Journal

The Journal is dedicated to the sports and people that make Black Diamond what it is.

  • Monday, May 2, 2011

    VIDEO: BD athlete Chris Schulte bouldering in Fontainebleau, France

    Black Diamond athlete Chris Schulte has been over in Europe for most of 2011, bouldering in France and Switzerland. Below is the video he put together from his stay in Fontainebleau that does a great job of capturing the subtle technique adjustments Font requires.   [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, May 3, 2011

    BD athlete Dave Turner speed flying in the Sierras

    Black Diamond athlete Dave Turner , known for his big wall solos, has gotten bit by the speed flying bug. Here's a video Dave put together of some of the fun he's found this winter in the Sierras. Looks pretty rowdy!   [READ MORE]

  • Thursday, May 5, 2011

    VIDEO PROFILE: BD athlete Kevin Jorgeson bouldering at the Buttermilk Boulders near Bishop, California

    Black Diamond athlete Kevin Jorgeson reckons he has spent more time at the iconic Buttermilk Boulders than any other climbing area, amazing an impressive list of first ascents and repeats, including some of the areas stoutest highballs. Out in the Buttermilks this past March, lensman Andy Mann filmed with Jorgeson for a couple of days, and... [READ MORE]

  • Thursday, May 5, 2011

    Winger For The Weekend #89

    Yes, we've been accused more than once of being over-stoker here at BD. Hell, we even dedicated Winger For The Weekend #22 to our over-stokerness. But, come on, being stoked is awesome, and the more heavily stoked the better! Will any of us ever forget The Double Rainbow Guy's magnificent over-stokerism in Winger For The Weekend #54 ? We... [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, May 10, 2011

    BD employee Dan Caruso reports on his season of Alaskan heli-ski guiding

    Black Diamond’s European Ski Line Promoter, Dan Caruso , spends a good chunk of March and April working as a heli guide in Alaska with Alaska Backcountry Adventures. Although this year the powder gods were a little stingy, leaving conditions less-than epic, DC still got into some sweet vert. Below is his season-end report. From:... [READ MORE]

  • Wednesday, May 11, 2011

    BD employee Corey LaForge reports on his ascent of the Eiger's north face

    Black Diamond employee Corey LaForge is based out of the BD headquaerters in Salt Lake CIty and traveled to Switzerland recently, hustling his way up one of the great classics of the Alps: the 1938 north face route on the Eiger. Below is his trip report and photos from the climb. Nearly every spring for the past six years I have done... [READ MORE]

  • Thursday, May 12, 2011

    VIDEO: Backpacker Magazine's review of the Ultra-Distance Z-Pole

    Back in March we reported that our Ultra-Distance Z-Pole trekking poles had won the coveted Editors' Choice Award from Backpacker Magazine . Below is a video review from Backpacker Magazine's Senior Editor, Shannon Davis, that highlights what makes the Ultra-Distance so innovative and award-worthy. .... [READ MORE]

  • Friday, May 13, 2011

    Winger For The Weekend #90

    The Internet is a strange place. At times, an extremely strange and disturbing place. Fortunately, our technical illustrator, Mike Tea, seeks out such twisted and dark places (hey, man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do...), and discovered this Winger For The Weekend #90: a hilariously bizarre clip of The Kelly Family performing one of their... [READ MORE]

  • Monday, May 16, 2011

    VIDEO: BD athlete Adam Ondra making the first ascent of Chaxi Raxi (9b) at Oliana, Spain

    Black Diamond athlete Adam Ondra made the first ascent of Chaxi Raxi, a massive 9b line at Oliana, Spain in late April. This is likely one of the hardest sport climbs in the world. We had Bernardo Gimenez on the scene to document Adam’s efforts and he was fortunate enough to be there for the redpoint. Below is the outstanding video Bernardo... [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, May 17, 2011

    VIDEO: BD athletes Will Cardamone, Adam Mozynski and Mark Welgos skiing at Independence Pass, Colorado

    Black Diamond athletes Will Cardamone, Adam Mozynski and Mark Welgos continue to reap the rewards of Colorado's long, deep winter. Below is a clip they produced from a memorable session on Independece Pass above Aspen, Colorado.   [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, May 17, 2011

    Winger For The Weekend #91

    There's quite a few odd "sports" out there, but this Winger For The Weekend #91 has to be the weirdest. Have a great weekend, and watch out for those damn Plankers.   [READ MORE]

  • Monday, May 23, 2011

    VIDEO: BD athlete Chris Schulte sending Atlas Shrugged (V12) in Red Rocks, NV

    Black Diamond athlete Chris Schulte spent some time around Las Vegas last year, bouldering in Red Rocks with a crew of friends. Below is the video that lensman John Dickey edited together of Chris and friends battling out the beta on Atlas Shrugged (V12) and Chris' eventual send.   [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, May 24, 2011

    BD athlete Ines Papert repeats Super Cirill, a multi-pitch 8a/8a+ trad line in Switzerland

    Black Diamond athlete Ines Papert continues to seek out demanding multi-pitch trad lines, most recently dispatching the 200-meter Super Cirill in Switzerland. Below is her report that documents the battle she went through before the successful redpoint. (Photos courtesy of Thomas Senf.) Graded 8a/8a+ the nine-pitch route Super... [READ MORE]

  • Thursday, May 26, 2011

    Snowboarder survives two-meter deep, 30-40 minute avalache burial, using his AvaLung

    As the ski season in the Northern Hemisphere draws to a close, we have one more avalanche survival story to share with you—this time of a snowboarder using his AvaLung to survival a two-meter deep, 30-40 minute burial. This accident happened March 8th in Colorado’s Waterfall Canyon and involved two brothers, Joe (skier) and Nick... [READ MORE]

  • Thursday, May 26, 2011

    Winger For The Weekend #92

    Skate witches? Really? Who knew, but by the looks of this Winger For The Weekend #92 (sent to us by BD Europe's own Skate Witch/Marketing Coordination Manager, Eva Kuprella ) this trio of bad-to-the-bone mommas (and their rats) was ruling the mid-1980s skate scene in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Imagine the horror and mayhem if these gnar'd-up... [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, May 31, 2011

    BD athletes Barbara Zangerl and Adam Ondra win at Melloblocco, world's largest climbing event in Italy

    Black Diamond athlete Barbara Zangerl competed at Melloblocco, a massive bouldering event in Val Masino, Italy, and managed to power her way to a first place finish (as did fellow BD athlete Adam Ondra , for the Men’s division). Nice! Below is her report from the event—which once again reigned supreme as the world’s largest climbing... [READ MORE]