by Kevin Gawenus

Aspen, CO - An odd sounding whirrrrr goes past, and I snap my head around to look. I had just repositioned myself on the race course and was still fiddling with my camera, when out of the corner of my eye I see an athlete whip past me on his way down the course. I think to myself that these guys are really flying and taking risks, but then again, what did I expect? These are some of the fastest skiers you'll ever meet. And most of them here at the World Cup Finals in Aspen will soon head to the Olympics.

by Marc Guido

Aspen, CO - Ski and snowboard filmgoers will gather this weekend in Aspen's Wheeler Opera House and at the IF3 International Freeski Film Festival in Montreal to witness Signatures, the sophomore effort from Colorado-based filmmakers Sweetgrass Productions that brings a new artistic flair to the ski film genre.

Story and photos by Marc Guido

Eden, UT - The serenity of an August sunrise is suddenly punctuated by the roar from two 12 million BTU propane burners. The wicker basket rises imperceptibly from the ground, and we're gently flying.

Denver, CO - SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is renaming its 2010 SnowSports Trade Show, scheduled for January 28-31 at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, to the SIA Snow Show. After 37 years of hosting their annual trade show in Las Vegas, SIA's move to Denver will put the snow back in snow sports.

Liberec, Czech Republic - The USA suffered a blow in the nordic combined team event at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships Thursday when Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) was disqualified for not having a starting bib. In a surprise, Japan won the event in a photo finish over Germany, as Norway faded in the final 500 meters.

Aspen, CO - Morning snow gave way to some light rain showers in Aspen Saturday afternoon, making for a slow and slushy Snowboarder X track. Conditions didn't seem to affect Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT), however, as she won her second consecutive gold medal in the event at Winter X Games 13.

Copper Mountain, CO - The 2009 U.S. Snowboarding Revolution Tour kicked off Wednesday with the U.S. Snowboarding rookies picking up five of the six podium spots with Matt Ladley (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Lizzy Beerman (Weston, VT) taking the wins.

Story and photos by Marc Guido

Snowbird, UT - Alpenglow bathed the Wasatch Mountains in blended hues of pink and orange outside the floor-to-ceiling picture windows lining the top floor of Snowbird's Cliff Lodge. Inside the meeting room, a couple of dozen attendees listened intently to the words of Zen Master Genpo Roshi as ski diva Kristen Ulmer quietly leaned back in her stiff metal and plastic chair. "So," she whispered, "what do you think?"

I paused for a moment before whispering in reply, "I think that this will be the most difficult piece I've ever had to write."