It is official! The first tram box has been lifted and placed on the cables at 1:36pm today! Teton Village Sports employees spent the day watching for the moment when the box was lifted into the air. When it happened, a mass exodus from the store (and all the other stores) began and the event became history. The car is draped in a mysterious red cover which is producing rumors of just what is under there. Is it red? Black? Sponsored by advertisers? We’ll keep our ears to the rumor mill and post more photos as they are made available.
admin General News
I always talk about how much of a gear nut I am. That is one of the things I love about ski towns. Virtually everyone has an extensive quiver of gear somewhere in their house that they love to talk about. Most of these items are useless, but people hold onto them like trophies. I’m not sure if this old gear is kept around purely for bragging rights or if people think that they might actually grab that pair of Volkl Renntigers or the Burton Safari on the way to the mountain some day. I don’t know what it is about the history of outdoor gear that fascinates me. It must be a combination of my love for history and sports, but I think I can blame my parents for this one. We always had an extensive collection of sleds, skis, snowboards, hockey sticks, enough skates to equip the entire neighborhood for hockey games on our small pond and then there was a special corner of fascinating products that none of the other kid’s garages had. This corner was populated with jarts, mini bobs and something called the Snurfer. In an effort to prove to my boss that I started snowboarding before he did I will now go into the history of the Snurfer and how they came to be in my garage.
According to my research, Sherman Poppen invented the Snurfer in 1965 in Muskegon MI. He licensed the concept to the Brunswick Corporation how began to sell the Snurfer in 1966. From what I can gather, they initially made two models which are pictured in the original add above as well as below; a regular model in yellow with black stripes, and a “Competition” model which came with fancy plastic studs for traction and a metal skeg on the bottom. They retailed for between $10-30 dollars a piece and half a million Snurfers where sold between 1966 and 1976.
My Grandfather purchased several Snurfers in 1966 or 67. Here is a picture of them:
According to family history, my mothers father who purchased the Snurfers and my father who was dating my mother at the time would go to a big hill over looking Crane’s Beach in Ipswich MA and try to ride the Snurfers down the entire hill. Not an easy task.
Somewhere along the line they decided that it would be easier if they added the wooden foot brace, which gave them more stability and decreased the likelihood of your foot slipping off the front of the board which usually ended with a pulled groin or worse. However, it wasn’t their innovation that propelled the Snurfer into the spot light. Eventually, a guy named Jake Burton came along and he had added a binding to his Snufer and history was made.
Growing up I would spend hours trying to figure the Snurfer out. It is a humbeling experience, but one I look forward to trying to tackle again this winter. My parents have finally had enough of winter and are moving to warmer climates. Fortunately, when they cleared out the garage they forwarded a piece of that special corner to me.
squirrel murphy General News
I recently crushed another ride which, as usual, ended with laughter, Garlic Cheeseburgers and yellow beer. Though the riding is still sweet and the weather held out, I couldn’t help but think about all the deep powder turns I hope to make this winter with my new Faction—Royale “with cheese” skis. In addition, the random patches of ice on the trail also helped remind me that I better get a tune before skiing starts too!! Well, have a great one everyone and I hope this finds you all doing great!!
MTF,
Alby
alby Alby's Playpen, General News
In a search to find some new clientele for tetonvillagesports.com I stumbled across Machu Picchu. I thought this would be a great chance to do some advertising and maybe pick up some new customers. After exploring Machu Picchu I think the Incas could benefit greatly by visiting our site, as we all do by visiting theirs. Chacos, Arcteryx rain jackets, and especially bug spray were all key components of my visit. Until next time…
Djibouti General News
I hope everyone out there is as amped about this coming ski season as we are here in Jackson Hole. We have a new tram opening and everyone still has memories of skiing endless powder from last season. For those of you who do not work in a ski shop (how do you afford skis) you have no idea what it is like this time of year. The UPS guy becomes a strange version of Santa Claus as he drops of box after box of new gear. I’ve worked in several warehouses in my day so I am qualified to say that nothing is as fun as checking in a delivery of skis. Although I have never checked in a shipment of bacon, but I can say from experience that skis are more fun than receiving 50 gallon drums of polyester resin or pallets of fiberglass. Unless the pallet might have a few rolls of some sexy Carbon Fiber fabric. I digress.
This year we here at Worldwide Webquarters decided to bring in a few new ski lines. I’d like to talk about one of them today. We are anxiously awaiting our first delivery of Faction product. For those of you not familiar here is a link to our Faction Category page. www.tetonvillagesports.com These skis are sick. Your probably not going to see them in the ski magazine gear review this year, but you’ll see a pair on my feet as I blow past you. Just kidding that was mean and probably a lie. Of the four people that read this blog 3 of them ski better than I do. But you will see a pair of Factions on my feet this season and your going to stop me in the tram line and our conversation is going to go something like this:
You: “Hey you’re really tall”
Me: “Good one”
you: “What are those skis I saw you ripping on?”
Me: “This is the Faction Thirteen. 194cm, 112mm underfoot with an early rise tip for more float in the fluff. This ski is sick and did I mention it is build like a brick sh@t house.”
you: “Lucky”
Me: Why don’t you log on to www.tetonvillagesports.com and pick yourself up a pair or two?
you: Great idea
I’m telling you that is how it will go down. So way not be the first one of your crew to join the Faction Collective. You’ll be the even of them all not to mention that random hottie that you will end up riding the lift with. The one that normally you wouldn’t have anything to say too, but with your fresh pair of Factions the will naturally be draw to you and want to ask for your number. I’ve seen it happen.
squirrel murphy General News, Skiing
Someone once told me to never discuss Politics, Religion or football in a crowd. So far that has been my only rule when it comes to my blog posting. It is with that in mind that I struggle with my latest post. Then I said to myself “What is the difference? No body reads this anyway. Besides, my opinion is not the opinion of the company. I am just one man. Plus, I think blogs should be a little controversial to be effective. I’m sure Bill O’Reilly doesn’t pull any punches on his blog. Fine so here goes.
GO RED SOX!
I think I’m okay on this one. Because I’m not sure Tampa Bay has any fans I don’t think this blog post will be the cause of my sleepless nights.
squirrel murphy General News
Finally back from my 2 month South America trip I am now hanging out with my two sisters in Shelby, North Cakalaky and keeping my new nephew, Jeffrey, entertained with his new Chariot Cougar 1, fully equipped with infant sling, jogger wheel, bike attachment and Baby Bivy (not pictured). He loves the outdoors already! Just have to wait two more years before we can introduce him to the Teton Village Sports Jr. Lease Ski rental program for more winter outdoor fun. As a new uncle and godfather I will have 3 more days here to visit with family and show Jeffrey all there is to know about outdoor recreation and the endless amounts of fun that come with it. Off to change diapers and go for another walk.
Lynch General News
For some reason this picture makes me dizzy, but it doesn’t change the fact that those shoes look great. What are they you might ask? They are the Oboz Yellowstone. Featured here with fresh Wyoming powder. Here is an excerpt from our Product Tester Deb.
“I thought I would take my new Oboz (brand) Yellowstone (model) boots for a test hike in the snow on Sunday. We only walked 3.2 miles, but there was some elevation gain and about 3-4 inches of snow most of the way. My feet were comfortable, warm and dry the whole time. The only other woman I met on the trail was wearing the same pair of shoes and said she was very happy with them as well. ”
Where can you find these? Check www.tetonvillagesports.com soon and you will have your answer.
squirrel murphy General News
This picture was submitted by local fishing (and Red Sox) enthusiast Mike Spector. It was taken by Grand Fishing Adventures guide to the stars Mitch Luedloff.
This picture was taken on the South Fork of the Snake River. As you can plainly see it is snowing, hard. Here is an excurpt from the email I received from Mike. “fairly miserable wet conditions but I stayed perfectly dry and warm under the cover of my Patagonia II Watermaster Waders and Patagonia Guidewater Jacket.”
That may be the case Mike, but I still think fishing in the snow is aweful. It is a good way to lose friends and fishing partners. The only good thing about winter fishing is that the fishing is usually good. Unless you are Steelhead fishing. Don’t fool yourselves people. Steelhead Trout are a myth. Much like unicorns and fat free donuts.
squirrel murphy Fishing, General News
Think the weather is bad in your area? Here are a few pictures of what it has looked like in Jackson Hole recently.
These images would be great if it was November 13th and not October 13th. To early for this, but our friendly weather man Jim Woodmency claims it will warm up again this week and all the snow will melt. Let’s hope so.
On a side note, I found myself trapped in this blizzard on Saturday while elk hunting. Fortunately for me I had on several Icebreaker and Patagonia base-layers. I had forgotten to pack a warm layer to put on in the event that we found an elk. Which we did. As the storm rolled in I had visions of “Empire Strikes Back”. If it hadn’t be for the exceptional wicking properties of the garments I was wearing I think my hunting partner would have need to stuff me inside the belly of the great beast as if it were a Ton Ton.
squirrel murphy General News
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