Posts
127
Joined
12/11/2014
Location
Wake Forest, NC
US
Edited Date/Time
5/7/2020 3:01am
This season has been worse than usual so far in the southeast, started off okay but has been quite dismal the last few weeks. It looks like it might finally turn to winter at the end of the week, maybe the second half will be better. I had two decent small trips to Snowshoe WV so far, looking to maybe squeeze in one more there. I am heading to Utah in a few weeks and then Colorado mid March with my daughter, very excited!!
The Shop
I've had varying experience in Colorado. Of the three places listed, I probably like skiing Keystone more so than the other two. Breckenridge is like Disney for skiing, I love the vibe of the town, but the slopes can be a clusterf*ck, even though they have a ton of acreage.
Winter Park was okay, but we went during the spring toward the end of the season and it was in the 60's. And we got zero snow while we were there. It snowed 8" the night we left. Such is spring ski season.
Keystone was cool because it's a little more ski-centric, and we had good weather when we were there, so that means a lot. Not much to do in the immediate area for non-skiers, though.
I'm not going to be able to take my annual ski trip this year and it's killing me. Have fun, I'm jealous!
Just back from day 10, here at mt baker.. weve i had a spectacular couple of weeks,
Yes, Vail is about $220 a day at the window, insane!! I have an "Ikon Pass" which was $619 when I purchased it last March for this season. It gives me unlimited Snowshoe WV, which I can get to most often, as well as about 10 other unlimited places in the country (Solitude, Mammoth, Squaw, Copper, etc.). I also get 5 days at about 20 other places (Alta/Snowbird, Deer Valley, Aspen, etc.). Vail does have their Epic pass which is similar for their mountains, I can't imagine who pays those window prices.
The last time I went to mammoth, about 15 years ago, I'm sure it was less than half that price. Love that place though.
I worked the lifts there while in college 2002-2003 what a great job for a college kid that was. Epic times. Plenty of snow bunnies. Nothing but good memories from that time in my life.
Can’t wait to hit some big North American resorts hopefully this year.
If you want to ski/board and aren't worried about finding something for non-skiers to do, I recommend it.
Not crowded, big stuff, it's cool.
Pit Row
The ski area right above town, Mission Ridge, has invested heavily in snow making infrastructure and it's really paid off the last few years. Some people turn their noses up at man made snow but it certainly helps lay down a great base layer and has allowed Mission to open several weeks earlier than it normally would have been able to the last few seasons. I think that our man made snow is also a little "drier" than it would be if you were making it just a little bit west of us, too.
We've received over 10 inches of snow down here in our valley over the last week or so, and it again looks like we might have a very late winter again.
Tremblant is more of a touristy area. If you go there you're fairly close to other ski resorts. Mont-Blanc is only about a 10-15 minute drive away. Mont-Saint-Sauveur is about 40 minutes from Mont-Blanc.
From what I hear Le Massif is the best skiing East of the Rockies. Located about an hour from Quebec City.
https://www.lemassif.com/en/
Mont-Saint-Anne is also a great place. That one is located 40 minutes away from Quebec City.
https://mont-sainte-anne.com/en/
Le Massif and Mont-Saint-Anne are located about a half hour drive apart.
There's also Stoneham Mountain Resort that's also located about 30 minutes away from Quebec City.
https://ski-stoneham.com/en/
Le Massif to Stoneham about 1h30min.
Mont-Saint-Anne to Stoneham 1h15min.
Edit: If you're into night skiing you might want to consider Ski Bromont. They have just over 100 runs lit up.
https://www.skibromont.com/en
Also on a side note, wtf is jumping and grinding a snowboard so freaking different then a skateboard or anything else?! Yesterday further confirmed for me how bad I suck at this, I can't even get half way down a rail that I wouldn't even think twice about on a skateboard, and bigger jumps still throw me every which way but straight It's frustrating as hell, I feel like I'm making progress but damn I just can't seem to get the hang of it like I want to.
I knew a girl who lived in Cedar city, worked ski patrol all winter and MTB lifty in the summer and she had a nice place and decent car. Low stress life and a mountain bum but not a bad life either.
I say go for it. You could ride your ass off all winter and downhill all summer for a year or two. Bet you meet some cool people along the way.
Found a good deal and cashed in some points for a K2 Standard and bindings for $110 out of pocket. Used boots for $70 and we're good lol. Hopefully now I don't have to rent will get out a bit more often.
If you want to move to a mountain town, your best bet is to get a job in a bar or a kitchen. You will make a lot more money and you will be able to ride most days. The goal is to work evenings so that you have all day to ride and make money while most of the tourists are spending it (avoid night shifts as a cleaner if possible because you will be too tired to ride). I started as a cook and then a bartender.
I moved to Banff when I was 19 and stayed for 10 years. My buddies and I rode 5-6 days a week and lived like kings while all of the lifties watched us get freshies. I ultimately ended up working in the snowboard business for a decade as well due to the connections I made there.
On a side note: most resort mountain towns are awesome for skiing/snowboarding/mountain biking but shitty for moto.
Post a reply to: Any skiers or boarders here?