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5 Awesome Apres Skiing Bars in 5 Awesome Apres Skiing Bars in North America

From: kenholden
Description:

No day on the slopes is complete without a little after-party. Apres skiing is by no means a new concept, but it’s something that can turn even the worst conditions into an epic day. Every now and again, we’ll come across gems, some hidden and some not-so-hidden, that were simply meant to complete your trip to a specific resort.

Homewood Resort - Big Blue View
Sometimes, simplicity does it best. This small resort on the west side of Lake Tahoe offers one of the finest views in California and Nevada. New to the resort is the Big Blue View bar. Head up the Madden Chair on the northern portion of the resort, and look for the bright blue chairs and listen for the reggae beats. It might not be the greatest spot when the snow is dumping, but it’s going to be perfect for the blue bird and spring snow days. As most visitors will claim, the view overlooking Lake Tahoe from the Big Blue View is probably the best one of any Tahoe resort.

Mammoth Lakes – Clocktower Cellar Pub
Whiskey and skiing go together like peanut butter and jelly. While it’s not the easiest venue to find among the vast Mammoth Lakes village, it’s worth taking the time to look for it. The Clocktower Cellar Pub is a small basement bar, a far cry from the usual large restaurants and nightclubs that surround the world-famous ski resort. What attracts us to this specific bar is the exhaustive list of more than 100 whiskies from around the world. A few samplings and you’ll love the feel of this smaller bar, complete with a juke box for your après skiing entertainment. Make sure to ask the bartender about their personal favorites, you might get a taste of a secret stash not available on the menu.

Mont Tremblant – Microbrasserie La Diable
For the microbrew lover, good beer is hard to come by. As ski resorts grow and streamline their operations, the microbrew always seems to take a backseat. Fortunately, for the lovers of the Tremblant Ski Resort, you’ll never have to worry about that with the Microbrewery La Diable. Whether you’re just grabbing an après ski beer, or want the 20-minute tour, free samples of each beer are readily available. They usually have six or seven beers readily on tap for your eclectic pleasure, and the lounge-style jazz music makes it one of the most relaxing joints in the area.

Still look at Apres ski when your vacation is over? Check out this amazing Apres Ski wall art from Amazon.com

Vail, Colorado – Garfinkel’s Restaurant & Bar
When you’re done on these epic slopes, head down the Eagle Bahn Gondola and into the Lionshead to find Garfinkel’s. Trust us, you can’t miss it. This bar and restaurant is enormous, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. This place isn’t for the quiet-time après skiing, but for those who want to party well into the evening. With more than 20 different bottles and drafts, a full lineup of signature cocktails, and a menu spread that’s sure to please any palette, there are no bad days here. If you’re in the area, their New Year’s Eve party is one of the finest of any ski resort in North America.

Killington, Vermont – McGrath’s Irish Pub
For the lovers of Guiness out there, perhaps your ski priorities should be on the bars in the area. While the Wobbly Bar in Killington always seems to take the mainstream cake, the Irish lovers out there should detour to McGrath’s Irish Pub. This small Irish joint takes pride in serving Guiness the way it was meant to be…perfect. The owner is always out and about making sure that everyone is enjoying their selection from one of the best Irish menus on the east coast. In the summertime, McGrath’s only gets better. The parking lot is also a lot for some of the best trailheads, making it the perfect place to start and end your visit to Killington.

Plenty of skiing and riding left in the season, in fact March is the best time to Apre and shred pow. Save big when you book your lift tickets online through Liftopia.com
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2 months ago
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Eagle: Colton Stiffler Osprey Eagle: Colton Stiffler Osprey: Patrick Clayton

From: patclayton
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Eagle: Colton Stiffler Osprey: Patrick Clayton
3 months ago
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Resort Review: Vail Colorado C Resort Review: Vail Colorado Celebrates 50 Years of Skiing

From: drewrouse
Description:

Vail has quite the reputation with out me writing one word about it as a subject you probably already have an opinion on the place. However after living here for 15 years and growing up skiing this place with my family before that I know some of its secrets so perhaps I can add some perspective both as a former gaper and a long time local.

Essentially a 5 mile by 5 mile expanse of ridges and huge open bowls that happen to sit at the south end of the Gore Range which creates a jagged cloud trap to catch any precipitation and funnel it towards Vail. It is the reason that there can be 5 inches on the report at mid vail but the back bowls and Blue Sky basin will receive feet as happened just this last storm cycle. On a good year well over 400 inches of super light Colorado fluff fall back there a few miles from the village.

The terrain here is mostly mellow but trust me there are some steeps and cliffs if that your thing. I spoke with young big mtn up and comer Christian Nichols formerly of Ski Club Vail’s Big Mtn Team and he told me that its legit terrain for him and the rest of the team to have to train on to prepare for contests at mountains that are much more highly regarded as steep and technical. The terrain parks at Vail are looking better than ever with a brand new 22 foot super pipe this season and always innovative rails and eagle counties little secret, lots of log slides in the trees if jibbing lumber is your thing.

Lines can be long on weekends or big powder days but there are ways to get away from the crowds. Show up early with a plan and get ahead of everyone and you will be lapping untracked powder for hours or show up late when its dumping and go seek out some stashes. Ptarmigan cornice and the ends of the ridges in the bowls are some of my favorite places to look for super deep wind-loaded leftovers. As a kid I can remember loving to go out to inner and outer Mongolia bowls just because there was no one ever out there and there was a lot of terrain to explore. Its not that steep but it is always worth a look if you want to find some solitutde.

The resort has a bunch of easily accessible side-country, which means you can usually find fresh snow even weeks after a storm if you know where to look. East Vail, The Minturn Mile, West vail trees…. It would take you years and years to ride all of the lines located a short walk from Vail’s ropes. Just remember here in Eagle County more often than not we have a sketchy snow pack with lots of depth hoar and a recipe for slabs that step down into bigger slides so use good sense and remember your Avalanche gear if you are wanting to venture out. Seems almost every year someone is lost in an avalanche around here and its definitely something that’s always in the back of my mind.

The snow is not the only attraction here, Vail does a pretty good job of putting on events and concerts all year long almost. With the Burton U.S open making its Vail debut, this coming weekend it looks like they are just stepping it up. Things have never been better as far as nightlife goes and bridge street, will keep even the most seasoned partiers happy. Check out the George if you want to chill or Samana Lounge to get your groove on.

Some of the things I have heard is that Vail is flat and its crowded, full of gapers, extremely corporate, expensive, my aspen friends call it a truck stop and yada yada yada. So what, a lot of negative things are true about this place and people always hate on the biggest for whatever reason but subtract that and what do you have. A huge expansive mountain with a pretty fun town, pretty easy access from Denver, via a very well maintained highway that doesn’t close often enough for my liking. Check Vail out, you may have the time of your life here whether it’s a deep pow day or a night out on the town, I know I have.

Skier Drew Rouse
Photo Ben Koelker

Vail Lodging Sale, book online through Mountain Reservations.
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3 months ago
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Will Mountain Riders Alliance Will Mountain Riders Alliance Save The Future Of Skiing?

From: ryandunfee
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The Mountain Riders' Alliance, whose various efforts to launch their organization’s campaign for more affordable, authentic, and sustainable “Mountain Playgrounds” we’ve reported on at TetonGravity.com, has recently launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise money for administrative fees and business development funds for the general organization, as well as application fees for their Manitoba Mountain project on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Their campaign has raised $3,000 of its $10,000 goal with 11 days left in the campaign, and has a variety of perks available for donors.

The MRA recently made headlines by partnering with Maine’s Mt. Abram, which they believe will provide a blueprint for how the organization’s Mountain Playground model will work. The small Maine hill has a laid-back atmosphere, limited infrastructure, and has placed a priority on affordability and sustainability. Adult weekend day tickets are only $49 — $30 cheaper than down the street at Sunday River, which is owned and operated by Boyne Resorts. And Mt. Abram recently received the Golden Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence in the Small Resort category for their commitment to sustainability, having implemented a low energy snowmaking system, a wood pellet boiler for their base lodge, and is anticipating construction of a one-acre solar project that would make them the first ski area in the country to produce more energy than they consume. MRA hopes to share best practices with Mt. Abram and showcase the ski area as a living example of their working philosophy.

MRA’s campaign is named “Support the Future of Skiing,” as the organization believes view the current corporate resort model – high on infrastructure, real estate, non-skiing amenities, and energy – is putting skiing out of reach for many people while creating an experience that is distant from the true ideals of snowsports and ultimately, unsustainable. Besides the anti-corporate idealism, the Mountain Riders’ Alliance believes there is a real market for their vision both in the hardcore and casual skiing communities, but need funding help for initial legal, accounting, and security registration fees for their LLC, cash to develop their MRA membership model, and money to pay for land use and lease permit applications for their Manitoba Mountain project, which has the potential to offer access to 10,000 acres of Alaskan big-mountain skiing after the construction of three surface lifts.

Skiers and snowboarders who believe in MRA’s mission are encouraged to visit the fundraiser website at www.indiegogo.com/SupportTheFutureOfSkiing. Donor levels from a $10 “Groomed” donation with a thank-you shout-out on MRA’s Twitter to a $2,500 “Bottomless” donation that will provide the donor with an unlimited lifetime season pass to all current and future Mountain Playgrounds, an MRA t-shirt ski strap, and sticker set. The fundraiser ends on midnight, Sunday Sept. 9.

For more, visit www.mountainridersalliance.com

The site of Manatoba Mountain is shown above. Read more about the project and see more photos here.
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9 months ago
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Hurt So Good By Legs Of Steel Hurt So Good By Legs Of Steel

From: TetonGravityResearch
Description:

Skiing is a roller coaster of emotions. Nothing is comparable to the dream-like feeling of being in the mountains, and nothing charges your soul like the buzz that comes with stomping a new trick or blazing your own line through deep snow. With such highs, come inescapable lows - frustration, disappointment, and worst of all, the injuries that keep you from the things you love most. Through all this pain, however, you'll always find yourself coming back for more...simply because it 'Hurt so Good'.

Director: Andre Nutini

Co-production: Red Bull Media House

Starring: Bene Mayr, Paddy Graham, Tobi Reindl, Thomas Hlawitschka, Jossi Wells, Max Hill, Tobi Trischer, Sebastian Hannemann, Lolo Favre, Sven Kueenle, Sam Smoothy, Sig Tveit, Fabio Studer, Sebi Geiger, Nico Vuignier, Frej Jönsson, Gaute Silseth

Locations: Monashee Powder Snowcats BC, Eagle Pass Heliskiing BC, Pemberton BC, Innsbruck, St Anton am Arlberg, Kaunertal, Großglockner HochalpineStrasse, Courmayeur, Davos, Klosters, Crans Montana, Folgefonna NOR, Bearsden Scotland.

Music:

"Genesis" by Ghost

Click Here To Visit The Legs Of Steel Website

Click Here To Watch More Ski And Snowboard Trailers
9 months ago
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Stevens Pass Mountain Resort F Stevens Pass Mountain Resort First In WA To Win National Environmental Award

From: media-75233
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In its 18 year history, the ski industry’s most prestigious award has never been won by a Washington resort.

Leavenworth, WA – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) honored Stevens Pass Mountain Resort with the 2012 Golden Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence. Stevens Pass took top environmental honors in the mid-sized resort category (200,000 to 500,000 skier visits) for its energy conservation and greenhouse gas (GHG)reduction efforts. An Oregon resort won the award in 1994 and is the only other PNW winner.

“Our company-wide focus on sustainability includes many progressive programs, and we are especially pleased to receive this national acknowledgement,” said Ross Freeman, Environment & Sustainability Manager for Stevens Pass.

Energy conservation programs at Stevens Pass include simple measures such as upgraded lighting, occupancy sensors, timers, and improved operational protocols, as well as more complex projects such as a comprehensive third-party energy audit, building equipment retrofits, and solar power installations.

Greenhouse gas reduction efforts include extensive food waste compost programs, tracking of fuel consumption for all vehicles and snow machinery, no-idling policies, the purchase of cleaner engines (e.g. 4-stroke snowmobiles; low-emissions snowcats and front loaders), electric vehicles, and investment in employee transit. Last year the resort completed the installation of two public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, the nation’s first to be located in a mountain pass environment, and at the time the only units located at any ski resort.

Many other environmental projects are also underway, such as on-slope recycling, preferential purchasing of local food ingredients, and active surplus property/re-use procedures.

“We are always looking for ways to reduce our impacts, save money through efficiency, and do the right thing for the mountain environment for years to come,” said Freeman.

In addition to all its onsite GHG programs, for the past five years Stevens Pass has also chosen to offset a full 100 percent of its electricity and propane consumption through renewable energy credits and carbon offsets from non-polluting windpower. By making this investment to support clean energy for everyone, the resort has funded 21,289,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of windpower, and prevented the emission of 16,182 tons of CO2, or the equivalent of taking 2,878 cars off the road for a year.

Stevens Pass believes it has a responsibility to the environment and is one of the few resorts nationwide with full time environmental staff.

“We know that combating global warming is critical for the future of our entire industry, and we seek to lead resorts across the PNW by example,” said Freeman.

The NSAA’s Golden Eagle award comes on the heels of another notable award from the Washington State Recycling Association, which recently named Stevens Pass as Recycler of the Year – a category won last year by the Seattle Mariners baseball team.
Last December, Stevens Pass was thrilled to receive a national top ten ranking, and the highest score in the PNW, from the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition annual Report Card, which uses public records and extensive surveys to rank the environmental practices of Western ski resorts.
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Side View of Grey Trew Snowpan Side View of Grey Trew Snowpants

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Chris Benchetler in Haines, Al Chris Benchetler in Haines, Alaska, by Pete O'Brien

From: PeteObrien
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This is the closest Chris Benchetler has ever been to bald eagles in the wild.
1 year ago
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Most Important Event In Ski Hi Most Important Event In Ski History: The Pain McShlonkey Classic

From: sethlightcap
Description:

A chiseled collection of some of the world’s top skiers descended on Squaw Valley for the 2nd Annual Pain McShlonkey Classic last weekend. The off-the-wall event, billed as “the greatest event in ski history,” was a celebration of the legendary antics of the late Shane McConkey, the pioneering freeskier who passed away three years ago in a ski-BASE accident in Italy. PMS participants and party people reveled in Shane’s legacy for a binge weekend featuring a snowlerblade Chinese downhill, a snowlerblade extreme comp and a pair of all-time parties.

The event kicked off with a benefit bash on Friday night at which dozens of Shane’s close friends and supporters showed their love for his legacy at a silent auction. The auction raised $30,000 for the Shane McConkey Foundation, which will in turn donate the money to the Make-A-Wish foundation and the Truckee Tahoe Unified School District for the purpose of putting TTUSD schools on a path toward sustainability and environmental responsibility.

There was no rest for the wicked Saturday morning, however. The action cranked to 11 bright and early with the KT-22 Chinese Downhill. Forty racers donned short-skis and McConkey inspired costumes for a high-speed tumble down the face of KT-22 in a race to claim the Golden Saucer trophy. Sketchy snow conditions from start to finish made for a true battle royale as competitors flailed their way around every gate, often taking each other out in the process.

The hilarious affair continued with the Extreme Small Mountain competition, which pitted man and woman against the mountain for one epic run on short-skis. Competitors went above and beyond in an effort to impress the judges with their creative radness. Some opted to huck cliffs into snow conditions they wouldn’t have considered on regular length skis, while others mixed in improbable technical maneuvers. No doubt the show of short-ski skill cemented the billing of “greatest ski comp ever.” The “Saucer Boy” would have been highly impressed.

“The PMS epitomizes what Shane was all about,” said Men’s Chinese Downhill winner Daron Rahlves. ”It’s a lot of fun for us to come out and live with the same spirit Shane did, get goofy and throw down with buddies for pride that’s on the line. Everybody is having fun for the love of the sport of skiing and not taking it too seriously. Shane instilled that in all of us.”

Rahlves summed up the vibe right, but he was a bit off the mark as far as not taking the PMS seriously. There were dead serious Squaw Valley shenanigans on display all weekend. Check out these pics and decide for yourself.

- Words and Photos by Seth Lightcap

The crunchy bumps of the Chinese downhill course took no prisoners. If you didn’t keep your edge game tight you were on your ass in an instant. Note the guy in the top right corner of the image with World Cup worthy form — perfectly balanced on one ski. That’s local sandbagger Rahlves, of course. Surprise, surprise, Rahlves came from behind to win the race and take home the coveted Golden Saucer trophy. “This is my new claim to fame,” exclaimed Rahlves after the race. “The saucer is gonna hang on my mantle next to all the Kitzbuhel trophies.” U.S. Olympic mogul star Shelly Robertson took the Chinese downhill title for the women.

Dozens of radical skiers came out to battle for bragging rights, laugh about Shane’s legacy and show their support for the work of Shane’s wife Sherry (bottom row, far left) and the Shane McConkey Foundation.

Channeling the spirit of Saucer Boy meant everyday ski attire was out of the question. Pain McShlonkey competitors came dressed to impress.

After a bit of marinating post-Chinese downhill, the Extreme Small Mountain Competition got underway in the Enchanted Forest off KT-22. Each contestant got one run down the steep and rocky bowl to impress the esteemed panel of judges, including Sherry McConkey. You can’t even imagine the competitive intensity swirling in the heads of these athletes as they waited for their turn to drop.

And this is what the Extreme Small Mountain comp was all about...getting rad on short skis! Bad-ass snowlerbladers dropped into the cliff bands of the Enchanted Forest and laid down lines they thought Shane would of done.

Firm conditions made stomping steep airs a fantasy. Likewise, Brant Moles sent the spread eagle, then splatted.

Some serious losers needed ropes to scale down the Tombstone cliff, but not second loser Kristian Geissler. Geissler hucked it and grabbed third place for the feat.

Big airs wooed the judges but there was no denying who set the high mark for micro-mountain technical radness. Kyle O’Neal casually fruitbooted over to an anchor he had stashed above the infamous ‘Ice Goddess’ cliff and proceeded to rappel down the 30 foot face to a low ledge. O’Neal then leapt from the ledge in perfect speedflying form, bounced off the landing and brought around two tucked somersaults before popping back up on his feet.

The extra-extreme day deserved a podium bro-hug for Extreme Small Mountain champion Kyle O’Neal, Greg Lindsey (2nd) and Kristian Geissler (3rd). 2012 Red Bull Cold Rush champ Rachel Burks added an even more prestigious win to her winter taking home the ESM title for the women.

You’re damn right there were man-eating former and current women’s extreme champs battling for Pain McShlonkey glory! Remember, this was one of the greatest ski contests ever known to man or womankind. If you think your pants are holding what it takes to win the Golden Saucer next year, don’t miss the PMS!
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1 year ago
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A Quest For Powder With Eagle A Quest For Powder With Eagle Pass Heliskiing

From: shayjohnson
Description:

You've probably seen ski and snowboard films where the athletes get dropped off at the top of a mountain via helicopter and start their descents into a world of white fluffy powder engulfing them. But have you experienced it yourself? Felt your heartbeat race as the heli drops you off in swirling snow and leaves you at the top of a slope in the remote backcountry? It's a dream for many of us to have life changing powder turns but you don't have to be pro to make your dreams come true.

Just outside of Revelstoke, British Columbia, lies the Monashee Mountain range that collects an abundance of deep dry mountain snowfall perfect for any devoted skier or snowboarder. With over 270,000 acres of playground in the BC wilderness, Eagle Pass Heliskiing delivers a choice of runs that include open bowls, perfect trees and plenty of natural features from pillows to cliffs to the easiest rollers.

It's not a bad view to be in the middle of the BC wilderness with the Eagle Pass A-Star Helicopter coming in for a landing to take you to the next powder run. Photo by Shay Johnson.

Whether it's a half-day of four runs or a full-day with eight runs, the backcountry calls your name and a guide prepares you for the terrain you'll conquer. For safety and consistency, Eagle Pass Heliskiing supplies each guest with backcountry gear (beacon, shovel, probe) in a BCA Airbag Float 18 pack. A quick safety and equipment discussion starts the day before you even load the heli.

On the day we went out, Mother Nature teased us with stormy weather in the morning. Rather than calling it a day, the guides and pilots at Eagle Pass Heliskiing watched the weather and moved locations for the afternoon so we could make it on to the snow.

Nothing beats sitting in a helicopter wondering which line you'll be taking down the mountain. It's like being a kid in a candy shop, except we're adults with a field of powder and trees. Photo by Shay Johnson.

Each time the heli landed in the snow at the top of the run, there was a sigh of relief and the onslaught of excitement. The first runs were easy so you could get your powder feet back under you and the guide could see the skills of the guests. Gradually they built up to steeper and harder terrain. Since an avalanche warning was in effect, we stayed in the trees to get our powder turns. The guide Greg Franson, made sure to set the rules for staying safe, stay to the left, stay to the right, follow his line. A great guide is a communicator and a safe guest is someone who listens.

Lift off in the backcountry! Keep your hands close, your head tucked in and get ready for the wind rush! Photo by Shay Johnson.

"Having never been heli-skiing, I wasn't sure what to expect going out in the middle of a huge storm with a special avalanche warning issued for the weekend. Despite the conditions they were finally able to get us up into the mountains and get us down some fantastic burnouts, cutblocks and steep pillow lines," Calgary skier Josh Miller said. "Landing high up on a ridge we were able to scope out a fraction of the huge amount of terrain that awaits during times of higher stability — and after checking out the full size of their tenure it's safe to say I'll be back."

Luck was on the horizon for Josh Miller from Calgary. He was the winner of an Eagle Pass Heli-skiing trip for his first heli experience. Photo by Shay Johnson.

For many of us, it was the first time in a heli and a chance to really feed the addiction. The deep dry snow was no joke and the door to the white room was open the whole run down. It was difficult to keep your mouth closed when you couldn't stop laughing and smiling at the powder beneath each turn.

Beneath me was the Jones Hovercraft, a board designed by Jeremy Jones to ride the powder and deliver powder sprays with the slightest turn. It was effortless, it carved and it kept me afloat in some deep powder spots.

It's not very often the camera gets handed off on a powder day but Josh Miller sacrificed a couple turns to get a shot of Shay Johnson getting a powder slash in the backdrop of the burnt trees. Photo by Josh Miller.

There are those moments of skiing and snowboarding that change your life, some can be for the better and some can be for the worse. Hopefully we’ll continue to seek out powder days that end with the better, continue to laugh and smile at those powder moments and play like little kids in a field of powder.
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1 year ago
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