Westbound Boarder

2010 has come and (almost) gone (Happy New Year’s Eve!) and looking back on the ups and downs, there is one Shredolution that Danielle and I set out to accomplish last year and far surpassed – visit at least 2 new snowboard resorts in 2010.  In 2010 alone, we visited more than 25 resorts between the two of us, so we sat down to rank our favorites.  It was a rather difficult thing to do, considering we liked each and every resort for very different reasons, but after debating for a few hours, we finally narrowed down our favorites in order of ranking.  Our list is below!

1. Vail: The best thing about Vail is that it literally has everything. How is that possible? This resort is MASSIVE (well over 5,000 ski-able acres!!!). They have a great ski/snowboard school, tons of groomers, over 30 lifts granting access to bowls, chutes, back-country, tree runs and more. They even have multiple terrain parks for each and every skill level with almost too many features to hit. It is all of this versatility that makes Vail our number one resort to visit, as there is something for everyone!  Insider Tip: One thing is also for sure, if you can handle the double blacks, head directly back to Blue Sky Basin. Be sure to give yourself time to get back there as it is quite the treck, but is is soooooo worth it. (Learn More)
2. Mammoth: It is big, versatile and has something for everyone. (Learn more)
3. Heavenly: If your idea of a fun day riding is shredding groomers until you can’t shred no more or hanging at the local dive bar after a long day of riding, then Heavenly is most certainly not the resort for you.  If you have always longed for Vegas to build a mountain-themed casino, on the other hand, then Heavenly may be just your style.  Heavenly is a super fun resort, but only if you take the time to travel off the beaten path.  While the groomers and parks are nothing to brag about, Heavenly has some of the best tree runs around; a perfect place to ride if you love shredding neverending pow and exploring interesting places.  But let’s not forget the nightlife – unlike most mountain resorts, Heavenly is one of the few that sits right on a landmine of Vegas-style Casinos.  It’s the perfect resort to take a trip to if not everyone in your group has their sights set on riding.
4. Cerro Cathedral: After a long, snowy winter riding, what more could you ask for?  More snowboarding, of course!  Cerro Cathedral, located in Bariloche, Argentina, is the place to go if you want to experience both killer riding and the fun, local Argentinian culture.  Their backcountry terrain is unreal, and there is so much to explore beyond groomed runs.  And the best part?  Their season runs during our summer, so you can literally snowboard all year round if you are so inclined.
5. Breckenridge: If there’s one word we could pick to describe Breckenridge, it would be, well, awesome?  Breck has some of the best terrain parks, and even some great terrain (if you can manage to move yourself outside their parks).  One of the coolest things about Breck, though, is that everyone on the “who’s who of snowboarding” list rides here, has ridden here, or plans to ride here later this season.  You can literally sit at the top of the park for hours and just watch people ride through – it seems as if everyone who rides at Breck is pro! (Or maybe just everyone who is pro rides at Breck?)  Combined with a laid-back atmosphere, high profile events and fun nightlife, Breck offers the complete package. (Learn more)
6. Snowbird: A Steep, deep, powder hounds heaven. Snowbird is not a place for the beginner, as there is not really any easy way down the hill. My favorite part of this resort? They don’t waste away Utah’s, ‘best snow on earth,’ with the dreaded groomers. Snowbird has everlasting powder and a one-of-a-kind tunnel that takes you through the mountain on a conveyor belt to the backside of the mountain, a must see when you visit Snowbird. Insider Tip: the Snowbird Tram increases the price of your lift ticket, but does not give you access to additional terrain (assuming the other lifts taking you to the top are open). Not too exciting so save your extra cash and just buy the day pass sans Tram access.
7. Alyeska: Located in Alaska only 30 minutes from Anchorage, this resort is mellow, full of light fluffy powder and has literally the hands down best view from the top of a resort. A real package deal, and with lift tickets only running $60 bucks, it is budget friendly, too.
8. Mt. High: It may be small, and the snow may slightly resemble a small, flowing creek anytime past noon, but this resort’s got character.  Located only 45 minutes to an hour outside of LA, Mt. High is LA’s hidden gem.  It’s often overshadowed by Big Bear, but IMHO, this resort knocks Bear out of the park – it’s closer, it’s mostly straight highway driving (unlike the windy road to Bear that can take 2 hours or more to get down), and its terrain parks are just as good, if not better.  And the best part?  If you so desire, you could ride hard in the morning and still be on the beaches by 1.  Now that’s the life! (Learn more)
9. Timberline: Located at our home base Mt. Hood, Timberline will always hold a special place in our hearts. Compared to it’s direct competitor, Mt. Hood meadows, Timberline boasts INCREDIBLE terrain parks, virtually no lift lines and it is open all year (yes, even all summer). A must visit on your trip to Hood, especially on the weekends when Mt. Hood Meadows has the long lift line fever.
10. Solitude: This is one of the most underrated resorts we have been too. As Utah is packed full of top rated resorts (over 11 within an hour of the SLC airport), Solitude does not have the street cred. it deserves. With versatile terrain including tree runs, amazing steeps, powder stashes and natural cliff drops, Solitude really has something for all riders (yes, they even have the groomers). On top of the excellent terrain, Solitude has a laid back vibe and nearly no lift lines.

For more “Best of 2010″ posts, check out The Top 10 Easy Tricks to Learn Before 2010 Ends and Top 10 Safety Tips to Remember.

Are you kicking yourself in the bootie for not going up to the mountain enough this season?  No worries, there’s still time!  Mountains across America are extending their seasons thanks to late spring snow storms, and here in SoCal (don’t let the 70 degree days we’ve been having fool you) the resorts are still going strong.  Mountain High, for example, plans to stay open until May 2, making this their longest season in history, with a total of 186 days of riding.  The best part?  Starting Monday, lift tickets will be reduced to $35 for adults (regularly $55) and $25 for kids ages 7 – 12.

If you still plan to head up, though, I caution you to go early.  The spring sunshine definitely takes its toll on the hill, with small lakes starting to form in the lift lines by 11.  I’d recommend heading up bright and early (8ish – mountain opens at 8 on weekends and 9 on weekdays), hooking yourself up with a nice 4 hour lift pass, and getting the heck out by noon.  Next stop, an afternoon at the beach surfing, perhaps?

Some Friday news tid bits for you today; enjoy!

Links to Surf

• Surf + Travel + Documentary + Timmy Curran = Awesome! Timmy Curran’s newest venture “The Union Express,” a documentary that follows him along the California coast as he checks out the major surf spots, is set to be released on iTunes April 14.  Check out the trailer over at HUCK; I’m buying this one for sure!
• Win a 14-Day Trip To Greece: Wait a minute… say what?  This just in – Contiki Vacations, Diane’s Beachwear and FOAM Magazine are offering a chance to win a fourteen-day trip to Greece. The vacation package includes visits to Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Ios, and a shopping spree at Diane’s to find that perfect bikini for sunbathing and island-hopping in style.  Sweepstakes candidates can submit their entries here.  The contest runs through April 2010 and the winner will be announced on Foam’s website May 5, 2010. The winner will receive one Contiki Greek Island Hopping trip which includes hotel accommodations, meals, a dedicated crew to show the sights and a $200 gift certificate to Diane’s Beachwear.

News Bits

• Check out Spring-A-Ma-Jig at Mt. High this Saturday: Not only is it Louie Vite ride day at High, its also the first annual 9of three) Spring-A-Ma-Jig rail jam and pond skim! (Apparently Vito’s a guest judge for the bikini contest).  Deets over at Mt. High’s Web site.
• The Dew Tour selects Las Vegas to host the final stop of the 2010 season: Action sports… Vegas… Best of both worlds! (Where can I sign up?)  Last week, the Alliance of Action Sports announced that it selected las Vegas to host the Dew Tour Championships (the fifth and final stop of the Tour), as well as the final awards ceremony.  The tour will commence October 14 – 17, 2010 at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.  Tickets for the 2010 Dew Tour will be on sale soon and will be available via Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster box offices.  Visit allisports.com for more information.  Full tour schedule:
  • Skate Open, ISF Skateboarding World Championships: June 25-26 Boston, Mass. – TD Garden
  • Nike 6.0 BMX Open: July 23-24 Chicago, Ill. – Museum Campus
  • Wendy’s Invitational: Aug. 12-15 Portland, Ore. – Rose Quarter
  • Toyota Challenge: Sept. 16-19 Salt Lake City, Utah – EnergySolutions Arena
  • Dew Tour Championships: Oct. 14-17 Las Vegas, Nev. – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

A local Mt. High rider recently sent me a video his friend created (featuring all local talent) and I loved it so much I thought I’d post and share with you all!  Very creative and different, and the featured talent is out of this world.  Enjoy!

ANTEBELLUM from Lennon Films on Vimeo.

Pics from our drive up to Mountain High on Saturday… amazing.  Valuable lesson learned – never go up to the SoCal mountains the Saturday after 4 ft. of snow arrives.  But, I suppose the estimated 9,000 people at the resort and the 4 hour drive home (yes, we moved about 1.5 miles in an hour) was well worth it.

Allright folks, get ready for some sick conditions coming to the SoCal mountains this week.  It’s finally snowing!  And with rain in LA expected to continue throughout the week, this should be the El Nino storm we all have been hoping for.  Mt. High has already seen 3 inches of fresh pow at the peak, with the base receiving a mixture of snow and rain.  The snow level is expected to drop to 5,500 feet tonight, making for tons of fresh pow tomorrow and throughout the rest of the week.  Bear, on the other hand, (while the temperature is 38F at the moment) is expecting 8 – 16 inches tomorrow.

Photo by Peter Parra

After returning from an amazing week-long vacation in Vail, CO, you’d think I’d want to spend the weekend resting (and doing laundry), right?  Well, that was the plan, but apparently it didn’t last for long. When I received a text Friday night at 8pm from my snowboard friend Matty asking if I wanted to ride Saturday, how could I say no?  My fifth day up in one week?  I’m on a roll!

I haven’t been up to Mt. High yet this season, so I bought a six time pass (pretty sweet deal, btw) and left my house at 6:15 am (ouch) to meet Matty at our little meeting spot on the way up to the mountain, right off the 15 fwy.  A few cups of coffee and one beautiful sunrise later, I knew it was going to be a great day!

Admittedly, after spending four days riding in the Colorado Rockies, the 12 inch base and slushed-out snow at Mt. High seemed a bit unappealing at first (the snow started out very grainy), but once the sun came out and softened it up a bit, it turned out to be an awesome, very fun day.  Riding High is just a lot different than riding at bigger resorts, namely because Mt. High is basically one, huge park, and there’s really not much free terrain to ride.  But I love park riding, so spending eight hours in the terrain park is fine by me.

The jumps and jibs were perfect, and the sunny, spring-like weather was even more perfect.  One really cool thing about Mt. High is that you can check out their interactive park layout before you go (which I did) and see photos/videos of all the jibs.  There was a lot of variety, and a good mix of easy to advanced features (and a lot of them!)  For example, if you start at the top of Chair 4 in the West Resort and head toward Upper Chisolm, you can ride down and hit 11 tables and several rails before you reach the bottom.  We spent most the day riding this run, followed by a nice, long break for BBQ in the parking lot.  The park crew was setting up for the Gatorade Free Flow tour slopestyle event (which takes place today) in the morning, so by the afternoon the course was open and we finished with a few runs through that park before heading home.

All in all, awesome day!  Oh, and it ended with a stop at grandma’s for dinner and laundry, so don’t worry, I did get a few good hours of laundry time in as well.

Now, I’m headed to Newport for an afternoon of skimboarding and sushi … I love living in a state where you can go snowboarding one day and to the beach the next

Busy week in snowboard land; here’s some of our fav picks from around the Web!

• Catch the Olympics on Yahoo!: Today, Yahoo! announced it will provide Olympic fans with an exclusive Web site and mobile experience for the 2010 Vancouver Games. (Check out the microsite here).  Less than one month to go!  Also, starting January 25^th, fans will be able to submit their favorite winter sports photos for a chance to win multiple prizes, ranging from digital cameras to a trip to the U.S. Freestyle Skiing Championship at Squaw Valley in March 2010.
• Haiti Disaster; How You Can Help: By now, many of you already know about the 7.0 Earthquake that devastated Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12.  Check out this blog post from Spectacular Adventures for more info. on how you can help.
• Bearics Teaser: Inside Etnies and Bear Mountain’s private snow park; sweet vid!
• Surf Expo 2010 Gallery: The 2010 Surf Expo is currently going on, and Transworl has the low down (in 140 pictures or less) here.  I’m really digging some of the new swimwear lines.
• Dew Tour Comes to Utah; Results Are In: After a successful first event at Breckenridge earlier this month, the Dew Tour, Round Two, moves to Snowbasin.  Elena Hight and Elijah Teter lead in the Pipe Prelims (surprised?)  Be sure to catch the Pipe Finals on Sat.

News Bits

• FUEL TV launched an iPhone application.  The application is available here in the iTunes store, free of charge.  The content is syndicated from the Fuel.tv website and includes nine video podcast channels, updates from the FUEL TV blogs, and Twitter integration. There’s also a community photo blog; FUEL TV show information, news updates, and schedules; and all of it can be seamlessly shared via a simple Twitter button. The app will also allow for streaming live events, and will be able to download a selection of FUEL TV shows in the near future.  Sounds pretty sick (I wish I had an iPhone!  Maybe now I have incentive to go buy one…)
• College Night returns to Mt. High.  Last year, Mt. High announced a series of three College Night Events, and apparently the series was popular, because it’s back!  And this time with six events.  If you’re in college and live in SoCal, this event sounds like a lot of fun – $20 Night passes, half-off appetizers, half-off draft beer (21+), $1 hot dogs, live DJs, and hookups from industry partners. College Night will take place from 5pm to 10pm in the Bullwheel Bar & Grill on January 14th, January 21st, February 4th, February 11th, February 25th, and March 4^th, 2010.  This season the January 21st, February 11^th, and March 4^th events will also include a rail competition complete with its own prize pool.
• Gatorade Free Flow Tour, the official amateur series of the Dew Tour, coming to a town near you.  We watched part of the pipe tour go down in Vail this past weekend, and it was pretty sick.  Now, let’s see some ladies!

That’s right – tomorrow, Mt. High will officially be the first mountain to open in Southern California.  It will be open to season pass holders only, so either get a season pass or head up the next day.

Operating hours this week and weekend: 9am to 5pm on Thursday, 8:30am to 10pm on Friday, 8am to 10pm on Saturday, and 8am to 4pm on Sunday.

Thanks El Nino for bringing us some early season snow!  Who’s up for a little “haunted” Halloween shred sesh?

Last week, Mt. High ski resort (and my local mountain) announced that it will be launching an iPhone application with a release date of November 15.  Before you read any further, I’d like to preface this post with a “disclaimer” – I don’t own an iPhone.  I’ve never even used one less a few quick app tutorials. (Yes, for me the free company blackberry is a little more enticing at the moment, but that’s not to say I’ll never make the switch).  Regardless, I am more impressed each day by the technology and capabilities that modern smart phones bring to the table.

After reading up on Mt. High’s application (without actually having the opportunity to test it, first), I think it sounds pretty cool.  Some of the features include:

• Current mountain information such as snow conditions and trail openings
• Ticket price information and the ability to purchase tickets right from your phone
• Vacation planning resources, such as information on lodging, lessons, and upcoming weather
• An optional Powder Alert, where you can sign up to receive e-mail or text message notifications on new snow, ticket deals, and upcoming events
• Access to GPS guided directions, automatic dialing features, Google maps, and more

The App is $1.99 and can be purchased via iTunes or mthigh.com.

Obviously, this application is targeted toward the younger demographic – also Mt. High’s largest group of visitors – but is designed to improve everyone’s on mountain experience.  With an increasing number of people using the iPhone and associated applications these days, launching this app was a very smart move on Mt. High’s part, and I hope to see more resorts follow suit down the road (not for my crackberry-obsessed sake, but for everyone else out there).

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