Kendall Card 2.0

A couple weeks ago I was in Salt Lake doing the Connect Pass City Tour for “work”.  After having a late lunch at the Lion House Pantry I had a couple of hours that I decided to fill with a visit to the Joseph Smith Memorial building in order to watch the movie Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration.  I think they should rename it Praise to the Man.

The movie is very well done and I think for the member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the non-member alike, it is well worth the time to watch.  Not preachy but very much done from the documentary/story telling perspective, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the sets, the film work, the acting and the editing.

I was moved to tears a few times, my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith strengthened, but I was particularly touched during the first part when it portrays Joseph being operated on as a young boy.  Envisioning one of my son’s going through something similar…well, it brought tears to my eyes to see and try to feel what it may have been like for Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy.

Like just about everything else digital video, this movie is also found on YouTube in about 9 parts (10 min max per video).  Here’s part one which has the scene I mentioned above.

Although you could watch all the parts on YouTube, do yourself the favor and be sure you watch this on the big screen!  Admission is free.

Chalk a great afternoon up to not working for the man. That’s something worth praising!

—here’s part 2 in case you just watched part 1 and you’re wanting more 😉

The SALE is on.  This is the real deal from Bluehouse Skis, from the horses mouth.

Let me ask you this; Does the owner of your favorite ski company lay down the deals like this in an e-mail to you?  Do they even know that you bought skis from them last season? Do they really care?  If not, it’s time to reconsider what you’re skiing on this year.

—-

Dear Bluehouse Customer,

In Sept. 2007, Bluehouse became the first ski company to offer a non-exclusive, pro-form price to the public on all its skis. The sale created buzz all over the skiing world and delivered a deal that many couldn’t pass up.

There was question whether or not Bluehouse would bring the sale back for 2008. Let there be no question, the sale is back. And it includes additional savings for our loyal repeat customers. We appreciated your business last year and hope you will return to snag a pair of Bluehouse’s new and improved 08-09 lineup.

The Sale

The sale begins at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 18. Just like last year, it will go for two weeks or until supplies last. Here is the price breakdown on our 2009 skis:

If you haven’t seen the 2009 Bluehouse lineup, check in at www.bluehouseskis.com soon and make your decisions. Once the sale begins, the skis won’t last long. Last year over 100 skis were sold in the first hour of the sale and the District sold out within the first week. This year’s models are expected to sell even quicker.

(click image for larger version)

To improve the sale for 2009, we have added package deals that include a great price on Look/Dynastar bindings and offer drastic discounts for multiple-ski purchases, including a full-quiver offer for an insanely low price.

To see our package pricing and for more details on the sale and the upcoming season with Bluehouse, go to www.bluehouseskis.com. Then, tell a friend.

Thank you,

Jared
Bluehouseskis.com
801.232.5367

After years of showing ski films, most of what I see and hear in the ski films these days does little to get me stoked. Ah sure, what they do on skis is amazing but the presentation and editing does little to make me want to get out and ski. Heck, pulling out an old copy of Immersion does just fine.

And that’s what I think is missing with ski films these days – a story along with the ability to capture the soul of skiing, the reason I get up at 4am to go ski untracked powder. Loud vulgar hip-hop songs with hucking monster cliffs isn’t where it’s at. Sure, you can disagree and I imagine a number of people do but we can agree to disagree, right?

With that, here’s a trailer that my buddy Jason sent me that has me once again stoked about skiing, anticipating the cool crisp air against my face and the parting of thousands of frozen water crystals as I dance with gravity down a mountain’s wintry slope. Perhaps it’s the music, the editing, or the introduction of an unique story that has me posting about it. Bottom line is that after watching this I have an urge to ski pow, something I’ve not felt for a few months now….

Hand Cut from Sweetgrass Productions will be showing in Salt Lake at Brewvies on October 16. See you there.

I’ve been getting ready for Lotoja and riding the Mirror Lake Highway in the mornings has been a great option. People say it’s one of the most dangerous roads to ride on. Usually a mecca for campers, trucks towing RV’s and trailers if you know when to go it’s a cycling paradise.

I’ve been sticking to weekdays and mornings and the reward has been in my favor.

It’s starting to get cold in the mornings and I’ve been riding with my vest, leg and arm warmers. I don’t recall feeling this much chill in August but then again, the top of the pass is well over 10,000′.

Once Labor Day passes the roads will be virtually abandoned other than Friday and Saturdays as the deer and elk hunts go full swing. I’m hoping for an Indian Summer through the end of October after which it can snow like crazy!

A few weeks back Cynthia and I drove to Provo and went to the Temple. After an enjoyable evening we left as the sun had recently set over the west desert mountains.

With Utah Lake in the distance, the warm colors in the sky, the fountains of the Temple grounds, and my lovely wife Cynthia, it made for a beautiful scene. If only I had the skill and camera to have truly captured it. *snap*

When I lived in Spain all those years ago (16 years – wow!) one of the things I liked most about being there were the pastries. That should come as no surprise to those that know my love for doughnuts, but there’s nothing quite like heading to the Pasteleria to get myself something sweet.

When the budget or convenience didn’t allow it I would happily go for a BOLLYCAO, a common inexpensive treat that kids ate in Spain, at least the south. For some reason I loved to eat a BOLLYCAO. If I were feeling down? A BOLLYCAO. If I needed to celebrate? A BOLLYCAO. Just for the heck of it? Yep, you guessed it, a BOLLYCAO.

You’re going to laugh, but it’s really nothing more than a hot dog bun with Nutella in it. Sometimes they’d come partially dipped, but mostly they were a plain old hot dog bun. But there was something about it that I enjoyed and for 50 cents I could and would most often eat them daily.

So when my neighbor went to Spain a little while back I asked her if she wouldn’t mind picking me up one at a tienda before she came home. To my excitement, she brought home a pile of them for me! She’s the best!

Cynthia wasn’t too impressed by them. As for myself, it was a heavenly walk down memory lane. And the kids? Just like Spaniards.

From the images above you’d get the impression that it was a hit. Well it was, for everyone except Annapurna. After retiring to the office and leaving her to enjoy her BOLLYCAO, moments later I caught her trying to stash the remains in her shoe, which she promptly dumped on the floor.

She wasted a perfectly good BOLLYCAO! Anyone going to Spain anytime soon?

I remember a few years ago when the bike manager from Scott sent me a message asking if I’d like to show a road bike film in Salt Lake. I don’t recall the name of the film, but I do recall the questions in my mind like “Would anyone come?” and “How could anyone make a movie about road biking?”. Obviously, this was before I converted to the skinny tires.

I think those questions came to mind because at the time I was showing films like The Collective, Kranked, and New World Disorder, mountain bike films with big hits, crashes, fast descents and more.

Let’s see, road biking has crashes, fast descents and more…with enough drama to indeed make a film! More than that it has a rich history, in particular in places like Paris, Belgium, Spain and Holland.

So when I was checking out Michael’s post on Velodramatic the other day and read that he went to see the film “Road to Roubaix” I immediately searched out the trailer. After watching it at least 5 times I am now asking myself:

“Why doesn’t someone bring this film to Salt Lake to show in a theater?”

Perhaps I should be that someone…

No American has ever won the Paris-Roubaix. I wonder who, if anyone, ever will.

Read about the Paris-Robaix race

I went out for my usual bike ride yesterday morning. The only thing that wasn’t usual about this ride was the companionship of my friend Derek.

The thing is, he wasn’t biking but instead brought along his video camera. He was looking to shoot something fun and had wanted to add cycling to his demo reel.

To get all these shots, he drove his car with the camera hanging out the driver side window, rode in the back of my wife’s car, used a tripod as well as his signature remote control helicopter. I’ve worked with him controlling the camera while he flies the heli. This time he just flew and from the looks of it he may do just as well without my help.

Someone on a message board said this of the video – I still can’t believe this is your “hobby”. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve got a feeling that it won’t be a hobby for too much longer.

–More video edits from Derek at Piton Productions

As far as I can tell from the Pirates of the Great Salt Lake website, the movie was never really shown to the public. But boy did the marketing look good. I mean, check out their website, complete with an “enter to win pirate booty” contest.

Although I would really like to have seen it, I’m perfectly content watching the trailer over and over and over as it makes me laugh each time.

Perhaps the trailer was too good? Perhaps the movie was really the trailer?

I was cycling from Kamas to Oakley through Browns Canyon and then back to Kamas around Highway 248 which passes by the Jordanelle Reservoir when I tried a little detour through a development called Canyon Trails which is all but halted.  Thankfully, not before they got a bunch of the roads paved.

It’s a steep climb up to the top regardless of which side you enter but the views are out of this world.  If and when I have the money I’m going to buy lot 44.  Check out the view! (camera phone again)

Only 28 miles of riding and 2200 vertical but the views are worth it!