Odds are you’ve seen this image floating around Facebook today as die-hard skiers and riders in the Northeast are crossing fingers, toes, arms, legs and who knows what else in hopes they could be in for one more taste of winter.
Courtesy of The Weather Channel
If you look close (ok, really close) it appears this little something or other could drum up bit of accumulation (consistency: TBD) for Jay Peak and Stowe overnight and into Thursday. A little dust on man-made crust perhaps? Yes, please.
You may have noticed we’re avoiding the mention of a certain four letter word in this post… just trying not to jinx it. Jinx what? Exactly. The season end is nigh one way or another, but the chance of a few extra days on the board is definitely worth superstitiously tying yourself in a pretzel for.
It’s been quite a week of weather and extreme early spring temps. And as you probably already know, several more resorts will close for the season after last chair this Sunday. But us Vermonter’s, we don’t go down easy.
Vermont resorts take the season out with a party! Photo Courtesy of Sugarbush Facebook.
No matter where you head for the weekend, you’re bound to find an all out party consisting of sunshine, google-tans and lightly-clad skiers and riders getting their final fix. So here’s the quick ‘n dirty on what’s happening where.
-Burke Mountain: Corona Hawaiian Beach Party complete w/ live music, Coronas & flip-flops. Bust out the Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, coconut tops, and leis to get a $25 lift ticket each day. (Season ends: SUNDAY)
-Jay Peak Resort: Tail Gate Spectacle at the Stateside base area. What do you think this means? 10:00AM to 3:00PM.
-Killington:Nor’BEASTer continues w/ Live music & K-Town Showdown slopestyle. Season Pass Holder Day, free lunch at Roaring Brook Umbrella Bars & Deck for pass holders.
-Okemo Mountain Resort:FestEVOL mountain music festival featuring Barenaked Ladies, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Guster and more. (Season ends: SUNDAY)
There’s nothing like that time of the year when you can go blasting down the mountain in a t-shirt, no gloves, goggles (or snowpants for that matter) and know that even in the event of a massive digger, you’ll come out smiling. Spring riding is one way we cope with the seasonality of snowboarding in Vermont and just like foliage, maple syrup and Sports Illustrated, there’s a time of year when it’s best. Sure, spring conditions were basically the only ones we got, but whatever… good excuse to crush some demo boards anyway.
With Burton’s headquarters near the home of the US Open in Stratton, it simply wasn’t that rare a sight to see some of the world’s best snowboarders getting in some turns on prototype product, or for a photoshoot. Tera Eberhard was one of the first dominant women in snowboarding—and not afraid to compete in race and halfpipe events.
Each Thursday we present a photo from the annals of snowboarding history in Vermont.
On January 19, 2012 the snow sports world lost an icon. Not yet at the prime of her career, Sarah Burke was a tremendous athlete and an all around awesome person on and off the snow. Sadly, as many before her, the world never got to witness the bounds of her potential. We can only assume there were none.
This Thursday, join your fellow ski and ride enthusiasts for the premiere of the Ski Channel’s latest film “Winter”. The event is in memory of Sarah and the proceeds will go to a foundation being created to honor her legacy.
The event will have free food, auctions and raffles with tons of cool stuff to win including a brand new Burton Process (155) autographed by Kevin Pearce, helmets donated by Anomaly Action Sports featuring Shred Optics and Slytech Protection, and even a board ridden by one of the members of the Frends crew.
Grab your friends and come out for this event to help support a good cause.
WHEN: Thursday, March 15, 8:30 PM
WHERE: Savoy Theater, Montpelier, VT
WHAT: Film premiere of the Ski Channel’s “Winter” in memory of pro skier Sarah Burke. Free food, raffles and a silent auction for an autographed Kevin Pearce snowboard.
COST: $10, The first 40 tickets purchased will come with signed Kelly Clark postcards.
Check out the “Winter” Film Premiere event page on Facebook for more info and share it with your friends!
We know what you’re thinking… This is Devin Logan, she’s a skier, not a rider. What gives? Well for starters, the fact that Ms. Logan is one of the sickest female skiers in the sport and oh yeah, the fact that she hails from a little hill down the road called Mount Snow. Maybe you’ve heard of it.
Ride Vermont was lucky enough to catch up with Devin just seconds after she stepped off the podium with her first (of what later became two) silver medals from the Dew Tour at Killington. One in pipe, one in slopestyle. Badass.
But enough from us. Let’s let Devin do the rest of the talking.
BUSTED. Sometimes even park managers get their passes pulled. Photo Courtesy of Allison Kozar.
The odds are pretty good that if you’ve ever taken a lap or two through the parks at Bolton Valley, the features you’re gettin’ rad on were built by this girl. (Trust us, she’s much more professional in person.) And when it comes to building parks, she’s downright serious about stoking up freestyle skiiers and riders with a well-manicured and progressive park setup for improving their skills.
As the only female terrain park manger in the state, Allison is one of the many women taking the industry by storm and proving that if the guys can do it, girls can too. Ride Vermont got the chance to catch up with her to talk marriage (yup, she’s taken), inspiration and even a little about terrain parks.
Allison Kozar
Ride Vermont: Do you feel like you face any unique challenges, being the only female terrain park manager in Vermont? What are those challenges?
Alison Kozar: This is a hard question to answer, because I don’t feel like I have unique challenges just because I am a woman. I feel like I face the same challenges as any other park manager. The industry is changing, and snow sports are not as male-dominated as they once were.
RV: You recently got married. Be honest: do you shred harder than your husband? Do you guys regularly ride together?
AK: I do shred harder than my husband, but he isn’t on snow everyday. He plows in the winter; so, when it dumps, he’s plowing while I’m skiing. Usually he doesn’t feel like riding after sixteen hours of plowing. Otherwise, we try to get out when we have time.
RV: That’s quite the trade off on pow days. Which female (doesn’t have to be a skier or anything) has inspired you the most in your life? How has she inspired you?
AK: I don’t know if I can name just one woman. Poet Sylvia Plath taught me not everything has to be sugar, spice, and everything nice. Famous rock star Joan Jett made me realize that girls can rock harder than boys. Sarah Burke has been a hero of mine since I discovered freeskiing in 2001; watching her has made me try to become a better skier.
RV: What advice can you offer to all the young female snowboarders and twin tippers out there who are thinking about a career in snowsports or as a pro rider?
AK: If you are trying to start a career in snowsports, be persistent. It’s important to show that you’re willing to dive in head first and get your hands dirty. For those trying to be pro riders, push yourself everyday, don’t be afraid to ride with the boys and compete at every event possible.
One such event was the recent Not Your Girl Jam that encouraged freestylin’ females to come out and push themselves in a friendly and fun rail jam comp. Along with the crew at Mascara Militia, Allison was a key player in organizing (and building) this event.
She regularly blogs about the goings-on at Bolton Terrain Parks and helps keep the park’s Facebook and Twitter accounts fresh. So make sure to like and follow them to stay up on what new features are waitin’ at the Valley.
Here’s a short video we made with Allison during Ride Grrrl week, two years back. Obviously, seein’ as she’s hitched and all now, her name has changed. (She didn’t forget to mention her dreamy plowman.)
Doesn’t matter who you’re rooting for, when it comes time for Big Game Weekend there are always cheer-worthy deals at Vermont resorts allowing every pigskin-fan to score. (Not to mention, game-time is the best time to hit the deserted slopes for some private laps — that is, if you hate football or something weird like that.)
We’ve done the hard part and drafted some of the best deals from around VT, all you have to do is make the pick and “hike” to the hill. (Sorry, it’s all of those mind-numbing Superbowl commercials we’ve been subjected to over the years.)
Okemo $99 Two-Day Weekend Warrior – valid for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4. Print-at-home tickets must be purchased online at least 48 hours in advance.
The Big Game Sunday Solution – takes an additional $10 off Okemo’s already-reduced Sunday Solution rate. Valid 8am to 1:30pm for only $64 for Adults, $54 for Young Adults and Seniors, and $40 for Juniors. Available at any ticket window.
Monday-Morning Quarterback – On Monday, Feb. 6, the price of a full-day lift ticket will be charged at $1 per point, based on the total combined points scored during Sunday’s Big Game. Pray for great defense.
Stratton The Super Bowl 2-Day Ticket – Buy one day and get the second day at half price. Lift ticket for all ages and is valid Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4 and 5, for just $130.50. Book online.
The Super Bowl Sunday Four Pack – Get four all-day, any age tickets plus one cheese pizza from Double Diamond on Sunday, Feb. 5, for $199. Book online.
Mount Snow
All deals available at the ticket window. No price changes for Youth / Senior. $99 2-day Super Sunday Plus ticket – valid Sunday and Monday, Feb. 5 and 6.
$59 Super Morning Ticket – valid from 8am to 12:30pm.
$25 I Hate Football Ticket – (Crazy, we know.) valid Sunday afternoon 1/2 day.
In a crowd- and judge-pleasing explosion of huge tricks that included a double cork 1260, into back to back 1080s, Iouri Podladtchikov managed to unseat the reigning champ Louie Vito in his final run down the 22′ superpipe. With the crowd on fire, Vito came through with an equally massive run of double corks down the pipe, but it wasn’t enough to win the judges over.
Here’s some recap footage from the his winning run and the close second place run from Vito, courtesy of Alli Sports. Take notes. This is how the big dogs get it done.
And what kind of Vermonters would we be without giving a special shout out to miss Devin Logan, representing the 802 and taking home a second Dew Tour trophy for second in Women’s Freeski Slopestyle. Great job Devin and good luck in Snowbasin.
In case you didn’t see the Ski Superpipe Finals last night, it was a pretty epic showing. (And coming from snowboarders, that’s saying something.) After Eric Willett killed it on the Men’s Slopestyle Finals, Vermont’s own twin-plankin’ pro Devin Logan went on to take a close second place behind Tahoe’s Maddie Bowman in Women’s Ski pipe. We had the pleasure of interviewing Devin after she stepped off the podium. Stay tuned for that interview as the ladies dominate our blog all next week. (We’re pretty stoked for a little domination, who wouldn’t be.)
The night rounded out with a session of high-flying excitement from the Men’s division. But you knew that because you watched it live on NBC or at least backed it up on the DVR. Here’s the low down from the podiums.
1. Eric Willett, 2. Seb Toots, 3. Justin Morgan. Photo Courtesy of Alli Sports
Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final Results
1. Eric Willett :: 91.00
2. Sebastien Toutant :: 85.50
3. Justin Morgan :: 80.25
4. Aleksander Ostreng :: 80.25
5. Jake Aaronson :: 69.00
6. Antoine Truchon :: 66.50
7. Gjermund Braaten :: 60.75
8. Ulrik Badertscher :: 55.50
9. Charles Reid :: 53.00
10. Chas Guldemond :: 53.00
11. Mark McMorris :: 44.25
12. Staale Sandbech :: 41.50
Instead of boring you to death with a bunch of ranking stats and leaderboard numbers (sorry math nerds), we thought we’d just post up some of the highlights from yesterday’s Semi-Final rounds at the Dew Tour in Killington.
Videos courtesy of Alli Sports/DewTour.
High winds put the Men’s Ski Slopestyle semi’s on hold and they’ll be wrapping up this morning before the the guys start calling their drops in the slopestyle course ’round 11:30. Ok, they don’t actually call drops. The Dew Tour’s more organized than that and would probably make a big stink if they went out of turn. Who knows.
We’ll have more live update coverage and heart-warming chit chat on twitter and the blog all weekend. See you at Bear Mountain.
On January 19, 2012 the snow sports world lost an icon. Not yet at the prime of her career, Sarah Burke was a tremendous athlete and an all around awesome person on and off the snow. Sadly, as many before her, the world never got to witness the bounds of her potential. We can only assume there were none.
