Stowe got some snow early last week. When you have the choice between class and your first turns of the year, it’s an easy decision. An hour and a half hike up liftline gets you…

Winter?  Photo by Alex Levin 

Kiraly gettin’ after it.  Photo: Levin

Photo jacked from the River’s website.

Sunday River was the first to officially open up last Wednesday. I checked it out on Saturday and the death ice moguls were prime. Pepper in a few rocks and it’s a party. They had a nice down bar, it was a good opening day setup to get your legs back under you. Your mind is one place and your legs are somewhere else, you know how it is.

Mount Snow is open too. They charged 10 bucks or 10 items of non-perishable food for a day pass. They had a bunch of little jibs set up on their launch pad. Word from the Catfish is that it was a good time once you got past all the heads.

Jeremy Jones is a ripper. He’s also a blogger, check it out. He’s got a great post about battling the summertime blues and what stokes him out most about shredding. Read up. I can’t wait to check out his Deeper project when it comes out next year.

There was a healthy dose of fire and plenty of good ol’ quarterpipe shredding at the World Quarterpipe Championships of 2009, a “contest” for those who dared attack the mountain of free PBR and the homemade transition that would eventually spit out a world champion. Nate Farrell was ripping in the morning and then got on the mic to revive the old World Quarters vibe. Jeremy Thompson was doing some solid moves through the fire and off the quarterpipe’s extension into the blue skies that loomed above everyone’s now favorite resort, Timber Ridge. Tim Benasich, aka the King of Burlington, was lofting tweaked airs all day that got the whole crowd stoked. Chris Waker used his home turf advantage to navigate the tranny and boost some nice air to fakies. In the end it was Greg Bokencamp that took the title of World Champ, one of the only riders to outlast the dangers of the gauntlet. Big thanks to the Waker family for making the best event in snowboarding happen. 

I have to throw a shout to my good buddy Mike Schwarz, who was ripping at world quarters when a nasty spill landed him in the hospital. Everyone’s pulling for you man. 

This edit is by Tom Haraden, let your eyes feast.   

For those of you that haven’t seen or heard of Trevar Cushing’s (sort of) new series on VBS, 
Powder & Rails is a show about the history of snowboarding. It’s pretty sweet, episodes started airing last fall. Here is a link to the first of four episodes about Vermont’s favorite son, Jeff Brushie, a true east coast original gangster. 

Here is what Trevar says about Brushie:

“At the time Brushie came onto the scene, snowboarding on the East Coast was very race-competition orientated and way behind the guys in the West in terms of freestyle. He’s the one who finally brought the much-needed skate influence to the East Coast scene. Actually a lot of people I interviewed didn?t even realize that Brushie was from Vermont, because no one associated the East Coast with any measure of style. Thank God for creating Jeff Brushie, or at least I guess thank his parents.”

Enjoy, know your roots.

More digital hijinx from Dudeguy Films, this week combining forces with a few of Katies Kidz. Loon is on point right now, half of LMP is up and proper, plus they recently opened up the dude tube. Wherever you’re riding, get out there and have fun with your friends. 

From your friends at Dudeguy Films. Enjoy.

Looney Tuesdays will be an ongoing project this season from Dudeguy Films, bringing you weekly installments from Loon, New Hampshire. Tune in and check out the shenanigans. 

A couple of friends getting some late November kicks.

Video by Nick Stefani

The UVM Snowboard Team held our third annual rail jam last week. Fourth quarter glitches prevented the festivities from taking place on campus, so we relocated to Burton headquarters a few miles away. Driving in I was genuinely surprised at the amount of people that made it out, especially with the last minute location change. Big thanks to Tim, Chuck, Axel, and everyone else that made it happen. 

Results

Women: 

1. Laura Rogoski

Men:

1. Ben Sullo

2. Riley Nickerson

3. Eric Eckenrode

Video by Kellen Corkill

Sunday River opened up early this year for Halloween weekend. We made the trek from Burlington to Bethel, ME to get our fix of early November turns.

Danny Smith, nollie back tail 270. If you ever get the pleasure of meeting Dan,
ask him about his better half, Katie P.

Chas Truslow with a proper press. UVMST’s Carl Skeris atop his ice throne getting the shot. 

Here Chas illustrates how to properly balance yourself during a boardslide.

Max Schulz has skate style down to the width of his stance. 

Alex Rodway loading up to switch up.