Chilling discovery by four-time Australian Olympic snowboarder Scotty James who came across this crevasse smack dab in the middle of a groomer at Saas-Fee in the Swiss Alps. Saas-Fee is located on a glacier so these type of obstacles occur time to time so I guess you gotta be heads up even if you’re on an active ski trail. Sketchy.

Scotty is good about responding to comments on TikTok, here’s a few:

About Saas-Fee:

Saas-Fee, nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, is a world-renowned ski resort that captivates winter enthusiasts with its breathtaking landscapes and exceptional skiing opportunities. Often referred to as the “Pearl of the Alps,” Saas-Fee stands out for its car-free village, preserving a charming, traditional atmosphere. The resort is situated in the Saas Valley, surrounded by majestic peaks, including the iconic Dom, the highest mountain entirely within Switzerland.

Skiers and snowboarders flock to Saas-Fee for its high-altitude skiing, ensuring excellent snow conditions throughout the season. The Allalin Glacier provides year-round skiing, making Saas-Fee a haven for those seeking a longer winter sports experience. The resort caters to all skill levels, offering a variety of slopes, from gentle beginners’ runs to challenging expert trails.

Saas-Fee’s infrastructure is modern and well-developed, with a network of lifts, gondolas, and cable cars facilitating access to the diverse terrain. The Ice Pavilion, a unique attraction inside a glacier, adds an extra dimension to the experience, allowing visitors to explore ice sculptures and tunnels beneath the glacial surface.

Beyond skiing, Saas-Fee offers a range of activities, from ice climbing and winter hiking to tobogganing, ensuring there’s something for everyone. The village itself exudes Alpine charm, featuring traditional wooden chalets, inviting restaurants, and cozy après-ski spots. Saas-Fee’s commitment to sustainability and its stunning alpine setting make it a top choice for those seeking an unforgettable winter sports getaway in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

When Zach Bryan isn’t touring around playing to packed houses of adoring fans he likes to let loose on the mountain. The country music singer songwriter was spotted last week at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire where he enjoyed his first day of snowboarding for the season. Anyone at Loon get to ride a lift or have an apres beer with with Zach?

Tried to find more pix and vids of Zach snowboarding but hit a dead end. What I did find is the video of Zach playing in the snow at Red Rocks. Looks magical:

images from NECountryMusic facebook

“For a mountain with such an enticing name, it sure lived up to it.”

Japan has long been a destination for folks looking for deep reliable snow but the powder pilgrims usually show up after the holidays.

Early season shredding in Japan just doesn’t get that much hype but this zone Tateyama in the Japanese Alps looks incredible for a November mission. Tag along with Mountain Hardwear athletes Daisuke Mizuma and Keisuke Yoshida as they hop a train to Mt. Dainichi (translates to ‘Big Day Mountain’ in English).

After November, the area gets so much snow that access is closed through the heart of winter and skiers and snowboarders are unable to ride it until April or later. Daisuke and Keisuke the weather window perfectly and got three days of incredible riding between two massive storms. This looks incredible.

About Mount Dainichi:

Mount Dainichi, situated in the breathtaking landscape of Japan, is a majestic peak with cultural and spiritual significance. Standing proudly in the Chugoku region, this dormant volcano is part of the Daisen-Oki National Park. Revered for its stunning natural beauty, Mount Dainichi offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Sea of Japan.

The mountain holds spiritual importance in Japanese Shugendo, a syncretic religion combining elements of Buddhism and Shinto. Pilgrims and hikers alike are drawn to its slopes, seeking tranquility and enlightenment amidst lush forests and serene trails. The pristine environment is home to diverse flora and fauna, creating a haven for nature enthusiasts.

Throughout the changing seasons, Mount Dainichi unveils a kaleidoscope of colors, from cherry blossoms in spring to vibrant foliage in autumn. Whether for religious pilgrimage, outdoor adventure, or simple appreciation of nature’s wonders, Mount Dainichi stands as a symbol of Japan’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

Sugarloaf, Maine’s largest ski resort, is closed today, December 19, due to major road and infrastructure damage. Yesterday’s storm, which left hundreds of thousands of people without power along the East Coast, damaged the mountain, parts of the resort’s village, and roads leading to and around the resort.

Sugarloaf has not yet released an estimate on when they will reopen, but an update is at some point today. Carrabassett Valley Police posted an image of a washed out Route 27, the road leading to Sugarloaf’s access road, at the Redington Bridge near Tuft’s Pond Road North. The police department requested early this morning that nobody attempts to access Sugarloaf at this time.

Other posts show water rushing over the major roads throughout Carrabassett Valley, washing out the bank along the side of Route 27. The nearby Carrabassett River can be seen rushing nearby, and water flows can be seen flowing towards ski cabins.

Farmington, Maine, home to the University of Maine Farmington, the small Titcomb Mountain, and one of the major routes to both Sugarloaf and Saddleback (which is also closed), can be seen suffering from major flooding in posts made to Facebook. Some images show what appear to be washed out sheds, near fully covered vehicles, and water up to the top of street signs and the large McDonald’s sign in town.

If you’re in an area affected by this storm, please stay safe! If you’re at Sugarloaf, stay dry and try to avoid driving anywhere. If you’re not at Sugarloaf, don’t try to go. Road closures will certainly prevent you from getting there, and road conditions will likely make any drive unsafe.

It’s sad to see all of this damage throughout New England. Hopefully these mountains, including Sugarloaf, Saddleback, and Sunday River, can get things repaired quickly, and hopefully some snow will hit the ground in the near future so the East Coast ski season can get going once again!

Related: One Of Sunday River’s Roads Washes Out Due To Heavy Rain

Image Credit: Carrabassett Valley Police Department via Facebook

Arc’teryx Equipment recently announced a three-year partnership with the Natural Selection Tour, the backcountry freeride snowboard competition co-founded by Travis Rice. According to a press release from the company, as a part of the partnership, Arc’teryx will act as the Official Outwear Sponsor of the competition beginning in 2024.

“I am super excited to see Arc’teryx partner with Natural Selection for the next three years. This event is all about highlighting progression, style, and pushing the boundaries. This aligns so well with Arc’teryx brand values around product design. I believe this partnership is the ultimate opportunity to continue to elevate snowboarding.” – Natural Selection Rider and Arc’teryx Athlete Elena Hight

Throughout the first season of partnership, Arc’teryx is set to outfit the entire Natural Selection crew. Riders and behind-the-scenes crew will be given gear to help the safely and comfortably organize, prepare, host, and compete in this year’s competitions.

“The crew that produces Natural Selection Tour events are some of the burliest in snowboarding. Often located deep in the backcountry, our venues are chosen for the terrain, snow conditions and what will be best for snowboarding, never for comfort or ease of access.

With that we rely on gear that will keep the crew warm and dry for intense 12+ hour days; setting up the venue, building features and running all the production gear. Arc’teryx is built for the conditions we work (and play) in and we’re thrilled to work together in the years to come.” – Natural Selection Tour COO Liam Griffin

The 2024 Natural Selection Tour will take place in three stages, the Natural Selection DUELS, the YETI Natural Selection Selkirk Tangiers, and the YETI Natural Selection Revelstoke. The DUELS are set to begin in late February, with locations in Colorado, Switzerland, British Columbia, and Japan.

Related: Opening Scene To This Japanese Snowboard Film Is Brilliant

Image Credit: Natural Selection Tour via YouTube

“soft is an audiovisual translation of the sense of feeling things”

The opening urban scene of this Japanese snowboard adventure is some of the best cinematography/audio design I’ve seen in a long time. Stick around for some highly satisfying Japow ripping and find yourself start pricing out flights to Tokyo by the end. Thanks for the art Christian Haller and Kris Lüdi:

soft from Christian Haller on Vimeo.

Everyone likes to brag about the coolest place they’ve skied. Skied in Colorado? Brag about it. Skied in Canada? Brag about it. Skied in Europe? Brag about it. Skied in Japan? Definitely brag about it.

Ski in some random place that nobody’s ever heard of? I’d say it depends where. If we’re talking about some tiny ski hill in the midwest, maybe hold off on bragging about it (we do love the tiny ski hills, though! Give access to skiing wherever it’s possible!). A tiny ski hill in Africa, though? Or a wicked ski area in India? I’d say that’s worth bragging about.

So, if you’re looking to book an exotic ski trip over the next few years, the people at mountainsight have created a list of the 10 most exotic ski resorts in the world.

“There are some truly exotic ski resorts in the world. We’re talking about resorts in places like India, Africa, Pakistan, and even Mongolia, which not everyone knows about. If you’re looking for ski spots that break away from the usual, here’s a roundup of 10 exotic places to hit the slopes!“

Most of these aren’t incredibly unheard of to me, or at least incredibly unexpected. Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Kyrgyzstan are all known to have some pretty monstrous mountains, so it’s not entirely surprising that someone decided to put some lifts up in those countries.

But Mongolia, Cyprus, and Morocco? I think most people would be a bit surprised to hear that those areas had ski resorts. South Africa and Lesotho? Neither of those countries are known for their snow. It would be a pretty cool experience to try to check off as many of the most exotic ski areas around the world as possible.

Related: 10 Things Mikaela Shiffrin Can’t Live Without

Image Credit: mountainsight via YouTube

I know most of you don’t need told this, but entering closed terrain on the ski area is a bad idea. There are a whole load of reasons why terrain might be closed, including (but not limited to) lack of snow, avalanche danger, dangerous terrain, difficult access for ski patrol, or, simply the fact that it’s not a part of the resort’s terrain.

Also, importantly, closed terrain does not mean ski at your own risk. Gated backcountry access is one thing. You’re welcome to head into that kind of terrain, as long as you have the proper knowledge, experience, and an avalanche beacon/shovel/probe. Gated backcountry is ski at your own risk, and it will be marked as so. Closed terrain is closed terrain. Don’t go there.

In case you need a little reminder as to what closed terrain is and what it means, here’s the crew at Whistler Blackcomb to explain the different signs and closures.

It’s important to note that different resorts might have different signs and signals for different types of closures. Check and understand your resorts symbols and closure signs! If it says closed, I can guarantee you that means it’s closed.

Again, I hope most of you know this already. I hope most of you don’t need this reminder. Maybe just show this to your kids, maybe make yourself watch it in case you have a nasty habit of ducking ropes. Just keep in mind, entering closed terrain could endanger not just you, but the patrollers who may need to rescue you and the public below or around you.

Related: “Check Yourself, Check Your Friends” A Simple Message About Backcountry Ski Safety

Image Credit: Whistler Blackcomb via YouTube

“Jeremy takes a deep dive into how he approaches the mountains and the avalanche safety practices he has learned over the years.”

Thanks to the high altitude snowboard samurai Jeremy Jones for stepping in front of the camera and dishing out some sage advice on refreshing and improving our avalanche awareness skills…aka getting avy savvy.  This is the first in a series of talks hosted by the Jones Snowboards founder where Jeremy will pick the brains of their ambassador guides and team riders on the subject of avalanche safety. The backcountry community is growing faster than ever and it critically important that we maintain a learner’s mindset and continue our ongoing education. For more backcountry safety resources from Jones Snowboards GO HERE.

“Blue jeans dominated, followed by a healthy amount of jean jackets and denim skirts, as well as an occasional pair of jorts.”

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming absolutely obliterated the world record for jeans skiing when 3,114 people showed up Saturday to shred in denim. Skiers and snowboarders young and old turned out in droves in their Levis and Wranglers and lets just say the blue wave was strong. The previous record was held by The Remarkables Ski Resort in New Zealand who hosted 102 jean skiers. Way to go JHMR!

JHMR PRESS RELEASE:

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) announced today that it set the world record for the most people skiing and riding in jeans on Saturday, Dec. 9, drawing 3,114 participants for the Resort’s first-ever Ski In Jeans Day.

A bluebird sky greeted blue jeans-clad skiers and riders at Teton Village for the event, which came after another winter storm in the Tetons dumped 19 inches of snow over the previous 48 hours, bringing the Resort’s season total to 122 inches. 

The base area at Teton Village teemed with visitors wearing festive outfits for the occasion. Blue jeans dominated, followed by a healthy amount of jean jackets and denim skirts, as well as an occasional pair of jorts. Participants filed through an arch set up at the base area to be officially counted for the new world record, which smashed the old mark of 102, set by visitors at The Remarkables Ski Area in New Zealand earlier this year.

“This is the perfect way to kick off the winter season, and it’s a day that everyone at the resort will remember,” said Ned Wonson, Director of Marketing at JHMR and the mastermind behind the event. “The participation was fantastic. People came in from all over the country for this event, and the atmosphere around the resort couldn’t be more ecstatic. Ski In Jeans Day was a huge success, and is just the first in a line of premier events that JHMR is hosting this winter, including Kings and Queens of Corbet’s and Rendezvous Music Festival.” 

Ski In Jeans Day punctuated an eventful week at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which officially opened four additional lifts and a wide variety of terrain after recent winter storms blanketed the Resort in fresh snow. 

RELATED: A Love Letter to Jackson Hole