Mt Baker (my local hill) just got about 15" of snow...they're considering opening next week, pending more snow this weekend.


I bought an '07 pair of Nordica Hot Rod Eliminators with Marker bindings at the beginning of the fall...gotta get those bindings on and adjusted, and i'll be ready to try out my new sticks.

11/14/2007 3:14:41 AM

I'm heading to Snowshoe the first weekend in December. I think I might rent skis and give that a try. Haven't been on them in about 13 years though since I started snowboarding so it'll be interesting.

11/14/2007 1:58:33 PM

probably gonna try and get out to Wintergreen some random weekend in January for some snowboarding action. At only 3 hours away its an easy one-day trip.

I would like to hit up snowshoe (haven't been in years), but in order to do so i'd probably have to make lodging plans.

11/14/2007 2:01:45 PM

My wife got a residency interview in SLC, so it looks like i'll be able to get at least one day of real skiing in!

11/14/2007 2:02:37 PM

you could single handedly start a social movement out there and upend the mormon stranglehold by being the first drunken skiing indian to reside in utah

11/14/2007 2:04:09 PM

My first act as Grand Vizier of Utah would be to ban pasties at the "strip clubs"

i'm still bitter about that.

11/14/2007 2:06:40 PM

funniest thing I've read all day

11/14/2007 2:07:31 PM

Haha don't know if any of you stay in NC with your trips but Sugar and Beech are open....

I know they aren't that great but are the WV ones really that much better?

11/14/2007 2:28:32 PM

snowshoe is the best skiing you can do within 4-5 hours of raleigh

we've had this argument before, with terrible results

11/14/2007 2:32:51 PM

^ indeed.

Anything in NC is just downhill ice skating if it's cold, or slushy mudsliding if it's warm. Snowshoe is like that a lot, too, but when it gets real snow, it's like a mini version of something out west, but you have to shift everything at snowshoe one difficulty level down. The blues are greens, the blacks are blues, and the double black might be considered a black if you're really liberal about it.

11/14/2007 2:36:23 PM

i can't believe sugar is already open. looks terrible http://www.skisugar.com/sugarlive/

it says only 2 runs are open.

we went to snowshoe last year for college week in jan and the conditions were pretty awful. a lot of the mtn was closed...runs didn't even have any snow one them and the ones that did were just muddy slush. we went the year before in december and it actually snowed a good deal when we were there. snowshoe can be fun. early/late season out west (or canada) = the best. i went to whistler a few years ago in late april. prices are way cheaper and it still snowed while i was there.

11/14/2007 3:11:32 PM

the point we're all circling around is,

if you can afford to, never ski in the east

always go out west

otherwise

like a drunk at last call

take whatever's close by

11/14/2007 3:14:05 PM

we've got at least 1 trip to mammoth planned for jan 31-feb 3. might do a second trip if the snow is good (better than last year's crap at least). we'll probably do a couple day trips up to big bear mountain as well.

i'm looking into buying skis... nothing super nice, probably just buy last years stuff new and get away under $400. i'm looking at some fischer skis/bindings and nordica boots.

11/14/2007 3:38:18 PM

Well, I'm going to Tahoe (Heavenly) next weekend, but I'm not sure there is going to be any snow... I might have to settle for drinking my face off, gambling and sleeping in... instead of drinking my face off, gambling and getting up early to ski all day.

Quote :

"Ugh, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but due to unseasonably warm weather and lack of natural snow we will not be able to open this Friday, November 16, as planned. We will open when we feel we have the quality snow surface conditions you all expect from Heavenly. We hope to be open for Thanksgiving weekend; weather permitting. Continue to check this website for updates. We have been able to make some snow this past week; however, not enough to give us the depth we need to sustain quality conditions. The good news is that our snowmaking system is ready on a moments notice and our dedicated crews are standing by to take advantage of any cold temps on the mountian. We are only a few good nights of snowmaking away from opening the upper Nevada side. This weekend’s forecast is calling for cooler temps with the chance of snow Friday and Saturday and more significantly on Sunday. Put on your boots and dance the snow dance!! "

[Edited on November 14, 2007 at 5:04 PM. Reason : x]

11/14/2007 5:02:49 PM

is there anywhere near Raleigh (4-6 hours) that might be open before Thanksgiving?

11/14/2007 5:03:50 PM

^ 2 people in this thread have mentioned that Sugar is open, and one of them also claimed that Beech is open. Haven't checked for myself, because I don't care, but that's the word.

^^^ buy boots before you buy skis if you can't afford to get everything.

Quote :

"I know they aren't that great but are the WV ones really that much better? "

Yes. Snowshoe--while pretty lame compared to most stuff out West, is hands down better than ANYTHING in NC.

Quote :

"we've had this argument before, with terrible results"

I don't see how. There's no argument.

11/15/2007 2:46:04 AM

^ I will note that Winterplace in WV is not anything worth writing home about, although it's pretty close.

Timberline is good for East coast stuff, Snowshoe would be the ideal one.

11/15/2007 8:37:22 AM

I might be headed out from Raleigh to go snowboarding somewhere tomorrow morning coming back tomorrow night. (Head out early Friday morning (11/16/07) coming back after the place closes)

If anyone wants to come along I have extra space and wouldn't mind splitting gas.

11/15/2007 1:12:13 PM

just slapped a credit card down on a flight to Colorado to ski the vail/brek/keystone/copper mtn/beaver creek area in Feb

11/16/2007 12:04:27 PM

Quote :

"Haha don't know if any of you stay in NC with your trips but Sugar and Beech are open.... I know they aren't that great but are the WV ones really that much better?"

In a word, YES.

I might be lucky enough to get 1-2 trips to Vermont in before moving out of the area this winter. I've been planning a trip out west with some friends but unfortunately might have to bail out of that due to some transition going on in my life.

I heard that Snowshoe has 3 new slopes, one being a glade in the woods just past Widowmaker. Could be interesting

11/16/2007 1:35:54 PM

Quote :

"I don't see how. There's no argument."

I know. But this is t-dub come on now

someone will take the opposing side.

11/16/2007 1:50:56 PM

I get a little tired of the pretentiousness associated with snowboarding and east versus west.

Obviously, the Rockies are better than the Appalachians, no one will argue against that; but come on we're in college, and don't have several hundred to drop on a trip. Especially not more than once a year. Besides, most of the people talking shit aren't even good enough to run everything on the local slopes. Get off your high horses.

I'd say we're pretty lucky to have as many within 4 hours as we have. Being able to spend gas and a $40 lift ticket for a day of boarding is great. I don't care what the snow is like, being on the mountain is stellar no matter what the conditions. Same as NC beaches. No it's not Mavericks, but it's also not 3k miles away.

If you really love the sport and aren't just boarding because it's a fad you'll take whatever you can get as often as you can.

11/16/2007 3:05:07 PM

uhh most of us that are in this thread are not in college anymore and can swing a $200 plane ticket out west

enjoy your ice!

11/16/2007 3:07:03 PM

Then I pity you for still being on TWW.

No offense.

11/16/2007 3:12:01 PM

None taken.

I'm sure most kids in college would love my pay and free time at work to use dicking around on TWW just 2 years out of school...

11/16/2007 3:14:52 PM

That's probably true.

11/16/2007 3:16:23 PM

enjoy your ice!

11/16/2007 3:16:25 PM

if you can ski everything on the east coast, the west coast is just bigger, and better/easier

ice sucks...

and on that note i had a weird ass dream involving skiing... and parking lots...

11/16/2007 3:18:13 PM

The only reason I ever skiied in the NC mtns was b/c I had friends to party with in Boone. As soon as they were gone there was no fucking way I'd waste my time or money skiing there. Its a fucking joke and that goes for VA as well. And I felt the same way in college as well.

11/17/2007 1:48:43 AM

^ same. skiing/snowboarding in NC is fun because you can party hard while doing it. still have friends in boone and still plan to go party and ski this year

11/17/2007 2:40:01 AM

Quote :

"being on the mountain is stellar no matter what the conditions"

I love being on the mountain as much as anyone, but I've spent some very MISERABLE days on the slopes in the past. In general, I agree with you about the pretentiousness and that a skier/boarder should be happy with whatever they can get whenever they can get it. But as has already been said, if its a choice between Sugar/Beech and a few extra hours drive, why not make a long weekend out of it? That said, I can't tell you how many day trips I made up to the boone area when I was still living in Raleigh.

As far as this ski season goes, It looks like this winter is shaping up to be cold and snowy over here in Europe. I plan on going up to Åre in northern Sweden at least once, they held the FIS world championships there last year. I'd also like to get down to continental Europe for at least one trip. France/Austria would be great but I may end up going back to Poland/Slovakia. I'll probably get a day or two in over christmas in Bosnia. All of this except for Bosnia is contingent on me getting my Master's Thesis finished in time to defend in january.

11/17/2007 7:02:41 AM

I am going to Bigsky in december should be wild! Last year got there with 17 inchs of fresh powder. Was great. I am running the new Lib tech jamie lynn this year should be tight!

11/17/2007 5:47:53 PM

got my skis waxed and my bindings mounted and adjusted yesterday

now we just need a little more snow.


Mt Baker has about a 15" base...the snow keeps failing to materialize...i've expected them to open for the last 2 weeks.

It doesn't look like anywhere else in WA is really close to opening, except for this place called Mission Ridge...they have snowmaking gear, and have managed to blow enough snow to open 2 bunny slopes.

I kinda halfheartedly tried to convince one of my roommates to make a day trip to Whistler with me today, but we decided that we didn't want to do 7 hours of driving in one day, and that it would be much more cost and time effective to wait and split gas with a few more friends, and buy 2 day lift passes.

I think Baker is supposed to get about another foot in a couple of days...maybe I can finally hit the mountain this coming weekend.

11/25/2007 4:12:41 PM

Duke- take me! (jk) I've never been skiing, but I've always wanted to try.

I'll go someday....

11/25/2007 6:06:21 PM

let's go! get yourself a ticket to Seattle.


oh, I forgot to mention...Mt Baker (the nearest place to me...about an hour away. you can see it from my house) averages 50-55 FEET of snow per year. They set a world record a few years ago with almost double that amount.

[Edited on November 25, 2007 at 6:49 PM. Reason : asdf]

11/25/2007 6:47:54 PM

Quote :

"the point we're all circling around is, if you can afford to, never ski in the east always go out west otherwise like a drunk at last call take whatever's close by"

nice wisdom... does anyone know if the FSMVP is just a marketing scheme or actually a credible source?

11/25/2007 7:36:50 PM

what's FSMVP?

11/25/2007 7:43:30 PM

http://www.futuresnowboarding.com/

11/25/2007 8:14:27 PM

found an early season deal for Whistler...2 days skiing, 2 nights lodging for $99/person (assuming 2 people in a studio, although we really only need 1 night).

might hit that up next weekend.

11/26/2007 1:10:29 AM

Planning on going to Snowshoe in Mid Dec

hopefully it will be decent by then

if anyone goes before then please post conditions

11/26/2007 1:20:19 AM

The snow is coming down hard today and has been for the past few days here where I live. Im thinking about taking a day trip a few hours north to one of the smaller ski mtns next week after I send my thesis draft away. I need a few hours outdoors to decompress from all this time in the library.

11/26/2007 9:19:51 AM

I've never been skiing out west, but I'm warming to the idea of hitting up Jackson Hole or Big Sky and driving to Yellowstone / Tetons while I'm there for next year.

Anyone been to either? Which is preferred? Both good?

11/27/2007 11:10:35 AM

if you fly to denver and drive west an hour or two, you really cant miss

jackson hole, steamboat springs, breck/keystone, copper, arapahoe, beaver creek, vail, etc

they're all great

11/27/2007 11:14:16 AM

A-basin is in an entirely different league.

cdubya and I learned this the hard way.

BobbyDigital was humbled.

11/27/2007 2:01:38 PM

yeah it's definitely one of the steeper slopes ive ever gone down...you point those tips downhill and go OHFUCK

11/27/2007 2:12:54 PM

Yeah that's pretty much how it went down. I feel absolutely comfortable on any double black at every mountain i've skied, and about 100 yards down the one slope we hit near the end of the day, I had the OHFUCK moment.

11/27/2007 2:41:07 PM

been to sugar twice this season already...if you go after a couple of days of snowblowing and get out there right at opening you might be surprised to find some halfway decent snow. landed my first bs 3 off a sketchy built up spine first trip of the year. i was pretty stoked. ive got a free place to stay at park city over spring break if i can round up the money for a flight and lift tickets. anbody been out there? is it worth it? im also pretty interested to see what the new runs at snowshoe have to offer. anybody been up there yet? hopefully app gets some cold weather so they can get their park in order really soon. heres to hopin for some cold weather because i fall in the poor college category and only have a slim chance at making a trip out west.


I'd say we're pretty lucky to have as many within 4 hours as we have. Being able to spend gas and a $40 lift ticket for a day of boarding is great. I don't care what the snow is like, being on the mountain is stellar no matter what the conditions. Same as NC beaches. No it's not Mavericks, but it's also not 3k miles away.

If you really love the sport and aren't just boarding because it's a fad you'll take whatever you can get as often as you can.


^well said. respek

11/27/2007 5:19:45 PM

Park City is definitely worth the trip. Park City the area, maybe not Park City Resort... Check out Snowbasin as well as the Canyons, both are great for snowboarding. You should also consider taking a day to travel to Sandy, UT and check out Brighton or Snowbird. But in short, yes definitely worth the trip.

11/27/2007 5:51:24 PM

How is Mount Baker? So far I've been to the Summit at Snoqualmie and Crystal Mountain. I live in Seattle, so Baker is kinda far.

11/27/2007 8:36:17 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/getaways/11/26/ski.season.ap/index.html

Quote :

" Colorado ski season off to slow start DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Balmy and dry fall weather could put the Colorado ski industry's two-year string of record snowrider numbers in danger, and most of the West isn't in any better shape. art.skiing.ap.jpg Snowboarders get ready to hit the slopes at the Vail Mountain Ski Resort on Wednesday, November 21. Last year, despite getting less snow than the season before, Colorado numbers were still up 6.7 percent in the first half of the season. But this year it is even warmer and some major resorts weren't open for Thanksgiving, usually the first big revenue producer of the season. Telluride and Steamboat still aren't open. Hundreds of millions of dollars spent on snowmaking has made it possible for some resorts to open, but if they use the water now they might not have it if they need it later in the year. Veteran skiers will bring out their rock skis. During Thanksgiving week, after four straight weeks of temperatures in the 50s and 60s, Telluride got 11 inches, the Telluride Daily Planet reported. "This is a great kickoff to the season. With Mother Nature helping out and the extensive mountain improvements, we're looking forward to a great year," said Telluride CEO Dave Riley. However, the resort will not open until November 30. Also unlike last year, some of the state's biggest competitors have plenty of snow. Whistler-Blackcomb, which contends with Vail frequently for the No. 1 rank of ski magazines, has 37 inches. Vail has 18. Stowe, in Vermont, has 49 inches on its upper mountain. "... for the best and earliest snowfall of the season, head north to Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia," says Outside Online. "We've had lots of early snowfall, 110 centimeters (44 inches). It has been great up here. Sunny but cold so the snow stayed and it is light and fluffy," said Ryan Proctor, public relations coordinator Whistler-Blackcomb. Thirteen lifts are open. Two exceptions in the Rockies were Big Sky in Montana and Grand Targhee near Jackson, Wyoming. "We got pasted with a perfect storm early in Thanksgiving week, followed by days of ideal snowmaking temperatures for the lower mountain," said sales and marketing director, Meg O'Leary. "Black diamond powder skiing in November, what else can go right." Big Sky opened November 23 with the second-most skiable acreage in the Rockies with 854 acres of advanced, expert, intermediate and beginner terrain. Only Grand Targhee down the road to the south has more terrain open in the Rocky Mountain range from New Mexico to Montana, said O'Leary. Eldora, one of Colorado's smaller resorts, has the deepest base in the state, 24 inches. Wolf Creek, which often has the most snow in the state, has 10 inches, and most of that came Thanksgiving week. Fortunately, Utah and California resorts also have little snow. Joan Christensen, industry expert, said some people have already made reservations and will come anyway. "Next year they will punish the industry," she said. Resorts initially had some trouble making snow until temperatures cooled down to the mid-20s for extended periods. Ski resorts in Colorado have banded together to try to fight climate change. Meanwhile, resorts in several other areas of North America, hurt by a lack of early snow last year, are doing much better this year. The long-range forecast for much of the Rockies is for dry weather, possibly leading to drought in some areas next year. The Pacific Northwest, home to Whistler, is expected to be wetter than normal. The dry weather puts extra pressure on Colorado's resorts because they have sold hundreds of thousands of ski passes. That can bring high numbers of visitors that quickly overwhelm the terrain and lifts that are open."

11/27/2007 9:30:51 PM