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Freeskier Takes the Backbone Kickball Classic Championship UPDATE: Now with Video!
Let’s get two things straight.
Sarah talking pre-finals smack
The J Team - J-LD, J-Lantz & J-Smith
One, the 3rd annual Backbone Fall Kickball Classic is a low key affair. Yes, we have pizza, Red Vines, beer and of course a 3-foot tall Champions of the Kickball World green trophy. And not just any beer either, this year we were blessed with a special barrel of New Belgium Lips of Faith – Le Fleur Misseur. But the scene is a low key affair, with writers, friends and their kids drifting in and out of the fray.
Backpacker's Dennis Lewon & his pitching coach
Jonathan G and Mike May showing off their facial hair...
The more important point is the second – with a trophy on the line – the bragging rights are serious. So don’t let the low key pretense fool you. People are out for blood.
These guys should be behind bars - CJ, Jason and Metzler
This year, Freeskier Mag came up big, routing Skiing Mag in the first round then easily dispensing with the hosts – Backbone in the finals. Clad in fake mustaches, Backbone reached the finals by taking out the Freelancer/Freeloader/Backpacker team in round 1.
Skiing's Jake Bogoch hands over the hardware to the victors at Freeskier!
Overall, fun was had. Thanks to 50+ who atteneded. Congrats to team Freeskier and lookout for next year!!!!
20 Tweetable Truths About Magazines
An interesting video that I stole from Jen Wittman from Outside Magazine.
From Climate Change to Google Wave
Here are two things worth a quick watch. The first is a relevant commentary on climate change and how it may impact our future.
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The second is a great take on what potential Google Wave may hold as a communication tool. Anyone care to guess how long ago email was invented?
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Let’s Raise our Voice!
This week I saw a provocative film chronicling the the disturbing proliferation of natural gas drilling in Western Colorado. While I am an advocate of finding ways to wean ourselves off foreign oil dependence, I do know we have to hold oil and gas companies to a higher standard when they come to our communities. Currently most laws and regulations favor the gas companies and it is incumbent upon individuals to join together in effort to raise our voice and be heard. Carbondale, CO is about to have major fight on our hands and we need to be ready when the natural gas leases in Thompson Creek are activated. The current methods and tactics used to extract natural gas are not acceptable by any standard. Technology exists for safer mineral extraction and gas companies need to comply as well as invest in future technologies. Until we hold them to a higher standard, they will continue their unmitigated process. There are success stories in which strong coalitions were formed, baseline standards for air and water quality were established and local and national politicians were informed. The film Split Estate is a fantastic documentary about the realities of this difficult situation.
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Skier caught in avalanche lands on CNN
What makes online content go viral?
While there is interesting discussion on engagement and new terminology created everyday on the ever changing front of social play – what makes virality happen remains a bit of a dark science. There are emerging agencies that can help with virality, but nothing works as well as great unadulterated content that is compelling and somewhat “sticky.”
Yes, you can crowd source to build interaction and explore viral loops – but this quick case study supports the unpredictability of it all. Last winter, Black Diamond received helmet cam raw footage of a skier in AK getting caught in an avalanche and buried while wearing an AvaLung. The skier is quickly rescued by his group – but the footage is powerful and when BD released it on their site, they saw solid traffic.
Scroll forward to two weeks ago, the same raw footage video went viral on vimeo – and the reach has been staggering. While the raw footage is longer to view, it lacks any attachment to commercialism. But why has the now dated, raw video propagated so much more extensively than the initial clean version unclear. In the last week alone we had calls from major networks news and leading talk shows. Either way this is likely the first documented case of a skier getting caught in a slide in AK and landing on the cnn.com homepage…
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Arone from the Rhino Stampede throws a strike during a North Hollywood playoff game.
Kickball hittin’ the big time
After 3 years of practice in the rookie leagues, Backbone will be ready to take our kickball team to the big leagues and join WAKA (World Adult Kickball Association).
Kickball has officially gone big time with tournaments all over the country and the season culmination tournament (Founders Cup XII) in Vegas this Columbus Day weekend.
Nathan Wauk / WAKA
So bring it on. We’re ready.
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Maybe one day, Dax will fulfill his lifelong dream of playing with his favorite band, The Jonas Brothers.