When the powder hits, we go surfing - pow surfing that is. After receiving 10 inches of snow this past week, here in Aspen, we grabbed our boards and left our bindings at home. Powder in the early season is a special thing as it gives us one of our only chances to pow surf the runs of the unopened resort. Once the lifts are running and the cats are grooming, the only hope of pow surfing is out in the backcountry or amongst untouched hills of snow deep in the woods.
Reaching the top of our first run, Max Meredith, Charlie Agosti, and myself stood in awe at a sight none of us had ever seen before, a meteorological phenomenon if you will: a four part rainbow sitting above Highlands. The eye of Ullr, perhaps, gazed down graciously to watch our first turns of the season; the lines of pure joy we carved in his freshly fallen snow. Our hoots and hollers continued as we took lap after lap, rejoicing in our official start of winter.
For those unaware, Ullr is the Norse god of Winter. He was who Vikings might have prayed to before setting out for harsh winter travel. I took the Eye of Ullr as an omen of a remarkable winter to come. As of now, parts of Colorado sit at above 250% of the median snow water equivalent, meaning these places are far above the average amount of snowfall at this time. Inspired by the Eye, and in hopes of more to come, I wrote this poem:
Bring us snow
And let it not stop.
Deep past the knee
So it will blow over me.
May the boughs fully hold all they can handle
As we give thanks to Ullr with the flame of one candle.
Find the Right Jones Snowboard
In this week’s Search of Snowboarding video, we compare the best all mountain snowboards from Jones to help you pick the best for your riding style. Want to surf all over the mountain? maybe the Mind Expander’s the one for you. Want to have the floatiest ride that you can bring everywhere? then maybe it’s the Flagship.
Heat of the Week
Watch Freddy Perry’s latest creation, Renaissance Man. In this unique look at street snowboarding, Freddy and friends find the most unique features in their quest to ride their own way. Don’t miss our Monday Live at 5 livestream show where we hang out and watch the latest snowboard edits like this one.
In Other News
Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Arizona received a foot of snow last week, allowing them to have their earliest opening ever on November 8th, to mark their 86th season
Pajarito Mountain in Los Alamos, New Mexico had their earliest opening in almost 40 years when they began their season this past Saturday November 9th
Wolf Creek ski area in Southern Colorado now has 95% of its terrain open after seeing 66 inches of snowfall so far this season
