Sunday, April 25, 2010

Spring Fling

The month of April always seems to bring some of the best storms of the year. I always look forward to this time of the year as coverage is usually good and the snowpack is pretty consolidated and safe.

This edit is up there for the level of fun had during editing.  It definitely isn't the best of skiing I've had all year, but the edit is fun to watch. 

Here's a little bit of the spring madness.


Spring Fling from Free 2 Be Productions on Vimeo.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Time For Upgrades

Since I've really gotten into making short film edits and want the best quality I can get, I've started thinking about upgrades more and more.  The first thing to do, other than get better at editing and video capture, is to get a better broadcast channel.  I recently moved all of my videos over to Vimeo under a Plus account.  I have thoughts on a new camera to use next season and most importantly I need to upgrade my processing hub with a new iMac.  But since that'll be upwards of $2800, that'll have to wait. 

My channel link for Free 2 Be Productions, which will hopefully be an LLC by the end of the summer, is:
http://www.vimeo.com/free2be

So to show you the visual quality of Vimeo, here's a short edit I put together of ski buddy Ross sending it on a very fun line.  Ross is about 42 years old by the way.  Just another testiment of mind over matter.


Ross MacD Sending It from Free 2 Be Productions on Vimeo.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Breakfast of Champions: Powder Before Work

I like most people, want to get each day of work off to a great start. I've always been told that you must start the day off right with a good breakfast. For some people it's Wheaties or Raisin Bran, maybe pancakes and eggs, or my favorites cream of wheat, grits, and bacon.

I had the opportunity to change things up the other day and I've never been more determined, happier, and successful in a single day of work. And I was a pleasant person to be around. Ah what did I change to get this way you ask?

I changed my breakfast. Introducing Alex's Breakfast of Champions: Powder Before Work

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Yes I Hit 50!!

I hit my 50th day skiing for the season this past weekend.  I know that's not a lot by way of the Rockies standard, but for me working a desk job everyday and also doing tree work heavily during the fall and spring, this is a good personal accomplishment.  I'm pretty sure that I won't make my vertical footage goal, but this year I've started to really look at quality versus quantity and keeping myself healthy by not pushing too far after fatigue and exhaustion set it. 

Very "scrumtrulecent." That is all

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Snowbasin Showboat Showdown

The Snowbasin Showboat Showdown went off Sunday and it went off HUGE. It was pretty fun to sit back and film the riders who came out and displayed their skill set to compete for prizes. I wish that I could have had a GoPro HD Hero on each rider and also have cameras at 2 or 3 other locations for an event like this.  That would have been a fun edit to put together.  I threw this one out quickly for Snowbasin. 

Friday, April 9, 2010

Easter Sunday Solo Tour

The week leading up to Easter Sunday has been a hard one for me personally.  Stress, irritation, frustration, and depression had worn me out.  Even the massive powder dump of April Fool's wasn't enough to shake me out of this funk.  I knew that I needed to get this issue off my mind and move on past it.  I decided that it was time for me to make my first solo backcountry tour. 

I determined that the necessity of staying safe, understanding conditions and snow factors, terrain assessment, being alone relying solely on myself, knowing that my beacon would only be good for a body recovery, and the physical demands of the area I was to ski, skin, and hike, was enough to be able to get over the past two weeks and to move on in life. 

I did choose wisely as I knew conditions were stabilized and would remain overall good for the day.  In the end, this tour proved to be what I needed in coming to terms with the external and internal issues that were affecting me: it was a definite success with lots of plan changes.  Solo touring has opened my eyes to a new realm and new understanding of myself and the snowpack. 

I definitely foresee more of this in the future.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Jackson WITH Jared - A Redemption Attempt

After missing out on the previous trip and seeing the video dedicated to him, Jared was very eager to experience Jackson in the same manner.  Here's how it all turned out; you be the judge on his redemption attempt.