AND SO THE SNOWBOARD SEASON BEGINS…
Today, Whistler opened. I’m a little peeved at them for opening a day earlier, but that’s okay. I still love you, Whistler. I’ll still be there for you tomorrow for the opening of Blackcomb and some more chairs and terrains. Sure, it’s only a 55cm base and I’m going to scrape up my already scraped up snowboard. But at last, the long wait is over.
There’s something deeply satisfying about digging out my snowboard jacket, pants, gloves, helmet, goggles, and underlayers from the closet… wiggling my toes around in my stiff snowboard boots… and unzipping my board in its bag to make sure it is as fabulous as I remember.. and then laying it all out on the floor by the door so I don’t forget it tomorrow morning. Make sure my camera batteries are charged. Check. Make sure the lenses are clean. Check. Make sure I’ve got my 2-for-1 Whistler Blackcomb tickets from the Warren Miller movie printed, check!
I thought a good way to start off this season would be to recap where I’ve been, in terms of snowboarding/skiing resorts. It’s not as big as some people’s lists, but I’ve really enjoyed every mountain I’ve gone to… each one is so different.
MOUNTAINS I’VE BEEN TO OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS
1. Whistler Blackcomb
2. Cypress Mountain, Vancouver
3. Seymour Mountain, Vancouver
4. Mount Washington, Vancouver Island
5. Apex Mountain, Penticton
6. Big White, Kelowna
7. Manning Park, near Hope
8. Mount Baker, Washington
9. Mission Ridge, Washington
10. Squaw Valley, Tahoe
11. Mammoth, California (Yup, that’s an avalanche)
12. Snowbird, Utah
13. Steamboat, Colorado
(Yes believe it or not, I used to be a skier just one and a half years ago!)
In the next two years I hope to visit…
- Alaska
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Alberta
- More interior BC for catboarding
- Somewhere on the other hemisphere (New Zealand, Argentina etc)
One can only dream! 
Where have you been, and where do you dream of going?
Tags: Apex, Big White, Cypress, Mammoth, Manning Park, Mission Ridge, Mount Baker, Mount Washington, Seymour, Snowbird, Snowboarding, Squaw Valley, Steamboat, Whistler Blackcomb
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November 26th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
So many mountains, and so many more to go
08/09 Season day one in t-minus 11 hours
November 26th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Thanks for the link love… now I gotta get you up to Grouse
November 26th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
It’s not Argentina but if you are a Cypress seasons pass holder you get a free 7 day pass for Valle Nevado Ski Resort in Chile South America & who doesn’t want to vacation to somewhere with snow in July!
November 27th, 2008 at 12:23 am
right on! have fun at Whistler.. take some pics and get ready for alaska 09
November 27th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Funny that I’ve been to Manning Park myself too… only it was summer, and I hiked up & down those mountains for 4 days! Looking back, I’d far rather have been boarding them! (Though those trees on the trails I was on would’ve been a problem.)
Aim for New Zealand! I’m just a little bit biased but NZ = Win.
November 27th, 2008 at 5:25 am
That list is pretty good if you ask me! I’d like to hit Whistler or Mammoth (or both) to see what the best parks in the world are really like. Japan, because it’s supposed to be awesome, and all that snow can’t be bad. And a season long road trip around Canada stopping at all the small resorts that have great terrain and loads of pow!
November 27th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Nice Pics! I especially like the Cypress shot.
I’ve been to
Meribel, France
Val Thorens, France
Courchevel, France
Chamonix, France
Les Deux Alpes, France
Val d’Isere, France
Tignes, France
Les Arcs, France
Courmayeur, Italy
Val Gardena, Italy
Cervinia, Italy
Zermat, Switzerland
Niseko, Japan
Whistler, BC
Grouse, BC
Cypress, BC
Fernie, BC
Panorama, BC
Kicking Horse, BC
Can’t wait to get up to Whistler on Saturday!
November 27th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Nice list, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous! Such is the life of an east coast boarder…
November 27th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Wow I’m betting excited and nervous! We’re hitting Whistler tomorrow (Friday). With a 55cm base, that’s like what 4-5 inches? Bah not much snow! Hrm website says 52cm bah! I want more snow! lol
I want to take my Canon XSi up but I’m afraid I’ll fall on it so I’m going to just bring my SD750 because it’s way smaller lol.
I need some more boarding friends!
November 27th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Can’t say I’ve hit up that many mountains like you yet. The best skiing I did the last while was at Phelix Creek coming down from Aragorn Glacier (backcountry trip). It was knee deep powder and as I made each tele turn powder would splash against my face. Soooo awesome.
http://tawcan.blogspot.com/2008/03/sick-sick-pow.html
@ Tyler. I just put my XSi in my bag and only take it out when I know I’m totally safe and won’t fall on my face.
November 27th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Traitor… skiers rule
Bristol Mtn - NY
Holiday Valley - NY
Swain Mtn - NY
Ski Valley - NY
Gore Mtn - NY
Greek Peak - NY
Windam - NY
Whiteface Mtn - NY
Stowe - VT
Killington - VT
Dartmouth - VT (this is the first place I ever skied)
Okemo - VT
Waterville Valley - NH
Mountain Creek - NJ
Breckenridge - CO
Keystone - CO
Arapahoe Basin - CO
Vail - CO
Beaver Creek - CO
Park City - UT
Heavenly - Tahoe
Northstar - Tahoe
Mt. Baker - WA
Snoqualmie - WA
Stevens Pass - WA
Whistler - BC
That’s it…. that’s all… I think.
I dream of heli-skiing Alaska someday… it’s pretty much the only goal I have set right now.
November 27th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Wow that is an extensive list. I’m ditching work tomorrow and heading on up to Whistler. I so amped for the season to begin!
November 27th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Allan, yes so many mountains more to go!
Michelle, I definitely want to get up to Grouse this year. I’ve heard nothing but good things and trying a new mountain is always a great experience. Gotta support the local mtns!
The Jerk, woah that sounds like an awesome deal. Have you been there? Heard anything about it if it is any good?
JP, dude Alaska 2009 would be incredible. I want to go so so so so bad!
Mike, you’ve been to Manning! Hiking for 4 days.. doesn’t sound like my kind of thing
Kudos to you though, you’re much more fit than me! This year you should try out trees, I think you’d really like some tree runs, especially on some of the sides of the slopes of the green runs. I’ll show you on the work ski trip in Feb.
Gavin, that sounds like a really good list to me! Hit me up if you’re in BC!
David, wow, that’s quite the extensive list! I haven’t been snowboarding anywhere in Europe. I’d love to go. Sadly, only been in Europe in the spring/summer.
Dan, thanks! It’s not that big a list compared to others
You should get out West more! East coast is still fun though. When I was a skier I went to Holiday Valley and some of the other resorts around there and had a great time.
Tyler, woooo that’s awesome you’re going tomorrow! WATCH OUT FOR ROCKS
;) I’m sure we’ll get to meet up on the mountain soon 
Tawcan, where exactly is that glacier near Pemberton? I’m not familiar with the name. It looks like you had a great time in your photos. Anywhere where powder is that abundant sounds good to me!
fish, darn you, I knew you’d come on here and spoil the fun… what a list!!! Are you gonna be in Tahoe in Feb? I’m planning a trip and it’d be great to ride with you and your girl.
UD, yeah I know eh, some people have huge lists. Can’t believe you’re ditching work! Seems so unlike you. Wait, I didn’t even know you boarded! I’ve been deceived. Let me know how you enjoy tomorrow… and look out for the rocks. It was pretty tracked out when I left today so at least they are visible
I think it dusted a bit tonight. Have a great time!!! Any mountain day is a good day!
November 27th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
here’s the list from last season…
whistler/blackcomb
mt seymour, bc
revelstoke mtn, bc
skeena heli, bc
mt.baker, wa
heavenly, ca
northstar at tahoe, ca
boreal, ca
sierra at tahoe, ca
mammoth, ca
kingvale, ca
squaw valley, ca
timberline, or
winterpark, co
brighton, ut
solitute, ut
laax, switzerland
methven heli, nz
cook/aoraki heli, nz
mt. olympus, nz
November 28th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Trees - Sounds like I will definitely work hard on my steering before then, or otherwise I will be doing what I thought initially; CLIMBING trees… the wrong way.
November 28th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Great photos. I love the colors and the sharpness–much better than I often see on snowboarding sites, for some reason.
Don’t worry about being a ski “traitor,” you may want to step into a pair of skis now and then just for the sake of variety. Last season I took the skis out of the closet for the first time in three years. It was only for a day, but I enjoyed mixing it up.
Here’s my own list of mountains: Aspen, Highlands, Buttermilk, Highlands, Vail and A-basin make up my western North America experience. For the east coast I’ve been to three places in New Hampshire: Bretton Woods (a lot of fun in some gentle glades); Cannon (good powder, with an afternoon excursion into the “backcountry” Mittersell); and Loon (draws a lot of traffic from Boston). The Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan) is home, so the vertical and length there is limited. In fact, the limit of the terrain is one reason I took up riding.r