Nearly 3 feet of snow thumped down on Wednesday, February 24th. I was in and out of the white room all day and pointed it over cliffs I would never step up to without a sea of powder to land in!
At Mulligan's on Tuesday night, in-between scarfing down nachos smothered in melted cheese, serving N.Y. Strip steaks and chugging cranberry juice, I periodically opened the back door to see how much of the good stuff had accumulated.
I had been waiting for this all season. The night that I would have to blow up an air matress, lay it down in my 12'x12' office and crash here for the night. It needed to be done if I was to be on the American Express at the crack of dawn.
Burton, Forum, YES, K2, Atomic, Rossignol, Head - practically every ski & snowboard manufacturer in the industry happend to be here for a series of Demo Days and reps were frothing at the mouth, staring up at the empty chairs ascending into the snowy abyss.
Seemingly apologetic skiers were on their cell phones with friends who would miss the first chair. "They just closed the access road," one of them said. "And my buddies are stuck behind a Bud Light truck."
600 acres of untouched powder reserved for the 600 people who had spent the night drinking at Grizzly's, listening to DJ Boss-tone(out of Boston, where else?) and sleeping everywhere and anywhere but their own beds.
I went from bobbing my head to Sleigh Bells' "Ring Ring" playing in the background of a Sierra-At-Tahoe Powder Stache video to smiling and sweating in a balls deep stache of my own on Stumpy's. It was deep. I was with two kids who love snowboarding as much as I do. Boosting off of obstacles that would send a mountain biker to his bloody grave if he were truckin down this pitch in July.
Leone, who is the epitome of a fun-raiser, was talkin' to his homey Matty about the two things he loves most in this world as we sprawled out 3 wide on a high-speed six-pack in the Sun Bowl.
I love snowboarding because it makes me feel like I'm apart of a family. Not that I didn't have a family growing up, I did. And most of my family members were the ones who prompted me to beg and plead for a snowboard in the first place. But even now, with the members of my hometown crowd living the dream in their respective flats and cribs across the states, I still feel like I'm apart of something bigger. Something living and breathing and ever-changing.
This is my dream, and like the series of storms that keeps crashing into the Green Mountains, I don't want it to stop.
Monday, March 1, 2010
IOC Tips Cap to One More Skiing Revolution
With the start gates in an upright position, Switzerland’s Armin Niederer, Patrick Gasser and Andreas Steffen flex their skis and ready their bodies for an explosive start onto the Skier X course at Buttermilk Mountain.
A raucous, “Course is clear. Racer’s ready”, echoes through the nearby Aspens and steel-framed launch-pad before a soprano voice suddenly answers.
“No! Wait,” requests Winter X rookie Fanny Smith. Smith, the youngest skier on the roster at age 17, wants one more practice run. Gripping the start gate handles, she is as energetic as a girl who has just learned that her older brothers have agreed to include their sister in a race to the chairlift.
Smith was extremely fast and timed her passes perfectly in the Skier X women’s semi-finals. Keeping her speed through rollers, gaps and banked turns as massive and intimidating as the mythic Tahitian waves at Teahupo’o, she put herself in contention to make the podium in the finals.
With the most dominant racer in the history of Women’s Skier Cross, Ophelie David, Ashleigh McIvor, Kelsey Serwa, Aleisha Cline, Marte Gjefsen and Smith advancing, the stage was set for one of the most competitive finals in the history of Winter X and a preview of the upcoming Olympics.
Skier cross, which is making its debut as a full medal sport at the 2010 Winter Games, represents one of the most demanding competitions in ski racing today.
Not restricted by formal structures and formats, ski cross is part of the FIS freestyle discipline and the majority of competitors, Smith included, have an alpine skiing background.
According to her father Christophe, Smith, who is going into this year’s Games ranked 17th in the FIS World Cup standings, is crazy about the fusion of motocross and downhill racing because, “She doesn’t want to wait at the bottom of the course and watch 120 girls race the clock; she wants to ski more runs!”
Over the past 18 years, the IOC has introduced the freestyle skiing event of moguls, skeleton, the head-first sledding sport, snowboarding and more recently snowboard cross, to the Games. Not only are these sports attracting a younger and broader market of television viewers, but they are also attracting the next generation of Olympians themselves.
While bluebird skies and temperatures near 28 degrees Fahrenheit at mid-mountain meant the 3,500’ X course would be in choice condition, the same cannot be said for the Skier Cross setup in Vancouver.
Despite Cypress Mountain having installed a snowmaking system of 35 snow guns, 51 hydrants and a 5 million gallon reservoir designed to throw a three-foot blanket of snow over trails being used for Olympic events, organizers have been forced to move more than 100,000 cubic feet of snow via truck and helicopter to the venue.
When St. Moritz, a city in Smith’s home country of Switzerland, was appointed by the IOC to host the second Olympic Winter Games in 1928, fluctuating weather conditions made these Olympics memorable. Warm weather plagued the Games and the 10,000 meter speed skating event was canceled entirely.
After a clean start in the finals, Whistler’s Ashleigh McIvor took the lead. She was followed closely by her fellow country woman Kelsey Serwa, but Cline, David and Smith were gliding through the most technical section of the course hot on the Canadian’s heels.
Ophelie David, who was attempting to make Winter X Games history by earning the first ever Skiing four-peat, shot herself off of an adrenaline-pumping feature dubbed the “Alter” and stole the first place position from McIvor. David maintained her momentum to win her fifth X Games medal and Smith narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth.
The six-time World Cup Champion is favored to win gold again in Vancouver, McIvor will benefit from her hometown crowd rooting for her success and all the racers will have to contend with difficult waxing conditions. If Smith manages to put down fast runs in qualifying she could earn a spot in the Women’s Ski Cross finals, which are scheduled for February 23rd, and happily ski one more run.
A raucous, “Course is clear. Racer’s ready”, echoes through the nearby Aspens and steel-framed launch-pad before a soprano voice suddenly answers.
“No! Wait,” requests Winter X rookie Fanny Smith. Smith, the youngest skier on the roster at age 17, wants one more practice run. Gripping the start gate handles, she is as energetic as a girl who has just learned that her older brothers have agreed to include their sister in a race to the chairlift.
Smith was extremely fast and timed her passes perfectly in the Skier X women’s semi-finals. Keeping her speed through rollers, gaps and banked turns as massive and intimidating as the mythic Tahitian waves at Teahupo’o, she put herself in contention to make the podium in the finals.
With the most dominant racer in the history of Women’s Skier Cross, Ophelie David, Ashleigh McIvor, Kelsey Serwa, Aleisha Cline, Marte Gjefsen and Smith advancing, the stage was set for one of the most competitive finals in the history of Winter X and a preview of the upcoming Olympics.
Skier cross, which is making its debut as a full medal sport at the 2010 Winter Games, represents one of the most demanding competitions in ski racing today.
Not restricted by formal structures and formats, ski cross is part of the FIS freestyle discipline and the majority of competitors, Smith included, have an alpine skiing background.
According to her father Christophe, Smith, who is going into this year’s Games ranked 17th in the FIS World Cup standings, is crazy about the fusion of motocross and downhill racing because, “She doesn’t want to wait at the bottom of the course and watch 120 girls race the clock; she wants to ski more runs!”
Over the past 18 years, the IOC has introduced the freestyle skiing event of moguls, skeleton, the head-first sledding sport, snowboarding and more recently snowboard cross, to the Games. Not only are these sports attracting a younger and broader market of television viewers, but they are also attracting the next generation of Olympians themselves.
While bluebird skies and temperatures near 28 degrees Fahrenheit at mid-mountain meant the 3,500’ X course would be in choice condition, the same cannot be said for the Skier Cross setup in Vancouver.
Despite Cypress Mountain having installed a snowmaking system of 35 snow guns, 51 hydrants and a 5 million gallon reservoir designed to throw a three-foot blanket of snow over trails being used for Olympic events, organizers have been forced to move more than 100,000 cubic feet of snow via truck and helicopter to the venue.
When St. Moritz, a city in Smith’s home country of Switzerland, was appointed by the IOC to host the second Olympic Winter Games in 1928, fluctuating weather conditions made these Olympics memorable. Warm weather plagued the Games and the 10,000 meter speed skating event was canceled entirely.
After a clean start in the finals, Whistler’s Ashleigh McIvor took the lead. She was followed closely by her fellow country woman Kelsey Serwa, but Cline, David and Smith were gliding through the most technical section of the course hot on the Canadian’s heels.
Ophelie David, who was attempting to make Winter X Games history by earning the first ever Skiing four-peat, shot herself off of an adrenaline-pumping feature dubbed the “Alter” and stole the first place position from McIvor. David maintained her momentum to win her fifth X Games medal and Smith narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth.
The six-time World Cup Champion is favored to win gold again in Vancouver, McIvor will benefit from her hometown crowd rooting for her success and all the racers will have to contend with difficult waxing conditions. If Smith manages to put down fast runs in qualifying she could earn a spot in the Women’s Ski Cross finals, which are scheduled for February 23rd, and happily ski one more run.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Stratton Builds Longest SuperPipe on the East Coast
At 500 feet, Stratton Mountain Resort's SuperPipe is the longest on the East Coast. "It's the biggest pile I've ever seen," quipped Terrain Parks Manager Eric Langman as he paved the Sunriser Supertrail in snow. "It's the size of an aircraft carrier."
Unlike jet fighter pilots, who have the engine power to sustain high G for extended periods, skiers and riders will need to harness serious momentum if they want to score points for amplitude. Without a doubt, this behemoth will challenge everyone from local up-and-comer Tarik Blowers to pros with unbeatable skills like 5-time U.S. Open half-pipe champ Danny Kass.
Progressive setups abound and the newest addition to Stratton's expansive terrain parks, the signature Superpark, opens on Saturday, January 16.
Tyrolienne, a terrain park that addresses every single rider, is open with a fresh layout & design. There's plenty to ride for all levels including: a 10' box, 15’ A-frame, a 30' flat box and 4 smaller jumps perfect for learning new moves. It's here that skiers and riders will battle it out under the lights in the Van's Cold Wars Rail Jam.
In Torino in 2006, boardercross debuted as a full medal sport. Under Mike Mallon's guidance, a guy who served as the head boardercross coach for U.S. Snowboarding nine times, Langman's parks crew designed the sickest course on East Byrneside.
Lower Middlebrook is featuring medium sized hits set up throughout a mile long run. The 25' zig-zag, fabricated with recycled metal left-over from the 2009 U.S. Open, is one of the most unique and technically challenging features in the park.
With 40 acres containing multiple features, a dedicated park lift for shorter lap time and a 500 foot half-pipe on the Sunriser Supertrail alone, it's easy to see why Stratton's the home of the longest standing snowboard event on the planet.
Unlike jet fighter pilots, who have the engine power to sustain high G for extended periods, skiers and riders will need to harness serious momentum if they want to score points for amplitude. Without a doubt, this behemoth will challenge everyone from local up-and-comer Tarik Blowers to pros with unbeatable skills like 5-time U.S. Open half-pipe champ Danny Kass.
Progressive setups abound and the newest addition to Stratton's expansive terrain parks, the signature Superpark, opens on Saturday, January 16.
Tyrolienne, a terrain park that addresses every single rider, is open with a fresh layout & design. There's plenty to ride for all levels including: a 10' box, 15’ A-frame, a 30' flat box and 4 smaller jumps perfect for learning new moves. It's here that skiers and riders will battle it out under the lights in the Van's Cold Wars Rail Jam.
In Torino in 2006, boardercross debuted as a full medal sport. Under Mike Mallon's guidance, a guy who served as the head boardercross coach for U.S. Snowboarding nine times, Langman's parks crew designed the sickest course on East Byrneside.
Lower Middlebrook is featuring medium sized hits set up throughout a mile long run. The 25' zig-zag, fabricated with recycled metal left-over from the 2009 U.S. Open, is one of the most unique and technically challenging features in the park.
With 40 acres containing multiple features, a dedicated park lift for shorter lap time and a 500 foot half-pipe on the Sunriser Supertrail alone, it's easy to see why Stratton's the home of the longest standing snowboard event on the planet.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Powder in Vermont; Riding Stratton's Secret Tree Zones
Saturday, January 2, 2010
9:23 a.m.
"We should definitely mention how good the glades are in the Snow Report," said Myra. That's exactly what I want to do I thought to myself. Claim "ample amounts of snow for shredding in Sherwood Forest" then suffer the gnarly consequences (i.e.) two black eyes, a bloody lip and other minor flesh wounds when the angry mob, fists clenched and fangs exposed, storms the marketing office. "I don't think there's enough coverage in the trees to start pointing everyone in that direction," I said.
9:41 a.m.
It is my first season at Stratton. I lack the skills and the knowledge necessary for navigating to the best kept secret stashes. Polar Bear was my go-to trail pick for the first two weeks. It's challenging, steep at the top and meanders down to a high-speed six pack you can lap until 3:30 p.m. I was about to bend my knees and stick a heelside carve over the first knoll on Polar Bear when I spotted a wooden sign along the right treeline that read "Diamond in the Rough." I popped into the dimly lit tree zone and pointed it south. Exposed rocks were capped with a milky layer of ice, but there was quite a bit of fresh. I crept along cautiously, my eyes darting left and right to see where tracks disappeared and re-emerged downhill.
Perched on a pedastal of thick roots I leaned into an old Maple and let the nose of my board inch it's way over the edge. WOOMF! I landed in a pile of snow as soft as a pillow-top matress! Genuinely surprised - I shifted my weight to the back leg and that's when things started to heat up.
9:57 a.m.
Exiting Diamond in the Rough was like strolling out of the movie theatre after having seen a comedy written by Seth Rogen. Do I take URSA Express back to the summit and shred it again or do I let the scenes and sounds soak in and write an amazing review as soon as I'm within reach of my computer?
10:11 a.m.
"I stand corrected," I said. I was standing in Myra's doorway, the fresh snow melting off of my helmet. "Diamond in the Rough is money right now." She removed the glasses from her face and said, "Let's get it in the Snow Report!" I hustled up the stairs to my office and told the world where they could score an untouched stash of powder.
10: 22 a.m.
" Before I hit Diamond in the Rough I took a run through Lower Middlebrook and the landings are still covered in freshies." "You want to go back out?" asked Rob Chrostowski (pronounced Clam-chow-ski for those of us who derive joy from butchering his last name). "Absolutely," I replied.
10: 30 a.m.
"The "Singles Line" is the way to go," said Chrostowski. After a short wait on the Gondola deck we were in the air talking about Kevin Pearce."He hit his head on the lip of the pipe just above the eyebrow," I said. "I hope he's doing alright.""I hope he survives bro," replied Chrostowski. The two of us sat quietly, his words still ringing in my head. All I could think about was my first run. I wanted to go back.
10:40 a.m.
"I'm going to show you my favorite run on the mountain," declared Chrostowski. "I remember you showing me the run on a trail map when all 100,000 of them arrived in August," I said. "It starts with a fun little banked-slalom run through Upper Wanderer, cuts across the Meadows to Drifter and then we'll stay left through Dancing Bear" he said. It sounded good, looked good on paper, but was it going to as sweet as Diamond in the Rough? I followed him - unimpressed with the first section of Upper Wanderer. This is weak, where's the pow? everyone's already hit this I grumbled to myself.
10: 56 a.m.
"You're going to want to stay up high on the left side and make sure you watch out for the stream bed," said Chrostowski. Great. A streambed. Can't wait. Someone is bombing through Diamond in the Rough right now and I'm stuck at the entrance to Dancing Bear with a puss on my face.
11:oo a.m.
Thankfully, I suppressed the moaning and groaning. I deserted my cravings for another run through Diamond in the Rough and ripped into powder turns and blinked for the face shots. Cold smoke went up my nose and when I stopped my unzipped pockets were filled with powder. "That was a sick line!," I acknowledged. " Yeah bro, it gets better." replied big Rob. Never doubt a local.
11: 10 a.m.
At this point the shit-eating grin on my face is frozen in place. "No one's been in here yet," said Rob as he sat down in a foot-and-a-half of pow at the entrance to Cabin Fever. My hands started sweating inside of my mittens and cold air flooded into my jacket from the top down as I leaned forward to scoop the snow out of my right binding. First tracks. This is the epitome of why we move to Vermont.
9:23 a.m.
"We should definitely mention how good the glades are in the Snow Report," said Myra. That's exactly what I want to do I thought to myself. Claim "ample amounts of snow for shredding in Sherwood Forest" then suffer the gnarly consequences (i.e.) two black eyes, a bloody lip and other minor flesh wounds when the angry mob, fists clenched and fangs exposed, storms the marketing office. "I don't think there's enough coverage in the trees to start pointing everyone in that direction," I said.
9:41 a.m.
It is my first season at Stratton. I lack the skills and the knowledge necessary for navigating to the best kept secret stashes. Polar Bear was my go-to trail pick for the first two weeks. It's challenging, steep at the top and meanders down to a high-speed six pack you can lap until 3:30 p.m. I was about to bend my knees and stick a heelside carve over the first knoll on Polar Bear when I spotted a wooden sign along the right treeline that read "Diamond in the Rough." I popped into the dimly lit tree zone and pointed it south. Exposed rocks were capped with a milky layer of ice, but there was quite a bit of fresh. I crept along cautiously, my eyes darting left and right to see where tracks disappeared and re-emerged downhill.
Perched on a pedastal of thick roots I leaned into an old Maple and let the nose of my board inch it's way over the edge. WOOMF! I landed in a pile of snow as soft as a pillow-top matress! Genuinely surprised - I shifted my weight to the back leg and that's when things started to heat up.
9:57 a.m.
Exiting Diamond in the Rough was like strolling out of the movie theatre after having seen a comedy written by Seth Rogen. Do I take URSA Express back to the summit and shred it again or do I let the scenes and sounds soak in and write an amazing review as soon as I'm within reach of my computer?
10:11 a.m.
"I stand corrected," I said. I was standing in Myra's doorway, the fresh snow melting off of my helmet. "Diamond in the Rough is money right now." She removed the glasses from her face and said, "Let's get it in the Snow Report!" I hustled up the stairs to my office and told the world where they could score an untouched stash of powder.
10: 22 a.m.
" Before I hit Diamond in the Rough I took a run through Lower Middlebrook and the landings are still covered in freshies." "You want to go back out?" asked Rob Chrostowski (pronounced Clam-chow-ski for those of us who derive joy from butchering his last name). "Absolutely," I replied.
10: 30 a.m.
"The "Singles Line" is the way to go," said Chrostowski. After a short wait on the Gondola deck we were in the air talking about Kevin Pearce."He hit his head on the lip of the pipe just above the eyebrow," I said. "I hope he's doing alright.""I hope he survives bro," replied Chrostowski. The two of us sat quietly, his words still ringing in my head. All I could think about was my first run. I wanted to go back.
10:40 a.m.
"I'm going to show you my favorite run on the mountain," declared Chrostowski. "I remember you showing me the run on a trail map when all 100,000 of them arrived in August," I said. "It starts with a fun little banked-slalom run through Upper Wanderer, cuts across the Meadows to Drifter and then we'll stay left through Dancing Bear" he said. It sounded good, looked good on paper, but was it going to as sweet as Diamond in the Rough? I followed him - unimpressed with the first section of Upper Wanderer. This is weak, where's the pow? everyone's already hit this I grumbled to myself.
10: 56 a.m.
"You're going to want to stay up high on the left side and make sure you watch out for the stream bed," said Chrostowski. Great. A streambed. Can't wait. Someone is bombing through Diamond in the Rough right now and I'm stuck at the entrance to Dancing Bear with a puss on my face.
11:oo a.m.
Thankfully, I suppressed the moaning and groaning. I deserted my cravings for another run through Diamond in the Rough and ripped into powder turns and blinked for the face shots. Cold smoke went up my nose and when I stopped my unzipped pockets were filled with powder. "That was a sick line!," I acknowledged. " Yeah bro, it gets better." replied big Rob. Never doubt a local.
11: 10 a.m.
At this point the shit-eating grin on my face is frozen in place. "No one's been in here yet," said Rob as he sat down in a foot-and-a-half of pow at the entrance to Cabin Fever. My hands started sweating inside of my mittens and cold air flooded into my jacket from the top down as I leaned forward to scoop the snow out of my right binding. First tracks. This is the epitome of why we move to Vermont.
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