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Something we try to do at least once a week at Castle Mountain Resort is take some of our demos out and test them. This week we took out 3 carving “all mountain” skis. Cole took the Rossignol Avengers, Curt took the Volkl Grizzly, and I took out the K2 AMP Aftershock (right, below). We each rode our selected skis for a run or two before we switched up and tried new ones.
Rossignol Avenger: 182, 128-82-112, 17.8m
Volkl Grizzly: 177, 131-89-114, 18.7m
K2 Aftershock: 174, 130-86-114, 17m
 The skis in question, from left to right: Rossignol Avenger, K2 Afterchock, Volkl Grizzly. Photo courtesy of TeamAlpenland.com |
1st: Rossi Avenger
2nd: Volkl Grizzly
3rd: K2 AMP Aftershock
The Grizzly beats out the Aftershock, just barely, because the Aftershock has early rise in the tips, which cause them to be a little bit chattery at higher speeds. The Avengers were the clear winner. A very nice, smooth transition in and out of turns and a serious need for speed.
1st: K2 AMP Aftershock
2nd: Volkl Grizzly
3rd: Rossi Avenger
The Aftershock edges out the Grizzly because of that same early rise in the tips. The Avengers took a lot more work to make their way down the hill. The Grizzly and the Aftershock handled the deep stuff with no trouble at all.
1st: K2 AMP Aftershock
2nd: Volkl Grizzly
3rd: Rossi Avenger
One thing that needs to be right off the top is that none of us are any good at skiing bumps….at all. It was one of the saddest displays of mogul skiing ever. That being said, the Aftershocks seemed to be able to pivot much easier than the other two skis. The Grizzlys just powered their way though. On the other hand, The Avengers fought the whole way down (again, most likely due to the fact that I can’t ski bumps).
1st: Volkl Grizzly
2nd: Rossi Avenger
3rd: K2 AMP Aftershock
The Grizzly won this round with ease, feeling right at home on a few small jumps and drops. When flying off rollers with speed the Avengers felt smooth from take off to landing. Not to take away from the Aftershocks, which stuck a really nice drop off a set of cliffs, courtesy of Curt.
So at the end of the day here’s how it all breaks down.
Curt: "If I was a betting man, and the bet was that I had to choose one of these three skis to race from the top of the mountain with unequivocal style, the last person down having to leave the hill FOREVER, I would choose the K2 Aftershock. Its versatility affords the user the ability to combine smooth carves, powerful crud trenches, and the sweetest of airs. My winner."
Colin: "The Avengers were an amazing carving ski, the Grizzlys were incredible at handling anything the mountain could put in front of them, but the K2 Aftershocks took the top spot. The skis went from turn to turn with little to no effort, all the while maintaining control. The early rise made for way more fun in deeper snow and the skis look really great."
Cole: "My review, after just a few runs on these skis, is all about comparisons. The Volkl Grizzlies in ‘Power Mode’ made for nice wide carving on the groomers, snappy tighter turns in lightly tracked powder and felt good in the air. I would compare them to a Subaru WRX – great maneuverability and handling on all terrain. The K2 Aftershocks, while also decent on the groomers, were less fun to lay into than the Rossis but also much more forgiving. My comparison for these guys is to a Honda Civic – good all-around skis, but not necessarily prominent in any one area. The Rossi Avengers are FAST. As soon as you get on these skis, you’ll notice they don’t like to turn until you get up to speed. However, when you do, they edge hard and you can lay them down every turn. The Avengers get compared to a Formula 1 car – fast, quick turns, but not really any good for anything else."
It was exactly one year ago today that Sid the Kid scored what would become one of the biggest goals in Canadian hockey history. SnowSeekers was in Whistler for the glorious moment, and managed to capture it on camera. Take a look at the reactions from the Canadian faithful at Merlins.
What was your favourite moment from last year's Olympics? Where were you when "The Goal" was scored?
In January, SnowSeekers hired a fresh new face to help us out with filming on tour. Zac Peetsma, just two years removed from high school, has quickly blended in with the crew and shown skills well beyond his years. Throughout the season Zac will be making a series of on-the-road vlogs that will hopefully give you guys a taste of what it's like to tour with SnowSeekers.
For now, here's an intro to Zac and what his first month with SnowSeekers has been like. Stay tuned to the Blog throughout the season for more snow-filled hijinks, courtesy of our Baby-Faced Assassin.
 Photo courtesy of Whistler/Blackcomb |
The TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival, April 15-24 2011, is the last stop on the Association of Freeskiing Professional World Tour. The WSI is one of only two world-wide events, out of 21 that host the AFP, to offer all three components of the AFP’s mission “to improve and progress competitive slopestyle, halfpipe and big air skiing.” The revival of the Big Air competition, along with the Slopestyle being integrated back into the WSI line-up, has meant that the WSI is now at the forefront of the commitment to support and evolve the aforementioned three major elements of freestyle skiing.
Slopestyle and Big Air are both invitational events, with Superpipe lending its qualities to open entry. The invited athletes will be announced as the AFP World Tour progresses, and the rankings are released. Chief Marketing Officer for the AFP, Chris Jerard emphasizes that “the WSI at Whistler really is the culmination of the entire season for these athletes. We’re very excited about it all coming down to ground zero at Whistler and we couldn’t imagine a more appropriate place to be crowning the World Champion in all three disciplines. The WSI this year really is an incredibly motivating and important final stop on the AFP World Tour.”
This move towards quality events and progressing with the sport, and the times, has flowed over into other aspects of the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival. The most highly anticipated new event for 2011’s Festival is the incredible amalgamation of some of TWSSF’s most popular elements, skiing, snowboarding and filmmaking.
With the 72 hr Filmmaker Showdown now dominating in the entertainment world, there was a niche in the Festival that had arisen. Those action sports filmmakers, hardcore skiers and boarders who want to tell their story. Enter, Intersection. Teams are required to have a filmer, a skier and a snowboarder, and are given 7 days to produce a 5-7 minute short. Challenges include; an obligatory 30 seconds of Whistler Blackcomb in-bound footage, 30 seconds in the terrain park, the film must be shot within 100km of Whistler, the entirety of the film must be shot within that 7 day period, and 75% of the film must be on snow footage.
Judged for the ‘action-sports’ component, along with filming techniques and further criteria, Intersection lends itself to established filmmaking companies, and to dedicated action sports industry professionals. Entrants are by invitation only, of which expressions of interest are being accepted currently. The top contenders will all receive a $1000 entry prize, and the Grand Prize Winner, earning the Best in Show title, will walk away with the biggest cheque TWSSF has given out, a generous and highly-motivating $15,000. Visit www.wssf.com for more details.
The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival is produced by Watermark Communications, a Whistler‐based event production & communications company, and presented in partnership with Tourism Whistler and Whistler Blackcomb. Having grown over 16 years into the largest annual winter sports and music festival in North America, the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival is a 10 day and night showcase of the best of snowsports, music, arts and mountain life.
Featuring major professional ski and snowboarding competitions, the largest free outdoor concert series in Canada, cultural events that match up art‐lovers and the art‐makers, career‐making fashion, photography and film showcases, the best spring snow conditions in the world, and burn‐the candle nightlife, the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival is the poster child for the ultimate ski and snowboard festival experience. In blazing the way for the youth of tomorrow, the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival lives up to its promise: ‘Party in April. Sleep in May.’
Having experienced Sweatshop Union in the past, I know this is going to be a deadly show, especially since its taking place in one of our favorite spots - Revelstoke. Take a long weekend, they are playing @ the River City Pub on Thursday Feb 4.
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SnowSeekers would like to offer our congrats to our buddy Blake Jorgenson, who was named 'King of Storms' at the Deep Winter Photo Challenge this week (Robin O’Neill took 2nd, Andrew Strain 3rd, and Ilja Herb won Best in Show).
The six photographers involved in the competition had three days to shoot in-bounds at Whistler Blackcomb with their athlete teams.
Blake took home the $3,000 grand prize and will have his name added to the King of Storms trophy. All previous Deep Winter winners will be added to the trophy to commemorate their achievements.
Nice work, Blake!
And while we're on the topic of Whistler, I thought I'd pass on a pretty great deal that Whistler/Blackcomb has going right now. Head to www.whistlerblackcomb.com/escape to check out the offer for a 3 night/2 day trip (including lift tickets) to Whistler for only $126 per night.
Edmonton and Calgary are offering airfare deals to Whistler right now for only $109 + taxes.
Cash in now while you can.
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SNOW UPDATE
Over 12ft of snowfall since the season start, close to 10cm in the past 48hrs , and a heavy system promising to hang around all week and dump fresh powder on the 5 bowls at Fernie Alpine Resort! Warmer temps right now and great snow conditions with a 100% of ski runs open (113 runs).
New kids’ fun ski features in the Minute Maid Wilderness Adventure Centre debuted over the holidays and has significantly enhanced the animation of the entire area featuring cut out trees, CPR tunnel, and a Teck Coal Miner tires for kids to ski around.
Check Fernie's current snow conditions on our snow conditions page.
 Photo courtesy of Resort of the Canadian Rockies |
Saturday, January 08, 2011: Kinky Rail Jam
Skiers and snowboarders will slide in style at Fernie Alpine Resort's Kinky Rail Jam. Open to both skiers and snowboarders, the annual rail competition will be set in a jam format so that each rider has a number of feature options. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in each category. Overall talent and skill will help the judges choose their champions. The entry fee is $25 + HST and online registration is now OPEN! Online registration is available at www.skircr.com/compete.
Burton Snowboard Demo
Come check out the latest and greatest in Burton snowboard gear. Camber vs Rocker? Flying V and Frostbite Edge technology? The Burton Demo Team will be on-site from 9am-4pm to explain all the tech and let you try it out! Please note that the demo is FREE but a credit card is required to test out equipment.
January 15- 16: Avalanche Awareness Days
January 22: Raging Elk Cardboard Derby
January 29: Kokanee Snow Dreams – 7th Annual
February 4-6: Rossignol Junior Freeski Comp presented by FRESH
3cm of snow overnight and lots of snow in the forecast for the duration of the week with good skiing temperatures at Kimberley Alpine Resort. 68 runs open and all lifts operating (total: 5)
Night skiing is on at Kimberley Alpine Resort featuring Canada’s longest lit ski run! New this year, children 12 and under ski at night for FREE! Night ski operations run every Thursday through to Saturday (inclusive) from 5:30-8:30pm until March 12, 2011, with a bonus Sunday night on February 20th in spirit of Family Day weekend.
Check Fernie's current snow conditions on our snow conditions page.
 Photo courtesy of Resort of the Canadian Rockies |
Saturday
3:00pm – Après Ski and Live Music in the Stemwinder Bar & Grill
5:00pm - 8:00pm - Skating (weather permitting)
(skate rentals available at rental shop, open until 8:30 during night skiing)
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Kids Rule Games Night for kids 4-12
(register at guest services) cost is $5.00 per child
for an extra $10 per child a kids meal from Kelsey’s can be included
5:00pm – 8:30pm - Night Skiing
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Kootenay Fondue Snowshoe Tour (register at ski school)
4:00pm - 6:00pm - Snowshoe mountain descent (register at ski school)
Sunday
3:00pm - Après Ski and Live Music in the Stemwinder Bar & Grill
5:00pm - 8:00pm -Skating (weather permitting)
(skate rentals available at rental shop, open only until 5pm)
4:00pm - 6:00pm - Snowshoe mountain descent (register at ski school)
January 29-30: SHREDFEST - Rossignol Junior Freeski Comp
February 12: Slopes For Hope Challenge – NEW Canadian Cancer Society Fundraiser!
Great skiing temperatures with a predicted big snow storm to hit for the duration of the week. Fantastic grooming and 55 ski runs open featuring the NEW NaJIBska rail park fully open with all features accessible on Elbow.
NaJIBska Rail Park is now open with a large variety of brand new features ready for jibbing and located on Elbow (accessed from the Silver Chair Express)
Check Fernie's current snow conditions on our snow conditions page.
 Photo courtesy of Resort of the Canadian Rockies |
NEW Snack Shack at the base of the Minute Maid Learning Centre opened over the holidays. Serving hot drinks and handy snacks, ideal for families using these facilities and parents watching their young ones learn the sport!
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January 15: Avalanche Awareness Day
January 20: Ladies' Day Ski Trip - lift pass, lunch, guest speaker, and 1.5 hours of group instruction tailored to women. Skiers and Snowboarders welcome - $119 + GST
January 21-23: K1 Super Combi Camp Hosted by Alberta Alpine
January 26-28: Junior Speed Camp Hosted by Alberta Alpine
Came across this pretty cool video by Nuulife Cinema called It's Winter.
With each Fall season the people of Whistler wait for the first snow to hit the ground and the chance to get out and shred. Well, the snow is here and there is a ton of it. The wait is over and your powder dreams have become reality once again.
Whistler's supposed to get 70+ cms of snow this week. If you still need a kick in the @$$, check this out.
With the way the current weather system is hitting Whistler, the conditions for skiing and riding are getting better and better every day.
Whistler Blackcomb has a current snow base of 137 cms with total of 266 cms (8.7 feet) snow so far this season. The forecast is calling for more snow to hit Whistler Blackcomb today, followed by sunny skies; it doesn't get much better than that!
 Photo courtesy of Logan Swayze |
Jasper in January is happening from the 12th to the 28th, with all kinds of great activities on the go. Read More
Rossland's legendary Winter Carnival is right around the corner. Click here to get stoked before you go. Read More
Our digital coupon book saves you money on accommodations, gear, restaurants, and more. Also available in our app! Read More
Not sure what resort to visit next? Our Resort Recommender will tell you where to go, based on what you want. Read More
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Total snowfall so
far this season:
10046 cm