Things are looking green here in the Green Mountain State… except for those giant piles of snow Mount Snow, Stratton* and Stowe have been hoarding. But all for a good cause – summer-time rail jams.

Yes, in Vermont Memorial Day means boxes and rails as much as hot dogs and hamburgers. Both mountains have been pulling this off for the last several years, and luckily for us, they’ve spread them out to make for a veritable winter jibber-land.

Mount Snow’s annual Peace Pipe Jam stands out for it’s totally relaxed-itude. Riders can hike the rail garden for free, with no judging and no pressure, while the lazier folk chill on the Carinthia deck with BBQ and tunes.
Details:
Saturday, May 25, 10 – 4 pm
Mount Snow’s Carinthia Base (Inferno)
Free.

Stowe’s Last Trick Rail Jam is holding down the fort for northern Vermont riders. It’s the final jam in their Rail Unveil series, and they’re still pulling out custom features for the Lower North Slope park. Another freebie with a mellow jam format and music, plus prizes and swag.
Details:
Saturday, May 25, 1 – 3 pm
Register at the Mtn. Operations Building from noon – 1 pm
Free.

*UPDATE: Stratton’s Mountain Mayhem Jam is cancelled due to seasonable melting of snow.

Want to get psyched up? Here’s a recap from the 2011 Peace Pipe Jam by Scott Marciniec.

Note: Post was updated to include Stowe’s event, 1 pm on May 17.

You know when you leave a friend’s place, forget something and go back in after 32 seconds and they say “Back already? Short trip.”

We’re tempted to say the same thing after seeing snowflakes flurrying around Vermont this morning (but won’t because we don’t deal in clichés). But it was a friendly reminder that many resorts are starting to hit season pass deadlines – and getting a pass in the spring means lower prices and swankier perks. Plus, you’re ready to go on Opening Day.

Early discounts end first at Burke Mountain and Jay Peak — newly-conjoined twins attached at the Judge Pass — but make sure to snatch it up before May 13 for the lowest price.

Bromley Mountain is next up on May 15, and they’ll throw in a pass to the Mountain Adventure Park if you buy before then.

Other Vermont resorts give you a little more time to pony up:
Smuggler’s Notch – May 27
Mount Snow – June 3
Killington Resort – June 13
Magic Mountain – Oct 14
Okemo Mountain – their first deadline has passed, but you’ll get another shot until Oct 14
Stratton Mountain – no deadline listed
Sugarbush – TBD

Haven’t gone over the dirty-thirty hill yet? Congrats on that, but don’t sneer at the opportunity to invest wisely in next year’s riding. The 20-somethings season pass phenomena is still picking up steam. Grab one at Killington, Mount Snow, Okemo, Sugarbush and Stratton to cash in on your youth, while it lasts.

Age: 26
Stance: Regular 20″ (15,-15)
Hometown: Turners Falls, MA

Who or what was responsible for you picking a snowboard over skis? Is there a backstory to that?

I watched a friend crash into a tree and get her skis all wrapped up and stuck there. As soon as I got home I asked my grampa for a snowboard and never looked back.

What does your iPod playlist look like right now?

Lots of 90′s music, hip hop, r&b

Tell us about the guys on the team. What’s the team dynamic like? How often do you get to shred as a group?

Everyone’s super tight. But everyone’s also got their own stuff goin’ on so, as a whole we don’t get many laps as a group.

Have you ever made any of them cry?

Yeah I dunno about cry. Murph made me puke a few years back by taking off his snowboard socks and throwing them at me.

Emma tail pressing on the logpile at Carinthia. Photo: Nemesis Photo

What’s your opinion on the division of male and female riders? Would you rather compete against other ladies or everyone?

I love riding with the guys. It really pushes me to ride harder. But when it comes to contests I’d rather ride with girls.

Besides snowboarding, what’s the best thing about Vermont?

Hiking and wakeboarding for sure.

When you’re not riding, you’re…

Whitewater rafting. Raft moxie!

Raft moxie?

I’m a whitewater raft guide in the summer. That’s the company I’ve been with for almost ten years now. They rock and we run great trips.

Emma took home 1st place and an oversized check at the 2013 C.O.M.P. Photo: Carinthia Parks

You just took first in the PRO Women’s division at C.O.M.P. How’d that feel?

It was great to win at my home mountain with my dad and friends supporting me.

Tell us about the winning run and best trick you put down?

Not sure what the winning run was, but nose pressing the big C was pretty high up there.

Emma's giant nosepress on the big C at C.O.M.P. Photo: YoBeat

Rails or boxes?

Rails

What is your favorite pickup line? …least favorite?

Who needs pick up lines anyway? Be original!

Who’s a pro rider that inspires you?

Tara Dakides and Scott Stevens

Still from C-Sessions 3.9. Emma Graham showing the downrail who's boss. Credit: Dylan Demers

So you’re riding for DC and Flux Bindings. How’d you get hooked up with them?

I started doing contests when I was 18 and when I started doing well it put my name out there. I also work park crew and I’m on the mountain all the time and sponsors seem to like that. DC has been my favorite brand since childhood, so it is like the coolest thing to ride for them in my adult life.

Run us through your pre-competition ritual? What gets you fired up?

What gets me fired up or what DO I fire up?

What’s on the horizon for you?

Hopefully some video parts.

What are your words of wisdom for young lady riders getting into the scene?

Keep shredding, work hard, and don’t listen to anyone who tells you “you can’t”. If they do say that, work on it until you can shove it right in their face.

]]> http://ridevermont.com/ride-grrrl-carinthias-emma-graham/feed 1 http://ridevermont.com/ride-grrrl-carinthias-jaime-del-pizzo http://ridevermont.com/ride-grrrl-carinthias-jaime-del-pizzo#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:52:14 +0000 Pete http://ridevermont.com/?p=1458 Continue reading →]]> Tweet

Age: 22
Stance: Regular
Hometown: Collegeville, PA

How’d you end up on a snowboard?

My parents have been skiing for many years.  When my sister and I were 3-5, they had us taking skiing lessons every winter.  I used to see the snowboarders and I would be so fascinated and become jealous I wasn’t on a board.  I told my parents I wanted to try snowboarding and so my sister and I took a lesson.  My sister hated it, but I absolutely loved it and haven’t stopped since.

What does your iPod playlist look like right now?

I don’t have a playlist on my phone anymore, Pandora is where it is at.

What’s the Carinthia team dynamic like? How often do you get to shred as a group?

The team is a pretty heavy one, everyone on it kills it and is so fun to watch and shred with. Although I haven’t met as many of the skiers on the team, the team dynamic is awesome. Everyone is super fun and always down to shred together, which is really cool. We are also supportive of each other. I actually haven’t had the honor of shredding with everyone at once, but hopefully soon!

Have you ever made any of the guys cry?

Nah, no way.

Jaime sends it over the smoking barrel at the Waterville TransAm. Photo: Greg Furey/Transworld

What’s your take on the division of male and female riders? Would you rather compete against other ladies or everyone?

I would much rather be competing in a girls division versus everyone. Guys and girls are at different levels of snowboarding so if we are thrown against them too it can be hard to keep up. I see it as a fairer and more enjoyable competition when I am just competing against the other girl shredders.

Besides snowboarding, what’s the next best thing about Vermont?

The maple syrup, fall season and the mountains for hiking.

When you’re not riding, you’re…

I’m usually in school or at work.  Or you can find me doing other adventures…

Rails or boxes?

Rails

What is your favorite pickup line? …least favorite?

Pick up lines? Ugh.

Who’s a pro rider that inspires you?

Cheryl Maas, she shreds so hard.

Jaime's got a fondness for the log pile in Carinthia's au natural park. Photo: Nemesis

Right now you’re rocking a handful of sponsors (Lobster Snowboards, Flux Bindings, Celsius Footwear, 7/9/13 & Theory Skateshop). How’d that happen?

Emma Graham was actually a huge help in helping me get some of my sponsors.  She knows a ton of people so she hooked me up with some reps’ emails and I sent them my videos and resume and it worked out!  It’s super motivating having sponsors and knowing they support you and want you to shred hard and progress.

What gets you fired up for a competiton?

A few warm up laps with good friends gets me pumped.

If we didn’t know better, we’d say Thumbs Up Birds sounds like an episode from Portlandia. Can you explain what it (actually) is?

Thumbs Up Birds (TUB) is all about being the source of the latest news/videos/articles on both professional and up and coming levels of female riders. Our ideal purpose is to be sort of like the Transworld Snowboarding website, only focusing on girls. TUB is also all about living life to its fullest, representing a positive image for having fun on the slopes (thumbs up!) and flying after your dreams.

Awesome. How’d it start?

It actually started out as a blog based on Kelley Wren and my travels in New Zealand. One night while traveling, we decided we wanted to do something different and make a company and website where people would go to for the latest and greatest on female snowboarders. We were tired of the lack of media on girl snowboarders and having to search harder for videos and events on them as opposed to guys. With thumbsupbirds.com we wanted it to be the one stop place for female shred media.

What is the goal with TUB?

At some point, to be a company widely known for its support and feminine perspective of female snowboarding and all the events and media behind it. We want people around the world looking for their girl shred fix to automatically look to Thumbs Up Birds for it. We’re also striving to be a successful business that is able to fund and support female-specific snowboard events, videos, and photo shoots as a goal to help bring girls with a common passion together.

Look up, guys. I'm up here. Photo: Katie D.

Are you hoping to produce women’s-specific shred videos?

We’ve started producing all-girl videos in collaboration with Carinthia Parks to make the G.O.xo series (watch Episode 2, below), but we hope to produce bigger and more worldly all-girl videos in the near future. With my film production passion, Kelley and I intend to work our way up to being a part of professional all-girl series and eventually having TUB as producer/sponsor/videographer of these videos.

Any TUB events on the radar for 2013-14?

We have many events we wish to see through for next year. We’re hoping to host a women’s park clinic and/or a rail jam. However, Kelley and I, as well as other girls are constantly brewing new ideas to bring to the company so make sure you check in with us to see what we’re up too.

How can girls get involved?

Girls can get involved by sending us videos, events, photos, interviews with riders, diary of trips, etc., for us to feature on the site. Representing the company insignia with stickers or apparel also helps get the word out on TUB and our mission. We are also always down to support other female specific snowboard companies and help promote them. Otherwise, get involved by taking some laps with us and doing what we’re all about, those days on your snowboard!

In 5 years, where should we look for your name… Transworld cover? X-Games? Olympic hopefuls?

Oooooo, Transworld cover would be so neat!

What are your words of wisdom for young lady riders getting into the scene?

Just have fun and shred hard.  Try something new everyday and challenge yourself to better every aspect of your riding.

]]> http://ridevermont.com/ride-grrrl-carinthias-jaime-del-pizzo/feed 1 http://ridevermont.com/iridebecause-tell-us-why-you-ride-win-stuff http://ridevermont.com/iridebecause-tell-us-why-you-ride-win-stuff#comments Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:34:33 +0000 Luke Q http://ridevermont.com/?p=1465 Continue reading →]]> Tweet

The rules are simple. The prizes are pretty dope.

In honor of Ride Vermont’s annual Ride Grrrl week, we’re giving away a women’s RED helmet and Anon goggles. All you have to do, ladies, is tell us why you ride. Simple.

Maybe you need to be outside, breathing fresh air, and snowboarding is your outlet. Maybe you live for the thrill of bombing down black diamonds or weaving through trees. Maybe you’ve got a unique style, and snowboarding let’s you express yourself.

Whatever the reason, let us know. The most inspiring answer wins a RED Avid women’s helmet (size Small). Runner up gets a pair of Anon Helix goggles.

Hashtag your answer with #iridebecause on Twitter. Or tell us with an #iridebecause photo on Instagram. Or just tell us in the comments below this post right here on RideVermont.com.

The season that seemed like it would never end, well… is. But that’s just reality. We’ve had a good run, heck, this season’s been all time (to throw some west coast bro-brah slang in the mix). Even Rocky could be jealous of the comeback we’ve had after last year.

Here’s to spring turns, harvesting corn snow and getting your goggle-tans on with the best of ‘em.

Projected closing dates for all your favorite VT peaks:
**Updated 4/22 at 11:00 am**

Jay Peak: Daily through April 28

Sugarbush Resort: Daily through April 28, then one final weekend (weather permitting)

Killington Resort: Daily through May 5, then weekends only starting May 11 (as weather permits)

Closed for the season:

Bolton Valley
Burke Mountain
Bromley Mountain
Magic Mountain
Middlebury College Snow Bowl
Mount Snow
Okemo
Pico Mountain
Smuggs
Stratton
Stowe
Suicide Six

LUDLOW, Vermont (March 19, 2013) — The Vermont Game Warden’s Office has confirmed that it has shot, and subsequently captured, a man-like forest beast that had been terrorizing freestyle terrain parks in the area. Video of the creature is above.

“We’ve been chasing this thing — some of the locals call it a Yeti — since the Clinton administration,” said warden Casey Willax at a news conference today. “We finally bagged the big bastard.”

The as-yet unidentified species was captured at the peak of Okemo Mountain after several frightened snow-bladers reporter a large, hairy, smelly snowboarder doing back flips off the pole jam feature in the park.

“I’ve seen plenty of big hairy men before, but I was all like, no way bro, there’s no way that’s a human,” said one of the snow bladers, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation by other Yetis that may still be lurking in the area.

“More Yetis may be on the loose,” warns Willax. “If you see one, please do NOT feed it or give it money. That just encourages them.”

With its modest 13 foot walls, the Vermont Open halfpipe was at once a throwback to the roots of the Open competition and a fun, approachable feature for all riders in the field. Legends, pros, ams and juniors were able to shred this thing and impress their friends, and the judges, with stylish air time. There might not have been an excess of amplitude or corked-out maneuvers, but then again, when riders like Ross Powers dropped in from the deck and boosted giant methods, the view for spectators was reminiscent of early competitions when rotations under 720 degrees still made the audience ooh and ahh (aka the good old days).

Ross Powers still knows how to make a method look good. Photo: Zach Stephens

In true Open fashion, there was even some pipe poaching by backpack-wearing, PBR-swilling riders who — un-phased by the potential for spilling their beverage — still managed to get rad and keep the vibe light.

RESULTS:

Mens Pros
Bib # Name Total Score Place
33 Ross Powers 209 1
66 Shaun Murphy 181 2
84 Max Lyons 163 3
69 Leon Townsend 154 4
129 Rtyper Emond 118 5

Mens Legends
Bib # Name Total Score Place
25 Jerry Tucker 185 1
35 Matt Fortuna 154 2
36 Charles Cavanagh 142 3
37 Luke Bonang 129 4
73 Pete Riley 47 5

Shaun Murphy handplants at the bottom of the pipe. Photo: Zach Stephens.

Mens Amateurs
Bib # Name Total Score Place
26 Rakai Tate 183 1
58 Evan Warner 171 2
42 Matt Behre 146 3
75 Luke Hahn 105 4
68 Mischa Greenslet 35 5

Womens Legends
Bib # Name Total Score Place
? Amy Herman 107 1

Womens Amateurs
Bib # Name Total Score Place
11 Victoria Powers 70 1
3 ? 57 2
2 Margon Gage 41 3

Junior Finals
Bib # Name Total Score Place
81 Charles Recchia 106 1
4 Oscar Loomis 90 2
24 Greh Katko 87 3
21 Miles Recchia 84 4
1 Jack Hayes 65 5

Poaching the pipe with a PBR was about as close to product placement as things got. Photo: Zach Stephens

Night one’s a wrap. Riders threw it down last night under the lights on Stratton’s Suntanner trail. With some light snow falling and style flowing, it was a perfect way to kick off the inaugural Vermont Open. Here’s how the night closed out.

Shaun Murphy won Men's Pro at the Rail Jam. Photo: Hubert Schriebl

Pro – Male
1. Shaun Murphy – $800
2. Max Lyons  - $500
3. Casey Savage – $300

Pro – Female
1. Elen Tortorice – $200
2. Amanda Barnhart – $125
3. Ericka Bingioni – $75

Pro female winner Elen Torotrice. Photo: Hubert Shcriebl

Amateur – Male
1. Rakai Tate – $300
2. Evan Sheridan – $200
3. Matt Behre -$100

Amateur – Female
1. Lucy Ann Murry – $200
2. Laura Fratkin – $125
3. Erin Becker – $75

Juniors – 12 and Under
1. Gray Kateo
2. Miles Recchia
3. Shea Kelley

More photos are on Stratton Mountain’s Facebook page. Keep an eye out for photos and updates rolling in from the hill as the competition heats up in the Halfpipe, Snurfer Challenge, Quarterpipe and Big Air later today.

Don't expect any animal print or flying tomatoes in the #VTOpen halfpipe comp.

Leave the glitz and glam to the Dew Tour, X-Games and so on. The Vermont Open is no-frills snowboarding competition at its finest; where pros compete alongside ams, in an every-snowboarding-man-woman-and-child-for-themselves mashup open to all ages, talents and aspirations. Why all the hype for this non-televised, non-sponsored, non-blockbuster of an event?

From the ground up — driven largely by an advisory board composed of “washed up” pros and snowboarding veterans like Ross Powers, Seth Neary and Steve Hayes — this grass-roots event has been designed to reignite the original competitive fire that burned under the neon pants of riders 27 years ago. It’s a snowboard contest for snowboarders –void of major product placement and global media exposure — the likes of which the sport has desperately been in need of.

The event includes prominent throwbacks to the comp’s, and the sport’s, origins. Of note, there’s the 13′ mini-pipe, reminiscent of the early years when the likes of Craig Kelly flocked to Stratton’s main base to throw stylish methods and the occasional backflip — long before triple corks became expected, heck, McMorris was only a twinkle in his old man’s eye. The location on Stratton’s Suntanner trail is a throwback to the original Open’s setting. And a snurfer challenge down the middle of the pipe. Classic. (Huh, snurfers? You say. Take 35 seconds to educate yourself about the roots of snowboarding, and Labatt for that matter).

Basically, when it comes down to it, this event is distinctly Vermont in flavor and classic in nature. Complete with pig roasts, local draft brews, live bluegrass music and a community of riders who appreciate the true essence of snowboarding, friendly competition and good, clean fun. That’s not to say there isn’t cause to break out the war paint and go all “Rocky III” on the parking garage staircases. Serious cash is on the line after all, and bragging rights, to boot. Just don some flannel for good measure and prepare to enjoy.

Here’s the full Vermont Open schedule of events.

We’ll be on the hill all weekend, reporting live, so join the conversation on twitter (#VTOPEN), share your pics on instagram and check back here for results and photos being posted as it happens.