Winter Sport Online
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Cheap but Good: Snowboards
Andrew Terpstra
Getting your hands on a brand new board takes a significant amount of money. But with the great invention of the internet—no credit to Al Gore—you can find some great deals online. In most cases shipping makes up for the discount price, but if you look hard enough, the deals are there. The key is to shop in the off-season.
One such site that has some great deals on ’09 boards is Sierra Snowboard. I came across the site just looking for some good deals on Burton boards, and I found the jackpot.
The Burton Custom
Retail Price $549.95—Sierra Snowboard Price: $274.98 (free shipping!)
This is an intermediate to advanced level board. This board can be used for about any terrain imaginable—from parks to cliff drops in the backcountry. With a dual angled sidewall, the Carbon I-Beam backbone, and with Burton’s custom edge tune, this board is one you will be riding for quite some time.
Most people don’t want to drop almost 600 bucks on a board though. But Sierra Snowboard has it for half the price of retail—and the best part is…free U.S. shipping!
The Burton Vapor
Retail Price: $999.99—Sierra Snowboard Price: $499.98 (free shipping!)
The Vapor is just what it sounds like—the lightest board on the market today. This all around board is not for the causal rider. It has been built to exceed every other board on the market. To spend $500 on a on-sale board means you better be out every other day. Although priced still at a solid $500, down from $1,000 is a pretty good deal for a board built with every bit of Burton technology possible. You can check out the specs here. Yet another great deal from Sierra Snowboard that includes guess what? Free shipping!
The Burton Malolo.jpg)
Retail Price: $549.95—Sierra Snowboard Price: $274.98 (free shipping!)
The Malolo. This board I personally own and I can attest to you it is the best powder board I have ever ridden in my life. The tail of the board is tapered down to be skinnier than the nose so the board literally floats through the deepest snow you can find. While you watch everyone else struggling to keep their boards from sinking, you will just be floating by effortlessly—no exaggeration. Once again—free shipping from Sierra Snowboard.
Getting your hands on a brand new board takes a significant amount of money. But with the great invention of the internet—no credit to Al Gore—you can find some great deals online. In most cases shipping makes up for the discount price, but if you look hard enough, the deals are there. The key is to shop in the off-season.
One such site that has some great deals on ’09 boards is Sierra Snowboard. I came across the site just looking for some good deals on Burton boards, and I found the jackpot.
The Burton Custom
Retail Price $549.95—Sierra Snowboard Price: $274.98 (free shipping!)
This is an intermediate to advanced level board. This board can be used for about any terrain imaginable—from parks to cliff drops in the backcountry. With a dual angled sidewall, the Carbon I-Beam backbone, and with Burton’s custom edge tune, this board is one you will be riding for quite some time.
Most people don’t want to drop almost 600 bucks on a board though. But Sierra Snowboard has it for half the price of retail—and the best part is…free U.S. shipping!
The Burton Vapor
Retail Price: $999.99—Sierra Snowboard Price: $499.98 (free shipping!)
The Vapor is just what it sounds like—the lightest board on the market today. This all around board is not for the causal rider. It has been built to exceed every other board on the market. To spend $500 on a on-sale board means you better be out every other day. Although priced still at a solid $500, down from $1,000 is a pretty good deal for a board built with every bit of Burton technology possible. You can check out the specs here. Yet another great deal from Sierra Snowboard that includes guess what? Free shipping!
The Burton Malolo
.jpg)
Retail Price: $549.95—Sierra Snowboard Price: $274.98 (free shipping!)
The Malolo. This board I personally own and I can attest to you it is the best powder board I have ever ridden in my life. The tail of the board is tapered down to be skinnier than the nose so the board literally floats through the deepest snow you can find. While you watch everyone else struggling to keep their boards from sinking, you will just be floating by effortlessly—no exaggeration. Once again—free shipping from Sierra Snowboard.
Cheap but Good: Caberfae Peaks
Andrew Terpstra
College students never have enough money to do the boarding or skiing they want to. Especially when the good resorts cost upwards of sixty bucks these days. There are however some resorts that offer cheap college prices and still have a decent mountain. One of these mountains is Caberfae Peaks in Cadillac Michigan.
When you think of great skiing and snowboarding you don’t usually think of Michigan first. But this resort offers some pretty decent terrain for the price college students have to pay. After 12pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, if you bring your college I.D. a lift ticket costs $15 after 12pm, $14 after 1pm, $13 after 2pm and it decreases a dollar after every hour until 6pm. Anything after 6pm costs $9—no joke—no catch.
The mountain has 34 runs and 6 different lifts covering two different peaks. The mountain has a 485-foot vertical, which isn’t much to brag about, but for Michigan it’s one of the better places to get out and have a good time.
The terrain isn’t terribly impressive, as it is primarily only trees and mostly open runs. There are some tree runs that are pretty enjoyable, but the variety in terrain is not immense.
If you are a local and are looking for just another place to get some skiing or boarding in, it is worth the drive. Even driving an hour or two from the Grand Rapids area is well worth the cheap lift ticket prices for college students.
The terrain park is more of a jib park with mostly rails, barrels, and a wall ride. There aren’t any jumps so if you’re looking to do some flying there won’t be much you can do.
Caberfae Peaks is one spot that you college shredders can go and enjoy some snow. Even though it’s Michigan, there is usually pretty good snow. Sometimes there’s a lot of fake stuff but riding is riding—especially for only nine bucks. Its cheap—but good.
College students never have enough money to do the boarding or skiing they want to. Especially when the good resorts cost upwards of sixty bucks these days. There are however some resorts that offer cheap college prices and still have a decent mountain. One of these mountains is Caberfae Peaks in Cadillac Michigan.
When you think of great skiing and snowboarding you don’t usually think of Michigan first. But this resort offers some pretty decent terrain for the price college students have to pay. After 12pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, if you bring your college I.D. a lift ticket costs $15 after 12pm, $14 after 1pm, $13 after 2pm and it decreases a dollar after every hour until 6pm. Anything after 6pm costs $9—no joke—no catch.
The mountain has 34 runs and 6 different lifts covering two different peaks. The mountain has a 485-foot vertical, which isn’t much to brag about, but for Michigan it’s one of the better places to get out and have a good time.
The terrain isn’t terribly impressive, as it is primarily only trees and mostly open runs. There are some tree runs that are pretty enjoyable, but the variety in terrain is not immense.
If you are a local and are looking for just another place to get some skiing or boarding in, it is worth the drive. Even driving an hour or two from the Grand Rapids area is well worth the cheap lift ticket prices for college students.
The terrain park is more of a jib park with mostly rails, barrels, and a wall ride. There aren’t any jumps so if you’re looking to do some flying there won’t be much you can do.
Caberfae Peaks is one spot that you college shredders can go and enjoy some snow. Even though it’s Michigan, there is usually pretty good snow. Sometimes there’s a lot of fake stuff but riding is riding—especially for only nine bucks. Its cheap—but good.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Resort Review: Keystone, Keystone Colorado
Jake Terpstra
Keystone Resort, located in Keystone, Colorado offers superb skiing and snowboarding for the outdoor adventurer. About an hour drive from Denver, Colorado Keystone provides a great place for a day or weekend getaway.
The terrain at Keystone Resort proves some of the best in Colorado. One of the perks of this luxury resort is night skiing. Most resorts in Colorado do not offer night skiing as an option skiers and snowboarders. Night skiing hours at Keystone allow the outdoor enthusiast, to head up to the mountains for a few hours after work and take some time to relax on the slopes.
Keystone, located just minutes from other resorts such as Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin, provides a variety of terrain. From easy mid-mountain greens, to steep powder filled runs, Keystone offers just about everything when it comes to terrain.
Although lift lines can get the best of you in Colorado, most of the time Keystone’s lift lines are short, and nonexistent on the backside of the mountain.
The snow at Keystone is some of the best in the state, and Keystone always seems to have a lot of it. Compared to Breckinridge, which has a tendency for icy snow, the snow at Keystone seems constantly fresh. Keystone is tucked away just southeast of the city of Dillon, Colorado, where thick forests, and mountains that surround the area keep Keystone out of the wind.
Many of the runs at Keystone Resort can be enjoyed regardless of your skill level. Jumps and chutes through the trees are always located on the sides of nearly every lower-mountain run. Most of the mid-mountain and lower-mountain runs at Keystone have rollers, and many curves, which makes riding the snow much more interesting and fun.
Professional riders from around the globe come to Keystone Resort, to push themselves to the limit in Keystone’s supersized terrain park. Keystone’s terrain park is ranked as the best in the state of Colorado, and gives everyone a chance to improve their skills. While Keystone provides fifty-foot jumps they also have smaller terrain parks for beginner riders. If you don’t want to hit the jumps, you can just come out and watch the pro’s rip it up. People like Danny Kass, Andreas Wiig, and Tanner Hall, are often guests at Keystone Resort.
If you are a die-hard backcountry skier or snowboarder Keystone also presents backcountry terrain. This terrain can be easily accessed with some hiking, or you can get a lift in a snowcat up to the top for a fee of only five dollars per trip.
After hitting the slopes all day, Keystone provides entertaining nightlife with in-town concerts. Whether you are a beginner snowboarder or skier, professional rider, or just want some time to get away and relax, Keystone Resort is an ideal place to go for all your winter fun.
Keystone Resort, located in Keystone, Colorado offers superb skiing and snowboarding for the outdoor adventurer. About an hour drive from Denver, Colorado Keystone provides a great place for a day or weekend getaway.
The terrain at Keystone Resort proves some of the best in Colorado. One of the perks of this luxury resort is night skiing. Most resorts in Colorado do not offer night skiing as an option skiers and snowboarders. Night skiing hours at Keystone allow the outdoor enthusiast, to head up to the mountains for a few hours after work and take some time to relax on the slopes.
Keystone, located just minutes from other resorts such as Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin, provides a variety of terrain. From easy mid-mountain greens, to steep powder filled runs, Keystone offers just about everything when it comes to terrain.
Although lift lines can get the best of you in Colorado, most of the time Keystone’s lift lines are short, and nonexistent on the backside of the mountain.
The snow at Keystone is some of the best in the state, and Keystone always seems to have a lot of it. Compared to Breckinridge, which has a tendency for icy snow, the snow at Keystone seems constantly fresh. Keystone is tucked away just southeast of the city of Dillon, Colorado, where thick forests, and mountains that surround the area keep Keystone out of the wind.
Many of the runs at Keystone Resort can be enjoyed regardless of your skill level. Jumps and chutes through the trees are always located on the sides of nearly every lower-mountain run. Most of the mid-mountain and lower-mountain runs at Keystone have rollers, and many curves, which makes riding the snow much more interesting and fun.
Professional riders from around the globe come to Keystone Resort, to push themselves to the limit in Keystone’s supersized terrain park. Keystone’s terrain park is ranked as the best in the state of Colorado, and gives everyone a chance to improve their skills. While Keystone provides fifty-foot jumps they also have smaller terrain parks for beginner riders. If you don’t want to hit the jumps, you can just come out and watch the pro’s rip it up. People like Danny Kass, Andreas Wiig, and Tanner Hall, are often guests at Keystone Resort.
If you are a die-hard backcountry skier or snowboarder Keystone also presents backcountry terrain. This terrain can be easily accessed with some hiking, or you can get a lift in a snowcat up to the top for a fee of only five dollars per trip.
After hitting the slopes all day, Keystone provides entertaining nightlife with in-town concerts. Whether you are a beginner snowboarder or skier, professional rider, or just want some time to get away and relax, Keystone Resort is an ideal place to go for all your winter fun.
Resort Review: Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes California
Andrew Terpstra
When we woke up and saw 36 inches of snow on top of the SUV we knew Mammoth was well worth the 6-hour drive from Southern California.
It is always surreal to drive through the high desert and make the journey up to Mammoth Lakes and arrive in a typical mountain town covered in glorious powder. The town is small and ski cabins are more than abundant. It gives the resort almost a private feeling; as though it is for locals only.
Once you get to the center of the town—the secondary base—you can take a gondola up to the primary base of the mountain. This is an extremely cool feature because it allows the town to be the centered around the resort.
When the gondola reaches the primary base of the mountain you see where the 36 inches
of snow went.
The mountain itself has a 3,100-foot vertical—giving the mountain a fairly impressive peak. With 29 different lifts and 150 runs that cover 3,500 acres of vast snow covered goodness, Mammoth is named appropriately.
When the gondola reaches the primary base of the mountain you see where the 36 inches
of snow went.
The mountain itself has a 3,100-foot vertical—giving the mountain a fairly impressive peak. With 29 different lifts and 150 runs that cover 3,500 acres of vast snow covered goodness, Mammoth is named appropriately.
Mammoth is a great mountain, especially for being in California—the always-sunny state. The snow is typically great. Anyplace where they get a dump of 36 inches overnight is…well…awesome.
When we woke up and saw 36 inches of snow on top of the SUV we knew Mammoth was well worth the 6-hour drive from Southern California.
It is always surreal to drive through the high desert and make the journey up to Mammoth Lakes and arrive in a typical mountain town covered in glorious powder. The town is small and ski cabins are more than abundant. It gives the resort almost a private feeling; as though it is for locals only.
Once you get to the center of the town—the secondary base—you can take a gondola up to the primary base of the mountain. This is an extremely cool feature because it allows the town to be the centered around the resort.
When the gondola reaches the primary base of the mountain you see where the 36 inches
of snow went.
The mountain itself has a 3,100-foot vertical—giving the mountain a fairly impressive peak. With 29 different lifts and 150 runs that cover 3,500 acres of vast snow covered goodness, Mammoth is named appropriately.
When the gondola reaches the primary base of the mountain you see where the 36 inches
of snow went.
The mountain itself has a 3,100-foot vertical—giving the mountain a fairly impressive peak. With 29 different lifts and 150 runs that cover 3,500 acres of vast snow covered goodness, Mammoth is named appropriately.
Mammoth is a great mountain, especially for being in California—the always-sunny state. The snow is typically great. Anyplace where they get a dump of 36 inches overnight is…well…awesome.
Resort Review: Snowbird, Salt Lake City Utah
Andrew Terpstra
Walking in from the parking lot there is a lot of mountain in front of you—and I mean a lot.
Snowbird has over 89 named runs and 11 chair lifts that are spread out over 2,500 skiable acres of mountain. The two-peak mountain also gets an excess of 500 inches of annual snowfall. When it snows here, it really snows.
Skiing or boarding here during January and February is prime time. You can really tell how much snow they get when you head up into the multiple bowls from the top of the peaks. I saw a skier that had too much speed trying to go over a crest and there was so much snow that his tips got stuck and he flipped completely over and all you could see was his skis sticking up into the air.
The terrain is fairly varied at Snowbird. There are a lot of tree runs that are a blast to go through. The trees are wide enough apart that you can make good carves, but close enough that you have some obstacles to dodge. There are plenty of small cliffs and boulders to be ridden off as well.
One thing at Snowbird that I have never seen before is a magic carpet that actually takes people through the inside of the mountain. A tunnel is carved through the middle of the mountain so people can get back and forth in a fun and unique way.
However, the Bird is not for the small wallets. A day pass with tram access costs $62, and with no discounts except for children and senior citizens, the day passes add up quick.
For a vacation spot Snowbird is definitely worth the money. There are 3 other resorts within about 30 miles, so there is plenty of riding to be done around the Salt Lake area. If you want some deep snow to ride through, the Bird is the place to be in Utah.
Walking in from the parking lot there is a lot of mountain in front of you—and I mean a lot.
Snowbird has over 89 named runs and 11 chair lifts that are spread out over 2,500 skiable acres of mountain. The two-peak mountain also gets an excess of 500 inches of annual snowfall. When it snows here, it really snows.
Skiing or boarding here during January and February is prime time. You can really tell how much snow they get when you head up into the multiple bowls from the top of the peaks. I saw a skier that had too much speed trying to go over a crest and there was so much snow that his tips got stuck and he flipped completely over and all you could see was his skis sticking up into the air.
The terrain is fairly varied at Snowbird. There are a lot of tree runs that are a blast to go through. The trees are wide enough apart that you can make good carves, but close enough that you have some obstacles to dodge. There are plenty of small cliffs and boulders to be ridden off as well.
One thing at Snowbird that I have never seen before is a magic carpet that actually takes people through the inside of the mountain. A tunnel is carved through the middle of the mountain so people can get back and forth in a fun and unique way.
However, the Bird is not for the small wallets. A day pass with tram access costs $62, and with no discounts except for children and senior citizens, the day passes add up quick.
For a vacation spot Snowbird is definitely worth the money. There are 3 other resorts within about 30 miles, so there is plenty of riding to be done around the Salt Lake area. If you want some deep snow to ride through, the Bird is the place to be in Utah.
Resort Review: Big Sky, Big Sky Montana
Andrew Terpstra
Pulling up to the resort all you can see is the giant mountain, with nothing surrounding it but blue sky. It even slightly resembles the Paramount Pictures mountain. There’s a reason why this place is called Lone Mountain—it’s the only mountain you can see.
The Big Sky Lone Mountain Resort is one where I have spent many winters. The mountain itself stands with an intimidating 4,350 foot vertical, with 16 different chair lifts. The resort covers 85 miles with 150 named runs that span over three separate mountains.
The terrain is about as varied as it can be. The easy runs are always groomed well and are very open. The intermediates have the occasional groom and they are just as wide as the easy runs—just steeper. The expert runs have every kind of obstacle known to man.
These obstacles vary from trees, to rocks, to boulders, to cliffs, to 8-foot wide chutes through rock walls.
The resort itself has a vast amount of lodging options both on and around the mountain. Condominiums are everywhere, hotels line the base of the mountain, and cabins and homes are located on the outskirts of the resort property. All of the close to mountain lodgings however, are a bit expensive.
The snow at Big Sky is always phenomenal if you make the trip during late December through all of January. As of late however, not many places have been getting much snow because of good ole’ global warming. But when Big Sky gets the snow, there is no place that can top it.
Pulling up to the resort all you can see is the giant mountain, with nothing surrounding it but blue sky. It even slightly resembles the Paramount Pictures mountain. There’s a reason why this place is called Lone Mountain—it’s the only mountain you can see.
The Big Sky Lone Mountain Resort is one where I have spent many winters. The mountain itself stands with an intimidating 4,350 foot vertical, with 16 different chair lifts. The resort covers 85 miles with 150 named runs that span over three separate mountains.
The terrain is about as varied as it can be. The easy runs are always groomed well and are very open. The intermediates have the occasional groom and they are just as wide as the easy runs—just steeper. The expert runs have every kind of obstacle known to man.
These obstacles vary from trees, to rocks, to boulders, to cliffs, to 8-foot wide chutes through rock walls.
The resort itself has a vast amount of lodging options both on and around the mountain. Condominiums are everywhere, hotels line the base of the mountain, and cabins and homes are located on the outskirts of the resort property. All of the close to mountain lodgings however, are a bit expensive.
The snow at Big Sky is always phenomenal if you make the trip during late December through all of January. As of late however, not many places have been getting much snow because of good ole’ global warming. But when Big Sky gets the snow, there is no place that can top it.
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