It’s never to soon or too late to learn how to snowboard. And if you are waiting for the perfect time, it just might be now. We’ve received more than 3 feet of snow in the last 7 days here in Vail, Colorado.

Whether you like the open bowls of Vail, the groomers at Beaver Creek, the terrain parks of Breckenridge, or the night skiing and riding at Keystone – there is a lot of snow in the U.S. Rockies these days … more than 120 inches.

The holiday season is upon us, and the ski & snowboard resorts are in full swing. Blue Sky Basin, the back bowls of Vail, have been open now for more than a week, and there is fresh snow everywhere. Beaver Creek has been making snow (along with all of Vail Resorts mountains until they have to stop on January 16) all over the mountain.

More December Snowboarding pictures.

However; unlike Vail, Beaver Creek seems to be saving the snow for it’s holiday crowd. And after snowboarding there the other day, I have to say that in my 8 years here in Eagle County Colorado, Beaver Creek is going to have the most epic conditions this week!

Pack your bags, grab you snowboard and skis, book a lesson or a guide – just make sure you get here, to Colorado, and enjoy some of the best conditions we all have seen in a long time.

Today is the first powder day Vail Resorts has seen this year. I’m up early at 7:30am watching the forcast and the morning TV 8 crew as the list off the new trail and lifts opening today. Thirty new trail opens today! Wow, what a difference two days of snow will make. Up til now all that Vail had open was one run, Born Free, and the bunny hill.

As drink my morning coffee and check my emails, the morning talk show team on TV 8 announces a giveaway. Two ticket to the premiere of Warren Millers new Ski & Snowboard video, and some socks and other shawg. Guess who calls and wins? Me.

I’m a winner and I have not even finished my morning coffee, it’s Vail’s first powder day of the season, and … and I’m feeling awesome. This is one heck of a start to an already great Saturday.

My roommates and I hit the mountain. Megan and I have some early morning epic powder runs down Avanti and Challenge to Chair 4. The snow is past my knees! A bit of wind has created drifts and we’re dancing on air while our snowboards bouncing up and out of the snow like dolphin in the sea.

I have to admit, I was really, really excited and in all the excitement did a forward roll in about 3 feet of fresh snow on the way to Challenge from Chair 2, Avanit, just to land on my feet and keep crusing in the single track flats to get to the steep pitch of the trail.

Megan and I continued to tear up the front side of the mountain around Chair 4 and its tree. Whistle Pig, Powerline, Esspresso, Chair 4 cliffs west to flatland and faceplant! Needless to say we were exhausted. So much powder, flexion and extension, get some!

Our buddy Nick got released from Ski School and we rode hard through the trees until our legs felt like anchors and burned like nobodies business. We took a break at Mid Vail, and had a hot drink.

What a day. It’s still snowing snow, and the Colorado Pass folks are blocked out tomorrow too, which mean small crowds and short lift lines. I guess it will be an early morning on the mountain again tomorrow

Surrounding resorts have been open for a while now, Abasin, Breckenridge, Keystone, Loveland and Copper. However, all those seem to pail in comparison to Vail and it’s more than 5,000 ski and rideable terrain. Yet, today we have only one run open – Born Free. Well, technically there is also Chair 15 … the bunny hill. Albeit a bunny hill, it is at the top of the gondola, and it is covered in the white stuff. Two runs are open for opening day 2008.

I waited in line with friends in great anticipation. Vail was giving away donut holes and broadcasting music to all at the base of Born Free and the Gondola. I wonder why they don’t have music playing all the time at the chairlift bases? Aspen does, and Beaver Creek, and the Beav is Vail owned? I like it.

The day was awesome, I rocked up in new boots. They’re sweet, but stiff – Burton SL10s. It will take a few weeks to break these puppies in. The snow was more than acceptable for opening day. Granted it was all groomed corduroy, but the slope was covered, not really any brown spots like you would expect on opening day.

I enjoyed about 8 laps on chair 8 and Born Free before my legs were burning. If this is any sign, it’s going to be one heck of a season. I can’t wait for more snow. They say with another 8 inches they will be able to open more runs and lifts!

Men’s Top Rail Winners
Chas Guldemond $6,500
Scotty Arnold $5,000
Scot Brown $3,500
Charles Reid $2,250
Wyatt Caldwell $1,500
Marko Girlc $1,000
Tim Humphreys $1,000
TJ Schneider $1,000

A complete rundown of the even can be found here http://www.sessionvail.com/

Welcome to West Vail. West Vail is a popular area for locals to go when they want to shred the powder. You do leave the resort when going into West Vail, and it is all trees, but you can find some epic powder turns in there almost always.

Snowboarding West Vail brings you out to Vail’s Matterhorn area, located just west of Lionshead. You are required to take the free intown bus back, but if you time it right you don’t have to wait long. Today our crew did about four laps through West Vail trees before 2 o’clock.

If you want to snowboard or ski through West Vail Trees, you better find a local. This area can be tricky to navigate and is not on any trail map. You won’t find any super steep sections, however there are a few steeper lines you can find. Also, it’s best to travel as a small group and be ready for an adventure.

I plan to assemble some video clips of West Vail trees shot today very soon. Until then enjoy this video from last month.

Other Information about West Vail Trees
Elk herd traveling through West Vail
Topographic Map of West Vail

All these kids love freestyle, log slides and jibbing anything. We spent day one lapping a log line through the trees to the Bwana Terrain Park in Lionshead at the bottom of the gondola.

The video speaks for itself. Keep shredding kids!

Thanks girls for such a good time. Keep up the good work.

Click the video below to watch the girls in action.

Telluride, for those that don’t know has some gnarly steeps. They recently opened up some hikeable terrain off chair 12, Prospect Bowl, black and double black diamond ski & snowboard runs. I was not able to get up there this time, but It looked sweet.

I was surprised my the grooming at Telluride. They actually have grooming, and to be honest, besides dipping into some trees, the steep groomers were great to carve down. Favorite is Plunge off chair 9.

While you are at the top of chair 9, a fixed grip triple, you can’t avoid the views. I will post some video soon. You really get the boxed canyon feeling of Telluride up there. One day it was about 5 degrees, and we stopped into Giuseppe’s, a very cozy warming hut for hot chocolate. I highly recommend, and hear it’s very cool place to be in the spring.

I rode with the Sargent Family, including Garrett who is 9, his brother Harry, 25 and girlfriend Morgan, 24. Mom Deborah, also joined us on the warmer days. We had a blast. Garrett stepped up to a new board, Shawn White kid’s model at 126cm. After 4 years of snowboarding, Garrett quickly got used to the snappy response of the board.

Harry began to stomp all his straight airs in the beginner park, and even nailed the first kicker in the intermediate area. I got video to prove it. Morgan too improved here airs, and Garrett is going bigger than ever. Deborah also is refining her skiing edge work on the back groomers!

Not only is Telluride known for the skiing and snowboarding, but it has great restaurants too. I really like Hongas for sushi, The Blue Room and Chop House for juicy steaks, Baked in Telluride for all things breakfast, and Bar Noir for cocktails.

Thanks to the Sargeants for the hospitality. You are awesome. Be well and snowboard with you soon.

Vail Resorts of Vail, Colorado has received more than 3 feet of snow in the last week. All of Vail’s trails are open, including all the chair lifts.

Now is the time to grab that snowboard or skis and head to the mountain. We have had powder days all week.

See you on the hill.