A Near-fatal Avalanche on the Grand Mesa Thunderbird Couloir

by Seth Anderson

Grand Mesa, CO - It might have been the only chance in decades to ski the Grand Mesa Thunderbird, my life-long passion which almost no one else seemed to share. I'd end up skiing the couloir face first, sans skis and wrapped in an avalanche.

By Shayna Finck

Warren, VT - When Dave Frendel entered both he and his son, Myles, in this year's Sugarbush Spring Mogul Bash, the 12th annual 250-meter mogul race down a ski trail called The Cliffs, it wasn't so they could both take first place in their respective categories. That was an unexpected bonus. It was so a father, a former pro mogul skier and diehard enthusiast, could show his son, an emerging young talent, how things used to be done.

by James Michaud

Stratton Mountain, VT - Everyone has their reasons for skiing or snowboarding.

Some want nothing more than to carve perfect c-turns down a groomed trail, while others dream of floating through deep, untracked powder. There are those who think of nothing other than zipper lining moguls or straight lining steep pitches. Many spend entire days in the park riding rails, table tops, and half pipes. Parents look forward to reconnecting with their kids without having to compete with the TV or internet. I know a few people who make a couple quick runs and then go to the resort parking lot and party for the rest of the day. Fair enough.

But no matter which of the above lures people to a lift-served mountain, the common denominator among all of them is the concept of "escape." It's all about getting away from whatever ails you: crowded cities, faceless suburbs, mind-numbing 9-to-5 jobs, stressful commutes, inconsiderate husbands, irate wives, the shackles of gravity, and so on. Escaping into a snow-covered landscape surrounded by crisp, unpolluted mountain air makes it all go away, if only for a few hours. That's why we do it.

New York, NY - Downhill skiing continues to be one of America's favorite winter pastimes, attracting nearly 20 million participants to the snowy slopes each year. Snowboarding is gaining popularity too, as recent reports found more than eight million Americans participate in the sport each year. Yet, along with the excitement of a day on the slopes, alpine skiers and snowboarders face numerous health risks associated with these activities, which are considered among the most physically demanding of all sports.

Salt Lake City, UT - Each year, avalanches claim more than 150 lives worldwide, and many more are caught in the "White Death" but survive. In recent years, these numbers have been increasing due to the boom in outdoor recreation. Skiers, snowboarders, hikers and other backcountry recreationists are drawn to the mountains, where they can potentially trigger avalanches as they cross hazardous terrain. Most of these avalanches occur from December to April, and it is imperative that these outdoor enthusiasts to be equipped with the proper gear to help increase the odds of surviving an avalanche, and the knowledge of how to use it.

Salt Lake City, UT - It may be hard to think about frostbite and hypothermia as summer chugs onward, but winter isn't far off and brushig up now on how to deal with hypothermia and frostbite could make all the difference once the snow starts flying.

Salt Lake City, UT - Snow has been falling across North America, and although slopes are opening from east to west it's not too late to get in shape for skiing or riding. Being prepared for skiing and snowboarding — physically and mentally — can make the difference between a good season and a great one. It’s time for those planning to join the millions who enjoy skiing and boarding every season to start getting ready for a healthy and fun 200708. Before you start sliding, here are a few tips to help you prepare for a great experience.

by Marc Guido

Tooele, UT - Phil and Steve Mahre’s World Cup ski racing career ended in 1984, following gold for Phil and silver for Steve in slalom at the XIV Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo and Phil’s third straight Overall World Cup Championship. For ski racing’s famed Mahre twins, however, the lure of speed proved too much to ignore. On Friday afternoon, the siblings could be found speeding around the dusty and wind-swept western Utah desert in relative anonymity at Miller Motorsports Park in their Ford Mustang GT race car at the season’s final stop of the 2007 Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series.