Atomic Atlas 2011 Ski Review

182cm length = 140mm(width at tip)-115mm(width underfoot)-122mm(width at tail) / 22m turning radius

192cm length = 150mm(width at tip)-125mm(width underfoot)-132mm(width at tail) / 28m turning radius

Big Mountain/Powder Ski. Stepdown sidewall contruction. Early rise rocker in tip only. Tapering (reverse sidecut) at tip only.

Size tested = 192cm. Number of days on Atomic Atlas 2011 ski = aprrox. 35.

Reviewer = Miles Clark. My height = 6'1", weight = 170 lbs. (special note: I mounted my bindings 1cm forward of the normal mounting point)

You bet that I'm sick of all the hype, BS, and useless buzzwords that come with the typical ski review. A ski review is inherantly subjective and therefore that subjectivity should be embraced, not drowned out by ski industry banter. With this (and menatl images of face shots from last season) in mind, I present to you my humble opinion of the Atomic Atlas 2011 ski:

First off, you'll want a lot of snow before you even strap these on. I recommend that you have at least a foot of fresh snow to take these out. They really start to kick ass when you get into the 2, 2 1/2, & 3 foot deep zones. A huge ski like this is made for floatation. If you take away the deep snow, they don't provide that float, and they'll morph into a large, difficult to maneuver ski that will put you in the backseat.

Once you get them into the deep powder you'll know what they were made for. This ski gives a ton of float with the huge width underfoot and the early rise rocker at the tip. In deep snow they do not have an upper speed limit. The faster you go, the more stable and maneuverable they become.

Landing airs is made considerably easier. It almost feels like cheating. The large surface area gives you a big platform to plop down into the snow and easily stay upright on. The sweet spot on the Atlas is big and this is an advantage when landing airs because it allows you to be a little off and still make it look good.

The Atlas is an Austrian ski, so they have a lot of nose. This means you have got to be leaning way forward. If you get backseat, they'll take off on you and make you look bad. Stay forward on 'em and you'll look like a solid skier should.

Once you're able to trust this ski, you'll be able to open it up and rip the mountain hard. Which is what this ski is really made for.

Here is a one minute video of someone skiing pow and dropping cliffs on the Atomic Atlas 2011 ski.

Silverado Sledgehammer from UnofficialSquaw on Vimeo.

Tired? Need some PILLOWS?!?!!

PILLOWS!! Skiing pillows is basically the coolest thing you can do on skis. I'd say it's between pillows and steep spines, but that's just me. This first video is Jackson Hole. But, early season in Tahoe, before we get way too much snow and it drowns them out, we have some beautiful pillow lines here, too. Luckily, my buddy Adam Riscutto knows exactly where they are. Somehow, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa also seems to know where there's a few pillow lines. Check out Sage in pillowland below.

Pillows of fun from sage on Vimeo.

The video below is my buddy Adam Ruscitto crushing some fluffy pillow lines in Tahoe. Personally I think Adam is way sicker than Sage, but that's just me. There's no music on this one - I recommend putting on "Closer" (warning: disturbing video/audio) by Nine Inch Nails, while you watch Adam rip, but again, that's just me.

Trestle Peak Pillows from AdRock on Vimeo.

Global Warming hits Lake Tahoe

If you still don't believe in Global Warming you can just close your eyes, plug your ears, and hum. But, even if you don't believe in it, here are the facts:

#1 - The nightly minimum temperatures recorded at Tahoe City have increased by more than 4 degrees F since 1910 from 28F to just over 32F.

#2 - Days when air temperatures averaged below freezing have generally decreased by 30 days per year since 1910.

#3 - Since 1910, the percent of precipitation that fell in the form of snow decreased from 52 percent to 34 percent.

#4 - Peak snow melt averages 2 1/2 weeks earlier than in the early 1960s.

This information from: UC Davis' 'State of the Lake Report 2010' (If you are interested in Lake Tahoe at all, check out this link. Monthly & yearly percipitation avg.s, temp avg.s, & more)

Another major effect of Global Warming on the lake is the lake's rising water temperature. Warming of Tahoe's water will likey lead to less frequent deep water mixing. The mixing of the lake's water is key to distributing oxygen throught the lake. Without the mixing Tahoe will experience less cold-water native fish, more invasive species, and a general breakdown of Lake Tahoe's food chain. Lake Tahoe has already increased almost one full degree since 1970, from 41.7 degrees F to 42.6 degrees F.

Check out these impressively scary quotes from UC Davis scientist Geoffrey Schladow:

"Anoxia (oxygen depletion) occurs annually in most lakes and reservoirs in California in the summer. But Tahoe has always been special. It's been above and beyond such things."

"A permanently stratified Lake Tahoe becomes just like any other lake or pond. It is no longer this unique, effervescent jewel, the finest example of nature's grandeur."

A recent study done by Schladow and colleagues is predicting that Lake Tahoe could stop mixing entirely as early as the year 2019. That's less than 9 years away.

Luckily, there is tons you can do to fight climate change:

1 - Join an environmental group so you can gang up on politicians and educate people. Try: Environmentcalifornia.org, ProtectOurWinters.org and others.

2 - Do whatever you can to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in your own life.

3 - Offset your travel and lifestyle: Ecoandina.org, Carbonfund.org.

4 - LEARN: Noaa.gov - Seriously, read this one. This is literally everything you need to know about Global warming. NatGeo.com - This one is simple yet less informational.

Dispelling The Rumors - a squaw valley ski movie

"HELLLOOOOO skiers and riders!" (Eric T). Have you already forgot why we love to ski at Squaw Valley USA!? Are you frustrated by the pleathora of rumors that have been going around about your favorite ski area?!! Well, have I got the ski movie for you! Here is quick reminder of why we ski here and what makes Squaw unique. "Enlightenment can only be found througth truth" (Confusus). I couldn't agree more.

Dispelling The Rumors - a ski movie - Squaw Valley USA from UnofficialSquaw on Vimeo.

Crater Lake, OR

Desperate Man Clings to California Oregon Summer.

Okay, okay, I've been doing some serious bragging about California lately (because it's the balls!). But, it looks like it's now time for me to suck it up and give some props to Oregon. I'm gonna come right out and say that Crater Lake is incredible. In the true sense of the word. It's actually difficult to believe that it's real. I was there in the end of September this year and I was high off its freaky electric blue water for a week.

Crater Lake and me, if you look hard

Crater Lake is the cleanest body of water on Earth and the deepest lake in America at 1,949 feet deep (the only one deeper than Tahoe). It has two islands: Wizard and Phantom Ship. Phantom Ship is an eerie island formed from an acient volcano that rose up before the big Mazama volcano collapsed and formed Crater Lake. Another amazing feature of the park is its endless forests. I've spent a lot of time in the Pacific Northwest and I've never seen such huge swaths of untouched forest.

Hell, there are even these crazy 100 foot high pumice pinnicles that formed when hot gases from fumaroles cemented the pumice and ash together before a river erroded away the remaining loose pumice and left the pinnincles standing there. The craziest part is that the pinnicles are hollow. "Boring, I know, but it's part of my life." Check the pic below.

Learn some stuff about Crater Lake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crater_Lake

I spent a full day in the park, cricumnavigating the lake and cliff jumping into it. I'm not a dirty hippy, but I've got to admit that that water is special and it had me feeling ubelievably alive. I'm higly confident that you could bottle Crater Lake's waters and sell it at Phish concerts as a magical elixir for huge profit.

Phantom ship Island

Another view

Looking North

The Pinnicles of Crater Lake NP

Yet another view

DO NOT FEED THE CHIPMUNKS!!! But you almost have to! These guys were so aggressive they'd actually jump into your lap and rip food outta your hands. They pissed me off, but I also kinda loved 'em.

The California Delta

Desperate man clings to CA summer

Ever wonder what it's like to be drunk, rowdy, and sunburned? Have I gotta place for you.....

It's actually kinda crazy that no one knows about the California Delta. It's truly California's gem and one helluva good time. It doesn't matter what time of day or where in the delta you are, you can find glassy water for ripping on skis or flying on your wakeboard. You can also find hot girls having fun, drinking, and dancing provocatively with almost nothing on anywhere you go. I was just in the Delta yesterday and it was in the high 80s and the water was warm and glassy.

The California Delta is a tangle of waterways that starts at the confulence of the San Joaquin (from the south) and the Sacramento (from the north) and weaves it's way into the San Francisco Bay. The Delta has 1,000 miles of waterways and covers over 738,000 acres. The whole thing is a monsterous estuary that supports a ridiculous amout of life.

Delta Crawdad's are pissed off and burly

The Delta is home to 52 mammal species, 22 reptile and amphibian species, 225 bird species and 54 fish species.

The most common fish species are striped bass (can be more than 50 lbs), sturgeon (up to 1,798 lbs & 20 feet long!!), catfish, black bass, salmon and American shad. When I swim in the delta, I'm always thinking about those freaky prehistoric sturgeon.

Delta Waterskiing from miles clark on Vimeo.

When I'm at the Delta I love water skiing, swimming, kayaking, bird and animal watching, taking photos, drinking beer, and viciously chilling out. The place completely changes your state of mind and time slows down signifigantly. I have never been anywhere that has a much wildlife as our California Delta. River otters are by far my favorite critters there. They're just always having a blast.

Tule reeds

Learn more about the CA Delta at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Delta

Mt. Diablo and the CA Delta

Vicious chillin'

A little Perch from our crab trap

---

Poaching God's Bath

Desperate man clings to California summer.


18 months of straight winter have left me desperate for everything summer. Cliff jumping, water skiing, swimming, baseball games, outdoor concerts, surfing, and bikinis is how I define summertime. In the next couple weeks I'll be posting how I was able to satisfy my dirty California summertime desires.

This place is called God's Bath and it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been anywhere. Pure California. I spent the day here with my buddy, 'The Foot', cliff jumping, snorkeling, swimming in the waterfalls, and drinking beer. The water was crystal clear and ice-fucking-cold. The highlight of the day was when we figured out that a hole next to the river was connected and that you could swim into the hole from the river under a granite bridge. Check out the video.

Here's some more photos:























Contemplation























The Foot, pops out of hte hole via the river























The Foot runs a muck.























Snorkel ready






















Yep, it's that gorgeous!