Watch Ted Ligety fall off a cliff while doing some backcountry skiing in Alaska

OK, we’ll admit the crash that World Cup skier Ted Ligety takes here during some backcountry skiing in Alaska isn’t exactly “falling off a cliff.” But HEY, that’s how someone else got  us to look! Besides, it’s pretty cool to watch this wipeout and know that even a World Cup skier has to work his way out of the occasional crash.

Once you’re done with this video, check out the rest of the videos featuring Ligety posted on YouTube by @shredit64. Lots of fun stuff there. Or check out the winners in the Swany Outdoor Adventure Video Contest. (Good wipeouts there, too!).

Swany Gloves is dedicated to bringing you the best of outdoor adventure. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter.

Dew Tour will downsize, but that’s not all bad news

Organizers of the Dew Tour have announced a dramatic downsizing of its season — from six winter and summer events to just three.

Ironically, for those skiers and snowboarders who compete in the winter, the change may be welcome, given all the new FIS Olympic Qualifying events being added. But the news is not as good for summer athletes.

Read this story at ESPN to learn more.

Swany Gloves is dedicated to bringing you the best of outdoor adventure. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter.

USA Pro Cycling announces an exciting Colorado route for second edition in August

Levi Leipheimer won the inaugural USA Pro Challenge

UPDATE: Race organizers, aiming to correct a big gap in last year’s TV coverage when viewers were left in the dark, have created a plan to ensure coverage of the thrilling downhill on Independendence Pass into Aspen. Read how.

Last year’s inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge was a huge success, with more than a million people coming out to attend the return of professional bicycling to Colorado.

The week-long stage race was a thriller, with breathtaking (literally) climbs and multiple leaders. When all was said and done, Levi Leipheimer won the closely-contested race over Christian VandeVelde and Tejay van Garderen. Other superstars like Tour de France champ Cadel Evans , Andy Schleck (and brother Frank) also came to Colorado.

So it’s no surprise that excitement is high for the second edition of the race in August. Organizers previously released the name of host cities, and now they’ve released the actual routes, which includes multiple mountain-top finishes as well as a time trial on the final day. See the routes.

Swany Gloves is dedicated to bringing you the best of outdoor adventure. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter.

Check out this nice review of our latest smartphone-friendly Toast mitts

Let’s face it: using a smartphone can be a pain while skiing or snowboarding. At  Swany we feel your pain, so we’ve developed groundbreaking gloves that you can keep on while you use that phone.

Writer Eric Wagnon just road-tested one of our smartphone-friendly gloves, the TS-30 Toast, for On the Snow. Check out the good things he had to say about the newest entry in our popular Toaster line (it arrives this fall), as well as some other entries in this growing category.

Swany Gloves is dedicated to bringing you the best of outdoor adventure. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter.

The liners are "smart-phone friendly" in our new Toast mitt for next season.

Happy homecoming for Vonn in Vail: MRI shows no need for surgery

UPDATE: The MRI conducted on Lindsey Vonn’s knees showed some wear and tear, but nothing that required surgery — all she needs is some R&R. Read more.

Lindsey Vonn had a little fun on Sunday (April 1), but it wasn’t all fun and games.

First, the fun. The town of Vail held a homecoming for the World Cup overall champion at which hundreds, including Olympic Gold Medalist Picabo Street, turned out to cheer Vonn. Street and Vonn, in turn, made sure the crowd honored Sarah Schleper, who announced her retirement from the ski team this season.

The fun continued for Vonn when she met and skied with members of Ski Girls Rock, a program for girls to learn to ski (and more) created by Lindsey.

On the serious side, Vonn discussed her previously undisclosed knee injury with the Vail Daily, saying she expected it to be a minor meniscus issue — but maybe no issue at all. She said she would post an update on her MRI on Facebook.

Swany Gloves is dedicated to bringing you the best of outdoor adventure. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter.