An interesting video that I stole from Jen Wittman from Outside Magazine.
Ultimate Ski Bum Giveaway
Dear Nate and Penn-
I need to take a Final Cut Pro class so I can learn to shoot, edit and produce a video for uhhh….a client.
Kudos, to Kootenay Mountain Culture publisher Mitchell Scott on his James Bond impersonation in this video. The Powder Highway promotion is a terrific out-of-the box marketing vehicle that effectively utilizes the social web. Those Canucks are wicked smart.
And, Nate and Penn, I’m going to need a three-month sabbatical next winter. Cool?
Did You Know, 4.0
Here is an interesting take on how the various media channels are continuing to blur. Everyday we witness the shift in user behavior towards media consumption, both on and offline. Thanks to the team at the 3rd Annual Media Convergence in NYC.
Race Across the Sky Trailer
I could do without the overused, dramatic baroque music and most people with an interest in cycling already know, “WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?” at this year’s Leadville Trail 100 MTB race (spoiler alert: Lance wins). That aside, this trailer for ‘Race Across the Sky’ is pretty sweet. The HD footage is spectacular–especially the helicopter shots–and movies about mountain bike racing are few and far between, so yeah, I’m excited to see this.
S_UP_’D Waterfall
A little while back, I posted how my buddy Hobie has been pushing the limits of Stand Up Paddleboarding, logging first descents on whitewater runs like the Numbers and Gore Canyon.
Now it seems our friend and perennial ‘guy in the van down by the river’ Dan Gavere, has one-upped him. Behold the SUP waterfall 1st D.
The Goat draws a pretty funny analogy between SUP’ing and Rollerblading. That’s a little harsh, but the jury is still out for me on whether SUP on whitewater is cool, or more like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Regardless, good on you Dan. I’m impressed.
Advertising Dead? Think Again…
Lots of talk these days about print advertising being dead and how much people hate banner ads online.
Here at Backbone, we see this common wisdom as having some truth but more so mixed with a healthy dose of opportunity.
What do I mean by that? Well, print advertising IS changing, but there is still great value in leveraging campaigns across multiple media platforms. Rather than drone on about theory here – let’s use some examples.
First example is Black Diamond helping every surfer who is numb to banner ads and skyscrapers with their new creatives. Confronted with how to draw attention to their efforts online BD simply looked at who they are and what they do best – which is climb and ski. (Okay, they design and build some cool stuff too).
[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”http://theverteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/728x90_renan_climbing.swf” width=”500″ height=”150″ targetclass=”flashmovie”]
[/kml_flashembed]
If you find yourself hitting the refresh button to watch this guy whip or wanting to draw landscapes of a crag like Renan O. then yes, BD wins.
Cloudveil is running a new print campaign for F09. Cleverly designed by tda in Boulder, the print ads tie into online promos and leverage social media to not just sell product but the mountain culture Cloudveil is all about.
Add partnerships with 1-800-flowers, Zazzle and Kool Dog Cafe and what was dead is now very much alive and kicking.
Man, those guys at tda are smart – though they can be a bit edgy.
Pole Dancing Bear
Your hard earned tax dollars are being spent to install cameras in the woods, so we can see what bears do when no one is watching.
Like pole dancing.
“Signatures” Inspires Snowflakes in August
Our friend Nick Waggoner from Sweetgrass Productions spent the past year in Japan with his crew filming their new movie, Signatures, a “board, no board, ski and drop-knee” film featuring locals of Hokkaido as well as our local boys, Nick DeVore and Will Cardamone. The Roaring Fork Valley got a taste of Sweetgrass’s amazing and soulful filming during the 5Point Film Festival when we got a sneak peak. Now, the official trailer is out, and we’re pumped to share it. If Signatures is showing in your area this fall, make sure to check it out. World Premiere is at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen on September 19th.
For Nate and Lindsay on their Hipster Fixies
Summertime Lunch Shenanigans
The two Backbone offices are in prime locations for setting up such stupendously insane stunts as this.
Thanks to TodaysBigThing.com for giving us great ideas like this (mostly so I don’t have to try to keep up with Mavis on a bike everyday at lunch).