Marquette Mission and the Marquette Trail 50K Relay

We had a great time in the U.P. once again!  This video shows a few of the highlights of the trip.  We ran the Marquette Trail 50K Relay and came in fastest overall!  Beginner's luck I guess.  We are still waiting on the votes to come in for best dressed team and best baton.  Maybe we'll get a hat trick and pull down all three, although that would be a bit too greedy.  For now, we're just stoked to be the fastest.

Marquette Mission from Ben Braymer on Vimeo.

Marquette Trail 50K Relay from Ben Braymer on Vimeo.

SAMA Springtime Sessions

SAMA Springtime Session from Ben Braymer on Vimeo.

Here's a little flat water session from Spring Break.  The usual suspects were in attendance.  Nice to get back out cruising again, and stoked for some bigger surf to slash again soon.  

Ice Boating on Muskegon Lake with the Whistler Ice Boat

 

While many Michiganders are anxiously awaiting spring weather, a few hardcore ice boaters are reaping the benefits of the cold snowless weather. I was lucky enough to tag along last Saturday.  Look for more action this coming weekend with more cold snow less weather and great ice conditions.  Check out the recent update on   

West Michigan Ice Yacht Club.

Marquette Backcountry Skis

I finally conjured up the duckets and pulled the trigger on some of these locally made and designed backcountry skis.  I have long cross country skied the dune trails around Grand Haven and fantasized about all the powder laiden fall lines through the backdune forest.  Dave Ollila's creation was born from the same exact problem, plenty of powder, steep tree laden fall lines, and a beauty of the winter forest that draws us back time and time again.  He put his ideas to the drawing board and created, what I believe is the perfect solution for those of us who want to access the local tree lines of anyone's home town; whether you live in Montana, or Michigan, we can't always get to the resort, and sometimes it's just a better feeling to earn your turns.  It keeps us healthy, a little more wealthy, and definitely the wiser.  I'll post my videos and reports soon.  But, if you're interested in checking these MBCS out, read up on Dave and his inventions at the link below.

http://www.mynorth.com/My-North/December-2011/Northern-Michigan-Outdoors-David-Ollilas-Rugged-Backcountry-Skis/

Adult Night @ Mulligan's Hollow in Grand Haven

I got a shiny new GoPro HD camera for Christmas, so I had to get out and play with it for a while.  I spent an hour at the Hollow the other night playing around on some rails and boxes.  Super fun, and with all this new snow I need to get back out there.  Winter finally returns!