It’s almost that time of year. Tiny hints of autumn are already in the air. With cooler weather on its way, so is the (hopeful) promise of a strong snow season. I say this with great enthusiasm;  I’m a snowboarder. Winter sports are my favorite, and nothing complements my yoga practice more than strapping into bindings and cutting through moguls like butter. A moving meditation in and of itself, snowboarding is a great activity for building patience and resilience. It goes hand-in-hand with yoga in terms of physical endurance. If you’ve already established a strong yoga practice,... Read More

For some couples, it can be frustrating to go out into a wintery landscape and work together as a team.  I for one say it’s important to get outside as a couple, and learning how to ski or snowboard or even teaching your significant other how can really help build a relationship. Now granted you need to be patient, and learning how to do either can be a slightly steep learning curve but once you are both proficient it can become a great bonding experience. Here are some of the reasons why.  1. Alone time Even if you live with your significant other it is often hard to actually find time to... Read More

Meet Shiro! Shiro is a digital marketing manager at the local marketing firm, Mondo Marketing and part-time adventurer. Mondo Marketing is a marketing firm in Boulder that focuses on marketing Japanese products from companies with an emphasis on outdoor gear and apparel.  For example, their major account, C3Fit, is a subsidiary of the company Goldwin, who is the distributor of North Face and Helly Hanson in Japan. Shiro first moved to Boulder in the fall of 2010 from the Seattle, WA area, initially to start school at CU Boulder.  While working part-time at the local Japanese restaurant Amu... Read More

Alright, you’ve decided that you love snowboarding or skiing enough to invest in your own gear. Here’s a brief guide to what you need. Boots Set aside the majority of your budget for high quality, comfortable boots. This is the most important feature of your set up, and often overlooked. Go to a few different shops, get fitted, and make sure you’re getting the best possible pair. They’ll typically last between 100-150 days of riding, which is much longer than it sounds. Snowboards & Skis The guidelines for beginners are generally the same regardless of gender. For snowboards, you’ll... Read More

In part one of this post, which you can read here, I addressed why I lived a very regimented life for nearly two decades (and, yes, I’m not so naïve to think that I don’t still possess this quality – I simply know that I now manifest it in a way that feels healthy to who I am as a person). The second part of this post, which you are obviously reading at this very moment, addresses more specifically HOW I got here. To buy an Airstream and commit to a full-time nomadic lifestyle, more or less, was not an overnight decision. In fact, I started looking at them a year before actually biting the... Read More

If you grew up in the 90’s and have never played out even a single moment of your life to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” lyrics, I’m going to question the inner workings of your childhood. It was (or is) a rite of passage, and aside from starring in every one of my basketball warm-up mix tapes from the year it was released in 2002 until I graduated college in 2006, I can still hear the words playing in my ears through a variety of noteworthy life experiences. Spoiler alert. I’m from Basalt, Colorado. Not to be confused with 8 Mile. But, here, while cruising up Kensho chair in Breckenridge... Read More

Learning to ski as an adult can be, well, awkward. It’s embarrassing riding the lift to the intermediate slopes alongside a 5 year old who can get off and NOT fall on their face. And as we grow out of our overconfident twenties, the fear of injury becomes more prominent. So, is it worth it to take up the sport so late? I spoke with Kevin Foote, who has been a ski instructor with Vail for the last 5 years (he is off this season), about how to begin.     Take A Group Lesson  Okay, maybe you don’t want to spend the money, but think of it this way: one full day of group lessons will... Read More

Meet Michael! Amidst the scent of sawdust and lacquer, this former Floridian works on a custom piece of furniture which is how he makes his living these days. When he’s not woodworking, Michael spends his time enjoying all that Boulder has to offer from our restaurants to the endless outdoor activities. He is an avid snowboarder, artist and musician, at one time playing lead guitar in his own band. In his spare time, one of Michael’s favorite ways to kick back is visiting the local breweries to sample the bountiful craft beers that Boulder has to offer. When asked what he loves most about... Read More

Meet Hallie! This freshman chemistry student is originally from Illinois, but was raised most of her life in Parker Colorado. Her favorite activities include snowboarding and hiking. She loves that she is close to the mountains, and the “crazy” weather Colorado has. The quick changing climate “keeps things exciting” Hallie remarked. In her free time, Hallie loves star gazing through her own telescope. “The Cygnus constellation is my favorite. It’s one of the easiest to find, plus its a swan.” Thanks for sharing Hallie!  Read More

Most of the ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains have environmental protection policies because the mountains they are built upon are considered National Parks. These ski resorts are required to include a certain level of eco-friendliness, commitment to environmental stewardship, and commitment to environmental restoration. Resorts are often a part of the community they are in, especially in a ski town.  Resorts offer many jobs and include shops, restaurants and residences.  Because the resorts are at the heart of the local economies in these ski towns, when a ski resort uses less energy from... Read More