Last weekend we packed the Land Yacht with Spyder and Smith Optics promo items, a bunch of cases of Carlsberg, all-natural goodies from Justin’s Nut Butter, and Colby James West, and headed across the wind swept tundra of Wyoming’s I-80 corridor to Salt Lake City for the World Premiere of Warren Miller Entertainment’s latest release, ‘Flow State.’ During the two days and nights we were there, we had a chance to interact with a ton of enthusiastic skiers, Spyder fans, and partners like the U.S. Ski Team.

To help us spread the stoke, we had in attendance a sizable roster of Spyder Athletes, including Chris Davenport, Daron Rahlves, Julian Carr, Jess McMillan, Colby West, Tommy Moe, Tyler Ceccanti, and Steven Nyman. As stars of the movie, their excitement level was off the charts, which translated quite well to the multitudes of fans who converged on the Land Yacht for autographed athlete posters.

For several years now, Spyder has enjoyed an illustrious partnership with Warren Miller Entertainment – these WME films have become the canvas upon which our diverse group of athletes show their skills every fall, and this year’s film was no exception. From a last-minute, hammer-down ride to the heli pad in Nascar star Regan Smith’s stock car for Jess McMillan, to bottomless pow skiing in Japan by Tyler Ceccanti, to a hilarious lesson in Austrian language and culture by funny guy Colby West, the film shows just how talented and diverse our team is. The reach of these films is tremendous – by far the most popular ski film tour out there – and we’re stoked we can use them as a vehicle to showcase our athletes and the Spyder Brand.

The Warren Miller Tour rages on, and will be coming to a city near you, so be sure to check out their tour calendar so you don’t miss the spectacle. We’ll be in the mix for the Denver and Boulder shows, so look for the Land Yacht and come say hi.

Below you’ll find a video compilation of some of the action from the World Premiere, and after the jump you’ll find some photos.

We hope everyone’s as fired up for winter as we are – nothing like an action packed ski film to get you there!

-Your Spyder Marketing Team

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Later this week, an intrepid, international group – led by Spyder CEO Tom McGann – will embark on a cross-country, two-wheeled trek to the Mecca of Motorcycles (a.k.a. Sturgis, SD).

They’ll be updating us along the way with stories and photos from their adventure, so stay tuned.

Oh, and if you’re on the wide open road between Colorado and South Dakota, keep an eye out for the Spyder Land Yacht and a bunch of beautiful bikes (hat tip to Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson in Ft. Collins, CO!).

Tom will be riding this beauty, no doubt.

By: “Captain” Grant Burrow

Ping…Ping…Clank…Ping…Clank.  This is what I hear every morning around 4:30am on the ‘Ring of Fire’ Volcano Tour.  My eyes slowly open; I can smell the coffee brewing and sense the stoked atmosphere inside the Spyder Land Yacht from Team Volcano Tour as they prepare to climb and ski yet another volcano. 

This is a volcano tour – an attempt to ski seventeen volcanoes throughout the Pacific Northwest during the month of May. But this is much more then a ski trip – it truly is a journey (and a mostly unscripted journey at that). Beyond the team’s stated priorities of meeting local skiers and mountaineers, partaking in local activities, and, well, climbing and skiing a ton of vertical feet, it’s an open book.

For those of you who have been following our blog, you know about the team’s experiences on the mountain.  As the ‘Captain’ of the Land Yacht, I have a unique perspective of this journey.  As ‘Captain’ – and we’re going to use a more expansive definition than a mere driver here – I spend my days holding down the fort as the cleaning crew, the cook, the jester, the DJ, the maintenance tech, and as the navigator. I’m a one-man army up in here.

 My day starts when the team rises (no soundproof walls in the Land Yacht). After a quick bite to eat, I watch them exit the rig and then disappear into the woods or up a trail. Then what? I turn into the cleaning machine. For me, a clean home is a happy home!  I tie up my apron, put on my rubber gloves, and get to work.  I vacuum, do the dishes, set out our “outdoor patio” (artificial grass and lawn chairs – yep, as hilarious as it sounds), and then prep food items for brunch for when the team returns.

(Post is continued after the jump.)

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