Moments
The Western Faces 50 - Rohan Kennedy's Quest To Ski Iconic Aussie Lines
Longtime Le Bent ambassador and backcountry aficionado Rohan Kennedy has been living in Jindabyne since 2007 and skiing the Australian Main Range since 2012. Now a backcountry guide for SMBC after spending 10 years in ski patrol, Rohan practically lives on the Main Range during the winter and spring months. Rohan helped guide Cody Townsend, Elyse Saugstad and the Le Bent team out along the Western Faces back in 2019 and has been inspired by Cody to complete a kind of 'Aussie Fifty Project', drawing inspiration from an incredible local book and our answer to Cody's muse, 'The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America.' The below was written by Rohan. THE WESTERN FACES 50 WITH ALAN ANDREWS' SKIING THE WESTERN FACES OF KOSCIUSKO By Rohan Kennedy If there’s one book that stands out as the ultimate guide to the NSW Main Range backcountry, it’s Alan Andrews’, “Skiing the Western Faces Kosciusko.” Published in 1993, this book has been described by many as the definitive guide for skiing this remarkable area, and I couldn’t agree more. Alan Andrews poured his love for the Kosciusko region into this book, combining decades of experience with a unique approach. His guide is more than just a collection of routes; it’s a blend of poems, hand-drawn maps, and detailed information covering 14 sections of the Main Range from Dead Horse Gap to Mount Tate. I first bought this book over ten years ago, and since then, it has been my source of inspiration for planning and dreaming about backcountry ski tours. The notes and photos in its pages have guided me to discover 40 ski lines, and I’ve added another 10 lines myself that represent some of the steepest challenges the range has to offer — lines that Alan himself envisioned might one day be skied. Having watched Cody Townsend's 'The Fifty' series and having had the pleasure of guiding him while he was here in Australia, I was inspired to undertake a similar project in our own mountains, to shine a light onto the great skiing we have here and bring this personal challenge to life. With snow falling and more in the forecast, I’m excited to continue this journey and see if I can complete my list of 50 lines. I’ll be sharing updates and stories from the slopes along the way as I work towards my goal. View of Watsons Crags South Face from Sentinel Summit. Below is the full list with names of lines taken from the book or names of lines that I have heard most about from the area. 1. Strzelecki Creek2. Little Austria3. Avalanche Alley4. Townsend West Spur5. Anderson Crags6. Friars Alp 7. Watson Creek8. Siren Song Creek9. Kosciuszko 10. South Rams Head area 11. Cleft Rock Run12. Golden Gully13. The Spur 14. The Couloir15. The Corrie16. Twin Humps17. Abbotts18. Byatts Camp19. Muellers Peak20. The Racecourse 21. Ians Gully22. The Alice Rawson23. Twynam North Spur24. Triple A25. The Scimitar26. Goes Forever27. The Awesome Spur28. Walters Gully29. Ant Ridge.30. Avalanche Gully 31. Avalanche Face32. Tenison Woods North Face33. Carruthers West Spur34. Middle Gully35. Erics Funnel36. Carruthers Variant37. Sentinel SE Face38. Sentinel SW Face39. Sentinel N Face40. Sunshine Chutes 41. Watsons Crags North Face42. Dog Leg43. Waterfall44. Crags Hidden Line45. Club Lake46. Blue Lake47. Twin Valleys48. Tate E Face49. 11 Highest Peaks Traverse50. Jagungal You can follow Rohan Kennedy on Instagram for updates on the project as he hopes to tick off a number of lines each week!
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WOMEN’S WEEK AT BALDFACE LODGE WITH LEONIE WOHL
Leonie Wohl had the pleasure of skiing up north this winter despite living down here in Australia. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t a little jealous of her last-minute trip when she pitched it to us, but we also wanted to hear all about it when she got back. If you also feel like a vicarious shred at a world-class lodge with a bunch of ripping women, read on! WOMEN'S WEEK AT A BACKCOUNTRY LODGE WORDS BY LEONIE WOHL PHOTOS BY LAUREN POWERS Maybe you were lucky enough to get some epic pow turns with friends this northern winter, maybe you’re dreaming about the same to come in the Southern Hemisphere (fingers crossed!). Well, I was lucky enough to get those pow turns, not only with one of my best girlfriends, but with a bunch of other women, across four epic days in a bucket-list location. Just over 50 women (including our female guides) came together, all with a different story and journey — some travelling with old friends, some travelling solo and making new friends along the way, and some even running into unexpected old connections in the departure zone of Nelson Airport. The one thing we all had in common was the desire to connect to like-minded lady shredders. We knew that the week would be full of those feel-good vibes, of lifting each other up and making memories and friendships to last a lifetime. Now, if you haven’t heard of Baldface Lodge or aren’t familiar with what’s on offer — it’s a private cat-skiing lodge just north of Nelson, in British Colombia, Canada. It’s well worth putting it on the bucket list! There is a waitlist of more than a year and it’s home to Stop #2 of the Natural Selection Tour (the stop that Lé Bent team rider Dustin Craven won this season). The Lodge has access to more than 32,000 acres of land for your shredding pleasure, set deep in the Selkirk Mountain Range. The terrain is epic and has it all — steeps, tree riding, open mellow fields and the one-and-only ‘Scary Cherry’ Natural Selection course. How did I get one of these limited spots for Baldface Lodge? It’s simple, take your friends with you! Now, I don’t mean just invite your crew on a weekend away. What I mean is, when the opportunity presents itself for your own success, networking and progression, pull your support network up to your level and bring them on the journey with you. And that my friends, is exactly how I got on this trip of a lifetime! Throwback to December 2021 — Australia is just starting to see the light at the end of the Covid tunnel, and international travel is becoming a thought we now dare entertain… it's within reach. And just like that, it’s like the universe in all her wisdom knew it was time. I got a call from my USA-based best girl, excited that we Aussies were finally getting let out… Her next sentence set me into a spin… “I got you a spot at Baldface for Women’s Week with me!” You’re kidding! Not only did my girl get on this trip, but she also got me and two others from her hometown on it too. And as she would say… "Duh, of course my girls are coming!" Fast-forward 3 months, time to dust off the board bag, dig out the base layers and jetset off to the other side of the world, crossing my fingers and toes that Mother Nature was on our side and had something up her sleeve in the form of April pow for one epic girl’s trip! What is Women’s Week all about? Women’s Week Baldface is about celebrating connection, it’s about coming together for a common love of snowboarding, it’s about sparkle parties, cocktails, bonfires, birthdays, and having one hell of a time making memories with all the #baldfacebabes — guests, guides and staff! It’s about sharing your story, your journey, inspiring others and being inspired in return. And this year’s gathering of shred sisters did not disappoint! There were your everyday ‘leisure athletes’ and mums taking time out from busy lives and jobs to do what brings them joy; there were aspiring, semi and retired pros; there were survivors of breast cancer and the incredible women who run B4BC; there were entrepreneurs carving their place in the world, bringing more options for women’s specific gear. We were young women and young-at-heart women, and then there were the boys of Baldface who were stoked to have the vibe of Women’s Week descend upon them. We were even lucky enough to have the one-and-only Baldface regular, Jess Kimura, spend the week with us — riding with us, sharing stories of building Scary Cherry in summer, and a special night sharing her story and movie with us. Having someone who is such a legend, who has done so much and is still pushing so hard for women in snowboarding, shredding alongside us all week was pretty cool and an absolute honour. But, what Baldface is really about, is the pow turns and Mother Nature, she delivered! So, now we have the vibe check, what does the week look like? After the heli uplifts and an afternoon of settling into the lodge, drinks, and setting up or waxing boards, we settled into a three-course dinner, a briefing on how the week would run, instructions for our first morning and a choice to either relax or kick on at the bar. Walking back to the chalet, snow started falling. About 5cm fell on the first night and would be the start of the snowfall that increased each day – thank you, Mother Nature! We spent the first hour or so completing an avalanche safety refresh and practised using our beacons. We got to know the guides and our cat driver. As cat #4, my group was the last to leave, at first thinking maybe we were missing out on precious shredding time, but we soon realised we had absolutely struck gold with our guides – the legendary ‘Walrus’ and Florida-girl-turned-Nelson-local, Tammy. Walrus, knowing all the best spots as a long-time guide for Baldface, had us on fresh tracks across all four days. Not just good for fresh tracks, Walrus also delivered on the bad jokes and witty Canadian one-liners throughout the day. We averaged around 3500 vertical metres or about 12 runs and rode from about 8:30 – 3:30 each day. Lunch was eaten out on the cat — tunes playing, absolute stoke, big smiles — then beers on the way back to the lodge. The post-ride schedule was full of aprés, dinner, massages, bonfires, a movie night, photo slideshows of each day, fireworks, one very epic sparkle party — rinse and repeat! Four days of pow shreds, good times, new friendships and belly laughs for days. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of women to share the week with! New connections, shared ideas and goals and promises of future — Women’s Week isn’t just at Baldface but all over the world. The week was exactly what you can hope for when such an inspirational and passionate bunch of shred sisters take over the ultimate cat-skiing destination. So, as we head into the Aussie season, I’m filled with ambition to bring more of that vibe to the Women’s Backcountry community, to grow the community and provide more opportunities for women to build connections and get out there! So, watch this space because who runs the world? Girls!
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Trail Runner Tom Batrouney's Ambitious Project To Run Forever
PRF UPDATE: WATCH THE NEWLY RELEASED FILM BELOW! Can you run forever in a few pairs of socks? Team Runner Tom Batrouney wanted to find out, so we slung him a bunch of fresh socks from our New Trail Collection, and cheered from the bushes as he literally ran laps around us at a local trail at Manly Dam in Sydney. Tom planned to run 10km laps around the Dam, for as long as he possibly could, maybe even forever. Three pairs of socks and 140km later, Tom called it a day — 36 hours after he started running. Below Tom writes about why he set this impossible goal and what running forever means to him. PROJECT: RUN FOREVER by Tom Batrouney I always wanted to run forever. Ever since entering the world of running on the school oval, it was always in the back of my mind. My body just wasn't built for speed. I knew this, but finding a distance long enough was almost as impossible as the concept of pushing myself to my very limit and beyond for, well, forever. Could I run forever? Haha, don't be ridiculous. That's what people would say so that's what I would say to myself. Then I stumbled into the world of ultra-trail running. A world not so much about speed but using your body and mind to travel through nature over absolute mind-blowing distances. I spent years in the bush training, on the physio table and in the gym, making myself indestructible physically and mentally. I spent time getting to know my body, what was strong and what was weak. A weakness in everyday life is fine but a weakness over 36 hours of running with no sleep will become the most painful experience of your life. Tom hitting his stride during one of the easier sections of trail in his Run Forever route. Nature has been a constant in my life. From watching every single animal documentary sitting on my Dad's knee to dedicating my life to protecting and promoting it, nature has always been there. Every single thing I have in my life has come to me, not by luck but by impossibly hard work and lessons learnt in nature. Nature has taught me when to be hugely powerful and confident but that it can reduce me to an adult man curled in a ball on the ground crying. It demands respect but needs care and there is a way to harness it to allow for all that is good in this world to flow into your life. The key is not nature, stay with me, the key is you, yep you, people are the key. There was a rotating crew of trail lovers and friends who came down to support Tom in his attempt to run forever. Absolutely everyone can do absolutely anything. It all just comes down to what you listen to, what you think and what you tell yourself. Is running forever ridiculous? If so, why? What about when you were a kid and you didn't care what people thought. Was it ridiculous to climb that tree that everyone said you couldn't? Things can only be ridiculous until you say you're doing them and then once you do that they go from ridiculous to an action, a movement or a conscious 'thing' you are doing. They transcend words and talk and enter the world as physical action and this is where I get really excited. Tom hydrating and stretching the hips at the aid station after lap number 4... that is, over 40km into his run. So why would I run forever? Why not — is really the best answer in the world. Why the hell not. All of the reasons not to, can become reasons to, if you attack them one by one, throw fake caution to the wind and are willing to face fears head on, over and over and over again until they become your best friends. I set out at 7am on April 8th to run continuous 10km loops of Manly Dam on what was potentially the wettest day on record and my plan was to run forever. What better way to test the new trail range. Lé Bent team runner Vlad Shatrov joined Tom for a few laps and wore the new Terra Ultra Light 3/4 Crew Trail Socks. After 30km — much of which underwater — they were not so 'winter white'. Tom's in the background wearing the slightly more cushioned Terra Light 3/4 Crew Trail Sock in Konbu Green. I wanted to push myself so far beyond my physical and mental limits to show both myself and those I can reach, that our planet is worth fighting for. Not to sacrifice myself like a martyr but to show myself in my rawest, most beaten down, pure form because that is where the power is. PROJECT: RUN FOREVER was something I could DO. “This loop is, without doubt, one of the most challenging trails out there! It's constantly changing incline, direction and surface making rhythm difficult and adding to the difficulty of the challenge. Then add in the conditions encountered, flooded, wet and rutted out! Constant focus was needed so as not to fall or get injured, sections of thick mud added additional fatigue, harder than the UTA100 for sure and reminded me of the 2018 Tarawera mudfest!." - Vlad Shatrov Tom and Vlad quickly discovered what condition the trail was in — or rather, how much water it was under — after just 3km. We set out with 3 goals, to keep me moving for as long as my body and mind would allow, to bring a community of people along for the ride and to raise a huge amount of money for two environmental groups doing critical work for the future of our planet. Spoiler alert, we did all three! The first environmental group was For Wild Places. They are engaging the running and outdoor community to fall in love with nature and fight to keep wild places wild for future generations. It's a new brand of sports activism and man is it important. The other group is Seabin, who are cleaning up our oceans. They're using upstream solutions to catch and analyse rubbish at the source, so that we can, for the first time in history, actually know what is in our harbours, rivers and lakes before it's out into the ocean where it becomes a vastly more difficult problem. I grew up in the ocean surfing and have moved in and out of running on trails and have seen the effect of, well us, on these ecosystems. The relationship between land and sea is something I'm involved with daily and the small thing that I can do is to raise money and awareness for something that everyone cares about but not everyone knows about. “To see the community of runners join in to do their bit was special! My team got so much out of it as I know Tom did too! A collective of like-minded individuals brought together on an awesome adventure." - Vlad Shatrov People are great and I love absolutely everyone. I don't care what you do, what you look like or what the world thinks of you. We are all people, all the same, and love is really where everything that is good starts. If you love someone, you care about them, and if you care about them, then you care about what might happen to them and that right there is the best brand of environmentalism. I’ve competed in and witnessed a few runs for environmental causes now and something really special happens when the purpose of the endurance feat lies far beyond the finish line. It’s difficult to put into words. Tom slipping on a fresh pair of Light 3/4 Crew Trail Socks after 70km's in the Terra's. Another Lé Bent team runner, Paige Penrose, joined Tom for a jaunt and to offer moral support. "The look in Tom’s eyes after lap 5 was not that of someone who had run 50km of definitely not flat, dry trail and who had potentially hundreds of kilometres left," Said Paige. "It was excitement!" “The humans surrounding him handing him potato after potato, topped with a banana or two, finding him dry clothes, taping his feet, doing live videos with various brands and companies or arranging tv news coverage to spread the word further fed off and emulated that drive. Yes, Tom achieved an immense physical performance but the message was clear without words — do not underestimate the power of individual action in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Especially when it comes to the planet." - Paige Penrose Tom's young son cheering him over the start line for yet another lap. When you're running forever, there's no such thing as a finish line. I love you! I love you so much that I want to fight so that you will at least have a chance to experience what I have in nature. I ran for 140kms, 36 hours and pushed my body and mind to absolute breaking point. I did it for me, so that I can learn and grow and be the change I want to see in the world and I did it for you to inspire you to do something that scares you knowing full well that you have absolutely no idea what you are truly capable of. PROJECT: RUN FOREVER was a lifetime in the making and it was, without doubt, the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It was terrifying, horribly painful and dark but none of those things will kill you, they will just make you a much better version of yourself. At the time of writing this, we are around $4k short of our $30k goal and donations are still open. Can you spare $23 to remove 250 plastic straws from Sydney Harbour or $250 to inspire a future sports activist? Donate To Project: Run Forever Some final stats from the run: 140kms run 36 hours on feet 30 potatoes consumed 1 pair of shoes worn 3 pairs of Le Bent Trail socks 0 foot issues
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LÉ BENT WELCOMES XAVIER DE LE RUE TO THE TEAM
The acronym G.O.A.T gets thrown around a lot in professional sports. So, perhaps adding the word ‘Mountain’ as a prefix more accurately represents what Xavier De Le Rue is to modern professional snowboarding. A 3 x Freeride World Tour champion and 4 x World Boardercross Champion, Xavier has seen, and probably ridden, it all. Xavier joins Pro Team riders Cody Townsend, Sammy Carlson and Elyse Saugstad and will be flying the Lé Bent boarder flag from the highest peaks. From the Kuril Islands to Antarctica, Vanuatu to Svalbard and Spain, Le Rue arrives at Le Bent HQ with plenty of stories from his many years spent in snowboard boots. “I tried the Lé Bent products for the first-time last year and was super impressed by the quality,” said Xavier. “I saw what my buddy Cody was doing with the guys and wanted to join in!” “We had the idea to make a splitboarding / snowboard specific sock that really fits my riding which I found very appealing.” Taking learnings from the existing Pro Series Socks, Xavier’s snowboard sock which is currently in the final testing stage (you can stay up to date on its development here), will see some unique snowboard specific considerations to ensure a sock, according to Xavier, “without any pressure points where all the binding straps apply pressure.” “I like a sock that is not too thin for touring and with a padding that is different from skiing.” Now making his home in Verbier, Xavier knows the ins and outs of more European big mountain lines than most. However, his exploits have taken him all the way to the poles. When asked where the wildest place his board has taken him? "Antarctica is definitely the one," he says. "5 days in a heavy metal boat, riding through the roughest seas on the planet, and at the end of it, the most magical and powerful mountain environment that I have had the chance to witness." Closer to home, "When I want to go more wild , Chamonix offers a pretty unique access to high alpine mega runs and that is quite special as well." It's also not far from where Le Bent co-founders Simon and Anthony cut their teeth fitting ski boots for over a decade in Val-d'Isère. With such an incredibly rounded snowboarding CV, we asked Xavier what he was most proud of in his career to date — Was it his 3rd FWT world title in a row? An epic first descent in Antarctica? Or being a four time winner of the Verbier Xtreme? His answer actually surprised us, and speaks to his humble reverence for nature and the lines he's ridden. “I think that all the ice riding shots we did for a while are quite a good memory for me as it really launched a new window of runs in the high alpine. I have always tried to think outside of the box and try new things to broaden our spectrum as snowboarders and I am proud to have influenced the sport in that way.” - Xavier De Le Rue Nowadays, Xavier's mission extends beyond riding the steepest, iciest lines — although he's still doing plenty of that too — into the realm of sustainability, within and beyond snowboarding. Having recently attended COP26, Xavier is focused on working with brands to lessen their environmental impact, something we're welcoming from him here at Lé Bent. “I am really trying to influence as much as I can my partners to gradually shift the production of all the products towards a more sustainable version.” “After 22 years of amazing opportunities through snowboarding, my goal now is to pass on my knowledge, in order to inspire others to get out there and enjoy their own adventures.” That goal starts with Lé Bent helping snowboarders find a better fit, so they can take their riding to new heights. Stay up to date as we unveil our new creation with XV here.
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Lucy Bartholomew on Running The Larapinta Trail - Watch Now
Lucy Bartholomew ran the Larapinta Trail and has the crazy stats and a new film to prove it. Those stats include, 231km of Larapinta trail. 20km of wrong turns and dead ends. 54 hours of running. 5 minutes of sleeping. 2 pairs of shoes. And of 5 pairs of Le Bent socks on rotation. In total Lucy ran 250km. It’s safe to say she learnt a few things about socks, shoes and about herself in the process. We caught up with Lucy this week in the build-up to the release of her film: Running Out Movie. Rent or download the full film now here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/runningout LÉ BENT: Hey Lucy!! It’s been a few months since you ran into Alice Springs during the middle of the night after running the Larapinta. Now, it’s been tough for us keeping much of that story under wraps until now, how excited are you to finally share your documentary of the trip? That must almost feel like another finish line, right! I am so happy. When I crossed that non-existent finish line in Alice Springs, stopped my watch and took my shoes off; I was done. What I didn’t realise is that Bryans (the filmmaker, among other things) own ultra was just beginning. The edit. For 6 months we have gone back and forth with options for the film and ways to tell the story. It is really incredible to see the trip be shared in an incredibly beautiful and authentic way through the film and I just hope that people know that whilst it is a movie about running, the message is deeper than just running. (Top) A young local leads Lucy across the 'finish line' and the emotions and community spirit overflowing afterwards (bottom). Pic cred: Josh Lynott Obviously you and your team (Photographer Josh Lynott and filmmaker Bryan Hynes) were sharing content and updates during the run and afterwards, but do you think there’s a lot that people might not know about the project? Absolutely. I hope this story is shared far beyond the people we, as a team reach on our daily basis. Social media is such a cool tool to connect with people around the world and we really felt that before, during and after. I hope the people that see the film after following along back in March feel like it is a long lost memory for them as well. Like they were there, they were part of the team. The team planning and chatting Larapinta. Pic cred: Josh Lynott For those that find the film with no idea who we are or what we do, I hope they virtually meet us in the Northern Territory, come on this journey with us and appreciate the raw, authentic and human story we are telling and resonate with something along the way. And what a story it is! Is there a single moment that you remember as being particularly gruelling? Oh, so many it is hard to pick!! I distinctly remember leaving the boys after a refuel point and making the decision to carry less water knowing I was going into river beds which had previously been full from some insane rainfall. I remember cresting a mountain ridge and looking out at the river beds below and looking for a glimmer, a reflection of water in the landscape and I saw nothing but dry, hot, Aussie bush. All I could do in that moment was focus on what I could control which was my effort and attitude but I have never had to focus so much on just taking one more step forward. A battered and bruised Lucy somewhere around the halfway mark — Which is already an Ultra Marathon in itself. Pic cred: Josh Lynott You obviously learnt a lot about yourself and your ability to persevere. What are you most proud of from the project? I am certainly most proud of my team and the community of Alice Springs. I have come to know what I expect of myself and what I am capable of. I know I can be stubborn, can suffer and when I commit and care about something not much will stop me. But I didn’t think I would lean so heavily on Josh and Bryan and the community. It was a great lesson for me to ask for help and what gives me the most goosebumps in the film is watching everyone rise up, show up and not give up. I couldn’t have and wouldn’t have wanted to do it without everyone that was there. Lucy getting some warm up runs in around Alice Springs. Pic cred: Josh Lynott In addition to learning about yourself and other people, it sounds like you learnt a lot about running equipment in some pretty harsh conditions too! We know it wasn’t all red desert sand on which you were running… Are we right in thinking there were sections of trail you actually had to swim? We saw the Larapinta trail in some of its most lush, green and water-filled ways it has ever been. The locals that had grown up there said they had never seen it this way so it was a treat to see the river beds full (briefly) and the flora and fauna thriving. The river beds that were full during the run became swims up to chest high… it was incredibly nice to cool off but because it never happens all the trail markers were under water and I was always going too far down the gorges. It's lucky I'm a good swimmer as I held my phone above my head to keep dry and navigate whilst doing one-armed freestyle. Trail runner turned trail swimmer... Pic cred: Josh Lynott You’ve done some serious product testing for us in the past, but it sounds like this might take the cake! What did you learn about the Le Bent threads in the process? I have always loved using the Le Bent sock range and proud to be on the team but I don’t think I have ever had the same level of appreciation for the material I put between me and the ground. I had 5 pairs of socks with the boys to alternate between depending on how my feet were feeling (cushioning) and protection from the trail (heights) as well as the classic stink test. A snapshot of the socks Lucy employed to run over 250km. The Trail Ultra Light Mini's (Top), Outdoor Light Mini Socks (Left) — predominantly hiking socks that provided bonus cushioning underfoot when the going got tough. And our Run Ultra Light Micro Tab Socks for training runs before the big dance in the burning sun (right). Pic cred: Josh Lynott “The best thing about the Le Bent socks for this adventure was the material of the socks; being a blend of bamboo and merino wool it allows for breathability as well as softness and moisture wicking.” I was in and out of water and needed something that dried as fast as my shoes, didn’t make my feet hot for the hours of relentless heat in the day, kept my feet warm in the full moonlit nights we had and lastly didn’t rub, cause blisters, irritate me… not an easy list to fulfil hey? “54 hours and 250km later and there isn’t just one sock but the whole range from Le Bent that ticked these boxes.” - Lucy Bartholomew The ever reliable Lucy Pro Series Sock (Top) with its ultra light cushion and 3/4 crew cut was a staple throughout the run. It was on Lucy's feet at the start and finish line. (Bottom) Lucy promptly asleep in the back of the team 4x4 after completing the run. Pic cred: Josh Lynott Now we all know how much you inspire people to run trails. What advice would you have for a complete beginner and on the other end of the spectrum, what advice would you give to someone wanting to run an Ultra? I would have so many things to say, and so would everyone else; I suppose my advice would be not to try and do exactly what everyone else is doing, wear what they wear, eat what they eat, run how they run — you do you. Find what works for you and find YOUR ‘why’. Why do you want to run an ultra? Why are you going to strive to continuously find time in your day to lace up and run? The most powerful thing my coach said to me before running the Larapinta was uninjured and stoked are all you need to be to make this happen. Be that, and you can do anything. And is there a particular Le Bent sock you’d recommend to either? After working with the Le Bent team to design the Le Lucy Pro Sock I will never look past this sock that has taken me on short runs, long runs, mountain runs, desert runs and road runs. They haven’t failed me and I hope the same for you! The Lucy Pro Series Sock has now won the Ultra Trail Australia and run across much of Central Australia. An ultra tested sock. Pic cred: Josh Lynott
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Cody Townsend’s The Fifty Project is Back - Behind The Scenes of Season 3
Cody Townsend is a skier of international renown. At one time most known perhaps for his “line of the year” in 2014, he’s now turned his attention to a self-produced film series “The Fifty Project”, inspired by the book, ‘The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America.’ He’s less known, but equally defined in his mind by an, “undying love of fart jokes, abhorrence of math and curious infatuation with tiny dogs.” Cody’s real-life web series became an unprecedented success in the first half of 2019 and introduced a mainstream audience and other skiers alike, to such niche objects as skins, beacons and ski touring socks. Not only are we stoked to announce the return of the Fifty Project for season 3, but Lé Bent is now also an official sponsor. Now 28 episodes deep, and having documented 30 classic ski lines and counting, the most watched winter sports series in the world is back. “The FIFTY was started because I was searching for something new in skiing.” - Cody Townsend Watch the latest episodes here: “I’d spent the prior decade chasing the highest performance downhill, big mountain focused skiing I could. Eventually I felt like I’d tapped out all my dreams, goals and challenges within that realm.” Said Cody. “As skiing is a sport with an unlimited amount of ways you can do it, I started being drawn into the human-powered approach to skiing big lines, to expeditions to far flung corners of the world and to skiing iconic peaks that had no mechanized access.” To date, Cody’s been joined by a number of big-name, big mountain riders as well as lesser known but equally respected locals. From the likes of snowboarder and activist Jeremy Jones, to photographer Jimmy Chin and fellow Le Bent team rider Elyse Saugstad (who also happens to be Cody’s better half). However, this season promises to have an even more stacked cast of mountain icons. Cody leading Jimmy Chin up the Grand Teton for Episode 12. Pic cred: Bjarne Salen Jeremy Jones joined Cody on his mission up Meteorite in Alaska for the short film Peak Obsession which combined lines 17 and 18 of the Fifty. Pic cred: Bjarne Salen The first episode of season 3 where the team tries to climb and ski Mt Stimson is a doozy. “Sometimes it's not immediately apparent what is "classic" about the lines in the book.” Said Cody. “With Stimson, it was pretty obvious. It's a mountain that sticks up like a giant white shark fin in the sky, dwarfing nearly everything else around it. There is one little sliver off of Hwy 2 in Glacier National Park where it jumps out of the forest and stands tall and proud. It's the kind of mountain that screams at you and draws you in with its magnetic aesthetics.” “Problem is what you don't stare at, what you look right over, is possibly the gnarliest part of this mountain...the 9mile (14.5km), thick forested, heavily vegetated, deep canyoned, narrow creek'ed approach.” Mt Stimson is the opposite of low hanging fruit. Here it lurks in the distance, with days of bushwhacking and creek crossings in between. Pic cred: Bjarne Salen “I'd honestly not recommend anyone to attempt this line unless you're really into ski touring in creek water filled ski boots, torn clothes, lugging heavy backpacks over and under hundreds of deadfall trees and generally just all out suffering for days on end.” “Now I've been known to do some bushwhacks, but absolutely nothing compares with this bushwhack.” Said Cody. Indeed, Cody’s no sook when it comes to creek crossings and taking off his socks in the snow. Heck, he did a bunch of them when he visited us Downunder during our final testing of his Signature Pro Series Snow Sock. “There is no getting around the complete punishment your feet go through on tours like Stimson," he said. "You’re gonna get them wet, sweaty and cold at times. But minimizing those impacts with better materials and innovations like the heel grip strips on the Pro Model Sock helps you get through the day.” “I know with those socks I’m gonna have less chance of blisters, which could be trip enders, and more chance for warm feet which makes the challenges that you’re gonna face just a little bit easier.” Cody's Pro Series Sock. Before the line (left) and drying inside-out after a creek crossing en route to Mt Stimson for the first line of the season (right). Pic cred: Ming Poon & Bjarne Salen When asked what we can expect out of this season of the Fifty Project, Cody said, “More suffering, more education and some big challenges.” “This season was one of the toughest seasons yet and I think the entertainment value because of that is only increased. It wasn’t my favorite season while out in the field, but it’s probably my favorite season in terms of the episodes we’ve produced.” There’ll also be plenty of bonus episodes too, noting that in seasons 1 & 2 Cody produced 11 bonus episodes that often covered his all-important gear selection. “My gear decisions are always changing, always nuanced and always adapted to bring the highest level of comfort, safety and chances for success. I’m super calculated with every piece of gear I bring out there because without good gear, this project wouldn’t be possible.” Cody and Nick Russell making camp during their approach to Mt Stimson. Pic Cred: Bjarne Salen One unsung item that Cody has worn up and down all of his Fifty lines, is a Lightweight Le Bent Baselayer. "Layering is everything because one of the most important aspect of big backcountry missions is temperature management." Said Cody. “I’ve found with base layers, the combo of wool and synthetic, like the Le Bent Merino & Bamboo Rayon blend provides a perfect blend of maintaining warmth and being dry” “You’re constantly going back and forth between the heat built up from physical exertion and the cold that the environment you’re in brings. So, maintaining your temperature is essential to staying dry and a comfortable temp.” Cody tours in the Men's Core 200 Crew baselayer top and bottoms. Pic cred: Ming Poon & Bjarne Salen Episodes from season 3 of The Fifty Project will be dropping fortnightly, with some bonus surprises in between as we head full steam into winter. Stay up to date by following Lé Bent on Instagram and Facebook and be the first to know about new releases. As for Cody, he’ll be bushwhacking his way into winter and more lines on his journey to ski all 50 classics! Stay tuned. Check out the socks that have taken Cody up every single line of the Fifty...
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Women's Backcountry Booming Here In Australia - Leonie Wohl
The following comes via the keyboard of Leonie Wohl, a new arrival to the Le Bent team this year but someone who's been championing women in the backcountry for some time. Here Leonie talks about just how far the female backcountry community has come and how you can get involved! Words by Leonie Wohl Photos by Nina Lange ICYMI: the Aussie women’s backcountry community has exploded in the past 12 months. There’s no shortage of shred sisters out exploring the backcountry. With a combination of factors enticing more women into the backcountry – from increased social media presence, to women’s gear becoming more widely available, resorts being overcrowded, and the simple allure of the mountains and a self-sufficient adventure – one thing is for sure, there is strong community of women supporting each other and making backcountry missions more accessible. My first backcountry experience was in 2015. I jumped on an Intro to Backcountry day, hired a splitboard and avi gear, and off I went. How good was this – the open spaces, the challenge, the views! Don’t get me wrong, I struggled, thought I might keel over and could only get one lap in. That day, I had my first experience in what it was to ‘earn your turns’. Speaking to one of the guides, I asked if there were women’s groups to do this with. He told me he didn’t know of any, but it would be great if a group existed, as there were women out there who wanted to connect. Leonie ripping a turn in some July backcountry blower. Photo: Ryan Pappas The following winter I did an AST1 course, DIY’d a splitboard and off I went. Yet, it would be another 2 years before I started to have a girl gang to go touring with. How It Started Saturday afternoon, late-August 2018 – post shreds at Thredbo and there’s a bunch of us sitting poolside having a few drinks, buzzing off the stoke from being in an all-girls ride day, chatting about when we can next ride together and keep the lady crew strong. I’d been touring the day before, so am sharing a story of a wrong turn, a hike out and a bit of Marco Polo with my touring buddy. A friend of mine jumps up drags me over to another group of ladies and says, “I have to introduce you to these girls who ‘go backcountry’. You guys should hang out!” At this point I only knew around two or three other girls I could go touring with, so I was pretty excited to meet some new and more experienced riders who I could connect with. That night the Backcountry Women of Australia Facebook group and online community was born. I had no idea how many women were out there just waiting to connect. How It Grew Noticing how male dominated the other backcountry forums were, it was a bit of a no-brainer to share the group in these forums and invite more ladies into a safe space where there was no judgement around sounding silly or inexperienced about any and all things backcountry. Then 2020 came around and the restrictions in resort further fuelled interest in the backcountry. By mid-2020 there were around 300 women across NSW/VIC all keen to connect – the community was growing and continued to grow across the season. 2021 saw another call out through the online forums for new members – the community is only getting bigger and better every day! The Community There are so many great women, local and afar, who provide inspiration to get out and explore the Aussie backcountry. Not necessarily pro riders, just everyday women – women who have full-time jobs, are mums, are studying, are experiencing their first season or their 10th, and women who have fallen in love with the mountains and are now the locals. One thing we all have in common is the spirit of adventure and sometimes that thirst for the hurt locker – the kind you only get from the frustration of things not working out in the backcountry. You cry, you get through it and then you are so stoked on your own capabilities you can’t wait to share it with the like-minded community with a big, “YEA THE GIRLS”. There are also more women backcountry ambassadors, each with their own way of building the community, whether it be through guiding, gear reviews, tips and tricks, increasing social media presence or – like myself – building connections and sharing opportunities through meet-ups and events. How To Get Into It Backcountry experiences are for everyone. There’s something magical about being on the snow. Remove the hustle and crowds from the resorts, cue open spaces, an untouched canvas of white, a bit of risk to keep you on your toes, and every time you’ll have an adventure unlike the last… Some great, some – well, they are an experience. You don’t have to be an expert skier or snowboarder to enjoy the backcountry magic; snowshoes are a great way to get out and explore. This season the industry seems to be really in tune to the market, there are more opportunities for women-only Intro to Backcountry days and AST1 courses. Often, I get approached to take friends out for their first time, which I’m more than happy to do. I share the tips and tricks I’ve learnt through trial and lots of errors to make their first time out a good one, but I honestly can’t recommend enough getting on an AST1 course when you are starting out. You’ll learn the foundations to staying safe in the backcountry, which will take you on many future adventures and give you the confidence to make decisions to best enjoy your day out in the mountains. I recently tagged along on a women’s AST1 prac day, which served as a great refresher. It reminded me of my own capabilities and gave me the confidence to back my decisions in adverse conditions. I was also able to meet 16 women all starting out in the backcountry. These 16 women are now capable and more confident to get out in the Aussie backcountry, provide observations on conditions and have some amazing experiences. What’s To Come With the industry supporting us, gear getting better and more diverse, events and opportunities popping up everywhere, and some strong ambassadors and advocates in the community, you’re going to see more and more women out there, going further and chasing new lines. This is only the beginning.
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PAINT BY POWDER - LEXI DOWDALL'S QUEST TO PAINT ALL UTAH SKI RESORTS
Guest blog by Ambassador/Team Painter Lexi Dowdall Like many of you, 2020 hijacked most of my big plans and goals the moment mid-March steamrolled in. I had committed to skiing each of the 15 ski resorts in Utah. I was on my 7th resort when we all retreated into lockdowns of unknown duration. My employment in the ski industry, helping to organize and facilitate nearly 100 Freeride competitions for skiers and snowboarders in the USA and Canada, ground to a halt. I had no work and nothing to keep me occupied during what would normally be the most intense period of my season, culminating in 3 championship events in April. Ten months of planning and logistics. Gone. Within three days, everything was cancellations and... crickets.I didn’t know what to do with the sudden closure of my favorite ski areas and I suddenly had more time on my hands than I’d had in years. I began a 15 day sketching challenge. This turned into a 100 day watercolor challenge. I suddenly had the time and energy to invest in myself and my hobbies, so I went for it. In December 2020, I launched an art website, www.kapowder.com, alongside a new goal. To visit and paint each ski resort in Utah. I picked one of my favorite resorts to start: Alta Ski Area. In 2020 I had randomly collected and saved some powder snow from Alta underneath a gleaming full moon following a particularly memorable storm cycle. I thought how fun it would be to use this mason jar of water in my watercolor painting of Alta. I thought it would better capture the essence and magic of what we locals call “Alta Magic.” While painting Alta with my snowmelt, I contemplated how much skiing means to me and the vital role the winter landscape of Utah and our snowpack plays in my own life. So many of my peers and friends actually depend on snowfall for their jobs and livelihoods too. Winter and skiing and snowboarding is integral to our well-being, our mental health, our very identity. Any deep thoughts about winter are always accompanied by a deeper twinge of fear. The ever-present threat of climate change. The natural response is to feel helpless and to pretend it’s not happening. I know I do. Lexi collecting some snow another kind of way... Photo: Jeff Bartlett Science tells us: The last five years were the hottest on record and carbon dioxide emission levels have surpassed historic levels— the climate is warming. Years with low snow totals negatively impact the economy in Utah and beyond. In Utah alone, the ski industry brings in $1.7 billion and creates over 20,000 jobs. The global impact is difficult to calculate or even fathom... Warmer temperatures will and have adversely affected the quality and depth of the snow in many regions. Brian McInerney, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Salt Lake City, Utah anticipates that the Wasatch Range (where I’ve lived and played my whole life) will be snow free by 2100. Well over 500 inches (1300cm) of snowfall blankets the Wasatch in an average year. All of this snow could be rainfall in 80 years. All of this is so scary. Even typing that sentence above makes me want to puke. The simplest thing to do is to give up or ignore the facts. However, it’s vital to remember the importance and power of collective change. If we all make small changes, we can make a difference in this fight against climate change. Join me. By painting each of the 15 ski resorts in Utah with meltwater collected from each mountain, I want to bring awareness and inspire action around the changes we must all make to fight climate change. Five percent of all proceeds from my Paint by Powder prints will be donated to Protect our Winters. Help me spread the word. Making even a small change is empowering and builds momentum. Here are some simple and effective steps you can take to save our snow. - Carpool to the ski hill or ride public transit. - Work remotely when possible and combine errands into one trip to use your car less. - Bike to grab groceries or run errands near home. - Buy and consume less meat. - Use your ski or shred gear till it’s throttled. If your gear still has life, donate it to a worthy organization. Here in the US there are awesome orgs like the Chill Foundation or Share Winter that bring low income children to local hills for ski and snowboard lessons. Many mountains have adaptive skiing or snowboarding programs that can reuse outerwear, gloves, goggles, etc. - If you’re not using a light--shut it off. If it’s on and you’re not using it, you’re wasting energy and pumping carbon needlessly into the air. This one is so simple! Turn off outdoor lights at night. Switch to higher efficiency light bulbs. I only run large loads of laundry 1x per week and when it’s warm, I air dry my clothes outside. My power bill is typically under $30 a month because I am vigilant with my electricity use. - When buying household items that come in plastic, purchase in bulk or the largest containers you can find. For example, I buy jumbo shampoo, laundry detergent, dish soap, body wash, cleaning supplies etc. in the largest container I can find to cut down on plastic consumption, shipping and transportation of the products, and my own shopping trips to buy them. - Look for and support brands that do not use plastic packaging. For example, save up some money and buy a metal razor. Use toothpaste tablets that come in a glass jar. A little research goes a long way here and it’s rewarding to slowly switch your household products over to more responsible options which often cost the same or less than conventional products. This isn’t an overnight process, it’s a journey. I just found a subscription service for bamboo toilet paper that uses NO plastic - WIN! - When travelling, don’t use or steal the hotel shampoo! This one was really hard for me. I am a recovering hotel shampoo kleptomaniac. I now use refillable bottles from home and leave the complementary stuff behind because it creates SO much plastic waste. In a hotel room, there are typically 2-3 garbage cans. Just use one and reduce your plastic bag wastage by 50-66%! See how quickly that tiny little choices and actions can all add up to using drastically less resources? - Consider cancelling your Amazon Prime account. It’s just stuff. Do you really need all that stuff? Does it actually make you happy? I know that’s a big one…and it may not be feasible for some households. But do think about it… - The stuff that makes me happiest isn’t stuff at all! It is experiences, time with friends or my cat, investing in a hobby, listening to music, talking to a loved one...you get the gist. Try one change, then try another. I’ve found that as I improve in one area I’m keen to try another challenge and then tell my friends and peers about it. Be an inspiration and example to others and our positive impact multiplies exponentially! I hope to see you out there on the slopes and may we all work a little harder to safeguard the winter sports that make us feel alive. Winter is worth it. More snow banks like this please. Photo: Jeff Bartlett
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REWILD THE SNOWIES - PLANTING 6,000 TREES IN THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS
We love tree skiing. We've done it through Western Redcedars and Whistler Spruce in Canada, Quaking Aspens in the US and snow laden White Birch in Japan, but if you ask us, you haven't tree skied until you've been coat hangered by an unseen Eucalypt branch here in Australia. It's surely on everyone's bucket list. So it's about time we gave back to the alpine regions and the snow gums that have given us so much. The Snowy Mountains are not only incredibly important to lovers of alpine sports like us, they also have immense historical and ecological significance, being Australia's largest alpine region, home to hundreds of endemic plant and animal species. DONATE NOW This is what it's all about. As much as we love seeing the snowy mountains with a white coat, it's the unique flora and fauna that really captures our hearts. Photo:: Aedan O'Donnell To help rejuvenate a region that's been hit especially hard this year by the likes of fires and Covid-19, we're teaming up with Keep it Cool, a "tree-roots" not-for-profit organisation and our friends at We Are Explorers to plant 6,000 native trees in the Snowy Mountains region. By doing so we'll be creating new habitat for wildlife, beautifying the natural area and assisting with carbon sequestration. One of the few thousand trees we hope to plant across the Snowy Mountain region. Photo:: Boen Ferguson The only thing missing is some shade! Photo:: Boen Ferguson "We plant a mix of hardwood trees, mostly eucalypts, and then a middle understory of various species, like wattles and grevilleas. So when the forest grows up and graduates, it will resemble a natural forest that’s grown that way for years, as closely as we can." - Lucas Wilkinson (Keep It Cool Founder) The goal is to raise $30,000, with every $5 donated guaranteeing a new tree. Crowdfunding will commence Tuesday 17 November and last just under one month. DONATE NOW. Sign up to Rewild The Snowies to learn more about the project. FIND OUT MORE: REWILD THE SNOWIES
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