What's in the Fridge? The full length film

Check out my friend Joel Whalen's What's in the Fridge? He's was nice enough to release it free online!

The November Recap

This season started off with a bang in Utah. With snow totals well over 100 inches already, this has proven to be one of the best Novembers I can remember. It's nice to be able to hit the ground running and dive head first into the season. Literally.

Touring up Alta after the first storms. Alta is the hottest back country spot in the
Wasatch when the lifts aren't running.

Learning new tricks already! Switch backflip. Photo by Max Lowe



Carston Oliver. Photo by Max Lowe


Shane Metos. Photo by Max Lowe

Here's a little edit I put together with our Go Pro Cameras:

Best November Ever in the Wasatch from Eric Balken on Vimeo.

What's in the Fridge? A film by Joel Whalen

Last season I had a chance to film for a couple days with Canadian fly fishing superstar Joe Whalen. His film, What's in the Fridge? will be released in December as a free download. Check out the trailer; the film looks SWEET!

Whats in the Fridge? A Teaser. from Jah Raven Creation on Vimeo.

Season Edit 09-10

So it's been a while since I've been present in the blogosphere, but it's October in Utah and winter is just around the corner. This time of year holds a special energy for the coming season, and general stoke levels are at a high.

To share this stoke, I present to you an edit of my 09-10 season. My good friend Wes Morin was kind enough to put this thing together so please enjoy it!

Eric Balken Winter 2009/10 Edit from Wes Morin on Vimeo.

Slash Dat Grouse

Last week I went out shooting with my buddy Michael Brown and we captured what may be the most spectacular skiing/wildlife shot of all time. While going for a slash picture, I inadvertently roused a grouse from its home. We didn't see the bird till after we took the shot, but we soon realized that we'd struck photographic gold. National Geographic offered Brown a million dollars for the rights to this photo, but he declined on moral grounds.
Here's some more pics from that day

360 Nelson Grab

Dimitri Littig tweakin' out the grab

Slash, pre-grouse

Mount Tuscarora

Flip, Part 1

Flip, Part 2

Flip, Part 3

Another Backflip, photo by Alex Zuhl

Rest in Peace CR Johnson

I Just found out that freeskiing pioneer CR Johnson passed away today in an accident at Squaw Valley. In my mind, CR was one of the sport's greatest innovators, throwing huge 360's off cliffs on huge lines. I remember being 17 and following CR and Tanner around for a few runs at Alta. I was so stoked to see these ski legends in the flesh. CR's death is a huge blow to the freeskiing world. Tomorrow we'll be shredding for him. Rest in Peace.

CR's part from Seven Sunny Days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Ji9o8R1Ao

Days Fork Tourin'

Check out this edit I put together from a tour we did a couple weeks ago. Please excuse the choppy editing, I don't have access to a nice computer.

.25 Seconds Before Concussion

Last week we were testing out my friend Shifty's new camera flashes in Gaurdsman Pass. My friend Quiggly and I arranged a tandem shot with him jumping a tree and me slashing next to it. I slashed a little too close to the tree and Quiggly ended up landing on me. Thankfully I was wearing a helmet so I only got a light concussion and some bruises. I'm happy to see that the picture turned out.

Dimitri Littig

Jose Urritia

Photos: Chris "Shifty" Shifrar

Splorin', Scopin', Feedin'

In the days spent healing my sternum injury, my friends and I spent a lot of time touring and exploring the beautiful Utah back country. Injury time is always good for exploring, probing, scoping, and eating excessive amounts of food. Check the photos from my friend Jose Urritia.

Sending safely in Brighton Backcountry

Myself, Mike, and Dimo peering down a chute near Pioneer Peak

Airing over Mike to make sure he was actually there and it wasn't just my imagination


The crew checkin out the view from Milly Peak

To see more of Jose's Photos, be sure to check out salmoncreek.blogspot.com

Oldies

After receiving over 100 inches of snow in the span of six days at the end of January, we've had another dry spell here in the Wasatch. The timing has worked out I guess, since I cracked my sternum jumping a large cliff at the end of that storm. For the past few weeks I've been eating lots of Calcium and taking it easy so I can get back into kill mode ASAP.

In the meantime, here's a few pictures taken by Surface Photographer Jason Eichhorst at Brighton Resort last season.

"Corner Cliff", Brighton


Headwall, Brighton


180, Brighton


Be sure to check out Jason's website: http://fromoverhere.squarespace.com/

White Pine Tourin' January 17th

To escape resort crowds and our disappointment in a scronny snow pack, Zuhl, Steele, Dickman, and I went for a romp up White Pine.
Headin up the trail
East side of White Pine Gulch
Dickman and Zuhl, Check out the Harry Larry snow pack on the other side of the canyon

Looking up the Gulch
Steele being happy on his way to glory

Shooting with Shifty

Here's a couple shots taken by my buddy Chris Shifrar (a.k.a. Shifty). He has a good eye for unique pictures. Check out his website: http://clshifrarstudios.com/ , it's pretty baller status.

With minimal snowpack, many cliffs have proven to be more epic than usual this year. This is me back flipping my way out of the frame under Clayton Peak in the Brighton slack country.

Piles for miles under Pioneer Peak, Brighton Slack Country

Dog Lake Slash

Shifty shows his artsy side

Grizzly Gulch: January 2nd

Here's some shots from a back country jump we built in Grizzly Gulch on Jan. 2nd.

Unnatural cork 3 Photo: Michael Brown

Michael Brown gettin' his cork on

Dan Pizza (a.k.a Stan Gleetza) flippin out


Jump Test Rodeo

They call me Kenny Bloggins!!!

Hello world! Bout to Blog storms in our neighbrhood...