April can be a finicky time for sledders. Many have already hung up their spurs and stabled their steeds for a long spring, summer and fall of snow dreams. This winter many areas of the west have had a serious lack of snow which is most definitely shortening a lot of folks riding season.
Here in Whistler we still have weeks of riding to look forward too. With something like twenty-five feet of snow hanging around up high there is a lot of shred time left. Sure the deep days will become fewer but shit, warm spring snow is a riot on the machines, those who like to jump have tons of daylight to build their booters and the tight and steep lines through the trees are perfect now.
This past week in Whistler has been ridiculous and with too many photos to post in one article we are dividing it up into a few. Hope you enjoy!
By: Matthew Mallory
Wednesday morning found me rolling coffee in hand to the Sprout parking lot. With some fresh snow on the ground, blue skies overhead and a fun crew to shred with I was amped.
Julie-Ann Chapman and her huge, bright smile greeted me along with Clint Miller and Tom Cepek. Clint I had heard about through a friend who had shown me pictures of him sending it on his short-track while Tom had put together a couple videos that we have posted on joydigger. Its always amazing how small the sled world and the circle of peeps really is.
After pounding ourselves through the rough, uneven whoops on the road and then a high speed groomed trail we were shocked to find about three feet of pow in the alpine. Barely a track anywhere, all ours for the taking. The snow wasn’t as light as it can be in February but hell this was the first week of April and we had freshies. Just keep ‘er pinned everywhere and you are generally okay (unless your on a 600 short-track eh Clint?). Everyone was fired up, it was all about hitting downhill lines and airs. Snow and sleds were flying everywhere.
Clint Miller is a snocrosser from Ontario. He loaded his truck and has taken his short track for a tour of Canada. Here he gets some air under it on Sprout. Photo: Matthew Mallory
When I was spending my winters on skis the heavy, deep snow was dreaded, it was perfect for tearing knees apart if you made a mistake but on the sled, hell this stuff is just fun. A little more gas, a little more commitment and a little more lean makes for a lot of good times!
Julie-Ann plows pow. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Tom Cepek and Julie-Ann Chapman laid first, second, fourth and fith tracks down this line. Here Tom visits the white room while Julie-Ann tees up the drop. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Clint Miller was bogging in the deep snow on his little sled so he just figured it was easier to stay above it. More air for the Ontario shredder. Photo: Matthew Mallory
The snow may have been a touch heavy but hell....it's April and as Julie-Ann demonstrates it's still a lot of fun. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Tom Cepek pops a windlip. What you don't see is the massive hole he went into right after this. Photo: Matthew Mallory
On her second rip down this line Julie-Ann decided more throttle was the answer for this drop. She out-did the boys by a ways. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Julie-Ann's landing bounce was about the same amount of air if not more than the drop was. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Clint Miller using the terrain like a skatepark and throwing his rig around. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Tom lights up a smoke show. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Tom rolled his sled running up to this lip so Julie-Ann went and poached it on him. What are friends for.....hahaha! Photo: Matthew Mallory
With some spots tracked up Clint was able to get a little more speed for more boost. Good thing he has that track studded. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Tom was showing that a 163" track is made to be jumped all day. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Julie-Ann rode hard all day and when it was over headed to work while we enjoyed beers in the parking lot. That is serious dedication to the sport. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Tom Cepek visits the white room. Photo: Matthew Mallory
Hmmmmm, does this look like April to you? Tom models the snow covered look that is in for the spring of 2012 in Whistler. Photo: Matthew Mallory
This wasn’t the first ride of the week, check out Part 0 – ONE FINE DAY IN WHISTLER
ONE WEEK IN WHISTLER-PART II ‘A VERY GOOD FRIDAY’
Good one i luv it.