Session 6 of the 2016/2017 winter season: Crystal Mt

That's 5 days straight of at least 1.5 hours or more per day.
Another decent day with soft groomers. Did a lot of the backside ollies, got 'em down pretty good. Also working on a butter backside 180, gonna take some thought and time for this move.


Highlights:  Getting back into the backside 180s

Temperatures:   near freezing
Sky:   mostly cloudy
Conditions:    warmed soft groomers
Duration:  10:00-11:30 2.0 hours 
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Vertical to date: 29,357

Session 5 of the 2016/2017 winter season: Crystal Mt

Again a fun day with good groomed conditions. Had fun carving some turns again and then completing several 180 backsides - easy pleasy.
Got an earlier start today in fact by 9 o'clock I was riding up the lift.

Highlights:  Some more deep carving in the soft groomers

Temperatures: Upper 20s  
Sky:  Thick clouds, flat light
Conditions:  Generally soft groomed conditions
Duration: 2.5 hours  
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Vertical to date: 24,857 feet

Session 4 of the 2016/2017 winter season: Crystal Mt

Another fun day carving some deep trenches with my Burton Hero board. Then moving on to some butters and ollies.


Highlights:   Some deep carving in the soft groomers

Temperatures: upper 20s  
Sky:   some sun but mostly cloudy
Conditions:    groomed conditions
Duration:   2 hours
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Vertical to date: 18,320 feet

Session 3 of the 2016/2017 winter season: Crystal Mt

Another fun day with groomed slopes. I was able to continue and do all the moves I had last year.
Although I have not tried the 180 backside yet.



Highlights:   Another fun quickie session

Temperatures: 20 degrees   
Sky:   some sun
Conditions:    packed groomed conditions
Duration:   1.5 hours
Gear:  Burton Hero board

Session 2 of the 2016/2017 winter season: Crystal Mt

Purchased a $199.00 season's pass - will try hard to make it worth it.
This is my Crystal Mt inaugural session for this winter season.
Fun, quickie session, trying to loosen things up and continue where I left off late last season in Utah.

Highlights:   A fun quickie session

in

Temperatures: 11degrees   
Sky:   cloudy
Conditions:    packed groomed conditions
Duration:   1.5 hours
Gear:  Burton Hero board

Session 1 of the 2016/2017 winter season: Opening day in SE Michigan - Mt Holly makes enough snow to make it happen

Broadcasted a text message that Mt Holly was opening at 3:00 pm. Only Jerry responded so we met up at Mt Holly for a decent opening day. Found conditions from hard pack and ice to some softer conditions as the hill got skied out.
I always get so stoked for the first day out, which is usually at Mt Holly this time of the year.
Then after a few runs the excitement tapers off. So it was fun meeting up with Jerry - he kept the stoke going and kept it entertaining.



Highlights:  Opening day of the 2016/2017 season. Still had all the moves from last March

Temperatures:    30 - 35
Sky:  Mostly clear to high overcast
Conditions:   Hard groomers softening up as the evening progressed
Duration:  2.25 hours with almost 6k of vertical feet in 32 runs
Gear: Burton Hero board

Groomer spreading the manufactured snow around the slopes

Day 19 of the 2016 season: Grande Finally for the 2015-2016 season at Snowbasin Resort

Celebrating the 75th year at Snowbasin Resort

Wrapping up 5 weeks of snowboarding in the Wasatch Mountains with Snowbasin Resort getting top ratings. Four days overall at Snowbasin with all days being near epic springtime conditions. Even found some powder stashes days after a fresh snowfall. By far my favorite resort in Utah.

The Official photograph of Celebrating the 75th year at Snowbasin

Highlights:  Another picture perfect spring riding day.

Temperatures:    30 - 45
Sky:  Mostly bluebird.
Conditions:   Hard groomers in the morning softening up as the temperature increased through out the day.
Duration:  5 hours with almost another 30k of vertical feet.

Day 18 of the 2016 season: Snowbasin - a little bit of everything

3 days after the last snowfall nearly fresh conditions could still be found

From icy groomers to soft groomers to powder stashes. Found it all today.

A mostly sunny bluebird day. Eventually softening the hard groomers and made for a near epic 5.5 hours session with 30k plus vertical feet traveled.

Well worn out after this day 30k is near my maximum. Most pf the 13 runs were non-stop tops to bottoms.

Highlights: Powder stashes, still after 3 days with no fresh snow
Temperatures:    25 -45
Sky: Mostly bluebird
Conditions:  From icy groomers to soft groomers to powder stashes
Duration: 5.5 hours
Schooled: Reviewing all that I know

Day 17 of the 2016 season: POWDER morning at Brighton

Highlights: 5-12 inches of the fresh Utah powder everyone talks about. Finding good runs through the glades.
Temperatures:    20-25 degrees
Sky: Sunny half the time
Conditions:   Powder fresh and softie groomers
Duration: Before work session 2.5 hours
Schooled: Powder runs and butter ups on the groomers.

Day 16 of the 2016 season: I'm liking Snowbasin Resort, my second session with clear conditions

Topping off the EPIC day with my favorite Polygamy Porter beer. 

EPIC spring conditions:
Making continuous black/blue runs non-stop to the bottom without getting tired - finally in snowboard shape? I'm talking 3000 vertical plus feet. From the top of the Mt Allen Tram at 9300 feet all the way to the base at 6100 feet. Easy conditions from small powder stashes to soft groomers.
Again after awhile I found myself at the Strawberry lift taking run after run in this wide open expansive area, WoHoo...



Highlights: EPIC
Temperatures:    20-55
Sky:   Bluebird
Conditions:   Groomed, powder stashes
Duration: 5 hours
Schooled:  Small powder stashes in the scrub brushes could still be found

A different Google maps perspective

Day 15 of the 2016 season: Soft groomers everywhere at Brighton resort

Fun day with some high speed, deep gouging, high G's carving turns and every trick in my book easily performed.


Highlights:  softie groomers
Temperatures:  18 -35 
Sky:   partly sunny
Conditions:   Super soft freshly groomed
Duration:  2.5 hours - a before work session
Schooled: Everything I know

Winter 2016 Day 14: Park City - suppose to be 10-12 inches of powder, but.....

Monster dump in the Wasatch Mountains. From all of the tweets, texts and emails it sounded fantastic.
Got up early and arrived at the resort parking lot and in the lift line by 8:55, line wasn't to bad. I was on the lift heading up to the top of the mountain by 9:10. As I ride up I see the place is practically track out already. Finally it's about 9:45 and I get to the top of the 4th lift,  McConkey's lift and aim for my favorite runs. Georgeanna and Tycoon only to find them demolished..... well I had a plan B. So I headed over to the Bonanza lift and rode the blue/green groomers with about 2-4 inches of fresh snow on top.


Highlights:  2-4 inches of freshies on top of some groomers
Temperatures:  18 -40  
Sky:   partly sunny
Conditions:   Fun 2-4 inches on top of soft groomers
Duration:  2.5 hours - a before work session

Winter 2016 Day 13: Another butter smooth day on the soft groomers at Park City

 Another bright bluebird Park City day. Soft groomers were everywhere.

Butter up on a run down from Jupiter Peak

Highlights:    Butter up
Temperatures:    40s
Sky:   mostly sunny

Conditions:  soft groomers 
Schooled:    180 backsides, 180s forwards, butters
Duration:  4.5  hours

Winter 2016 Day 12: Groomer day at Brighton

After an epic session Wednesday I came back to Brighton and found some good soft groomers to play on.
Above freezing temperatures really softened them up. Carving up some high speed deep ruts in the softened groomers.



Highlights:    Butter up
Temperatures:    30s
Sky:   hazy and sunny
Conditions:  soft groomers 
Schooled:    180 backsides\frontsides
Duration:  2.5 hours

Winter 2016 Day 11: An EPIC morning at Brighton Resort

EPIC

Highlights:   Fresh 3-6 inches at the higher elevations and perfect groomers with 2-3 inches at the lower elevations
Temperatures:   20-25
Sky:  Turned into a bluebird day
Conditions:   Perfect
Schooled:   Everything I know without the hardpack
Duration: 2.5 hours

A before work session limited my time on the slopes but the time was well spent. After last Sunday's soaking conditions a payback was in inevitable.
Thoroughly enjoyed the conditions probably one of the best so far this year. The groomers were the best - after all the powdered areas were tracked out I hit the groomers. perfectly groomed with 2-3 inches of powder on top...mmm mmm good.
Snowed at night and by opening it was clearing and mostly sunny. Can it get any better then that? Well maybe ten inches of powder.... but I'll leave it at that.

Winter 2015-2016 Day 10: A soaking day - probably one of the worst riding days ever.

Challenging conditions - wondering why I Spent $122.00 for this soaking of a day.
I had to make it work due to spending all that money. Four hours of soaking rain, wet snow, low visibility and fog. Very physical survival type riding.
On a good note up at the 9000 foot mark there was some 2-3 inches of fresh pow in the green/blue glades, Took a couple of runs there but the exit was through a mine field of the crudest crud I've ever encountered.

NOTE to self: The Canyons is a confusing resort to navigate especially when the visibility is poor.
I will take this as a learning experience, the next time the weather forecast is maybe rain, maybe snow depending on the elevation I'll double think it.

Highlights:  Challenging conditions
Temperatures:   35-50
Sky: Rain, snow, wind, fog
Conditions:  crappy
Schooled:  Survival
Duration: 4:00 hours of soaking rain, wet snow, low visibility

Winter 2015-2016 Day 9: A Bluebird spring riding day at Snowbasin

Left SLC at 8AM with a temperature of 60 degrees thinking it's going be a slushy day on the slopes.
Headed to Snowbasin Resort a place I enjoyed but have had bad luck with the weather.  I've only been here once before on a clear day. Forecast wasn't to promising as far as a bluebird day.
Got there at 9:30 and of course it was cloudy. At least it wasn't foggy. Got on the slopes and headed directly to the Strawberry Gondola. That's when the sun came out and turned it into a bluebird day
Riding on top at the 9,200 foot level it was maybe 45 degrees as I worked my way down to mid-mountain it was 50ish and softie conditions. on the bottom it was near 60 and slushy conditions. Great spring riding day at Snowbasin topped off with a delicious porter beer and pizza at the Pizza Pie Café in Ogden.




Highlights:  Spring Riding
Temperatures:   40-55
Sky: Mostly Bluebird
Conditions:  softy groomers and slushy groomers
Schooled:  All I know
Duration: 5:49

Nose press ollie up

Winter 2015-2016 Day 8: Park City repeat of yesterday

Noise pressing 180 frontsides

Highlights:  Groomers
Temperatures:   35-40
Sky: Bluebird
Conditions: some softy groomers, some icy groomers
Schooled:  All I know
Duration: 4 hours

Took a little side trip to the Canyons resort via the new Quicksilver gondola

Winter 2015-2016 Day 7: Park City - nearly epic groomer riding day

Park City - nearly an epic riding day. Warm sunshine softened the blue/green groomers. Effortlessly cruising high speed runs and making the 180 ollies fail proof.

Highlights:  Soft Groomers
Temperatures:   35-45
Sky: Bluebird
Conditions:  softy groomers
Schooled:  All I know
Duration: 4 hours

Winter 2015-2016 Day 6: Brighton's evening session - hardpacked, icy and fast

Sunset in the Mountains

Another evening session at the local slopes.
Hard pack, icy conditions.
New snow is needed. Very fast conditions, nearly hit 50 mph





 
Temperatures:   10-20 degrees
Sky: Clear
Conditions:  Hardpack
Schooled:  lot of 180s with some good feeling 180 backsides
Duration: 2.00 hours

Winter 2015-2016 Day 5: Back to the Wastch Mountains - an evening on the slopes

Back to the Wasatch Mountains - its been 3 years since my last trip to Utah.


Highlights:  First time in the mountains in 3 years
Temperatures:   10-20 degrees
Sky: Clear
Conditions:  Hardpack
Duration: 2.00 hours

Winter 2015-2016 Day 4: Another great day 3-4 inches of new fresh pow

Fun day after pow day - with some new 3-4 inches worth overnight.
Arrived late and still could find stashes of pow.
After down hilling headed to Lil' Glen lake for some EPIC snowkiting.  


Highlights:  Some new powder 3-4 inches
Temperatures:   13-15
Sky: mostly lite snow
Conditions:  3-4 inches of powder - groomed packed powder underneath
Schooled:  Easy pleasy day
Duration:  3.5 hours

Packed pow and 3-4 inched of pow at Crystal Mt Thursday
MAX SPEED 31.7 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 11.34
SKI DISTANCE 10.4 miles
SKI VERTICAL 6415 Ft
DURATION 3.0 hours

Found a nice stash of pow all to myself

Winter 2015-2016 Day 3: Nearly EPIC powder day with 6-10 inches of freshies

Nearly EPIC powder day with 6-10 inches of
freshies over night. It was forecasted for LE snow and the forecasters were spot on.
Early start - waiting in line at 9 am. Made first runs floating through the 6 to 10 without hitting bottom. I was able to find fresh stash most of the time I was there.
Finally by 12:30 a lot was tracked and I was tired. Had to save some for tomorrow's forecasted additional snow

Highlights:  Powder Day
Temperatures:   13-15
Sky: mostly lite snow with some sun early on
Conditions:  6-10 inches of powder - groomed hardpack underneath
Schooled:  Powder fun
Duration:  3.5 hours

Powder Day Crystal Mt Wednesday
MAX SPEED 29.56 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 11.21 mph
SKI DISTANCE 13.5 miles
SKI VERTICAL 8016 ft

Winter 2015-2016 Day 2: Crystal Mountain - it's been 2 months since I last hit the slopes

Highlights: First time out in 2 months
Temperatures:  Mid - 30s
Sky: Partly sunny
Conditions:  Started out as hardpack/icy and then the sun came out and softened the surface
Schooled: Caution at first because of icy conditions but once it softened I did all the moves I know
Duration: 3.0 hours

My tracks in the soft groomers

2-8-18 Crystal Mt
MAX SPEED  34.67 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 12.58 mph
SKI DISTANCE 21.04 miles
SKI VERTICAL 14926 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 49%