Ice Climbing Intro

Today Henry and I went out ice climbing. This was an introduction for the kid to what can be done on skis if you know more both about your self and how to use proper gear. Ice climbing training, believe it or not, will get skiing to feel easy when we are doing something that is more exposed on the mountain. Today was a day to conquer his mental fears so he could be more prepared on the next journey. Period. It was a good day! =) After we where done I had to drive pick up some meat for our big New Year Party. Snow was coming down hard onto the windshield, and it was hard to see. Hopefully we will get to ski powder tomorrow!

Sex on ice! (guess what movie?) Or sorry. I ment, axe on ice =)

Half way, shitting bricks =)

Nice Spikes!

Last stretch!

First Repell for the young guy.
Well done Henry!

Forgott Swamp

Two days ago me and Mike where out in Swamp again and got some more powder and vertical meter to our winter.

US Grants in the background, named after the former pressident.

Milking turns.

Great colorful from Peak Performance and POCsports =)

San Jaquin Chute from Vally X

We where a crew of 10 people and one dog skining up from Vally X early yesterday morning. It become to be a long day out in the feld and, 10 people through San Jaquin chute this early in the season means not a load snow, especaly not that stick to the rock. So as the 6 person down it was more mountenering than skiing. But I succssed to pull out my camera and take some pictures and the run got to be a well needed mind reminder.

He is my dealer!!! =)

On top of the chute!

In the chute, it dosen't look steep but were I'm standing it's good 50 degree.

Once your down you got to enjoy the warm sun.

Coming out from the chute it opens up and you can do GS turn. 

Willi, Wiii!

Willi getting some soft turns.

The snow looks like fire.

First day in Telluride!

Here is some pictures from my first day in Telluride. We skied Centerline and Swampcanyon in Vally X. This are two separate runs, both with one hour or slightly longer skin. It starts at 3000 meter and reach up to around 4000 meters. Fisrt run I did with Mike in Centerline and then he had to leave for some errands so I joined up with Daniel and took a second run in Swampvally, that was deep! =) Later same evening me and Daniel went ice climbing for 2,5 hours.

Mike get some nice turns. Love the shadow!

Okey, it was deep the first run two.

You have to ski close to me went I use this lens was my word to Mike, and he did!

Daniel milk some powder on top of Swampvally. Clodes came in and the light for taking more picture was pointless. So you just have to trust me, it was good! =)

Teaser!

New post

Leaving for Telluride in less than 24 hours. 06.00 am tomorrow morning I depart from Stockholm. I been gone for a while now but now I'm back. Last weeks I been touring around Sweden searching for snow. Sälen, Funäsdalen, Åre and finally Vemdalen where we found it. Got some snow, 10-20 inches last week. I was working with a Level 2 ski instructor course and we had an awesome week. I was offerd work when we where done, that uaselly mean you done something good. I will hopefully come back to Sweden in january and have a lecture about leadership and communication. Fun! I also been cheating with my camera, promise I will do better when I get to Telluride so I can give you al some nice winter picture for Christmas and New Year. You can also follow me on Facebook, both on Staffan Björklund and Scandinavian Freeskiers!

The shadow of me. I'm getting ready to tuck. Love this shot, it have a lot of potensial. The wind make the snow whirl around me, it turned out to be a cool effect!

I was running yesterday, a trail called "reflex track". It work this way, they put up reflectors along the trail and when you run with a headlamp in the darkness the reflectors reflect so you can see exactley where to run. It's specaly beautiful when it's snow everywhere on the ground, on the trees and the air is all crispy. What I didn't thought about was that this new fresh thin layer of snow that we got last night cover all reflectors and you lose track of where you are easy... So I was free running in the forest for little more than one hour. This is pure freedom for me, it's completley silent, so calm and you just fight against your own thoughts. Running on the line of giving up, but the curiosity of what's around the next corner motivate me run through most pain. This is a constant fight between your mind and your body. You are tyerd, it's slippery and you don't know how much futher you have to go, you jus know that you have to keep on going. Not because you have to, because you what to. To see how and what you can achieve, maybe for someone else but hopefully for your self. This process can be refered to most things in life is my beleive.
More yesterday I planed next week, when me and two other instructors will lead a level 2 ski instructor course in Vemdalen. Hopefully we get some more cold weather and loads of snow in near future. Right now, here in Östersund they hold the season premier for Biathlon World Cup. Check it out!

Here you can see a poor picture of the hill/slope where we are running up and down. The lake infront is Storsjön.

Moon light!