Built Tour

Climbing 2.0

PodClimber takes the best from the climbing world and makes it accessible in both audio and video format for your enjoyment on your own personal iPod.

Check out their great event (video) recap HERE

Unsung Heroes of Climbing

While the competitors get all the attention, and all the hype of an event like the ABS Nationals, few recognize the amount of work that the organizers put into hosting something of this scale.  Up at 5:30am to start registering competitors, set routes, and make sure everything is in place, these guys will stay at the gym as late as 3am the next day ensuring all the routes have been changed, are climbable (ie, suited to a particular age or experience class), and that the following day runs like a turbo-charged small block.  So cheers to the USA-Climbing staff for their hard work and impeccable execution, this Bud's for you!

Welcome to Timonium, MD - Earth Treks

Feb. 17th, 2007 - As the sun dropped and the temperatures along with it, the tension began to mount as the finals of the ABS Nationals approached.  With a 7pm  kick-off and the gym locked during problem setting, hundreds of eager spectators lined the outside of Earth Treks in Timonium braving the frigid weather in order to guarantee a good spot in this first-come-first-serve, general admission venue.  It's a tight fit at Earth Treks, though it boasts itself as one of the larger indoor gyms in the country, the hype of the elite athletes in the country draws a packed house.
If you've never been to one of these things, don't hesitate to rush out to the next one in your area because it's an electic atmosphere filled with great competition, impressive performances, and fast-tempo music to keep the blood flowing.
At the end of the day, Daniel Woods and Alex Puccio walked away with the men's and women's crowns respectively, though they met great challenge by several other competitors who put up high marks in the final round, forcing the decision to fall back on qualifying points.  For a full recap on the event and results, go HERE.

Hot Game!

We've got plenty of it...

Ice again

Question...If you are walking down the street of Chagrin Falls, OH and one of these bad boys falls on your head, subsequently ending your life, who gets the blame?  You for not being careful?  The building owner for not removing the ice build-up?  The city for same reason?  Or Mother Nature for creating the ice?  Just to be safe, be careful walking around the Midwest near giant, deadly icicles.

Welcome to Chagrin Falls, OH

This quaint suburb of Cleveland looks like the type of place that would pose as a perfect backdrop for a murder mystery; frozen waterfalls, 150 yr-old general store, nostalgic restaurants and cafes, lawn gnomes, and very interesting, even quirky, people.  But it's a cool place all the same...
Anyway, Dave's Cosmic Subs is worth checking out, even if the whole murder-mystery thing doesn't appeal to you.  Founded out of the same cosmic love that brought so many people together in the 60's (ie hippies), Dave set out to create the ultimate sub-eating experience.  The Original Dave's sits here, in Chagrin Falls, and its walls are decorated in the memorabilia of some of the greats in music: Morrison, Hendrix, Lennon, Joplin, Garcia, even Dave himself makes a cameo*.  Believe it or not, the sandwiches are amazing and definitely live up to the hype.  "Far Out - Now that's one Great Sub!"**

*Dave was the lead singer in a hair-band known as Foreplay
**actual quote boosted from the back of Cosmic Dave's menu

Exhausted

Four weeks straight on the road can be a lot for anybody... even The Buddy.

What makes us Yawn?
How Sleep works

- Random facts:
    Cows can sleep while standing up, but they only dream if they lie down.
    Whales and dolphins are "conscious breathers," and they need to keep breathing while they sleep,         so only one half of the brain sleeps at a time. (Click here for details.)

• The average yawn lasts about six seconds.
• Your heart rate can rise as much as 30 percent during a yawn.
• 55 percent of people will yawn within five minutes of seeing someone else yawn.
• Blind people yawn more after hearing an audio tape of people yawning.
• Reading about yawning will make you yawn.
• Olympic athletes often yawn before competition.

And Speaking of Ice...

Ben Saunders is a record-breaking long-distance skier, with three North Pole expeditions under his belt. He is the youngest person ever to ski solo to the North Pole and holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton. Since 2001, Ben has skied more than 2,500km (1,500 miles), which he recently worked out equates to two percent of his entire life living in a tent the high Arctic. Not one to rest on his laurels, Ben has a groundbreaking polar expedition lined up for 2006/7.
bio taken from BenSaunders.com

In February of 2005, Ben gave a lecture at the prestigious TED Talks in Monterrey, Ca.  Watch the video HERE.

It's cold in Michigan

If you've never been completely enclosed by large chunks of frozen water, then you just haven't lived.  It looks much cooler in person than shown here (pics are harder to take than you would think), it's a pretty desolate feeling and some pretty treacherous terrain.  Lake Michigan, and the other Great Lakes, go through an annual freezing cycle that results in huge buildups of ice-chunks.  The base of the tower shown sits about 20 ft above the lake's surface during summer months. Some interesting info is available HERE on the science behind the phenomena.

Welcome to Chicago - Millenium Park

This giant Jelly Bean ('Cloud Gate') is one of the coolest sculptures anywhere.  It perfectly reflects Chicago's skyline.  Millennium Park is a great way to spend a lazy, cold, Sunday afternoon. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Forget flowers, candy, teddy bears, and jewelry, how about a trip outside?  The folks at Nomadik have a few suggestions for spending some quality time outdoors with that some special someone...

Fire up Your Valentine’s Day with Some Outdoor Adventures

Roll out the red carpet...

Though the pics posted previously of the MK Ice Luge were cool, they by no means did the whole event half the justice it deserved.  THIS, should do a better job... enjoy.

On a Mission from God...

On most days, The House of Blues plays host to some of the biggest names in music.  To most people, the House of Blues is a palace of legends.  BUT, few know that the HOB is never more alive than on Sunday mornings, when the rock n' roll, blues, hip-hop, and pop take a day of rest, and Gospel takes the stage.  The Gospel Brunch is worth getting up for.   Soul singin', hand clappin', foot stompin', napkin wavin' good time.  Sit down to enjoy a full-scale brunch buffet and then get your spirit warmed up for one great experience.  Oh... complimentary Mimosas served throughout the show.

Meet Jari Kirkland

MK Ambassador Jari Kirkland was recently featured in the Denver Post.  Part adventure racer, part mountain biker, part hard-core skier, and pure Built for the Mountain Life, Jari is one incredible gal.
Read her Q & A with the Denver Post HERE.

Out of Gas - A Lesson in Life from the Road

After spending hours trying to think of something clever and witty to say to preface the following clip, it was finally determined that the video speaks for itself and nothing, absolutely nothing justifies nor validates running out of gas... on the side of the road... in the freezing cold.  Enjoy!

The Wonky Pinky

Look, Mom!  But after 40k miles of open road this is the worst that's happened, suppose that we should be thanking our lucky stars (and knocking on wood!).  Turns out all you have to do to re-set a dislocated fingers is pull on it and it slides gently back into place.  All in a day's work.

Welcome to Huntsville, UT - the Shooting Star Saloon

40 Miles outside of Salt Lake City, near Ogden, Utah sits the quite, one-horse town of Huntsville.  Probably the last place anyone would think to find anything, but alas a needle in the haystack - the Shooting Star Saloon. 
Famed as the oldest bar in Utah (founded 1879), the Shooting Star is one of the more legendary places you'll find.  The pictures speak for themselves, but the atmosphere is incredible and some of the history told on the walls is nothing short of unbelievable.  Not to mention, large portion of food and a beer for under $10... you just can't beat that with a stick.
A MUST for anyone looking for a bit of local flavor and lore.  Located within minutes of Snowbasin ski resort.

Holy Sh#@, it's February Already!?!

Welcome to Feb 1st, 2007.  There are only 10 months left in the year 2007.  Feels like we were all sipping champagne and opening Christmas presents a few weeks ago and here we are on the eve of Groundhog Day.  Wow.  My how the time flies.

So it turns out that there is actually a legitimate group of people devoted to the celebrating of Groundhogs and their special February holiday.  Read about those, um, weirdos HERE.

Stellar - lifestyle by adventure

The guys at StellarMag.com have it all - athletes, photos, video, stories, places, culture, people, adventures, community and more all put together in an easy, attractive platform... and not to mention, they too are proud members of 1% for the planet.