WildSnow “Best” Award Nominations for 2006/2007
Everyone, please submit your nominations for best of 2006/2007. Leave your nominations as comments on this post, I’ll keep a file open, then we’ll come up with awards this coming fall when the gear shopping season begins. That way folks looking for the best stuff will have our awards and ideas for reference. Anything goes: best chapstick; best socks; best boots; best nosehair trimmer…
We could use some ideas for categories as well. For example, we’re thinking of dividing the ski awards into categories such as “Best Lightweight Ski,” “Best Rando Race Ski,” “Best Shralping Gun,” etc.
Don’t forget budget skiing ideas, such as “Best Budget Long Underwear,” or “Best Budget Thermos (busted, shopping at evil Wal-Mart again?),” since I plan on resurrecting OneK Joe.
Automotive too, as in “Best Trailhead Approach Vehicle (TAV).”
We’d also like to do a few awards that pander to individual companies. For example, “Best Cloudveil Jacket.”
Let’s remember mother nature as well, and come up with a “Best Powder Season of 2006/2007.”
We’ve of course got our ideas for a few awards but want to open this up to you all.
This is a morning speedpost. Off to skidepow we’ve been getting nuked with here in Colorado, full report this afternoon.
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23 Responses to “WildSnow “Best” Award Nominations for 2006/2007”
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How about Best Hit or Miss Source for Heavily Discounted Gear: SteepandCheap.com
For example my most recent SteepandCheap aquisition was a Pair of Scarpa Spirit 3′s size 28.5 for $289.00 (UPS should be dropping them off today!!
Lou,
Probably won’t get in your budget category, but best thermal’s are Icebreaker from New Zealand. Love that no itch, no smell natural product. Renewable resource even, for the a green category.
Regards,
Frame
Best English language blog devoted to the pursuit of backcountry skiing, politically incorrect environmental ranting and raving, and unconditional enthusiasm and gusto for friends and family…
And the winner is WildSnow.com
lou.
out of curiosity, what part of Colorado got nuked today? the SkiCo. Marketing Machine didn’t start sponsoring WildSnow did they?
cheers.
dave
Best top base layer: Patagucci Variable Knit Zip-neck.
Best Post-Ski Recovery Beverage: Redhook Longhammer IPA
-M
best powder year 06/06 – the Selkirks. Started strong, hid the mid season strong and appears to be finishing strong.
The best new skiis…Islanticboards.com…the Pilgrim 151cm & the Nomad 156cm are simply the best ski out there. We tried them at a retail demo day at Mission Ridge in Wenatchee. We skied all the brands and the Islantic put all the big names to shame. I tried to get one of our local shops to try them…they didn’t and our local AT and mostly ski tunner shop has sold 30 pairs to the locals at the Ridge since Feb. The shop is Tuna Sport in Wenatchee,WA.
Scott
Dave, this year “nuked” means any decent snowstorm (grin). Marble this morning was sweet, and there was actually some fairly deep snow in the upper bowl.
Doug, thanks!
best avalanche hotline I only call one but if some area is just killing it with great data id love to know about it
Ryan, good idea! I’d vote for Wasatch at this point, anyone ever heard one better?
Perhaps I state the obvious, but I nominate Dynafit bindings as Best Touring binding. Toured in mine this season and the difference is magnitudes beyond other bindings. For Best Ski Socks I nominate Dahlgren.
Lou,
Best Colorado BC cult ski – the BD Verdict of course. The Best Cloudveil Jacket – must be the Serendipity. The best place to scout lines without leaving your laptop is coloradoaerialviews.com. best local info is the RFAC – at least for us RF locals.
Best excuse to be late for work is skiing, and the best classic spring ski descent, well, this could be debated….Hayden, Sopris, Justice? Hmmm, not sure.
For best facilitator of backcountry skiing I nominate my spouse for watching the kids while I ski.
Ryan has a great idea with the best Avi Hotline/Website. I would also vote for the Wasatch, but it would be nice to compare features of some of the best ones. Since none of these centers are fully funded by the Forest Service, maybe having a best of The Friends of the (fill in the blank) Avalanche Center would be a worthy category as well. Again I suspect this one would go to Utah.
Glad to read OneKJoe will skin again. I glanced at the list, and noticed one could find cheaper Avi I courses. There are sub $20, two and half day AIARE courses out there…
Not gear or garb related but definitely Muy Importante……..I vote Kiss My Face Hot Spots Sunscreen stick ($7)as best protector from those killer UV rays. Its not filled with a bunch of icky oogy chemicals and it comes as a handy stick, so no need to take of those gloves off or get your hands all greased up. Not super bulky so I just slip it in my Mammut pants (vote for best all around pants -resort and BC) and I’m always prepared. BTW, I dobelieve by doing a quick stripe on my cheeks I’ve avoided frost bite (its thick enough)while hauling a** on my 07′ Polaris 600RMK (vote for best approach to skidapow)
Thanks for your website Lou.
New Category
“Best ski-buddy nick names”
keep it clean, my maw visits this site.
Second Best way to scout new BC lines from your computer: http://www.topofusion.com/. Its an application you need to load on your computer, but you can test drive it for free. The software is excellent becaue you can flip between ariel imagery and topo maps to really read the terrain. The route planning tool shows the grade as well. BTW: I second steepandcheap.com. Sorry but I can’t afford $600 boots from my local shop–however I do support those guys with most purchases and do get great cust svc in return (in response to the April 12 postings and comments).
Best Rando Boot….hands down the F1 Race get if you can otherwise break out the Dremmel Tool! Can’t wait to try the F3 for non race situations! Best race director….Pete Swenson! Nice work on the first year of the COSMIC Series Pete!
Wick
Best ski swap…The one at Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale. Last year, I picked up a brand new pair of Scarpa T1s for $225 and a used set of Atomic TMX skis mounted with Silveretta bindings for $50. I could have kept going, but I’m cheaper than 1K Joe after he’s lost his job.
The best Gore Tex PacLite jacket: Cloudveil Crystal Creek.
http://www.cloudveil.com/mens/v-jackets/CV00080/
The best customer service girl on Earth:
Tracey from Cloudveil centre, Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The best alpine guide backpack: Deuter Guide 45+
http://www.deuterusa.com/products/productDetail.php?packID=guide45+&sub=alpine&tert=futuraZero
The best haute-route skis: Dynastar Altitrail Vertical
http://www.dynastar.com/product.php?id_seg=&id_product=603&id_dyn_category=2&id_dyn_segment=4&acturub=1
Scott D. was thinking about this skis:
http://www.icelanticboards.com/the-icelantic-pilgrim.htm
Very artistic design. Thanks for the beta.
Best Trailhead Approach Vehical:
I nominate my rig.. 78 Ford Bronco, It has A dana 44 Front(with a Torsen), and a Dana 60 Rear(with a Powerlok), NP435 Tranny, NP205 TCase, 400ci V8, 33 inch Tires and Tire Chains to fit, Ramsey 8000# winch. The 78-79 Broncs are bulletproof, very good off road, and have much more gear/people hauling capability than a little jeep. The mpg isnt great, but it has a 33 gallon tank so the range is good.