Ice climbing enthusiasts slip under the radar
11. February 2008 by Tridad.
BY CALEB SHEAFFER
Michael Miscavage knows the best places for ice climbing in the Wyoming Valley, but he’s not talking about any of them. Miscavage, owner of Top of the Slope Ski Shop in Wilkes-Barre, even has a picture of a nearby wall of ice he climbed in 1994, a 200-foot cliff with the intimidating name “The Fang.”
He’s keeping quiet about the locations for two reasons. First, he doesn’t want anyone getting hurt, especially after he heard the recent news.
A New Hope man, Luke Wolfgang, was injured Feb. 2 while ice climbing in the Buttermilk Falls area of Toby Creek, near the rock cut on Route 309 in Courtdale. The rescue effort involved about 60 people from seven West Side fire and rescue departments. The incident publicized a sport that tends to avoid the spotlight.
There is no real reason for ice climbers to seek attention, Miscavage says. People learn of places to climb through word-of-mouth and friends interested in the hobby. It is a sport that takes place under the radar — in areas where few people go, during a time of the year when few people like to be outside.
Also, Miscavage won’t reveal places to ice climb because some are on private property. Often when he ice climbs, he has an agreement with the landowner. You can’t park at these places without the owners knowing you’re there. This season though, Miscavage hasn’t gone ice climbing. The weather has been too warm.
“We haven’t sold as much (ice climbing gear) because the ice hasn’t been that great,” Miscavage said.
According to Frank Slymock, a deputy fire chief in Edwardsville, Wolfgang’s accident occurred because his rope was severed on jagged rocks. Wolfgang fell about 30 to 40 feet, and landed on his feet, like climbers are taught, Slymock said. Wolfgang was taken to Community Medical Center in Scranton, and his injuries were not expected to be life-threatening. Multiple calls this week to Wolfgang’s home went unanswered.
Ice climbers usually use two axes, sturdy boots and metal teeth, called crampons and fangs, attached to the bottom of their boots. Climbers take safety precautions by using rope as an anchor, climbing with friends and wearing a helmet.
Many people who ice climb start by rock climbing, and gradually move to ice climbing. The sports require similar skills, but ice climbers handle tougher terrain and must judge the quality of the ice. People interested in learning to ice climb can expect to spend at least $1,000 for necessary equipment.
“In rock climbing we have a saying, ‘There’s old climbers and there’s bold climbers, but there’s no old bold climbers.’ Limits definitely get pushed, but it’s a sport where you need to have a conservative mindset,” said Brett Simpson, associate director of Quest, an outdoor adventure and recreation program based at Bloomsburg University.
According to Simpson, Quest usually offers classes in ice climbing every year, but didn’t this winter because there isn’t enough ice. This season, Simpson has only done mixed climbing — a combination of ice and rock climbing involving crampons and axes. Mixed climbing is only for advanced climbers, those able to handle changes in terrain.
Simpson only knows a few places to go ice climbing in the Wyoming Valley, and most of them are on the West Side along Route 309. Another spot is at Ricketts Glen State Park, 30 miles north of Bloomsburg and spanning 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia counties. Climbers at Ricketts Glen can face the challenge of the 94-foot Ganoga Falls. For more advanced climbing, experienced ice climbers travel to New York to the Catskills or the Adirondack Mountains.
The sport came easily to Simpson. Originally from Oregon, he began rock climbing in the West, where he climbed more than 2,000 feet. Simpson learned to ice climb with a friend near Noxen. He and his experienced buddy shared equipment and took turns climbing a waterfall.
“You have to deal with the cold and the weather conditions,” Simpson said. “Once you got used to the equipment, and holding things correctly, it wasn’t too bad. Good instruction to start was helpful.”
Terence Daltroff, park manager of Ricketts Glen State Park, said to his knowledge, there have been only one or two ice climbing accidents at the park, and those were both broken legs. Daltroff mainly does more of a hiking form of ice climbing, in which he uses a longer axe and crampons. Rarely does he go on vertical climbs. When he does, it is only to gain respect for the power the mountain has over climbers.
“It does take someone who is willing to be more disciplined and in better shape, more so than other sports,” Daltroff said.
Even the best ice climbers need to double check their safety gear and make sure they don’t strain themselves too much. According to Daltroff, the sport cannot really be classified as dangerous, because those who do it are experienced and cautious.
“I’m a skier with the National Ski Patrol, but I ski and know what I’m doing. Some people might think that’s a daredevil sport,” Daltroff said. “It is the same as driving on the Cross Valley when the weather is bad.”
Miscavage, Simpson and Daltroff all say the same thing: If you plan on learning to ice climb, make sure to take lessons, and when you are learning, test your limits, but not so much that you put yourself in danger.
“You’re pushing yourself, but you’re not pushing yourself to get hurt,” Miscavage says.
SKI Channel set to launch
29. January 2008 by Tridad.
The Ski Channel has inked a multiyear distribution partnership with Cox Communications ahead of its launch later this year.
The amount of subscribers added through Cox was not disclosed, but industry sources said the pact gives Ski Channel about 3 million additional homes for a total of 13 million subscribers. The network expects to be in more than 20 million households at launch.
The parties said the deal puts the Ski Channel in all Cox video-on-demand enabled systems, making it one of the first original ad-supported sports-focused VOD networks to be fully rolled out across the MSO.
“The Ski Channel is out in front of where our business is headed,” Cox senior vp programming Bob Wilson said. “They are building this service for and targeting it to a well-defined niche of passionate people who are underserved on television and with unique needs the channel intends to fulfill on every level.”
Meanwhile, Ski Channel chairman and CEO Steve Bellamy said that the network also is forming a Ski Channel Film Festival, devoted to mountain sports, activity and lifestyle genre films and programming.
“The quantity of films made in ski, snowboard, mountain biking, rock climbing and most mountain activity every year is staggering,” Bellamy said. “I don’t think there is a more prolifically filmed subject matter.”
The festival will feature categories in ski, snowboard, mountain biking, rock climbing, directing, best athletes and various others. One of the main awards will be given on behalf of ski film pioneer Warren Miller. The Warren Miller Award will recognize someone each year for a significant lifetime achievement in the sport.
The channel is in discussions with U.S.-based ski resorts and mountain towns to host the festival.
Bellamy added that the festival will receive a great deal of promotion, including on the channel itself. The Ski Channel also is taking advantage of the fact that NATPE coincides at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas this week with a ski industry trade show and has arranged for a major marketing presence at the Mandalay.
USA Triathlon Announces Multisport Shop Program
29. January 2008 by Tridad.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 28, 2008) — USA Triathlon is proud to introduce its new Certified Multisport Shop program. This is a group of retailers around the country targeting those athletes who love to swim, run and bike.
Following is the criteria the listed shops have met to become a part of the program:
· Have a USAT Certified Coach formally affiliated with the shop
· Sponsor at least 1 USAT sanctioned event per year
· Provide at least 2 beginners clinics per year
· Have a certified bike fit specialist on staff for shops that sell bikes
· Provide gait analysis for shops that sell running shoes
· Be an authorized dealer of triathlon specific products
· Provide a discount to USAT members
· Provide USAT membership and educational program information in a prominent place in the shop
If your favorite shop is not listed but you think they should be please have them contact Skye Wagstaff Krhoun.
The program currently includes multisport shops from Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Missouri, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, and California.
A complete listing of shops in the program can be found at the USAT website.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon - the fastest growing sport in the U.S. - as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,300 races and connects with more than 100,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games.
Website: USATriathlon.org
Snowboarders’ bones twice as likely to break
21. January 2008 by Tridad.
Snowboarders are twice as likely to break their bones on the pistes than skiers – with ‘Foosh’ set to blame.
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Those heading to the pistes with boards strapped to their feet are most likely to fall foul of a Fall Onto an Out-Stretched Hand, or Foosh as emergency staff dub the injury.
“Snowboarding is a relatively new sport – but now we are seeing just how hazardous it could be, with 34 per cent of snowboarders – compared to 17 per cent of skiers – likely to sustain an injury from their sport,” said Diane Jackson, spokesperson for Debenhams Travel Insurance, which has carried out the research.
Those most likely to suffer a snow boarding injury are people aged 15 to 24.
Despite the increased risk of snowboarding, many travellers are putting themselves at risk by not organising travel insurance to cover them – either falling back on standard policies or just a European health insurance card (EHIC), which only covers basic treatment costs.
“Winter sports holidaymakers shouldn’t think all they need is an EHIC card,” warned Ms Jackson.
“While it does provide free or reduced cost medical treatment, it doesn’t cover expenses such as being air-lifted off a mountain top – and that could cost thousands.”
She added: “Winter sports insurance is also essential to safeguard your holiday against piste closure, avalanches and theft of equipment – all things that can put an end to the week’s fun.”
Ski Club of Britain research shows there are 210,000 snowboarders in the UK, around a sixth of the snow sports market.