BOOTHY’S BLOG – Powder in British Columbia

March 17th, 2011

Team rider Mike Mertion blasts some pillows. Image:: Chris Booth

Blog | Chris Booth

After a long and powderless winter, Big Red Cats have saved my season. A cat skiing operation located about 20 minutes outside of Rossland, British Columbia (the home of Red Mountain), Big Red Cats is the Frankenstein of the cat ski world. In a densely competitive industry that often over-promises and under-delivers, Big Red Cats takes the high ground. With about a bajillion acres of terrain, there is something for absolutely everyone, without exception. The guides are all top notch professionals and top notch blokes. The cat trails are well made, so it’s a quick turn around to your next lap, and oh my gosh did it snow.

If that’s not a Chris Booth tick of approval, then I don’t know what is.

Thank you Big Red Cats.

Breaking trail is hard work in deep snow – hiking at Whitewater. Image:: Chris Booth

Whitewater

After three epic days in Big Red Cats I honestly didn’t think it could get any better. So with one day to go on the Rip Curl team shoot I figured we would go ski the close by Red Mountain. But it seemed that another resort had hooked them them the week before, and they had since been waiting to return. The call was made, we would head to Whitewater, a ski resort near Nelson in BC, to close out the trip.

It was the backside area, or more accurately, a ridge known as the ‘Trash Chutes’ that had caught the interest of the crew, and on arrival at the top of the mountain I began to understand why. A short boot pack, or if you’re better equipped, a short skin, gives you access to some serious north face skiing and some very deep pow. The Trash Chutes are gnarly at entry level and get crazier from there. It’s not your average skier spot that people rave about. It’s something else. Needless to say all of the riders copped a beat down at one point or another, but the excitement level was borderline euphoric when someone would come out of a line and blast turns out into the open bowl below, bouncing through pillows in utter disbelief that this place was just a stone’s throw from a chairlift.

check out Big Red Cats – www.bigredcatskiing.com
and Whitewater – www.skiwhitewater.com

digital photographer Remi Petit, analogue photographer Jerome Tannon and snowboarder Victor De Le Rue from the Rip Curl team in Whitewater. Image:: Chris Booth

The 30 minute boot pack to trash chutes in Whitewater. Image:: Chris Booth

Whitewater – Pillows in abundance, lift accessed. Image:: Chris Booth

Frosted pub windows in Nelson, the place has got character. Image:: Chris Booth

Terrain in Neptune North – Big Red Cats. Image:: Chris Booth

The Rip Curl international team unloads at the top of Neptune North. Image:: Chris Booth

Kicking back in the cat. Image:: Chris Booth

Finally i have the right equipment. Image:: Chris Booth