The father of freestyle skiing passes away, epic lines in Alaska, 650 Santas on one wave, and more sports and outdoor news you missed this week.
On the Radar
Reads and New Gear
‘Fade to Winter’ Is All the Big Mountain Skiing You Need
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFT2EJ53Zf4?rel=0&showinfo=0&rel=0&w=650?h=366]
Matchstick Productions released an outtake from their new film Fade to Winter, starring James Heim, who rips big lines in Alaska and Japan.
Stein Eriksen Passes Away
Stein Eriksen, one of the fathers of modern skiing, has passed away at 88. Besides winning Olympic medals and world championships in slalom and directing Deer Valley for decades, he essentially created the discipline of freestyle skiing, and may have been the first skier to backflip. Unofficial Networks has a full obituary.
If You Desperately Need to Buy 15 Ski Resorts, You’re In Luck
Real estate trust CNL Lifestyle Properties is selling 15 ski resorts, including icons such as Crested Butte in Colorado and Sugarloaf in Maine. If the mountains are sold as a group it would be the largest resort deal in ski history. ABC News has more.
Northeast Finally Sees Winter
The NOAA has announced a winter weather advisory for Tuesday for Vermont, New York and Maine that’s set to last through the week. Eastern Vermont is expected to have the most snow by the time the storm clears. Let’s hope it sticks and provides a good base for skiers.
European Snow Conditions Bode Poorly for Upcoming Ski Competitions
Low snow totals in Central and Eastern Europe have meant that some World Cup events slated for early January have been canceled or postponed. Snow Industry News has more.
Over 500 Santas Surfed on Christmas For Charity
Hundreds of Santas hit the waves in Florida to raise money for local charity Grind for Life on Christmas, as well as the Surf Museum. It’s the best video of hundreds of surfing Santas you’ll see all week and possibly all year.
Ross Clarke-Jones Surfs Huge Wave In Nazare
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kcTehLB5NY?rel=0&showinfo=0&rel=0&w=650?h=366]
The Inertia has incredible footage of Ross Clarke-Jones surfing a particularly impressive holiday swell in the iconic Portuguese surf town of Nazare.
Reviews and Buying Guides
Advice from the Crew
Best Down Jackets of Winter 2016
From lifestyle wear to mountaineering layers, here’s what to wear that’s made of bird. Read the Story
Looking Ahead
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