Pete Thomas Outdoors

No gun control for these road crews, which use M60 combat tanks to reduce avalanche threat

A lot of people may not realize that M60 tanks are a very effective means of avalanche control.

Washington state road crews use them to fire live rounds at areas where there is heavy snow accumulation and high avalanche danger.

 

They usually do this between midnight and 6 a.m., out of sight of most people. But last week when conditions became unstable on U.S. 2 near the Stevens Pass summit, they closed the roadway in the afternoon and fired their rounds in broad daylight.

Looks like an effective method and, some might say, a very interesting way to make a living.

--The accompanying footage is via HeraldNet.com. Hat tip to Unofficial Networks

In stunning sports news, Shaun White cuts long red hair

 
Shaun White has won two Olympic gold medals for his snowboarding prowess.

He also has dominated in the halfpipe at the X Games and on the Dew Tour.

Along the way there has been one constant for White: his long, red hair. For more then a decade it was his trademark and, some might say, a significant part of his identity.

Now much of that is gone, but for a good cause.

White, 26, who for years has been referred to (against his wishes) as the "Flying Tomato," has cropped his hair for a charity, Locks of Love, which manufactures hairpieces for kids who have suffered hair loss because of illness.

Viewers can witness this shocking development by watching the accompanying video. White broke the news Tuesday morning on his Facebook page, which is now flooded with comments (more than 500 at 11:30 a.m.)

One of the more recent comments was from Nick Fulton, who wrote: "FACT: Whoever wears a wig made of Shaun White's hair will instantly become a snowboard god."

Loveland Ski Resort looking wintry as snow-making begins

 

 You know the skiing and snowboarding season is just around the corner when Loveland Ski Resort, perennially one of the first resorts in the U.S. to open, fires up its snow-making machines.

That began early Thursday morning, thanks to bitter-cold temperatures on the upper slopes.

In the description beneath the video uploaded Thursday afternoon is this statement:

"It typically takes about two weeks for Loveland's snow-making team to cover the opening day run with an 18-inch base and tree-to-tree coverage for the first skiers and riders of the season. Loveland started making snow on October 6th last season and opened on October 14th."

More cold weather, and perhaps a few snow showers, are in the forecast over the next couple of days.

--Pete Thomas

Shaun White arrested for intoxication, vandalism--surprised?

News item: Shaun White, winner of two Olympic snowboarding gold medals and 16 X Games gold medals for snowboarding and skateboarding, is charged with public intoxication and vandalism after allegedly wreaking havoc at a Nashville hotel.

The action sports superstar is reported to have pulled a fire alarm at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, causing evacuation of guests, and busting a hotel telephone.

Judging from his police mug shot (right), White came away with a black eye after colliding with a guest who claimed White intentionally charged him. The guest did not press charges. White has a court date for the vandalism and public intoxication charges on Oct. 10.

Reaction: This comes as somewhat of a surprise, but it's hardly a shocker. White, 26, is a big-time celebrity who likes to have fun -- lots of fun -- on and off the slopes and skate ramps. He loves the Hollywood lifestyle, fashionable clothing, and sometimes even the limelight. He enjoys a good party as much as the next person, and apparently he's still learning how to find a suitable balance.

Said Pat Bridges, editor of Snowboarder magazine, to GrindTv : "I won't go on the record saying if this is [the] first time Shaun White has exhibited such behavior as an adult. But I can say for certain that it is the first time he has been arrested for it."

When White was rising to phenom status, he enjoyed solid guidance from his parents, agents and sponsors. He was fun-loving then, too, but stayed out of big trouble, or kept his bigger troubles largely under wraps. (Wasn't there an incident with a crashed Lamborghini, followed by the purchase of a new Lamborghini, and driving lessons?)

According to People magazine, White was in Nashville for musician Patrick Carney's Saturday night wedding. People also reports that White has recently been romantically linked to Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli.

That's a lot of pressure!

Hopefully, if this misstep was as crazy as implied by police affidavits and the many reports, White will simply learn from the experience and not offer an encore performance any time soon.

After all, the 2014 Winter Olympics, and a chance at a halfpipe three-peat, are not far around the corner.

Colorado resorts welcome early snowfall on upper slopes

Fall is definitely in the air in Colorado's high country ... and winter, too.

The accompanying image reveals spectacular fall colors in the Aspen-Snowmass region, but also a fresh dusting of snow that blanketed the upper slopes early Monday.

Snow and a mixture of snow and rain fell throughout parts of Colorado, and resorts were quick to spread the news.

"If this is a sign of things to come, you better dust off the skis now and wear your boots to watch the Broncos' game tonight," Jeff Hanle, spokesman for Aspen-Snowmass, said in a news release.

The Broncos are playing the Falcons on Monday Night Football in Atlanta, but the comment shows the level excitement generated by the first tangible snowfall of the season in Colorado, arriving about two months before most resorts expect to open for skiing and snowboarding.

The Denver Post reported: "Snow acknowledgments were passed along by Colorado Ski Country USA, Loveland Ski Area, Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park Resort and Copper Mountain, among other ski areas and resorts."

Some of the resorts received as much as an inch of snow, mostly above 11,000 feet, which qualifies as a significant dusting.

But, alas, the excitement might be short-lived as a prolonged dry spell is expected after the storm passes through on Monday night.

Nonetheless, this is a sign that the season is changing, and folks in much hotter parts of the country are probably envious. Having been baking for several weeks in unbearably hot temperatures in Southern California, I know I am.

--Pete Thomas

-- Image is courtesy of Jeremy Swanson / Aspen-Snowmass

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area slated to open Nov. 8

Mammoth Mountain will open for skiing and snowboarding Nov. 8, according to an announcement on the resort website.

"Dust off your skis and snowboards, the chairlifts start running November 8 and the snow festivities are waiting for you!" the announcement reads.

However, at the bottom is this disclaimer: "Weather and conditions permitting."

Most North America resorts open during or soon after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Mammoth Mountain, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Mammoth Lakes, will rely on snowmaking capabilities and the staff is hoping for an early start to winter. Mammoth and city officials are hoping for a big snow season, following a very poor season during which 75 full-time resort employees were laid off.

Earlier this summer it was announced that June Mountain, Mammoth's sister resort located about 40 miles north along U.S. 395, would not open for the 2012-13 season, because of financial reasons.

-- Image courtesy of Peter Morning

-- Hat tip to Boardistan

June Mountain Ski Area will not open for 2012-13 season

I have many fond memories of riding the slopes at June Mountain Ski Area in the Eastern Sierra, far removed from the bustle and within a spectacular alpine setting.

So it saddened me to read in the Mammoth Times on Thursday that June Mountain, about 30 miles to the north of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, has closed for the summer and will not open for 2012-13 winter season.

Undoubtedly, the news deeply saddens dozens of employees, only some of which may find work next winter at Mammoth, which owns June and itself is struggling financially.

"June has operated at an annual deficit each year since its purchase in 1986,” Mammoth CEO Rusty Gregory said a news release. "It is time to invest some of this subsidy into the analysis and planning required to position the resort for a sustainable future, then secure the approvals and financing required to create it."

June has been heavily subsidized by Mammoth, which this past spring laid off 75 permanent employees, thanks largely to a sharp decline in skier visits.

Mammoth is the far larger and more popular of the two resorts, but June was perceived by many to be a more remote gem for skiers and snowboarders who liked the smaller crowds and a change of scenery and terrain after skiing and riding at Mammoth.

With  2,590 feet of vertical drop and about 500 acres of terrain for all levels, though, it was not a particularly small resort.

After Mammoth purchased June it planned significant expansion, but for various reasons that goal was never realized.

Whether June will reopen at a future date remains to be seen.

-- Pete Thomas

-- Pete Thomas Outdoors on Facebook

Slow ski season at Mammoth Mountain leads to 75 layoffs

A disappointing winter at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, thanks largely to meager early- and mid-season snowfall, has led to the firing of 75 permanent employees.

Sierra Wave on Wednesday reported that layoffs were underway this week, citing Facebook posts and phone calls made by employees to the media. A Mammoth spokeswoman on Thursday confirmed the number of layoffs.

Last week, Mammoth CEO Rusty Gregory told Sierra Wave that skier visits were down 36% and revenue had dropped 30% from early projections. The 30% revenue drop represents about $22 million from Mammoth's $140 million annual revenue.

The layoffs were preceded by salary cuts -- Gregory cut his own pay by 15% -- and a reduction of hours for some employees. The decline in visitation undoubtedly has hurt businesses throughout Mammoth Lakes, and skyrocketing gas prices are likely to keep visitation down for the remainder of the winter-spring season.

News of the layoffs comes amid storms that have deposited more than two feet of fresh powder onto Mammoth's slopes, bolstering the resort's base depth to 3-5 feet.

Last year Mammoth received a record 668.5 inches of snow, or nearly 56 feet. Through February of this year, Mammoth had received 149 inches, or a little more than 12 feet.

For LED snowboarder, a truly electrifying experience (video)

Imagine how surreal it must be to go snowboarding at night and become the only source of light as you carve turns in fresh powder.

Pro snowboarder William Hughes is the "silver surfer" in the accompanying production by filmmaker Jacob Sutton, who intended to show "a lone character made of light surfing through darkness."

Sutton achieved his goal, in a production for Nowness, by fitting Hughes in a specially-designed L.E.D-enveloped suit for four nights of filming in the Tignes in the Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France.

Said Hughes of the bizarre experience: "Filming in the suit was the most surreal thing I’ve done in 20 years of snowboarding. Luckily there was plenty of vin rouge to keep me warm, and Jacob’s enthusiasm kept everyone going through the cold nights."

Shaun White is perfect in X Games superpipe triumph

If there are any threats to the dominance of snowboarder Shaun White, they did not materialize Sunday night in the Winter X Games' Snowboard Superpipe final at Aspen, Colo.

White, 25, won a fifth consecutive gold medal and registered a first-ever perfect score of 100 in the marquee event.

"It's unreal. I've been wanting that 100 forever," he told ESPN's Tina Dixon, during an interview after his historic run.

He posted the score on what amounted to a victory lap, having already clinched triumph with a 94.00 logged on his first of three runs Sunday night.

As the last rider, and with nobody having topped the 94.00, White dropped into the U-shaped pipe and unleashed a series of progressive tricks that his competitors simply cannot string together.

They included a huge backside air, a front-side double-cork 1080, a cab double-cork 1080, a front-side stalefish 540, a double McTwist 1260, and a front-side double-cork 1260.
(See video for visual explanation.)

Asked by Dixon how he expects to improve on a perfect score, White thought for a second and quipped, "There's always next year."