Settling Into the South: Part Deux

Just a quick Backbone employee update from the land where history lives, Charleston, South Carolina. Dax Kelm has settled into his new Southern digs and is working full steam ahead getting ready to run the trade show gauntlet kicking off with Winter Outdoor Retailer, SIA and ending with ISPO. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by the Bamboo Bottle Company’s Winter OR booth (BR 345) or POC’s SIA booth (1023) and rub it in a little that he and the wife just happened to load up the U-Haul and move to the South during the BIGGEST winter in Jackson Hole history!

Backbone Media Charleston - 125 Spring Street

From his emails and Facebook posts, it seems like he’s fitting in well:

“Penn and Nate, things are going great here in the South. The waves are sick and the locals are very friendly. Here’s a quick vid of some new friends I met in the water today. I’m pretty sure they will invite me to watch the Auburn vs. Oregon game tonight!” – Dax

It’s Hut Trip Season

Here in western CO, we are lucky enough to have a vast network of backcountry huts to ski to for overnight adventures. In the case of the Shrine Mountain Inn where we went at the beginning of the month for a holiday retreat, “backcountry hut” means beautiful log cabin complete with bathtub, sauna, running water, and rustic leather furniture.

We did some skiing:

Niklas Brosnan getting deep.

However, the terrain around Vail pass is pretty flat. This allowed for lots of drinking time.

Kara brought skinned in with her beer belt:


And Nate’s shot-ski was enjoyed by just about everyone. The highlight was when Justin David, aka Ricky Bobby, aka The New Guy called for an “anyone over 40” shot-ski day one on the job.

Evan, Lindsay, JLD, and Laura about to get Aquavined.

Which brings us to the following flow chart. One of our social media clients, Flylow Gear, ran a simple Friday facebook contest asking what everyone’s favorite beer was to carry in for a weekend hut trip. We got 67 responses, which inspired the following chart:

(click image for a close-up view)

East Coast or West Coast, Surf Is Where You Find It

Backbone Media’s Dax Kelm recently made the move from the deep pow stashes of Jackson Hole to the East Coast surfer’s paradise of Folly Beach, South Carolina. Now we aren’t claiming West Coast quality waves all the time, but like Gerry Lopez says, “Surf is where you find it.” Enjoy this new movie trailer from Thomas Brothers Productions about life and surfing in Folly Beach.

Waves In Our Pocket_ Official Trailer from Thomas Brothers Productions on Vimeo.

Influence is Contagious

This is a really nice short film from R+I Creative that documents how creativity driven by the ‘taste makers’ is contagious. From music to entertainment to advertising, influencers are creating awareness and driving reactions.

The film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives who are shaping today’s pop culture. It’s a bit long, but well worth a watch with your Monday morning coffee!

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.



Tips for PR Pros – We Couldn’t Agree More

Recently, one of our good friends, ESPN.com Freeskiing contributor, and Tele Freeskiing World Champion, Megan Michelson, posted some recommendations for PR Pros on her blog. Megan previously worked on staff for Outside magazine and Skiing, so she knows a good pitch from a lemon. Not only does her list provide some comic relief, but it is also very true.

Here is a list of highlights from her post.
2. Don’t start your email talking about the weather, the changing seasons or some other cliché attempt at being conversational. Get straight to the point. If you know the journalist personally, then a personalized note is always welcome, but if we don’t know you, we probably don’t want to make chitchat.

I am so guilty of this one. Sometimes I forget that just because I live in a town where the every move you make depends on the incoming storm systems and snowfall, doesn’t mean that everyone else does. My apologies, Ms. Michelson and everyone else who has ever gotten my weather greetings.

Regarding number 10: Know who you’re pitching – know what kind of readership that magazine targets and adjust your pitch accordingly. If you’re pitching a snowboard to a ski magazine or a $5,000 fur-lined suitcase to a discount travel mag, the editor will assume you’re bad at your job and we’ll be less likely to reach out to you in the future.

Megan, I just want to know where I can get one of these supposed fur-lined suitcases. Send that PR persons info my way. Mama needs a brand new bag.

3. Get to know journalists. Invite us to do stuff. Find out what we like and use that to your advantage.

Also found on Megan’s follow-up blog “Top Dating Tips for PR Professionals.”

15. Think beyond the product. We’re looking for good stories. Interesting people, bright ideas, revolutionary inventions, companies making a difference, controversies, events, breaking news. Give us insight into the brand and the people behind it. Tell us about your client’s most interesting athletes, retailers, designers, janitors, founders. For most journalists, writing about gear or product is something we have to do, but what we really love is telling stories about people.

This one is easy when you work with over 30 brands made up of some of the nicest, funniest, most hard-working, bike-riding, downhill-shredding, adventure-racing, really-fun-to-drink-a-beer-with folks. :-)

Click here to read Megan’s full list.

Ski Here Now

Black Diamond just announced a new web video series coming this winter titled Ski Here Now. The three episodes will be released one each in December, January, and February and feature BD athletes Ptor Spricenieks, Tor Eggeboe, Nicolas Aubert, Martin Webrant, and David Pitschmann skiing in France and Switzerland.

Here is a preview, or as they call it on the internet, webisode #0:

SKI HERE NOW — webisode #0 from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

Not that kind of MEETING

Every year for the past six, Aspen locals, fans, sponsors, athletes, and avid filmmakers present themselves in Aspen for the biggest ski-film premiere event of the year: The Meeting. The idea behind this gathering is simple—create an opportunity for ski and snowboard films to be shown and, well, meet. It truly is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Aspen. As the leaves change color and excitement builds for the upcoming winter season, there is no better time than fall to host the best of the best of ski and snowboard films. Big thanks Aspen/Snowmass for putting together an excellent show and keeping the stoke high throughout the weekend!

This year, the films consisted of;

DAVENPORT MOUNTAINSPORT & GRANITE FILMS
AUSTRALIS: AN ANTARCTIC SKI ODYSSEY

FORUM SNOWBOARDS
F IT

LEVEL 1
EYE TRIP

MATCHSTICK PRODUCTIONS
THE WAY I SEE IT

PIRATE MOVIE PRODUCTION HOOKED

POOR BOYZ PRODUCTIONS
REVOLVER

STAN EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY
SAY MY NAME SKI

STANDARD FILMS
THE STORMING

TGR
JEREMY JONES’ DEEPER, LIGHT THE WICK

TRANSWORLD SNOWBOARDING
IN COLOR

TYLER STABLEFORD
THE FALL LINE

VEECO ENTERTAINMENT
9191

Many of the films had audiences shouting and cheering at the epic powder of Japan, Bobby Brown’s triple flatspin 1260, Jeremy Jones’ insanely gnarly Alaskan spine descents. The stoke for winter was present.

Fans entering the show

Once again the Wheeler Opera House did an excellent job of providing drinks and comfortable seating for everyone to enjoy the shows. Fans of all ages arrived, as did the athletes.

Wheeler stage

Athletes Pep Fujas and Seth Morrison autograph session

Even after the winter films, the fun continued through the night with Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and DJ Muggs playing at the Belly Up.

As technology advances, films change. This year, it was obvious that POV was more popular than ever. Contour HD, a sponsor of The Meeting (High Def helmet cam supplier) was present throughout the event doing giveaways, and most importantly appearing on athletes heads in some of the films.

What stood out this year was Chris Davenport’s new film, Australis. The unique setting of the Antarctic region set this film apart from the rest of the pack.

Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony

Local photographer Tyler Stableford’s film gave a strong performance and interesting tale of 101st Airborne Ranger Heath Calhoun, who lost his legs to a grenade explosion in Iraq. He then took the long road of recovery, finding peace and freedom in the mountains of Aspen then becoming a skier on the US 2010 Paralympic team. Tyler’s outstanding photography and camera work adds to this must see film.

Marking the changing of the leaves and season, The Meeting did an outstanding job of preparing skiers and snowboarders for the upcoming winter. For video coverage, look here.

The Meeting-2010 from AspenSnowmass on Vimeo.

Posted By:
-Aidan Sheahan (Intern Extraordinaire)

Grand Teton Rescue on Video

The Grand is not someplace that you want to get hurt. The vertical rise and rocky terrain make a rescue extremely difficult. Veteran Jackson climbers Michelle Smith and Stephen Koch were headed up the Grand in late August when Michelle took a 30ft fall on the Valhalla Traverse, right above a 2000ft cliff. Michelle shattered her tib fib and sustained contusions to her back and legs.

Thankfully, the Jenny Lake Rangers, a well-known team of veteran rescuers and all around incredible badasses were able to get Michelle out via heli. The entire day and rescue was recorded and here is the final product courtesy of Ungrounded. It is a rare real-time view of what being rescued from high altitude looks and feels like. Thumbs up to Michelle and the rangers for not only incredible attitudes but a safe and successful rescue.

Rescue on Valhalla Traverse from getungrounded on Vimeo.