by The Editors on June 27, 2011
Mt. Hutt Skifield was the first resort in New Zealand to open this weekend (June 26, 2011) with what is their latest opening in “at least a decade” according to a story in the Ashbutron Gardian.
It is only a partial opening with only the Magic Carpet and the Quad chair, accessing half of the main Broadway trail to open, meaning plenty of skiing or snowboarding for beginners and intermediate riders. . . “There isn’t any off-trail snow yet but we have to play with what we’ve got.
“Having the mountain open has a huge flow-on effect for this area and people around here need something to perk them up.
Resorts in North America are still open and New Zealand doesn’t have any snow. Weird weather cycles, indeed.
[Link: Ashbutron Gardian]
by The Editors on May 17, 2011
When Mammoth Mountain says they’re open until July 4, 2011, they’re not just fooling around. On Sunday, May 15, 2011 they had 11 inches of fresh snow for full Main Lodge powder shredding. Today they’ve already gotten four more inches of new snow, the high temp is going to be 25 degrees, and it is supposed to snow tomorrow and possible Thursday as well. Damn, that’s winter in May.
Follow the jump for a couple more reasons why it might not be a bad idea to get your snowboards back out and charge the 395. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 15, 2011
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined Wolf Creek Ski Area $12,000 in the November 22, 2010 death of Scott Kay, the resort’s head of ski patrol, according to a story in the Alamosa News.
The administration fined the area $7,000 for the lack of specific training and protocols for avalanche-control work as well as a violation of state law that required Kay to work with another employee when using explosives to mitigate avalanches. Another citation levied a $5,000 fine because Kay was not wearing a helmet when he was swept away and buried while conducting lone in-bounds avalanche mitigation Nov. 22 before the area opened.
As the head of ski patrol, shouldn’t Kay have known? Hopefully, the death (and the fines) will serve as a reminder to patrollers everywhere.
[Link: Alamosa News]
by The Editors on April 6, 2011
We’ve always loved spring at Mammoth. After the Easter break is over most of Southern California packs away their snowboards and turns to other pursuits leaving an entire mountain of corn and slush empty for the taking. And this year it’s going to be even better as the resort has already committed to remaining open until July 4, 2011.
May in Mammoth is looking pretty, pretty, good. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on March 31, 2011
Winter is over. Done. Goodbye. We’ve gone from crushing, dumping storms, to 80 degrees inside of a week. Here’s more proof. Southern California’s Mountain High Resort is having a their annual Miss Mountain High Pageant (click for photos from last year) at 1 PM on Saturday, April 2, 2011 as part of the Spring-a-Ma-Jig.
The Miss Mountain High Pageant is free to enter and all participants receive a FREE bikini from Fresh Peaches. Winner takes home a 2011/12 Season Pass, an Ellis snowboard, 2 tickets to the “Big 4” concert, and is named next year’s Miss Mountain High.
Done the way only the 909 can. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on March 30, 2011
The season ending Billabong Flaunt It women”s Slopestyle and Rail Jam is going down April 9, 2011 at Sierra-at-Tahoe. It is the seventh and final stop on the 2011 Flaunt it tour. And yes, with 700 inches of snow so far this season, we’re guessing the conditions are going to be just right.
With a cash purse of $10,000 plus additional product and prizes up for grabs, including Contour HD GPS Video cameras, Sony PIIQ headphones, and Dakine, VZ, and Billabong product, girls are encouraged to register early to secure their spot. Additionally, Flaunt It 2011 has bumped up to a 4Star event on the prestigious Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour, as riders collect valuable TTR Ranking Points at all Flaunt It contests.
One question: will the girls be wearing bikinis during this competition? There are 40 spots available first come first flaunted so NorCal shred girls need to get on it. Follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on March 29, 2011
Snowboarder Kathleen Willhide-Michiulis, 43, of Santa Clarita, California lost one leg and badly injured her other after a collision with a Mammoth Mountain snowcat saw her get tangled in the cat’s spinning tiller on Friday afternoon March 25, 2011, according to a story on Mammoth Times.
Kathleen Willhide-Michiulis collided with the snowcat and became entangled in the back track and the tiller – a spinning part of the cat that is designed to break up ice. The tines spin at about 1,200 rpms. . . She also suffered facial lacerations and other major injuries, including a broken femur and tibia on her other leg.
An unnamed ski-area employee is quoted as saying, “Her leg was gone.” Willhide-Michiulis was reportedly on her last run on Mambo when the collision occurred. After a visit to Mammoth Hospital she was reportedly airlifted to a Reno hospital where she remained on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, according to the LA Times.
[Link: Mammoth Times via LA Times]
by The Editors on March 20, 2011
This weekend baby Mammoth Mountain won’t be bullet proof, but La Roux will be for the Seventh Annual Roxy Chicken Jam March 24-27, 2011.
The event kicks off with halfpipe and slopestyle qualifiers on Thursday, semis’ on Friday, and the finals on Saturday followed by a free concert from La Roux. For more information on all the all-girl action at Mammoth Mountain next weekend click here or there.
[Link: Roxy]
by The Editors on March 17, 2011
We always thought it would be cool to have rollercoasters take us up the mountain during the winter. Apparently, Snowbird Resort wants to have a rollercoaster for people to ride down the mountain in the summer. As usual it appears we get everything backwards. Environmentalists currently oppose the plan.
by The Editors on March 14, 2011
Travis Lee Huffman, 22, an employee of the Aspen Skiing Company, was ticketed by the Aspen Police department for reckless snowboarding Saturday, March 12, 2011 after he slammed into a 7-year-old boy, according to a story on The Aspen Daily News.
The victim’s family happened to be videotaping at the time of the incident and captured the whole thing, Snowmass police officer Franz Zedlacher said. . . Huffman, who was in uniform, allegedly caught air off a blind roller and landed right behind the child before immediately colliding with him, Zedlacher said. . . “It was very blatant,” said Zedlacher, who added that Snowmass police watched the video. Huffman “clearly failed” to ride in a responsible manner, he said.
Huffman faces up to a $1,000 fine for his “Colorado Ski Safety Act” violation. Which reminds us: thinking a few yards ahead while riding really can help.
[Link: Aspen Daily News]
Mt. Hutt Skifield was the first resort in New Zealand to open this weekend (June 26, 2011) with what is their latest opening in “at least a decade” according to a story in the Ashbutron Gardian.
