If the folks of Idaho (official term: Idahoans) thought that they could hide this jackpot of soft, sweet powder forever - they were sadly mistaken.

After season one of Smith Optics' Prospecting Idaho hit the web world last year -- shredders high and low were packing their bags and ready to jet off to the Potato State.

Scotty Lago and company shone a light that was hard to miss on the backcountry life of Idaho and all the glorious shredding that came with it. More powder slashes than anyone could ever ask for pour out of this series alongside a crew of serious snowboard talent getting after it in the ultimate backyard park of Smiley Creek Lodge.

Skiers Bobby Brown, Tim Durtschi, and Tyler Ceccanti joined snowboarders Austin Smith, Iris Lazzareschi, Shayne Pospisil, Yancy Caldwell, Tim Humphreys for season two of Prospecting Idaho and they are going big.

Produced by Smith Optics and Cory Smith, edited by Mark Oliver

Words Smith Optics:

What do you get when you take one of the worlds leading eyewear companies, combine it with a 900 acre backcountry training facility, and sprinkle in some of the worlds best skiers and snowboarders? Well, Prospecting Idaho of course!
Deep in the wilderness of Idaho's Sawtooth Range lies Smiley Creek Lodge, a small wilderness lodge/restaurant/outfitter. It is here that Smith has created the ultimate backyard park. 900 acres of former mining property make up what can only be described as every snow slider's dream come true. The tailing piles from the mine make perfect landings for big kickers, kickers built by a big, bad Prinoth Snowcat. The upper "cirque" area has cliff drops, cornices, and windlips. The trees are thick and deep, and the back side has a seemingly endless expanse of sunny pow fields. What more could one ask for? How about an eight-person cat waiting at the bottom to zip you right back up to the top of the ridge.

Photo: Dan Brown

It's been a pretty busy month for award shows. While many had their attention turned to big gala's such as the Grammy's and the Golden Globes, it could have been easy to forget about that very special event that goes down each year in a little place called Aspen. Luckily for you, Grindtv was on hand to bring you all of the juicy photos and details from the tenth annual Powder Video Awards (PVA) & Reader's Poll that took place during Winter X Games 14 in Aspen, CO.


Mike Rogge, Tanner Hall, Jossi Wells & Jeff Schmuck
Photo: Dan Brown

The best moment of the night was arguably the induction for the "Lifetime Achievement Award." This prestigious award went to none other then the legend himself, Mr. Warren Miller. At 85, Miller is veteran in the game and flew in from Montana for the event despite a broken back.

When accepting the award, Miller said "I'm 85, that's a long trip on a pair a skis." He also encouraged all skiers to remember Shane McConkey, and take note of his incredible feats. Miller ended his speach by saying "Make a lot of turns and enjoy every moment of it...just don't cross your tips!"

Good times were had by all, especially by the winners! Check them out-

2010 Powder Video Awards

BEST JIB:
Tim Durtschi (Everyday is a Saturday) by Poor Boyz Productions

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER:
Dane Tudor

BEST NATURAL AIR:
Mark Abma (In Deep) by Matchstick Productions

BEST MANMADE AIR:
Tim Durtschi (Everyday is a Saturday) by Poor Boyz Productions

BEST LINE:
Daron Rahlves (In Deep) by Matchstick Productions -

BEST FEMALE:
Lynsey Dyer (Magic Moments) by Stormshow Studios

BEST P.O.V.:
Antoine Montat (Can't Stop) by Ride the Planets

BEST POWDER:
Pep Fujas (Contrast) by Nimbus Independent

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE:
Sean Pettit (In Deep) by Matchstick Productions

BEST DOCUMENTARY:
Swift.Silent.Deep. by SSD Production

BEST EDITING:
Swift.Silent.Deep. by SSD Productions

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Signatures by Sweetgrass Productions

FULL THROTTLE:
Sean Pettit, In Deep by Matchstick Productions

MOVIE OF THE YEAR:
In Deep by Matchstick Productions

PHOTO OF THE YEAR:
Photographer: Eric Berger, Skier: Dan Treadway, Location: Mount Cayley, B.C.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:
Warren Miller


2010 POWDER READER POLL
Men:
First Place: Seth Morrison

Women:
First Place: Ingrid Backstrom


Click here for more photos from the event.

By Adryan Roane Ritter

"So I sleep in and miss my park shoot with Poor Boyz (fell asleep in the Timberline Parking lot)" pro skier and Windells coach Tim Durtschi explains in his Saga Outerwear Blog "...I am sitting in the parking lot, and a car pulls up. Little do I know that the person in the car is Bruce Weber, world class photographer. He tells me about the Ralph Lauren Winter collection shoot they are doing and they want to shoot some photo's of me."

Typical move for a pro shred... sleeping in and missing a shoot with your film production company. But if this isn't a case of "everything happens for a reason" then I don't know what hell is.

As the rest of the story goes, the three Windells coaches, pro skier Tim Durtschi and pro snowboarders Johnnie Paxson and Johnny Tsunami, were swooped right out of the Timberline Mt. Hood parking lot on the spot, dolled up in tight pants, reindeer sweaters and makeup, and matched up with "legit" models from Russia.


Johnny Paxson. Now no one can tell him to never quit his day job. He'd prolly make way more money as a model then a pro snowboarder.


OMG it's Bruce Weber! He's probably seen more almost naked models then anybody in the game. Tim Durtschi in the baby blue's getting told what to do.

Bruce Weber, one of the most famous fashion photographers of all time (we're talking Gucci famous, as well as being responsible for the sexy and scandalous Abercrombie black and white ads) shot the coaches accessorized with scarves, toboggans, dorky old-man hats, and even a husky puppy.

They boys were compensated a whopping $50 bucks, some sweaters from the set, and a pizza lunch for their whole day's effort. (But rumor has it If they make it into print with the ad campaign there will be ample compensation.)

Check out the Windells blog or Tim Durtschi's Saga Outerwear blog for more Ralph Lauren "behind the scenes" photos- and keep your eye out come fall for some Ralph Lauren Winter Collection ads in every fashion magazine in the world. Maybe you'll spot one of your favorite pro-shreds in there.