– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Backcountry Skiing News Roundup — Two Wheel Slalom and Chile Dry

by Lou Dawson July 2, 2015
written by Lou Dawson July 2, 2015

I’ve always wanted to do it but did not realize they call it skiing. Now I understand my unholy attraction to getting a car up on two wheels and slaloming around. Someday I’ll actually do it? Turns out stunt drivers have been doing it since the early days of automotive fun. Naturally, drivers try to set “skiing” records, like the world’s fastest mile on two wheels out of four. Amusing, really. Check it out. Last time I had a “car” up on two wheels? Rock crawling, not skiing.

We all know about how dry California is. We’ve got friends and family there and it sounds radical, though life goes on. A somewhat similar situation seems to have hit much of the skiing in Chile and Argentina. Photos of Valle Nevado from just a few days ago show brown instead of white. It should be white — whether you’re heading there for ski touring or chair lift riding. More here. They’re getting some snow, more or less, but as the ski season progresses without a base build, chances for quality riding go down exponentially as you need bigger and more frequent storms to make up the deficit. Overall, sounds like this might not be the season to ski SA, though things could be different if you go WAY south as the weather in places such as Patagonia is a whole different animal.

Apparently Novak Djokovic and Bode Miller have something in common. Turns out mega tennis star Djokovic comes from a skiing background. Analysts attribute his balance and poise while “sliding” on the court to his years growing up on skis. This article in the WSJ gives a complete take on the skiing, as well as Djokovic’s somewhat unique moves. Interesting, if not inspirational (and one does wonder how one acquires such strong ligaments).


Remember Vanessa-Mae, the girl who raced Olympic slalom at Sochi and came in last, nearly a minute slower than the winner, and was accused of qualifying for the Olympics by running rigged ski races beforehand? I still think she was out of her league, but her four-year ski competition ban was recently overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (whatever that is). I’ll admit to wondering where her career as a World Cup ski racer will go from here. She’s not a bad skier — most of us would probably fall at the first slalom gate then slide down the rest of the icy course to meet an ambulance ride at the bottom. Truly, in every race someone has to be last… Vanessa’s selling about 10 million albums of violin music probably makes financing her coaching a non issue. Story here.

The Mae wiki is interesting as well.

Back here at WildSnow HQ? I’ve converted from carpenter to drywall finisher, looking forward to being an electrician. Soon after that I’ll move into the new diggs! Need about ten more days. The ski related projects are piling up. I’ve got some ideas for new testing rigs, boot mods, and more. The new workshop will be key.


To repair uneven concrete floor we opted to install a flat wood floor above the concrete. These 2x4 sleepers will be leveled with a laser level and supported by multiple shim stacks.

To repair uneven concrete floor we opted to install a flat wood floor above the concrete. These 2×4 sleepers will be leveled with a laser level and supported by multiple shim stacks (with a beefed up section that’ll support an automobile). Turned out this was the least costly and quickest way to flatten the floor.

Lou Dawson

WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.

www.loudawson.com
0
Email
previous post
Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth – A Book for the Budding Snow Scientist
next post
Happy 4th of July 2015 — Freedom to Ski Tour!

Trip Reports

  • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

    April 23, 2024
  • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

    December 9, 2022

Avalanche Department

  • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

    March 10, 2024

Tips & Tricks

  • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

    January 6, 2023
  • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

    December 5, 2022
  • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

    November 15, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
  • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
  • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
  • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Terms of Service
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Polar Star Inn Hut Report: Mellow...

March 7, 2025

Best Touring Packs for Guides and...

March 3, 2025

Moment Wildcat 108 Tour Long-Term Ski...

February 10, 2025