PureOutside

Some days you go skiing and the snow is terrible. It’s far from the light fluffy amazingness that you can find on the best days.

Some days you go hiking and it’s pissing down rain. It’s far from the bright warm sunshine that follows you around on the good days.

Some days you go sailing and there’s just no wind or the wind is howling and you’re hunkered down on the rail wishing you were somewhere else. It’s far from the constant 10-20 knots and sun on those days you dream about.

Some days are not the best. Depending on my mood I might go so far as to say they suck. Then I remember days that are spent inside at the computer, tired, stressed out, no outside recharge time in sight. Sucky outside days don’t seem so bad when compared to anything inside. They still aren’t great though.

I like to call them Appreciation Days. Any day outside is better than being inside. Those days with terrible snow, cold sideways rain and intense howling wind are there for a reason. Those days are there to make us appreciate the good days, the days with warm sun, light powder and the perfect wind.

Appreciation Days are there to still use for outside adventures but to remind us to pay much more attention to those good days that slip by because we take them for granted.

The air was warm and the sun was out. I was right in the groove. The perfect song was playing as I weaved back and forth through the trees running through the trees in Linley Valley.

Then a slow song came on. Everything slowed down. I forgot about the beautiful trees and water and grass. All I could think about was how this new song was really not the right tempo. My groove was gone.

I reached for my left upper arm. My music-playing phone wasn’t there because it feels too big and heavy on my arm.

I reached for my jacket pocket. My phone wasn’t there either because it bounces around too much when I run.

I reach for my shorts pocket. My phone wasn’t there either because it pulls my headphones out of my ears when it’s in my shorts pockets. Nothing frustrates me more than having my headphones ripped from my ears.

I realized my phone was in my backpack playing away. To get at it I had to stop unclip the waist strap, unclip the chest strap, pull my bag off the same side as my headphones go into the top pouch, open the top pouch of the bag, and change the song. To get running again, I have to reverse the process. Every time I hit a song I want to change, or take a photo, or send a message, I have to go through this huge process to get my phone out and do something. I wanted a better way to carry my phone.

My backpack was a long process to get at my phone.

Armbands are tight and uncomfortable and heavy with a large phone attached to your arm.

Any pockets don’t provide enough support. My phone bounces around like crazy, changing music, pressing buttons or pulling the headphone cords out.

A quick look around online and I found the perfect solution to my problem. Obviously someone else had the same problem.

Waterproof SpiBelt carrying your gear

The SpiBelt

SpiBelts are small pouches made of stretchy material that can hold phones, ipods or keys while you run. They stretch to hold a considerable amount of stuff. I tend to only put my phone and keys in it when I run. Because of the stretch, it keeps things in place whether you have a tiny iPod Nano inside or a giant smartphone. I haven’t done a running race with them yet but I think they would be ideal for holding gels on a run.

Easy access to your stuff

This is the biggest thing for me. It’s a small, lightweight belt that fits nicely around your waist. If you need anything from it, spin the belt around and the pouch, and your stuff, is right in front of you. If I had a SpiBelt in my frustrating story above, I wouldn’t even have had to skip a beat to get at my phone, change the song, Instagram a photo of the lake and be on my way. 2 easy seconds. Not a couple minutes of frustrating finding my phone in my backpack.

Waterproof SpiBelt on the water

Waterproof

I’m not staying inside when it’s wet out and my gear doesn’t either. Electronics don’t agree with that statement though. They need to be kept in something nice and dry. There is a waterproof version of the SpiBelt that has a waterproof bag inside the stretchy outer material that will keep your precious music player nice and dry. It also works great for watersports like kayaking and SUPing.

Kayaking with the SpiBelt

Easter weekend rolled around this year and it was the best weather I’ve seen in a long time. Partly because Easter tends to surrounded by terrible weather and it’s been winter for the last 6 months!

After spending Friday and Saturday outside in the Southern Straights Yacht Race and Sunday outside at a family bonfire for easter, I thought Sunday should continue the trend. The weather was supposed to be warm and sunny, the wind a few knots from the south. Perfect conditions for a kayak out of Ladysmith.

I took the Narpa down to the Ladysmith Fisherman’s Wharf boat launch and popped it into the water. There was a slight breeze from the south but nothing major. I’d have to work against it on my way out but it would provide a nice tailwind coming back.

Washed up boat

Not wanting to spend too much time in boat traffic, I cut straight across the harbour into the islands on the other side and worked my way south on the east shore. The tide was low and dropping exposing the hollowed out formations in the rocks. I was lost in my camera taking photos of an old boat washed up on the shore as a few other paddlers passed behind me. I was a little annoyed at their presence wanting to keep the whole place to myself until they pointed out an eagle resting on a tree above us. I thanked them and ditched my selfish thoughts for the rest of the day.

Eagle over the harbour

I had heard of a great little beach near the point. I was headed there for lunch. Many beaches passed and not one of them looked like the one I had heard of. Eventually I gave up and rounded Coffin Point, ready to have a snack and head back.

Just off Coffin Point is a tiny island with a lighthouse on it and at low tide, a small sandbar perfect for lunch. I hauled the boat higher on the rocks so it wouldn’t float away when the tide started to come up and settled in for lunch.

Lunch off Coffin Point

For how much time and effort it takes to make a complete ski film, there are a surprising number of free films just waiting to be viewed online. Check them all out here.

2012

Awone Again – Awone Films
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

Dang! – 4FRNT
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

DYNAMITE – FreeSki-Crew.com
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

En Route: Hokkaido – Nimbus Entertainment
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

En Route: Alberg – Nimbus Entertainment
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

En Route: Sled BC – Nimbus Entertainment
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

Far Out – Wax Tracks Productions
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

Gnar – Unofficial Networks
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

Kill Your Boredom – Voleurz
Trailer | Producer | Film Page  | Full Movie

Manifesto – Skilluminati
Trailer | Producer | Soundtrack | Full Movie

My World – Life Steeze Media
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

Part Time – PYP
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

Season 6: Tempting Fear  - Saloman Freeski TV
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

ShiA – Block-9
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

Something Like That – Gapers Gone Wild
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

The Fire – Wordup Media
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

Through the Looking Glass – North Cascade Productions
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

Time for the Whiteroom – SP Films
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

Turbulent Flow – Chaoz Productions
Trailer | Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

2011

Relentless Energy – Follow Me Down
Film Page | Producer | Full Movie

2010

Look on the Bright Side – Voleurz
Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

2009

Voleurz – Outdoor Graduation
Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

2008

Chaoz Productions – Empty Pockets
Producer | Film Page | Full Movie

Voleurz – Outdoor Education
Producer | Film Page | Soundtrack | Full Movie

Newschoolers.com – First
Film Page | Full Movie

If you are looking for the full list of awesome DVD’s and downloadable ski films (for $$$ though) head over to the Biggest List of Ski Films in the World.