Recently Published

04/23/08: Done Skiing? Not in Aspen
Don’t know how I missed this: Aspen Skiing Company announced today that it will extend the season at Aspen Highlands through April 27. With over 120 inches on the ground in Highland Bowl and almost 100 inches at mid-mountain, the...

03/24/08: Telluride in March
My first time in Telluride in winter turned out to be fabulous. It was warm, sunny, not too busy, and there was plenty of soft snow. Some highlights: Our best runs were in Black Iron bowl. We opted for a...

02/15/08: Salomon Vertigo Softshell
The other day at REI, these Salomon Vertigo X-Mountain shoes caught my eye—I’d seen them earlier in the season for about $95, they looked “wintery,” and the quick lace system was interesting when I saw it in action on other...

02/11/08: Avalanche Survival Myths from Dawson
Lou Dawson details his top three Myths of Avalanche Survival. Definitely worth a read if you think skiing in the back country is all fun and games—Lou knows how to be grim. Recap: My beacon is my savior—and needs more...

02/08/08: A Good Day at the Top of Breck
Despite my misgivings about a resort with a well-earned reputation for catering to hordes of inept skiers with “wacky” hats, I found myself at Breckenridge last weekend. To get away from the obstacles, we made our way almost immediately...

02/07/08: Photo of the Day: Shadows
Photo: Shadows, originally uploaded by *PS....

01/28/08: This is Why Alta Still Doesn't Allow Snowboarders
Via ydnar....

12/17/07: Forbes List: 20 Snowiest Ski Resorts in the World
Forbes Traveler online lists the 20 snowiest ski resorts in the world. I think we all knew that Colorado wasn’t exactly number one, but it’s depressing to see our lone entry down there at number 18. Cold comfort for Colorado...

12/12/07: Powder day at Winter Park
It took all the way until the middle of December, but Christine and I finally got our ski season kicked off today at Winter Park. Our original plan was to stay closer to home and go to Eldora, but we...

11/17/07: Blame Canada
Warm, Dry Weather Scuttles Vail’s Scheduled Opening Day Mountain resort officials announced that they are moving the resort’s 2007-08 season opening day from Nov. 16 to to next Nov. 21. Read more » Whistler Blackcomb Announces Early Ski Season...

11/15/07: Ski the 14ers
Earlier this year, Chris Davenport completed his mission of skiing all of Colorado’s 14’ers in one year. In December, you can drool over the photos and trip reports in his new book Ski the 14ers. This ski porn is going...

11/15/07: Gear for gals...cheap
I got a postcard today from Title Nine about a Blowout Sale in Colorado Springs this weekend. Title Nine is a women’s athletic clothing store that’s one of my personal favorites, especially for base layers. Here’s the info from the...

11/06/07: The Ultimate Apres Ski Boot
These comfy-looking Vans shearling slip ons recently mentioned on the Goat got me thinking about one of my long-standing quests: the ultimate après ski boot. I don’t mean a boot for wearing to the lodge and impressing the ski bunnies....

10/31/07: A Brief History of Snowboarding
Had to be short to enable the intended audience to watch it between bong hits. I keed....

10/30/07: SIA Trade Show Moving from Las Vegas to Denver
Snowsports Industries of America (SIA) announced today that their big annual trade show will move from Las Vegas to Denver in 2010. The lobbying by representatives of Denver and Colorado has been going on for some time, but this move...

10/30/07: Ski History at Denver International Airport
Next time you fly through Denver, head to the Concourse A pedestrian bridge and check out the exhibition of historic ski gear and fashion from the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame (a name only a committee...

10/29/07: Utah's Opening Dates
Contemplating the upcoming season. Alta: Nov 15 Beaver Mtn: TBA Brian Head: Nov 22 Brighton: TBA The Canyons: Nov 17 Deer Valley: Dec 8 Park City Mtn: Nov 16 Powder Mtn: TBA Snowbasin: Nov 22 Snowbird: Nov 17 Solitude: Nov...

09/26/07: Free Subscription to Skiing Magazine
Found on Freebie Fanatics: free subscription to Skiing magazine for two years with no strings. Looks legit. I guess they make it up in volume....

09/25/07: Snow in the Rockies
Yesterday, Vail received its first snow of the season, Beaver Creek got three inches, and Loveland fired up its snow guns. Seems too soon....

09/24/07: Get Paid to Watch Warren Miller Films
I just found out that at official Warren Miller screenings, they generally give away all kinds of goodies to film goers. Screenings of Miller’s newest opus Playground seem to start in October and, for instance, if you go to one...

09/24/07: Sand Skiing
Can’t wait for the snow to fall to work on your skiing form? How about sand skiing? (Via Teton AT)...

09/23/07: Free Skiing at Crested Butte
Crested Butte is reviving its free skiing promotion which they last offered seven years ago. From November 25 to December 15, the mountain will be giving lift tickets to anyone who walks up to one of their tickets windows—no string...

09/15/07: Forget Beach Blanket Bingo, let's party up on the mountain!

09/11/07: News and Notes: For the Slackers in the Family
Ski Rex is still happening, as is Sniagrab. You can still get your Colorado Pass too, although the price has gone up. It’s still a phenomenal deal. Current prices are good through October, 14....

09/02/07: Avalanche Jam
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is holding it’s 6th annual Avalanche Jam in Boulder on September 7th. The event is a fundraiser for the CAIC, who provide avalanche education and invaluable forecasting. Press release below and here. It sounds like...

09/01/07: A Pain in the Cash
When you go to buy your Colorado Pass this weekend, make sure you take your checkbook, debit card, or credit card, because they don’t accept cash. It makes sense when you think about it, though. They could easily end up...

09/01/07: Get Off Your Ass: The Kevin Version
It’s late at night. It’s the night before the biggest ski sale weekend of the year. I’m a couple of glasses into a handle of Captain; partly because it’s Friday night, mostly because I don’t have to work tomorrow. Suddenly,...

08/30/07: Understanding Your Limits: Bargain vs. Budget
bar·gain [bahr-guhn] –noun an advantageous purchase, esp. one acquired at less than the usual cost budg·et [buhj-it] –noun an estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period in the future. a limited stock or supply of...

08/29/07: Note to Self: Get Off Your Ass
Last spring I diligently tracked and noted locations and times for buying a Vail Resorts Colorado Pass. When the first deadline passed, but was extended, I noted it here and did my public service by reminding readers about the impending...

08/28/07: Multi-tasking, anyone?
I forgot just how much fun chewing gum and skiing could be…...

08/27/07: Out of season gear
It’s hard to think about snow sports when you’re picking bugs out of your teeth from your latest ride in triple digit weather. Maybe it’s been the recent cool nights, or the rapidly approaching cyclocross season, but I’ve thought about...

08/21/07: Gniiks Wons
It’s that time of year again. Here in Colorado, The Sports Authority (the sporting goods store formerly known as Gart Bros./Gart Sports) will have its annual Sniagrab sale, starting September 1st. It’s quite simply the largest sale of ski and...

08/21/07: Returning to the Mountain
After a relatively innocuous ten years of living in Colorado, I’ve decided to once again strap on the sticks and get back on the mountain. There are a couple of reasons I’ve come to this decision....

08/08/07: Gear Engine
And you thought you wasted time on Steep And Cheap. Check out GearEngine.com. New gear every 3 minutes. You can sell your own gear on Gear Engine too....

07/06/07: Finally: Bikes and Skis Living in Harmony
Seen on Make Zine this morning, someone so attached to their old, useless skis and poles that they turned them into a rack for old, useless bikes. O’ synergy! Via the Ption...

05/19/07: Real-Life Review: Shak Full Zip
When I first received the Ibex Shak Full Zip top at the beginning of April, I wasn’t sure I’d have an opportunity to ski in it. But nearly three feet of snow in Colorado’s high country changed that. My impression...

05/07/07: Reprieve for Procrastinators
If, like me, you awoke last night in a cold sweat, realizing you had missed your opportunity to buy next year’s Colorado Pass at the best price, with the best benefits, it seems Vail Resorts heard our collective cry of...

04/15/07: A Whole New Meaning for the Phrase "Keep Tips Up"
via The Piton...

04/11/07: 07-08 Intrawest Passes
07-08 Intrawest season passes are on sale now, and they include Steamboat: http://www.passwagon.com It seems like Intrawest is kind of positioning Steamboat the same way Vail Resorts positions Vail (as the high end part of their offering). You can get...

04/05/07: Pass Season: Vail Colorado Pass
The snow is slushy, Lake Dillon is getting unsafe, and guys skiing in “wacky” Hawai’ian shirts dot A-Basin’s slopes. It can only mean one thing: time to buy next year’s season pass. Vail Resort’s venerable Colorado Pass is currently available...

04/04/07: Spring Skiing in Aspen
When I had to move our Aspen ski trip from mid February to late March, I was a bit worried that we wouldn’t have any snow. On the trip from up I-70 we were getting snowed on from Evergreen until...

04/04/07: Gear for Girls
Girly burly is a term that is used frequently in my circle of female friends. These ladies ride 100 mile bike races over 10,000 foot mountain passes, lead 5.10 climbing routes, barrel down double black diamonds and up 14ers with...

03/19/07: Back from Texas
After a nine-day sojourn in Texas for SxSW Interactive and a few days of Lindy Hop in Houston, I’m back. It was a nice break, but I’m feeling disconnected from the ski scene and trying to get back into the...

03/13/07: How to survive spring break
It’s spring break around the nation, and it seems like everyone is spending it on the Colorado slopes. I can’t blame them — the weather has been gorgeous here and the snow has been good. Bright cloudless days are the...

03/07/07: Stunning Back Country Set from Michael Halle
Photographer Michael G. Halle keeps blowing my mind with his back country photos—and I just stumbled across him on Flickr one day as I was hunting for cool shots for this site. Check out his latest set from a visit...

03/07/07: Those Clever Japanese
First they take over the car industry with “economical,” “well-made,” “attractive” vehicles, and now they’re going after our ski industry. What’s next? Electronics?...

03/03/07: Rocky Mountain Super Pass: No Steamboat....Yet
Intrawest completed its purchase of Steamboat resort on Thursday, but pass-holders better stop holding their breath: there will be no changes this season. Evidently, they’re still thinking about what they’ll do next season. One has to think that a Winter...

03/03/07: Piste Off: Vail Resorts "Embraces" the YouTube Revolution
Yesterday, VailDaily.com reported on Vail Resorts’ launch of “MySnowTV.com Beta.” “It’s a bit of ski YouTube,” said Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts….” You have to give Vail some credit for trying. At least they recognized that there’s...

03/01/07: Speaking of Hand Made: Scotty Bob Skis
A few weeks ago, I saw something in, of all places, the Denver CBS web site about ScottyBob Handcrafted Skis, based out of Silverton, CO. Founded by a former A-Basin ski instructor, the company makes beautiful wood-veneered skis with...

03/01/07: More Artisanal Skis: High Society
Over at the Goat, Rocky has pissed some people off by suggesting that the small, hand-made ski manufacturers might not be able to create a product as good as larger manufacturers. Obviously, he does not appreciate the joy of the...

02/27/07: Real-Life Review: Yakima Skybox 12
Playing with the Yakima goodies last week was like Christmas morning. Not only did they send me the SkyBox 12, they also sent me a selection of accessories—a silicon box liner, a cargo net, and and LED light. The...

02/26/07: Doing a Disservice
This weekend I decided it was time to get a professional wax and edge tune—and while at it, to get my bindings checked since, lately, I’ve been having problems with heel ejection. Because I was in Dillon, CO and it’s...

02/22/07: Real Life Review: Yakima Skybox Pro 12
Having spent the last week consuming the better part of the garage, today the Yakima Skybox Pro 12 made its debut. Have I mentioned that it came in a gigantic box? Makes me wish I was eight so I could...

02/18/07: Not that there's anything wrong with that....
Upon watching Olympic luge, what red-blooded man has not entertained the thought “I could do that”? Well, big man, better don the spandex and start working those abs, ‘cause your chance has arrived: in a brilliant marketing synthesis of the...

02/18/07: Saturday Skiing at Vail
Saturday was the first outstanding day of my ski season. We came up Friday night, dragged ourselves out of bed early Saturday morning and made the trek to Vail in time for first lift. Man, was it worth it. After...

02/15/07: Piste Off: Vail's Websites
About our editorial policies, I like to say “We’re Huggers, not haters.” But this is just too easy: Don’t get me wrong: we love Vail—there’s no better resort in the U.S. But Vail, why can’t you bring that experience to...

02/15/07: Comprehensive Snowboarding Reviews from ISPO
Wow, over at [snow]BrOADER they’re publishing a comprehensive series of reviews from ISPO, detailing all the stuff they saw in Munich. Bataleon snowboards Quiksilver snowboards eesa APO snowboards Burton snowboards Flow DC shoes Lib Tech Union bindings Nitro snowboards Elan...

02/14/07: Yakima Skybox Pro
As I mentioned last month, one of the companies I met with at SIA was Yakima, and I talked to them mostly about their lineup of cargo carriers. I thought they had some cool new things and we talked about...

02/13/07: Snowboarding New York
Tien Mao from Gothamist posts a nice little Flickr photoset documenting the Union Square Street Sessions in downtown Manhattan. Snowboarders in the City? Why, that’s almost as cool as a German Rail Battle....

02/13/07: Photo of the Day
Photo taken at Jumbo Pass, BC, January 28, 2007 by dinlaroche....

02/12/07: Sunday Skiing at Arapahoe Basin
After nearly a month off the slopes, on Sunday I returned to ski Arapahoe Basin. Summit and Eagle Counties have not had any significant snowfall in about a month, and it shows. At this time last year, we had the...

02/08/07: Photo of the Day
Taken February 5, 2007, Niseko back country, Japan by altus...

02/08/07: Learning the "Telemark" at Bear Valley
There’s no particular news value here, it just tickles me to post a story from my hometown newspaper—especially one evidently written for shut-ins. “Telemark is a term used for skiing using the telemark turn, which is a technique first popularized...

02/08/07: Vail Ski Resorts Crack Down on Pass Fraud
Both Vail Daily and the Denver ABC affiliate report that number of people busted for using ski passes fraudulently at Vail resorts has jumped substantially since last year. Sounds like Vail’s PR department is making a preemptive strike against...

02/08/07: Cameras on the Slopes
This morning, Lou Dawson has a nice discussion of his prefferred digital camera rig for skiing—the Canon A6XX line. He makes some good arguments in regard to usability (slightly larger = easier to use with gloves) and points out both...

02/07/07: Photo of the Day
Taken January 22, 2006, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia by bexjam...

02/07/07: Stuff We Like to Read: The Goat
As warmly as feel about Germany’s smoke-clogged establishments, jostling, impervious mobs, and World’s Second-Loudest Drunks, we had to pass this year on ISPO—the annual International Trade Fair For Sports Equipment and Fashion held in Munich. Fortunately, over at the Goat,...

02/06/07: Staying warm on the slopes
I can put up with a lot in the interest of a good snow day. Getting up at the crack of dawn, carrying my heavy gear from the parking lot to the base, standing in long lift lines, but...

02/06/07: Photo of the Day
Taken December 30, 2006, Haines Alaska by joeywatts...

02/05/07: Photo of the Day
Taken January 30, 2006 at Engelburg, Switzerland by Leahcim...

02/03/07: Photo of the Day

02/03/07: Interview with Chris Davenport
Yesterday, the Colorado Public Radio show Colorado Matters had a very nice interview with Chris Davenport (available as a podcast) on his successfully climbing and then skiing all 54 fourteeners in Colorado. We made the summit at 1:30 p.m., five...

02/02/07: Ski Traffic
I left my house in Fort Collins at 5AM on Sunday to meet up with an out of town friend who was staying at Breckenridge. Rolling out of bed that early is a drag, but I made it all the...

01/31/07: Thumbs up to The North Face
I bought a North Face jacket at the REI garage sale recently. As with most items at the garage sales, it’s there because there is some issue, and in the case of my jacket the problem was a broken zipper...

01/31/07: Your Own Artisanal Skis
Visiting with some of the small ski manufacturers at SIA, I started to wonder what it would take to make my own skis. Woodworking is a hobby of mine so, naturally, whenever I see someone else building something, I think...

01/30/07: Osprey Switch 26
The past couple years I’ve been skiing around with various backpacks that weren’t designed for ski use. They get the job done but not typically in the most graceful fashion, so I decided to do some ski backpacking shopping...

01/29/07: From SIA: Artisanal Skis
One of the things I love about trade shows is visiting with small manufacturers. These are the people who are pursuing their dream and they’re personally proud of what they do and will talk your ear off. It’s a different...

01/29/07: Hugger Industries
Hugger Industries is world HQ for the Hugger family of blogs and fresh products and launched this weekend. As a Snow Hugger reader, you won’t see any changes, but can expect more huggers this year and more products....

01/27/07: From SIA: Who Is Your Brand?
I think that companies must often forget that the chief representation of their brands are their people. All the marketing spin and PR hype can’t outdo a little person to person interaction. At SIA, I was reminded of this repeatedly...

01/24/07: Seen at SIA: Ibex
Last season I lost my most beloved boiled-wool ski sweater. It had been with me for a while, fit me like a glove, and required almost no cleaning. That’s because, unlike most synthetics, wool has anti-microbial properties so it doesn’t...

01/24/07: Seen at SIA: Panoptx
Over at the Panoptx booth, I got to check out their Speed and Velocity lines of sunglasses. The frames are light, shapely, and come in some really nice finishes. Unlike some plastic frames, they also felt secure without any pressure...

01/23/07: Seen at SIA: Giro
This afternoon I took a tour of the Giro product lineup, which includes helmets, goggles and, new this season, shoes. Jezeil gave me a tour of the goggle and shoes. In the google world, Giro is coming out with a...

01/23/07: Seen at SIA: Yakima
At the Yakima booth this morning, I got the lowdown on several of their latest innovations. Very cool stuff. The Yakima SkyBox is a car top box built “with the user in mind.” The lid has been designed to be...

01/23/07: Seen at SIA: Volvo C30
Among the many hot bodies here at SIA, one of the hottest I’ve seen is the Volvo C30. The Swedish Mini killer showed up at Sunday’s fashion show and I was immediately impressed with its compact form and muscular appearance....

01/22/07: Seen at SIA: Chris Davenport
Chris Davenport showed up at the Salomon afternoon beer and apps party. As would be expected, he was surrounded by congratulators, and after shaking his hand, I hung around and listened to him talk about his nerves on Wednesday before...

01/22/07: Seen at SIA: Mindblowing Quiksilver Shoes
I stopped by the Quiksilver booth get a closer look at some of the apparel from the snowboard and ski fashion show last night, and got sidetracked by these babies. Gene, the Quiksilver shoe rep caught me eyeing the shoes...

01/22/07: SIA: Ski and Snowboard Fashion Show
Last night, SIA kicked off with its second-annual fashion show. I had never been to a fashion show of any kind and I must admit, I went to this one with low expectations. How good could a fashion show produced...

01/20/07: Kids Fly and Ski Free at Jackson Hole
Kids 12 and younger fly, ski and stay free (until Feb. 15) with a paying adult at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, where you can hit the slopes and spend time touring Yellowstone National Park. In the town of...

01/20/07: Kids Fly and Ski Free at Steamboat
If you book your trip to Steamboat in Colorado by mid-February, kids 12 and younger fly, ski and stay for free (they also ski free all season as long as their parents or grandparents buy a five-day lift ticket). Soak...

01/20/07: Buy One Get Free Lift Tickets from Shell
With a ten gallon fillup at participating Shell stations, you can get a voucher for a Buy-One-Get-One-Free lift ticket at Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, or Monarch Mountain. I needed some gas on my way up to go backcountry...

01/20/07: Chris Davenport Suceeds
After an unsuccessful attempt on Wednesday, January 17 (pictured), Chris Davenport has suceeded in skiing the 54th peak in his quest. As reported by Lou Dawson at WildSnow.com, on Friday, Davenport “found a skiable route on the southerly side of...

01/20/07: Daughters Ski for Free at Gore Mountain
Daughters 19 and under will ski and snowboard free at Gore Mountain with a full paying parent from January 22-28. Season passholders, four-pack holders, and Empire Cardholders are welcome to participate in the special offer. Via First Tracks Online...

01/18/07: Coming Up: SIA in Vegas
SIA (SnowSports Industry America) is one of those industry organizations that, every year, holds a huge trade show in Vegas. Everyone in the industry goes to for a few days to schmooze and drink on the premise of finding out...

01/16/07: One to Go for Chris Davenport
Yesterday, Chris Davenport climbed and skied down Blanca Peak—the 53rd of 54 Colorado fourteeners he set out to ski almost a year ago. With five days remaining in his quest, only one summit remains: Long’s Peak. Call me narcissistic, but...

01/16/07: Free Skiing at Vail and Beaver Creek
At $85 a day, this strikes me as a good deal: Starting January 4th, 2007 Ski/Ride for FREE at Vail or Beaver Creek the day of your arrival when you fly into Vail/Eagle Airport (EGE). Simply bring your Boarding Pass...

01/16/07: Eating in Steamboat: Mambo Italiano
On Friday, our crew of seven decided to brave the wintery night and eat one meal out. Against my better judgment, we ended up at a place called Mambo Italiano. I had been there with a friend last summer for...

01/15/07: Gear Hugger: Turtle Fur WindTech Maskot
“Gear Hugger” is a periodic column we write to highlight great ski and snowboard gear we come across or grow to love. Tell us about the ski and snowboard gear you love. In general, Turtle Fur products don’t work for...

01/15/07: Silverton in the New York Times: "I thought I was an expert before I came here"
A couple of years ago, I was working a ski show in Chicago, and next to our booth were a couple of guys representing Durango Mountain Resort and Silverton Mountain. One of them, Sven, a stellar backcountry skier and photographer...

01/15/07: Wolf Creek Ski Area: Race Fun
I love it, how does Wolf Creek pay tribute to our greatest civil rights leader? Why, with the Martin Luther King Jr. Fun Race,” naturally. (Image highlighting added by me.) I don’t for a moment think that Wolf Creek...

01/14/07: Keeping Up in Steamboat
Although the powder was not as deep as predicted, for me the weekend was about pushing myself to keep up with two much better skiers, Mother Nature’s perfidy notwithstanding. Lionel and Jason have been skiing together for years and both...

01/12/07: Snow Hugger Skis Steamboat
Last night we drove from Denver to Steamboat for a long weekend in the mountains with friends. It’s been over a year since I last skied Steamboat and I’ve been anticipating this trip for a couple of months. Most people...

01/11/07: My Freakin' Salomon X-Wave 8.0s
I bought these boots two seasons ago. At the time, I had a pro deal with Salomon and they were billed as being good performance combined with comfort. After some issues with sizing, I got them sorted out and started...

01/07/07: “This is what I’m talkin’ ’bout!”
With those words, one of my snowboarding friends commended the following to my attention, offerred now for your perusal, without comment. Oakley Storm One Piece Suit available from Tramdock....

01/06/07: Another Keystone Ski Day: Sastrugi and Goons
On New Year’s Eve Day a gang of us ventured to Keystone—with very little new snow around Colorado, it was as good a gamble as any. Like Breckenridge a few days before, Keystone was a zoo, and we hurried to...

01/04/07: New Year Ski at Breckenridge, Colorado
“I think that people who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like.” —Abraham Lincoln Last Wednesday night we drove to Summit County in desperate hope of getting some snow from the impending storm....

01/03/07: How To: Makeshift Ski Brake Retainer
When waxing skis, it’s best if you can clamp your brakes in the up position—that way they don’t interfere with applying or scraping the wax. You can buy a variety of brake retainers commercially, but a couple feet of inexpensive...

12/27/06: Gerald Ford was a Friend to Colorado Skiing
I’m sure everyone has heard by now that former President Gerald Ford died Tuesday at age 93. Around here, President Ford is remembered as a great friend of the Colorado Ski industry and Vail in particular. In the 70s he...

12/26/06: Gear Hugger: UltraPod I
“Gear Hugger” is a periodic column we write to highlight great ski and snowboard gear we come across or grow to love. Tell us about the ski and snowboard gear you love. This morning as I walked to my car...

12/25/06: How to Repair a Gouged Ski or Snowboard
On Saturday, we skied at Keystone, and apart from being a pretty good day and finding some excellent powder stashes, I also managed to find some rocks and ice and gouged up my skies. This seemed like an excellent opportunity...

12/23/06: Skiing and Riding Keystone
Today we hit Keystone. After the snow-related drama of the past week, one might have expected conditions to be superb, but it seems any new snow on the main mountain had been skied off. Nevertheless, I enjoyed a day of...

12/22/06: Ski Free at Le Massif
On Christmas Eve day, bring a non-perishable food item and dress up as Santa to ski for free at Le Massif....

12/22/06: Denver Blizzard Leaves Skiers and Snowboarders Stranded with Powder Envy
If your Christmas ski or snowboard vacation was ruined by the Denver blizzard either because your flight to Denver was cancelled, or because you’re now stranded in an airport, I couldn’t feel worse.* Having been stuck in O’Hare on many...

12/21/06: Ktrak: Non-Dopey Snow Bike?
Hang around either the ski or the bicycle industries, and eventually you’ll encounter some form of snowbike—a misbegotten contraption that neither skis nors bikes, looks dopey, and strands its rider at the bottom of the hill. Enter Ktrak: a snow...

12/21/06: Design Your Own Snowboard
In fashion and design, snowboarding is perpetually ahead of skiing. Snowboarders get the coolest clothes, the coolest design, and the industry embraces personalization much more than the ski industry. To wit, over at Revolution Snowboards, you can design your own...

12/21/06: Thinking About Skiing
Some people learn new physical skills intuitively—they see what they need to do and almost immediately get their body to do it naturally. It’s as if the information enters through their eyes and goes straight to their muscles, bypassing their...

12/21/06: Snow, Snow, Everywhere....
But was I on the slopes? No, I spent most of the day yesterday in the car. At least over at JP’s Backcountry we can enjoy the powder vicariously....

12/19/06: Steamboat Sold to Intrawest
Intrawest, the Canadian resort behemoth that owns Whistler Blackcomb, Copper Mountain, and operates Winter Park, has agreed to purchase for $265m. This is probably a great thing for Steamboat. I have often heard that as the top revenue generator in...

12/19/06: Last Minute Skier and Snowboarder Gifts
If you’re still hunting for something for that favorite skier or boarder, look no further. Here are 20 gifts under $125 that will make any Snow Hugger happy. And, as much as we’d like to make our Amazon commission on...

12/19/06: Where to Ski or Snowboard
No matter where you are, odds are there’s a ski area nearby. Don’t believe me? Check out Wikipedia’s list of ski areas. Of course, Colorado skiing, Utah skiing, and California skiing are covered. But who knew that you could ski...

12/15/06: Ski Fashion for Psycho Killers
It’s a question that’s plagued the ski fashion industry for years: What’s a psychopathic murderer to wear on the ski slopes? Clown wigs blow off, the makeup runs when wet, and let’s be honest: the big, floppy ski boots just...

12/13/06: Plight of the Out-of-Bounds Skier
The news around the Colorado ski industry lately is an increase in the fines associated with the 1979 Colorado Skier Safety Act (176 kb PDF): duck a rope and it could cost you $1000 these days—up from $300. Resorts...

12/12/06: Eastern Resorts Events and Deals
I have to admit: I know nothing about skiing in the east. The furthest east I’ve ever strapped on Alpine skis is Minnesota. Nevertheless, I don’t want to be Chauvinistic. Thus, here are a few cool-sounding events and deals I...

12/10/06: Hunting Powder at Vail
Not so long ago, Vail was known as the domain of ostentatious, fur-booted blue-bloods and nouveau riche. But when Vail Resorts introduced the Colorado Pass around 2000, it threw wide the gates to the ski bums and powder hounds. Vail...

12/08/06: 1,000 Songs in Your...Hat
If you’ve been looking for something ridiculous to wear on the slopes, but have been disappointed by the utility of the standard issue dreadlock, spiky, and jester hats, then get ready to celebrate! iSoundCap announces the all new Ski Cap:...

12/07/06: Ski Free at Monarch
On Monday, December 11, 2006, Monarch Mountain is offering free skiing to all. It’s a great oportunity to try out an excellent little resort. Monarch is notable, particularly, for its backcountry skiing: Mirkwood Basin is 130 acres of steep, expert...

12/05/06: Backcountry Packs
One day last season, my girl and I shared a lift with a couple of Texans at Beaver Creek. One of them expressed “interest” in our backpacks: why, he wanted to know, did we bring backpacks? We explained that we...

12/05/06: Vail Mecca
“Thanks to the abundant recent snowstorms, Vail Mountain is accelerating the openings of China Bowl, Tea Cup Bowl and the remaining Back Bowls as well as Blue Sky Basin. Today the Colorado ski and snowboard resort will open China Bowl,...

12/05/06: Podski: 1,000 Bumps in Your Pocket
Podski is a new company offering video ski lessons for the iPod video (and other portable video players). Cool idea if the lessons are good, especially for people like me who learn from repetition....

12/05/06: Getting Started in the Backcountry
One of my personal goals this season is to start backcountry skiing. Although I’ve done a reasonable bit of guided backcountry skiing, I have never done it on my own and I’ve been looking for resources to get myself going....

11/29/06: Magic
This morning we woke up to eight inches of fresh powder on the ground and as I took the dog for her morning walk, surrounded by nothing but the snow-muffled sounds and the blue light, I started to wonder:...

11/28/06: Snow Watch 06
If anyone’s a snow hugger, it’s children. Our kids watched with glee every snow flake that fell yesterday (a lot of them for Seattle) and bugged me so much about the possibility of a snow closure, I showed them how...

11/26/06: Alpine Fantasy: Hotel Omnia
I saw an ad for the Hotel Omnia in a magazine and thought that it’s the ski equivalent of the Hotel Moli de Mig, a modernist hotel designed specifically for cyclists and reviewed on Bike Hugger during our trip to...

11/26/06: Is It Snowing?
For the past couple of weeks, the snow here in Colorado has been less-than-inspiring. For anyone who likes skiing hard pack and groomed runs under the sun, things are just fine, but I like my runs deep and I’m not...

11/24/06: Helmet Cam!
More fun than Letterman’s original Late Night Monkey Cam, is the ATC2K Waterproof ActionCamera from Oregon Scientific. Promising thousands of hours of YouTube fun, you can video yourself skiing right into the trees. Hat tip Gizmodo and cross posted to...

11/22/06: Vail Launches Village WiFi
When deciding where to ski, I have to admit that wireless availability has become an important factor. I can’t enjoy a vacation unless I know I can get online and work, and if wireless is readily available, then I...

11/22/06: Pure skiing for pure skiers
Noting that “The town offers little in the way of Aspen-style amenities,” the NYTimes reviews Silverton, Colorado, a DIY backcountry ski resort that’s built for the skiing purest....

11/22/06: Subscribe by email
Courtesy of our friends at FeedBurner, we’ve added a new subscribe by email feature. You can now keep up with Snow Hugger by email. Just click, enter your email, verify you’re not a spam spawning spammer, and boom! The next...

11/21/06: Web Directions North
If you’re in the interactive industry, like to ski or snowboard, and don’t mind Canada, check out Web Directions North. Beginning with an optional day of workshops from some of the web’s best educators, and rounded off with two optional...

11/21/06: Utah Launches Ski Blog
A couple years ago, Colorado Ski Country USA launched a Colorado Ski Blog Club Colorado with the idea of giving skiers an insider’s view of Colorado skiing. The tagline is “Ski and Ride Colorado Like a Local.” Today First Tracks...

11/21/06: Skiing Generation Y and beyond
The NYTimes reports on resorts targeting generation Y after last season that set a record on the slopes and the average age of the skiers retreated to 35. The article continues with an expectation of lots of improvements and a...

11/16/06: Speed-Riding
Parachutes aren’t just for skiing up the mountain, they’re good for hauling ass down, too. Ben Saunders points out new videos from Acro Base actors François Bon and Antoine Montant descending the north face of the Eiger. On skis....

11/12/06: More on Demo Days
At the end of last month I posted on the value of Ski Resort demo days. Yesterday, my friend Ryan visted the Loveland/Christy Sports demo day and he puts it succintly: Having just re-picked up skiing last year, I have...

11/11/06: Snowball Express
The Seattle PI is reporting that the non-stop rainy, windy weather pattern is bringing lots of snow to the Washington resorts and they’re planning on opening next week....

11/10/06: Snow Creek and Paoli construct new tubing runs
Jason joked that I’d cover the tubing beat for Snow Hugger, and waddya know!, I did a quick search and found that Snow Creek and Paoli Peaks are offering new tubing runs this season. You can see the tubing construction...

11/07/06: Back Country for Everyone
Want to ski untracked back country powder but can’t stand all that tiresome uphill trudging? Up Ski might be just the thing for you, combining the danger of jumping from an airplane with the excitement of unpredictable Alpine winds. What...

11/05/06: DIY Boot Dryer....
Nothing sucks worse than cold, damp boots in the morning, but consumer boot dryers are either A) noisy and innefficient or B) expensive. And, besides, any self-respecting Snow Hugger must has an independent streak a mile wide. Here’s a quick-and-dirty...

11/04/06: All I Want for Christmas...
Winter is here and Christmas is nearly upon us, but what to get for that special Snow Hugger on your list? Here’s a tip: nothing says “I love you” like gear. Think goggles, gloves, helmets, and even spankys. And,...

11/04/06: Railbattle
After five days in Augsberg, the “Snow in the City” ski show culminates today with the “Rail Battle.” What?!? You’ve never heard of a Rail Battle? Allow me to explain: A Rail Battle is what happens when you put...

10/31/06: Getting Going....Fitness
Having suffered a number of muscle and connective-tissue injuries last season, I resolved that this year I would focus on fitness and train specifically for ski season—something I’ve never had to do before (and a sign that the mid-30s have...

10/26/06: Getting Going....Gear

In Colorado we're lucky enough to have an early start to the season. This year, Arapahoe Basin opened on Oct 13 and Loveland opened the day after. We've had enough snow that Wolf Creek will have its earliest opening ever this Friday. It's amazing and I hope it bodes well.

10/24/06: Geronimo!
Snow Hugger lives! After two year working in the ski industry, I decided that, among other things, it was time to buld my own ski industry. With a great partner like Byron, a bunch a ski and board nuts for...