For perspective we are only at about 95% of average for snowfall so far this season.  These powder shots are just “average” or even slightly “below average” for Utah.   I’n the past month I’ve  done lots of resort riding, splitboarding and even some pow surfing.  I have been so lucky to ride so much with my family and friends.  It’s nice for a  41 year old weekend warrior like me to have the storms line up with my holiday vacations.  Let’s just say I took advantage of my time off!

RESORT RIDING

They call this zone “Hokkaido” at Brighton. Obviously named after pow zones of Japan.

My teenage son throwing up pow plumes at Snowbird.

Snowbird can be frustrating with closures, crowds, angry tourists and locals, but sometimes you will have the run of your life that keeps you going back!

My wife rips Snowbird! Give it up to the mom shredders out there!

Avalanche danger had many frustrating closures at Snowbird and I wasn’t about to venture out in the backcountry either.

The catwalks made for some fun jumps at Snowbird!

Snowbird

Brighton

Brighton

POW SURFING, NO BINDINGS

About to drop without bindings.  Yes my heart is pounding.  You really have to think about your line.  It is not like you can come to an instant stop like you can on your snowboard.  You really have to surf the mountain, think ahead even more than usual.  It is super addicting.

You can see my line in the center.  Not to brag but I think it is so much more fluid than the ski and snowboard tracks to my skiers left and right.

Deep powder turns on a board without bindings might be the ultimate high in powder snowboarding and skiing.

Self portrait

SPLITBOARDING

Always grateful to get a shot of me.  I invested in an airbag this season.  Float 22 BCA.  Good day pack, but pack light.  the Float 32 might be better for those that like to pack a bit more than the essentials.

Here is my 2014/2015 season snowboard edit from this past year. I am 16 years old. It was filmed by Jacob Levine, Jack Wiley, and Peter Day. This edit was filmed at Park City, Canyons, Mammoth, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Seven Springs.

Here’s a winter teaser shot at Snowbird over the last few seasons. Cheers to praying for a big winter this year! We all DESERVE it!! Don’t forget to get training to be the best on the mountain!;)

I’ll be honest, this is far from the best winter I have had in the Wasatch.  Saying that, I still rather have a bad year in Utah than an epic winter in most places.  So what have I been doing with myself this winter? Lots of resort riding, lots of splitboarding and even some more surfing.  I am feeling lucky to still score pow and waves this winter.  Stay stoked!

The views from Snowbird Tram.

Dave Suhre enjoying the pow! Even in a bad winter we still get waist deep days!

Dave Suhre sends a cliff on Baldy at Snowbird.

Dave Suhre enjoys the fresh at Snowbird. 

Devon King sends a method at Snowbird. 

Jesse Coss playing in the powder at Snowbird.

Jon Schofield rips some pow on his splitboard in Silver Fork.

Jon Schofield slashing in the sun on his splitboard in Silver Fork.

Jon Schofield rips some pow in LCC on his splitboard.

This is me ripping powder at Snowbird!

Me again, not too bad for a 40 year old! Snowboarding keeps you young!

My wife Melanie enjoys the fresh snow at Snowbird. I love that smile. Go team mom!

Full moon splitboard tour up at Brighton.

Tony Madrid keeps an eye on the moose on a recent splitboard tour out of the Canyons.

Pete Wurster, owner of Unity Snowboards, enjoys a splitboard tour out of the Canyons.

My son finally is big enough to have a splitboard. Here he is on his way to the top of Patsy Marley via Grizzly Gulch.

My son Sam stands on top of Patsy Marley.

Just because it was his first tour on a splitboard, doesn’t mean he is a stranger to powder!

Sam quickly learns the benefits of splitboarding!

Jon and Quin head up for another lap in Silver Fork.

Yeah when it snows in Utah, it usually dumps!

February wasn’t all powder for me. I actually surfed as many days in California as I got on my board in Utah for the month!

Warm temps and offshore winds, what more could you ask for!

Take me back!!!!

After a spring-like February, we finally got that big storm we’ve all been craving! Here’s a few photos of me, and a quick edit filmed on the GoPro of me and my buddies getting some well deserved pow!!!

With most of the western mountains measuring in with below average snow totals, here’s a video from February 2013/14 showcasing what Park City’s complimentary bus is capable of accessing. Hopefully March will pull through for bottomless powder turns. Keep those snow dances up.

This picture shows the beauty of urban skiing. When things aren’t always great on the mountain, this shows how you can still have fun simply in someone’s backyard or neighborhood.

A trip to Northern Wyoming taught me to me fly. Check out the edit here!

Thanks to
North Kiteboarding
3B Extreme
Discrete
Gnarly Nutrition
Dakine
Smith
Spreadstoke
Sandmarc
Exult kitewaer
Goal Zero

Three major storms in 2 weeks brought about “Powder Panic” in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains.  The first storm was so serious that half of Snowbird Resort remained closed for 3 days!

The next storm would roll in a couple days later.

After the storm cleared it was time to enjoy the fresh snow and sun on the splitboards.

Another storm was right on the heels!  The resorts in both of Utah’s Cottonwood Canyons were firing for days!

With Snowbird getting tracked out, it was time to go back out on the splitboards.  All of the terrain shown in this post of us splitboarding is threatened by One Wasatch and the Alta expansion.  Not only will this terrain be lost to backcountry use, but snowboarding will be banned with Alta’s expansion.  Sad day when more of the Wasatch will be shut down to snowboarding!

Had an epic Christmas slaying pow at Canyons in Park City, Utah!! Check it out …

A few friends and I headed up to Beaver Mountain in northern Utah, not quite sure what to expect. We ended up having an amazing day shredding pow with great friends. Please watch and share!!!

The forecast was saying the storm was going to split, and if we were lucky we might see 6 inches. Over a foot later, no one was complaining. A Northwest flow had set up over Little Cottonwood Canyon delivering  a sneaky storm that many did not get out of bed for. It was an amazing day at Snowbird with my youngest son.

My 15 yr old son Sam enjoys the fluff at Snowbird!

Sam sends it!

Sam enjoys the whiteroom.

No line at 9:25 am for some incredible runs!

Snowbird had early trams and donuts for season pass holders!

Photos of me and my Buddy Parker Swainston, shredding Alta early November, 2014! The first real snow to fall of the season! Super stoked to have real snow from the weekend here in the Wasatch (3 FEET!!) and Sunday and Monday were epic days for sure. Some of the deepest snow I’ve shredded in November ever!!!! The photo of the Snow Stache is of me Monday Nov 24th, and it was EPIC!!!

Though we haven’t had much snow lately and have had record warm temperatures, it hasn’t kept us from getting out and enjoying the mountains. Pray for snow!

Super fun day with my son up at Snowbird. Season is finally off to a proper start!

First day at Snowbird 2014, with lots of pictures of Little Cottonwood Canyon snow

Pow Surfing is a throwback to our roots.  Riding deep powder without bindings gives you the true snow surf feel!

Early season powder surfing by Forrest

My season edit for the 2013-14 snowboard season. 15 years old. Filmed at Park City, Brighton, Mammoth, Sun Valley, and Mt. Hood.

Song: Evil Love- Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats. Song Inspiration: Chandler Hunt

Photos from the United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association National Championship. The event took place on last season from March 29th – April 8th and was located at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

Nov 2nd was a kickass day in Utah. It was the first rideable amount of snow and a bunch of us got after it. Snow, friends, dogs, campfires, jibs, rails and more fire!

Watch the edit here!!!

First snow edit!

Thanks to the following companies for the support: Nectar Sunglasses, SANDMARC, Discrete, Gnarly Nutrition, Smith Optics, Goal Zero, Rossignol, 3B, Ski Utah, and Hit Case.

Preseason training should be a part of every snow sport athlete’s routine. It is pretty easy to go to the gym to strengthen your legs and core, but what about keeping your air awareness sharp? There are very few places and ways to learn your flips and air style in a safe, controlled environment. Snogression is the place.

The other day I went to Snogression, a training facility specifically designed to help athletes learn and progress their air awareness. They have an amazing set-up: super tramps, fly beds, foam pits, and a full-on fake snow ramp. I had a blast checking this place out. I got to talk with some pros and groms from Team Utah while getting in on the action as well! Check out the edit to see what this place is all about!