Snowmaking in Progress!

Beech Mountain Resort started making snow this afternoon! Now the countdown is really on. It will feel so nice to see the ground white at our instructor staff meeting tomorrow. It's also a good feeling when I can step outside on my deck and hear the guns doin' their thing! This season is gonna be epic!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! I'm so thankful for my awesome friends and family, and my wonderful boyfriend! I'm also thankful for being able to snowboard almost every day during the Southeast season. I'm thankful for finding a wonderful man that loves snowboarding just as much as I do! Snowboarding is definitely an important aspect of my life and I love the lifestyle it brings me. I'm thankful for so far not getting seriously hurt while snowboarding and the happiness it brings me and my boyfriend!

What are you thankful for?

Happy Shredding

XOXO

TTR: History of Women in Snowboarding

I'm always on the lookout for videos about women and snowboarding. Female athletes have gone through a lot to get where they are now, and this video highlights some of the important history in female snowboarding.

Try Organic!

Being a snowboard instructor, I rely on Mother Nature and her weather patterns to make a living in the winter. No snow equals no snowboarding, no teaching, no money, and no FUN! I've realized since my lifestyle relies so heavily on the environment, then I should do my part and give back to the environment as much as possible.

I'm starting by going organic. Well, partially organic. Organic food is expensive, and since instructing isn't exactly bringing home the bacon, it's hard to buy ALL organic. I'm starting with the stuff that damages the environment most - produce and meats. The more people buy organic produce and meat, the fewer sprays, harsh chemicals, and damaging runoff will get into the water systems, which will result in cleaner air and water. Here is a great article on why to go organic.

I've been researching organic foods, and there are ways to buy organic on the cheap (well, cheapER). This is a great article that has tips for saving money when buying organic: http://www.budgetlife.com/blog/save-on-organic-foods/

We all just want to have lots of snow, right? :) Do some research and try going organic for a month. Organic food just tastes so much better, and it's SO much better for you!

Just a Temporary Snow Fix...

Well, looks like Sugar was just a tease. Thanks to warm weather, and rain for the next couple days, Sugar will have to close till colder air hits us. Props to Sugar for putting in the effort to open up so early, even if it was just for a week! This is what the slope conditions look like at the moment...

Not too appealing unless you want to gash your board up. I would love to just sit at the bottom and see how many mud-covered people come down :)

We did get some good turns in Tuesday though. The conditions were awesome considering how warm it was. Felt like spring conditions minus all the slush. The snow surprisingly stayed pretty hard packed. Here are a few pics from Tuesday...

^ I finally got a pic of the kick! ha.


The next bit of cold weather we're supposed to get is next weekend, so hopefully Beech and App will be able to open up soon as well. It felt soooo good to be back on the snow. I can't wait till the REAL season officially gets here!

Happy Shredding
XOXO

Cataloochee first to open in NC

Cataloochee Ski Area took the cake this year opening 30 minutes before Sugar Mountain Resort. It's always a battle and it's fun to see who tries to out-do each other. Since Cat is so far away, we rode Sugar opening day, which was Saturday, and Sunday. Surprisingly their lift tickets were cheap... $20 half day, $25 full day. Not bad. Props to Sugar for that.

I got interviewed by a reporter for the Winston-Salem Journal Sunday... click HERE to read the article.

Saturday the conditions were ok, especially to be early November. There were a few thin spots but overall the snow conditions were good, thanks to the literally 3o snow guns on the one run they had open that was blowing in my face all day :)

Sunday was much better. The sun came out which made visibility much better, even with all the guns on.

Going riding again today since it's supposed to be nice and warm.

Here's a few pics from our Sunday session.

sunny day and snowmaking at Sugar

Harper and Dustin

doing the kick but the camera man couldn't

seem to take the shot at the right time lol

Winter's coming!

With snow in the forecast for the region, some resorts are about to flip the switch on the snowmaking! Cataloochee Ski Area plans on opening Saturday, and rumors of Sugar Mountain Resort opening as well. There's been lots of improvements at all the area resorts. Beech Mountain Resort, also my home mountain, has made many improvements to make this season the best one yet. I'm so excited to check out all the other resorts this winter to see how much they've really improved. Let's just hope Mother Nature loves us as much as she did last season and brings us lots of snoooooow!

There's a lot of stuff going on in the High Country this weekend. On top of some possible resort openings, the Edge of the World Snowboard Party is happening Saturday, Nov. 6th. They host a skate contest, snowboard rail jam, big glove boxing, raffles, snowboard video premieres and more. It begins at 12PM... don't miss it! Always a fun event.

Beech Mountain Resort and Buckeye Rec Center is also hosting a Kick Off to Ski Season Party on Saturday, Nov. 6th. Starts at 6PM Admission is free but it's $6 if you want to eat dinner there. Speakers from Beech Mountain Resort will be there to talk about all the improvements and what's happening this season at the resort.

I'll be at the Edge party. I want to go to the Kick Off to Ski Season Party but it's on the same day at the same time. Why those two events are always on the same day is beyond me. I'd rather waste my money on raffle tickets to try to win some gear and watch the skate jam and rail jam :)

Hope everyone can make it out to one of the events!

Happy Shredding

XOXO