I just got back from a much-needed trip to Lake Tahoe to spend some quality girl time with one of my best friends, snowboarding, cross country skiing, soaking in the sunshine, and lounging by the turquoise Yuba River on a 70 degree day.

These Sporting Sails have been soaring around the Internet lately, here on Patagonia's blog, and here on Best Made (the maker of the axe?), and here in this documentary about skateboarding through Morocco. The sails spark that little surge of hope, excitement and wonder that little kids get on Christmas morning when they see their new toy, or when you got new sneakers that made you feel you could jump a mile high, or when I watched "Up" (love that movie!). It seems longboarders can go scary fast on roads using the sails, but would the sail really add any speed or lift for a snowboarder or skier? I'm gonna have to get my hands on one of these things. (photo by Sporting Sails)

Have you heard of Ashima Shiraishi? She's a an adorable eight-year-old girl in Manhattan who boulders in Central Park and can climb V10. For you non-climbers, that means she's pretty much a child superhero. And the best thing about her is that she seems to really just love climbing for the fun of it. It's really inspirational to watch her and the rest of these athletes talk about their passions. We just need to remind ourselves that when we go to the gym and haven't climbed (or done whatever sport you're into) but maybe a few times in the past few months and, well, quite frankly, we suck, it's no big deal. Just have fun.