Craft Brews, or Man Beer as explained here, have made steady gains over the last view years on the so called domestic beers. The American Brewer’s Association reported that sales of Craft Beers in the Q1 2007 increased 11% from the same period last year. The overall beer market increased only 1%. What does that mean? That means more beer drinkers are seeing beyond the marketing machine and embracing more respectable beers. Craft Brews now account for more than 5% of the over beer sales.

Take that Extreme Goliath Lite.

Don’t get me wrong, I think there is a time and place for a Budweiser or Coors Light and sometimes that place is in my belly. I like drinking piss beer after a game of basketball or a long hike when I can get my water and beer in one convenient package. But I like rooting for the underdog and I’m glad to see the small independent breweries making gains on the big guys.

Drink on Booze Hounds!

Think of a world where the transition between tele-skis is a simple as stepping out of one set of bindings and in to the next, a world where there is no more bending awkwardly to lock into your skis, where leashes are a thing of the past and you have the ability to set the tension of your binding effortlessly! Well folks the revolution is here! Check out what the designers at Rottefella have been designing.

Called the New Telemark Norm, or NTN, this binding system allows the freeheeler to step into the bindings that allow in one setting the ability to to convert the binding into killer climbing machines with the aid of a transitional heelpiece that can also be used as a climbing block. The bindings are not officially dubbed “releasable” however the most certainly are, not only that but the release mechanism is adjustable to suit your needs.

This coupled with alpine style brakes so you wont spend half of your slope time chasing down the errant ski after an explosive spill. Other features include a choice of four swappable spring power cartridges so you can chose between soft (like the old school three pin bindings) to extra firm, (much like your modern alpine bindings). An additional kick ass feature is the ability to switch mounting plates and cruise on any of you skis with out the painstaking task of switching the entire system over over thanks to NTN’s quick changing mounting plates! Unfortunately the step-in NTN is only available in limited sizes for compatible boots (Scarpa Terminator X and Crispi’s Evo). However, as with anything more are sure to come.

UPDATE: I have not as of yet had the opportunity to try this system out but have heard mixed reviews about the performance they offer and concern over if the price is worth it. There are also rumors that several other companies will be introducing their versions in 2009. Perhaps that will help reduce the expense! Everyone knows that only pros can afford the newest gear what about the rest of the ski bums?!

Yet another useful acronym, simple and effective it lives true to its word..ha!! No really this acronym is useful when dealing with cold environments:

• C-clean: keep clothes clean

• O-overheating: avoid overheating, over heating causes sweat and sweat in cold weather can kill you

• L-layers: wear loose clothing in layers remember in cold climates you can always take clothes off but you cannot add what you do not have

• D-dry: keep clothes dry, wet clothing can be deadly

Wow! I like maps and I like beer. Today I found beermapping.com. Hells Yeah!!

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Whooo Hooooo! The snow has begun to fly!!!!! Tune the skis and boards, get ready to ride!! Here is a list of the Colorado Ski areas so you can see what the current conditions are. Enjoy!!

Santa Cruz continues to lead the pack with its countless bicycle innovations and the Blur XC is no exception. The Blur offers top of the line race driven performance and quality with out sacrificing comfort. (more…)