"No Leash Required," a special event to celebrate this year's Malibu Surfing Assn. MSA Classic surfing club competition, will be held Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. at Malibu Wines Tasting Room.

Honoring noted artist/photographer and Maneater Productions' director Steven Lippman and The Blue Project, proceeds from the evening will benefit SurfAid International.

The night includes food catered by Cal-Fresco and live music from Brett Dennen, Everest and KCRW disc jockey Mario Cotto, along with special guests Nia Peeples and Sam George. 

There will also be a live auction, with a chance to bid on items such as handcrafted surfboards, designer jewelry, clothing and works from world-renowned photographers, painters, sculptors and board-shapers.

Tickets are $50 presale or $60 at the door. Malibu Wines is at 31740 Mulholland Hwy. in Malibu.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Image courtesy of Maneater Productions / SurfAid International

Only one episode of "American Idol" contestant Kristy Lee Cook's new hunting show, "Goin' Country with Kristy Lee Cook," aired on Versus before the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals started firing shots at the singer.

"Instead of angering thousands of would-be fans by killing helpless animals on camera in an attempt to get her '15 Minutes of Shame,' Kristy Lee Cook's fame crusade would be better served by following in the footsteps of fellow Idol alum-turned-country-stars Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler -- as well as Simon Cowell -- all of whom have used their fame and talent to speak up for animals,” a PETA spokesperson said in a statement released to FOX411. Underwood is a vegetarian, Pickler has spoken publicly about only wearing faux fur and former judge Cowell is an animal adoption advocate.

"Goin' Country," a reality show which started its eight-episode run Sunday, follows Cook while she participates in hunts across the nation, all while trying to also bag a recording deal. Featuring some of the performer's new music, each episode follows the seventh-season "Idol" finalist as she heads to Texas in search of trophy whitetail deer, visits Kansas and Wyoming for pheasant hunting, takes part in her first black bear hunt in Wisconsin and Illinois, and is challenged while turkey hunting in Tennessee and Missouri. Cook is joined by friends, family and celebrity hunters, including country music star Aaron Tippin, Grammy-nominated artist Jake Owen and former "Idol" contestant Blake Lewis.

Cook did not take the comments lying down, defending not only herself but all hunters, and issued the following response:

"Given that hunters have done more for American wildlife conservation than any other group in history, I make no apology for being one," she said. "Indeed, I join the ranks of millions of American hunters who celebrate our outdoor heritage and who conserve millions of acres of wild lands. These same people support more than 600,000 jobs across the country and provide a critical voice to encourage more investment in American conservation."

Etón Corporation, long known for its emergency preparedness and outdoor products, recently introduced the Scorpion, a multi-powered device that fits well in both categories.

Offering three ways to power the unit -- built-in solar panel, hand-crank and AC adapter -- this multi-function product comes with an AM/FM radio, seven-channel National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather band and an LED flashlight. And they also found room to include a bottle opener.

"With its rugged exterior and multi-function capabilities, the Scorpion is made for anyone exploring the outdoors," said Etón Chief Executive Esmail Amid-Hozour.

The ruggedly built Scorpion also offers a USB port to charge cellular phones, as well as an audio line input for hooking up music devices. Plus, there is a built-in carabiner clip for easy transport and accessibility.

The Scorpion retails for $50 and is available for purchase on the Etón website and at Amazon.com, REI and the Herrington catalog.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: The Scorpion, a solar-powered multi-function device. Credit: Etón Corporation

The Teva Mountain Games will kick off its eclectic mix of adventure sports, art and entertainment Thursday in Vail, Colo. The ninth annual event taking place through Sunday expects about 2,000 athletes to compete in 24 disciplines in eight sports, all vying for portions of a prize purse totaling more than $100,000.

Hosted by the Vail Valley Foundation, sporting events will include IFSC World Cup Bouldering competition -- the only World Cup bouldering event taking place in the U.S. -- as well as stand-up paddle boarding events, a discipline new to the games this year.

The games will also host competitions featuring some of the world's top athletes in each sport, competing alongside amateurs of all levels in trail running, kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, road cycling, amateur climbing, fly-fishing and a half-marathon.

In addition to all the adventure sports, there will be a photography competition, an interactive exhibition and demonstration area, DockDogs canine competitions, the Serac Adventure Film School, concerts and mountain lifestyle parties.

The games offer a family-friendly atmosphere with myriad free activities for all ages, including an adventure clinic on back-country and mountain preparedness, hosted by First Ascent guide Erik Leidecker; a mountaineering clinic hosted by First Ascent guide and mountaineering legend Peter Whittaker; a zip-lining course; the Eukanuba Doggie Dash obstacle course; outdoor film series screenings; free Parkour demonstrations with a hands-on beginner clinic; and the chance to try stand-up paddling with C4 Waterman team member and stand-up paddle surfing pro Charlie MacArthur.

A schedule of events is available on the Teva Mountain Games website.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A pro kayak freestyle competitor at the 2009 Teva Mountain Games. Credit: Shane Macomber Photography

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The second season of the Winter Dew Tour will culminate this weekend when top Tour athletes converge at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt., for the Toyota Championship, taking place Thursday through Saturday.

Featuring men’s and women’s snowboarding in both slopestyle and superpipe, and men's freeskiing in both slopestyle and superpipe, the competition for a portion of the $1.5-million purse is sure to be exciting -- and close.

Two of the disciplines -- men's skiing slopestyle and women's snowboarding slopestyle -- have ties in the point standings for the top competitors.

And two 16-year olds, Tyler Flanagan of Mammoth Lakes and Sage Kotsenberg of Park City, Utah, have only 20 points separating them in their quest for the Dew Cup title in men's snowboarding slopestyle.

With a break in the weather forecast for this weekend, folks might want to get outside, stretch their legs and lend a hand with some yardwork.

The yard is actually a backcountry portion of Ft. Ord, and the work is a volunteer planting event, complete with live music and lots of camaraderie.

The annual Ft. Ord Public Lands Musical Volunteer Planting will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, the Army Base Realignment and Closure Office, Return of the Natives and the California Native Plant Society Monterey Bay Chapter, more than 800 native plants will be set into the ground in an effort to restore Fort Ord habitat, remove non-native invasive flora and reduce erosion.

Local musicians will be on site to serenade and entertain participants with live jazz and bluegrass music.

Preliminary tests done on one of the coyotes that attacked and killed folk singer Taylor Mitchell last week showed no signs of rabies in the animal.

Mitchell was hiking alone at Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, when she was savagely attacked by two coyotes.

The 19-year-old Toronto resident was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition. She died the following day.

The coyote tested was killed by park officials and is believed to have been one of the two that had bitten Mitchell. Its carcass was sent to the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island to try to determine why the animals attacked.

Sadly, it may never be known why the coyotes attacked Mitchell, nor what individuals should do if confronted by the animals. The Parks Canada website describes the eastern coyote as a species that has interbred with wolves, which may give some insight as to the predatory behavior exhibited rather than the shy nature usually seen in coyotes.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Taylor Mitchell. Credit: city of Toronto

Related:

Coyote attack on musician Taylor Mitchell puts critters in new perspective

Musician Taylor Mitchell dies after coyote attack while hiking

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A young folk musician had her life cut tragically short, dying from injuries sustained after being attacked by two coyotes while hiking.

Taylor Mitchell, 19, was hiking alone in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, on Tuesday when the attack occurred.

Mitchell, of Toronto, was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition and died Wednesday morning.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that another hiker heard her screams and called emergency services. Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers arrived at the scene and shot one of the coyotes, though both animals escaped.

Park officials later killed one of the coyotes believed to have bitten Mitchell. Its body was sent to the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island for pathological tests to try to determine why the animals attacked.

"If Mitchell ran from the coyotes or panicked, it may have triggered a predatory response in the animals," said Simon Gadbois, an animal behavior specialist at Canada's Dalhousie University.