Welcome to the Born Out There Blog. Check back often or subscribe to the RSS feed to get the latest First Ascent announcements, expedition dispatches, downloads and more.
Want to try out the gear the guides are wearing on Everest? FIRSTASCENT.COM
It was quite a year for First Ascent ski guides Reggie and Zach Crist, Lel Tone, Tom Wayes, Erik Leidecker and Kent McBride, as they set out to design the 2010 ski collection. They packed up the First Ascent Airstream back in December in Sun Valley, Idaho and made their way through California, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Washington before catching the ferry to the big mountains of Alaska. Using the Airstream as base camp, the guides designed, tested, redesigned, and retested gear until they finally ended the season with a fifth prototype that will be the basis for final product this fall. We hope you enjoyed the journey as much as we did, and we can’t wait for you to see the gear in time for the 2010 ski season.
Although we’ve had a few great days of skiing in the last week, we haven’t had much in the way of sunshine to document the magic of Haines the way it deserves. With more than 10 feet of new snow in the high country and a strong likelihood of widespread blower conditions, it was time for a sacrifice – someone to willingly go against all rational thinking by packing his bags and leaving the team in Alaska Read More…
Last week Neil Fiske, Eddie Bauer CEO, flew up to Alaska to check in with First Ascent ski guides Reggie and Zach Crist, hard at work finalizing the new FA ski gear. Haines offers some of the most epic backcountry ascents and heli-skiing in the world and is the perfect location for the final round of field-testing gear before it’s available in-store this fall.
The Crist brothers are in Haines, Alaska in pursuit of big mountain skiing, and to welcome Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures, or SEABA, to the First Ascent family. Putting the guide built philosophy to work, First Ascent has outfitted the entire SEABA heli and cat-skiing guide team in our new ski gear (due in stores this fall). SEABA guides will continue testing the gear day in and day out, providing critical feedback from some of the most demanding terrain in the world.
No ski season would be complete for First Ascent guides and brothers, Reggie and Zach Crist, without a trip up north to Alaska. Follow the Born Out There Blog over the coming weeks as the Crists and the rest of the First Ascent crew share what it’s like to test gear in some of the world’s most epic conditions.
And so begins the annual pilgrimage to Alaska. The coastal mountains of our northernmost state have become holy ground amongst those who love to ski – especially for those who appreciate lying tracks in wild and scenic places Read More…
First Ascent’s guide-built philosophy means that each of our products must be tested in the most extreme outdoor conditions. For the upcoming First Ascent ski collection, we knew that meant we needed to get our ski guides, Reggie and Zach Crist, out on the road to chase down this season’s biggest storms. It just made sense for two of America’s iconic adventure brands to come together to create the First Ascent Airstream. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the Crists worked with the Airstream designers to custom build a trailer ideal for chasing powder, ski camping and staying cozy in between.
The Crist brothers, along with Lynsey Dyer, hit up Steamboat earlier this month to test the new First Ascent ski gear in powder, bumps and corduroy. They also hooked up with the legendary Billy Kidd, former U.S. Ski Team member and resident of Steamboat Springs. This is the final stop for the team in the Lower 48 before heading up to Haines, Alaska for some epic heli-skiing.
First Ascent ski guides, Reggie and Zach Crist, design and test gear from head to foot working with both Eddie Bauer and Northwest ski company K2. This past week, they spent a few days skiing powder in Monarch, Colorado to capture photography in support of the 2011 K2 ski line.
Posted Under: Expeditions, Guides
This post was written by First Ascent Brand Team on February 11, 2010
Comments (0)
Subscribe
