Last fall, after a three hour ascent to the side of Courthouse Mountain outside of Ridgway, Colorado, artist and renowned alpinist Renan Ozturk sat with his wife Taylor Rees as he created the art you can now find on only a small number of backcountry skis and splitboards.

Ozturk is a filmmaker, and the couple had recently moved to Ridgway with their new production company, Expedition Studios.

“To be honest, I was just craving more dramatic landscapes like the ones around the San Juan range,” shares Ozturk. “Just a little glance up at Sneffles and the peaks here gives me immense energy throughout the day, it’s like an endless renewable energy source. That is comparable to any of the greater ranges on earth that I’ve been lucky enough to visit.”

As an ambassador of TINCUP Mountain Whiskey, Ozturk was asked to complete the artwork as a part of the collaboration between TINCUP, American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) and Weston Backcountry to create a program aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of avalanche education and backcountry safety during a season that has seen record increases in backcountry equipment sales and new users.

From his mountainside seat, Ozturk sketched Chimney Rock and the iconic Cimarron skyline before beginning to fill it all in with a vast spectrum of watercolor paint. He made a video about this experience, watch it here.

Ozturk says the most challenging aspect of the project was conveying just how important avalanche safety and education truly is. Like most anyone who has a community of backcountry adventures, Ozturk knows what it's like to lose someone to tragic mountain accidents.

“Renan has great perspectives and stories to share with the community that we hope will inspire backcountry enthusiasts to recreate safely this winter,” shares Vickie Hormuth, executive director of AIARE.

Hormuth says that with this collaboration alongside TINCUP and Weston Backcountry, AIARE is hoping to reach an audience beyond those that have taken avalanche courses to remind people that while recreating in the backcountry is fun, it's serious business.

“Taking an AIARE course is an important first step,” shares Hormuth, "but it's important to use what you learn on the course — decision making framework — and keep your skills sharp. This year, understanding the forecast and creating large margins to ensure that you aren't putting yourself in danger is particularly important.”

Weston Backcountry is a long-time partner with AIARE, and Hormuth says the way Weston incorporates the importance of avalanche education and community into their brand and pass that into their customer base is inspiring. She says she hopes this partnership project will help to shed light on the importance of recreating safely in the backcountry.

The Spoke+Blossom team had the pleasure of testing the Weston Backcountry splitboard and skis this winter at Bluebird Backcountry outside of Kremmling, Colorado.

The splitboard is a customized graphic of Weston’s award-winning Backwoods, which is a tapered directional shape that makes for surfy turns that are quick and nimble through the trees. Similarly, the skis are a customized graphic of Weston’s newly award-winning Summits. They feature a 105 millimeter width underfoot and an ultralight paulownia core, along with a carbon overlay to deliver maximum energy savings on the uphill while maintaining a chatter-free ski on the downhill.

“Seeing the canvas transform into ridable art was such a magical and satisfying experience," shares Ozturk. “Art for the wall is one thing, but to connect an iconic Colorado landscape to something ridable from a local Colorado brand, Weston, as an ‘interactive’ piece to be enjoyed for countless carves and mountain memories is next level.”

The limited edition backcountry skis and splitboards with Ozturk’s art made by Weston Backcountry are not for sale. Those interested in riding them will need to engage with avalanche education and test their knowledge through resources provided by AIARE from February 25 through April 15, 2021. Those who test their avalanche knowledge at tincupwhiskey.com and make a pledge to continue their avalanche education through AIARE certified courses before heading out into the backcountry will be entered to win one of these new setups alongside funds towards continuing their education. Additionally, everyone who goes through an AIARE 1, AIARE 2 or Rescue Course this season will also have the opportunity to enter to win a pair of skis or splitboard.

From Watercolor Canvas To Backcountry Gear: Ridgway’s Renan Ozturk Paints Collaboration Project To Empower Avalanche Education + Backcountry Safety