Check out Liberty Skis' annual T-shirt design contest. Win free skis or poles, plus your winning design on a T-shirt. Designs can be submitted through July 24. Click here for more details or go to: http://bit.ly/libertyT.

Liberty Skis athlete Joe Schuster is back!

Schuster injured his knee in January, but was able to avoid surgery and after focusing on rehab and healing, he returned to win the KickAspen big air comp. Nice work, Joe and we're looking forward to seeing you on the podium again soon!

Liberty Skis signs Dylan Natale to Pro Team

Q & A with Dylan Natale:

Where were you born?:

Hartford, CT

How did you start skiing?:

Funny story actually, from what I remember. I guess I used to always ask my Mom if I could go skiing at the beginning of each winter when I was young, and she would just cram my feet in tiny ski boots and make me walk around the house. Then she'd ask if I was sure I wanted to spend six hours in the boots and I'd always say no. Finally my parents did put me in an after school ski program and I'd just bail on the lessons and go jump off anything I could find.

Who has influenced your skiing the most and why?:

I'd say other people's skiing was really influential when the whole "freeskiing movement" started with the New Canadian Air Force. I remember watching Poorboyz' Degenerates a million times and the following season tried to do everything Vincent Dorion did. Royalty was also a mind opener, as it was one of the first movies that portrayed style as important. Now I'm definitely more interested in snowboard films as they are taking snowboarding more in the direction I want skiing to go.

What’s rockin on your iPod right now?:

Surprisingly I still don't own an ipod. And my computer recently crashed so I have nothing but old crappy rap music from the late 90's.

Five people you’d invite over for dinner?:

My girlfriend, and a handful of friends; hopefully friends who know how to cook.

Favorite Liberty Ski?:

The Liberty Genome

Favorite place to ski?:

If you're talking about a ski resort, probably Brighton or Alta, but I'd much rather be on my snowmobile.

Why?:

Brighton because there is always stuff to jump off and it isn't crowded. Alta because it gets the most snow, has great terrain, and has amazing backcountry access. And the snowmobile because I'm out there with friends just romping around, and sleds make it so you don't have to hike jumps and lines.

Any secret spots you can share with us?:

MFM cliffs? I ski them at least five times a year, mostly because Kyler Cooley makes me. It's a really fun, short, north facing zone that is peppered with cliffs and and drops. It's not too secret, but it sure is fun.

Final shout out to friends, family and foe?:

Kyler for editing our BC Boys webisodes, MC for being patient, and awesome, the roommates for taking care of Parley when I leave, and Liberty Skis, Saga Outerwear, Poc Goggles and Helmets, and Da Kine for all their support.

LBRT TO RIDE
Demo Tour Update from tour director Jeff Price

Greetings Fellow Liberty Fans.

Snow is plentiful in North America this year. Storms and tales of the best ski days ever are rippling through the rising population of winter sports participants leaving us hungry for what we love...SKIING! Growing the sport of skiing has always been Liberty's purpose for the satisfaction of sharing our passion and connecting humans with nature (while sliding on snow).

Liberty Skis represents and embodies this mission which is why after four years of involvement in the company, I was elated to receive the position as Demo Tour Manager. And you're asking...So what does that mean?

It means that Liberty is advancing to the future. It's time to launch a spaceship loaded with skis around North America to probe for test subjects. Why? To share the amazing skis that we have researched and developed into instruments that will allow fellow skiers to surgically create the most fun possible. Powdered by Wind, Bamboo, Clif Bars, Diesel, and other sponsors, I will be traveling farther from the Mother-ship than ever before. Operation LBRT to Ride is touring to a snowy slope near you recruiting for the Liberty Bamboo Revolution.

-J

If you’ve been thinking of picking up a pair of Liberty Skis this year, don’t wait. That’s the word from our family of retailers most of whom say that they’ve already sold out of several models and sizes. While we’d love to ship them more skis, we can't; the scene at our Avon, Colorado warehouse is starting to look rather bare, as the racks empty and the last of our 2010 models head for mountains around the world. The message is clear: if you’re looking to get out on this years latest and greatest bamboo technology from Liberty, don’t wait. Because if you do, you’ll be waiting until next year.

It’s not a bad way to get noticed: The cover of Powder Magazine’s Photo Annual. And that’s exactly where you’ll find Liberty Athlete Kyler Cooley who teamed up with photographer Eric Seo to capture this beautiful image in Utah’s backcountry. Nice work boys!

FROM THE “IT’S HARD TO BE HUMBLE” FILES: YET ANOTHER AWARD We always say that once you ski on Liberty, you’ll understand why we’re so stoked about the product. But don’t take our word for it. We’re pleased to report that Liberty has garnered yet another award, this one courtesy of Elevation Outdoors, who named the Double Helix an “Editor’s Choice” for 2010. You can read more at www.elevationoutdoors.com.

Liberty Skis is proud to announce the addition of two new Canadian athletes to the Liberty Team. Dominic Laporte of Quebec and Ontario rider Reid McEachran are now both part of the Liberty family. Both athletes are known for their technical rail and park skills, and are starting to make waves with podium finishes in a variety of regional and national events.

“We are very excited to add these two athletes to our team,” says Liberty co-founder Dan Chalfant. “They both are young, hungry and have solid technical skills that make them podium threats every time they enter a competition. They’re also great people with the kind of energy and stoke that is a benefit to any organization.”

“It’s great to be part of the Liberty program,” says Reid McEachran. “I’m really looking forward to working with the company.”

“Liberty has a proven track record of getting athletes involved in the brand and participating in creating vision for the future,” adds Dom Laporte. “It’s going to be really fun working with them.”

Liberty Skis is proud to announce the newest member of the Liberty team, Joe Schuster. Born and bred in Vernon, British Columbia, Schuster has an extensive resume which includes film parts with Voleurz and Rage as well as coaching at Whistler's Camp of Champions. Look for him to be rocking Liberty's LTE in the park and the Double Helix on the deep days.

Liberty:

Joe! First-off, gotta say welcome to Team Liberty!

JS:

Thanks Guys, I'm super stoked to be a part of the team.

Liberty:

You also just got back from Chile? I'm guessing that was your first chance to really test the skis out - what were your first impressions?

JS:

Yeah I just finished up about a 2 week trip there it was super fun. Yeah it was my first chance to test out the skis, unfortunately I only got to rock the Morphics because the snow was more like a skating rink then pow, so I was wasn't able to test out any of the pow skis which was what I am looking forward to the most. That being said the Morphics were sick! Fairly stiff, perfect length for me and they just felt sturdy and durable everywhere I went.

Liberty:

What set of sticks from Liberty are you looking forward to riding this Winter?

JS:

Right off the bat I'm going to be riding the LTE 178's for early season in the park and during the comp season. After that I'm going to try and get out into the backcountry and shred the Double Helix 182; super stoked to try those out, they look like so much fun!

Liberty:

We had the chance to see your ridiculous segment in the latest Voleurz flick, Look on the Bright Side, at IF3 a couple weeks back - what do you have planned for this Winter?

JS:

Thanks. This winter is going to be pretty similar to the last. Start off in Colorado for early season shredding, then follow the comp season for a couple months. After that grab my sled and go where ever the snow is good and shoot pow, hopefully BC. And then in the spring hopefully hit up as many park shoots as possible before the end of the season.

Liberty:

Are we going to be seeing you at any comps this Winter?

JS:

Yeah definiteley, hopefully I will be at all 3 Dew Tour stops this year, Dumont Cup, Euro Open, WSI and anything else that comes up throughout the season.

Liberty:

What are you up to right now?

JS:

Well as you pointed out, I just got back from Chile 2 days ago so I'm just getting all my shit together right now, but I will be working for the next 6 weeks or so around Vernon until I head down to CO to start off the season there.

Liberty:

Where are you going to be calling home this Winter?

JS:

I dont think anywhere will be permanent but I will be around CO and BC a lot. Peter (Olenick) just bought a house in summit so I will be living with him most likely while I'm in and out of there throughout the season. And if I'm filming in BC it will either be hotels or at the new and improved pimp palace in Whistler with Chug, Rie and Seany P.

Liberty:

Any last words?

JS:

Thanks to Liberty Skis for welcoming me to the team, all of my other sponsors and all of my awesome/idiot friends that I get to shred with all season.

Liberty Road Report 3: Arpa

The road tumbles up the rocky valley, heading towards distant white peaks, obscured by dust. We pass vinyards. Tiny buds of new growth glow hallucinogenic green against the black earth, pink flowers dot trees in orchards: the calling cards of spring. The dirt road takes us higher, past totemic cacti and boulders the size of homes. And still, in the distance, the mountains, with their snow, seemingly unobtainable. Our destination sits at the end of the road. Ski Arpa, a shoestring cat operation in a remote part of Chile. It’s the second-to-last day of our trip; tomorrow night we will all be on a flight home. Yet at this moment, home seems a million years away. Apra is unlike any other place on the planet. A small refugio, a couple of snowcats and the mountains, covered in snow.

We shack up in the refugio for the night. It’s a humble place, designed to host day guests and provide temporary lodging for the guides. Tonight we have it to ourselves; the guides are down in the valley. Still, we’re not totally alone. Anton “Toni” Sponar is staying in an even smaller structure punched into the side of the mountain less than 100 yards away. Toni founded Arpa. It’s here that he staked out a claim on a dream: a snowcat operation that will rival the best in the world. He’s already got the terrain and the cat. Now the rest needs to fall into place. But before the luxury lodges or even the ski lifts that one day might dot this valley, Toni needs a beer. So we give him one and sit back to listen to his stories, stories of hardship and joy, stories of life and of skiing. Decades of stories, because, although he looks 50, Toni is pushing TK. The hard times might have aged him. But his wiry build and sharp eyes prove that the fountain of youth can be found in the mountains, on skis, and flows from a passion for snow. We spend the evening grilling and drinking Chilean red. The valleys below grow world-class grapes, and the vintage, though recent, goes down well with the smoky Chilean sausages that spit and hiss on the grill. We gorge ourselves as the setting sun combines with a cloudbank to paint the heavens with broad strokes of color: red, yellow and orange. It’s the best sunset we’ve ever seen.

The next day the cat drops us high on an Andean ridge. The terrain is steep, technical and challenging. The snow has been slim here this year, but, after one night blissfully far from everything we’ve left behind, it doesn’t matter. We’ve found heaven, or at least a slice of it, here at Arpa.

Liberty Road Report 2: El Colorado

Snow. One of the most interesting and complex natural materials on the face of the planet. This is the stuff that formed the iceberg that sunk the Titanic, killing 1490 people. But it can also be lighter than a feather, ethereal in nature. And it’s why we are here, camped out in a tiny condo in Chile’s El Colorado, while the folks at home turn up the air conditioners during a sweltering August in the Rocky Mountains.

We’ve been enjoying the luxurious charms of Valle Nevado, but with the hotels sold out at that resort, we’ve migrated to the low key ambiance of El Colorado, a neighboring resort that’s characterized by a distinctive cone-shaped peak. Some make look at this snow cone and think that – based upon what’s visible – that El Colorado is pretty vanilla flavored. But like the snow that made the ice that sunk the Titanic, there’s teeth here. You just have to look under the surface, deeper. El Colorado hosts some of the best lift accessed steeps in South America. And, unlike that other Mecca of steep, Las Lenas, Argentina’s Marte lift, the terrain at El Colorado is rarely closed due to winds or mechanical problems with the resort’s lifts. We’ll avoid the obvious comparisons between how things function in Chile’s organized, well run society and the chaotic politics and culture of Argentina here, but rest assured that you’ll have a much better chance of skiing the intense terrain at El Colorado versus the roll the dice and hope for the best with Las Lenas’ Marte lift. The only catch is that you’ll want to have a rental car, because the terrain at El Colorado empties out onto Valle Nevado’s access road.

So, my friends. Rent that car. Drive to El Colorado and ensconce yourself in any kind of accommodations you can find – from humble to luxurious – and don’t forget your cajones. Because when you drop off the side of the cone that dominates this resort, past the ropes and into the wild, discontinuous terrain that’s hidden from obvious view, you’ll feel the adrenaline flow and the fear in your throat. And you’ll plunge down, like the Titanic, to the bottom.

Road Report: Liberty Skis in Valle Nevado, Chile. The storm trickles in, almost an afterthought, unseen from above, rising in a swelling tide of moisture and fog out of the valley. The clouds lift, as a solid, blotting out the landcape, the ridges, the mountains and finally the sky. Then comes the snow, tiny flakes, trickling down, slowly at first, then faster, and faster still. The storm isn’t predicted to be large, but at this point, it doesn’t matter. Liberty Skis has been here, in Chile’s best resort, Valle Nevado, for only two days. And now, our third day looks to be a powder day. Valle Nevado sprawls across an Andean landscape of rocky ridges, steep gullies and rounded peaks. The mountain seems unassuming, groomed runs spilling off of high points, with surface lifts accessing remote ridges. But looks can be deceiving. Hidden windlips offer the chance for massive airs, huge cliffs lurk just out of bounds and high traverses access steep chutes. It’s this terrain that has drawn us here: a mix of the expected and the impossible. The doable and the obscenely dangerous. A proving ground for dreams and a nightmare if you miss a turn over exposure. Valle is the real deal. But two days in, we’re still dreaming, getting our legs back, and merely scoping the more intense lines. They’ll have to wait until we work our way back into skiing shape. For now, it’s enough to savor the slow falling snow and think of tomorrow.

Liberty Pro Team Members Storm Chile

The storms roll in hard and fast off the Atlantic, hitting the Andes with massive hammer blows of snow, ice and wind. Their power is such that even one week after Liberty Skis has arrived here in Valle Nevado – a veritable island in the sky – there’s still fresh cream coating the mountains.

This resort, perched on a ridge so steep you’d think the hotels would slide off it into the abyss, is the ground zero of summer skiing. Other mountains might boast of more luxury (debatable), more “extreme” (also debatable) and more snow (this, too, is debatable), but none can combine the ease of access, the stunning sense of place or the terrain in the incomparable combo that Valle pulls off. Regardless of if this was planned or coincidence, the result is the same: our first run of our first full day on snow is takes us plunging down steep gullies filled with soft snow, untouched and untracked until we decide to drop in.

Alex Applegate slashes some southern snow.

Liberty is here to work on a variety of projects. Images for catalogs and ads will be shot. But vino tinto will also be drunk. Some additional editorial content will be created and the journey will create its own stories of laughter, fear and freedom. We’ll be reporting from the heart of the Andes over the next week, so stay tuned.

Alex Applegate drops in first run on the first day. . . untracked.

Details, Details:
Want to learn more about how you can live the good life by skiing where Liberty’s pros go? Valle Nevado offers vacation packages for every budget and it’s close enough to Santiago that you can check out some of Chile’s amazing culture. Or just stay up there and ski your brains out:
Valle Nevado

Kyler Cooley digs into a slice of South America, Liberty style.

Learn more about Liberty’s full line of freeride skis, manufactured using sustainable materials like bamboo and environmentally friendly methods here:
Liberty Skis

Kyler Cooley sending it under a clear Chilean sky.

REVIEW Liberty Skis - Australia's Latest Ski Arrivals

JUL 02, 2010 / 04:52:54 PM See article.

Will Clifford trying out the new Liberty skis

SKI REVIEW | WIll Clifford/Michelle Hampton
Images | Ben Hansen

Chillfactor met up with the crew from Liberty Skis Australia on Monday to test drive the range from this just-arrived-in-Oz future-forward ski brand.

Liberty Skis originated in Colorado and the small ski company is really progressing fast into one of the big names in all mountain skis. They were the first to use the bamboo core and are the only ski brand using bamboo in all their skis, which is cool cause bamboo is light, springy and eco-friendly!

Will Clifford on trying out the new Liberty skis
Who says twin tips are no good on groomers - Will carves it up

Team riders Simon Dawes Blondel and Andrea Berchtold brought us the range to have a go on and skier Will Clifford stepped up to put each of the three park/all mountain skis through their paces. Owing to early season conditions he didn't strap on Liberty's two grand-daddy big mountain skis, the Double Helix and the Genome, and we didn't put him on the pink girls' ski - the Jinx - though having tested it ourselves Chillfactor thinks the Jinx could have handled anything Will tried to get it to do. But we gave to Michelle Hampton, who rocked the pink.

NB: One of the cool things about Liberty skis, the different lengths in each model are a different colour (same graphics though)

The freestyle ski of Liberty range, this is one of the snappiest twin tip skis around. The wood core of the ski is made out of bamboo which really gives a new feeling to the ski. I skied them in a 171cm (83 under foot), a little short for me but I really enjoyed them. In the park they really excelled, no problems with stability on the landings. The Lte to me was very impressive all round ski, it handled the hard packed groomers we had to ski to get to the park great too. They definitely perform in the park, but you could enjoy them as an all mountain ski as well. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a park ski that's not going to let them down when they have to ski back to the lift and anyone who likes a quick, fun, snappy ski to eat up the mountain.

Liberty team rider Andrea Berchtold

LTE 157, 164, 171
116-83-105
Radius: 18.5m

LTE 178
116-87-105
Radius: 20.5m

Liberty is really trying to change the perception of twin tips in Australia. Like the Europeans they are aiming their bigger twin tips as all mountain skis. The Morphic I tried was a 181cm and 94 under foot, getting to be a big ski! Though they were very light skis on your feet - What a fun, easy-going ski it is. You could shred the groomers early and they'll make you think you're on a fun-carve all mountain ski. Then hit the Park up for a quick play and you'll love the twin-tip effect. Ski the ice home and they'll stick under you like a world cup race ski. The Morphic is truly an all mountain ski aimed at anyone, not just park rats on a powder day! You will be very impressed as soon as you click into them! If you're running a one-ski quiver these would suit you, especially if you like doing a bit of everything and having a ski that'll perform.

MORPHIC 164
115-85-110
Radius: 16.5m

MORPHIC 171, 181,186
126-94-119
Radius: 17.0m

Will testing the Morphic in the park

Still in the all mountain category, the Helix are very similar to their younger brother the Morphic. The main difference is the width, 105 under foot, which would be more then enough width needed for pow pow, but yet still nimble enough to attack the day to day conditions. I skied the 176cm on an icy / hard packed day and I still had a lot of fun on them. They're not a prohibitively stiff ski, which means they let you turn them easily, even though they bigger then most skis amd they are not for the faint hearted - you will feel like you've got some serious ski going on - but every one needs to have a go of it because it's seriously fun! These are a great Aussie pow ski because they'll also work for you on the piste, so you can justify buying them!

HELIX 167, 176, 187
135-105-122
Radius: 22.0m

The Liberty lift - Chillfactor crew and Will

I'm the first to admit I know very little about what goes into making a good ski...and up until yesterday, I also had the opinion that latest model skis can't differ that much from brand to brand in terms of quality and performance. But after testing Liberty's new Jinx all-mountain female skis, I've completely changed my opinion. Hands down, it's the best set of all-mountain skis I've ever tried... here's why:

• Carving is almost effortless - even in really shitty snow conditions, the skis handle both long and short radius turns with absolute ease and precision
• Although it's a super light ski (due to its bamboo core), it's amazingly stable with zero chatter when you get going fast
• The skis seem to have incredible stability and strength - for example they glided over death cookies and changes in snow conditions without compromise
• Being a twin tip ski means there's also a lot of fun to be had and although it's essentially an all-mountain ski, you can still have your fun in the park which is great when conditions are less than ideal, I think the skis actually made me feel like a better skier (even though it probably didn't make me look better!).

While the colour of the 164cm ski wouldn't be my first preference (it's mostly pink), I forgot about it as soon as I made my first turn.

JINX 157
113-80-103
Radius: 15.0m

JINX 164
115-85-110
Radius: 16.5m

JINX 171
125-93-115
Radius: 17.0m

The Jinx

Here's another installment in our popular feature on our team riders. Design Team member Alex Applegate was one of the most requested profiles we received in the past 3 months, so here it is. Name: Alex Applegate Age: 29 Home ski area: I try to travel lots these days, but learned to ski at Tyrol Basin in Wisconsin. Favorite Food: Ice Cream Best advice you've ever been given: Someone once told me to "enjoy your day." You can't go wrong there! Liberty athlete Alex Applegate isn't the first guy you think of when the term "pro skier" is tossed around during après ski. But Applegate is the consummate pro. Best known for his strong, fluid style, Applegate prefers to let his skiing do the talking, and shuns the limelight. He's worked with Liberty Skis on a variety of projects when bulletproof, big-mountain skills are needed and has had his photos published in Freeskier and Skiing magazines. But while his skiing style makes everything seem easy, not everything has come easy for Applegate. Last year he suffered his first major injury, when he blew a knee during a photo shoot in Discentis, Switzerland on a bluebird powder day in the middle of a trip. We caught up to him to see how his recovery is going and what he's been up to lately. Alex Applegate - Liberty Skis Liberty: Alex, you've traveled quite a lot; what are some of your favorite memories? Applegate: Let's see, I got arrested in Amsterdam for riding bikes on the highway, then spent the better part of that afternoon with some friendly officials. They sent us off with hot chocolate and hugs. A pretty benign Amsterdam arrest story, but pretty fun. I also once spent a delirious night braving a karaoke bar in Paris until 5am because we were too cheap to pay for a hostel on a rainy night. I sang some Dolly Parton (poorly) and managed to stay awake until the bar closed. Then we opened up a French bakery and fruit stand before we caught a train. Liberty: Tell us a bit about Ride For The Wild. Applegate: Two years ago a group of us biked from Yukon Territory in Canada down to Yellowstone National Park, through a region know as Y2Y (Yukon to Yellowstone). We were biking to raise awareness for the conservation efforts underway to link the major protected areas, such as national parks and wilderness areas to each other. The thing is that you need to connect these protected areas to each other so that animals can move from one to the other, thus ensuring healthier more adaptable populations. This is especially important given the changing climate. We spent a couple months biking through the region and giving presentations on Y2Y conservation efforts and learning from the people who live there the about their communities and surroundings. It was a great experience, and you can check it out at www.rideforthewild.com. Alex Applegate - Liberty Skis Liberty: Last year you unfortunately suffered a knee injury skiing in Switzerland. Tell us about the incident. Applegate: I tore my ACL and meniscus. It was spring and we were trying to stick to the steep north aspects that were holding good snow. I dropped a cliff, made some turns in some really good snow and then got on the apron where the sun had souped everything up. I was just coming to a stop and my skis caught in the heavy snow and that was that. Liberty: So how is your recovery going? Applegate: Good, I have been biking a lot and trying to get that strength back. The knee is feeling nice and sturdy. Liberty: Any cool plans for this winter? Applegate: Yep, working on a sled trip way up into BC in February, and wherever the snow goes until then. Follow Alex Applegate's adventures on the Liberty Skis Design Team page.

The ski season is here. With resorts opening up across the West and snow falling on Liberty's headquarters for global domination here in Avon, Colorado, it's time to think about getting the first turns of the season yourself. And right now there are plenty of options: For you easterners, Mt. Snow and Sunday River are open. In Colorado, Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Copper are open. Farther west, Mammoth opened on October 16 as did Las Vegas Ski And Snowboard Resort, which notched the earliest opening for the ski area ever, on Oct 7. Montana's Great Divide also clocked up the earliest opening in the resort's history, October 17. LVSSR, which had, sadly to suspend operations has now reopened. Another resort that open ed and then shut was California's Boreal. The warm spell also temporarily shuttered Mammoth. So Cal's Bear Mountain and Mountain High are also open. And in Canada, Calgary's Olympic Park is open along with Mt. Norquay. And if your favorite ski lift isn't running, take heart. Some friends of Liberty, including photographer Michael Martin took matters into their own hands and got after it themselves. Here's Michael's report of his first turns of the winter: "After watching snow dust the Yampa valley, we were itching to get the first day under our collective belt. Ted Livingston had just driven all of his remaining belongings from Chicago to Steamboat, solidifying his residency. Stating that it was 'hammering snow' throughout his white knuckle drive through Wyoming, we opted for the Never Summers as our zone of choice. Starting out, we looked at the Crags, but it's still early and the bouldery lines are raw and exposed. Parking at the summit, we skinned roughly 2000 feet and picked our way into our line. The top turns got our attention with chalky, wind-buffed snow. (Ted doing Scot Schmidt) As we eased into the wind sheltered mid section, The Cheat, Michael DeCoske, nailed the first face shot of the year with buttery turns, almost to the bottom. A hi-five and a beer in Gould confirmed that ski season is here."

The view from Liberty World Headquarters has never been better. The sky is blue, there is fresh snow covering the mountains, and Liberty has now SOLD OUT of skis for the 2009-10 season! Shops now have 100% of our numerous production runs for the season, and demand has been HUGE across our worldwide distribution system. Many retailers have already sold out of Liberty products as well, so now is the time to contact your retailer before they are sold out as well.

Thanks to everyone for their support of our brand, and to make such an amazing success a reality year after year.