GrindTV
Sunshine Village is one of a handful of ski areas open to riding this weekend.
Photo: Courtesy Sunshine Village
Spring is like the skiing’s second season–the time of year when you can forget about Gore-Tex, proper layering and the powder panic, and don a bikini or Hawaiian shirt, crack a beer, and have fun in the slush. Whether you want to get one more day to make up for the turns that didn’t happen this year, or just aren’t ready to let it go, there are still sevenoptions in North American to get your shred on. None will compare to this clip from Chamonix by Nate Wallace, but if you like to be the last guy the bouncer pushes through the door at closing time, here’s where you should be this weekend.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Well, at least the Blackcomb part. While Whistler is closed for the season, Blackcomb’s winter season will last until May 28. The Wizard Express and the Excalibur Gondola will be running from 10-4 this weekend, with only Wizard operating during the week. Once uploaded, 7th Heaven, Horstman T-bar, Glacier Express and the Crystal Chair are all open depending on weather. Special bonus: The Whistler Bike Park opens for the season on May 28th. Throw in a round of golf, and you have the leisure weekend triathlon.
This is the final weekend for Sunshine Village, and what doyou know? There’s snow in the forecast. Levels are expected to drop to the valley on Friday. Sunshine Village is one of the few places to hit record snowfall this year–411 inches. They’ll be running 12 lifts. The annual SlushCup pond skimming takes place on Monday.
Five lifts, including the gondola are open this weekend. The resort will keep opening on weekends though Memorial Day. This is the last weekend for the Chinook Express and Forest Queen lifts. Operating hours are 8:30 to 3:30.
With a 130-inch base, and 512 inches on the season, Bachelor is another resort that missed the cursed year of 11/12. Most runs off the Pine Marten, Skyliner and Summit lifts are open, and though the resort is closed Monday-Wed, mid-week passes are valid for weekend riding through Memorial Day. Speaking of which, there is live music in Bend May 25, 26, and 27, featuring (in order) The Shins, Tenacious D, and Beck. This weekend, however, don’t miss the Sammy Carlson Invitational.
Timberline is also open through Memorial Day, and is sellingpasses good for the rest of the season for $110. Operating hours are 8:00-3:00,with three terrain parks open from 9:00 on. They have a 150-inch base and willbe operating two lifts.
No surprise that perennial late-season hold out Mammoth Mountain will still be spinning the chairs this weekend, despite a sub-par snowseason (by their standards). Lifts are operating from 7:30-2. The Bike Parkwill open May 26, at which time Mammoth will also offer a $99 Ski+Golf+Mountainbike pass.
Bobby Brown showing his American Spirit in the Unbound Terrain Park at Mammoth Mountain.
Photo: Mike Rogge/Powder
While the most of North America was lamenting a lack ofsnow, the people of Alaska were running out of places to put there’s. Anchorage set a record for snowfall in the season, and Alyeska Resort, in nearby Girdwood received over 900 inches since October (including 93 inches already in May). The resort is open weekends through the end of May, operating form 9:00-2:00.
