Where the Pros Go Opening Day
Dec 16 2006 / Los Angeles, CAPro: Andreas Wiig
Sport: Snowboarder
Mountain: Loveland
First Day Date: October 23
How was it? The conditions were good, and it was sunny. It wasn’t enough pow to freeride without being scared of flipping and get a rock massage, but it was just fun to cruise around on the groomed trails too. I actually got some decent pow turns and touched base with some nice little rocks as well. They had two boxes set up too, which was cool, but made me feel rally rusty.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? Right before the season starts I get pretty restless and feel like the summer and fall has been a little too long. It’s nice to get rid of that feeling on opening day, and be back in the game. Also, it’s good to actually see that I can still snowboard and haven’t forgotten everything since last season.(even though I felt like it had been a while).
What size of board were you on? I was on a 158.
How cold was it? It was about 35 degrees at the warmest.
To check it out for yourself go to: Skiloveland.com/cam.html
Cost: Prices range from $17- $52 for a lift ticket, for lift ticket rates go to Skiloveland.com/LiftRates.html
Name: Tara Dakides
Mountain: Normally Mammoth Mt. but I rode Breckenridge Co for the first day back. First Day Date: November 25 How was it? Freakin cold!! It wasn't a powder day but the snow was real good and there was enough to build up a park and some rails. It was just fun to be out there riding with good friends and fellow OMATIC riders Andreas Wiig and Todd Richards. Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? The best thing is simply just gettiing back out there after missing snowboarding for a bit. Shredding with your friend and doing dumb little jibs. What size of board/skis were you on? My super-omatic 149 How cold was it? It started out 10 below and slowly warmed up through the day. Hand warmers and feet warmers made my day fun. To check it out for yourself go to: Breckenridge.snow.com/mtn.cams.asp PHOTO GALLERY Check out photos from the Breckenridge opening day.
Sport: Snowboarder
Cost: Prices vary, go to Mammothmountain.com/ski_ride/tickets
PHOTO GALLERY Check out photos from the Mammoth opening day. First Day Date: October 20 How was it? Warm and Slushy. Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? Best part is that you will be out skiing till the season is over, all that goes through my mind is when is it going to snow again. What size of board/skis were you on? I was on 189 K2 Seth's, my pro How cold was it? It was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. To check it out for yourself go to: Skiloveland.com/cam.html Sport: Skier Mountain: Whistler First day date: November 18 To check it out for yourself go to: Whistlerblackcomb.com/index.htm Mountain: Whistler First day date: November 20 What size of board/skis were you on? I am riding 194 B Squads To check it out for yourself go to: Whistlerblackcomb.com/index.htm
First Day Date: It was on opening weekend, I believe Nov. 10th. How was it? Mammoth had not had a good amount of snow fall yet but they had one run open with a few fun little jibs set up on the side of the run. first day no matter what the conditions. To check it out for yourself go to: Mammothmountain.com
Cost: Prices vary, go to Mammothmountain.com/ski_ride/tickets First Day Date: November 8 How was it? Snow was bad. tons of people. all around good time Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? Just excited to snowboard. What size of board/skis were you on? 151 snowboard How cold was it? 55 degrees probably
Sport: Snowboarder
Cost: 10 days/ $44 a day
Name: Alison Gannett
Sport: Skier
Mountain: Crested Butte, Colorado
First Day Date: November 20
How was it? 23” of new powder
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? I love the opening of ski season, because most of my hard work – appearance bookings, contracts, proposals, etc are DONE.
Then I can try to focus on the fun stuff – SKIING. Being a pro freeskier is hard because it entails way more office work than one would ever suspect. If you just spend your time riding, you won’t be sponsored for very long!
What size of board/skis were you on? 166 HEAD Sweet Fat Thang – which I helped design!
How cold was it? Balmy. For colorado, that is.
To check it out for yourself go to: Skicb.com
Cost: Call 800-810-SNOW to talk with one a local travel expert.
Name: Shane McConkey
Sport: Skier
Mountain: Squaw Valley USA
First Day Date: Opening day was Friday Dec. 1st How was it? Not much snow in the Sierras yet but Squaw made
some snow and the mountain run is open from the top of the Funitel to the bottom.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? Time to get back to the real deal. Time to start breathing again. Its incredibly freeing.
What size of board/skis were you on? It was very solid man made snow so I used my skinny skis. K2 Outlaws, 181s. Dimensions - 124/88/111
How cold was it? Warm in the 30s.
To check it out for yourself go to: Squaw.com
Cost: Collge students ski and ride for only $45 Mon-Thurs. For more info go to Squaw.com
Name: Danny Davis
Mountain: Mammoth Mountain
First Day Date: November 10
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? Best thing about opening day is seeing eveyone at the mountain that you havent seen in a while especially at mammoth. Not much goes through my mind except just being happy to see everyone and to be on snow.
What size of board/skis were you on? Un..Inc 154
How cold was it? So warm!!
To check it out for yourself go to: Mammothmountain.com
Name: Pat Moore
Sport: Snowboarder
Mountain: Brighton Ski Resort, Utah
First Day Date: November 15
How was it? It was awesome, opening day on my birthday and there was like 1 and 1/2 feet of pow. All my friends were out and we rode from beginning of the day to the end.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? I was just excited tsnowboarding again, it was a long hot summer.
What size of board/skis were you on? I was just on my little jib board, i think it was a 148, I usually just use that for rails and stuff, but it was fun to mess around with
How cold was it? It wasn't cold at all, it was a california pow day.
To check it out for yourself go to: Skibrighton.com
Cost: Adult Day Pass $47
Name: Seth Morrison
Sport: Skier
Mountain: Loveland, CO
model.
Cost: Prices range from $17- $52 for a lift ticket, for lift ticket rates go to Skiloveland.com/LiftRates.html
Name: Sean Pettit
How was it? My first day on whistler was my best day so far. The snow up to my armpits and landings softer than ever. I skied from 8 am to 3:30 pm and stopped 15 minutes for some lunch.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts?
The best thing about opening day is thinking about that first turn your going to make and then making it. I am constantly thinking about what is coming ahead of me. where im going to be going, what tricks im going to try, who am i going to shoot with and when and so on.
What size of board/skis were you on? I am riding 159 Nancys( K2 ).
How cold was it? I would have to say around -9 celcious
Cost: For more information on tickets go to Whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets/winter/index.htm
Name: Dan Treadway
How was it? I arrived home from 40hrs of travel from Thailand. Whislters base was already over 150cms and still snowing. There was no getting the legs ready by skiing groomers instead it was straight to the trees for Powder filled pillow lines. The snow was blower and coverage amazing.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts?
Ususally when the season starts, there's been so much build up that I can't wait to get out and shred. On a normal year I've been in the gymn for a month watching it rain and the opening of the mountain is a sigh of relief as couch and gymn days are over. This year there was none of that. It was straight from flip flops to waist deep snow.
How cold was it? I would have to say around -10 celcious
Cost: For more information on tickets go to Whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets/winter/index.htmName: Elena Hight
Where was your opening day this year? This year my first day was at Mammoth Mountain.
How cold was it? It was snowing and super windy so it was definitely cold, but it is always fun on the
Name: Bryan Fox
Mountain: Mammoth Mtn
Name: JJ Thomas
Sport: Snowboarder
Where was your opening day this year? Thanksgiving weekend
Where were you? Wolf creek colorado
How cold was it? Pretty warm actually probably like 40 or so.
Who did you ride with? I rode with my little cousin Tanner.Hes 12 and isnt too good,so i dedicated the day to getting him ripping down the hill,and sure enough it worked.
Name: JF Pelchat
First Day Date: November 18
How was it? It was the best opening day ever recorded, over 10 feet of snow had fallen it was riding in February, we received the most precipitation that November had ever seen.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? The mountain wasn't all that crowded and the amount of powder everywhere. What goes throgh my mind, there is no friends on a powder day.
What size of board/skis were you on? I rode a Rossignol Decoy 157cm.
How cold was it? It was minus 10 celsius.
Name: JP Tomich
Mountain: Brighton, Utah
First Day Date: November 17
How was it? My first day was indeed a good one. I had just gotten off a flight from Europe and had been shaking in anticipation to go do my first turns and ollies of the season. Nontheless it was an wonderful time and I got to spend it with my friends.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? The best part about opening day was seeing everyone and their perma grins on their faces. Finally, was running through my mind as I buckled in for my first run. What stood out in my mind the most was the season ahead of me.
And that it was going to be nonstop for the next 6 months. I LOVE IT.
What size of board/ skis were you on? I was riding a Salomon Prospect 153.
How cold was it? The temperature was a cool 40 degrees or so. Just perfect enough to wear a good shell jacket.
Name: Sammy Carlson
Mountain: Timberline, Oregon
How was it? Really fun, light snow lots of it
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? always excited to be abck on snow and just fun to mess around wiht all your local friends that you dont get to spend to much time riding with during the winter because your gone
What size of board/skis were you on? 176
How cold was it? cold like 20 degrees
Name: Kelly Holland
Mountain: Alta, UT
First Day Date: November 18
How was it? A lot of rocks, but a lot of fun...there were even some pockets of fresh that were awesome if you didn't gouge a hidden rock or stump. Groomers definitely had a certain appeal that first day though.
Best thing about opening day and what goes through a pros mind when the season starts? The best thing is the rejuvenated feeling of freedom and the forgotten burn. The first thing that goes through my mind is...get my legs back!
What size of board/skis were you on? 169 Volkl Karmas How cold was it? The sun was out, but I'm always cold.
