over Sorels…in any event, they’ve since relaxed the cut a bit.)

And now they’ve got some competition with Brooklyn, NY¬based Oxen Workwear, Inc.

Whereas Mountain Khakis’ reinforcements are more subtle, making them look more like Gap chinos than Carhartts, Oxen Workwear’s Double Knee Carpenter Pants ($74), with their double panels on the knees, are more akin to Carhartts. But unlike Carhartts, Oxen’s pants aren’t as stiff as cardboard when you buy them and they have a looser cut than the originals.

Now hold on a minute. Perhaps you’re thinking: Gimme a break, working-man pants marketed at hipsters, wanna-be carpenters, and urban-dwelling, slack-jawed, iPhone-owning posers? These represent everything that’s wrong with America! Well, if that’s the case, you’re probably being a bit melodramatic. They’re just pants, after all, and, if you’re like me, and don’t have any hang-ups about your manhood or profession, you’d probably get a lot of use out of sturdy pants like these. (Second note: As with Mountain Khakis, they also have a few other styles, including jeans.) We just got a few pairs sent here in the office. And while they fit great, if a bit too low on the hips on the scrawnier guys here, we haven’t yet had enough time to test their durability. Look for a pants smackdown in the future—in which we put a bunch of pants head-to-head in a durability test—but our initial impression is two thumbs up. —Sam Moulton

Len and Lance on the Podium

Our boy Len Zanni from Big Agnes/Honey Stinger had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race with Lance Armstrong this summer at the 12 Hours of Snowmass race. Len is a typical Roaring Fork Valley sandbagger, so you’d never know it from talking to him that he’s one of the best cyclists in the Valley, if not the state. At the Snowmass race, Len held his own, riding laps just a couple minutes slower than Lance and helping their three-man team to victory.

As winter sets in here and the snow starts to fly, Len and I have been trying to squeeze in as much riding as we can, unlike the rest of the Backbone crew, which is solely focused on skiing now. (click photo on right to see our friend B-town ripping some early-season powder grass during a mission in nearby Marble with JLD last weekend).

Len and I were plotting our winter training yesterday, talking about getting in one road ride per week, with lots of gym time and skate skiing to maintain fitness. Then I stumbled across Lance’s winter training plan as explained by Chris Carmichael on Bicycling.com.

Lance’s Training Outline
2 x per week 5-5.5 hrs endurance pace
2 x per week 3-4 hrs endurance pace with 2 x 20minutes at just below LT pace (380-400watts)
1 x per week Tuesday-night ride
1 x per week 3-4 hrs with 2 sets of 4 x 20seconds max effort x 40 seconds recovery
1 x per week–day of for travel, rest.

Uhh yeah, Len, you’re going to have a tough time keeping up with Lance next year.

Colorado-based Electronic Systems Consultants and InPower Systems are pleased to announce the launch of Smarterbuilding.com.

Launching today, Smarterbuilding.com will connect professional architects, designers and alternative energy experts with enthusiasts and consumers to discuss progressive building projects and ideas that push the boundaries of innovation in technology, materials and energy.

The blog will be an open forum where experts and consumers can contribute ideas, project portfolios or innovation with the building community. Electronic Systems Consultants Principal Anson Fogel, and InPower Systems Principal Jim Raras will lead topics ranging from the latest technologies for simplifying home control to alternative energy solutions and modern design. Smarter Building will also highlight weekly, local and national studios leading the way to more environmental friendly architecture and design in the United States.

“We created this blog with InPower so that local Roaring Fork Valley residents and professionals could share insight on local and national green design, technology and energy issues,” said Anson Fogel.

“I took this photo of Chris Davenport in Portillo, Chile. We were trying to capture a creative angle while skiing a classic run called the “Super C Couloir.” I mounted my Nikon F5 to my chest with a 16mm fisheye and chased Chris down the run while I triggered the camera with a wire cable in my mouth,” states Christian Pondella.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Christian Pondella, here is the beta. Pondella is an adventure sports photographer who has worked with a wide variety of companies as well as athletes, such as Kästle athlete, Chris Davenport. In a recent interview by Crash Taylor, Pondella gives the reader a glimpse into his life and most recently his adventure to the Alps with Chris Davenport.

Click on the image above to view more of Pondella photographs and his interview with Crash Taylor.

It started innocently enough - a bowl of candy and Sue in a Witch outfit. Then Mavis wanted to borrow my West Highland Terrier, Skadi, to be Toto as an accessory to her Dorothy outfit.

Just another day at the office

Next thing you know JLD is in a baby blue POC speed suit, with a Julia custom helmet and BD Megawatt skis. Things have settled down now that JLD aka Eddie the Eagle has quit his practice jumps off the sofa.

JLD hard at work

Back to work at Backbone - Happy Halloween.

WE ALL NEED ONE OF THESE…

OR ONE OF THESE…

We recently signed on to work with Oxen Workwear. Based in Brooklyn, NY they are an aspiring new brand that crosses traditional work style pants with a more new school artisan approach.

Rather than us do the talking, we’ll let one of their consumers - with this excerpt from a recent email that includes horses and near tragedy.

I am trying to contact whomever it may concern to brag about Oxen workwear. I had a pair of the double knee carpenter khaki jeans. I purchased them for work and found them to be comfortable enough to wear riding horses and around the house because they fit perfectly.

I was on a horse ride one evening when tragedy struck. My horse reared up and fell on top of me. I couldn’t move, so the paramedics were called. When they got there, they unfortunately had to cut off the pants.

I write to tell you this story because the paramedics found their scissors to be inadequate for my workwear pants. In fact, I quote the EMS worker, “Where can I get a pair of these pants? These are the toughest pants I have ever tried cutting off, even tougher than Carhartt’s.” I told them I got them in North Carolina but wasn’t sure where I could get them near Rogersville, TN. While I am very disappointed I lost my favorite pair of not only work pants but everyday pants as well, I thought Oxen would love to hear my story. I would love to get a new pair of double knee khaki workwear pants as soon as possible, but I would also like to try the regular jeans. I would love to hear back from you regarding this story.

Sincerely,
Benjamin Stephens

I just got back from a great lunch time mountain bike ride on Red Hill, which was absolutely nothing like the Red Bull Rampage.

It’s amazing how much the sport of mountain biking has evolved in the past few years. The Rampage is the mutant love child of an X-Games BMX freestyle comp and full-on downhill mountain bike racing.

About the only thing my mountain biking shares in common with this is we’re both on two inflated rubbber tires. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before we see BASE-biking, Shane McConkey style.

According to Globorati today, Great Canadian Heli-Skiing has announced a $100,000 winter-long pass that gives holders unrestricted access to British Columbia’s Interior Mountains. The Platinum Heli-Skiing Season Pass, valid December 26 through March 28, includes unlimited daily helicopter rides to the range’s most secluded powder and a personal powder concierge to keep you up to date on current conditions.

Ummm…. I think I speak for everyone at Backbone when I say, Yeaaaah, I want one.