This is because it’s another day with new snow here in Jackson Hole, which perhaps by this point in the season we should all be used to, but powder days don’t work like that no matter where you are. A month into skiing powder, and two weeks into the tram... there is still no legitimate excuse for resting now. Nor will there be. All across the west, it is the same story. But not every ski towns’ collective quadriceps are brutalized by the 4000’ tram lap... but no one is complaining.

Each day, it seems as though our little town is full of centenarians in the afternoons.  Skiers lurch about, grinning at each other, dogs, mailboxes, whatever-it’s hard to stop smiling. No matter: this is nothing that isn’t fixed by 6-10 ibuprofen. Bright eyed and bushy tailed by 8 am, come 2 pm and these same locals are collecting at the base, ruined, beers in hand, hoping to get in some rest before whatever the next morning brings to us.

Walk-on trams aren’t helping the situation, although we all know they won’t last long. The word is out, and the holiday is nearly here.  But for now, it’s only the ride back up between runs where you can relax... kind of, as you try to lean all your weight on the wall, or your upright skis. You can’t slow down on the mountain, because it is all filled in. And soft. Why would you do that?

My friends tell me it is like this all across the west. Not having to gloat makes me happy, a little because they wont all show up here, a little because I can go visit them, and a little because I like happy friends. But in the meantime, all I know is it has been one for record books here.

Give it another week, and everyone will be strong, and people will have booked their ski vacations, but for now, it’s still pretty special.  The sun even came out for a couple hours the other day.

And I think I’m almost out of ibuprofen.

I have to realize my furious irritation that my friends and I just had to park in the overflow lot, adding 10 minutes walking along the snowy highway, getting sprayed by slush from passing vehicles up to the start of the Glory bootpack (which is currently an endless stream of bootpackers), despite it being 8:45 am on a weekday morning, in MAY! should give way to the fact that well, alright, this is pretty cool.

Like the reports from skiers from the PNW and British Columbia down to Colorado, the Tetons have been getting hammered, well, more or less since closing weekend at JHMR.  And this year, it is definitely not just a die-hard few hikers out there: conditions are good.  Really good. Spring can wait for now-the sun peeks out, and we cringe.  Weather rolls back in, and we relax.

For spring, whether it’s the barrage of white room, face-shot crack-book photos posted, or the fact that the weather has been so bad all you can do outside is ski, people are still (or re-) stoked on skiing. Mid-winter Teton Pass powder day mayhem is unfolding right in front of us; it is one of many powder days in a row here; part of a spring that is much powderier and winterier than our recent winter.  

So I smile too, shoulder my pack, and join the mayhem stomping up to the summit. I guess (occasionally) it is pretty cool to not have it all to yourself. Although, in full disclosure, I felt even better later on when we got first tracks and face shots all down some of the most fun chutes on the pass. It was the best of both worlds. As in excellent, fellow skiers: thanks for showing up, stoked and smiling…and for skiing something else.

The 8:30 am round of skiers waits for the 7:15 am round of skiers to vacate their parking spaces...

Full lot, full bootpack!

Despite being late, we got the goods...again!

Way better than February.

Another view of the day's satisfaction.  

Sure, it's not the only huge snowfall of the season in North America, but for Jackson Hole, up until a few days ago, hurting for snow was putting it kindly.  Add to that the fact that no one was expecting the recent transformation from a buy-a-plane-ticket-to-the-tropics ski season to relentless, over the head choking powder, at a resort empty of tourists, and you have an absolutely epic event.  Over five feet in the Tetons in less than a week has created a new world.

And it is deep, really deep, perfect consistency snow, thoroughly delivering purpose back into ski bums' lives. The comments of "I just had the best run of my life!" and "That was the best/deepest/sickest/most ridiculous I've ever skied that" etc.,  have been nonstop since Friday-even coming from long-time locals.  And hopefully, with more storms on the way, this could be the status quo for the near future.  

http://www.jacksonhole.com  (43" in 72 hours)  & www.grandtarghee.com  (48")

Storm Show brings its fun, refreshing simplicity to the ski movie world, proving you don't have to have helicopters or big ski-industry contracts to ski and shoot some of the most impressive lines on film every year.

That was the scene last weekend, in a field in Wyoming at a party for Jimmy Zell, a member of one of Jackson's and the ski world’s rippingest and most influential families, who was recently diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

So in no half-hearted attempt to raise money, Goatstock 2009 was produced, resulting in a nearly 24-hour marathon of good times and fundraising. 

The greater Jackson community came out to show support for Zell to help offset medical bills in what sister Julie Zell, a famed professional snowboarder herself, termed a ‘fantastic, raging, success.’

From legions of skids and professional skiers to the mayor of Jackson, all of ski town society was in attendance.  The event began with mountain biking, lego tents for children, food, drink, roasting meat, a stage, 6 bands, 3 circus tents, myriad quality raffle items, and ended (no one is really sure when) with massive bonfires, a festive circus atmosphere, and camping in the field.  Donated shuttle rides to and from town enabled non-campers, who chipped in by purchasing 18 kegs worth of beer/whisky/whatever they handed out (hey- it’s for a good cause), to have a safe night of philanthropy as well.

One of the most pioneering skiers when Jackson and Alaska’s big mountain terrain was just being explored, Jimmy lost the use of his legs a little over a decade ago, in a paragliding accident in Mexico. Eventually he came back to Jackson and made his name again as a perpetually smiling figure ripping around the ski hill on a sitski.  He has had to put up with more than most people, but facing things head-on is what Jimmy does, and in doing so inspires others to live more fully.

Dealing with ALS is difficult, but with a customary smile, myriad friends, and the support of the community makes it that much easier to fight against the disease. To donate to the fight, click here    http://www.stonetablejacksonhole.com/donate/ 

photo: Bob Woodall

http://www.focusproductions.com

signpost photo: Becca Bredehoft

This year, I arrived just not in the mood to deal with Lenas and its status, as my Argentine friend and ex-Whistler resident Huere Darquier refers to it, as a gringo colony.

It was time to flee.  I decided against Chile (costs more than Argentina), and went south to Patagonia, where it rains a lot in the spring and my first day was spent in a deluge.  And there I was. And there I stayed, because I wasn’t about to spend 16 hours in a bus, again-although I was sorely tempted.

The reward for this leap of faith was one day of soaking rain by the lake, followed by multiple blower powder days at Catedral Alta Patagonia and La Hoya (which has, by the way, super sweet terrain, really good snow quality, and is quite cheap).  But the best part of this was the total mellow. 

The ‘multiple’ in powder days came from the fact no one else was out there. My friend and I were just about the only ones hiking and touring off the resorts.  There was no racing for lines, no anxiety, no using my albuteral to skin and boot faster than you...just a lot of stoke. 

As fun as the our ski scene is, it (and Lenas) will always be there.   Sometimes, just to go and ski, just for the sake of skiing, is necesary.  You never know what you will get-a blower pow ridge at La Hoya, with only your tracks all day, or maybe the most interesting thing you have dropped into in a while (and in the Chapelco backcountry? who knew!).  And some damn good Patagonian ice cream afterwards. 

It’s about time, considering the terrain that some of the Andean resorts can offer, and the deluge of freeskiers that flee the northern summer this area for every August and September. Manuel Uranga, part of the Las Lenas marketing department and an avid telemark skier, said that he has been trying to get a Las Lenas competition back together for years, but new management at the resort finally made it possible.

Uranga notes that the competition was not as comprehensive as they wished it to be, since skiers had only about three weeks notice from the original announcement of the contest. The resulting field consisted of 28 men, no women, and no snowboarders. Feedback from the skiers, however, was that the venue was incredible, with 800 meters of steeps off Eduardo’s on the front side, the snow was good, and skiers are stoked to come back again.

Which is good, because VLL plans to continue their freeride contest. For next year, Uranga says, since athletes will have more notice, they hope to have enough competitors to create a women’s category, and snowboarders as well. This year’s contest is a point of pride though, with Las Lenas local Gustavo Rossi snagging the top spot. Americans Griffin Post and Drew Stoecklein represented in second and fourth, respectively.

La Parva, for the IFSA is going off right now, with many of the usual crew making it down to the event. Although the snow has been marginal, everyone is really stoked to be competing in Chile. The venue is named McConkey’s, with a picture of McConkey at the top, super stoked as usual. “It feels like he is welcoming you to rip his playground-super cool,” said athlete Jess McMillan.

The terrain lends itself to runs that will either be super gnar or kind of mellow, without a lot of middle ground. But al least now, the World Tour can live up to its name, and hopefully the IFSA can continue to put on international contests and spread the sport of competitive freeskiing. The finals will be going off this Saturday. You can check out the progress and results at worldfreeskiingtour.com or skilaparva.com.

While a lot of the competitors for both these competitions happen to be skiers who were already down in the southern cone getting in some training time, if these two venues follow through and continue to hold contests in future seasons, the sport of competitive freeskiing could really make its presence known in this part of the world, and that will be a very good thing.

Photo Courtesy Las Lenas