Head Skis Gives Land to Racers

In an interesting move by Head Skis CEO Johan Eliasch, Head has awarded it’s top racers, Bode Miller, Didier Cuche, Marco Büchel, Hermann Maier, Maria Riesch, Šárka Záhrobská, Elisabeth Görgl, with 25 acres of protected rainforest each in thanks for it’s most successful season ever. Head’s Cool Earth initiative is now responsible for keeping close to 8 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere since June 2007. Nice move Head – the other ski companies should follow the leader here and jack up their environmental policies as well. Keep up the good work.

SBC Skier Issue 7.4

Oh, no, it’s that time again! The last issue of the season, the No Theme Issue, is printed and on its way to your snowy doorstep.
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Salomon’s Jib Academy is back in Canada for 2008!

Press Release

Salomon has launched its highly anticipated 2008 Jib Academy website, unveiling a schedule of international stops for the world’s most exciting youth freestyle ski event. Online pre-registration will be available in late January at www.salomonjibacademy.com and will be limited to 50 participants per Canadian tour stop.
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Happy New Years' to you all from us here at SKIER.

We've been sitting on this for a year now after our publisher deemed it unfit for print. Thankfully nothing is unfit for the net. Check out the latest instalment of the infamous Boilerplate.
Click here for the comic

Kootenay Cold Smoke Festival 2008

February 22-25 2008

The birth of the Kootenay Cold Smoke Powder Festival grew from the backcountry skier’s obsession with choking on powder snow. The stars are again aligning in Nelson B.C’s Whitewater Resort, the wholesome haven of all things blissful. Snow and psyche are rolling in early to the West Kootenays, setting up the sport surface, for this second annual celebration of backcountry glisse. In a nutshell the event is centered around; workshops of backcountry skiing and snowboarding clinics, competitions; in ski mountaineering, an organic slopestyle and telemark slalom…then the nightcaps…socials/films/images/tunes mixed in with lots of great food, beer and scenery.
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FROZEN RAIL JAM

KICKS OFF SEASON AT BLUE MOUNTAIN

This Saturday December 15, Blue Mountain's 4th Annual Frozen Rail Jam kick starts the event season in Ontario. Presented by K2, Snowboard Canada and SBC Skier, the Frozen Rail Jam features a night finals complete with light show, live music and $5000 in cash and prizes. The After-Party hosted by Snowboard Canada and Skier goes down at Kaytoo, our favourite apres club, featuring local band Big Time Charlie. More info at www.bluemountain.ca.

Mont Tremblant Early Season Kick off

SBC SKIER managing editor Mike Berard has an awesome time at Tremblant…again.
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Buyer's Guide 2008 Now Online

It happened didn't it? You procrastinated on the most important aspect of your life. And now there's tons of snow and you're stuck on some out-dated, ugly, old ski that your moustachioed uncle wouldn't even ride. Well we can't help you out with the procrastibation problem, but we can point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing your new skis. Our entire Buyer's Guide from issue 7.1 is now online for you to peruse and choose. Check it here.

SBC Skier 7.3 Available Now

The ICON ISSUE is printed, bound and shipping. And it’s H-E-Double Hockey Sticks-A Hot. Get the full story here.

Online Exclusive

Ptor Spricenieks Interview

Ptor Spricenieks is a legend in the Canadian big mountain ski community. And it’s a reputation that is well-deserved. From bagging a first descent of Mount Robson, to conquering the 12,000ers in the Rockies, Ptor is endlessly dreaming up new ways to ski big mountains throughout the world. Keeping up with where he is and what he’s planning isn’t easy, so we sent a few e-questions via the interweb to see what’s up.
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Click: J.P. Auclair

Words: Mike Berard

I used to wear Hawaiian shirts; I had a closet full of the floral-printed and nautical-themed fag-flags. It had nothing to do with my keen fashion sense or a resurgence in beach style. At the time, everyone had them; they were part of the standard-issue skier uniform—a pair of Salomon 1080s, punk-rock haircut and requisite god-awful, short-sleeved Hawaiian shirt. I wore them because they wore them.
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Richard Permin Wins Freeski Contest Peak Performance King of Style

Press Release Winter Jam, Stockholm Olympic Stadium, November 17, 2007

In the crowded Olympic Stadium of Stockholm the atmosphere was on the high when the world’s best skiers and snowboarders competed on the gigantic city jump in the heart of the Capital of Sweden. The riders pulled off amazing tricks and the level was has high as it gets.
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RCR Decision Extends to Quebec Resorts

We’ve learned that RCR’s Quebec ski resorts (Stoneham and Mt. Ste. Anne) will also be removing snow jumps from its terrain parks this season, just like the RCR resorts in western Canada (Lake Louise, Nakiska, Fernie, Kimberly). It sounds like a quarterpipe and the halfpipe will remain at Stoneham, but "table tops/big air jumps" will be eliminated from both resort's terrain parks.

What you’ll read below is the official release from RCR.

A website has been established to lobby RCR to reverse their decision, as has a petition. Check the links below to learn more.”

www.savercrsnowparks.com

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SnowparkRCR/

Press Release:

New park design introduced at Stoneham and Mont-Sainte-Anne

Resort of the Canadian Rockies takes the lead on snowpark safety

Beaupré, November 9, 2007. Today, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham Mountain Resort announced the snowpark guidelines that will focus on renewed safety for the 2007-2008 season.

Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), owner of Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham, is recognized as an industry leader in providing world-class guest experiences at its mountain resorts throughout Canada. In doing so, RCR believes that safety in its mountain environments is one of its most important values. Supporting this mandate, RCR is moving in a new direction that will enhance safety at all of its resorts.

RCR cares deeply about the well-being of all of its guests and takes responsibility for their care very seriously. "Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham continue to be a leader in the industry. As resort operators, we are taking a giant step forward with regard to safety in our snowparks" says Guy Desrosiers, Eastern Regional Vice-President for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. “All table tops/big air jumps will be eliminated from RCR terrain parks this season.”

“We have found that one of the main factor that increases the likelihood of serious injury on our mountains is big air,” says Mr. Desrosiers. “When we are making decisions about safety at our resorts, the big jumps in the terrain parks always come into the equation. We decided to make a change.” Mr. Desrosiers adds “We are committed to providing our guests with a safe experience at our mountains. We realize that this change may disappoint some guests who regularly use these man-made jump features. However, we believe we have a strong moral obligation not to compromise the safety of our guests.”

Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham will still provide different calibre terrain parks, including the X-L parks introduced last season. More precisely, Mont-Sainte-Anne will eliminate 2 snow features in the X-L park and replace it with new exhilarating rails while Stoneham will replace 4 pyramids that were built last season in the X-L park with a new quarter pipe, a redesigned wallride, not to mention the return of the “Olympic size” half-pipe just in time for the New Year.

With the new park format, Stoneham will host the new “Roxy Rail Jams” starting next January. Features used in the Rail Jam Series will be suitable for a high level of competition, while also adhering to safe practices.

For the past three seasons, RCR has also worked hard on developing its family-friendly terrain parks. These unique parks, separate from the larger parks, feature small rails, boxes and rollers, encouraging learning, safety and fun in a non-intimidating environment. The feedback on these parks has been positive and they will continue to develop at Stoneham and Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc. (RCR) www.skircr.com is the largest private ski resort owner/operator in North America, owning six ski resorts across Canada, including Lake Louise Mountain Resort and Nakiska in Alberta; and Fernie Alpine Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort in British Columbia; and Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham in Quebec.

RCR Resorts Removing Man-Made Snow Features From Terrain Parks

SBC Skier received the press release below from Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, indicating that its terrain parks (at Lake Louise, Nakiska, Fernie, and Kimberly resorts) will only have jib features this season.

Reaction has not been positive, as indicated by letters and emails sent in by SBC Skier readers. A page has been set up on Facebook about the decision.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9759026222

SBC Skier will keep readers informed as the story develops.

Release from RCR:

RESORTS OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES FOCUSES ON TERRAIN PARK SAFETY WITH AN INDUSTRY-LEADING INITIATIVE

Calgary, AB – November 8, 2007 - Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc. (RCR) is recognized as an industry leader in providing world-class guest experiences at its mountain resorts throughout Canada. In doing so, RCR believes that safety in its mountain environments is one of its most important values. Supporting this mandate, RCR is moving in a new direction that will enhance safety at all of its resorts.

RCR cares deeply about the well-being of all of its guests and takes responsibility for their care very seriously. “We are undertaking an industry-leading initiative,” says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. “All man-made snow jumps will be eliminated from RCR terrain parks this season.”

“We have found that one of the main issues that increase the likelihood of serious injury on our mountains is big air,” says Mosteller. “When we are making decisions about safety at our resorts, the big jumps in the terrain parks always come into the equation. We decided to make a change.”

Continues Mosteller, “We are committed to providing our guests with a safe experience at our mountains. We realize that this change may disappoint some guests who regularly use these man-made jump features. However, we believe we have a strong moral obligation to not compromise the safety of our guests.”

At the same time, RCR will be making an increased investment in new rails and features for RCR’s terrain parks. For example, this year’s RCR park at Lake Louise Mountain Resort features the highest-ever investment in new, state-of-the-art rail features that will cater to a wide variety of ages and abilities. RCR will have rail parks this season at Lake Louise Mountain Resort, Fernie Alpine Resort and Nakiska.

With the new rail park format, RCR will host a Rail Jam Series that will take place at Lake Louise Mountain Resort, Fernie Alpine Resort and Nakiska. Features used in the Rail Jam Series will be suitable for a high level of competition, while also adhering to safe practices.

For the past three seasons, RCR has also worked hard on developing its family-friendly terrain parks. These unique parks, separate from the larger parks, feature small rails, boxes and rollers, encouraging learning, safety and fun in a non-intimidating environment. The feedback on these parks has been positive and they will continue to develop at all of the resorts.

About Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc. (RCR) www.skircr.com is the largest private ski resort owner/operator in North America, owning six ski resorts across Canada, including Lake Louise Mountain Resort and Nakiska in Alberta; and Fernie Alpine Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort in British Columbia. RCR also owns and manages a number of hotels, backcountry lodges and golf courses, including Trickle Creek in Kimberley, and Wintergreen Golf and Country Club in Bragg Creek. RCR aims to provide each and every guest The Ultimate Experience.

Backcountry Calling

Advice to make the most of your cat or heli adventure

With winter on the radar, now's the time to line up your ski schedule. If a cat or heli trip is in the cards, you can bet your ass this is going to be the winter of all winters. Before you go, check out this backcountry advice from the pros.
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Freshtival 2007 Rocks Out

Calgary’s biggest, best (and only) ski film festival was back this year but this time, it was bigger than ever. Playing eight of this years best ski films from October 11th to 14th, Freshtival once again managed to keep the masses satiated.
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MATCHSTICK PRODUCTIONS WORLD PREMIERE OF "SEVEN SUNNY DAYS"

The world premiere of Matchstick Productions' mind-blowing new film “Seven Sunny Days” was the largest Matchstick event to date. An estimated 3,000 fans showed up to the free outdoor showing held in the legendary skiers plaza in the Whistler Village.
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Broke-Ass Mountain

compiled by Allie Jenkinson

If you're in the market for a career, don't look here. But if you're looking for fellow employees to drink on the job with, a promiscuous work environment and an employer who doesn't expect much, check out this list of resorts and when they do their hiring.
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Brokeback Mountain

Buttock, Wyoming

When skiers think of Wyoming, they think of Jackson’s Hole. This legendary stallion has hogged the riding spotlight for so long that few skiers have ever heard of the dozen or so smaller wranglers shamefully hidden in Wyoming’s ski area closet.
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JON OLSSON SIGNS A CONTRACT WITH CROSS SPORTSWEAR

Cross Sportswear of Sweden and superstar free skier Jon Olsson have agreed on a long term deal making Jon the company's poster skier and a member of the company's development team.
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It’s Already Session Four at Momentum Ski Camp!

This week Salomon Skier Mike Henituik our “Rail Jedi” was in Whistler along with Iannick B who returned for another session. In total there were more than sixty campers on the hill ripping in the hot weather for the second week in a row.
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Saab Salomon Live Your Dream Contest Winner

Nathalie Gervais lives her Arctic Ski Adventure Dream

“I won’t eat! I don’t care, I’ll do what I have to, I don’t want to leave!” These were Nathalie Gervais’ parting words as she approached the end of her 17-day dream adventure of traveling, skiing and living on the frozen sea ice of Nunavut.
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Momentum Ski Camp

Session #1 (Adult Camp), Whistler, BC

Week 1 brought campers many surprises, POWDER being the best thing of all with more than 2 feet of freshies in 48 hours!
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TELUS WORLD SKI AND SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL 2007 Coverage

TWSSF Day 4 report

The vodka flows freely as the nights begin to meld together. However, the skiing stays surprisingly good for mid-April. This leaves most festival goers following a ragged schedule of drink, ski, eat, drink, sleep, ski.
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TWSSF Weekend Update #1

In a town equally known for it’s skiing as it’s parties somedays the choice between skiing and partying can be a tough one. This wasn’t the case on the opening weekend of Whistler’s World Ski and Snowboard Festival.
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Freeskiiing Championships at Kirkwood

CRAIG GARBIEL AND LAURA OGDEN WIN THE 11TH ANNUAL SUBARU NORTH AMERICAN FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS AT KIRKWOOD MTN. RESORT, CA.

The final stop of the Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series and second stop on the International Freeskiers Association (IFSA) World Tour finished off today with an extraordinarily exciting day of skiing on the permanently closed “Cirque” at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, CA.
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SBC SURF – CANADA’S NEW SURF MAGAZINE HITS COAST TO COAST APRIL 11

For those who surf or wish they did, you'll be happy to know the premiere issue of SBC SURF, Canada’s first and only national surf magazine, is imminent.
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TELUS TRIPLE CHALLENGE

BLUE MOUNTAIN – MARCH 8-10, 2007

Blue Mountain Resort kicks off Ontario’s March Break with one of Canada’s biggest spring pro-ams – the TELUS Triple Challenge Ski & Snowboard Festival, March 8-10.
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Andy Mahre Interview

Perhaps one of the nicest guys in the ski biz, Andy Mahre is a ripper who’s smoother than Exlax and sports an unbelievable lineage (his father and uncle are both Olympic medalists). Just coming off a broken back, he’s as keen as ever and has been spending most of his recovery time riding mountain bikes, motocrossing and wakeboarding. The road to recovery sounds rough.

Click here for the full interview and photos.

Welcome

Finally it's here: The SKIER web site. And it's better than anyone could have ever predicted. Sure it's five years late, but timeliness has never been our strong point.

The plans for this site are huge. Monumental. Colossal. Where's the forum you ask? It's in the blueprints. Where are the videos and massive photo galleries? Again, they're in the blueprints. And if they're in the blueprints, they will, one day, exist. But remember, timeliness has never been our strong point.

SBCSkier.com should now be on your list of sites to check daily. We'll have contest updates and web exclusives as well as the best in writing and photography. For now, check the contest page to get in on all the free swag and trips we are foolishly giving away.

Ski Film Premieres

Thurs. Oct. 12, 9:00

presented by Ryeka Sport

Come join us at No Regrets (42 Mowat Ave.,Toronto) for the premieres of Rage Films' Corduroy and Plehouse Films' Skimatic. $5.00 per person. All Ages. Wristband Policy in effect. In Association with Scott and SBC Skier. Click here to see the poster.