Third Video Contest winner has us climbing up the wall — literally

The  latest winner in Swany’s Outdoor Adventure Video Contest is Nate Brown of Wilson, Wyo., who calls himself an “all-around fun hog.” But it also takes discipline and talent to climb Streaked Wall at Zion National Park, which Wilson and two friends accomplish in the third winning video in our contest. See for yourself.

Our second winner comes from way out west in California, or as winner Mike B. calls it: “The Eastern Sierra.” That would be the mountain range. His winning video mixes some goofy backyard skiing with serious backcountry work in California and Idaho. His view swings from a helmet cam floating through powder to a long shot coming down an awesome backcountry chute. And, oh yeah, two (count ’em!) shameless plugs for Swany Flexor gloves. We TOLD you that couldn’t hurt you chances.  See Mike’s video here.

And before you look at our first winner’s video, enter your own. Here’s how.

WINNER NO. 1: Matt Boetcher is the man! The skier from Hastings, Minn., is the first winner in Swany’s Outdoor Adventure Video Contest. Matt’s the sort of skier who can’t wait to get started, to the point where he has his own set-up in his yard. And that’s where he madethis winning video. For his efforts, Matt gets a cool pair of Swany Gloves and is entered as a potential winner of the monthly prize of a helmet cam. Check out his video.

Check out resort trail maps on your phone

We’ve all been there, unfolding a bulky trail map (forget about folding it back together!) to figure out where  to go next. “Enough” said the folks at Clearlogic, who created iSki Trail Maps, which let skiers and snowboarders look at trail maps optimized for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android phones. Judging from the screenshots we’ve seen and the largely positive reviews online, people like it and its price (“Worth the buck to not have to lug the maps,” one wrote.) And they have an impressive list of ski resorts, so odds are good you’ll find your favorite. Buy it at the iPhone app store or Android Market.

Check out Swany’s Video Contest. It’s a snap to enter and you win a helmet cam. Start here.

Lindsey Vonn down but not out after crash

AP Photo/Marco Trovati

UPDATE: Austrian Marlies Schild easily won the women’s World Cup slalom Tuesday in Lienz, Austria, while American Lindsey Vonn overcame a bone bruise to her left arm after falling heavily in Monday’s giant slalom. The overall World Cup leader barely used her left pole but still managed to finish 18th. Read more.

PREVIOUSLY: Skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn gave herself (and all of her Olympics sponsors) a big scare on Monday when she took a hard fall during a World Cup giant slalom race in Lienz, Austria. Although Vonn was able to ski off the course after 10 minutes, her arm was in a sling and she told reporters “I believe it’s broken,” according to the Associated Press. Later, however, doctors reported X-ray and MRI scans showed no fractures, only a bone bruise. Read more.

Don’t forget: Swany’s Outdoor Adventures Video Contest is easy to enter. Here’s how.

Fire up for end of the year parties

One of the great things about skiing around New Year’s Eve is the chance to check out a variety of parties and events at ski resorts. Here’s a look at a few things to check out in the East and West. Visit your favorite resort’s web site to see what they have planned. Know of something we should add? Comment below.

COLORADO: A variety of bars around Keystone Resort will offer live music on New Year’s Eve. Fireworks explode over Keystone Lake at 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. In Breckenridge, even more bars offer events and the ski area will feature a torch light parade and fireworks. Skiers will proceed from the top of Peak 9 starting at 6 p.m. Best views: Anywhere you can see Peak 9.  Copper Mountain’s fireworks start at 9 p.m. For more events, see the Summit Daily Story.

NORTH CAROLINA: The fun starts with a 10:30 p.m. fireworks show at Beech Mountain Resort, while Appalachian Ski Mountain and Sugar Mountain Resort light the skies at midnight. Get more details from Carolina Newswire.

Who needs a mountain when you can build a city pipe?

Pat Milbery might be a professional snowboarder, but he doesn’t need to hit the slopes to find a slope. Check out this Denver Post story about the rider sponsored by Winter Park Resort and Arbor Snowboards to see how he’s created an urban snowpark under a bridge near the Pepsi Center in Denver. Cool stuff.

Have you entered the Swany Outdoor Adventures Video Contest? It’s easy, just visit here.

Dew Tour rocks Breckenridge

The Dew Tour shook up Breckenridge this past weekend on snowboards and skis. Here’s a great look at Sunday’s Slopestyle finals action, which included a gritty performance by rising U.S. star Bobby Brown but was won by Norway’s Andreas Håtveit. Check out this great report by our friends at Freeskier for more details.

Have you entered Swany’s Outdoor Adventures Video Contest yet? It’s easy, find out how.

Colorado Ski Country rolls out a new mobile site

Colorado Ski Country has just unveiled a new mobile web site so skiers and snowboarders on the go can get the latest information for its 22 member resorts on the likes of road conditions, Twitter updates and the like. Here’s where to look for more information about the site and how to find it.

While you’re up in the mountains this weekend (wherever that might be), shoot some video to enter in our Outdoor Adventure Video Contest.

Dew Tour heats up Breckenridge with slopestyle, superpipe action from the world’s best

The Dew Tour hits Breckenridge this weekend, and you know what that means: four days of  slopestyle and superpipe competitions for the world’s best snowboard and freeski athletes. The action’s amazing and non-stop. Qualifying in all events takes place today, with mens and women’s prelims on Friday. Finals in various events will be held Saturday and Sunday. Schedule and ticket information. Of course, it’s not just about music. There will be a number of side events around the competition, including concerts featuring OneRepublic on Friday and Saturday night at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge.

Follow Swany Gloves on Twitter or become a Facebook fan. And enter our video contest: It’s easy and you could win a helmet cam. Enter here.

Mammoth Mountain founder shares outdoor beauty in photos

Dave McCoy, the founder of Mammoth Mountain resort in California, is not only still going at age 94, he’s taking photographs of the Eastern Sierra’s backcountry so he can share its beauty with everyone. We’re not just talking snapshots for friends. McCoy’s work has been displayed in local exhibitions and his portfolios have been sold to art collectors. Read more about this inspiring outdoorsman and watch a video at the Los Angeles Times.

Enter Swany’s Outdoor Adventures Video Contest and you could win a helmet cam. It’s easy.

Gretchen Bleiler talks snowboarding, fashion and the future

Gretchen Bleiler, 2006 Turin silver medalist, has taken her signature move to the next level. That is, the Crippler 540 (an inverted aerial move with one and a half rotations and a backflip) is now the Crippler 720. The 28-year-old finished second last weekend at Copper Mountain in the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, the first step toward qualifying for the Vancouver Olympics. Find out more about her new trick, her line of clothing and how she views the growth of snowboarding in this interview with Vanity Fair.

Follow Swany Gloves on Twitter or become a Fan on Facebook. Have a fun ski or snowboard video? Enter Swany’s Outdoor Adventures Video Contest and win a helmet cam. Start here.