Jake Burton Carpenter, the father of snowboarding, dies at age 65
Jake Burton Carpenter, the founder of Burton Snowboards died on November 20. Carpenter fought testicular cancer in 2011 and told employees earlier in November that the cancer had returned.
Carpenter opened Burton Snowboards in 1977 with the goal of advancing the snowboard, which was then called a “Snurfer.” His commitment to the sport paid off, and under his wing the sport of snowboarding grew into a billion-dollar business. “He was the soul of snowboarding,” the company said in a statement.
Bouldering for Boat Rock
Boat Rock—a beloved bouldering crag along the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta—has long been under threat of development and preserved by the efforts of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition. Access at Boat Rock— known for its technical routes, as well as for holding one of the first bouldering competitions in the U.S. back in 1985—is celebrated annually at Float the Boat, a comp with accompanying parties that will take place on February 22. While raising funds to maintain and pay for the property, climbers participate in various categories such as Iron Man/Maiden, completing as many problems as possible in the allotted time, or Open Projects, which features cash prizes for competitors who complete an unclimbed project.
New Hampshire man loses wedding ring while hiking; other hikers use metal detector to track it down
In a story that goes to show that hikers really will go the extra mile, a man in New Hampshire lost his wedding ring while on a 10-mile hike on Mount Hancock and then issued a plea on Facebook for anyone hiking the mountain to keep an eye out for it. Two hikers saw Bill Giguere’s Facebook post and decided to see if they could track the ring down.
Armed with a metal detector and just one clue—that the ring may have fallen off of Giguere’s hand while he switched gloves near the north peak, the hikers were astounded when the metal detector began beeping. A quick dig through the snow revealed the missing ring. “Good directions from Bill, a little luck, a little fate and it all came together at that spot,” Tom Gately, who found the ring, told CNN affiliate WCVB.
N.C. man to run 100 miles in all 50 states
Pete Ripmaster of Swannanoa, N.C., is no stranger to feats of endurance. His resume includes winning the epic 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational, a race requiring participants to bike, run, or ski the historic Iditarod Trail. But Ripmaster announced recently that he’s just getting started and has set a new goal to run a 100-mile run in all 50 states.
Ripmaster’s newest endeavor has never been accomplished before.
“It kind of scares me sometimes when I think about it,” he told News 13 WLOS. He believes it will take him 10 years to check off all 50 states, though he’s already got six under his belt, including the Leadville 100, Bighorn 100, Tahoe 200, and the Arrowhead 135. He next heads to Texas where he’ll tackle Rocky Raccoon 100.
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda breaks 10K world record
There might be a lot of things humans can accomplish in 26 minutes and 38 seconds but, until recently, running 6.2 miles wasn’t one of them. All of that changed when 23-year-old Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda broke the road 10K world record on December 1. He accomplished the feat at the 10K Valencia Trinidad Alfonso in Valencia, Spain, crushing the previous world record by six seconds. In addition to his record-breaking run on Sunday, Cheptegei also became a cross-country world champion and a world champion in the 10,000 meters in 2019. “What a year it has been,” Cheptegei told World Athletics.
Run the Frozen Snot
If you’re searching for a fun winter challenge, you’ll likely find frigid conditions on Bald Eagle Mountain at the Frozen Snot—an extremely tough running adventure in the Appalachians of central Pennsylvania that takes place on February 15. Scheduled during what has historically been the coldest week of the year, in years past the course elements have included freezing rain, a foot of snow, and chilling winds. Racers can choose to run or fast-hike the full 13.5-mile course or a shorter 8.3-mile option; with the longer route featuring 5,800 feet of elevation gain. Due to the gnarly terrain, all participants are required to have a traction device available for when the footing gets tricky, and trekking poles are also recommended.
Drink This
The South meets the Rocky Mountains with Breckenridge Distillery’s Bourbon Whiskey A Blend, made with Colorado snowmelt water but aged in barrels from Kentucky and Tennessee. Situated at 9,600 feet, Breckenridge is the world’s highest distillery, making a variety of spirits from the Colorado ski town. With a high-rye mash bill, the bourbon is a light-bodied whiskey with notes of oak, vanilla, and honey.
Surf City brewery makes packaging that can be consumed by wildlife
The Salty Turtle Beer Company located in Surf City, N.C., has an innovative solution to an old problem. In an effort to ditch the traditional and problematic plastic beer rings, the company has begun packaging its beer with eco-friendly rings that can be consumed by wildlife.
The rings are made with by-products of the brewing process and are made from compostable materials. They are biodegradable, disappearing in just days, and will not harm wildlife if consumed.