Stories
Parkin Costain’s Not So ‘Off-Season’ - Building A Bike Park
No matter the season, team rider Parkin Costain is a hard man to catch up with. We don’t mean to say he’s too busy for us, we just mean it’s physically, very, very difficult to catch up with the bloke because he’s so damn fast. Whether he’s on skis or a bike, if you don’t have a sizeable head start, you’re not keeping up. So, when we finally did catch up with him, we picked his brains to see whether we should start calling him a bike ambassador instead of a snow ambassador. Like for much of our team (and product designers) the allure of a narrow trail and a few well-placed berms still beckons, regardless of whether it’s coloured white or brown. Something to mind ride. A little hero dirt and some well placed berms at Legacy Bike Park. Pic cred: @mitch_montana95 LB: Hey Parkin, good to catch up with you! What have you been up to this summer? We'd say 'off-season' but it doesn't seem like you've dialled down the adrenaline at all and you've been busy building the trails too? Hey team! Yeah, you could say summers are still my off-season but I’m definitely not taking a break or backing off the adrenaline, just a few months not strapped into skis! This summer was super busy! Straight out of AK last April I made my way back to Montana where I started up with my summer gig, building MTB trails for my pops company Terraflow Trail Systems. A lifelong passion of his which over the last 12 years has blossomed into a healthy career. This summer was something special though. He and a few buddies who are also avid MTN bikers partnered up and focused all their energy on creating a badass public bike park. Parkin boosting in said badass bike park. He'd call it necessary product testing. Pic cred: @mitch_montana95 Sounds epic. How does biking compare to skiing for you these days? Have you always done both? I absolutely love biking. It’s pretty close to just as fun as skiing for me, especially with the kind of riding I do. I’ve always been drawn to the bigger mountains. Recently I went on a trip to Virgin, Utah and put together my first MTB edit with Benshi Creative. That terrain felt so similar to what I ski in the winter that I kept having flashbacks. HODGEPODGE ft. Parkin Costain from Benshi Creative. I’ve always done both, I learned to ski at two and took the training wheels off the bike around the same time. My parents were both ski bums and my pops was the MTN Biker so growing up it’s all my brother and I knew. Do you think it helps your riding when you have such a hand in building the trails and jumps? I imagine you have a much better understanding for the flow required. Definitely! Anytime I head to a new park or somewhere I haven’t built it takes a few laps to start feeling comfortable. But at Legacy it’s a totally different experience, especially after building most of the line yourself. You stare at transitions and walk the trail for months on end. Parkin's definitely not afraid to get his hands (and socks dirty) and take some of the heavier machinery for a spin in the process. Pic cred: @mitch_montana95 You just keep replaying the features you’ve built over and over in head until you’re done... I’ve never had a more satisfying experience than lacing Forty (our biggest jump trail) first lap ever. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LÉ BENT (@lebent_) Epic, so how did Legacy Bike Park start? How long did the build take you guys? Legacy Bike Park is Terraflow Trails latest creation. The idea was first sparked last August. A family friend had just visited a few well known bike parks up in Canada. He was high on life as he drove back to the states and ended up giving my dad a call. They talked for a bit and basically said, “if they can do it why can’t we?” They became business partners and it was full speed ahead from that point on. They found the right piece of property, bought the land and started two trails all before the snow arrived last fall. Then, this Spring the entire crew was all hands-on deck laying down service roads, campsites, pit toilets, a base area and a bunch of new trails before our public opening day July 15th. It was an absolute mission to get it done but it was worth it in the end. The last week of construction was intense, a couple of our guys worked until 2AM operating with lights on the machine to get it all done in time. I was focused on our double black jump trail called ‘Forty’ and a pump track in the base area. I’ve been digging for Terraflow since I was 10. What little boys aren’t obsessed with excavators? It all started with a pump track in my families backyard and has slowly escalated to getting time on some of our biggest machines building whatever my mind can dream up. I’ve had the most fun with Ninja Marmot in Big Sky and Forty at Legacy. Sounds unreal! How many trails are there in total then and how have they been received by the public up there? We’ve got 13 trails that were finished for this season. Everything from green flow to double black and tech trails there’s something for everyone. Also, since passes are capped at 80 per day we’re never too busy - just enough to make a few new friends. Everyone gets a ride to the top on one of our two 25 capacity shuttles with Huckwagon bike trailers and then it's all downhill from there. The public has spread the word so quickly! We couldn’t be more stoked for our first season of operation. Really looking forward to watching this place continue to grow. No doubt. Are you even thinking about skiing if you’re having so much fun in the dirt? When do you think you'll switch gears and turn your attention to snow? My mind is definitely shifting towards the winter months. I’ve had a few brisk early mornings already and I couldn’t be more stoked. Excited to ride the bike this fall and then will be itching to find some pow turns! Obviously you started wearing our threads during the winter months and we know you’re a big fan of the Sammy Sock and 200gm crew baselayer, but what’s your go-to for Summer? For sure. All summer I’ve been loving the Bike Ultra Light Mini Sock. It’s a great fit and comfortable from daily life to the long MTB ride. I normally pair it with the 200 Logo Tee, never knew how much I needed a breathable merino T-Shirt. I kept a couple of both stashed in my truck this spring for the multi day stints building at Legacy. Awesome. Yeah, the merino blend in the tees means you can get away without washing them for a heck of a long time. No doubt you’ve pushed the odour suppression to the limits shovelling away all day at Legacy! All photos courtesy of @mitch_montana95
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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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ULTRA-TRAIL AUSTRALIA 2021 EVENT RECAP
When a runner who effectively limped across the 100km finish line says, “UTA 2021 didn't disappoint.” You know it’s a special race indeed. After a covid-19 hiatus, the Ultra-Trail Australia event finally happened last weekend and it was one for the books. Team runner Vlad Shatrov is the aforementioned limping, but stoked trail runner, and while he might not have taken first place as he would have liked, there were still many firsts to be had on a very trying course. For Vlad it was the: - First time I’ve run in the dark in the Blue Mountains. - First time I’ve worn a fleece in an event. - First time I’ve been sleeted on in an event. - First time I’ve got a shirt with another year printed on it. - First time I’ve run all day with gloves on. According to Vlad, and the number of bloodied knees we saw hobbling through the event expo, “The conditions were just so tough which made finishing even more rewarding.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vlad Shatrov (@vlad_protrailrunner) “You could see the smiles on everyone’s face as big racing returned. It was definitely a relief and a boost for many!” “I didn't have the day I trained for, it’s really tough when you cannot deliver on your preparation but honestly it’s those days you grow more. I didn’t feel great all day - then topping it off I hurt my left ankle, the pain at 65km was so real. Finishing was necessary for me this year no matter the time. I’ll be back stronger. And shout out if you didn’t have a great day - Ben I hope the hug at 60km lifted your spirits on your DNF.” Vlad’s referring to fellow Le Bent runner Ben Duffus, who, despite leading the pack for the majority of the 100km was forced to retire from injury around the 60km mark. “I was feeling the fittest I’d ever been,” said Ben. “But unfortunately, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and an ongoing hip-flexor issue was my undoing.” “Obviously, I was gutted at the time to have to withdraw, but the love and support I’ve received from the trail-running community has been incredible. I’m already looking forward to going back and having another crack at it next year!” Ben still in high spirits midway through the 100k. Photo: Lucy Bartholomew While Ben and Vlad jostled for the top two places before injuries struck, one Le Bent runner, Brendan Davies, was quietly grinding away and crossed the line in 5th place, 2nd in the Masters category. Brendan in action during the last UTA (he was too quick for a photo op this year). Photo: UTA While it's fair to say most of the Le Bent men didn’t have the day they’d hoped for, the same can’t be said for the female team, whose results probably exceeded their expectations but were right in line with their abilities. In the 22km event, Paige Penrose was the first female over the line despite not even knowing if she’d be on the start line the night before. “I’m absolutely loving running at the moment but I’ve had a big few months of races and for some reason I had no competitive drive coming into UTA,” said Paige. “I was super excited for a long run in the mountains, but had no fight. I decided to turn up and run my own run. My legs and body know what to do so I handed it to them.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paige Penrose (@pipenrose) “My race ended up being pretty sweet. The first few km were pretty intense but I let that happen and plugged along. A mate, Majell Backhausen, who was doing media coverage, jumped in behind me on the trail and we had a good catch up. Then I chatted to a guy all the way along the valley floor. Once we hit the single trail with some roots and rocks to play on, I’m not quite sure what happened.” What happened next, in fact, was Paige stormed her way up the Furber steps and across the finish line to first place. That’s right... Paige can run 22km and hold a conversation on the tricky terrain without breaking a sweat. Photo: UTA Hot on Paige’s heels was fellow Le Bent athlete Kellie Emmerson who took second place in 2.07hrs. “It is always pretty daunting showing up to one of the biggest events on the calendar, let alone after having a baby!” Said (new mum) Kellie. “But you can’t hide in a ‘shorter’ race. It’s all in! So, the 22km event was a true test of my current fitness and I’m stoked to see myself on the right track.” Kellie Emmerson not missing a beat after welcoming a new bub! What a performance. The trail running community arguably put on the best show of the week, cheering on friends and family as temperatures dipped below 0 Degrees Celsius. Baselayers and Glove Liners were heavily coveted from our store at the Expo and plenty of Lucy Pro Series Socks were spotted in action out in the wild. Lucy Bartholomew making friends after running in the 11km race and more than a few of her Pro Series Socks for sale. There were plenty of our Viper Run Club friends out on course as well, and as many Lucy Socks. Finally, congratulations to all the runners who participated, no matter your result or whether you made it across the finish line! And also shoutout to the volunteers and race organisers who made the week possible. We’ll see you on the trails!
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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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LE BENT WELCOMES MICHAELA DAVIS-MEEHAN TO THE FAMILY
MICHAELA DAVIS-MEEHAN – WELCOME INTERVIEW Michaela Davis Meehan is officially the number two women’s snowboard freerider in the world right now. If you know her, and if you’ve seen her ride, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The surprising part is, she’s also Australian. Like much of the skiing and boarding that went down in the northern hemisphere in the early months of 2020, the Freeride World Tour ended rather unceremoniously. When the dust settled after the announcement that the final event in Verbier had to be cancelled in light of the soon to be Covid-19 pandemic, the standings at the time solidified into the finishing places, so Michaela took the no. 2 spot. Michaela was sitting pretty with consistent results all season and dare we say was set to peak at the final event. A fifth in Kicking horse was followed by a second-place finish in Hakuba, a second-place finish in Fieberbrunn Austria and most recently a first-place finish in Ordino Arcalís Andorra. In fact, this first place made history as Michaela was the first Australian to take the gold at a FWT event!! Out of all disciplines, snowboard, ski, men and women! A competition season like no other, was naturally followed by an off-season like no other and Michaela barely got on snow, despite living down under throughout winter. Instead, she shut up shop and was subjected to one of the harshest lockdowns in the world at the time in Melbourne, Victoria. Despite spending more time in our trail socks this year than our snow socks, we’re stoked to welcome Michaela to the team. We’d been watching her performance on tour like many Aussies and knew it was a partnership waiting to happen. Below, we pick her brains about another wild and unprecedented competition season and find out how she’s been staying ready for the steeps. Michaela probably eyeing off her next line. Pic cred: Oliver Godbold Michaela letting it run somewhere in Europe. Pic cred: Andrew Mazzocato LB: Hey Michaela! It’s been a hectic few months and we’ve done plenty of back and forths’ regarding getting you in the threads and especially whether it’s to be summer or winter threads on the menu! How have you been? Hey hey! I've been doing really good thanks! Now that lockdown has lifted, I'm just about to head off on another camping trip! Good to hear! Before we backtrack and ask how you spent the Aussie winter season, we have to ask what’s the latest regarding the Freeride World Tour this season? We’ve heard plenty of murmurings that it’ll run in some capacity? At this point in time, it is going ahead! With the Japan and Canada stops cancelled, it will just be a Euro tour this season. The FWT are working hard to make it happen. Of course, with things changing so frequently it's a tough one to plan for and no one will 100% know until we are hiking up ready to drop in for the first event! No kidding, so are you trying to get over to Europe for it? You’d have to be one of the only Aussies travelling for a snow season if so! That must be pretty surreal?! Yeah, it's all pretty crazy! I've only just booked my flights and am out of here this week to Switzerland!! I'll ride there until the first stop of the FWT on the 22nd Feb in Andorra. That is wild! We'll definitely be vicariously riding through you then this season! How ready are you physically to get back on the steeps? We’re guessing you haven’t had much time off when it comes to training right? I kept at it over lockdown, working out at the park and lots of bike riding! If anything, lockdown was great for my training, as there wasn't much else to do! haha And as far as on-snow prep goes, did you get any Aussie riding in at all this season? The terrible season we had made me feel a lot better about not getting up there! I did manage to squeeze in 2 days of hiking at Hotham in between lockdowns though! For an Aussie, Michaela sure is comfortable in the steeper and deeper stuff. Pic cred: Andrew Mazzocato Aside from training how else have you stayed busy this season? Our other Victorian legend Lucy Bartholomew dove into the deep end of a cookbook. Is cooking your jam or have you another hobby you’ve been able to hone? Sounds yumm! I didn't dive into the cook books but I did pick up a whole bunch of new hobbies. It started off super lazy when I first came back to Aus from Switzerland in quarantine. It involved A lot of Netflix and learning to play the Ukulele! After that I started volunteering at the local community centre with their fresh food program, I started and now just completed a diploma in film and television, got myself a slackline (which is super fun) and did a bunch of bike riding to explore the 5km radius we were allowed to go to as I just moved to a new state when I arrived back in Aus. I definitely made the best of the situation, all of that kept me pretty sane and busy! Glad to hear it! Thanks a bunch for taking the time to catch up with us and we can’t wait to see you competing, whenever that is! Cheers guys!!! Fingers crossed it's 2021! :) Here's to more turns like this in 2021. Pic cred: Andrew Mazzocato ABOUT MICHAELA Age: Old enough...to party! Hometown: Newcastle Home Resort: Perisher Nationality: Australian Sponsors: Le Bent, The North Face, NFPD Brand, Twelve Board Store, SunGod, SunButter Ambassador Favourite Le Bent gear: It's all good!! But absolutely loving the Women's Boy Shorts! A girls gotta have comfy undies! Follow Michaela here: Instagram
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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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WATCH 'DOLLAR SHORT' SKI FILM HERE + BTS CHAT TO CREATORS!
DOLLAR SHORT IS LIVE! Before we get into the making of, nitty gritty, BTS with the brain trust behind the picture, catch the full 12-minute flick featuring pillow lines, backcountry booters and bank robberies below!!! Boom! If that doesn't get you excited for winter, nothing will. Wondering how they came up with such a concept and what in fact goes into executing a project like this - all while Covid is knocking on the northern Hemi's doorstep? We were too. Below, hear from the creators Caleb Chicoine and Alex D'Agostino, directors and masterminds from Benshicreative as well as Le Bent team riders Parkin Costain and Jake Hopfinger. Jake Hopfinger presumably admiring his handiwork. Photo: Jonathan Finch Caleb Chicoine (director): Thinking about how this film came to fruition is pretty funny to reflect on. During the summer of 2019 Alex and I we’re both working as editors at TGR in Jackson Hole. We were fresh off releasing our first ski series “Before Tomorrow” the winter prior. That project was what really kicked off Benshi, but we felt like it was just a small taste of what we wanted to do and what the Benshi crew was capable of.We started a really strong relationship with Jake Hopfinger with Before Tomorrow and knew we wanted to all work together again the next winter, and on one of our last days shooting that project we linked up with Parkin Costain. We all hit it off instantly and started scheming the next film. All aboard the company car/metal steed. Photo: Jonathan Finch Since Alex and I were living in Jackson Hole, Jake was in Bozeman, and Parkin was in Whitefish, we would have daily facetime group calls to brainstorm film ideas. We knew we wanted to make something that wasn’t just action ski porn, and was able to integrate a story into a ski film without beating it over people's heads.Lots of bad ideas came out of these facetime sessions (mostly by me…). When we would talk about coming up with ideas, we played with the concept of creating a totally random scenario and saying “what would happen if... “ and seeing where that would take us. Jokingly as an example, someone (I don’t remember who) said “What if we robbed a bank”.We all laughed and thought that was a ridiculous idea and a funny joke. As we bounced around a bunch of other ideas over the next few weeks, we eventually circled back to this joke idea and just said “Screw it, what would happen if two skiers robbed a bank?” Haha... Two skiers walk into a 7/11, a bar, a bank... Photo: Jonathan Finch After that summer Alex and I moved back to Bozeman and we started to really pick this idea apart with the whole crew. We just kept playing off of the “what if” idea and let it roll, and eventually we came up with what you see in the film. I couldn’t be more grateful for this crew and all the hard work everyone dedicated to making this happen and for all of our sponsors. I feel like this is still just 5% of the way to where we want to take things as a crew and am psyched to get to work on the next one. Alex D'Agostino (director): As a kid growing up on the east coast I remember watching all the big ski films and thinking: Wow, I’m never going to be able to do things and go to the places these guys are going. Even though I now have been lucky enough to experience those once far off dreams, those childhood thoughts still resonate with me. Caleb and I wanted to make a film that touches on that idea. Sure nice sleds and big trucks are epic, but the true heart of skiing is just going out with your friends whenever and however you can. This film was a blast to make - it was hilarious making two pro skiers act for us all year. The Benshi crew is just getting started - we are incredibly excited for what’s next! Alex on the tools. Photo: Jonathan Finch Parkin Costain: What a season last year was! I was more eager than ever to be more involved in the ski industry. Just a few years ago I would have never guessed that goal would lead me to help create a short ski film as part of the Benshi Crew. I’ve continued to embrace my ever growing urge to never have a real job and last season was the logical next step in that direction. Parkin repping our lightweight balaclava for heavyweight pillow domination. Photo: Jonathan Finch While navigating the Covid ridden season, the crew and I were able to continue production all the way up until March when the whole world went into lockdown. Before this I was able to win the Kings and Queens of Corbet’s, score a segment with Warren Miller Entertainment and continue on with the everflowing good times with the Benshi crew. So much went down last season but by far the most gratifying and rewarding moments were spent with our tight knit team scouting and shredding lines in the backcountry. I couldn’t be more stoked on forming such a strong relationship with the team. Our minds are turning for the upcoming season and I can’t wait to show the world what we’re scheming. Parkin prepping to drop... Off what, we ain't sure. Photo: Jonathan Finch Jake Hopfinger: Ever seen two backcountry skiers rob a bank? We did - kinda… The fall before shooting this project was spent with many hours on the phone brainstorming concepts for a backcountry skiing short film with a strong narrative backbone. Something that would bring a fresh tone to ski industry media. “Dollar Short” is certainly something unique that I hope people will appreciate. Jake Hopfinger minding the gap. Photo: Jonathan Finch Being the second season with the Benshi Creative crew, I had some high expectations for my personal skiing. With such a strong crew, it allowed me to really focus on my task at hand: ski hard and stay healthy. Luckily that is how it played out, which made for one of the best seasons of my life. We are all really psyched with how “Dollar Short” turned out. We hope everyone will keep an eye on our crew for what’s to come in the future! Can we be in the next one boys? Looks like a bloody good time! Photo: Jonathan Finch
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WHAT'S COOKING WITH LUCY BARTHOLOMEW? - Q&A
What does an ultrarunner do when only allowed outside for 1 hour of exercise per day? That’s barely enough time to get a light warm-up in, let alone delete a few dozen kilometres of trail! But Lucy Bartholomew put this not-so hypothetical to the test these last few months under a Victorian Covid lockdown. What did she discover? Well, when life gives Lucy lemons, she makes lemonade! …and a bunch of other tasty treats, all of which can be found in her brand-new cookbook! Wait what?! Lucy in the kitchen of the athlete house before the Western States 100mile run, 2019. Photo: Max Romey/Salomon Running Hey Luc! It’s been a wild few months since we last caught up for a chat. How have you been managing life in Victoria with all the restrictions due to Covid? Hello! Time seems to be going slowly yet also speedy this year! Lockdown life feels like déjà vu but it’s not all that bad with my dad and puppy as company, small projects to keep me entertained and training it feels like rise, run, rinse, refuel, repeat is my days and i have enjoyed the simplicity of that. Have you found that you’ve been able to adapt your routine considering the amount of time you normally spend on the trail? I have, and at first I tried to fight it and didn’t like being ‘stuck’ somewhere and told what I can and can’t do but once I embraced it, it has added a new flavour to training and another surge of motivation which is really cool. The change in pace seems to have paid off with you being able to focus energy on your awesome new cookbook. Congratulations on the release! Did the extra time at home help you add the title ‘author’ to your already impressive CV? Thank you! Yes! This cookbook has been 4-5 years in the making as I have always had a bank of recipes and been asked so many times to put them all together but with the less training and lots of time in one place and with a kitchen I made it my focus. I was very lucky to have it keeping me busy (and full!) There are too many delicious plates to pick from in here and it’s hard not to drool on my notepad as I write this question… I’m sure you find it just as hard to pick, but do you have any favourites or regular go-to recipes? I feel quite the same but for me the simple recipes of smoothie bowls and granola have always been in my life and made me smile. What I like most about the recipes in the book is that one recipe can turn into 3-4 others with leftovers. That was something I really wanted was to give life to recipes time and time again. Our crew is always inspired by the efforts you put into healthy living and eating. What would you say your motivations are to maintain a healthy diet? I know that I feel best when i eat well and for sure it affects my training and lifestyle I try to lead as an athlete. It doesn’t really feel like effort to me and I think when people see the recipes, they start to understand that it really can be quite simple! A cross-section of the healthy delicacies you can expect to find in Lucy's book. Did this help inspire you to share your delicious creations with the world? Certainly. I feel very lucky to have spare time in my day to slice my apples finely and fan them around the edge of my smoothie bowl but I wanted to share that that’s not the important thing and you can share the same meals simple, sustainably and also quite cheaply! We’re loving the new cookbook and it’s stepped up the game from our ‘dummies guide to cooking’. Where can one pick up the new book? At the moment is available as an ebook on my website HERE The plan is to try and have some hard copies for Christmas but there is no guarantees! As the life’s become more localised and events have been cancelled or postponed, have you any new goals you’re working towards? Any more new titles you’ll be adding to your resume? (Don’t feel you need to answer this if you don’t want to) This time has definitely opened my eyes to learning more and expanding more on the things that make me passionate. I want to work more on the environment and spreading understanding and awareness of this! I also have some fun projects that will capture my home land of Australia rather than just pinning to get on metal bird so quickly. Thanks a bunch for taking the time to catch up and share your journey over the past few months. Can’t wait to catch you out on the trails once the boarders open back up! Thanks team. It’s been quite the ride but I know that it’s just getting started and controlling the things you can control is what I chose to focus on- like what you eat! Lucy getting out of the kitchen for her allotted exercise. With meals and trails like hers you'll also be feeling excellent. Photo: Lucy Bartholomew Download Lucy's E-Book HERE Check out the collaborative designed Le Lucy sock HERE
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Running In The Age Of Corona - LE BENT Joins The Vipers Run Club
Very few activities, leisurely or otherwise, have been spared from Covid lockdowns. Social dining, gatherings and team sports have all been a victim of strict social distancing protocols here in Oz and abroad. However, one activity has endured, if not boomed in response to us barely being allowed outside at times, and that is the simple art of running. Perhaps it’s a metaphor and we all just want to run away from 2020? It’s for this reason that we’re stoked to be partnering with the Vipers Run Club this year, whose goal it is to not just get more men out running on the streets and across the trails for the myriad physical benefits it affords, but out doing so to also improve their mental health. Vipers began as a local running community on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and brought together a host of guys who were looking to get mentally and physically fit. We flicked a few questions the way of Scott O’Brien, one of the Viper’s ring leaders, or snake charmers if you will, to get his thoughts on what it’s like to go running during this unprecedented time. Meet the crew - a welcoming bunch of legends. Credit: @vipers.rc LB: Hey Scott, how are you mate? Good mate, thanks. Rolling with the punches over the last few months, but I’m enjoying being on the Northern Beaches during this time. I also got a dog back in March that’s been keeping me busy and he’s pretty cute which helps too. LB: That’s great to hear! Running wouldn’t have anything to do with that would it? ;) Running has also been a big focus for me over the last few months as initially it was the only way we could justify being outside for a while there, but I’ve really been enjoying my running lately and exploring new parts of Australia through trail running and even some cool runs in my backyard. The snake pit - Manly NSW, Australia. Credit: @vipers.rc LB: Have you guys noticed a big surge in the amount of people out running in light of Covid? Definitely.. it’s been great to see people getting outside and being active during a time like this, and I think that a lot of people have either discovered or re-discovered a love for running and being outdoors in general that’s been pretty amazing to see. LB: Further to that, have you noticed more people reaching out to join you guys, and more of an onus on mental health during this time? Yeah, to be honest, we weren’t sure how we would go with the restrictions around groups given we have over 100 members now, but we saw a big influx of people reaching out to us that had seen us online or on social media that were keen to be a part of the community we were building. Now our online presence is strongest we’ve ever been and a large part of that is due to the necessity of staying connected. The iconic Blueys... not a bad place to roam with mates. Credit: @vipers.rc LB: We’re guessing social distancing measure has also made it difficult to maintain your weekly run meet-ups? How have you tackled that? Yeah, we have been running sessions with one in the morning and two in the evening with 20 people limits using Facebook to manage who signs up for each session with a first come - first serve system that’s been working really well. We’ve found that this allows for guys to choose which session suits their day as before we only had one evening session that was hard from some people to make it with work and family stuff. LB: What’s next for the Vipers and the community you guys are fostering? We’re focused on bringing awareness to how important mental health is particularly for men and how running in a group can help foster conversations that lead towards facing mental struggles and ways to cope with everyday life. Often we’ve found guys find it difficult to connect with each other outside the pub, and this gives our members a way to put in a hard session, earn your beers after, and get to know a good group of guys looking to make themselves better. We’re excited to see where we can take this and always open to anyone who's interested that can get in contact with us. Learn more about the Vipers RC - www.vipersrunclub.com And don't forget to follow the journey on Instagram or Facebook
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