The world of bindings has changed a lot since the Marker Duke hit the ski scene a few years back. The result of which is that some of us have had to switch to softer skis to compensate for the stiff spot under our foot due to the Maker construction. On the other side are the Dynafit-type bindings, which have their own flaws (although I have never tried one due to price inhibitors). There are plenty of skiers that make either system work, but guys like Flylow's own Lars Chickering-Ayers have trouble with both of the systems and would rather lock into a race binding before dropping in but need to climb efficiently to be safe and fast in the backcountry. So, what does a crafty guy like Lars do? He built his own binding system. Enter the Send System, a binding plate system that he has made to climb and ski with efficiency and without ruining the flex of your stiff skis or pre-releasing. ESPN.com recently covered Lars' new binding -- see that story here.

Look for Lars' new binding system to take over in the next few years.

Flylow athlete Lars Chickering-Ayers has won yet another stop on the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour, this time it was at the Chilean Freeskiing Championships, held last weekend at Ski Arpa, Chile's only cat-skiing outfitter. Lars' winning run lasted six turns and 45 seconds and included a massive, 40-foot air and a 360 off the manmade jump at the end. “I like turning where the mountain makes you turn and when you’re on big mountain terrain, that’s how I ski,” Lars said afterward. Tahoe skiers Josh Daiek and Kevin O'Meara rounded out the men's podium.

In the women's field, Chile's own Sole Diaz took the top spot but Flylow had two athletes in the top 10: Ashley Maxfield took fifth and Rebecca Selig took sixth.

The venue was the same for both days of the two-day contest. "Conditions on the final face were too shallow and boney to provide a venue suitable for this level of competition," said head judge Jim Jack. "Safety being paramount, we opted to move back to Cornices. The athletes came together with the event organizers to put on one of the most exciting and spirited events we have ever seen. Relaxed and stoked, the skiers threw down dynamic runs. Today was a great celebration in the mountains and represented the full essence of our sport.”

A bunch of Flylow athletes have traveled to Argentina this week to compete in the first stop of the 2011-12 Freeskiing World Tour, an invite-only big-mountain comp called the Red Bull Powder Disorder, which is being held at Las Leñas. In the men's field, we'll be rooting for Lars Chickering-Ayers, who ended up second on the overall rankings last year, and his brother Silas Chickering-Ayers, who scored a couple of top-five finishes last year. Lars and Silas were featured in a story on ESPN.com today. And in the women's field, we have Ashley Maxfield, who was ranked second overall last year, and Rebecca Selig and Nicole Derkson, both of whom landed on the podium a few times last year. The comp begins tomorrow and stay tuned to Freeskiingworldtour.com for the latest.

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up skiing in East Montpelier, VT.

2. How old were you when you first started skiing?

I first started skiing when I was 3 year old.

3. Did you always want to be a pro?

I always wanted to make skiing a central part of my life, but I’m not sure if I’m considered a “pro.”

4. Was there anyone in particular who helped motivate you to where you are?

My brother Silas, Dylan Crossman and all the great friends and coaches I’ve skied with along the way.

5. What is your favorite ski that you have skied on?

a. Why?

The monster head 103 are my favorite skis so far because they are stable at speed and reward good turns

6. If someone who doesn’t ski asked you why you ski and why you like it, how would you describe it?

The greatest form of freedom I have found.

7. What does skiing mean to you?

To me, skiing means fun
8. What is your favorite memory as a child?

Just running around in the woods being a kid.

9. What is your favorite ski area?

a. Why?

Mad River Glen is my favorite ski area because it is where I grew up skiing. The people and feel are hard to find anywhere else, and the terrain continues to challenge me every time I go back.
10. How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

I cross train with mountain biking and soccer as well as the occasional trip to the gym

11. How do you train during your season?

I’ve found that skiing every day that I can is the best way to stay in shape during the season.

- Leah Jewett

Flylow athlete Lars Chickering Ayers won the first stop of the 2011 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour at Revelstoke this week. He was in second place coming into the finals, behind Drew Tabke, but managed to take the lead with an impressive line in a dicey, no-fall zone and several airs.

"I knew I was headed into that area after the visual inspection," Chickering-Ayers told ESPN, "and I knew I would find a way out of it."

Tabke took second place for the men and Spencer Brinson took third. Alta's Sam Cohen earned the Sickbird Award for the competition. In the women, Leah Evans, Tatum Monod and Nicole Derksen took first, second and third, respectively.

Congrats to Lars and the rest of the athletes who competed!

After a few days of weather delays, day one of the Freeskiing World Tour's Revelstoke stop went down today on Revelstoke's powder-filled North Bowl. Many Flylow athletes are competing this week, including Lars Chickering Ayers, Silas Chickering Ayers, Ryan Hawks, Ben Wheeler, Jake Sakson, Michele Manning and Hannah Horigan.

After the first day of competition, Drew Tabke is leading the men’s field, with Lars in second and Mat Jackson in third. In the women’s field, Leah Evans is currently in the lead after day one, with Jacqui Edgerly and Tatum Monod in second and third, respectively. Flylow’s Michele Manning is in eighth for the women.

For the finals, which are taking place Monday, the athletes will be taken by helicopter to the top of Revelstoke’s Mount MacKenzie.

Stay tuned for results after tomorrow’s finals.

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We're proud to announce that Flylow athlete Lars Chickering Ayers placed second on Friday at stop #2 of the Freeskiing World Tour at Las Le