Whistler

Whistler

Whistler/Blackcomb

Blackcomb rises 5280 vertical feet on one side of Fitzsimmons Creek and Whistler rises 5020 vertical feet on the other side of the creek. Both fields are found 70 miles north of Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. They offer more than 7000 acres of terrain plus backcountry runs when combined.

Whistler is located 70 miles north of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. The field covers 3600 acres with a vertical rise of 5020 feet. The season runs from November to July and they experience great spring snow conditions.

The Whistler region receives an average 360 inches of snow each year. In the 1998 to 1999 season, it snowed 644 inches. Whistler has seven-mile-long runs and is as big as it gets in the lift-serviced fields of North America.

The Whistler village is more like a small city. Plenty of partying goes on through the night.

Whistler Blackcomb will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. The fields are located 70 miles north of Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada...

Aspen

Aspen

Aspen, Colorado, United States of America

On the surface Aspen can appear to be a ritzy place just for the rich to play up. When you get past this and get into the mountains there is plenty of amazing steep and gnarly terrain. This is a home for the true snowboarder, not just a place to wear the gear with the rich pseudo-snowboarders/skiiers. If you want to feel the thrill of some real terrain and the crisp air to match it - you will find the runs here!

Aspen is a favourite Colorado ski resort. It is world-renowned for its downhill skiing. Aspen Mountain rises imposingly from the township and is one of four ski areas surrounding Aspen. Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk all lie within 12 miles of Aspen town.

These mountains are cut by beautiful alpine valleys. The Maroon Creek, Castle Creek and Hunter Creek Valleys are all easily accessible from Aspen township. Much of the high mountain area surrounding Aspen lies within designated wilderness areas in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass, Hunter-Fryingpan, and Collegiate Peaks wildernesses.

Aspen sits at the upper end of the Roaring Fork Valley, with the Roaring Fork River, a superb trout stream, running through the town. Aspen offers an interesting history, outdoor challenging recreation opportunities, abundant cultural activities, pleasant climate and beautiful natural scenery.

Most of the area around Aspen is public land within the White River National Forest. The spectacular Elk Mountains rise to the south and west of Aspen, with the Williams Mountains and the Sawatch Range to the east. These mountains are cut by beautiful alpine valleys.

The Maroon Creek, Castle Creek and Hunter Creek Valleys are all easily accessible from Aspen township. Much of the high mountain area surrounding Aspen lies within designated wilderness areas in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass, Hunter-Fryingpan, and Collegiate Peaks wildernesses.

The four ski mountains are the most popular attractions within Colorado ski resorts but are far from the only ones. The Maroon Bells are some of the most photographed mountains in North America and are a very popular destination.

In addition to the restored historic buildings within the town of Aspen, Ashcroft and Independence are well preserved ghost towns which offer a scenic outing and a glimpse into the region's rich mining history.

The Roaring Fork and Fryingpan Rivers provide anglers with some of the best trout fishing in the state. Independence Pass (a main summer route into town), Castle Creek Road to Ashcroft, and Maroon Creek Road are all paved roads offering spectacular scenery.

More information on the mountains to come...

Snowboard

Snowboard

Buying a Snowboard

To start you need to sort out two things: Your preferred style of snowboard riding and your ideal board length. Styles of snowboard riding have names and you can start with the main ones - freeride, freecarve, racing or freestyle. Each will require a different edge. The amount of edge in contact with the snow is called the effective edge. Snowboards are also available for the kids market. Kid’s snowboards are usually cheaper.

Freeriding Snowboards – A combination snowboard built for a mix of riding styles. The freerider may be doing freestyle tricks one minute, carving groomed trails the next minute and then venturing onto untracked powder. These snowboards are a medium board between the freestyle and racing snowboards and as such combine characteristics of each. There tends to be some difference in these snowboards, some tending to be more like a freestyling snowboard and others more like a racing snowboard.

Racing Snowboards – Racing or Alpine snowboards tend to be a stiffer board than the freeriding or freestyle boards. They edge better and carve out high speed turns with less chattering. Racing snowboards are narrow and fast, they are built to hold an edge at high speed. Alpine snowboards are similar, though a little sturdier to survive tough mountain skiing.

Freestyle Snowboards – Freestyle snowboarders spend most of their time in halfpipes, on rails, spinning and bonking off anything in the snowboard park. Their snowboards are wide and flexible with little camber or swing weight.

If you are unsure as to which riding style you fit into, then select the middle range freeriding snowboard, you can always move to a more suitable snowboard later. As a general rule beginners may find a snowboard that touches between their chin and nose, when they stand next to it, will work best for them. Freestyle snowboards are usually shorter and alpine and powder riding snowboards are longer.

Professional riders have snowboards built to their own specifications…they have snowboards that combine just the right amount of sidecut, flex, camber and length for their body weight and riding style…

Snowboard Bindings

Snowboard Bindings

Snowboard Bindings

The selection of a suitable binding is easier than the choice of the board. The Plate Binding is adjustable in size. They are best used with hard shoes. The plate bindings are usually entered from a front binding. With this binding, an optimal transfer of energy onto the board is achieved. Plate bindings are used mainly in alpine snowboarding.

The shell or soft binding is used for freestyle and the half-pipe mainly. A soft boot is worn with the binding allowing a high degree of flexibility on the board. Adjustable buckles guarantee an even distribution of pressure and attach the boots to the board.

As regards the safety aspect, injuries when using ski boots are most frequently of the knee, including ligaments and cartilage. When soft boots are worn, the injuries tend to be more around the ankle. The ankle injuries are easier to treat and generally heal faster. Beginner’s injuries tend to be more in the knee and ankle areas, while experienced snowboarders are more prone to injuries in the hands, arms or shoulders.

Snowboards

Snowboards

Snowboards

Manufacturers have developed to the stage where manufacturers offer the right board to suit each snowboarding discipline. Now a snowboarder is confronted with a large diversity of product. The choice can confuse the beginner.

There are three main groups of snowboards: All-around board; Alpine race board (asymmetrical) and the Freestyle board. There are also three methods of construction: Foam method (injection method); Compound method and the Sandwich method with wooden core. The laminated sandwich method is the most expensive to produce. The quality is unsurpassed and they have longevity.

There are two different procedures for mounting bindings onto the boards offered by manufacturers. The binding can be screwed into brass inserts or the binding is screwed into the snowboard in the binding area with special screws.

Ski New Zealand

Ski New Zealand

Ski New Zealand – Snow Park

Snow Park, New Zealand opened to the public four years ago and is the first dedicated freestyle terrain park in the world. The Snow Park has now developed into the premier Southern Hemisphere freestyle resort destination. The park features three half-pipes, a quarter pipe, a fixed quad chairlift, over 40 boxes, rails and hits and music playing on a 5000-watt system while you ride.

This field is one to watch! The scenery up there is amazing. In years gone by I can remember the farm where Snow Park is, was used for filming television commercials. Filming of 'feature cars' took place up there. The cars were trailered down there in locked up trucks. Some of the cars were brought to New Zealand from Europe for filming in this spectacular scenery.

From the little research that I have done on this resort so far, I will definitely be checking this resort out further - it looks awesome...

Ski New Zealand

Ski New Zealand

Snowboard - New Zealand

New Zealand has a range of skifields across the country. The North Island of New Zealand fields can be found centrally on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand and there is one field located in the North Island on Mount Egmont in Taranaki, New Zealand. In the South Island, New Zealand the fields are located all along the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs downwards along the centre of the island. The Rainbow skifield is the northern most field. The next field is Mount Lyford and then Amuri is located not far from the popular resort of Hanmer Springs where you can relax after your skiing/snowboarding in the hot pools.

From there we go to the more intense areas with a number of skifields through the Arthurs Pass region in the centre of the South Island on the main route from Christchurch through to the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. In this area there are a series of club fields where clubs run the operation of the field as opposed to businesses. Close to Christchurch is the field that is renowned for some of the most reliable snow conditions in the country, the commercial Mount Hutt skifield with a season running from May through to late October in the average year. This field hosts a number of International events. From there all the way down there are skifields scattered through the mountains, too many fields to list here offering a range of different terrain and facilities.

Around Lake Tekapo is the Round Hill skifield an excellent field for beginners. Lake Ohau hosts the Ohau skifield popular with snowboarders.

Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand offers ski flights taking you up to ski the Tasman Glacier for something a little different and you will find heli-skiing and riding all along the Southern Alps.

Around Wanaka the two well known fields are Treble Cone and Cardrona. Opposite Cardrona you will find Snow Park, especially equipped for the snowboarder and not to be missed while boarding in New Zealand.

Queenstown has the Remarkables field and the more established Coronet Peak skifield is close nearby the Queenstown township.

In New Zealand you will find plenty of alpine snowboarding...

Zermatt

Zermatt

Zermatt

On the Zermatt field in Switzerland you will find superb scenery, alpine charm, luxury accommodation and an excellent ski school. Zermatt is at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn.

Zermatt has developed into both a summer and winter resort. There are no motorised vehicles in Zermatt. Besides electrically-powered cars and bicycles, the only form of transport allowed is horse-drawn sleighs and carriages. A promenade down the main street in the evening is always popular. At any time, it is delightful to explore some of the tiny (and romantic) cobbled alleyways just off the main street, where you will find ancient sun browned barns and traditional chalets. It is very much like stepping back in time.

Zermatt offers plenty of superb open terrain for boarders. There are also two snowboard parks and two man-made half pipes - one at Blauherd, the other between Trockener Steg and Furgg. Snowboards are also welcome on all lifts and 99% of the pistes. There is also a dedicated snowboarding school.