Surprise Pow!! in Stowe VT

With little snow forecast, Tuesdays Powder was a motivator for sure

                                                        Surprise Powder Day

     April Fools Day greeted riders with rain clouds and soggy weather on the mountain. Once most people had been tricked by Mother Nature, she turned on her snow guns. By Tuesday morning, a layer of boot deep dry powder covered the slopes of Mount Mansfield. With no warning of the storm, the usual powder-hungry crowds were non-existent, giving the day a relaxed vibe. This opposite of what a normal powder day feels like, with all the area powder hounds racing from one stash to the next. 
     Boot deep tracks lay fresh underneath the Forerunner quad through the noon hour. Woods that were normally tracked out by 10 am were offering up wind loaded knee deep pockets. It was one of those powder days where every turn was pure magic.
     With high winds Tuesday night, the snow seemed to have all but disappeared by Wednesday morning. Snowdrifts here and there told the tale of the snow that had been. There were a few pockets of powder left in the trees, if you knew where to go.

     Over all, the mountain is in amazing shape. With warmer temps in the forecast, ski bums will be trading memories of powder days for sunny spring corn.

     

Mount Mansfield Ski Patrolers open up Liftline, trail checking it for any unseen objects ;)

Aaron Lavallee floating through the trees

Along with seeing no crowds, boots seemed to have disappeared also

Adam and Aaron, double teaming the lookout chair lift

So much snow, you didn't even have to look were you were going

Adam loves winddrifts

Sun and pow in the Birthday Bowls

Dylan and Adam find the goods the day after the storm

YouTube Channel - Product Videos

Please check out our YouTube Channel. We are now doing videos for some of our products. Right now we are doing Arc'teryx and next is The North Face. Be on the lookout for new and inspiring videos and blog posts. Abbey is doing a wonderful job of modeling for us. We believe it will be easier to buy the product, when you see it and its features in the video. This is a video for the Covert Hoody by Arcteryx.

Snowboard Shopping Tips

Shopping for a snowboard? Good timing, since we have a facebook coupon if you like us for 10% off your snowboard purchase.  

How do you decide which board is right for you?

1. Match your board to the terrain you ride.

Your choice of boards includes:
All-mountain: Performs anywhere on a mountain-groomed runs, backcountry, even park and pipe. Maybe 90% of all boarders ride all-mountain boards. Good, too, for beginners or someone returning to the slopes after a long layoff.

Freestyle/Park: Light, short, flexible snowboards with twin tips. For boarders who want to push limits in terrain parks (rails, boxes, spins, tricks); not as good for stability or fast cruising on hard snow.
Wide: Extra-wide snowboards designed for riders with large feet (men U.S. size 11 and higher; women size 10+). They prevent toes from dangling over edges and causing drag.


Splitboards: Boards that split in half, attach to each foot and permit climbing on backcountry slopes. Connect the halves to ride downhill. For riders who have the skills to safely explore unpatrolled terrain.

 
Freeride: For swift downhill riding on backcountry slopes and traveling fast top-to-bottom on groomed runs. May be called alpine or carving boards. Stiff, so they’re stable when cruising hardpack.

Powder: For riders who spend time in deep pow among trees and in backcountry bowls. Wide waists, even wider noses and rockered (upturned) tips and tails work together to keep edges from catching or sinking.
Note: Women-specific boards, usually feature narrower waists and softer flex. If shopping for kids, avoid putting them on an adult board and hoping they’ll grow into it. An oversized board can be tough for a young person to manage and slow a child’s development.

2. Camber or Rocker?

In brief, rocker (aka reverse camber) makes riding easier by making a board:

• Easier to maneuver
• Easier to keep afloat in powder

Camber (aka positive camber) supports faster riding by giving a board:

• More springiness
• Better edge control

3. Boots are important.

 If you’re going to splurge, splurge on boots, since they play a big role in a rider's comfort. Your feet will likely reward you with no discomfort.