WORLD SNOW WRAP – Heavy Snowfalls in European Alps, Canadian Storms Continue
Sunday 9 December, Blackcomb Mountain, that was where you would rather be Image:: Whistler-Blackcomb
Mountainwatch | World Snow Wrap
EDITOR’s NOTE: This season we will once again bring you the fortnightly World Snow Wrap and the weekly Japan Snow Wrap. These regular features aim to be a one-stop-shop to give you an idea where the snow is falling, where its not, and provide some regular snow porn just for your desktop viewing pleasure. Expect these features to be published on Monday’s across the northern hemisphere season…
Wow… 2 weeks on since the last edition and we are definitely looking at a much more consistently snow covered northern hemisphere. Europe has seen some huge snow totals that provided some truly epic skiing and the Pacific Northwest could not have done better out of the convergence of storms that delivered some amazing snow.
With all this new snow we are starting to see more and more terrain open by the day, this is the point when Winter truly begins…
Events
The Oakley Shaun White Air & Style took place last week in Beijing, China. This event marked the first 6Star event for this World Snowboard Tour season. The event took place in the Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium under lights, 24 international riders battled it out for their share of the $100,000 prize purse.
Japanese shred prodigy Yuki Kadono emerged victorious on the night; At only 16 years old Yuki is the youngest rider to win the event since Shaun White himself. According to second place winner Peetu Piiroinen Yuki’s victory came as no surprise, “Already in Summer I knew we would be watching out for Yuki this season, I congratulate him on his win.”
December 14-15 will see the FIS Snowboard/Skicross World Cup take place in Telluride, CO, the Dew Tour kicks off in Breckenridge CO December 13-16, other then that things are quiet on the event front as the resorts focus on Christmas holiday makers.
TOP 3 RESORT PICKS THIS WEEK
1. Les Trois Vallees, France
2. Hakuba, Japan
3. Whistler-Blackcomb B.C
TOP 5 FORECAST TOTALS THIS WEEK (7-DAYS)
1. Niseko, Japan – 55 cm
2. Whistler, B.C – 51 cm
3. Mammoth, California – 38 cm
4. Heavenly, California – 30 cm
5. Snowbird, Utah – 22 cm
Lesser known B.C resort Red Mountain opened its doors over the weekend. Red has announced plans to double their skiable terrain this season with a peak expansion serviced by cat this year and a new high speed lift next winter Image:: Red Mountain Resort
Canada
British Columbia
Status: Open for business….
Recent snow: The province of B.C was pounded with fresh snow over the last two weeks due mainly to a convergence of two storms setting up an ‘atmospheric river’ of precipitation to the pacific-northwest. Whistler-Blackcomb saw 1m+ of fresh snow bringing their cumulative snowfall to over 3m already this winter. The interior resorts have received constant top ups of fresh pow over the last two weeks. Revelstoke is now boasting 500 cm + of cumulative snowfall this season.
Coming snow: Coastal resorts like Whistler-Blackcomb are expecting about 50 cm of snowfall by the end of the week with cold temperatures keeping the freezing level way down. Interior resorts as usual are expecting a little less, probably about 10 – 15 cm concentrated mostly around tonight and tomorrow.
Conditions generally: Epic, B.C is on track to call this the best December ever!
Editor’s Pick: Revelstoke, steep mountains, fresh snow, less crowds, and a cheap heli operator nearby…
Plenty of snow out the back of Whistler Peak at the moment Image:: Coastphoto.com
Alberta
Status: Open
Recent snow: About 30 cm over the last 7 days for the Alberta resorts. All resorts in the Banff area are now open and have been experiencing some amazing snow lately. Lake Louise is sporting a 105 cm base, Mt Norquay is enjoying 85 cm and Sunshine is winning with 120 cm base at mid mountain.
Coming snow: 30 – 40 cm of new snow for the Alberta resorts over the next 7 days with COLD temperatures!
Conditions generally: Amazing conditions leading up to Christmas/New Years
Editor’s Pick: The champagne powder capital, Kicking Horse would be the pick this week.
USA
California
Status: Most resorts are open with varying conditions.
Recent snow: Mammoth mountain has being doing quite well with the recent snow and now has nearly 100% of the resort open. The Tahoe resorts are starting to open more and more terrain thanks to good natural snow and snow making.
Coming snow: Some pretty good snowfalls coming through later in the week. Should be heaviest around Sunday with 20-30 cm on the cards.
Conditions generally: Good
Editor’s Pick: Mammoth mountain has got the goods yet again.
The first feature on the slopestyle course all set for the Dew Tour on Thursday Image:: Breckenridge Resort
Colorado
Status: Open, some resorts still limited terrain
Recent snow: 15 cm of fresh snow overnight means that Colorado’s luck has changed.
Coming snow: A little quiet snow wise this week. Probably about 15 cm of new snow by Sunday, falling mostly on Friday/Saturday.
Conditions generally: Getting better after a dry start.
Editor’s Pick: Steamboat Springs this week…
8″ of dry fresh pow set up an awesome December day in Steamboat, CO Image:: Steamboat
Utah
Status: Open
Recent snow: Nothing major to report this week. Some small natural falls and snow making have seen most resorts in the area open for the season by now.
Coming snow: Some fresh headed to Utah by the weekend. We will be expecting about 15 cm by Sunday
Conditions generally: Improving…
Editor’s Pick: Park City would be my pick at this point in the season.
North West – Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon
Status: OPEN with plenty of snow..
Recent snow: Some amazing snowfalls hit the northwest over the last two weeks. Jackson Hole was able to open the famous Aerial Tram on Saturday making for an incredible day for those that were there. Jackson has received 15″ of new snow over the last 48 hours meaning that the fun will continue. As usual, snow magnet Mt Baker has been getting pumped with pow and has seen 80″ of fresh snow in the last 7 days. This means they currently have the deepest base of any ski resort WORLDWIDE!
Coming snow: Lots!
Conditions generally: Some of the best early season snow on the planet is in the northwest right now. Wish we were there!
Steep and deep in Chamonix Tuesday 11 December Image:: Chamonix
Europe
France
What a difference two weeks can make, last snow wrap there was not much terrain open in the European alps, now they are experiencing some of the best snow for December for some years. Depending on where you were, up to 1 m of fresh snow fell throughout last week
Status: Open
Recent snow: About 5 – 10 cm fell on Monday. The heavy snow fall of the previous week enabled the Three Valleys to open for the season. Val Thorens and Meribel now have significant amounts of terrain open.
Coming snow: Mostly fine for this week. Some snowfalls building over the weekend, about 15-20 cm is expected
Conditions generally: Open with great skiing
Editor’s Pick: The steeps of Chamonix
Popping into some Pow at Obergurgl, Austria Image:: Obergurgl Resort
Austria
Status: Open
Recent snow: 5-10 cm over the last 24 hours. The heavy snow falls last week of close to 1 m has meant that most resorts are now fully operational.
Coming snow: Nothing significant on the horizon.
Conditions generally: Powder, great skiing on and off piste.
Editor’s Pick: Anywhere in Austria right now would be amazing!
Switzerland
Status: Open
Recent snow: Heavy snowfalls last week, 10 cm or so Sunday/Monday
Coming snow: Fairly quiet compared to last week, light snowfalls throughout the weekend.
Conditions generally: Steep and deep
Editor’s Pick: Conditions in Verbier look amazing!
Italy
Status: Open
Recent snow: 5 – 10 cm
Coming snow: Nothing significant this week
Conditions generally: Fantastic after last weeks snowfalls.
Editor’s Pick: Cervinia
