tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93608252008-07-02T12:39:21.879-05:00PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comBlogger342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-52046370002298244692008-07-02T08:13:00.001-05:002008-07-02T12:39:21.911-05:00

There are thousands of places where you can buy a snowboard, either online or in a traditional retail store. I have never purchased anything from Sierra Snowboard, but I came across them through some Internet searches. What caught my eye are the interactive features of the site. It offers forums, a Wiki, chat, and other features that draw people to the site and build loyalty. It also has

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-52603925924386265922008-06-27T09:50:00.001-05:002008-06-27T09:50:00.522-05:00

For this blog, I've got a goal of putting up at least one new post a month or if it works out, one a week--or better. But if you're still interested in reading more, check out a "non-gray" rider whose site I've praised before. Shannon at Shayboarder is putting together (among other things) a series of profiles of various people in the industry, such as a professor of the ski business.

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-79549333255483679342008-06-25T05:10:00.001-05:002008-06-25T05:10:00.967-05:00

Question: How much money does it take to upgrade a ski resort? The Industry Report says that Boyne Resorts will spend $14.5 million in upgrades at Sunday River and Sugarloaf USA will get $5 million in new snowmaking equipment. The company has already put a couple million dollars (at least)into Loon Mountain. The Michigan-based company purchased the right to operate (and in some cases, own) each

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-63902378371656176702008-06-23T07:33:00.000-05:002008-06-23T07:34:03.531-05:00

Are adults who go snowboarding the just-out-of-high-school sorts who, except for a different set of equipment, are "ski" bums? Some are, but certainly not all. The Reno Gazette-Journal says that there's a new principal at a local middle school. Among the off-the-clock interests of Sean Moyle: You got it; snowboarding. Of course, when you live in Reno, you've got plenty of good options to choose

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-5432394848946135502008-06-22T09:29:00.003-05:002008-06-22T09:41:25.245-05:00

Winter in the mountains can be a special time of exhileration, joy, and purposeful challenge. Unfortunately, it can also be deadly. Yesterday, three men who had gone on an overnight snowboarding trip in a wilderness area of Washington state were found dead. They had disappeared in December. Friends of the men took advantage of the coming of summer to get access to the difficult terrain.

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-10557354595402474962008-06-13T07:52:00.000-05:002008-06-12T12:02:29.916-05:00

Ever think, when you're at your favorite destination resort, "I wish I lived here all the time?" There are certainly some advantages--but difficulties, too The magazine The Vail Trail has a look at living in Eagle County, Colorado. Among the challenges: expensive real estate, hard-to-find daycare for those who want it, more expensive health care and a small-town atmosphere that may

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-46463001788898072912008-06-12T07:12:00.004-05:002008-06-12T08:11:00.650-05:00

This won't exactly entice adults to try snowboarding, but honesty requires a mention of a new report on injuries. One AP story has this first paragraph: "More people are hurt snowboarding than any other outdoor activity, accounting for a quarter of emergency room visits, according to the first national study to estimate recreational injuries." (Stephanie Nano, CDC: Snowboarding tops lists for

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-77200308561984989962008-06-11T06:21:00.000-05:002008-06-11T09:30:56.977-05:00

Do you ever look at a trail map that claims somewhere that the mountain has X number of trails and then wonder if that's actually the case? The map of Mont Tremblant claims 94 trails. Take a look at the trail map, and you'll see that each named route has a unique number. Is there a logic to the sequence? It's not obvious.

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-50832265535584466722008-06-08T09:59:00.002-05:002008-06-08T17:13:51.923-05:00

Summer is here and the snow is not. But can you simulate some of the sensations of snowboarding? Perhaps. "The Pro Rider" is the annual publication of the American Association of Snowboard Instructors. The 2008 edition has an article, "Summertime Shredding?," which describes several different boards that might be worth trying out ... this summer. Here's are a few quick comments on the options,

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-30781502547389705822008-06-01T14:31:00.001-05:002008-06-01T14:32:22.439-05:00

Cleaning out some papers I came across a note I had attached to the November 2005 edition of Snowboarder magazine. There was a letter from "Anne Lewis," of Fairbanks, Alaska. Lewis wrote:"My husband and I got a chuckle when we read about the riders "well into their 30s an still ripping." We took a few snowboarding lessons to surprise our snowboarding sons. We both discovered that it was more fun

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-48780450811161943622008-06-01T13:06:00.005-05:002008-06-01T14:19:20.997-05:00

You know the cliche. I'm thinking of it as I look through the photos offered by the "2008 Official Vacation Planner" from the folks behind VisitAspenSnowmass.com Hot air balloons getting to take off in the early morning, jogging through a mountain meadow, hiking along rivers. All sounds good. Of course, it's the convention bureau, so it's supposed to be appealing. Best foot forward, you know.

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-26447699969305627912008-05-26T10:23:00.007-05:002008-05-26T11:23:48.683-05:00

In mid-March I paid a visit to Mount Kato, a small hill in southern Minnesota. It's like most ski and snowboard areas in the state: limited terrain, small vertical drop, and a small area. But during the right time, it also offers a way to spend some time on the snow. The snow is long gone, I've already started to play golf, and I even paid a visit to the summer cottage. But during that visit I

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-86920775789806784202008-05-23T08:54:00.001-05:002008-05-23T09:20:24.694-05:00

Is Burton good for snowboarding? It's a matter for debate in any number of discussion forums, including one for ski and snowboard instructors. For the last several months I've been toying with the idea of writing a brief article explaining my dislike of the company. In short, it has done some good, but it also promotes an image of riding that is bad for the sport--or at least bad for mature

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-58570908365759872062008-05-19T08:29:00.004-05:002008-05-19T08:43:35.725-05:00

Ever want to go snowboarding in May? You can do it, if you know where to look. You might even get some fresh snow to ride in. Recently I was able to meet a few Grays on Trays folks in Arapahoe Basin, Colorado. Nearby Breckenridge, Copper, Keystone and even Loveland had shut down the lifts for the season, but A-Basin was going strong. As you can see from theses photos of the Montezuma Bowl,

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-58033007696976862912008-05-12T07:46:00.002-05:002008-05-12T08:06:58.284-05:00

Is snowboarding an "extreme sport?" Think about it this way: Is driving a car a sport, extreme or otherwise? It depends. Are you driving a Honda Accord down a suburban street, or are you driving a Formula 1 car through the streets? Got the picture? It all depends on what you're doing with the equipment. If you're cruising down groomed blue trails, that's not extreme. If you're riding off

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-81818502156435677062008-05-09T08:33:00.004-05:002008-05-09T08:37:30.803-05:00

If you will need or want a new snowboard, bindings, or boots for next season, this might be a good time to go shopping. You can save a lot of money off retail. One place that may be worthwhile is Sierra Snowboard. I've never bought anything from them, but their site has several features that could be useful. There are user forums, a Wiki, a chat, and helpful videos, to start with. There are

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-49379420098898368302008-05-08T15:15:00.002-05:002008-05-08T15:22:45.259-05:00

Do you like to study the landscape of a ski area before you visit? Looking at the trail map and reading descriptions (online sites, guidebooks, etc.) can help. But maps are flat, and sliding on the snow requires, by definition, ground that is not flat. At least one company, 3D Ski Maps, offers color-coded maps for a a number of mountains in North America. These include Squaw Valley, Aspen

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-54903328350780909832008-04-30T19:11:00.003-05:002008-04-30T19:16:12.216-05:00

Arapahoe Basin expanded their terrain this season with the Montezuma Bowl. According to the Summit Daily News, success causes problems:A-Basin is headed for a record skier-visit season, said spokesperson Leigh Hierholzer. March was a record month for A-the ski area in terms of skier numbers, she said. There have already been several weekends this season when the available parking at A-Basin

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-30639013008992860812008-04-30T18:26:00.002-05:002008-04-30T18:50:40.979-05:00

Since we're in the days when just a few lift-served areas are open, I'm sympathetic to the argument advanced by Scott Willoughby in today's Denver Post. He notes that most ski areas in Colorado are now closed, despite having record snowfall. For example, "Despite ample remains of the second-snowiest winter of all time in Vail and the deepest ever next door at Beaver Creek, those two areas are

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-54890038801985482682008-04-28T16:30:00.005-05:002008-04-30T19:19:15.421-05:00

Think it's too late in the year to go snowboarding? Not if you know where to look. As of today, 38 ski areas tracked by the site Snocountry.com are still open. A good number of those are in Europe, but in North America, riders still have 14 choices for riding, ranging from Sugarloaf in Maine to Whistler in British Columbia. I haven't checked the anticipated closing dates of each of these

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-53093079384858135562008-04-26T20:46:00.003-05:002008-04-26T20:52:04.773-05:00

Think you're been on some steep slopes? Terje Haakonsen, a legendary snowboarder, puts the "extreme" into "extreme sports." Here's a 3-minute clip of him riding down an ultra-steep slope in Alaska. Click and be amazed.

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-39467896493398737812008-04-21T07:16:00.003-05:002008-04-21T07:52:16.422-05:00

With my own riding in the Midwest over, it's time to travel to other places for some snowboarding. And if that doesn't pan out, at least think about snowboarding somewhere else. That somewhere else lately has been Japan. No, I've never been there, but it offers riders plenty of opportunities. Lots of resorts. Lots of snow. And lots of options. So where do you start reading about what's out

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-70730394912158437442008-04-14T14:49:00.003-05:002008-04-14T14:54:27.105-05:00

This year I didn't get the chance to snowboard and golf in the same day. But one ski area in Pennsylvania offered customers the chance to do both. Larry Walsh wrote for the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette on April 4:Hidden Valley and Seven Springs are offering snow sports and golf at reduced rates today and tomorrow. Guests can hit the slopes in the morning and the links in the afternoon. [snip] A

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-17325598402934511602008-04-14T02:45:00.000-05:002008-04-14T07:57:24.654-05:00

Some chip-on-my-shoulders snowboard riders don't like to be lumped in with skiers. Even so, snowboarding is a cousin of skiing, which has a much longer history than snowboarding. A few museums around the country keep track of that history. These museums include the New England Ski Museum, the Colorado Ski [and Snowboard!] Museum, the Mammoth Ski Museum, and the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9360825.post-48189986408744873472008-04-10T07:01:00.000-05:002008-04-10T07:11:05.655-05:00

In late March I visited Loon Mountain, New Hampshire. I just received some photos from their marketing department to supplement the ones I took. I'll be rolling out a few of them here in this space. There are three different base areas at Loon. You can of course plan your time on the mountain so that you ski from one to the other. But if you've got kids who aren't interested in

PolicyGuynoreply@blogger.com