XGames is Aspen trend headquarters...leather on snowboarders?

Leather, the latest trend in snowboarding?

So I am watching the Winter XGames taking place in Aspen during a down day heli skiing in British Columbia (it happens).  Out comes Shaun White, formerly the flying tomato with his raging red hair, sporting a rock-star black leather jacket & pants for his slopestyle snowboard run… interesting I think to myself. I never embraced the baggy boarder pants around the knees and the boxers on display. I prefer fitted for sure, I am an old school skier, and not sure what to think of the biker look for boarders either.

Well Shaun White’s qualifying runs weren’t enough to make the final’s cut; despite his fashion flair… he was as surprised as the fans I bet. What I didn’t expect was for White to be so gracious… saying that the upcoming riders were bringing the bar up and that he’d have to go practice to keep up.

Shaun just raised the sportsmanship and style bar at least, this is the dude that started the whole face bandana craze as I recall. I predict more leather in the terrain parks in the near future. And look for Shaun to bring some serious height to the Superpipe at the XGames. Still to come as well, Maine’s great sport Seth Wescott in snowboard cross. The Winter XGames are on all weekend.

Heather the ski guru goes heli skiing in Bella Coola!

Ever heard of Bella Coola Heli Sport? Few have...that's what makes heli skiing here so sweet!

read about our British Columbian adventures on Boston.com here:
http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/specials/ski/blog/2011/01/_greeting_from.html

Heli skiing in Bella Coola BC!

Heli skiing in British Columbia is a amazing...gorgeous lodge at Tweedsmuir Park, exciting heli rides into the remote mountains of Bella Coola and skiing our private snow stash...shared with nine other skiers and our two guides...good times - understatement!

Follow our adventure on facebook!


http//www.facebook.com/luxuryskitrips.com

This is the winter we have waited for… - The Ski Guru Blog

Time to book it out west to Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, Utah, you name it, or your favorite New England resort..snow is here..go get it! says ski journalist Heather Burke

Read her ski blog:
This is the winter we have waited for… - The Ski Guru Blog

Loafers rejoice, Brackett Basin debuts...

Cue the cow bells, sound the Swiss horn as Brackett Basin is now open for skiers and riders at Sugarloaf. The much anticipated glade terrain, part of Sugarloaf’s 665 acre expansion on Burnt Mountain, was enjoyed by eager Loafers thanks to 10 inches of fresh snow. Patrol dropped ropes on the four upper glades of Brackett Basin that can be reached off the top of King Pine, Birler, Sweeper, Edger, and Cant Dog, which represents about 60 acres of the 270-acres of glade skiing that Sugarloaf plans to open this winter. Logging continues on the rest of the new terrain, but should open soon as long as workers and ma nature keep up their good work

Keep in mind this is backcountry terrain, featuring ungroomed, natural snow with the occasional stumps, bumps, jumps, and plenty of trees peppered in. So go with a buddy and use caution as trees don’t move – so you should. Sparks could fly and P-tex could peel off but this is still exciting new terrain for Sugarloaf skiers and good news after the lift derailment over the Christmas holiday. For those that have poached this wild terrain prior to it joining Sugarloaf’s official trail map, this is good news and bad news. The glades are better pruned now (good), but now you have to share your sweet stash (bad).

Brackett Basin is part of the “Sugarloaf 2020” ten-year expansion plan that will eventually double Sugarloaf’s in-bounds terrain, making it the largest ski area in the East. Tree skiing in Brackett and a juicy Bag burger should put a smile on every Loafers’ face.

It's Ski Safety Week - so Know the Code!

Do you know The Code? You should! It's safety awareness week for skiers and riders across the country...here is the 7 point Responsibility Code:

• Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
• People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
• You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
• Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
• Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
• Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
• Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

Click here for more on Ski Safety Awareness Week on Heather's Boston.com Blog!

The downsides to chasing gates - The Ski Guru Blog

Ever been a gate keeper? Sounds very powerful and prestigious but when it comes to high school level alpine racing it means standing on a snowy mountainside freezing, watching kids skid around icy gates...I'm not a gate hater, I was on the race team at Smugglers Notch Vermont as a teen. I just prefer to ski where I want when I want ..heres' my blog on bamboo chasing!

The downsides to chasing gates - The Ski Guru Blog

Are you a Chairlift Chatterbox?

My kids say I am a chairlift chatterbox...engaging in ski conversations during my lift rides to bide my time. What can I say? I find fellow skiers interesting...much more than my neighbors in the hood.

Read my Boston.com blog about chatting on the chairlift...Inane Chairlift Chats

and enjoy the ride...

Who you gonna call? The Editors at Family Ski Trips...

"I'm just a girl who can't say no"...I remember those lyrics from my high school play Oklahoma.  So when The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, Real Simple magazine and HybridLifeRadio call me for my professional opinion...I provide it in thorough, researched, relevant detail. And so I have done that in the last few months...What can I say? I was flattered to be called upon and interviewed! I am usually the reporter with the notepad...so it was fun to be on the other side.

The irony in two of these situations is that my expert info was utilized throughout the resulting articles...without a lot of credit, just a link to my family ski tips site. Oh well, live and learn and ski often.

Sugarloaf's Spillway takes a spill

What are the odds that a CNN reporter was on holiday riding the Spillway East chair at Sugarloaf last week when the cable derailed?
Dec. 28 2010's lift accident at the Maine ski resort became national news, namely CNN, within minutes, but the Sugarloaf rescue crew was even swifter in its response and care for the eight injured skiers in fallen chairs, and evacuated 200 skiers and riders by noon.

Read Heather's article on Boston.com

New snow for the new year?

We have been doing our snow dance here on the East Coast...while the western Rockies and Sierra Nevadas are getting dumped on! Well, no need for a pity party, take comfort in knowing that New England resorts have significant snow fire power (they can fake it and make it)...check out our hit list for resorts with the best snowmaking!

See Family Ski Trips' Best Snowmaking Resorts!

Sunday River picture here with all eight peaks open and snow covered thanks to 1600 guns!