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Big Sky Resort Blog

Final Weekend, Wet and Wild

4/14/2008 9:38:00 AM

Wow, how can I describe closing weekend here at Big Sky Resort.  Let me think for a second, ohh I have it…PERFECT.  What can I say, the only real spring days we’ve had all year and the just happened to be timed with perfectly with our last weekend of the winter season. 

 

I started the day Friday in the office wanting the sun to shine and as the day progressed the sun shone more and more.  At 2pm we kicked off the weekend festivities with “Afternoon Delight” the first best trick competition at Big Sky, and let me tell you people threw down, World Boards gave us some awesome prizes, including a snowboard and Big Sky Sports chipped in with some sick logo wear.  We grilled some hot dogs and kicked out the jams while the riders and skiers went huge to the delight of the crowd.  There were some 7’s 9’s and even a 1080 on skis, and boarders were going inverted and twisting every which way.  We ended the comp just in time to see Adam from guest services try a double back flip on his board, actually over rotate and snap his board in two.  Good thing it was close to the end of the season.  Many props go out to Tyrell and the whole Terrain Park Crew, as well as Jake and the other groomers for all of their hard work put into the jump and the parks all season.

 

Saturday started with snow and 17 degree temps, not the ideal day for a Pond Skim, so let me tell you I was a bit flustered at 9 a.m.  But lo and behold Mother Nature smiled upon Big Sky and by 10 a.m. it was sunny.  Collin from DJ Joe’s Mobile DJ service was rocking the plaza and the folks from Airtime Inflatables had the bouncer room set-up.  The Park crew had finished cracking the ice on the pond and it was beginning to melt.   By 1 p.m. we had over 70 people signed up for the skim, remember that we limit the entries so keep that in mind for next year.  At 3pm we moved to the hill and Brandon took over the mic.  Jake showed us how not to do the skim, by not really skimming at all, and as people got the hang of the curved pond they started to make it across.   After 70 some odd contestants and a few poachers including a guy in his tighty whities and rainbow suspenders only, our very own Dax Schieffer finished off the event and much like Jake, didn’t really skim at all.   

 

Politician then took over in the plaza and I, even after hundreds of applications of SPF 50 still managed to get sun burnt, while rocking out.  It was a great crowd and a wonderful celebration of spring and the end of an amazing season.  We had fresh snow the last week and sun the last days.  It doesn’t get any better than that. 

 

Sunday was another warm day and I said goodbye to my good friends.  With a few hugs and shiny red nose I called it a season.  Much thanks to all of you this season that made it what it was . . . Wonderful.  Talk to you soon.  Maybe a summer update or two or perhaps a "The Way I Golf It" may be in order.  Have a great spring and summer and see you in the fall.

 

Chad

Sunny Sunday In Montana

4/3/2008 2:37:00 PM

When God made Big Sky, he must have said “Let it all be Good!” because
it really is remarkable snow riding out there right now, no matter
what your fancy. You say you feel like skiing groomers?  Well then I
hope you like ‘em with perfect corduroy, just lightly dusted by the
dozen tracks before you got there. A  run like Elk Park Ridge or Big
Horn off Andesite Mountain just can’t really get any better in terms
of coverage and consistency.

Spring Skiing at Big Sky Resort More...

Down the Primrose Path

3/26/2008 11:25:00 AM

The "Lone Peak Pass" is the combo ticket that allows total mountain access (nearly 6000 acres) to Big Sky riders desiring Moonlight experiences.  Locals and visitors alike can mix up their day on the vast expanses of blues and greens, but the real punch is for the more extreme enthusiast. This pass gets you on the tram on the Big Sky side and allows you to experience the "North Summit Snowfield" on the Moonlight side; sort of the Holy Grail of Lone Mountain runs.  (Excluding the rarified Little Couloir!) More...

Family Time

3/18/2008 8:30:00 PM

Well folks I apologize for the delay but the family was in town.  First and foremost let me say that I truly love and enjoy spending time with the family but I am completely worn out.  After numerous flight delays everybody was finally in Big Sky and ready for a week of skiing and riding.  Sunday and Monday were beautiful sunny days with a mix of some snow and cloud cover.  We started off on the perfect “corduroy” that my mom loves so much. Sled Freestyle at Big Sky Resort

More...

Tearin' up the carpet

3/10/2008 11:01:00 AM
“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, Lois, when you invited me over to tear up your carpet!”
-Herb, on “The Family Guy”
 
Ah, but these powder days were so much fun – it was almost as good as what Herb had in mind!  Lone Mountain hasn’t skied better all year … especially if you like the steeps and the deep-pile carpeting that come with them! More...

No friends on a...

3/5/2008 8:53:00 AM

The phone started ringing around 8am. “Got that ticket?” “Can you film today?” “Meet
me in the Cafeteria.” “Are you here yet?” “How much snow is up there?”
It’s funny how a powder day somehow stimulates the ringer on my phone.  More...

Sunny Days

2/22/2008 2:41:00 PM

So I hope that you all have been wearing your sunscreen, cause it’s been absolutely beautiful up here lately.  I have had the fortune of being able to get out of the office a little lately and ride around the hill with journalists and photographers.  I spent the last few days following Mike Mannelin and Scott Spiker around. For those of you that don’t know Mike is an amazing skier and Scott is an amazing photographer, I quickly learned my job was to provide comic relief for both of them and make Mike look like a more amazing skier when seen next to me. 

 Blue Bird

 

We started out our morning by finding the small powder stashes hiding around the mountain, mostly this required myself and Mike to hike up and down some short steeps and make some turns while attempting to throw some snow towards Scott.  You could not have picked a better day for hiking and I need to get in shape anyway.  Plus you know what the proverbial "they" say . . . "A hard day of riding is better than an easy day of work", or something like that.

We proceeded up the Tram for some more sunshine, powder and spring snow.  Tore it down Liberty and dropped into Screaming Left, which was still soft and powder on the North Side.  Then we decided to take Middle Road to the base for some lunch at the Whiskey Jack.  You know I laways think of the Middle Road as a scenic sleigh ride aroudn the resort and with the sun on your face it really doesn't get any better, plus I had Mike and Scott to pull me through the flat part.  Lunch was delicious and I returned to the office with a full belly while Mike and Scott went back kout to take advantage of the bluebird day.  If it's not snowing then at least give us sunny days and clear skies, eh? 

Lunar Eclipse

I finished the work day later with the lunar eclipse viewing, near the Tube Park.  Stephanie had Dr. Daniels to interpret the stars, hot chocolate, cookies, telescope, star charts, chairs and lanterns outside to provide the perfect viewing experience.  If you missed it, the next eclipse is on December 20th, 2010, so put it on your calendars.  Wear your sunscreen and get out there.

 

Chad

 

 

Hero Snow

2/15/2008 10:20:00 AM

So with storm systems rolling through southwestern Montana on what seems to be a daily basis, why wouldn’t you head out to do some skiing?

I rolled into Big Sky late Friday afternoon to snow continuing to fall out of the sky, the only unfortunate thing is that is was a little windy (some might argue very windy). Drawing from my 20 years experience of skiing the Sky I knew that the wind was only going to do one thing…make skiing better!  You do have to know where to go, usually, but this weekend was different, very different.

I woke up to even more snow Saturday morning, made my early morning calls to rally the troops, and we were off exploring the 3000+ acres Big Sky has to offer.  First to the bowl where the Patrol was still hard at work taking care of the wind loaded slopes combined with the fresh snow.  Matty and I decided we should probably head to Challenger instead of wait for the Bowl to open.  We made the right call, and the wind did a super job of buffing out EVERYTHING! It was incredible, we tried to hit it all, Outer limits, 17 Green, Highway, BRT main and even the normally bumped out Moonlight was smooth….JACKPOT!  More...