3/3/2013 2:48:00 PM
Skier: Dan Herby Photo: Freeride Media
CONSISTENT SNOWFALL, FREE refills and good friends have made for an amazing few weeks here at Big Sky Resort. Whether it’s a fresh 6 inches overnight or a bluebird day with knee deep recirculated powder, the mountain has been skiing great.
While entertaining Freeride Media earlier this week, we were treated to soft snow off the peak and a bluebird day to remember. Joined by skiing legends and a stellar film crew that not only can shoot but also rip, we roamed the mountain in search of the perfect shots. Finding excellent steeps through the Dictators off the Tram and fantastic gladed shots in Dude Park off the Shedhorn lift, we compiled a ton of footage that’s sure to please.
Interested in checking out some of these great spots? Look into the mountain guide program offered through Mountain Sports School. Or if you want to see more of these great photos here are 2 albums from their visit: Day 1, Day 2.
-Kipp Proctor
Skier: Desiree' Leipham Photo: Freeride Media
Skier: Scott Evans Photo: Freeride Media
Skiers: Dan Herby and Dan Egan Photo: Freeride Media
Skier: Tommy Frey Photo: Freeride Media
Skier: Kipp Proctor Photo: Freeride Media
Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, lone peak tram, shedhorn, dictators, skiing legends, freeride media, consistent snowfall, dan egan, dan herby, powder, fresh snow, bluebird,
Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General
2/27/2013 6:02:00 PM
Ski trips can be rather daunting; between the travel time, lesson sign up and gear gathering, honestly, I cannot understand how people have the energy to ski. As a ski instructor at Big Sky, one of the main pieces of equipment commonly over looked is ski boots. People get rental gear, not quite certain on how boots should fit and head out on to the hill. Here are a few tips on picking boots and what to look for.
First, ski boots should fit snug, not to the point the foot falls asleep or cuts off the circulation, but so the foot does not move around inside the boot, this can affect performance. The boot should feel snug around the foot conforming to the heel, arch and toes. There should be absolutely no lateral movement in the foot and the cuff should be tight around the lower shin allowing for limited range of motion in the ankle.
Finding good rental boots can be challenging. Obviously, rental boots are made to fit a wide variety of people. If you ski two or three days in a year, rental boots are the way to go; but if you come out and ski a least a week every year purchasing boots can be beneficial to both fit and skiing performance. It is the constant in your ski trip and familiar. It can also help streamline a trip if you just need skis and poles.
Bottom line, ski boots are the most important piece of ski equipment so whether you are renting or buying take the information above into consideration . Use the resources at the resort and if taking a lesson, instructors will more than likely take a look at your foot wear. If they don’t, ask for their advice.
I am Brenna Kelleher and that’s the way I ski it!
-Brenna Kelleher
Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, bootfitting, boot fitting, ski instructing, bootfitter, big sky sports, good fitting boots,
Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | Snowsports | General
2/23/2013 6:23:00 PM
BEATING EARLY UPS is a hard thing to do; especially on a powder day. Saturday, luck was in my favor when I was invited along by extreme skiing legend Dan Egan and his Steep Camp for the special opportunity to get first tracks through the Big Couloir with a few eager and fearless first timers.
Put on by the resort’s First Tracks program, we skied the lower mountain off Andesite until 8:45 before heading for the Tram. The fresh snow from overnight was super fluffy and provided a great opportunity to warm up and get our legs under us.
Once warmed up we set sail on Swifty and headed to the Peak. After checking in with Ski Patrol Director Jimbo Humphries and a quick safety talk with Ryan Ayers, we clipped into our skis and ventured around the back of the peak to the entrance of the Big. From the top, we sent groups of 2 down the resort’s most illustrious run. The deep snow that had filled in the Big from the previous few days was unbelievable and was an experience that the group participants (Leslie, Mike, and Scott) were stoked to check off.
After skiing the technical top section, I veered out of the Big Couloir proper and headed for the Secret. Thigh deep fluff awaited me as I dove into my first turn, and every turn thereafter until just above the Cue Ball. Reconvening with our group just above the Triple, we exchanged high fives and pole taps after giving everyone a BIG congratulations.
Live big, play hard: BIG SKY.
-Kipp Proctor
Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, dan egan, powder, early ups, first tracks, big couloir, ski clinics,
Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | Snowsports
2/19/2013 2:55:00 PM
Big Sky base area vs. Vail
WHEN I GO SKIING I want to ski. Busy trails and endless lift lines seem to always come to mind when planning a trip over a holiday weekend; unless you’re skiing Big Sky Resort. We’re not kidding when we boast about our nonexistent lift lines and the 3,832 acres of nearly private skiing.
Whether you’re a long time local or guest, it’s hard to complain when you take into account what other resorts in the Rockies experience (Vail for example) during high traffic periods. Even with one of our busiest years to date, lift lines at the base area have remained sub 10 minutes and are more often than not walk-on/ski-on. They’re also an added blessing when they fall on weekends (like this last one) that deliver over 16 inches of fresh snow and all you want is get back up top to make another lap. I'd gladly pass on fighting Vail's crowds and helplessly watching my favorite line getting poached.
Short waits and long laps; Big Sky is the ticket.
-Kipp Proctor
Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, short lift lines, long laps, lift lines, vail, busy resorts,
Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General
2/15/2013 8:45:00 PM
LONE PEAK WAS at it again today after a difficult to explain combination of fresh snow and wind deposited well over a foot of fresh cold smoke on the south face. If the roughly 18 inches of fresh wasn’t enough, we were also graced with a beautiful bluebird day.
My friend and I headed straight for the tram with the expectation to ski some of Lone Peak’s free refills under the bluebird sky. After shooting a few photos from atop the peak, we headed towards the snow fences above Liberty Bowl and this is when we first came upon the unexpected deep that lay before us.
I was shocked, dumb founded, blown away and surprised. Face-shots were plentiful and seemed to never end turn after turn during our top to bottom run. High fives and pole taps were a given at the bottom as we stared back up at the unexpectedly epic run that fell/hit us in our laps.
Lone Peak: expect the unexpected.
-Kipp Proctor
Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, powder, liberty bowl, face-shots, unexpected
Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General
2/12/2013 6:01:00 PM
MAGICAL LONE PEAK was at it again over this past weekend picking up more than just a few additional sneaky inches that were reported at the base. That’s right, Big Sky’s angry inch was at it again and those who sought out the peak were generously rewarded.
While it stormed all day and the visibility was somewhat poor, the snow was great. Despite the fact we correctly reported 7-8 inches around the base and mid-mountain, Lone Peak was once again a different world. My first tram lap down the dictators at 11:30 was one of the deepest runs of the day at thigh deep. Nearly every turn through D2 buried me under a cloud of fresh Montana cold smoke. Lone Peak wasn't the only exception with great turns to be had across the mountain. Dakota/Shedhorn in particular provided their usual private skiing experience with fresh tracks to be had still at 3:00pm.
Good friends, deep powder, and magical Lone Peak once again made for another epic ski day.
-Kipp Proctor
Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, powder,
Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General
2/8/2013 8:20:00 PM
Photo Credit: Vladimir Barabanov
SURE, EVERYBODY LOVES a powder day but the real skiing that locals at Big Sky secretly fiend for and is difficult to explain, is the wind buffed conditions found on our high alpine, above tree line slopes. The creamy, hero snow found on the Peak after a good dose of wind grooming produces an experience like no other resort around.
Ask any long time local what’s possibly better than a powder day and the unanimous answer will always be a beautiful wind buffed day off the Tram. The hero conditions make any avid skier fall in love all over. Being able to rip a wide open run such as Lenin or Marx as if it were a groomer off Southern Comfort is like nothing else. Any skeptic will be convinced once they dive into their skis, feel their edge sink deep and are reward with the confidence that they can arc a turn at any angle they wish.
So seek the Peak and arc some epic turns!
-Kipp Proctor
Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, wind buffed,
Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General
2/4/2013 4:30:00 PM
Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush and Drew Emmitt - 3 of the best mandolin players in the world on stage together at 2012 BSBG. Photo Credit: Larry Stanley
After the lifts close this coming Friday at 4pm, Big Sky Resort’s mountain village will look – and sound – a bit livelier than usual. Yep, that’s right – this weekend marks the 7th annual Big Sky Big Grass bluegrass festival, complete with 3 days’ worth of performances as well as a new music camp, headlined by some of the industry’s finest musicians and bands.
Many other ski resorts wait until the summer season to hold their music festivals. But here at Big Sky we combine the opportunity to experience the world class terrain of the Biggest Skiing in America by day while offering foot-stompin’ good tunes and great times by night.
It goes without saying that BSBG has only gotten bigger – and better – with each passing year. This year, for the 7th annual, we’ve raised the bar even higher, offering the Sam Bush Band, the Del McCoury Band, the Emmitt/Nershi Band, the Travelin’ McCourys and Special Consensus, all with a lineup that encourages the cross-picking and special guest appearances that festivarians have come to expect. The lineup also includes new, more progressive acts, such as Pete Kartsounesand Trout Steak Revival as well as Friday night’s “Libation Station” featuring wine & beer tastings and a regional band competition.
One of the greatest things about this festival is that you don’t have to be a die-hard bluegrass fan to enjoy it. Bluegrass music tends to encompass multiple genres within its own realm. Take last year’s Sunday evening show with Greensky Bluegrass in Whiskey Jack’s, for example. From local lift operators to vacationing parents, everyone in the room took part singing, dancing and yes, shouting, when the band busted out a bluegrass cover of the classic hit “(You Make Me Wanna) Shout.”
In addition, not only are the musical acts unique at BSBG, but so are the venues. Shows in the Talus Room are small, intimate and sit-down. The Carabiner has the quintessential après ski environment, while Whiskey Jack’s provides the late-night barroom party that many folks are looking for, and finally the Missouri Ballroom has space and grandeur fit for our Grammy-winning headliners.
So what do you have planned this weekend? If you’re looking for great skiing and an amazing amount of fun that you and your friends won’t soon forget, come check out Big Sky Big Grass. For tickets, lodging deals and all the information you’ll need, click here.
BSBG fans stoked at last year's show. Photo Credit: Larry Stanley
Emmitt/Nershi Band with Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass. Photo Credit: Chris Kamman
