On The Mountain Ski & Snowboard Section

LOCAL RESORT HAPPENINGS & SPRING DEALS

SPONSORED BY SKI THE NW ROCKIES ASSOCIATION RESORTS

49 DEGREES NORTH TO INSTALL LONGEST LIFT IN WASHINGTON

Chewelah, Washington’s, 49 Degrees North recently announced some exciting news: a spring 2021 construction start on a new Doppelmayr high speed quad chairlift that will replace the existing Chair 1 (Bonanza). “With a ride time of just six-and-halfminutes, the new lift will cut transport time to less than half of what it is currently,” says director of skier and rider services Rick Brown. The new lift will transport guests up the mountain much faster, which means “less time sitting on a chairlift and more time skiing or snowboarding,” he adds. The high-speed quad will also provide easier loading and unloading for all guests.

An undertaking of this magnitude has been years in the making, explains general manager Eric Bakken. “We want to thank our guests for their continued support and enthusiasm throughout the years and look forward to continuing to provide truly memorable mountain experiences for all. We would also like to thank the U.S. Forest Service for their support and partnership in making this vision a reality,” adds Bakken.

Doppelmayr is the largest supplier and installer of chairlifts worldwide and operates production plants as well as sales and service centers in 50 countries. To date, they have built more than 15,100 installations for customers in 96 nations. 49’s new 900 HP lift will be the longest in Washington State at 6,644 feet, over a mile and a quarter in length, and is planned to be ready by the start of the 2021/22 season. Follow the progress of this exciting project on social media.

WOMEN’S SKI/SNOWBOARD CLINICS AT 49 & MT. SPOKANE

Women skiers and riders have two options in March to participate in highly popular women-only skills clinics. On March 15 at 49 Degrees North, the Mastering the Mountain Series/Women’s Ski & Ride Club offers intermediate or advanced skiers and snowboarders the chance to build on skills with other women in a positive environment. The clinic runs 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. and the cost is $59, with registration required by calling 509.935.6649 (x610). Mt. Spokane is hosting its second women’s group clinic (the first one sold out) on Friday March 12. Led by the best female instructors on the mountain, the day includes three hours of instruction, morning coffee, lunch, and great door prizes. Participants are grouped by skill level in small pods. The cost is $79, with skiers and snowboarders welcome (equipment not included). Pre-registration online is required.

ST. PADDY’S DAY CHEERS & KIDS TREASURE HUNT

Wear your green and enjoy a pint in the pub to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Lookout Pass March 17, and then help your kids find a pot of gold at the treasure hunt for kids up to age 12. The kids’ treasure hunt will include one treasure chest hidden on or near a green slope, one chest hidden on or near a blue slope, and one hidden along a black slope. Details at Skilookout.com.

TOYOTA SKI FREE FRIDAYS HAPPENING IN MARCH

If you own a Toyota, Scion, or Lexus, head to these local mountains on the designated Ski Free Friday for that particular resort and you’ll score a free lift ticket for the day (one ticket for drivers only). Tickets are limited so reserve yours in advance online and follow each resort’s policy for turning your reservation into a lift ticket.

• March 5 at Silver Mountain. Look for representatives from Toyota in the parking lot to claim your free ticket. • March 12 at Mt. Spokane. Bring proof of your lift ticket reservation with you and look for the Toyota representatives near Lodge 1 to claim your lift ticket before 1 p.m. • March 19 at Lookout Pass. Show up in your Toyota, Lexus, or Scion and get one free lift ticket for you (the driver) for the day. Look for the Toyota tent in the parking lot.

Toyota representatives will be in the parking lot at each resort for each event under a Toyota tent and will be handing out lift tickets to only one person per eligible vehicle, which would be the driver. No funny stuff, Lebowski.

SPRING SEASON PASS SURPRISES

Mt. Spokane’s spring pass sale gives earlybirds the lowest price on season passes of the year until May 31. And if you’re a current passholder renewing for another year, you save $40 off of these prices: adult (18-59), $449; youth (7-17), $349; senior (60-69), $349; super senior (70-79), $309; midweek, $349. Mt. Spokane is also kicking off a Pass + Five deal that includes five lift tickets for the current season for new passholders.

Silver Mountain’s pass sale starts March 1, offering new passholders the opportunity to ski the rest of this season for free with their pass purchase. Silver is also now part of the Powder Alliance, and the resort is offering three free tickets at 17 other participating resorts (plus lodging deals) with the purchase of a Silver Mountain season pass (excludes midweek, ride only, and kids under 6).

At Lookout Pass, your 21/22 season pass purchase in March lets you ski or ride through the end of the season plus all next winter. With a massive snowpack, Lookout hopes to stay open through the third weekend of April too. Get the lowest price of the year on a season pass during the spring pass sale that lasts through April 30, 2021: adult (18-61), $319; youth (7-17), $239; senior (62-69), $239; super senior (70-79), $179, and midweek (non-holiday), $249. Lookout’s 21/22 season passes are available for pickup and to start using anytime in March 2021.

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Spring skiers and riders are rejoicing at the news that 49 Degrees North is launching a new Spring Pass alongside the resort’s usual season pass and relatively new combo pass that covers 49 and Silver Mountain. The Spring Pass, only $149 for adults and $129 for youth, is available March 1 and is valid for all days of operation through the end of the 2021 season, April 11. There is also the option to upgrade and apply the full cost of the Spring Pass to a 21/22 season pass (upgrade by April 11 for full credit or $100 off a season pass purchase after April 11). All new 21/22 season passholders that purchase their pass this spring will also score a free Spring Pass good for the remainder of this season. 21/22 season pass prices during the spring sale are $429 for adults or $299 for youth through May 4. Check out pricing for other pass categories online.

BANKED SLALOM SNOWBOARD RACE AT SILVER MARCH 6

Come race your snowboard through a banked slalom course in Silver’s terrain park. The 6th annual Doug E Fresh Banked Slalom race is a benefit for the

Doug Johnson Memorial Fund. Doug was a loving father of 4 children and a fixture of the Inland Northwest ski and bike industry. His early passing has left a void in the local mountain culture, so this event is to remember and celebrate Doug's way of life.

A Snowboard-only race against the clock through a hand-built banked course, this jam-format event gives contestants two timed runs each, with the fastest time counted. The beer garden at the bottom of the course is once again sponsored by Grand Teton Brewing.

MT. SPOKANE REQUESTS FUNDS TO REPLACE AGING CHAIRLIFTS

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard park has submitted a request for state funding to replace the 65-year-old chair 1 and 50-yearold chair 2 at Mt. Spokane. Escalating maintenance and repair costs have exceeded $500,000 in the past three years, creating a major financial burden, and lift shutdowns have also become a more frequent occurrence. The solution proposed by the mountain is to replace both lifts with triple passenger lifts that would add 1/3 more capacity. Moving more people more safely up the mountain with fewer interruptions would be a huge upgrade, says Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park general manager Jim van Löben Sels. The first of the lift replacements could, if all goes well with funding and construction, potentially be operational by the beginning of the 2021/22 season, he says.

The proposal for replacing chairs 1 and 2 at Mt. Spokane also raises the exciting possibility of bringing lift-assisted mountain biking to the mountain. Replacing the lifts “will be a community asset that will also help us move into more summertime operations and expand our ability to serve the mountain biking and hiking communities and offer a wedding program on the mountain as well,” explains van Löben Sels. “It will really make us much more viable because we can transport bikes up on these new lifts in the summer,” which, van Löben Sels adds, will also help cut down on traffic from people driving to the top of the mountain.

USE YOUR PASS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SKI LOOKOUT HALF PRICE

If you have a valid season pass to any other ski resort in the country, including Icon, Epic, Powder Alliance, and others, you can use it to score a half price adult or youth lift ticket at Lookout Pass this spring. This awesome offer is valid midweek in March and any day in April. No reservations are required, just show up at the ticket window with your valid season pass from another ski area.

SNOWSKATES TO DESCEND ON LOOKOUT PASS & SILVER MOUNTAIN

Snowskaters will ride Rolling Thunder, the winding natural halfpipe at Lookout Pass, for the 7th Annual Boyd Hill SortaNatural Banked Slalom competition March 6. A 20-year-old invention native to the Inland Northwest, the snowskate is a hybrid skateboard/snowboard that has two decks and no bindings, with the addition of a leash. The boards emulate the flow of skateboarding but on snow.

FROM LEFT: ARTISTIC RENDERING OF THE NEW LIFT AT 49 DEGREES NORTH. // SKI LOOKOUT WITH ANY PASS. PHOTO: AARON THEISEN. // LEADMAN TRI. PHOTO: JIM BOLSER. // CHAIR 2 AT MT SPOKANE COULD GET REPLACED.PHOTO: BOB LEGASA.

In 2009, Bryce Rich and Todd Delyea saw the need for a local snowskate manufacturer, so they partnered with TJ Sneva of Sneva Manufacturing in Spokane to build the first Boyd Hill Snowskates (boydhill.com). The annual two-day event showcases Lookout and Silver, promotes the sport, and features the Boyd Hill brand. “In snowboarding,” says Rich, “banked slaloms are legendary events. We wanted the coolest banked slalom that made sense for snowskating.”

And the terrain park at Lookout is the perfect place for the event, says resort marketing manager Matt Sawyer. “Rolling Thunder is a long, winding natural halfpipe leftover from the mining days in this area. When it fills with snow, it creates an awesome banked slalom course, which is key for this fun and memorable event.”

On March 7, snowskaters can then head down to Silver Mountain for Monday Fun Day where they can ride the course from the Doug E. Fresh Banked Slalom event the day before. Snowboarders and skate boarders are particularly drawn to snowskating, but because of its easy technique and simple design, the sport is a great fit for anyone. Spectators are also encouraged. “It’s a spectacle, that’s for sure,” chuckles Rich. Register at boydhill.com and check it out on Facebook and Instagram. (S. Michal Bennett)

SKI OR RIDE, BIKE, & RUN AT SILVER’S LEADMAN TRIATHLON APRIL 17

The 17th Leadman triathlon is happening April 17. Leadman is an exciting individual or team competition for those who prefer a rowdy adventure course and might be a bit softer than the traditional Ironman athlete. Ski/board, bike, and run your way to the finish line at Silver Mountain Resort’s Gondola Village. Come on out for a real thrill or to just enjoy the festivities of Leadman day at Silver. 100% of the net event proceeds benefit community projects sponsored by the Kellogg Rotary Club.

SPRING SKIING FOR A GOOD CAUSE AT 49

Close the season out with spring skiing and riding for a good cause at 49 Degrees North. Spring Week is a chance to head up to the mountain for a great price, with tickets only $30 for adults and $20 for youth with a donation of one food item to benefit the Chewelah Food Bank. More details at Ski49n.com.

HAWAIIAN BBQ & CARDBOARD BOXES INVADE LOOKOUT

As Lookout Pass gets ready to send winter season downstream, what they are billing as a “responsible spring rally party” will get underway on the back deck April 11. Jimmy Buffett tunes will be blasting and barbeque and cold brews will be up for grabs as competitors and spectators get ready for the Cardboard Box Derby at 2 p.m. To participate, make something you or your kids can slide down a short section of trail on using only cardboard, duct tape, paint, and markers and get ready to slide down the mountain and pray your contraption holds together longer than the others. Awards will be handed out for the most unique and best theme. Details at Skilookout.com.

MT. SPOKANE BIDS TO BRING BEAR CREEK LODGE INTO PUBLIC HANDS

The historic Bear Creek Lodge just outside the state park boundary on the way up to Mt. Spokane could become an iconic park gateway if a state funding proposal and partnership by Mt. Spokane and Washington State Parks gains traction. The lodge could be improved to serve as a needed location for providing state park administrative services such as Discover Pass purchase requests. An updated lodge could also provide the type of guest services the ski area can deliver, such as food and beverage services and event space opportunities, says Mt. Spokane general manager Jim van Löben Sels. “This would be an incredible addition to Mount Spokane State Park if the funding comes through,” he says. Adding Bear Creek Lodge as part of the state park would bring an additional 106 acres to the park, including the lodge and tubing park, parking space, and opportunities to enhance trail access opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and other recreational user groups in the future. //

Commitment to powder days.

WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT

OH CANADA! BORDER CLOSURES DELVER A LOCALS-ONLY SHRED FEST IN THE KOOTENAYS

IT’S BEEN A LONG YEAR, especially if you’re a fan of the fantastic singletrack, snow, and culture found in abundance in our provincial neighbour to the north. Being cut off from the B.C. Kootenays during this pandemic has been a major, sometimes surreal bummer to say the least. Anyone else been daydreaming about sneaking across the border to Kootenay Pass on skis?

I’ve also spent an unusual amount of time this winter wondering how the skiing life is transpiring at some of my favourite places

WHITEFISH, MONTANA

Commitment to character.

In the ‘30s local skiers discovered good skiing on the “big mountain” north of town. Since then we’ve been committed to a life of good times, great people and deep snow. In Whitefish you’ll find a community true to itself and a deep-rooted lifestyle where character is encouraged.

SKI & STAY for just $ 89*

Includes lodging, lift ticket, hot breakfast & hot tub access. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 877-SKI-FISH

*Terms and restrictions apply.

SKIWHITEFISH.COM | 877-SKI-FISH

Partially Located on National Forest Lands Photos © GlacierWorld.com

MEET POWDER MATT

“Powder” Matt Mostellar lived in his car for 63 days one winter so he could ski every day. When he isn't backcountry skiing, hitting long trails, or drinking craft coffee in Kimberley, B.C, he shares stories through major media outlets to inspire people to get their own goodness outside. He is a passionate advocate of ways to seek a deeper good in life and greater community value through more time in nature. To that end he is the co-founder of the #TimeOut and #DisconnecttoConnect movement as well as the co-creator of #MappyHour Canada, which inspires people to get outside.

Where did the Powder Matt handle come from? Years ago while ski touring with a group of friends, one of them said they were done for the day. One of Matt’s buddies turned to that guy and said “well, you got to get the flake-face “Powder Matt” convinced it’s time to go.” And the name stuck like powder snow in a winter beard.

Powder Matt has spent the pandemic living in Kimberley, B.C. “We love this place,” he says. “It’s a real community of passionfilled outdoor lovers. We had lived here before and returned pre-COVID to be back in the mountains with trails and forest out the back door. And it’s six minutes from the ski runs.” (DK) north of the border. Like what’s a powder day at RED or WH2O like without us Americans crowding up the lift lines, filling condos and hotel rooms, and engaging in unusually loud après? What’s the scene like up at Kootenay Pass?

Since illegally skiing into Canada for a first-hand story was out of the question, we tapped Kimberley, B.C. local and self-proclaimed ski bum “Powder Matt” to share some words about the pandemic skiing life along B.C.’s Powder Highway. (Derrick Knowles)

TOP PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES // THIS PHOTO: POWDER MATT. // BELOW: POWDER MATT

SHREDDING THE KOOTENAYS IN THE COVID-ERA

BY POWDER MATT

Headlights popping around the buildingsized snowbanks, as the early herd arrives. Locals, mostly from Nelson, arrive for the first laps of the day. It’s the Kootenay Pass coffee hour rush—unload gear and savour the powder-ticipation. A busyish, local feel where you see some you know, or friends of your powder friends, and it feels good. Not too rushed like Teton Pass rush hour. So cool that so many new peeps are taking avy courses, spending extra time to learn about gear, and going out with experienced friends. Everyone shared the snow joy of many days of freshies in January. A simple art, letting nature craft and define memories.

Starting and ending with ritual. The West Kootenays called. Food still rules in Nelson where they’re taking ‘to go’ food to a higher level. With travel restrictions in place and mostly adhered to, it was local freshies at RED and Whitewater. To join the white circus, one had to start early, get your joe quickly, and hopefully find that coveted parking spot. So many locals took to schussing here, and with COVID, everyone drove in their own car, complete with a household bubble. So car space became a premium.

Old school après happened in the parking lot too since most stayed away from the day lodge. Tailgates down, growlers out, people re-parked to social distance guidelines, tunes blaring. It was déjà vu, back to the 70s and 80s we went. Flakes fresh, vertical slayed, everyone local and old school.

PANDEMIC DEEP THOUGHTS FROM THE POWDER HIGHWAY

We won’t ever forget this great ‘reset.’ While there have been plenty of tragic outcomes to focus on, the pandemic has also helped us realize we have the opportunity to dream. And what better place to begin dreaming than being surrounded by powder? Using your imagination and, (when it’s safe to do so) making it a reality, is sorely needed now more than ever. It can provide a deeper sense of freedom for our souls.

There’s also an opportunity here to reflect on the power of powder. Together, we can still celebrate the little things. Caring for each other and being humble is why this place up north makes me realize it is such a good place to be, or in your case, dreaming about (for now).

RESILIENCE IS SO GOOD. Here along the Powder Highway of British Columbia, there’s a mega snowfall amount each year. The peaks are so big they protrude through the clouds, mountain faces rugged and pock marked. The trees in places are thicker than frozen peanut butter—yeah, we stand by that bold statement. You could say that if you ski tour here, you work for it. You can’t give up. With over 70 feet of snow falling in places along this road, you also need to learn, listen, and adapt in order to travel safely.

ALWAYS FRIENDS. Contrary to what some say, ‘no friends on a powder day’ is a highly dangerous mantra. Friends are so vital in all we do, especially outdoor time. Not only do we depend on friends for safety, like extraction from tree wells or the shovel of life when incidents occur,

FROM LEFT: OVERTIME BEER WORKS KIMBERLEY BC // CAN YOU SAY BIG? KICKING HORSE BC // WELCOME TO KIMBERLEY. PHOTOS: POWDER MATT

but they also celebrate those turns along with us. They’re right by your side, or at least tagging along, for those long laps of over 4,000 feet of fall line and thighburning fun, like the ones at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C. So go ahead and let ’er buck with the best of ‘em. But most importantly, always remember to give back. Give back to those who matter in your life and, just as vital, surprise and delight those you don’t know. Acts of kindness are always welcome, as are the massive smiles they send your way in return.

COUCH SURFING. Ski bums share; not just their couch, but also a round of local craft beers for old and new friends after a long day on the slopes. When you scan the local brew house, like Fernie Brewing Co, search out that Lone Wolf IPA in the crowd and make them feel part of your pack. Offer up and toast a glass in true ski bum style by taking care of others and taking turns together.

BE OPEN. I am so grateful and fortunate to call this powder paradise home, but not everyone can live and play in a wild place, with the largest concentration of ski touring lodges, cabins, ski areas, heli and cat ski operations in North America. It is truly off the charts, but there are people, all types and all ethnic backgrounds, that may not be able to or don’t have the opportunity to explore such places. So, if you can, share this sport, give others a chance to experience the benefits of outdoor time and nature.

LIVE SIMPLE. Maybe this one goes without saying in the COVID days of conserving toilet paper, but this is the spark that can help us make worldwide changes that benefit everyone. When I roll into Kimberley, B.C., my day instantly becomes brighter knowing that this little community built the largest municipal solar power installation in Canada. What’s more? This whole town is crazy about biking all year long for play and work. And to top that all off? It has one of North American’s first pedestrian-only, no-car main streets in a mountain town. We can all find simple ways to use less, reduce our carbon footprint, and live more simply to ensure these same bike trails and ski runs will be around for generations.

BE A DO-GOODER. Do-gooders should be everywhere now, especially as we rally to help others come back from COVID and take massive steps to get goodness back in our everyday lives. So volunteer, deliver meals, get active in your local environmental cause and become more involved by doing something every day that leads to positive change. //

LOCATED IN KELLOGG, IDAHO JUST 1 HOUR EAST OF SPOKANE

SEASON PASSES ON SALE NOW

HAND-ME-DOWN SKI BOOKS

BY DERRICK KNOWLES

THIS WINTER, a pile of books from the 70s and 80s that cover a range of skiing topics, from ski racing, and ski maintenance to ski technique, landed in my possession. A mutual friend (thanks Petey) connected me with Ted Rupp, an accomplished Inland Northwest skier, who was ready to pass the books on to someone else who would appreciate them.

Over the years I’ve become a casual collector of classic outdoors-themed literature and guidebooks. I enjoy so many things about books like these. From the images that paint a picture of the outdoor life that transpired before modern gear and in many cases before I was born to the word choice and literary style used to explain technical outdoor skills.

So while I don’t intend to put the books’ teachings to a ton of practical use—even though I’m sure once I dig into them I will learn a few things—I was grateful to have them. There has to be some useful tips in “How to Ski The New French Way,” 80sera “Ski Maintenance and Repair” by Seth Masia, or “How the Racers Ski.” And there are no doubt plenty of laughs waiting on the pages of “Here Come the Skiers,” a book of ski cartoons by the late Seattle artist Bob Cram. But above all for me, the allure of books like these is the historic glimpse they offer into ski culture from another era.

Rupp learned to ski in junior high at the now defunct North-South Ski Bowl near St. Maries, Idaho. “I pretty much taught myself to ski by watching the college students that taught there and imitating what I saw them doing,” he says. By the late 60s and 70s, Rupp was a ski instructor at Breckenridge, where his mentors included the likes of ski legends Trygve Berge and Stein Erickson. Later Rupp taught at Steamboat and eventually Schweitzer.

The ski books, which he picked up at book stores or ordered through the mail from ski magazines, were primarily a resource of techniques and jargon that he used to hone his teaching skills and check himself to see if what he was doing was what the authors were describing. Back in Rupp’s ski instructor days, people who were serious about skiing either had instruction books or at least read them and were familiar with the contents, he says. “As I recall, the main thing that was happening in skiing at that time is that my earlier gear had required the use of counter rotation in a turn so that the skier was looking downhill toward the inside shoulder, which was pointed at the tip of the skis.”

Rupp bought his first pair of skis for $30 around 1965, a set of laminated wood boards with P-Tex bases and screw on sectional edges. Henke had just started making buckle boots in the 50s, says Rupp, and the era of leather lace boots was on its way out. Books like these, he says, came out to adjust to stiffer boots that allowed for more side-toside angulation at the hips and a more square posture looking down the hill. "Ski the New French Way" and "Teach Yourself to Ski" both emphasized “a more square-and-balanced stance on the skis.” Warren Witherell's book, “How the Racers Ski,” was “useful when I was teaching in that it helped with diagnosing student problems and helping to correct any issues they may have had.”

Ski equipment has continued to evolve in recent decades, making the sport more accessible to anyone who wants to learn. Yet the importance of expert advice and instruction when it comes to learning to ski or improving on one’s skills, whether it’s gleaned from a book, online videos, or an in-person lesson, remains invaluable. //

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SPOKANE SKI INDUSTRY ICON: FRED NOWLAND

BY BRAD NORTHRUP

THERE ARE VERY FEW true skiing icons in the Spokane area, but Fred Nowland is definitely one of them. A fixture of the ski industry for 36 years, chances are better than average that you have come across Fred at some point—whether it was in one of the various shops that he worked at over the years or perhaps at one of the local ski resorts. Possessing a gregarious personality and distinctive laugh, you likely heard him before you saw him.

Nowland started out skiing in the late 1970s, when he and some buddies scrounged up some gear from local thrift stores and hit the hills at Manito Park. And like many kids of that generation, there was hooky-bobbing behind older friends’ cars.

“We mounted our own stuff, but since we had no idea what we were doing, the screws went right through the bases. And we really didn’t care,” says Nowland. He “officially” started skiing at Mt. Spokane in 1985, taking advantage of $5 night skiing lift tickets and the ski bus that shuttled excited teenagers to the hill. “It didn’t matter how cold or wet it was, we would ski until last chair at 10 p.m. or until the lift operators kicked us off the hill.”

That same year, Nowland began working in the local ski industry, gaining a job at Sunset Sports Center, which later became Herman’s Sporting Goods. “One of my buddies got me a job as a rental dog, which later turned into ski tuning a year later.” By 1990, Nowland was the head ski tuner at the legendary Lou-Lou’s Ski Chalet, a position he held until the shop closed permanently in 2002.

During the summer months, Nowland ran the Rossignol Test Center at Mt. Hood, working with athletes from the US Ski Team and other national teams that trained on the Palmer Glacier. After Lou-Lou’s closed in 2002, he took his skills to the Spokane Alpine Haus on the South Hill, where he remains to this day. Over a 36-year span, Nowland figures he has touched somewhere around 175,000 pairs of skis.

After all of those years in the industry, you would think he would have seen it all. But, alas, the strangest thing Nowland witnessed didn’t occur until this season. “A guy was interested in buying some skis, and asked if the marked price was for each ski or for the pair,” he says. “I was dumbfounded by the fact that I had never heard someone ask that before.”

When not in the shop, Nowland spends his weekends at 49 Degrees North, where he serves as a mountain host, directing guests and assisting ski patrol when needed. “I love doing it,” he says. “I mean, it keeps me on the hill and forces me to go skiing, even on those days when I really don’t feel like it.” His perfect day on the mountain consists of no wind, full sun, and firm corduroy groomers, and his favorite run is Dreamline, which drops directly below the Sunrise Basin quad. “I kinda like the limelight of skiing that run—you gotta bring your A-game when you know people are watching from the chair.”

Despite three-and-a-half-decades of experience and a reputation as one of the finest ski tuners in the industry, Nowland has somehow managed to keep it all in perspective. “I started out getting stuck working all day in a basement with no windows, and 36 years later, I’m still working in a basement with no windows—guess it could be worse.”

Brad Northrup is a former alpine race coach, ski industry professional, and long-time contributor to Out There Outdoors.

ABOVE LEFT: BIG WHITE HAS BIG APPIES. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES // RIGHT TOP: LODGE FOOD. // BOTTOM RIGHT: NEW FRIENDS. // BOTTOM LEFT: TAILGATE TIME. PHOTOS AARON THEISEN

STUFF I MISSED THIS SEASON

BY BRAD NORTHRUP

WITH THE END OF THE SEASON nearly upon us, methinks this might be a good time to look back and be thankful that we even had the opportunity to enjoy the mountains at all this year. Heck, there were several resorts in Europe that never opened due the pandemic. Adding insult to injury was the fact that the EU finally banned neon one-pieces. Anyway, at the end of the day, we had good snowpack, the chairs were spinning, and cold beer could still be had. While I am happy it all came together, there were a few things that I really missed this year.

APRÈS SKI BEVERAGES

Nothing, and I mean nothing, completes a great day on snow like throwing back a few adult beverages with your crew in the bar, especially if they are buying. Mix in a little karaoke of Pearl Jam’s Even Flow, and you got yourself one hell of a day. This year, however, was different. The bars were closed, though you could still purchase liquid courage for consumption in controlled areas outside. That said, I quickly discovered that the walk from the bar across a slick deck in ski boots can be challenging while carrying shots. This certainly had nothing to do with the fact that my balance ain’t what it used to be as I approach the big 50. As a side note, nothing really gets the smell of spilled Jagermeister out of your pants.

LODGE TABLE COMBAT

During a “normal” season, one of my favorite people-watching venues is the lodge at lunch time. Few places so poignantly depict the true horror of humanity like a steamy lodge packed with sweaty teenagers, crying kids, and semi-intoxicated middleaged adults who still think they are in their twenties. As bad as that may sound, I really missed seeing it. I missed watching little Billy chucking a full Cup-O-Noodles at his sister while mom just gazed longingly at the peaceful slopes just beyond her reach. I missed watching the game the table lurkers played, waiting in the periphery to pounce on an open table the second it became available. And I really missed the poor dads who got stuck in the lodge babysitting on a powder day, greeting every grinning, snow-encrusted skier who entered with a 1,000 yard stare that seemingly looked right through their souls. I feel ya bro—I’ve been there.

STRANGERS ON THE CHAIR

I really didn’t think I would miss the idle chatter with strangers on the chairlift, but, and I hate to admit it, I did on those days this year when I ventured to the hill alone. I really missed being told how I should look into getting new skis cuz mine are “too skinny,” or being enlightened on the location of the best powder runs, even though I know the mountain like the back of my hand. I missed the smell of my unknown chairlift partner’s cigarette smoke that always seemed to drift right into me no matter which way the wind was blowing. Though the stench of an unfiltered Marlboro does work wonderfully to cover up the sickly smell of Kentucky sour mash whiskey breath.

Yeah, I’m hoping we get back to normal next year. //