With the first stop of the Winter Dew Tour halfway over, the men and women competed in the Superpipe finals. Results for the Top 3 are as follows:

Women's SNB SP Finals 1. Queralt Castellet 2. Elena Hight 3. Kaitlyn Farrington

Men's SNB SP Finals 1. Louie Vito 2. Matt Ladley 3. Greg Bretz

The snow storm conditions made the pipe pretty slow, so the tricks were difficult to really throw them down. To add to that, the sound system totally broke down for about 10 minutes, so everyone was scrambling around to get things going. With an odd silence, you don't realize how much the music and announcers add to the event, so be greatful for them. The Toyota Yeti took a run down the halfpipe to keep spectators entertained. And Kevin Pearce made a visit to cheer on and congratulate the riders (he was the one that got the severe brain injury just before the Olympics). Last year's champ, Danny Davis, was also out of the game today due to an injury.

Tomorrow brings the Slopestyle Finals, so there's more to come! I'll try to fit another blog in, in between riding all the new powder...

My Utah ski vacation guide turned up a few weeks ago. Right on time. On its tail came the avalanche of gear catalogs. This is my late summer, early fall fix, the seasonal opposite of the lifesaving arrival of gardening catalogs in the dead of winter. I'm done with summer. Done. There's just way too much sweating for so little exhilaration. I say bring on the snow. Epic snow. Shut down the schools, ground flights, stock up on a year's supply of toilet paper and milk, gridlock a city snow.

My friends at White Grass have been pumping up theories of an epic winter. I'd be okay with it starting tomorrow. I'm done. Cooked. I find myself lost in thoughts of crisp air stinging my eyes and sinuses, breathing deep, and letting go.

In summer (spring and fall, too, really), I plod, peddle, and paddle. By the end of the sweating season, I'm weary of the predictability and repetition. And did I mention the sweating? And the mud? And bugs?

I probably play harder in summer than I do in winter. At least it feels that way. I know I come home with more marks. I long for a clean run, pristine snow, and the freedom from gravity and laundry. All summer long I've been hiking up or biking up trails and spending hours cleaning up gear. It's time for some gravity magic and some of the stuff that doesn't stick.

In July, we hopped on horseback and rode many of the trails on which we ski both downhill and cross country. We spotted wild turkeys, a black bear, and plenty of blackberries. The wildflowers were lush in the open sections and in other places, the trails seemed impossibly narrow and wet. And steep. The horses thought so, too. As we switchbacked up and back down the mountain, I found myself looking for new lines. As much as I've always felt there's no better way to spend a day than on horseback, the skier's itch seized me.

The stack of ski gear that needs repair is now calling my name. My ski mechanic (also known as my husband)has a full complement of skis to tune and wax. And then we'll watch for the Weather Channel, itching and scratching, for signs from above that it's time.

Previously I had wrote a blog about my dislike for spring (Corn) snow. Well Yesterday I had the opportunity to change my view. Although I am still not entirely found of wet hills and puddle filled bases, I really enjoyed cutting through some of the best corn filled slopes of my life. The highly moveable snow had formed some excellent elements on most of the slopes. Which I took full advantage of. I rode the mountain like I owned it and I do not regret my choice to go during spring conditions. Contrary to my other spring boarding sessions, I did not end up injured. This was a contributng factor to me changing my mind.

SO I leave this season a happy and extremely wet boarder. Yes with all the melting yesterday and me using the mountain to the fullest I absorbed at least 95% of the water on the slopes. It was worth it. I will return next year to as many slopes I can and still try to do it for a budget. I think next years challenge will be 20 mountains under $200 in lift licket prices.The quest is on again.

So here it is at last, Spring has made it to New England. With one of the best Skiing/Riding seasons we've seen in years, New Englanders have been tearing up the slopes.That is about to a lot more literal meaning to it. With Spring comes Corn snow. What is corn snow I am asked every spring. Obviously by a non Skier/Rider.
Dictionary.com provides the folowing Definition.

CORN SNOW

–noun Skiing

Snow in the form of small pellets or grains produced by the alternate melting and freezing of a snow layer.

Also called corn, spring snow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin: 1930–35 Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

I fall on the side of hating corn snow. Most other people I know really love it. They say it's part of New England Skiing/Riding. I am mostly a just freeride snowboader and I find that the corn snow makes for a slow and rather wet day. Everytime I ride corn snow I tend to get hurt. Call it a curse, back luck or whatever you want I know it has to do with the snow. I will take -20*F and icy slopes over corn snow.

The other thing that drives me insane about corn snow is how easily bare spots pop up. I have damaged my board on many occassions while riding corn. I know,I know, it is just the natural effect of spring melting away our winter playground. None the less it is depressing. Knowing with the coming of corn snow my winter fun will be coming to an end shortly just takes the beauty out of spring for me.

Sorry I had to go on this rant but I needed to get it out. Maybe with time I will come to like corn snow. Nah, I doubt it! I will however still ride it because God put it there for our enjoyment, and I guess corn Snow is better than no snow!!!

31 December 2008 (New Years' Eve)

Winter Park and Mary Jane had some fantastic spring skiing weather today. The sun was out, skiers could be found wearing t-shirts, and the "low" temp was 27° (as read on the temp gauge on my Subaru when I was leaving)- the only problem is that it is still December. The good news is that the powder in the backcountry won't be bottomless. The bad news is that there probably isn't any good powder in the backcountry right now (I don't know since there are no lifts running that will get you access right now). The snow on both mountains was skied so much that it was almost exclusively hard-pack, wind-blown and icy, or some combination thereof. Although, there were spots where the wind had deposited some snow on the leeward side of a run here and there to provide some nicer stuff to ski on. Skiers are obviously hurting for some fresh snow though- the trees had been skied so much that moguls were beginning to form in the tightest of tree stands (an example is pictured below).

 

A tree stand I skied where the road was well traveled

I started on the Jane side hoping to find the Parsenn Bowl open and get a warm-up run in, with the intent of taking the Panoramic Express from the bottom of Parsenn to hit the Vasquez Cirque (summit at the Cirque is roughly 3700m/12,000'). Unfortunately, as soon as I got off the lift at Lunch Rock I could see bare spots from where I was (roughly 3400m/11,200') and knew immediately that the wind had blown so much snow off the top that it wasn't happening. On a tip from a Patroller who said that there really wasn't any powder anywhere, but that my best bet would be to try over on the Park side, I headed over via Switchyard, crossed into the trees, and dropped into Village Way. From there I headed down the mountain to the Pioneer Express lift hoping to get some decent skiing in along the Vasquez Ridge, but found that the entire area that direction was roped off. I made a run through the trees and one on the Sundance to Chuck Wagon to Lonesome Whistle trails and was disappointed to find that on all of the runs I had taken thus far, the snow over on the Park side was no different than the Jane side (if this is getting confusing, the Winter Park/Mary Jane Ski Area is actually two mountains connected together with bowls at the top of each- see the website at the link provided above).

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Unless you are extremely lucky, chances are you will find yourself hitting the slopes with a new skier/snowboarder; yet you don't want to bail on your friend just to go have a little fun? Well, believe it or not, there are still places to go and things to do so you make the best out of your day.

First off, consider the place you plan on visiting. Obviously Mount Bohemia is not going to be the best choice. Try to take your friend to a resort that has a good variety of runs, so you can push them to go a little further by the end of the day. For the new skier or rider I would recommend Cascade Mountain in Portage, Wisconsin. Not only is this resort very easy to get to right off the highway, but they have a beginner area with three dedicated lifts that run extra slow to help beginners get the concept of loading and unloading the lift. Cascade also has a long beginner run that is over a mile long, however, the run is only open during the day. For the skier or rider that can handle most greens and a few blues, then there are a multiple array of places you can visit. For the Southern Wisconsin region, I would recommend Devils Head Resort. By Cascade, Devils Head is only 8 miles off the highway. They feature the only on hill resort in Southern and Central Wisconsin. Devils Head is a great choice due to the multiple intermediate runs and mild black runs. The mild black runs help as a stepping stone to harder trails and also helps as a confidence booster. Be sure to stop in the bar and order a pizza. If Devils Head isn't your cup of tea, I suggest you keep driving past Central resorts and go straight North. Whitecap Mountains is probably the only place in Wisconsin that you truly NEED a trail map. Although there is only a 400 foot vertical rise, you will easily get tricked into thinking your at a much larger resort. Whitecap is an excellent choice due to its wide variety of runs. Granted, Whitecap has a great variety of challenging runs, but there are also a great arrangement of intermediate runs that will leave you and your buddy wanting more. Be sure to grab a trail map because you don't want to find your way halfway down The Dragon and find out its a double black.

So you find your self at a rather easy place and both get bored? Try to make the best out of what you have. For example, when I find myself at rather boring resorts, I change it up. We will take a run in the woods, take the run at high speeds (but stay in control!), or sometimes some friends and I will even switch gear. That may be a challenge, but is sure to make a day of fun if your getting skied out. Just remember, every resort has their own rules on top of the skiers responsibility code, so be sure you know these or you run the chance of getting your ticket clipped.

On the next trip with your beginner, be sure to check these places out and follow some of these tips and hopefully you won't find yourself bummed out that you may not be hitting the extreme runs, you'll still have a great day out on the slopes.

Be sure to add any additional tips!

I am a freelance writer and receive no compensation for endorsing any resorts. All statements in this article are solely thoughts of the author.

I've been skiing with the same pair of goggles since 1995 when I bought a pair of Oakley's for $30 in college. I'm not sure if I'm cheap, frugal, or just plain lazy for not getting a new pair, but there it is. A couple of years ago we had a blizzard here in Denver and they were scratched pretty badly, but I just couldn't bring myself to part with them; this year I finally decided to say goodbye and make a new purchase.

So I headed to the nearest Dick's Sporting Goods (no, I'm not using the blog to get away with something, that really is the name of the store and I have receipts to prove it) to see what was available. I was looking for price, functionality, and something that didn't make me look so old without making me look like I am having a mid-life crisis either.

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'Twas the day before Christmas and all upon the mountain, skiers and boarders were stirring, and I was among them.

My friends and I were all bundled up to stay warm...the forecast was for a cold winter storm. With anticipation we dreamed of the snow to be skied, so we drove really fast to get there with speed.

We had to take two cars driving just as fast as they can, but that was okay 'cause Hannah's father's Norwegian (inside joke).

We rode the lift at Copper when what should belay all our fears? No more than eight- that's right eight- other skiers.

I sprang from the lift to avoid going back down the wrong way, and came to a stop so my friends and I would not stray.

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By this time last year I had logged at least four or five days on the mountain. My local hill near Helena, MT, known as "The Rock" by the locals who have lived through the lean, dry years on this side of the Divide, had a generous two foot base covering most of the mountain and fresh powd blowing in nearly every day in December. By January we were skiing 6"-12" of fresh powd at least two or three days a week. Sure, it's no Snowbird, but if you talked to the locals who had been skiing there for decades, they agreed it was one of the best snow years in memory.

What a difference a year can make:

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...the Best Snow in the east, that is. According to a little rag known as Ski Magazine, New Hampshire's Mount Sunapee ranked #1 in grooming in the east and #2 in snow quality in the east for 2008. At least according to what I read on the huge signs posted on every other lift tower at Sunapee.

What's more, for the third year in a row the same 65-trail resort boasts the Best Overall Snow Surfaces in the East in 2008's annual SKI Magazine Reader Survey. That's a pretty good resume.

Perhaps best of all, my friend "Hambone" recently joined the snow-making team at Sunapee. And he comes from upstate New York which

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