Few things are as fulfilling as buzzing down a nicely buffed out section of single track. Wind in your face, trees rushing by, dust kicking up and you're almost flying. Capturing that moment, the feeling, is something or a rarity. To that end, IMBA (the International Mountain Bicycling Association) just announced their first-ever "Celebrate Singletrack" short-format film contest. Mountain bikers from around the world are invited to submit 3-5 five minute film or video shorts that celebrate the spirit of mountain biking. As the platform for upload they've enlisted YouTube by making a Celebrate Singletrack group which once you've joined you're then able to upload your videos. Right now there is one entry, a short and sweet piece. Check it. What are you waiting for? Pick up that camera of ...

Ryan Leech has been a friend of FeedTheHabit.com for a long time. The man is likely the most talented trials rider ever and he's a class act to boot. I chatted with him at Interbike last October as I swung a leg over the new Norco Fluid LT1 prototype and he was as happy and friendly as ever. Ryan is truly a one-of-a-kind individual and athlete who takes time to chat with fans and truly cares about the image he portrays of himself and of his sponsors. I also had a good chat with Norco's Peter Stace-Smith about Ryan and he had so many good things to say about Ryan that it just confirmed to me once more that we are all stoked to count Ryan as a friend and an industry icon....

I just got word of the Sierra Designs Down Bootie Giveaway contest. So, if you're you down with some free booties every weeekday in April, check out the following details. It's easy-as-pie to enter an if you win, the booties will definitely help you strut your stuff the next time you do the hussle on your nearest backcountry dance floor. Looks like one free pair of booties per weekday all April long with one grand prize winner out of the whole bootie-winning bunch. The Great Bootie Giveaway Contest Details The Sierra Designs Down Bootie has developed into one of those truly indispensable pieces of gear for winter adventurers. They’re like a devoted coffee drinker’s favorite mug they never leave home without. In fact, if it weren’t a fashion faux pas, most people would probably ...

Participate in a once-in-a-lifetime guided climb of your choice up one of 24 classic North American peaks. Join Backpacker Magazine's annual "Summit for Someone" charity fundraiser to benefit the at-risk youth of Big City Mountaineers. Some of the country's top accredited guides are ready to challenge your skill level on one of three types of exciting ascents. Just for participating, you could also take home a mountain of free gear as a thank-you from our sponsors. Don't miss this awesome world-class event. The only thing more uplifting than a view at the summit is knowing you've helped teens who need it most. What summits can be climbed? Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta, Gannet Peak, Mt. Olympus, Mt. Moran and Mt. Hood are just a few of the 24 most sought after ...

I guess I've been under a rock the past six months as I didn't know until today that Giant Bicycles rider, Tara Llanes, suffered a serious spinal cord injury on September 1, 2007 at the Jeep King of the Mountain race in Beaver Creek, CO. Wow... I can't believe I hadn't heart about this before. Tara is one of the most prolific women mountain bike racers and has been a huge part of the sport for years. I wish her well in her recovery from this devastating injury. No doubt her spirit and drive will get her back up and walking again. I truly hope for a full recovery. You can check out www.tarallanesracing.com to see her accomplishments and adventures over the years....

Growing up, I vividly remember brothers, Rob and Eric DesLauriers skiing for Warren Miller. They are up there with Scot Schmidt, Glen Plake, Mike Hattrup, Tom Day and the other ski heroes of the day. They did things on super-skinny skis that still blows your mind. As it turns out, Rob DesLauriers would eventually marry and he would watch and help as his wife, Kit, ski-descend from the tops of the seven summits--a world's first. I've known of Kit's ski mountaineering and big mountain skiing prowess for a long time, but until I read the following article on ESPN.com, I had no idea she was that ambitious, nor quite that accomplished. What she has done is nothing short of amazing. She is tough and gritty, but smart ...

To be honest, Deer Valley is one of my favorite places to ski in Utah. What?!?! Me, a pow-seeking, backcountry-loving skier like skiing at Deer Valley? Yessir... the place is near the top of my list if given the choice on any day of the week. Here's why: the grooming is impeccable, the service is as good as it gets, but most importantly, nobody does tree skiing quite like Deer Valley. And, tree skiing is exactly the reason why the all-new Lady Morgan Express chairlift was put in. Its 1150 vertical feet gives skiers access to 200 more skiable acres. Not just an impeccably-groomed 200 acres, we're talking about 200 acres of perfectly-pitched and perfectly-spaced aspen and pine glades. Just as the Daly Chutes were an awesome addition when the Empire Lift was put in, ...

For those of you who haven't been fortunate enough to ski at Silverton Mountain, now is your chance! They have just announced an extra day per week of skiing/riding through December and some of the most epic riding conditions to date. The place is awesome and you will definitely have the time of your life on the mountain thanks to the cool crew, amazing mountains and bottomless powder. Here's the word from Silverton: Silverton Mountain is now also open on Fridays for the rest of December. Starting in January the schedule goes to the regular Thursday through Sunday schedule. This is just in time for The Best Skiing in the History of Silverton Mountain. Silverton Mountain doesn’t get the holiday crowds, so now might be the time to sneak down to Silverton for the holidays. Unguided ski packages for 2 ...

Though everyone knew it would happen sooner or later, snowboarders can now mark off one of the last 4 US ski resorts who still don't allow snowboarders on their slopes. Not effective immediately (likely to let the old-timers rally for a couple more months), as of March 19, 2008, Taos Ski Valley will allow snowboarders on their slopes. What do I think about this? Really, I'm not shocked at this announcement. Taos is the only real ski resort in the desert southwest. They have a limited local draw and their destination skier totals have dwindled recently. However, Taos is one of those cool family-owned organizations with enough grit to tough things out. They will be better off for allowing snowboarders--financially and in overall marketability. Hopefully it helps them ...

Brighton Ski Resort is tucked at the far end of Big Cottonwood Canyon, just over the ridgeline from Alta. The great snow factory we call the Great Salt Lake produces lake-effect storms that nuke on the local resorts. Brighton benefits to the tune of over 500-inches per year--that's over 41 feet! Brighton is known for its terrain parks and strong snowboard crowd. But, for a resort that is celebrating 70 years in business, they haven't let anything go to their heads. The vibe is pretty laid back and the prices--well, they haven't looked around and done the "me too" price increases. Brighton could charge more than their $53 full-day lift ticket price, but they don't and that's good for everyone. With 4 of 5 lifts of the high-speed variety and 4 terrain parks (check out My-Oh-My's top-to-bottom terrain ...