This morning, I’m off to do the Talons Challenge at Beaver Creek! The Talons Challenge is an annual event where skiers have to take a run down every black diamond and double black diamond in the Talons area of Beaver Creek – 14 runs, but 26,000 vertical feet. This is the first year I’ve ever even attempted a double black diamond, but after all the skiing I’ve done this year, I’m so excited that I’ve gotten good enough to attempt this challenge! (Plus, I get a t-shirt if I finish… ha.)
Last weekend, I did all the remaining double black diamond runs I hadn’t tried before, and I feel reasonably confident in my ability to handle everything. (There were two I didn’t love, but they weren’t horrible.) However, last weekend was pretty powdery, and runs were taking me a long time to get down. So what I am most concerned with today is whether I’ll have time to finish all 14 runs in five hours. That sounds like a lot of time, but the runs are pretty long, and depending on the lift lines… it could take a while.
One thing I’m not worried about, though, is fuel. Last week, Foster Farms sent me samples of their newest chicken product, Bold Bites, which seeks to redefine the snacking standard. Although I often try to avoid snacking in between meals, skiing is one time it’s important to me to have healthy snacks on hand – ski lodge food is always overpriced, and I don’t want to have to stop, either!
When I snack off the slopes, I try to go for either protein or veggies to keep things healthy. Unfortunately, while I’m skiing, I often get stuck with a carb-heavy snack because that’s what’s most portable. However, Bold Bites are bites of chicken (actual fresh cooked chicken, not jerky) that come in 90-calorie snack-sized bags – and they’re delicious! I am loving them as a fast way to get satiating protein on-the-go… and even on the lift.
Bold Bites don’t contain artificial colors, flavors, nitrates, or nitrites, so they’re something I definitely feel good about eating. Foster Farms makes it a point to source responsibly raised chicken from local farmers they know by name. And, Bold Bites come in a bunch of yummy flavors: cajun, Caribbean-jerk, chile verde, Korean barbecue, and parmesan garlic. All are well-seasoned for a bit of kick without overpowering the actual chicken, and I love that they feel fresh rather than dry like a protein bar or bag of nuts. What a great new product!
If you live on the West Coast, check out your local grocery store (Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, Safeway, Save Mart, Lucky’s, Albertson’s, or Vons) to pick up some Bold Bites and give them a try.
So… wish me luck on the Challenge today! They are providing lunch for us on the mountain, so I’m going to save my Bold Bites for the car ride home. I am definitely going to need some protein – I have a feeling my leg muscles are about to get destroyed!
Thank you so much to Foster Farms for sponsoring this post and providing me with the fresh fuel I need to hit it hard on the mountain 🙂
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Foster Farms, and I received free samples of Bold Bites as well as compensation for posting. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.