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/