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Riding bowls and tree runs at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

December 16th, 2011

Greely Bowl Has Everything You Need and More

There’s something about the mountains at night when the stars shine bright and the outline of jagged peaks punch out the background of the sky. It makes you realize how small we are and how short life really is. This was one of those nights. We cross over into the British Columbia (BC) border and my heart gives a little sigh. Every time I come back to BC is like coming back home for me. I find myself so far removed from the person who spent five years travelling across North America in search of snow and adventure. I will never forget seeing the mountains in my rear view mirror more than eight years ago as I left Whistler in search of my career. As we drive along the TransCanada highway toward Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR), nestled deep between the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, I think about how my love for snowboarding has brought me right back to where I belong in the mountains.

My travel partner, Yui Kam, a mechanical engineer by trade, feels the same way. He talks about his days in Denver and how much he misses being close to so many various resorts in the Colorado area. “It was nothing for us to join together as a group and rent a couple of cabins for a weekend,” he says. “We would head out to resorts such as Breckenridge or even Jackson Hole. I may be in a different place in life as far as my career is concerned but I will never forget those days.”

I nod my head in agreement. While still the same person, I no longer have the ability to just go ride any time I hear the booming of avalanche bombs in the distance. I now learn to live with the in-between of being a communications professional and still make the time to just ride when the need kicks in.

This is a big road trip for us this season and I finally get to notch Revelstoke off my bucket list. We arrive after five hours of travelling and check into our hotel just minutes outside the town. The next morning we grab some breakfast and drive out to the resort. We dock at the gondola, dock off it at the top and cruise down to the Stoke chair lift with some small ollies off the many rollers. We rise up above the cloud line and gaze out at the incredible inversion settling over the valley. Moments later we are greeted by a bluebird sky day.

With more than 1,700 vertical metres, 3,121 acres of fall-line skiing and riding, plus 15 areas of gladed terrain, not to mention extremely accessible high alpine bowls, RMR is built for riders and tree-fanatics alike. But I must give a disclaimer before I give you some personal trail map highlights from the weekend. To follow these maps, you must be a strong-to-advanced skier or rider. The following is technical and calls for a confident rider with steady movement.

Personal Trail Map #1
Chair: Stoke
Run: Greely Bowl

Head left off the Stoke chair and enter a marked hiking path. Hope you have spent some time in the gym to prepare for hiking this season. Your legs and lungs will thank you for it. Boot-pack for approximately 15 minutes until you reach a ridge that leads across the top of a steep bowl. Stay the course past this for another 10 minutes or so – or click in and ride it right across to save some time – until you enter a small pathway. Hike for a couple more minutes until you crest the mouth of the Greely Bowl. Lucky for us, it opened only the day before we arrive. I hit the right side today and find a bowl of fresh powder to call my very own and ollie over small buried tree tops. Although the bottom of this run calls for hiking and one-foot shuffles in various areas, those who love riding in hidden pockets of snow will love this line. There are glades for days but also tracked-out areas since it is still early in season. Keep your speed at all times and merge safely with the conjoining trails until you reach the Ripper chair.

Personal Trail Map #2
Chair: Ripper
Run: Powder Monkey Glades

This line was insane. It is tree-licious. Even though it was early in season and no new snow had fallen over the last couple of days, there was a distinct lack of new snow since opening day, we still found powder stashes in the trees. Drop left straight off the chair into the mouth of a tree run. We rip through the Powder Monkey Glades and criss-cross the groomed trail to link up with tree run after tree run. There are even pillows to crush some small airs. My smile stays on my face that whole day.

Revelstoke is an authentic playground with plenty of terrain for riders and skiers of all ability levels. It is well worth the trip and its people are also something to be commended. My repair technician, Patrick Tourchot, took my board that was only five days into season yet already scoured with core shots and nasty scars across its base. He returns it with a shiny new face and fast wax. More than that, his approach to all his clients was patient and helpful. I spend an hour at the Society snowboard shop in town, and its owner Karl Jost treats me like royalty and helps me find a new pair of Rome Bowery gloves. We make plans to connect on my return trip in January 13-15, 2012 and ride some of his personal trail maps. I look forward to that trip and enjoying the massive dumps RMR is known to have. Even now, my Snowseekers application indicates RMR is about to get hit with 28 cm fresh.

That’s it for me in 2011 for snowboarding as I head home for the holidays. But we have a demo day in Castle early in 2012 and then Revelstoke again the following weekend. Season is in and this professional is learning that the in-between is something we must all understand. Just live your life and follow your love for the moments that ignite your heart beat into the nether regions of adrenaline. The rest will follow.

Viva la Nina. Viva.

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Finding White Spaces

December 1st, 2011

I watch the snow forecast for the Rockies closely all week before making my decision on where we land for a mid-week powder session. After reviewing the dumps that were headed toward the Canadian Rockies, and doing my best to ignore the pounding British Columbia is taking, our decision is final: Sunshine Village (SSV). Anticipation builds over the next couple of days with numerous and convincing emails to my friend to take a mental break holiday. As working professionals tied to desk jobs, getting away during the week is not as easy as it once was. We have to make it on the right day at the right time. This is it.

Information is easy to find now in such a socially sharing world, especially for snow conditions and first-hand reports. I check my Twitter and Facebook feeds for transparent and hopefully authentic communication channels for the right answers at the right time. Shawn Alain, Social Media Community Coordinator with SSV, is a great example of the communication channels provided at SSV of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

He wears many hats when it comes to social media but knows that engaging a good conversation means listening, joining, leading and enabling his audience. “We play a role in marketing, customer service, sales, moderator, and even playing host to an online party,” he says with a laugh.

“And even though we have to take the brunt of communicating bad news, such as delaying an opening, most of our followers are much more forgiving when we are open, honest and actively communicating.”

I fire off a quick message to the SSV Twitter feed from the gondola and ask for a quick interview with its safety patrol. Minutes later I marvel at all the fresh snow from the Standish chairlift. There are still many lines of fresh snow to be found hidden away in chutes and back bowls. We click in and drop into the first of today’s personal trail maps.

Personal Trail Map #1

Standish Chair

It is still early in season, but a powder day in November is always sick. Veer off on the green run just to your left. Stay the path and cruise high up on the left ridge. Stay left and cruise down, up and over to a small copse of trees to drop into a short, quick, semi-steep chute. Remember to keep your speed to make it up the short hill just at the end of the run. Follow that just under the chair lift for some small rollers and hits for ollies.

Personal Trail Map #2

Strawberry Chair

We start this run from the Standish chair. This line was a little uninspiring today, mainly due to the fact there were limited chairs open and lack of access to high alpine runs. But, once again, powder days in November are always fun. Cut under the Standish chair, shoot over to the far right, and enjoy some crystal white until you hit the Strawberry chair. Quick load and lift. Click in and stay right – always high right – to follow the small hill to a short tree run. Shred a small glade. Head back to the Standish chair.

Personal Trail Map #3

Standish Chair

Similar to first trail map, stay on the green until you reach the small ridge and then shoot off to the right. Keep your speed and drop in between the trees but look out for the small 10 foot cliff just off to your right. Hit it and enjoy the good snow.

Finding good snow is a normal occurrence during opening week and all season for SSV avalanche technician, Kevin Hjiertaas. And after a recent avalanche was triggered in Lake Louise by hikers going out-of-bounds, Hjiertaas always suggests using caution when hiking or riding out-of-bounds.

“Opening days are normally high in powder content,” says Hjiertaas. “Check for avalanche bulletins as a starting point. It offers courses and in Avalanche Safety Training (AVT). We section off areas for a reason but if you venture out, experience is key and going with an experienced guide is fundamental.

“There is accessible and controlled free-ride terrain here at SSV, such as Delirium Dive but just be prepared and remember to bring an avalanche beacon and shovel, plus extra food and clothing just in case.”

Although we didn’t hike out-of-bounds today, we hit all the open chairs and find hidden stashes on powder in different areas. Only damage of the day were some rock scores on the base and edges of my new Salomon Man’s Board. But hey working for Team Salomon @ Salomon Alberta Freeski has its perks. The first powder day of a young season is down and I am looking forward to my next trip at Marmot Basin. Look for my upcoming post next week.

Viva la Nina. Viva.

 

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Off the Deep End

November 17th, 2011

 Lake Louise Sales and Marketing Manager, Mike Moynihan (Photo credit @Todd O’Keefe)

This past weekend was the first of many road trips this year, with a visit to Lake Louise one day and then Marmot Basin in Jasper the next. Although many a road trip so early in season, it’s a non-starter. Snowboarding is everything for me. This particular road trip means more to my ride partner, Zach Wintonyk, who leaves soon for a new chapter in life on a modeling contract in Singapore. We arrive after a couple of hours of driving, line-up in the short queue for the only major lift open, and careen up the small gulley under the Glacier chair. We click in, adjust clothing, and rip off for the first of many fast runs that day.

I spend a couple of quality minutes at lunch with Lake Louise Ski Area’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Mike Moynihan, who has been here in one form or another for more than 16 years.

“I came out to Lake Louise for one season in 1995-96 to teach skiing and just fell in love,” says Moynihan. “I stayed here and have been here ever since.”

It’s easy to agree. I also spent a season at the Lake in the early 2000s and know personally that once the snow starts to fall here, the real fun begins.

“During peak season, there are so many runs I can call depending on the day,” Moynihan states. “For steeps and back bowls, there is always ER 2-3 or ER-7, Whitehorn, D-gully and Rodney’s Ridge.

“Or for a long cruiser day, I can open it up on upper Wi-waxy, which is also part of the men’s World Cup downhill course. There is enough terrain for everyone at Lake Louise, regardless of your ability, and every chair lift has a different level of ability from green to black. You can always find a run that is in your comfort zone or challenges your limits.”

As he talks, memories of the runs crash over me like a wave. Launching rollers coming off of upper playground. Slashing lines in the many chutes of Summit. Dropping wooden platforms under the Larch chair.

Moynihan is excited about this year’s Ski Louise card with its three free days this year and double the amount of partnered resorts.

“You can now use your free days to ride year-round during peak periods and holidays at Lake Louise, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke and Castle,” he explains. “You also get $20 discount rate off any partner resort regular ticket rate.”

The Lake is also hosting the Winterstart World Downhill Cup men’s racing on November 26-27, 2011 and the women’s on December 2-4, 2011. Moynihan says the experience of watching a human being tear a hole out of the air and scream past you going at speeds of 130 kilometers/hour is something that everyone must see at least once in their life.

“If you have a lift ticket, set-up alongside the course and watch the race,” he offers. “But it’s also free to bring the family out and cheer on the athletes at the finish area.”

Even though today was a quick groomer day, the feeling of riding and flowing off rollers is good for the soul. The next morning on the way to Jasper, Zach looks up from his phone and tells me that the Lake was getting dumped on with 21 cm of fresh snow. Even now, my twitter feed tells me it just snowed another six cm over night and that Top of the World and Summit are officially open. Thankfully, season is extremely young and there will still be many days to enjoy all that the Lake has to offer.

Viva la Nina. Viva.

 

 

 

 

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Homemade Elevator

November 7th, 2011

Just head west man.

Words of wisdom sent by text from my friend @ Salomon Alberta Freeski display on my phone. I smile and pull out of the gas station while Cage the Elephant screams loud on the stereo. My ride gear stored safely in the back. Sunglasses on. And the anticipation of season burns bright in my mind.

This season calls for the return of La Nina but the drive through the Rockies was a mild shock. Roads are dry with light sprinklings of snow. But the sun shines so bright and clear. Its warmth fills my soul and gently reminds me of bluebird sky days. I turn off the exit a couple of hours later and head up the hill toward the Lake Louise ski area.

Parking is tight but the lift-line is quick and easy. Surrounded by smiling faces, I can only smile back. Just snowseekers out on a day to have some fun and forget about life for a while. I try to convince myself that sometimes there is more to just riding than powder days. It is tough but somehow the message gets through. Conversation on a chairlift soon turns into an afternoon of riding with a cool married couple. She explains how different it is for her now. After spending the last eight years living, working and riding in the Rockies, she now lives in the city. But the lure of the mountains and winter always brings her back every season.

“I told my husband that he was going to have to learn how to snowboard,” says Melissa Rainville. “So he did. He knew that I spend my winters in the mountains looking for snow.”

The only run open was quick and tight. It was so incredible to test my new Man’s Board and feel the strong hug of its edge. No chatter. Nice pop off rollers. Sintered and fast base. Can’t wait to test it in deep tracks and tight glades and more than one drop here and there.

After a quick number of runs, the monotony of ripping the same line over and over again becomes too much. I snap a couple of quick photographs of my new friends and take a quick detour over to a frozen Lake for some more photographs. Then pull out of the parking lot and point back to Calgary. One day down. So many more to go.

But any day in is a day in. Any day on the mountain with people of the same mind is a good day. See you @ Marmot Basin for opening day on November 11, 2011.

“In my life I have seen people walking to the sea. Just to find memories. Plagued by constant misery. Their eyes cast down. Fixed upon the ground. Their eyes cast down. I keep my eyes fixed on the sun. Shake me down. Cut my hair on silver clouds. Broken sound. Softly laying on the ground.” – Cage the Elephant

 

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My Own Personal Trail Map

November 4th, 2011

It all started last year. There was a distinct lack of big mountain reviews. So many spots I have never been and Google searches revealed small blog posts from years past. I wanted something real. Something I could sink my teeth into. Someone who knew the hike, knew the ridge, knew the cornice lip, knew what tree run led to the perfect bowl. These are the secrets that people making day-trips never get to find because no one reviews a mountain and shares the experience. Before they know it, their day is gone and they realize so much of the mountain was unexplored. If only someone had showed them the way.

And in a digitally-branded-socially-shared-wireless-global village, there have to be some people willing to share their own personal trail maps. Right?

So it starts.

It’s only early November but season is in. Hitting the frontside of Lake Louise but a day in is a day in and it gets my legs ready for what is coming. It looks to be an exciting year. New gear. New stuff. Second helmet camera with my newly-won GoPro HD Hero from Whistler-Blackcomb. More to come in the next couple of days.

Videos. Blogs. Micro-blogs. Adventure. Freedom. Exploration. Sharing. Stories. Come ride with me.

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Chasing the White Dragon

December 5th, 2010

Not so many years ago…okay. Seven years ago. I finished up the last season of chasing the White Dragon through five mountains across North America. The American Rockies don’t count. I was too busy healing a broken back then. But all in all, I still lived and breathed the chase. Now I am back again, but this time I am armed with a new weapon.

The fusion of technology, education and experience. Not to mention drive and ambition. This season poses the opportunity to be a big one. Not because I will get a ton of days in – to be honest I might only ride 20-25 this season – but more so because I am aggressively attacking it like never before. I am in talks with a major optics company about marketing its new innovative product. I will be meeting a marketing manager about writing and documenting reviews about mountain conditions and best lines. And using social media to capture it all for those interested in following my journey. I’ll be doing demo days on top of mountains to promote the fun and beauty that drives my community of snow lovers.

In just four days, I’ll load up my friends truck with all my new gear, place my HD helmet camera on the dash of his truck, and turn it on. What happens next will remain to be seen.

Join me. Together we can show the world that anything is possible if you just believe. Chase your own White Dragon until you come to find out who you are and what you truly want in life. Love the life you live.

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