Congratulations, TJ Schiller!

TJ Schiller pulled off the first 1620 in last night's X Games competition in Aspen. Check it out.

USA! USA! USA!

2010 U.S. OLYMPIC ALPINE SKI TEAM
(name, hometown, age as of opening ceremonies, birthdate, (past Olympics))

Men
Will Brandenburg, Spokane, Wash., 23, 1/1/87
Jimmy Cochran, Keene, NH., 28, 5/29/81 (2006)
Erik Fisher, Middleton, Idaho, 24, 3/21/1985
Tommy Ford, Bend, Ore., 20, 3/20/89
Tim Jitloff, Reno, Nev., 25, 1/11/1985
Nolan Kasper, Warren, Vt., 20, 3/27/89
Ted Ligety, Park City, Utah, 25, 8/31/84 (2006)
Bode Miller, Franconia, NH., 32, 10/12/77 (1998, 2002, 2006)
Steven Nyman, Sundance, Utah, 28, 2/12/82 (2006)
Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, Calif., 29, 4/27/80 (2002, 2006)
Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY., 24, 2/10/86
Jake Zamansky, Aspen, Colo., 28, 6/26/81

Women
Stacey Cook, Mammoth Mountain, Calif., 25, 7/3/84 (2006)
Hailey Duke, Boise, Idaho, 24, 9/17/85
Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, Calif., 25, 3/9/84 (2002, 2006)
Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, Vt., 27, 11/15/82
Megan McJames, Park City, Utah, 22, 9/24/87
Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs, Colo., 20, 8/19/89
Kaylin Richardson, Edina, Minn., 25, 9/28/1984
Sarah Schleper, Vail, Colo., 30, 2/19/79 (1998, 2002, 2006)
Leanne Smith, Conway, NH., 22, 5/28/87
Lindsey Vonn, Vail, Colo. 25, 10/18/84 (2002, 2006)

Look out, Anders Johnson!

It's been a few years since I took my first ski jumping lessons at the Utah Winter Sports Park, but now that I have a Wii Fit board and the 2010 Olympics are only weeks away, I'm working hard to hone my mad ski jumping skills.


Look out, Anders Johnson. The Obsessive Skier is in training.

...Learn about Tree Well and Deep Snow Safety!

A deep snow or tree well accident occurs when a rider or skier falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized. The more the person struggles the more entrapped in the snow they become.

If a partner is not there for immediate rescue, the skier or rider may die very quickly from suffocation - in many cases, they can die as quickly as someone can drown in water.

Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents are referred to as a NARSID or Non-Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Death.

The odds of surviving a deep snow immersion/NARSID accident are low; especially if you are not with a partner. In two experiments conducted in the U.S. and Canada in which volunteers were temporarily placed in a tree well, 90% COULD NOT rescue themselves.

Click here to educate yourself and learn about Tree Well and Deep Snow Safety!

...Charlie Toups is the real deal.

Jason Blevins has done it again. As a writer for The Denver Post, he knows how to find and tell stories that highlight the mountain culture that is Colorado.

After reading this article on ski-bum Charlie Toups, the Obsessive Skier must confess that he is just a ski-bum wanna-be.

...He scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

From Psalm 147. Note verse 16.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!