5Point Film Festival Panel Discussions Hope to Keep the Conversation Going

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The 5Point Film Festival is more than just your standard run of the mill film screening. Part of the vision of the festival is yearning to be apart of something bigger – either by pushing our own limits or journeying beyond ourselves to affect the greater good. The two panel discussions presented at the 2nd Annual 5Point in May aim to do just that.

The first panel is entitled “Celebrating Our Common Spirit: Turning Desire into Mission,” and features Backbone friends Mark Godley (of Big City Mountaineers), Brad Ludden (of First Descents) and Conrad Anker (of super cool professional mountaineer). Other guests are Jenni Lowe-Anker, Geoff Tabin and Kevin Hand.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2USAZ_P02U]

The second panel is on Mother’s Day and is entitled “A Women’s Wilderness: Forging Paths and Pushing Limits.” Tara Sheahan, wife of Patagonia CEO Casey Sheahan, will moderate this fantastic group of women that have reached beyond supposed ‘boundaries’ and pushed themselves through various challenges. We’re proud to announce Sari Anderson, wife of Backbone’s Ian Anderson, is one of the panelists as a quick break from being super mom, über-athlete and all around amazing…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UDpWRtTvU]

Posted in: Client News, Videos

Cool Material Covers Our Gear Wishes in One Post

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I am truly floored, one post = something for everyone on the Backbone team:

http://coolmaterial.com/cool-list/24-ridiculously-expensive-everyday-items/

Jess D, to help hone her disk golf game:

Luxury Frisbees – $305

Jess Smith, she does live in Aspen:

Gold Backpack – $1650

Sue, fitting for the woman who knows a lot about knives:

Nesmuk Diamond Studded Knife – $39600

For our fishing obsessed Kara:

Million Dollar Fishing Lure

Jld for when he’s rockin’ on the dance floor:

Radioactive Demin Metallic Jeans – $600

Me, proponent of flare in every aspect of one’s life:

Renova Colored Toilet Paper – $20

Greg, for the 2 block commute:

Crocodile Skin Umbrella – $50000

Lindsay, he has a golden retriever:

Tiffany Tennis Ball Can – $1500

Dax, perfect for the Gene Simmons obsessed fan:

Diamond Studded Hoodie – $10000

Ian, time to one up those plush Skull Candy cans he’s always donning:

Gold and Diamond Earbuds – $5175

Sarah our pimp wordsmith:

Gokukawa Leather Keyboard – $603

Nate our own Jerry McGuire:

Diamond Encrusted Bluetooth Headset – $50000

Penn, flashy, yet practical:

Louis Vuitton Skateboard – $8,250

*Len (technically a client, but he shares office space) the super light and fast obsessed:

Carbon Fiber Toilet Seat – $249

Posted in: Uncategorized

Tough Job, But…

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Last week Rob Bondurant and Jake Martin from Patagonia’s Marketing Department spent a few days in Carbondale testing new Polartec fabrics and planning cooperative marketing efforts for 2010 and beyond.

It happened to snow 18 inches in Highlands bowl overnight and we hiked the next day in bluebird conditions.

It’s a tough job, but someone has do it…the raspberry pants and orange jacket combo aren’t the usual – they are proto fabircs and we didn’t have a color choice…

Penn, Nate, Jake, Rob on top of Highlands Bowl

Penn, Nate, Jake, Rob on top of Highlands Bowl

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Trains, Trams and T-Bars

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Location – Reichenbach and Davos, Switzerland

Team North America – Howie, Schnitz, Ogle, Adam, and 2mas.

Team Europe – Thomas, Davos Dan, Erlend, Audun and Juju.

Thomas Hodel ripping it

Thomas Hodel ripping it

Goal – We have come to Switzerland to make good Freeride, visit Fritschi, Black Diamond Europe, ski and have editors talk about skis, boots, bindings, trends and how the markets differ globally.

Highlights: Day 1 – Tour of the Fritschi factory with Stefan Burki and Stefan Ibach. Introduction of the new Diamir Eagle AT Binding. Touring on BD Voodoo and Guru skis with the new Diamir Eagle to the summit of the Gehrihorn. Trad fondue dinner.

Reflections at Fritschi: Tracks and the Gehrihorn

Reflections at Fritschi: Tracks and the Gehrihorn

The New Fritschi Diamir Eagle

The New Fritschi Diamir Eagle

Day 2 – Train to Davos. Ski off piste pow on new BD Megawatt and Justice skis in Pischa. We make good Freeride yah!

Day 3 – More ski testing on Rinerhorn and Jakobshorn. Davos Dan educates us to an emerging Freeride dialect that is similar to Swiss German. “Dude, he dry docked it and went Peggy Fleming-ing.” We witness the new school Howie-hawk and visit the legendary Wallhalla Telemark Freeride Bar.

Tram up Jaakobshorn

Tram up Jaakobshorn

Day 4 – A bit snowy and flat light for the absinthe-minded. We hit Parsenn on the all-mountain BD Zealot, Verdict and Kilowatt skis. Also visit the SLF – the Davos based Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research.

Tee-ing it up in Parsenne

Tee-ing it up in Parsenne

Day 5 – Visit Black Diamond Europe and talk trends with Christian Jaeggi. Be very wary of the Baseler Festival.

The Baseler - a century old Swiss tradition

The Baseler - a century old Swiss tradition

All travel by public transport – complements to Michelle Krantz at Swiss Board of Tourism. Thanks to Cloudveil and POC and all for their hard work and planning.

Oh yeah, it was nothing like this at all….

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceyQnYMP2EY]

Posted in: Musings, Skiing, Trip Reports, Uncategorized \ Tagged: