With winter deepening in Boulder, Colorado Suunto athlete Anton Krupicka is dusting off his ski gear and getting ready for some big skimo days in the mountains. This builds on a huge summer of adventure that saw him complete an epic tour that involved cycling to five different 4000 m mountains, running up as far as possible and then climbing to each summit. We wondered how in the world Anton finds time to train in all these disciplines and how he strikes a balance. Read on for our Q&A with him. Read more about Anton here!   What adventures have you been on recently? I had a pretty busy summer. In June, I rode the Unbound XL gravel race - a 360 mile (579 km) bike race in the Flint Hills of Kansas. It was the farthest I’ve ever ridden in one stretch. In July, I completed a 2300 mile (4000 km) bike/run/climb tour through Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado where I linked together six different remote technical mountains, starting and finishing at my doorstep in Boulder, Colorado: Kings Peak (13,528 ft / 4123 m), the high point of Utah; the Grand Teton (13,775 ft / 4198 m); Granite Peak (12,807 ft / 3903 m), the high point of Montana; Cloud Peak (13,164 ft / 4012 m), the high point of Wyoming's Bighorn Range; Gannett Peak (13,804 ft / 4207 m), the high point of Wyoming; and Longs Peak (14,255 ft / 4345 m), my backyard mountain here in Boulder, Colorado. I dubbed this trip “Sagebrush & Summits”; those three weeks of riding, running, and climbing were the highlight of my summer. Finally, in August I ran the Leadville 100, my first ultramarathon in more than six years. This fall, I took a trip back east to North Carolina where we enjoyed some climbing and also a four-day bikepacking trip along the Blue Ridge between Boone and Asheville. That was more for relaxation and recovery, though. That’s huge! Anything coming up? Right now, I’m looking forward to skimo racing this winter and hopefully a bikepacking trip to southern Arizona over the winter. I’m already scheming a bikepacking tour for next summer that can top Sagebrush & Summits, though!     You love to mix disciplines; how do you approach this from a training perspective? How do you build in enough recovery time? It’s all intuitive. I tend to specialize a little bit more as a key objective approaches, but in general I’m trying to balance running, climbing and cycling, and skiing in the winter. A typical week will probably see me biking 3-4 days, running 2-4 days, and climbing 2-3 days. I do some kind of cardio every day. I typically go on a bike ride after climbing (after having already ridden to the crag), and I use the bike/climb days as recovery from the running days. On days that I run, I usually only run. That’s the general thought process. What I do is further influenced by the weather forecast - I’m constantly paying attention to weather patterns! - as I prefer to run on cooler or wetter days, and ride/climb on sunnier/drier days, and, of course, run/climb in the alpine when the weather is favorable. What signals do you look for in your body to determine where you’re at and when you need more recovery time? Everything is ultimately determined by what my body is telling me. Specifically, how my Achilles is feeling and how it’s responding to the stresses I’m placing on it. As for taking an easier day, I decide that in the moment. Unless I have some key session that I want to be sure to hit before a goal (say, a long run before an ultra or a long bike ride before a bike race), all of my easy/recovery days are determined by how my energy levels are feeling on the day. If I’m feeling good and my body is feeling sound, I’ll push the pace or the distance, or both, in a session. But there are plenty of times where I’ve wanted to hit a harder session and I just don’t have the energy, so I go easy or shorter, sometimes a lot shorter.   What have been some of the key lessons you’ve learned about mixing it up that might be helpful to others who are doing the same thing? I think you have to realize that you can really only be progressing meaningfully in one activity at a time. That doesn’t mean that I’m not pursuing other activities simultaneously, it’s just that they’re temporarily in maintenance mode. Also, as my previous answer made clear, it’s extremely important to listen to your body and your energy levels and know how they will react to various activities. For me, running is always the most intense and abusive pursuit. Recovery from that requires only cycling, and probably at a low intensity if I’m really tired. Climbing shouldn’t be classified as active recovery, as the climbing I do usually involves a fair amount of vertical gain/loss in hiking and descending and several multi-pitch routes where more vert is being gained and lost. And if I’m trying to climb hard - at my technical limit - then that’s only going to be possible if I’m not overly tired from running or riding. I love climbing as much as running and cycling - maybe even more - but I rarely prioritize it in any meaningful way. It necessarily takes a back seat because it doesn’t really do anything to further my development in endurance pursuits, where I actually have talent. Are there any classic pitfalls to avoid? Like I said above, I think it’s important to not try to progress in more than one activity at a time. I think that usually just ends up being counterproductive.   How has mixing it up made you a better athlete? I guess fun is an important benefit? Embracing a variety of mountain sports has made me a more well-rounded athlete. It’s also extended my running career - there’s no way that I could only run now and stay healthy enough to race and have it be sustainable. That’s the main benefit. I don’t like the word “fun”. I think the way it’s typically used is too broad and not incisive enough. What do people really mean when they say “fun”? Often, I think what they really mean is “rewarding”, “satisfying”, or “with joy”. To me, those words imply hard work, challenge, discomfort, and/or intentionality. None of those things, I think, really apply to the textbook definition of “fun”. The most important benefit to me of mixing up activities is that it has allowed me to grow and learn so much more about each activity and, concurrently, about myself. Having spent several years now pursuing all of these things, I can’t imagine ever going back to being only a runner. Do you think mixing it up in the way you are is becoming more popular today? Hmmm, I don’t know. I think to truly reach your potential in a given pursuit you have to be singular in your focus. I did that for a decade-plus with running. But it eventually became physically unsustainable. I think it’s fine to go through phases or seasons in one’s life. I doubt that pursuing multiple sports at the same time is anything new. But, with social media and the internet, we’re probably all just more aware of people who are doing that.   All images by Fred Marmsater

Last fall we introduced 3D maps in Suunto app so you can plan and review your tracks on a 3D map. Now we've taken this further - you can now enjoy your adventures as 3D video animations. Simply go to your activity, hit the play button, and enjoy the views. Hit the play button in Suunto app to play your adventures back in Suunto app! Share a 3D map animation If you want your friends to experience your trip, share a link to the activity with them and they will be able to see a 3D animation as well – even on big screen. To share an activity, tap the sharing icon and select ‘Share link to activity’. Add a description and photos to enhance the experience and to tell the full story. To see how those shared activities look, follow along on a 117-kilometer ski tour with Greg Hill here!

It started with a little bike and surf trip to Madeira in May 2021 and has now expanded into an island hopping adventure across the Atlantic. Sami Sauri’s Into the Atlantic Islands project will see her and her friends Sergio Villalba and Christian Rosillo explore the Madeira, Canary, Azores and Faroe archipelagos by bike and board. More than just adventure, the goal of the project is to produce art in the form of analog photography, printed fanzines and videos showcasing each trip. Money raised from selling the fanzines will go towards Frodeno Fund, a cycling association that supports children with bikes and equipment. Read about Sami’s journey from wild child to adventurer here. Watch episodes on each trip here! On the first trip to Madeira, the trio began their journey at Sant Antonio Da Serra, on the northern side of Funchal, the capital of Madeira. Over five days, Sami cycled 152 km, with 4260 m elevation gain, pulling her surfboard on a trailer that together weighed 30 kg. She wild camped along the way and surfed at two beaches. “My inspiration for this project came from following my dream of wanting to combine two sports,” Sami says. “I’ve been sort of doing it with cycling and running, but I wanted to discover and try more. I started surfing in my teens and I always love it and miss it so I thought traveling to a new place would motivate me more than ever to try new spots and also a new pretty board. Madeira came to my mind and we literally booked and went there within three weeks. “I think the special thing about the Atlantic islands is that all of them are so completely different. The charm of these islands and the story of how they were discovered and how they are now I find really interesting.” Watch all three Madeira episodes here and follow Sami’s next trip to Denmark’s Faroe Islands here. All images: Sergio Villalba

Over the course of 2021 we’ve had the pleasure of being involved with some excellent adventure films. Now the holiday season is upon us, we decided to curate our favorite short films for you so when you have some downtime soon you can kick back and watch them. Scroll down for our seven favorites! From Rails to Trails Just watching this will make you shiver. Our very own bike lover Antti Laiho and his buddies Timo Veijalainen and Erkki Punttila went on an overnight bikepacking tour in the Finnish Lapland in the middle of winter. The landscapes look like something from a fairytale. Truly magical. Rails to Trails from Kona Bikes on Vimeo. Peak creators Since forever there’s been a connection between creativity and the great outdoors. In this series of films we talk to an artist, a photographer, an architect and a trail builder about their creative process and how the outdoors inspires them. Canary in the coalmine Decorated technical diver, explorer and filmmaker Jill Heinerth explores the veins of the Earth. She sees close up how the impacts of humanity are affecting our planet so considers herself a canary in the coalmine. How fast can Kilian run a vertical k? This film shows just how much the Kilian pushes himself during his lightning fast ascents. He might be the GOAT mountain athlete, but that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park for him. Watch him attempt to break the fastest vertical k record and push his lungs to their limit. Immersed Swedish slopestyle mountain biker Emil Johansson won the 2021 world championship and is now the most successive slopestyle rider in history. But it very nearly wasn’t to be. A mysterious autoimmune disease came close to derailing his dreams. This film is about his journey. Finding myself Suunto ambassador Sami Sauri fell in love with cycling as a teen and says it gave her a new purpose in life. Since then she has done epic bikepacking tours across the US, and elsewhere. When she’s not riding, she might be out surfing or trail running. Arctic Lines season two Finnish freerider Antti Autti has embarked on the second season of his Arctic Lines project, the goal of which is to ride 30 lines above the Arctic Circle. He and his team document each trip and release a film about the experience. Watch as they face brutal cold, the polar night and their physical limits in the pursuit of sweet, sweet rides. Lead images by Jaakko Posti Photography

Another big year is coming to a close and if you are anything like us, it’s about time for some quality rest and relaxation. May we suggest you put your feet up and read about some of the awesome people we’ve spoken to this year. We’ve covered sustainable living, mountain navigation, articles about our new ambassadors Anton Krupicka and Sami Sauri, hill training and much more. Don’t let it slide by - read on for some adventure goodness.   Sami regularly travels to the Canary Islands where she rides, runs and surfs. © Sergio Villalba Meet the wild child who found her best self adventure cycling Spanish cyclist, surfer and trail runner Sami Sauri ran away from home in her teens and fell in love with bikes when she encountered her first fixed gear. Read about Sami’s journey and her approach to adventure. Emelie Forsberg’s principles for a sustainable lifestyle With the climate crisis and biodiversity loss ever more pressing challenges, we all need to do our bit to live more harmoniously with the Earth, because there’s no planet b. Find out about the four Rs and the other sustainability principles Emelie lives by.   Susi provides an eight step process for planning out your training year. © Berghasen 6 keys to planning your training year This is a relevant article to read now if you’re thinking about your sports goals for 2022. Sports scientist and coach Susi Kraft breaks down the process to create a smart training plan for the coming year. Training stress score in Suunto app Training load is an essential metric of goal-oriented training. Gradually increasing the load will improve fitness and performance. Suunto app quantifies training load using Training Peaks’ Training Stress Score, also known as TSS. Find out how it works.   Anton likes to mix his adventure sports - riding, running, climbing and skiing. Photo by Joey Schusler Anton Krupicka - human powered doorstep to doorstep He started out as an ultra runner and quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the world’s best. Then injury forced him to reassess his approach and now he is a passionate allround mountain sport athlete, from bikepacking, to trail running, climbing and skimo in the winter. Meet our new ambassador Anton Krupicka. Don’t miss a turn! Learn how to use your Suunto together with Komoot, one of the leading route planning tools out there. Komoot’s turn-by-turn navigation on your Suunto watch will keep your adventure on track.   This photo of Tenji was taken while filming the Everest VR movie. © Jon Griffith Turning ideas into action Nepalese mountain guide Tenji Sherpa climbed with the late and great Ueli Steck and has blazed his own trail as a high alpinist. We talked to Tenji and learned about his humble beginnings and how he became a climber and he and Ueli’s respect for one another. The importance of diversity in the outdoors Ultra runner Ryan Montgomery explains why diversity in the outdoors is such an important topic and what we can do to create a more diverse and welcoming outdoor scene.   Susi trains in the mountains around Salzburg. © Berghasen Get faster on those hills now Sports scientist and coach Susi Kraft breaks down why improving our vertical speed is so hard and the necessary steps to do it. Fyi: some of her tips seem counterintuitive like “embrace running on the flat”.   Lead images: © Tenji Sherpa © Jon Griffith  

A first of its kind research project in Norway is inviting Suunto users to help them gain insights into how we make decisions in avalanche terrain, and what we can do to reduce avalanche accidents. The Center for Avalanche Research and Education (CARE) at UiT the Arctic University of Norway wishes to follow 10 000 winter sports fans for 10 years to examine how we make decisions in avalanche terrain, and how we can all be safer. To join the CAREpanel and help with this important, and first of its kind longitudinal study, you must be involved in a winter sport like skiing, snowboarding, ice-climbing, snowmobiling, hunting and so on. Photo by Audun Hetland How to contribute You can contribute by joining the longitudinal study at www.carepanel.no and also by sharing your activity data with the avalanche researchers at CARE. To send your activity data to the researchers, go to the activity in Suunto app, tap the three dots on top right and select 'Export GPX workout'. Why it’s important Nine out of 10 fatal avalanche accidents are triggered by the victim or someone in their party. According to EAWS, the European Avalanche Warning Service, there were 130 avalanche related fatalities in Europe alone in 2020-2021. By understanding and improving decision making CARE aims to save lives. Normal short term studies do not provide much in the way of insights into human factors and their impact in triggering avalanches. By following such a large number of people over time the CAREpanel research project will reveal how education or experience impact people’s perception of risk and their following decisions. Photo by Audun Hetland What’s involved The carepanel consists of an introductory survey and a yearly survey. The surveys take about 15 minutes to complete. The CARE panelist will also be asked to join a GPS survey. If you share your GPS data you will get an offer to answer a few questions about the tour in avalanche terrain. The researchers will run the GPS track through a terrain model and compare it with the current avalanche conditions from the warning service varsom.no. This will let them create a rough estimation of exposure risk under the current conditions. In the future the researchers also aim to provide feedback to the participants based on their GPS tracks. Some participants may also be invited to join additional short studies. These are optional. How to sign up To become a CARE paneilist, first read important information for participants. Then complete the CARE panel recruitment survey. Lead image: Jaakko Posti / Arctic Lines