RIP amigo. Thinking of you, friends and family.

According to MSI:
“For Immediate Release

Alyeska, Alaska, April 11, 2008—At approximately 3:45pm this afternoon, 27-year-old John Nicoletta of Aspen, Colorado, died due to injuries sustained during a fall while competing on the first day of the Freeskiing World Championships at Alyeska Resort, Alaska. Nicoletta was the 47th competitor of the day down the Headwall below Alyeska Peak.

Alyeska Professional Ski Patrol reached Nicoletta within seconds of the accident and evaluated his injuries. After stabilization, he was transported via toboggan and helicopter to the Alyeska Aid Room where he was unable to be revived despite efforts by local physicians, paramedics, Girdwood EMS and the Alyeska Professional Ski Patrol. Time of death was reported at 4:45pm.

Contrary to initial press stories, Nicoletta had a loss of control after a 20-foot cliff drop and was propelled into an exposed rocky area.

A veteran freeskiing competitor, Nicoletta was an accomplished, well-known, and extremely respected athlete. An experienced skier, he has appeared in ski movies, been a featured athlete in television interviews and recently finished second at the Telluride Freeskiing Open in February 2008. Mountain Sports International extends our deepest sympathies to John Nicoletta’s family, girlfriend, and friends. This is a deep blow to the freeskiing community.

After discussion with the competitors this evening, the decision was made to continue with the event tomorrow. Athletes will make the hike to the top of the peak together in a celebration of John’s incredible life and love of big mountain freeskiing.”

—–
Our friend Derek Taylor, editor and chief of Powder, adds additional insight from a spectator’s view:

http://www.powder.com
“Conversation came to a stop. A lull fell over the hundreds of skiers watching the World Freeskiing Championships at Alyeska the second John Nicoletta hit the rock. He then tumbled three or four times in the air before hitting the snow and sliding, his body limp, for several hundred feet.

The worst fears were realized at an athlete meeting held at the Sitzmark at 7:00 pm Alaska Standard Time. John Nicoletta, a professional skier out of Aspen, Colorado, is dead at 27.”

—–
John was a great friend, a simply amazing skier with tons of energy. My only regret is that I didn’t start working with him years ago.

Check back, and check http://www.shinelineproductions.com/ for a video in John’s memory.

-ct

—

Dumping in St. Anton…

After day one we are chillin out and watching it snow on the amazing mountains here. We hit the hill for some pow tomorrow and friday. Hoping for blue bird on sat. Then off to Zurich for a final blow out overseas before going state side.

Look for the full St. Anton story coming Sat/Sun as internet access is scarce at best.

Did I mention there was a tram right to the top of the largest peak in the region at 3433m?.. Staying at our B&B next to a 12ft. wide cobblestone street, in the shadows of a historic church with a very loud and convenient bell that chimes every fifteen minutes, we scope out lines to bust into. Arriving at the top, we see some of the sketchiest aspects, basically ever. As this mountain is still glaciated, crevasse danger was a major concern. Solid ice aspects would sneak up on roll overs, only to be rail slid by David and Tyson. One in particular was about 45 feet long on a 45-degree slop above some gnarly rock exposure. Look for Derek’s shot in Powder and powder.com.

Tom and Alex, opted to boot up a knife ridge that lead to a very technical entrance to a 1500 ft. pow tube right down the center of the peak under the tram. The rest of the day was spent shooting some mini golf for still shots and B-roll; the off to Apres which is more popular than skiing here; we’re not complaining.

The lifestyle here is absolutely incredible. Staying in a village just outside downtown, there is a very authentic feel to this area. There are very old buildings, and local shops in the most random of places. Which is accordingly a vast difference from a few clicks down the road where I saw four Bentleys and two Fantoms in a matter of minutes while strolling through the city with Tyson and Derek.

Now taking a day off to catch up on some video blogs for all of you, we are going to work today, and pack up for the train ride to St. Anton, Austria (and get away from this damn church bell). Now closing a chapter on the trip, we thank Liberty Skis and Tom Winter Media for this opportunity. Parting ways with Derek going back to the states, David and Alex going backpack slumming around the most expensive cities in Europe, and Tom going to race an 8,000 ft. vert Chinese Downhill in Le Grave, France. Tyson are keeping the Two Plank train running straight to Austria.

For now we climbed the latter, which leads to restricted roof access (come on, you can’t tell us not to do something and expects us to abide), and editing photos overlooking the catching town of St. Mortiz. We’re out to go send Switzerland off in traditional Après style. More from there and watch for the Swiss Alps video blog hitting this week.

Schoolhouse Square

The VW Touraeg

The highest Spot around

The city and resort of Davos has proved to be the best stop along our Swiss Alps tour. Writing this entry from St. Moritz (our stop after Davos), I can look back and reflect in the best manner possible to Davos and the Parsenn mountain resort.

Davos was a wide awakening from the quite little towns at Lenzerheide and Valbella. There was enough traffic to film a great time-lapse, 5 massive mountains with unsurpassed lift access, and the best nightlife of the trip. Needless to say, we highly recommend Davos.

As Davos, as well as many resorts here close the week after Easter, things are winding down from full speed. Which is a cloaked blessing; this place would be a mad house at full steam. We would make our way down the narrow two-way streets, hop a bus, and hop a cog railroad that gains about 2,000 vert feet, to the top of the Parsenn mountain resort. Much to our surprise, there was a big mountain freeride comp, taking place off of the peak. The level of competition is certainly not what we are used to traveling on IFSA events. As a result of not entering this comp on a whim, Tyson now realizes that it was an 8,000 Euro mistake.

But its not all bad, the day turned out to be Tyson’s most productive day in front of the lens all season (which is saying a lot). Over 10 first track line descents were laid in place that day, and one in particular (picture 18), shot better than mini faces all season, thus earning the name “mini AK”.

Meeting back up with the Liberty boys of Lesh and Applegate, we took them to many of the same goods from the day before. Stepping up to bigger lines, and fluid mid-face drops was David Lesh; who as many of you know comes from an all jib/park background. The talent surely stands out in this kid. We could put him on top of just about anything, and he would charge into it with full confidence. Often popping over a cornice just to set some rhythm to his run. Lesh is certainly going to be a huge asset for the Liberty Skis team with 2 highly diversified film segments for us this year.

Applegate was also more than holding his own, charging lines at full speed, we could still hear him giggling to him self the whole way down. The stoke level is sky high with this kid! Still charging equally as hard, was our editorial staff of Tom Winter and Derek Taylor (watch for their cameo appearances in the web update). The line of the day had to go to Tyson, with a ski racing background, comprised with several years on the big mountain world tour with countless podiums; this was his stomping ground.

Returning to the same face from the day before, the wind had filled all tracks and the face delivered a compete rebate to us. First lining up a similar line just skiers left, T charged a line with no remorse, and stomping a 40 foot exit air to straight-line out. Only to one up himself by returning to throw down a 800 ft. vert. straight-line of the entire face. Oh yea, without poles and a HD camera in hand for a full-rez POV shot.

To celebrate the best week ever, we took back out the streets of Davos where everything is open until 6am, basically when the crew back home is just getting out. We met up with some really welcoming natives on spring break from Zurich, who lined up as our tour guides around the city of Davos. Leading us to the most core scene I’ve yet seen in Europe; a local twenty-five room core snowboard hotel and nightclub. They were certainly not shy to accommodate a few pro skiers from the states, and introduced us to a top Swiss-German rapper, and his duo team of younger brothers that brought the house down at the turntables.
Running ourselves out of the scene far earlier than close due to an extremely strong US dollar; it was costing about $27 US for a Colorado style Go Fast and Vodka. Therefore the local pilsner seemed to be the consensus. Arising to an early morning to pack and get some last laps in at Parsenn, we again stuffed the Touraeg, and set off for St. Moritz…

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Pic 18, “mini-AK”

Apres, Apres

Tyson atop Davos’s Parsenn resort

Day 2 proved to be much more promising. We began the day with a much-needed Internet session, corn flakes, and plenty of sugar to mix with the warm milk. Not entirely true, but sounded good as I wrote it. We checked the lift board, and saw a green circle signaling that the tram was up and running. To our disappointment, the tram was only open for the food with a view at the peak, and would open for skiing at noon.

Much to our immediate surprise, we were graced by the sounds of an approaching euro-chopter, which is a knock off to its American big brother, the A Star B2. After nearly landing on our head, the bombs were loaded, and access was granted. Following this amazing opportunity, our old friend from the Slalom Bar graced (or lack thereof) us with his presence, Theo.

Theo has an attitude and style like no other, compete with a self-accreditation as a professional skier, and a pole plant steez all of his own; the day was turning interesting. Several incredible laps were made on the lower half of the mountain, skiing epic Swiss trees with a fresh half meter from the previous night. At the strike of noon, we were lined up at the tram, just our crew, and three local snowboarders for some of the best lift access chutes and fingers I have seen.

The Theo story began when we were introduced to a gentleman who alerted us that there was a local watering hole owned by a local ski top sheet designer. Plastered on the walls were one of-a-kind edition of Vokle and Nordica skis. To welcome us, the bar was lit on fire several times, many combustible items thrown into the fire, and incredible bar games such as the hungry hippo, and nails were in store for the guys.

Back to the reason why we are here, the women; I mean the skiing. Cloud cover remained heavy, and the faint light of the sun was washing out all color, we opted to shoot some tight chutes in hopes of color definition from the nearby rocks. When mediocrity was the result, we opted for one final lap at Lenzerheide.

Atop the tram, we were witness to another sick break, the sky parted as if Moses himself was walking though, and we finally got our bluebird in the final hour. A single 2 hour lap was made with the whole crew (Tibljas, Winter, Taylor, Lesh, Bolduc, and Applegate), shredding first tracks down a 1200t vert series of splitting chutes; complete with a backdrop second to none. Sliding snow was thwarted, and legs were on fire (Tyson denies the leg burn).

Making our way back to our Villa to check out we took to the buses. Loaded down our V10 Touraeg (compliments of VW, Liberty Skis, and Mr. Tom Winter) with over 400 lbs of gear on the roof, and a SUV full inside. Tom, David, and Alex set off into the sunset to Davos, where Derek, Tyson, and myself grabbed some of the local brews, and boarded an autobus bound for the same destination.

More from the Swiss chronicles: to come following our Davos pillaging.

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We seem to always stay near loud ass clock towers

Waiting for the clouds to lift and heli to drop the bombs

And the sky is blue, in large part thanks to our efforts the night before. Our last run at here; very lucky we got this.

-The Swiss Alps: Discovered stashes; Destroyed
1st stop, March 23-26: Lenserheide/Valbella, Switzerland – Corey Tibljas
The stories from the travels to the nation of the infamous red with white cross flag, HUGE mountains, deep snow, David Lesh’s Confessions, chocolate, and cheese. Departing from Denver on a late Easter Sunday, anticipation is high. Stoke level remains at all time, even considering blowing the transition on the big ass Two Plank/Go Fast Tahoe after slamming a rock and hole combo on Kenosha Pass; which ended up coming to its final resting place in the West lot at DIA.

At wheels up, I peered out the window hoping we didn’t see smoke coming from the damaged truck in to lot, which began the free adult beverages that began flowing compliments on Luftansia and United’s Star Alliance. With a transfer in Frankfurt, and running into a old high school friend, we realized we were far from home, but not too far from friends. Filled with scenic train rides and sketchy bus rides at best, arrival in Lenserheide finally came 20 hours later.

Coupled with massive language barriers, no street signs, and a severe lack of landmarks due to heavy cloud cover, it took a good hour looking for our house toting about 200 lbs. in gear on foot; and to meet up with Tom Winter from Freeskier and TWM, Derek Taylor from Powder, and athletes Tyson Bolduc, David Lesh with Liberty Skis, and Alex Applegate.

Come nightfall, we resided to our rooms, only to be awakened by none other than The Tyson Bolduc arriving late from an exclusive heli shoot in Northern Norway. Funny enough, he spent several hours running over the hills of Valbella and ditched his luggage; much, much wiser than my plan.

Come daybreak, the time-lapse of the sunrise we planned on didn’t go down due to the massive snowflakes pummeling the 3000 vertical feet. By 10 am, there was a fresh 18 inches on the ground, and all lifts other an a low angle quad, and several T-bars were open for business to visibility, avalanche, FA-18 Hornet combat training engine noises above the cloud cover, and wind dangers.

So Tyson, Derek, Tom and myself set to the boot packs and skin tracks in search of the goods. Incredible wind deposits and face shots were had above the open lift service. Our crew awaked the sleepy remote resort in the middle of the Swiss Alps. The trip, as well as the following evening was, was graced with the presents of Christine; Tom’s local contact who spread the love and hooked all of our travels/experiences up while in Lenserheide.

Dumping on our first night

The Slalom Bar on FIRE

Tyson and Derek making the sky blue

Basically the same shenanigans as round one, but this time Max Mancini made the drive out to the Mormon state in the Tahoe. We arrived at our Bed and Breakfast, compliments of Max’s friend Sarah who happens to also be a Rossi Tele athlete. Cursing along the 80 up to Park City, we proceed to break the truck further, but nothing to stop the trip from going down; just yet. Milky white skies led us straight to the Skullcandy offices for some meet and greets of new staff, and new product samples. Consequently, the rest of the day was plagued with helmet wearing and talking across the room on wireless radios; but a really cool device breakthrough for Skullcandy (http://www.skullcandy.com).

Nearing the dinner hour, it looked like the storm would break. Meeting up with old friends Cox and Katie; as well as athletes Max Kuszaj Heath Ordway, and Jesse Hall, it appeared the trip would be all time. We got an early start the next day, setting out to one of our favorite resorts, Brighton. Conditions were great, but battles with the light were making our efforts ever more complicated.

Later in the week, the sun finally broke out, and we were at the top of Wolverine as soon as the boot pack was in. Some amazing shots came out of this session, and Heath threw down his most fluid line of the season off of the eastern wall.

Part 2: “The luck has run out” The UT curse on the truck furthers with the severing of the break line. After limping the truck 4 miles through stop light city in downtown SLC; via a series of combinations consisting of downshifting and e-braking; we get the truck into the off-road shop. The next several days were to be spent in the SLC area, and our luck came back when the US Freeskiing Nationals arrived in Snowbird. This gave us a chance to kick it with several friends and other athletes who were off shoots for the World Tour like John Nicholetta, Kiffor Berg, and Aaron Estrada. And final props to Crossman for taking the title at the bird! Special thanks to MSI for the Snowbird hook up! –Back to CO for a night, then to I’m off to the Alps to meet with the Liberty Skis team and Tyson Bolduc; where Max is off to AK for some much needed heli time all captured on HD.

Cox, Mancini, and Kruser; post Trails

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The whip in Park City

Wolverine Cirque with Mancini, Kuszaj, Ordway, and Tibljas

Story still in progress. Trip finished in 2 days. More to come…

The cirque. Please do not disturb Max Mancini

Mancini and Aaron Estrada in a closed area on Snowmass

Tats and I holding it down at Eric’s

By Tyson Bolduc - tysonbolduc.com

Crested Butte, CO

“Taking a leap of faith can be portrayed in many ways. Today it was a leap of confidence and trust off a 100 ft cliff in the Colorado backcountry. I had been looking at the area for a few months, and yesterday set up the situation perfectly. I tried to jump another part of the cliff yesterday, but overshot my target by 20 to 30 feet and ended up taking the jump to about 80 to 90 feet down. Therefore, I felt confident in the conditions as well as my personal conditioning to be capable to take the impact of such a drop. However, the mountains in Colorado are much like Utah and do not yield very steep landings below such large cliffs like this so there was no possible way to as we say in the industry “stick” it, but with a controlled drop to the side of my body to disperse the impact I popped right out and skied down to my friends awaiting nervously below. To many this sounds crazy, but calculated risk is a better description. You will have to check out Two Plank Productions video this fall for coverage of the days antics, but take a look at the picture and you can see where I landed…. Good times!”

in progress by the athletes

A secret spire gap that will some day get a Powder Award Nom for best natural air. Back to the drawing-board for next season.

More of our secret zone

Yup, that me entertaining myself while Tyson and Furimsky hike it

The infamous straight-line

Albers and Van G Killing the house jib. Cover shot???