Podcasts about opensnow

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 51:53

OpenSnow founder & meteorologist, Joel Gratz, is back to talk about advancements in weather forecasting and how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing weather models — particularly in mountain environments. We also discuss the challenges of making seasonal forecasts; Joel offers some tips for planning ski trips; tips for storm chasing and skiing in Japan; and more.RELATED LINKS:Blister Rec. Shop: Gear WestBLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredBlister Summit 2025Get Our Winter Buyer's GuideBlister Pod ep 268: Joel GratzBlister Pod ep 237: Joel GratzTOPICS & TIMES:Skiing with Kids (5:00)AI & Weather Forecasting (8:45)Using Forecasting for Backcountry Skiing (18:33)Predictions for This Winter? (21:29)Planning Ski Trips: Tips and Strategies (25:39)Exploring Open Snow Features (28:33)Tips for Storm Chasing & Skiing in Japan (35:52)Future of Meteorology & Weather Forecasting (47:13)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Its August - Let's Head South

Where to Ski

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 25:27

There is a ton of skiing right now in August. But – where to Ski? I'm not excited about skiing in lanes on a glacier in between racers and I certainly wasn't going to try one of the indoor hockey rinks designed for slalom skiers. We take a look where its actually winter . In Australia there is Threadbo and Perisher; New Zealand has Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt; Chile has Portillo, La Parva, Valle Nevados, and Argentina has the Barriloche area, Las Lenas, Cerro Castor – and that's just the tip of the resort iceberg. So, I reached out to a friend who grew up and worked at multiple places south of the equator to bring some sense to my growing list. Grab your skis, let's jump on a plane and head south. I'm thrilled to welcome Barney Caddick back to our show, you might remember him from our Arlberg episode. Barney is a senior guide and owner of Ski Like a Pro in St Anton, Austria. With 38 seasons of teaching and guiding on 4 continents, Barney has seen it all. He started his own ski journey in Australia and has spent summers teaching and guiding in Chile, Argentina, and in his home country of Australia. Resources: Find Barney at Ski Like a Pro Ski Weather and snow reports – OpenSnow

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Podcast #164: Sunday River General Manager Brian Heon

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 74:09

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on March 26. It dropped for free subscribers on April 2. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoBrian Heon, General Manager of Sunday River, MaineRecorded onJanuary 30, 2024About Sunday RiverClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Boyne ResortsLocated in: Newry, MaineYear founded: 1959Pass affiliations:* Ikon Pass: 7 days, no blackouts* Ikon Base Pass: 5 days, holiday blackouts* New England Pass: unlimited access on Gold tierReciprocal partners:* New England Pass holders get equal access to Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon* New England Gold passholders get three days each at Boyne's other seven ski areas: Pleasant Mountain, Maine; Boyne Mountain and The Highlands, Michigan; Big Sky, Montana; Brighton, Utah; Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington; and Cypress, B.C.Closest neighboring ski areas: Mt. Abram (:17); Black Mountain of Maine (:34); Wildcat (:46); Titcomb (1:05); Attitash (1:05); Cranmore (1:11)Base elevation: 800 feetSummit elevation: 3,150 feet (at Oz Peak)Vertical drop: 2,350 feetSkiable Acres: 884 trail acres + 300 acres of gladesAverage annual snowfall: 167 inchesTrail count: 139 (16% expert, 18% advanced, 36% intermediate, 30% beginner)Lift count: 19 (1 eight-pack, 1 six-pack, 1 6/8-passenger chondola, 2 high-speed quads, 5 fixed-grip quads, 4 triples, 1 double, 1 T-bar, 3 carpets – Sunday River also built an additional triple chair on Merrill Hill, which is complete but not yet open; it is scheduled to open for the 2024-25 ski season – view Lift Blog's inventory of Sunday River's lift fleet.)View historic Sunday River trailmaps on skimap.org.Why I interviewed himWhat an interesting time this is in the North American ski industry. It's never been easier or cheaper for avid skiers to sample different mountains, across different regions, within the span of a single season. And, in spite of the sorry shape of the stoke-obsessed ski media, there has never been more raw information readily available about those ski areas, whether that's Lift Blog's exhaustive databases or OpenSnow's snowfall comparisons and histories.What that gives all of us is perspective and context. When I learned to ski in the ‘90s, pre-commercial internet, you could scarcely find a trailmap without visiting a resort's ticket window. Skimap.org now houses more than 10,000 historic trailmaps for North America alone. That means you can understand, without visiting, what a ski area was, how it's evolved, and how it compares to its neighbors.That makes Sunday River's story both easier and harder to tell. Easier because anyone can now see how this monster, seated up there beyond the Ski 93 and North Conway corridors, is worth the drive past all of that to get to this. The ski area is more than twice the size of anything in New Hampshire. But the magical internet can also show skiers just how much snowier it is in Vermont, how much emptier it is at Saddleback, and that my gosh actually it doesn't take so much longer to just fly to Utah.Sunday River, self-aware of its place in the ski ecosystem, has responded by building a better mountain. Boyne has, so far, under-promised and over-delivered on the resort's 2030 plan, which, when launched four years ago, didn't mention either of the two D-Line megalifts that now anchor both ends of the resort. The snowmaking is getting better, even as the mountain grows larger and more complex. The teased Western Reserve expansion would, given Sunday River's reliance on snowmaking, be truly audacious, transforming an already huge ski area into a gigantic one.Cynics will see echoes of ASC's largess, of the expansion frenzy of the 1990s that ended in the company's (though fortunately not the individual ski areas') extinction. But Boyne Resorts is not some upstart. The narrative of ski-consolidation-doesn't-work always overlooks this Michigan-based company, founded by a scrappy fellow named Everett Kircher in 1947 – nearly 80 years ago. Boyne officials assure me that their portfolio-wide infrastructure investment is both considered and sustainable. If you've been to Big Sky in the past couple of years, it's clear what the company is trying to achieve, even if they won't explicitly say it (and I've tried to get them to say it): Boyne Resorts is resetting the standard for the North American ski experience by building the most modern ski resorts on the continent. They're doing what I wish Vail, which continues to disappoint me in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, would do: ensuring that, wherever they operate, they are delivering the best possible version of skiing in that region. And while that's a tough draw in the Cottonwoods (with Brighton, stacked, as it is, against the Narnia known as Alta-Snowbird), they're doing it in Michigan, they're doing it in the Rockies (at Big Sky), and they're doing it in New England, where Loon and Sunday River, especially, are transforming at superspeed.What we talked aboutRain, rain, go away; deciding to close down a ski resort; “seven inches of rain and 40-degree temperatures will eat snowpack pretty quick”; how Sunday River patched the resort back in only four days; the story behind the giant igloo at the base of Jordan; is this proof of climate change or proof of ski industry resilience?; one big advantage of resort consolidation; the crazy New England work ethic; going deep on the new Barker 6 lift; why Sunday River changed plans after announcing that the old Jordan high-speed quad would replace Barker; automatic restraint bars; the second Merrill Hill triple and why it won't spin until the 2024-25 ski season; the best part about skiing Merrill Hill; how Jordan 8 has transformed Sunday River; why that lift is so wind-resistant; the mountain's evolving season-opening plan; the potential Western Reserve expansion; potential future lift upgrades; carpet-bombing; 2030 progress beyond the on-snow ski experience; whether the summer bike park could return; the impact of the Ikon Pass on skier visits; Mountain Collective; the New England Pass; and making sure local kids can ski. Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewJordan 8. Barker 6. Merrill Hill. A December rainstorm fit to raise Noah's Ark. There is always something happening at Sunday River. Or, to frame it in the appropriate active voice: Sunday River is always doing things.New England, in its ASC/Intrawest late 1980s/1990s/early 2000s frenzy, built and built and built. Sugarbush installed five lifts, including the two-mile-long Slide Brook Express, in a single summer (1995). Killington built two gondolas and two high-speed quads in a three-year span from 1994 to '97. Stratton sprouted two six-packs and two fixed-grip quads in the summer of 2001. And Sunday River, the most earnest manifestation of Les Otten's ego and ambitions, multiplied across the wilderness, a new peak each year it seemed, until a backwater with a skiable footprint roughly equal to modern Black Mountain, New Hampshire had sprawled into a videogame ski kingdom at the chest-thumping pinnacle of Northeast skiing.And then not a lot happened for a really long time. ASC fell apart. Intrawest curdled. Most of the ski area infrastructure investment fled west. Stowe, then owned by AIG, kept building lifts, as did the Muellers (Okemo), and Peak Resorts (at least at Mount Snow and Crotched). One-offs would materialize as strange experiments, like the inexplicable six-pack at Ragged (2001) and the Mid-Burke Express at remote and little-known Burke Mountain (2011). But the region's on-mountain ski infrastructure, so advanced in the 1990s, began to tire out.Then, since 2018 or so, rapid change, propelled by numerous catalysts: the arrival of western megapasses, a Covid adrenaline boost, and, most crucially, two big companies willing to build big-time lifts at big-time ski areas. Vail, since kicking New England's doors open in 2017, has built a half-dozen major lifts, including three six-packs, across four ski areas. And Boyne Resorts, flexing a blueprint they first deployed at western crown jewel Big Sky, has built three D-line bubble lifts, installed two refurbished high-speed quads (with another on the way this summer), unveiled two expansions, and teased at least two more across its four New England ski areas. It doesn't hurt that, despite a tighter regulatory culture in general, there is little Forest Service bureaucracy to fuss with in the East, meaning that (Vermont's Act 250 notwithstanding), it's often easier to replace infrastructure.Which takes us back to Sunday River. Big and bustling, secure in its Ikon Pass membership, “SR,” as the Boyne folks call it, didn't really have to do anything to keep being busy and important. The old lifts would have kept on turning, even if rickety old Barker set the message boards on fire once every two to three weeks. Instead, the place is, through platinum-plated lifts and immense snowmaking upgrades, rapidly evolving into one of the country's most sophisticated ski areas. If that sounds like hyperbole, try riding one of Boyne's D-line bubble lifts. Quick and quiet, smooth as a shooting star, appointed like a high-end cigar lounge, these lifts inspire a sort of giddiness, an awe in the up-the-mountain ride that will reprogram the way you think about your ski day (even if you're too cynical to admit it).But it's not just what Sunday River is building that defines the place – it is also how the girth of the operation, backed by a New England hardiness, has fortified it against the almost constant weather events that make Northeast ski area operation such a suicidal juggling act. The December rainstorm that tore the place into pieces ended up shutting down the mountain for all of four days. Then they were like, “What?” And the lifts were spinning again.What I got wrongOn the old Jordan quadHeon mentioned that the future of the old Jordan high-speed quad was “to be determined.” We recorded this in January, before Pleasant Mountain announced that they would use the bones of Jordan as their new summit lift, replacing a fixed-grip triple chair that was starting to get moldy.On relative sizeI said that Merrill Hill was Sunday River's smallest peak by vertical drop. But the new Merrill Hill lift rises 750 vertical feet, while Little Whitecap sports a 602-foot vertical drop.On the New England PassThe prices I gave for New England Gold Passes ($1,350 early-bird, $1,619 final price), were for the 2023-24 ski season. Since then, 2024-25 passes debuted at $1,389 early-bird ($1,329 renewal), and currently sell for $1,439 ($1,389 renewal).I also said that the New England Pass didn't include Pleasant Mountain access. What I meant was that the pass only provides unlimited access to Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon. But the full pass does in fact include three days at Pleasant Mountain, along with each of Boyne's other six ski areas (Boyne Mountain, The Highlands, Big Sky, Brighton, Summit at Snoqualmie, and Cypress). Skiers can also add on a Pleasant Mountain night pass for $99 for the 2024-25 ski season.We also refer to the Platinum New England Pass, which the company discontinued this year in favor of a kind-of build-your-own-pass structure – skiers can add an Ikon Base Pass onto the Gold Pass for $299 and the Pleasant Mountain night pass for $99.Why you should ski Sunday RiverThe most interesting ski areas, to me, present themselves as an adventure. Wild romps up and over, each new lift opening a new set of trails, which tease yet another chairlift poking over the horizon. Little unexpected pockets carved out from the whole, places to disappear into, not like one ski area but like several, parallel but distinct, the journey seamless but slightly confusing.This is the best way I can describe Sunday River. The trailmap doesn't really capture the scale and complexity of it. It's a good map, accurate enough, but it flattens the perspective and erases the drama, makes the mountain look easy. But almost the first thing that will happen at Sunday River is that you will get lost. The seven side-by-side peaks, so distinct on the map, blend into one another on the ground. Endless forests bisect your path. You can start on Locke and end, almost inexplicably, at the tucked-out-of-sight North Ridge quad. Or take off from the Barker summit and land at the junction of Aurora and the Jordan double, two lifts seemingly planted in raw wilderness that will transport you to two very different worlds. Or you can exit Jordan 8 and find yourself, several miles later, past a condo city and over a sequence of bridges, at the White Cap lodge, wondering where you are and how you got there.It's bizarre and brilliant, like a fully immersive game of Mouse Trap, a wild machine to lose yourself in. While it's smaller and shorter than Sugarloaf, its massive sister resort to the north, Sunday River, with its girth and its multiple base areas, can feel bigger, especially when the whole joint's open. That also means that, if you're not careful, you can spend all day traversing from one lift to the next, going across, rather than down, the fall lines. But ski with purpose and focus – and a map in your pocket – and Sunday River can deliver you one hell of a ski day.Podcast NotesOn Sunday River 2030Boyne is intentionally a little cagey on its 2030 plans, versions of which are in place for Loon, Sugarloaf, Summit at Snoqualmie, Boyne Mountain, The Highlands, and Sunday River. The exact content and commitments of the plans changes quite a bit, so I won't try to outline them here. Elsewhere in the portfolio, Big Sky has a nearly-wrapped 2025 plan. Brighton, entirely on Forest Service land, has a masterplan (which I can't find), but no 2030 commitment. Pleasant Mountain is still relatively new to the company. Cypress is in Canada, so who knows what's going on up there. I'll talk about that with the mountain's GM, Matt Davies, in June.On the December stormHeon and I discuss the December rainstorm that brought up to seven inches of rain to Sunday River and nearby Bethel. That's, like, an incredible amount of water:Heon spoke to local reporters shortly after the resort re-opened.On the AlpinigluSomehow, this party igloo that Sunday River flew a team of Euro-sculptors in to create survived the insane flooding.On Hurricane Irene and self-sufficiency in VermontNew England has a way of shrugging off catastrophic storm damage that is perhaps unequaled on planet Earth. From The New York Times, just a few months after Hurricane Irene blasted the state in 2011:Yet what is truly impressive about the work here is not the amount of damage, or even the size of the big boy toys involved in the repair. Instead, it is that 107 is the last stretch of state road that Vermont has not finished repairing. In the three months since Hurricane Irene, the state repaired and reopened some 500 miles of damaged road, replaced a dozen bridges with temporary structures and repaired about 200 altogether.Vermont's success in repairing roads while keeping the state open for tourism is a story of bold action and high-tech innovation. The state closed many damaged highways to speed repairs and it teamed with Google to create frequently updated maps_ showing which routes were open. Vermont also worked in cooperation with other states, legions of contractors and local citizens.While many Americans have come to wonder whether the nation has lost the ability to fix its ailing infrastructure or do big things, “they haven't been to Vermont,” said Megan Smith, the state's commissioner of tourism and marketing.State roads, which are the routes used most by tourists, are ready for the economically crucial winter skiing season. But Vermont had many of those roads open in time for many of the fall foliage visitors, who pump $332 million into the state's economy each year, largely through small businesses like bed and breakfasts, gift shops and syrup stands. Within a month of the storm, 84 of the 118 closed sections of state roads were reopened, and 28 of the 34 state highway bridges that had been closed were reopened. …How did they get so much done so quickly? Within days after the storm hit on Aug. 28, the state had moved to emergency footing, drawing together agencies to coordinate the construction plans and permits instead of letting communications falter. National Guard units from eight states showed up, along with road crews from the Departments of Transportation from Maine and New Hampshire, and armies of private contractors. The attitude, said Sue Minter, Vermont's deputy secretary of transportation, was, “We'll do the work and we'll figure out how we're paying for it, but we're not waiting.”On Barker 6When Sunday River announced that they would build the Jordan 8 chair in 2021, they planned to move the existing Jordan high-speed quad over to replace the POS Barker detach, a Yan relic from the late ‘80s. Eventually, they changed their minds and pivoted to a sixer for Barker. The old Jordan lift will now replace the summit triple at Pleasant Mountain next year.On Kircher and redistributionWhen Boyne Resorts CEO Stephen Kircher joined me on the podcast in November 2022, he explained the logic behind replacing the Jordan quad with an eight-pack, even though that wasn't a traditionally super busy part of the resort (14:06):On the expansions at Loon and SugarloafSunday River sister resorts Loon and Sugarloaf both opened expansions this ski season. Loon's was a small beginner-focused pod, a 500-vertical-foot add-on served by a carpet-loaded fixed quad that mainly served to unite the resort with a set of massive parking lots on the mountain's west end:Sugarloaf's West Mountain expansion was enormous – the largest in New England in decades. Pretty impressive for what was already the second-largest ski area in the East:On the Mountain Collective in the NortheastHere's the Mountain Collective's current roster:Sunday River would make a lot of sense in there. While the coalition is mostly centered on the West, Stowe and Sugarbush are past members. Each mountain's parent company (Vail and Alterra, respectively), eventually yanked them off the coalition, leaving Sugarloaf as the sole New England mountain (Bromont and La Massif de Charlevoix have since joined as eastern complements). I ask Heon on the podcast whether Sunday River has considered joining the collective.On the Community Access PassWe discuss Sunday River's Community Access Pass, which is:“a season pass scholarship for students that reside and attend school in the MSAD 17, SAD 44, and RSU 10 School Districts. Students grades Pre-K through 12 are eligible to apply. This pass will offer free daily access to the Sunday River slopes, and also comes with a complimentary membership to the Sunday River Ski and Snowboard Club. Students must meet certain economic qualifiers to apply; further details about the criteria are available on the pass application. Students have until November 15 to apply for the program.”Apply here.On Brian's last appearance on the podcastHeon last appeared on the podcast in January 2021:Current Sunday River President Dana Bullen has also been on the pod, way back on episode 13:On Merrill Hill and the new lift locationHere's an approximate location of the new Merrill Hill lift, which is built but not yet operational, and not yet on Sunday River's trailmap:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 21/100 in 2024, and number 521 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Skiing and Science - a bonus episode on Weather Planning our conversation with Joel Gratz

Where to Ski

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 45:51

In this bonus episode we hit on one of my favorite subjects – mountain weather. Nothing worse than planning a trip, getting somewhere, and getting weathered out – either rain, too little snow or even too much snow can affect your day. Weather has a lot to do with my own decision-making process of where to ski. Our guest is Joel Gratz, Founder and CEO of OpenSnow. Joel really (really) likes three things: Weather, snow, and skiing. I don't know about the skiing but he really knows weather and snow. Listen to this fun and informative conversation we had with Joel. Contact Joel www.opensnow.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john--morgan/message

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8.21 Jayson Simons Jones

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 70:15

In this episode, Caleb sits down with Jayson Simons-Jones. We chat about Jayson's career as an IFMGA Mountain Guide, a guide service owner, an avalanche educator, and now his new role as the Recreation Education Manager for the American Avalanche Association. Jayson provides thoughtful insights and reflection on how he approaches bringing a deep sense of meaning and connection while taking people skiing in the backcountry. We dive into some of the key points of a great article he wrote for The Avalanche Review titled: Group Communication and Decision Making Tactics. We chat about his new role at the A3 and some of his goals within the position. We wrap up the hour with Jayson sharing some nuggets of wisdom through lessons delivered to him in the backcountry. Group Communication and Decision-Making Tactics TAR 39.4 Page 34: https://theavalanchereview.org/tar-39-4/ We hope you enjoy. Music by Ketsa www.ketsa.uk Support for this episode is provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control www.wyssenavalanche.com Gordini USA www.gordini.com OpenSnow www.opensnow.com RecPak www.recpak.co Want to level up your tour planning game? Check out www.mtnmapping.com and use code: THEAVALANCHEHOUR to receive 30% off the $25 annual subscription. Thanks Will McKay for putting this great resource together!

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8.16 Tele Mike

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 54:30

EPISODE 8.16 Experience a unique adventure in this episode as Tele Mike and Brooke take us from the exhilarating rush of heated side-by-sides to the awe-inspiring helicopter rides over Alaska's snowy peaks. This episode isn't just about skiing; it's a profound journey of transformation and discovery. Tele Mike's story begins on the East Coast, where a life-altering moment reshaped his destiny. Witnessing the fall of the Twin Towers firsthand, he was engulfed in a moment of introspection, realizing the fragility of life and the importance of pursuing one's passions. This epiphany led him to Colorado just four months later, where he plunged headfirst into the world of skiing. From an enthusiastic instructor to an adept practitioner of ski mountaineering, Tele Mike's evolution is a narrative of resilience, passion, and an unbreakable bond with the mountains. He shares his rich experiences, discussing not just the thrills and spills but also the critical moments of close calls and rescues that define the spirit of mountaineering. Join us in this inspiring episode as Tele Mike and Brooke bring the exhilarating world of skiing to life, sharing stories that resonate with adventure, life lessons, and the unyielding call of the wild. About Tele Mike: “Tele Mike” Russell has never seen a snowcapped mountain that he did not want to climb and ski. Fierce and soulful, Tele Mike is a big mountain Telemark Skier who is passionate about climbing technical routes and skiing exposed backcountry mountain descents on a global scale. Tele Mike finds gratitude and restitution in guiding and showing anyone how to access the beauty of the mountain in a way that is safe, connected, empowering, and accessible, regardless of ability levels. His ultimate motivation is to amplify ALL voices in the backcountry ski community regardless of an individual's labels or demographics. And due to his African and Native American heritage, Tele Mike has meticulously curated many mountain experiences for BIPOC communities in an effort to provide positive mountain experiences to underrepresented groups, in an effort to bring about sustained physical and mental wellbeing, and inner peace, while overcoming generational fears of open spaces. Tele Mike also loves to use his artistry to create short cinematic heartfelt mountain adventure films to show people of color that there are other people adventuring in the mountains who look like them, enjoying safe open spaces. https://us.scarpa.com/community/blog/article/mentee-spotlight-michael-russell Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Guest - https://www.instagram.com/tele.mike Links: To learn more about Mike, check out his mentee profile at the link below: https://www.scarpa.com/community/athletes/mike-russell Here Just a Few Of Mike's Adventures: Lumpy Ridge: https://vimeo.com/395827392/4489393b93 Tele Heli Skiing Alaska: https://vimeo.com/516090629/a72873871d Freedom Land: https://vimeo.com/430556554/9708078b8e Keep Loving the People: https://vimeo.com/417072442/e150445532 Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ OpenSnow - https://opensnow.com/ (Code: AvalanchePodcast) Gordini - https://gordini.com/ Safeback - Crew: Host - Brooke “Shiny” Edwards Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: Ketsa - intro: solstice shack out/shaolin dub Ketsa - outro: run come/shaolin dub

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8.15 Martin Heuberger

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 77:04

EPISODE 8.15 Martin Heuberger and daughter Anna(featured in episode 6.15) joins Matthias for an in-depth conversation. They explore the journey of this pioneering Austrian who ventured into the Canadian Rockies for heli-skiing. Heuberger delves into the challenges he faced in establishing a heli-ski operation, including learning the intricate processes involved. The journey was not without its hardships, as he recounts incidents of helicopters being lost and delayed rescue missions. Consequently, he collaborated with various operations to implement check-in procedures, utilizing radios to enhance the safety of crews working in the area. He speaks openly and with vivid detail about encountering physical trauma and how individuals persevered through tough circumstances. He also sheds light on his collaboration with Mike Wiegele, highlighting their significant contributions to the growth and evolution of the heli-skiing industry. Additionally, Heuberger discusses the valuable lessons he brought back to Austria, such as advanced snow profiling techniques. Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Guest - https://www.instagram.com/ Links: Stress Measurement Study - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165232X14002079 Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ OpenSnow - https://opensnow.com/ (Code: AvalanchePodcast) Gordini - https://gordini.com/ Crew: Host - Matthias Walcher Host - Anna Heuberger Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: Gravy - Wildhorse

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8.13 William Sherman - Safeback

Last Chair: The Ski Utah Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 72:32

In this episode, we start the hour by chatting with Joel Gratz, head meteorologist and founder of OpenSnow. Joel tells us why he started OpenSnow and how it can help streamline your weather analysis process to help lead you to your deepest days in the resort or favorite backcountry location. I then sit down with William Sherman of Safeback. Will is originally from Colorado, but now lives in Norway where he works for Safeback. For the last 6 years, Safeback has been developing a product to help extend the avalanche survival curve for victims buried under the snow who have a patent airway. Will explains the thorough independent research that backs the efficacy of the Safeback SBX product, we discuss how it works and how it is integrated into backpacks and vests. He is transparent about the limitations of the system and recognizes that new technology simply can't take the place of conservative decision-making in an uncertain backcountry environment. We hope you enjoy the episode! Music by Ketsa https://www.safeback.no/articles/product-testing/eurac-research-conduct-independent-medical-trial-of-safeback-sbx Support for this episode is provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA OpenSnow Use code: avalanchepodcast at www.opensnow.com to receive 30% off an all access year subscription to OpenSnow.

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SE5:EP5 - Evan Thayer: Bringing Us Utah Powder

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 36:41

It's early season at Alta. OpenSnow forecaster Evan Thayer has left his meteorological screens in the hotel and is bashing his way down some fresh powder under the Collins chair. Life is good. If there is anyone we tens of thousands of Utah skiers owe a ‘thank you' to, it would be Thayer, a weather nerd who hadn't really planned his career path this way, but is thankful his former powder alert email list has turned into life as Utah's snow forecaster.The tools we have today to forecast weather are quite remarkable. The data availability and the scientific knowledge to analyze it are stunning. And that's what Thayer does every morning, beginning at 4:00 a.m., crunching numbers, studying maps and putting out a meaningful forecast by the time we're packing the SUV with skis at 7:00 a.m.Thayer is making his third appearance on Last Chair here in season 5. He was the episode 3 guest in the debut season of the podcast back in December 2019.In this episode, Thayer dives back into his past, growing up with a passion for weather going to CU-Boulder to study and ski, and finding his way to the Greatest Snow on Earth here in Utah.It's an insightful episode that explores his past and the popular weather app OpenSnow.Well, Evan, how was your birthday at Alta?Every early season I like to do a little staycation in Little Cottonwood Canyon. So I had a little birthday staycation at Gold Miner's Daughter. I knew there was a big storm coming. I knew I could get a room for a reasonable rate. And rather than deal with getting up early and getting up the canyon, it's kind of nice to wake up to fresh snow up there in Little Cottonwood Canyon, roll out of bed, get some breakfast, and just trundle out to the lifts.Were you a weather nerd as a kid?I was always a weather nerd. I was the kid who, back in the days prior to having internet, would set a cooking timer so I could run inside from playing with my friends and see the local on the eights on the old Weather Channel because that's when you could see the local radar.You were in the early group of forecasters when OpenSnow was formed. How has it evolved?It's grown a lot. It started as mostly three regions, and now we have, I don't know, 15 to 20 forecasters around the world writing daily snow forecasts. We've grown the product itself to have all sorts of different maps and overlays and different features you can use. Last year we launched Forecast Anywhere, which was a huge undertaking, but it allows a user to click on any point in the world and get the same quality forecast that you would get for, say, Park City or Alta. For any point in the world. You can see an hour-by-hour forecast for the next ten days.How has that expanded the usage?We have evolved as an app where I think traditionally it was all about powder – it was all about skiing. And if you ask me what I care about, what's the most important to me? I'll still say powder and skiing. But people are using the app now for all sorts of different things in the summer. They're using it for their hiking trips. We have trail estimated trail conditions that tell them whether it's a muddy trail, a snowpacked trail, or a dry trail. So if you're planning biking trips, hiking trips or backpacking trips, you can use it for that. We have smoke overlays. So in wildfire season, and how that's going to affect the air quality. We are working to forecast that to make sure you have, again, all the information you need to get out and enjoy nature.OK, what about the whale?That's a great question. The whale is unknowable. All I know is that they installed that on April 1st, 2022, after that moment, it started snowing and it felt like it never stopped. So I can't explain it. So I'm not going to question it. I'm just going to accept that there's a higher power in that whale and just go with it.How can you take advantage of modern forecasting along with the depth of knowledge of weather gurus like Evan Thayer? Take a listen to this episode of Last Chair.

SE5:EP5 - Evan Thayer: Bringing Us Utah Powder

Last Chair: The Ski Utah Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 36:41

A Chat with Our Favorite Predictor of Powder: Joel Gratz on Turning a Passion into a Business

No More Mondays

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 54:51

For those of you not in the know, Joel Gratz is the CEO and founder at OpenSnow, a company well-known in the mountains for their spot-on weather forecasting for both snow in the winter and hiking in the summer. He is the Prognosticator of Powder, if you will. Joel's forecasting is an integral part of our weekly planning, especially in the winter, when how much and where the powder is going to fall dictates the timing of everything else around it. Which is why we are in full superfan mode for this episode, as Joel talks all about his journey in the founding of his business and the integral elements that made it the success it is today. Are you in the Joel Gratz fan club? We've been members since 2007. Here's to an amazing 2023-24 winter season!

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Last Season's Historic Snowfall, El Nino / La Nina Predictions, & More with OpenSnow's Bryan Allegretto and Evan Thayer

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 64:37

Today we are talking about weather forecasting — as well as finding your people in this dark, cold, and sometimes lonely universe — with two of the weather forecasters from OpenSnow, Bryan Allegretto and Evan Thayer. We discuss last season's historic winter; how much stock you ought to put into ‘El Nino / La Nina' predictions; whether the stated snowfall amounts at various ski areas are fake news; all the ingredients that go into the creation of snowfall; and more.TOPICS & TIMES: Recapping Last Winter (6:01)How Accurate is Snow Reporting at Ski Resorts? (8:24)Precipitation Amounts vs Actual Snowfall (13:55)Last Season's Stats & Records (21:39)What's the Recipe for Lots of Snowfall? (26:23)El Nino & La Nina (31:00)How Did You Get into Forecasting? (37:13)What are the Responses Like When You Get Forecasts Wrong? (44:56)Building a “Superhero” Team at OpenSnow (48:47)Favorite New OpenSnow Features? (56:54)The Flakes Podcast (59:15)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Spokane Alpine HausBecome a BLISTER+ MemberJoin Us! 2024 Blister SummitCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All about Weather with Bryan Allegretto aka “BA” of OpenSnow | E25

Mind the Track

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 105:30

When it comes to skiing, there may be no other person in the Lake Tahoe region with more influence than Bryan Allegretto, known to many powder hounds as “BA”. With one word – Snowpocalypse – BA can send the entire region into a frenzy. As the lead Tahoe region snow forecaster and co-founder of OpenSnow.com, BA consistently outperforms the most advanced and complex snowfall computer weather modeling data through 20+ years of observational forecasting, studying other forecasters and the experience that comes from seeing thousands and thousands of model runs day after day in the Sierra Nevada. In Episode 25, the boys let their meteorologist alter egos fly free, nerding out on all things weather, including the origins of OpenSnow, the challenges of accurately predicting exactly how much it will snow and where, El Nino vs La Nina, Atmospheric Rivers, and if BA thinks volcanoes like Hunga Tonga have an effect on weather. BA also answers the burning question every powder hound is asking – will Tahoe have another big winter? 2:00 – Pow Bot skis the white ribbon of death at Mount Rose and the boys ride Badenaugh Canyon Trail.4:30 – Introducing Bryan Allegretto – BA – Snow Forecaster for OpenSnow Tahoe.7:30 – Pow Bot's life history with weather.14:30 – Interview with Bryan Allegretto from OpenSnow Tahoe.16:30 – Growing up in Pennsylvania, skiing the Poconos and Camelback Mountain. 18:30 – Figuring out how to blend a business degree with meteorology. Moves to Truckee to work for Booth Creek right out of college. 20:30 – Starting a weather blog in 2006 connected to a weather page at Northstar and Sierra-at-Tahoe. Reading Howard Sheckter's weather blog for Mammoth.28:00 – Starting OpenSnow in the 2011/12 season when a five year drought started.31:45 – The “Beard Shaver” storm idea during drought – 2 feet in 24 hours. 34:00 – Creating a community around weather – the comment section of the Tahoe Weather Blog. OpenSnow forum in testing phase. 41:20 – OpenSnow launching their first ski film (more of a snowboard film) about one of their forecasters chasing powder across the country. 44:05 – Trail Whisperer's obsession with weather and finding the OpenSnow snow forecast.46:05 – How does BA regularly outperform National Weather Service with snow forecasting? 47:20 – Dealing with criticism, angry emails, trollers and mean comments on social media.55:20 – Weather forecast computer modeling like GFS, Euro, Canadian, NAMM versus observational weather forecasting from people with experience. 1:00:05 – Trying to be perfect in the world of imperfect weather forecasting.1:04:20 – The challenges of trying to accurately predict seasonal forecasting, and the warm ocean temperatures of 2023 and the potential El Nino winter.1:09:20 – Learning from past winters to help more accurately predict future winters with climate change – the variable that pushes seasons over the top: ocean temperatures.1:15:20 – Has Lake Tahoe been getting more Atmospheric River storms over the last 20 years?1:17:50 – Is Trail Whisperer's theory of volcanoes warming ocean temperatures and Hunga Tonga affecting weather patterns accurate or inaccurate? 1:25:00 – El Nino versus La Nina seasons – when does the most snow fall in Lake Tahoe region?1:28:30 – The importance of human observational forecasting in a world of mathematics and computer modeling in meteorology and the AI bots that are coming. 1:35:00 – What webcams does BA use to give him a gauge of snowfall? Sugar Bowl, Palisades, Alpine Meadows and Mt. Rose.1:36:45 – Where does it snow the most in the Lake Tahoe region? 1:38:30 – What does Mind the Track mean to you? 1:40:00 – How can people get in touch with BA? Tahoe Daily Snow at Opensnow.com – hello@opensnow.com1:43:00 – What is BA's season prediction for this winter? We will be have snow level issues and a late start to the winter.

Podcast #144: Keystone Vice President and General Manager Chris Sorensen

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 81:05

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Sept. 19. It dropped for free subscribers on Sept. 26. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoChris Sorensen, Vice President and General Manager of Keystone, ColoradoRecorded onSeptember 11, 2023About KeystoneClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Vail ResortsLocated in: Keystone, ColoradoYear founded: 1970Pass affiliations:* Epic Pass: unlimited access* Epic Local Pass: unlimited access* Summit Value Pass: unlimited access* Keystone Plus Pass: unlimited access with holiday blackouts* Tahoe Local: five days combined with Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Park City* Epic Day Pass: access with All Resorts and 32-resorts tiersClosest neighboring ski areas: Arapahoe Basin (:08), Frisco (:19), Loveland (22 minutes), Breckenridge (:25), Copper (:25), Vail (:44), Beaver Creek (:53), Ski Cooper (:56) – travel times vary considerably given traffic, weather, and time of year.Base elevation: 9,280 feetSummit elevation: 12,408 feet at the top of Keystone Peak; highest lift-served point is 12,282 feet at the top of Bergman Bowl ExpressVertical drop: 3,002 feet lift-served; 3,128 feet hike-toSkiable Acres: 3,149 acresAverage annual snowfall: 235 inchesTrail count: 130 (49% most difficult, 39% more difficult, 12% easiest)Lift count: 20 (1 eight-passenger gondola, 1 six-passenger gondola, 4 high-speed six-packs, 3 high-speed quads, 1 fixed-grip quad, 1 triple, 2 doubles, 7 carpets)Why I interviewed himKeystone arrived in 1970, a star member of the last great wave of western ski resort development, just before Snowbird (1971), Northstar (1972), Telluride (1972), and Big Sky (1973). It landed in a crowded Summit County, just down the road from Arapahoe Basin (1946) and five miles overland from Breckenridge (1961). Copper Mountain came online two years later. Loveland (1937) stood at the gateway to Summit County, looming above what would become the Eisenhower Tunnel in 1973. Just west sat Ski Cooper (1942), the mighty and rapidly expanding Vail Mountain (1962), and the patch of wilderness that would morph into Beaver Creek within a decade. Today, the density of ski areas along Colorado's I-70 corridor is astonishing:Despite this geographic proximity, you could not find more distinct ski experiences were you to search across continents. This is true everywhere ski areas bunch, from northern Vermont to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to the Wasatch. Ski areas, like people, hack their identities out of the raw material available to them, and just as siblings growing up in the same household can emerge as wildly different entities, so too can mountains that sit side-by-side-by-side.Keystone, lacking the gnar, was never going to be Jackson or Palisades, fierce and frothing. Sprung from wilderness, it could never replicate Breck's mining-town patina. Its high alpine could not summon the drama of A-Basin's East Wall or the expanse of Vail's Back Bowls.But Keystone made its way. It would be Summit County's family mountain, its night-ski mountain, and, eventually, one of its first-to-open-each-ski-season mountains. This is the headline, and this is how everyone thinks of the place. But over the decades, Keystone has quietly built out one of Colorado's most comprehensive ski experiences, an almost perfect front-to-back progression from gentle to damn. Like Heavenly or Park City, Keystone wears its steeps modestly, like your quiet neighbor with a Corvette hidden beneath tarps in the polebarn. All you notice is the Camry parked in the driveway. But there are layers here. Keep looking, and you will find them.What we talked aboutHopeful for that traditional October opening; why Keystone is Vail's early-season operator in Colorado; why the mountain closes in early April; breaking down the Bergman Bowl expansion and the six-pack that will service it; the eternal tension of opening hike-to terrain to lift service; building more room to roam, rather than more people to roam it; the art of environmentally conscious glading; new lift-served terrain in Erickson Bowl; turning data into infrastructure; why the Bergman sixer won't have bubbles; why Bergman won't access The Windows terrain; the clever scheme behind renaming the Bergman Bowl expansion trails; building a new trailmap with Rad Smith; where skiers will be able to get a copy of the new paper trailmap; comparing the Peru upgrade to the Bergman lift project; the construction mistake that delayed the Bergman expansion by a full year; the possibility of lifts in Independence, North, and South Bowls; falling in love with skiing Colorado, then moving to Michigan; why Vail bought a bunch of Midwest bumps; when you get to lead the resort where you started bumping lifts; what makes Keystone stand out even though it sits within one of the densest concentrations of large ski areas in North America; thoughts on long-term lift upgrades, and where we could see six-packs; whether the Argentine lift could ever return in some form; the potential for a Ski Tip lift; where Keystone could expand next; whether a Windows lift is in play; North American Bowl; when we could see an updated Keystone masterplan; why Keystone gets less snow than its neighbors; assessing Epic Pass access; and night skiing. Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewKeystone is opening one of three large lift-served ski expansions in Colorado this winter: the 500-plus-acre Bergman Bowl, served by a high-speed six-pack (the other two are Hero's on Aspen Mountain and Mahogany Ridge at Steamboat). While this pod has occupied the trailmap as hike-to terrain for years, more people will likely ski it before noon on a typical Monday than once slogged up the ridgeline in an entire winter. Keystone has renamed and somewhat re-sculpted the trails in honor of the occasion, inviting the masses onto a blue-square oasis at the top of Summit County.Which is always a good excuse for a podcast. But… this terrain was supposed to open in 2022, until the project ran into a high-altitude brick wall last July, when construction crews oopsied a road through sensitive terrain. Vail Daily:Construction of a new chairlift at Keystone Resort was ordered to cease this week after the U.S. Forest Service learned that an unauthorized road had been bulldozed through sensitive areas where minimal impacts were authorized.Keystone Resort, which operates by permit on U.S. Forest Service land, was granted permission by the White River National Forest to construct a new chairlift this summer in the area known as Bergman Bowl, creating a 555-acre expansion of Keystone's lift-served terrain. But that approval came with plenty of comments from the Environmental Protection Agency, which recommended minimal road construction associated with the project due to Bergman Bowl's environmentally sensitive location. …White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams said while the Forest Service does approve many projects like Bergman Bowl, officials typically don't allow construction of new access roads in Alpine tundra.“When you drop a bulldozer blade in the Alpine, that is very fragile, and very difficult to restore,” Fitzwilliams said.In Bergman Bowl, the Forest Service has found “damage to the Alpine environment … impacts to wetlands and stuff that we normally don't want to do,” Fitzwilliams said.As a result, Fitzwilliams issued a cease and desist letter to Vail Resorts. He said the company immediately complied and shut down the impacted parts of the project.The Forest Service has not yet determined if a full restoration can occur.“When you impact the Alpine environment, it's not easy to restore,” Fitzwilliams said. “Sometimes, although achievable in some areas, it's difficult.”Vail Resorts, which has staked much of its identity on its friend-of-the-environment credentials, owned the mistake and immediately hired a firm to design a mitigation plan. What Keystone came back with was so thorough that it stunned Forest Service officials. Blevins, writing a week later in the Colorado Sun:White River National Forest supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams on Thursday said he accepted Vail Resorts' cure for improperly grading 2.5 acres outside of approved construction boundaries, including 1.5 acres above treeline in the fragile alpine zone. The company's construction crews also filled a wetland creek with logs and graded over it to create a road crossing and did not save topsoil and vegetation for replanting after construction, all of which the agency found “were not consistent with Forest Service expectations.”Fitzwilliams rescinded his order of noncompliance and canceled the cease-and-desist order he issued last month after Forest Service officials discovered the construction that had not been permitted. …“Quite honestly, it's the best restoration plan I've ever seen in my life. Even our staff are like ‘Oh my god,'” Fitzwilliams said. “The restoration plan submitted by Keystone is extremely detailed, thorough and includes all the necessary actions to insure the damage is restored as best as possible.”The damage to fragile alpine terrain does require additional analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, but Fitzwilliams said that can be done while the construction continues.On Thursday afternoon, resort officials said the further environmental review will keep Bergman Bowl from opening for the 2022-23 season, a development Keystone general manager Chris Sorensen said is disappointing but necessary.Indeed. The only way out is through. But how did that plan go? And what is Vail doing to make sure such mistakes don't recur? And how do you manage such a high-profile mistake from a personal and leadership point of view? It was a conversation worth having, and one that Sorensen managed well.What I got wrong…About the exact timeline of Vail's Midwest acquisitionsI kind of lumped Vail Resorts' first three Midwest acquisitions together, but there was quite a bit of space between the company's purchase of Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton, in 2012, and its pickup of Wilmot in 2016. The rest came with the Peak Resorts' acquisition in 2019.About Copper Mountain's season pass priceI said that it was “about $750” for a Copper pass or an Ikon Base Pass. Both were undercounts. Copper's 2023-24 season pass debuted at $799 and is now $849. The 2023-24 Ikon Base Pass, which includes unlimited access to Copper Mountain, debuted at $829 and now sells for $929.About the most-affordable big-mountain ski passes in the United StatesI said that Keystone offered “the most affordable big-mountain season pass” in the country. With peak-day walk-up lift tickets scheduled to hit $269 this season at Keystone, that may seem like an odd declaration. But it's almost true: Keystone sells the second-most-affordable unlimited season pass among America's 20 largest ski areas. Sister resort Park City comes in cheaper on a cost-per-acre basis, and Vail Mountain is tied with Keystone. In fact, four of the top five most affordable big-mountain passes are at Vail-owned properties (Park City, Keystone, Vail, and Heavenly):About night skiingI said that Keystone had “the largest night-skiing operation in America.” This is incorrect. I tried to determine who, indeed, hosts America's largest night-skiing operation, but after slamming my head into a wall for a few hours, I abandoned the exercise. There is absolutely no common standard of measurement, probably because 14-year-olds slamming Bang energy drinks and Faceposting from the chairlift aren't keen on fact-checking. Here's the best I could come up with:Even that simple chart took an embarrassing amount of time to assemble. At some point I will return to this exercise, and will include the entire country. The Midwest will factor significantly here, as nearly every ski area in the region is 100 percent lit for night-skiing. New York and the Mid-Atlantic also host many large night-skiing operations, as do Bolton Valley, Vermont and Pleasant Mountain, Maine. But unless I wanted to publish this podcast in June of 2024, I needed to flee this particular briar patch before I got ensnared.Why you should ski KeystoneThe Keystone you're thinking of is frontside Keystone, Dercum Mountain, River Run and Mountain House, Montezuma and Peru. That Keystone has a certain appeal. It is an approachable outsiders' version of Colorado, endless and wide, fast but manageable, groomed spirals ambling beneath the sunshine. Step out of the Suburban after a 16-hour drive from Houston, and find the Middle Earth you were seeking, soaring and jagged and wild, with a pedestrian village at the base.Keep going. Down Mine Shaft or Diamond Back to North Peak: 1,600 vertical feet of moguls bigger than your car. A half-dozen to choose from. Behind that, yet another peak, like a third ski area. Outback is where things start to get savage. Not drop-off-The-Cirque-at-Snowbird savage, but challenging enough. Slide back to Timberwolf or Bushwacker or Badger – or, more boldly, the trees in between – for that wild Colorado that Texas Ted and New York Ned find off Dercum.Or walk past the snow fort and click out, bootpack a mile and drop into Upper Windows, the only terrain marked double black on Keystone's sprawling trailmap. A rambling world, crisp and silent beneath the Outpost Gondola. Until it spits you out onto Mozart, Keystone's I-70, frantic and cluttered all the way to Santiago, and another lap.Podcast NotesOn Keystone's 2009 masterplan Keystone's masterplan dates to 2009, the second-oldest on file with the White River National Forest (Buttermilk's dates to 2008). The sprawling plan includes several yet-to-be-constructed lifts, including fixed-grips up Independence Bowl and Windows, a surface lift bisecting North and South Bowls; and a two-way ride out of Ski Tip. The plan also proposes upgrades to Outback, Wayback, and A-51; and a whole new line for the now-decommissioned Argentine:Since that image isn't very crisp, here's a closer look at Dercum:North Peak:And Outback:Sorensen and I discuss the potential for each of these projects, some of which are effectively dead. Strangely, Keystone's only two new chairlifts (besides Bergman), since 2009 - upgrading Montezuma and Peru from high-speed quads to sixers – were not suggested on the MDP at all. Argentine, which once connected the Mountain House Base directly to the Montezuma lift, was a casualty of the 2021 Peru upgrade. Here's a before-and-after:Argentine, it turns out, is just the latest casualty in Keystone's front-side clean-sweep. Check out this 1996 trailmap, when Dercum (called “Keystone” here), hosted nine frontside chairlifts (plus the gondola), to today's five:On the new Bergman Bowl trail namesBergman Bowl has appeared on Keystone's trailmap since at least 2005. The resort added trail names around 2007. As part of the lift installation, we get all new trail names and a few new trails (as well as downgrades, for most of the old lines, to blues). Keystone also updated trailnames in adjacent Erickson Bowl, which the new lift will partially serve. Sorensen and I discuss the naming scheme in the pod:On Rad Smith's new hand-painted Keystone trailmapSince 2002 or so, Keystone's trailmap has viewed the resort at a slight angle, with Dercum prioritized, the clear “front side.”The new map, Sorensen tells us, whips the vantage around to the side, giving us a better view of Bergman and, consequently, of North Peak and Outback. Here's the old map (2022 on the left), alongside the new:And here's the two-part video series on making the map with Rad Smith:On Vail's new appI've driven round trip between New York City and Michigan hundreds of times. Most of the drive is rural and gorgeous, cruise-control country, the flat Midwest and the rolling mountains of Pennsylvania. Even the stretch of north Jersey is attractive, hilly and green, dramatic at the Delaware Water Gap. All that quaintness slams shut on the eastbound approach to the George Washington Bridge, where a half dozen highways collapse into the world's busiest bridge. Backups can be comically long. Hitting this blockade after a 12-hour drive can be excruciating.Fortunately, NJDOT, or the Port Authority, or whomever controls the stretch of Interstate 80 that approaches the bridge after its 2,900-mile journey from San Francisco, has erected signs a few dozen miles out that ominously communicate wait times for the GW's upper and lower decks. I used to doubt these signs as mad guesses typed in by some low-level state employee sitting in a control room with a box of donuts. But after a couple dozen unsuccessful attempts to outsmart the system, I arrived at a bitter realization: the signs were always right.This is the experience that users of Vail's new My Epic app can (hopefully) expect when it comes online this winter. This app will be your digital Swiss Army Knife, your Epic Pass/stats tracker/snow cam/in-resort credit card/GPS tracker with interactive trailmap. No word on if they'll include that strange metal spire that's either a miniature icepick or an impromptu brass knuckle. But the app will include real-time grooming updates and chairlift wait times. And if a roadsign in New Jersey can correctly communicate wait times to cross the George Washington Bridge, then Vail Resorts ought to be able to sync this chairlift wait-times thing pretty precisely.On Mt. Brighton being built from landfillDepending upon your point of view, Mt. Brighton, Michigan – which Sorensen ran from 2016 to 2018 – is either the most amazing or the most appalling ski area in Vail's sprawling portfolio. Two-hundred thirty vertical feet, 130 acres, five chairlifts, seven surface lifts, and about four trees, rising like some alt-world mini-Alps from the flatlands of Southeast Michigan.Why is it there? What does it do? Who would do such a thing to themselves? The answer to the first question lies in the expressways that crisscross three miles to the east: crews building Interstate 96 and US 23 deposited the excess dirt here, making a hill. The answer to the second question is: the place sells a s**t-ton of Epic Passes, which was the point of Vail buying the joint. And the answer to the third question is obvious as well: for the local kids, its ski here or ski nowhere, and little Midwest hills are more fun than you think. Especially when you're 12 and the alternative is sitting inside for Michigan's 11-month winter.On Keystone's potential West Ridge expansionSorensen refers to a potential “West Ridge” expansion, which does not appear on the 2009 trailmap. The ski area's 1989 masterplan, however, shows up to five lifts scaling West Ridge between North Peak and Outback (which was then called “South Peak”):On Keystone being among Colorado's least-snowy major resortsIt's a strange fact of geography that Keystone scores significantly less snow, on average, than its Colorado peers:This makes even less sense when you realize how close Keystone sits to A-Basin (115 more inches per season), Breck (118), and Copper (70):When I hosted OpenSnow founder and CEO Joel Gratz on the podcast last year, he explained Keystone's odd circumstances (as well as how the mountain sometimes does better than its neighbors), at the 1:41:43 mark.On pass prices across Summit County creeping up over the past several yearsSummit County was Ground Zero for the pass wars, during which a preponderance of mountains the size of Rhode Island fought to the death over who could give skiing away the cheapest. There are many reasons this battle started here, and many reasons why it's ending. Not the least of which is that each of these ski areas hosts the population of a small city every day all winter long. Colorado accounts for approximately one in four U.S. skier visits. The state's infrastructure is one rolled-over semi away from post-apocalyptic collapse. There's no reason that skiing has to cost less than a load of laundry when everyone wants to do it all the time.As a result, prices are slowly but steadily rising. Here's what's happened to pass prices at the four Summit County ski areas over the past six seasons:They've mostly gone up. Keystone is the only one that is less expensive to ski at now than it was in 2018 (on a season-pass basis). This chart is somewhat skewed by a couple of factors:* For the 2018-19 ski season, A-Basin was an unlimited member of the Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, and Summit Value Pass, a fact that nearly broke the place. The drastic price drop from 2018 to '19 reflects A-Basin's first year outside Vail's coalition.* Vail cut Epic Pass prices 20 percent from the 2020-21 ski season to the 2021-22 campaign. That's why Breck and Keystone are approximately the same price now as they were before the asteroid attack, Covid.* Little-known fact: Copper Mountain sells its own season pass, separate from the Ikon Pass, even though the mountain offers unlimited access on both the Ikon Base and full Ikon passes.On Mr. OklahomaI don't want to spoil the ending here, but we do talk about this.The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 75/100 in 2023, and number 461 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Want to send feedback? Reply to this email and I will answer (unless you sound insane, or, more likely, I just get busy). You can also email skiing@substack.com. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

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G3's Recyclable R3 Skis & Boards with G3 Founder, Oliver Steffen

GEAR:30

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 61:16

Oliver Steffen founded Genuine Guide Gear (G3) many years ago because of his passion for innovation and problem-solving, and while this has largely been aimed at creating solutions related to gear and backcountry touring, most recently, he turned his focus to the environmental impacts and life cycles of G3's skis and snowboards. This year, G3 is launching their recyclable “R3” ski and snowboard program, guaranteeing that products manufactured going forward can be broken down, reused, and recycled. So Kara Williard talked to Oliver about this process, what it entails, and how it can be more widely applied to the outdoor industry. Plus, we get the details on the 23/24 R3 ski and snowboard lineup, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Founding G3 (3:43)Innovation over the years (7:12)“Right to Repair” and R3 Introduction (10:47)The Life Cycle Problem (27:11)Ride, Reuse, Recycle (32:51)R3 lineup (45:06)Scaling & Working Together (50:56)Crashes and Close Calls (58:13)What We're Celebrating (1:00:20)RELATED LINKS:Exclusive Offer: Get 50% off OpenSnow w/ code blister23Become a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer's Guide Pre-OrderCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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OpenSnow's Joel Gratz on Smoke Forecasting, Wildfire Tracking, Common Mistakes, & Best Practices for Adventuring Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 70:53

Before you head into the mountains or hit the trails to go bike, hike, run, camp, or climb, wildfire, lightning, and smoke exposure are factors that need to be well understood and assessed. OpenSnow founder and meteorologist, Joel Gratz is back on the podcast to discuss the science and practice of smoke forecasting and wildfire tracking, and to share some of the most common weather-related mistakes and best practices for adventuring outdoors.TOPICS & TIMES:Storm Chasing (2:13) Smoke Forecasting (9:32)What to do with this Info? (17:32)Wildfires & Tracking Them (20:49)Technology used for Tracking (25:58)Lightning (38:29)Best Practices for Planning a Day Outside (47:08)Most Common & Most Consequential Mistakes People Make (52:24)Using OpenSnow (1:03:07)RELATED LINKS:OpenSnow.comBlister Podcast Ep.237: Joel Gratz on Modern Weather Forecasting Become a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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A Ski Town Success Story: Turning a Passion (for Powder) into a Business with Joel Gratz

No More Mondays

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 54:51

For those of you not in the know, Joel Gratz is the CEO and founder at OpenSnow, a company well known in the mountains for their spot-on weather forecasting for both snow in the winter and hiking in the summer. He is the Prognosticator of Powder, if you will. Joel's forecasting is an integral part of our weekly planning, especially in the winter, when how much and where the powder is going to fall dictates the timing of everything else around it. Which is why we are in full superfan mode for this episode, as Joel talks all about his journey in the founding of his business and the integral elements that made it the success it is today. Are you in the Joel Gratz fan club? We've been members since 2007. Here's to an amazing 2022-23 winter season!

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#173 - Nikolai Schirmer | Filmproduksjon, Risiko, Døden, Kreativ Prosess, Impostor Syndrome, Tromsø

NÅ ER DET ALVOR

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2023 93:37

Tromsøværingen Nikolai Schirmer (32) er en av verdens beste frikjørere, og har klart kunstverket å tjene til livets opphold av YouTube. Her publiserer han og teamet hans filmer av ypperste kvalitet i en en hyppighet store mediehus bare kan drømme om. Nikolai er affiliert med Norrøna, Black Crows, VPG, Polestar, Julbo Eyewear, Dynafit, Moonlight Mountain Gear og OpenSnow.Episodesponsor: UrkraftTusen hjertelig takk til Urkraft som er med på å holde NEDA-sjappa åpen. Beta-oppskrift:Fyll en bolle med Urkraft-havre, to egg, vann, salt, honning, en dæsj gurkemeie, to dæsjer kanel kardemumme. Visp dette sammen til en ganske løs masse, og hell det i en langpanne som er dekket med bakepapir. Denne massen skal dekke hele langpannen og ha en tykkelse på ca 2-4mm tykk. Skru deretter ovnen på 200 grader og la det stå i ca 30 minutter. Kjøkkenet kommer til å bli fylt med en heftig kanel/kardemomme-aroma. La det stå i ovnen til det binder seg og har tatt en brunaktig farge. Ta den ut av ovnen, flipp den opp ned på en rist og skrell av bakepapiret og skjær/klipp den opp i knekkebrød-størrelser. La det ligge og avkjøle seg på rista før du konsumerer eller fryser ned. Jeg bruker å legge de i fryseren og tine de i brødristeren på morgenen til frokost. Det finnes ingenting bedre enn en “beta” med peanøttsmør, bananskiver og en kopp kaffe til frokost. Helt serr. Prøv det. Med Urkraft-havre. Lenker:Schirmer på InstagramSchirmers YouTube-kanalSiste episode av Topside (YouTube)NEDA på YouTubeNEDA på InstagramNEDA's nyhetsbrevSupport the show

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Podcast #112: Aspenware CEO Rob Clark

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2022 100:29

To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Dec. 29. It dropped for free subscribers on Jan. 1. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription.WhoRob Clark, CEO of Aspenware, an e-commerce and software company Recorded onDecember 12, 2022About AspenwareAspenware's website declares that it's time to “modernize your mountain.” As far as corporate sloganeering goes, this is a pretty good one. Skiers – like everyone – live on their phones. Ski areas need to meet them there – to sell them lift tickets, process their lunch order, sign their liability waivers, and rent them skis. This is what Aspenware does. “Close your ticket windows,” one of the company's ad campaigns insists, “you don't need them.” Alterra and Aspen Skiing Company agree. Earlier this year, the companies formed a joint venture to purchase Aspenware.Why I interviewed himI spend a lot of time rambling about lifts and terrain and passes – the meat of the lift-served skiing world; how resorts shape an interesting experience, and how skiers access it and move through it. But a modern ski experience does not just mean fast lifts and great snowmaking and diverse terrain offerings and passes that include the nine moons of Endor. It also means mitigating the ski day's many built-in points of misery, which mostly have to do with lines. Everything we need to do that is already built into your smartphone. Ski areas just have to figure out how to tap that technology to streamline the experience. Aspenware is doing that.What we talked aboutRelocating to New England after nearly two decades in Colorado; Peek'N Peak; Holiday Valley; an Ohio boy goes West; 1-800-SKI-VAIL; running the Vail Mountain ticket windows in the pre-Epic Pass, everyone-buys-a-walk-up-ticket days; the Epic Pass debuts; RFID debuts; RTP in its heyday; a brief history of Aspenware and its evolution into a ski industry technology powerhouse; one of the largest organisms in the world; what it means to modernize a ski area with technology; how United Airlines inspired a pivot at Aspenware; how the ski industry went from an early tech adopter to a laggard; the problem with legacy tech systems; what happens when people ask me where they should go skiing; what happened when Covid hit; why some resorts ticket windows “will never open again”; tech resistance; “I'm on a mission to get technology considered in the same breath as lifts and snowmaking”; do ski areas need tech to survive?; what skiing is competing against; why Alterra and Aspen formed a joint venture to purchase Aspenware; which bits of tech it makes sense to develop in-house; the Shopify of skiing?; which tech skiers should expect in the future; Vail's decision to move Epic Passes to phones next year; I still don't think trailmaps belong on phones (exclusively); interactive trailmaps are terrible; why skiers should own their resort data; the evolution of dynamic pricing; and the one thing that actually makes skiers purchase lift tickets. Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewAs we all know, Covid supercharged the skiing tech cycle. In the eight months between the March 2020 shutdowns and the November-ish re-openings, the nation's 470-odd ski areas had to figure out how to keep people as far away from each other as possible without blowing up the entire industry. The answer, largely, was by digitizing as much of the experience as possible. Aspenware met that moment, and its momentum has continued in the two years since.Podcast Notes* Rob and I guessed a bit at the debut price of the Epic Pass back in 2008 – it was $579 for adults and $279 for children.* Rob referenced Start with Why, a business leadership book by Simon Sinek – you can buy it here.* I'll make the same disclaimer with Aspenware as I did with OpenSnow: while Aspenware is a Storm advertising partner, this podcast was not part of, and is not related to, that partnership. Aspenware did not have any editorial input into the content or editing of this podcast - which is true of any guest on any episode (Rob did request one non-material cut in our conversation, which I obliged). I don't do sponsored content. The Storm is independent ski media, based on reporting and independently verified facts - any opinion is synthesized through that lens, as it is with any good journalism outlet.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 139/100 in 2022, and number 385 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Want to send feedback? Reply to this email and I will answer (unless you sound insane, or, more likely, I just get busy). You can also email skiing@substack.com.The Storm is exploring the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

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Podcast #109: OpenSnow Founding Meteorologist and CEO Joel Gratz

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2022 112:43

To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Dec. 10. It dropped for free subscribers on Dec. 13. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription.WhoJoel Gratz, Founding Meteorologist and CEO of OpenSnowRecorded onNovember 17, 2022About OpenSnowOpenSnow is a snow and weather forecasting service. It gives you all this, depending on whether or not you want to pay for it:Gratz founded OpenSnow 11 years ago with an email list of 37 people. The company's list now numbers 3 million. Or so. It's like counting flakes in a storm. There are lots of them. The service pinpoints snowfall everywhere on the planet. So Backcountry Bro, you're covered. Lift-Served Larry (that's me), you're covered too. Uphill Harvey – we really wish you'd just pick a side and stop f*****g up the grooming before the lifts open.Anyway, if you love snow and want to know how much of it is going to fall, and where and when, then this app should be your Excalibur. Wield it wisely, Fellow Snowbum. Why I interviewed himYou know how some people want to live in Florida and make exasperated sounds when more snow materializes on the radar and plan wintertime vacations to places like Aruba? Well I am not one of those people. And neither is Joel Gratz. Wintertime is for skiing. And to enjoy skiing as much as possible, it helps to follow the snow around. That's what Joel, and his brilliant website/app/service, OpenSnow, do.Everyone reading this newsletter is programmed in a different way from Human V1.0. We run toward storms that most humans flee. With urgency. Like some snowy version of a firefighter. Like insane people. Because we know what the genuflecting and hysterical weatherman does not: that snow is potent and intoxicating; that it changes the world and everything in it, including the people who immerse themselves within. If an adult charges into a sandbox or waterpark or ballpit, we regard them suspiciously. That stuff is for kids. But if they spend the day bouncing through snow and enter the bar boot-clicking and semi-dazed and white-draped and grinning madly and asking for a tallboy, we ask them to stand up at our wedding.No one gets this but skiers. And so no one could make a truly ski-centric weather app other than a skier. Someone whose headline, upon analyzing an incoming storm, isn't DEAR GOD DO NOT STEP OUTSIDE STOCK UP ON AMMUNITION AND DRY RATIONS BECAUSE THIS IS IT PEOPLE, but rather DEAR GOD IT'S ABOUT TO SNOW 90 INCHES IN TAHOE GET THERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!There are plenty of ways to track the weather, of course. Lots of apps, lots of weather services, lots of social media groups. I haven't found one better than OpenSnow, where I can look up any specific ski area and see an hour-by-hour and day-by-day snowfall and weather forecast for 10 days into the future. And that's all I really care about: where will it snow, how much, and when? With a meteorology degree on his wall and a couple decades in his mad-scientist's snow lab, Gratz is as well-equipped to deliver this information as anyone on the planet.What we talked aboutHow early a ski weather guy wakes up; Joel's wintertime and powder-day routine; the secrets of good powder skiing; how a meteorologist was born; Shawnee, Pennsylvania; do they even want snow in the Poconos?; Penn State meteorology; skiing Tussey; an Alpine Meadows powder day on racing skis; Boulder as innovation incubator; how a Vail old-timer outsmarted the guy with the fancy meteorology degree; the mystery of mountain microclimates; the missed Steamboat powder day that inspired the creation of OpenSnow; an email goes out to 37 people on a Tuesday night; a fortuitous conversation with Chris Davenport; how long it took OpenSnow to really establish itself; “a lot of your good fortune is just being born when and where you were”; the several simultaneous tech innovations that enabled widespread online weather forecasting; breaking down the various global weather services (GFS, Euro, etc.), and how they work; “modern meteorology is a miracle of cooperation and funding from taxpayers like us all around the world”; translating raw data and forecasts into the thing skiers most care about: how much is it going to snow, when, and where?; removing the human from the forecasting equation; why and how OpenSnow scaled from Colorado to the rest of the world; why OpenSnow doesn't capture every ski area in the world (yet); snow forecasts for any mapdot on the planet; why OpenSnow shifted to a subscription model and what it meant for the business; La Niña; breaking down the strong early start for the West and the weak weather in New England; dumb meteorology jokes; the two things you need to make snow; breaking down the unique weather systems that determine snowfall for the Cottonwoods, Mt. Baker, Keystone, Tahoe, the Great Lakes, and northern Vermont; how wind impacts snow quality; and America's snowiest places.Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewThe image in the “About OpenSnow” section above distills the benefits of the paid subscription tier succinctly: to tap the service's best features, you need to pay. It's worth it. I subscribed long before our partnership, and I continue to.But OpenSnow wasn't always so arranged. For years, Gratz and his team lived on advertising. At some point, they activated a paywall to access certain features, but much of the site remained free.That changed last year, when OpenSnow migrated the majority of its content to its paid tier. Gratz explains why in the podcast, but this business decision resonated with me for obvious reasons. To remain relevant and useful, most digital ski-focused media platforms require an intense and consistent focus. That requires time, energy, passion, and commitment – all attributes that our capitalist society has deemed worth paying for in the form of labor. Labor, we decided a long time ago, cannot be free. Thus, products produced with labor – and media is a product – require a pricetag to access.This is easier to understand when you're purchasing a toaster or a car than when you're buying access to a podcast or a snow forecast. It helps to remember that, in the scope of history, the internet is still pretty new. I grew up without it, and I'm not that old. We're still figuring out how to price the considerable volume of information that we find there. Most of it, I'll admit, is worthless, but some of it is worth quite a bit. But several generations of Americans arrived at the internet with the understanding that it was a frivolous add-on, a place to waste time and get in trouble, a soul vacuum that was the domain of creeps and morons. They have a hard time acknowledging the evolution of the web into a utility, an essential pipeline of connection and information, a place of intangible things with tangible value.That was the challenge OpenSnow faced in finding a path to long-term sustainability. And it is the challenge I face with The Storm. I did it for free for as long as I could. The first 2,076 hours of labor were on me. Then I asked for money. The transition went beyond my expectations. Hundreds of people upgraded their subscriptions right away, and hundreds more have upgraded since. New paid subscribers join just about every day. The Storm is now a sustainable operation. And so, having made the same decision – on a much larger scale – is OpenSnow.I'm sure you've read about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a rat's nest of floating plastic refuse covering more than 600,000-square-miles of the Pacific Ocean. Most of its contents are microplastics – the smashed-up bits of water bottles and medicine containers and candy-bar wrappers. You just know that floating somewhere in there is a Yeti cooler and fully intact G.I. Joe hovercraft (I keep waiting for Disney to release: Toy Story: Tales of the Garbage Patch, featuring a scrappy band of discarded toys who A-Team their way back to the mainland), but most of it is useless garbage.The internet is a lot like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: an unfathomable well of junk, sprinkled with a few treasures. There's a reason I occasionally step out of my ski-area-manager lane to interview journalists or individuals running ski-related websites: I want to help you find the G.I. Joe Killer W.H.A.L.E.s, the things worth scooping out of the water and taking home.Why you should use OpenSnowWhile OpenSnow is a Storm advertising partner, this podcast was not part of, and is not related to, that partnership. OpenSnow did not have any editorial input into the content or editing of this podcast - which is true of any guest on any episode. I don't do sponsored content. The Storm is independent ski media, based on reporting and independently verified facts - any opinion is synthesized through that lens, as it is with any good journalism outlet.That said, it's a great service, and one that I use every day of the winter – that's why I partnered with them. And part of our partnership is this special link where you can get two free months of OpenSnow. So you should probably take advantage of that so they want to keep working with me:Podcast NotesJoel references Baker's record snowfall year – it was 1,140 inches from 1998 to '99. You can read about that and some other big snow totals here.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 133/100 in 2022, and number 379 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Want to send feedback? Reply to this email and I will answer (unless you sound insane, or, more likely, I just get busy). You can also email skiing@substack.com.The Storm is exploring the world of lift-served skiing year-round - join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Modern Weather Forecasting with OpenSnow Founder & Meteorologist, Joel Gratz

Totally Deep Backcountry Skiing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 79:25

You wake up, check your phone, and the weather app says it's going to snow 12” this weekend. You're stoked! But should you be? How accurate is that forecast? And what makes one forecast more or less accurate than another?Today we're talking to OpenSnow founder and meteorologist, Joel Gratz, about the science of weather forecasting; the many weather models being used today; his love of skiing and snow; what led him to start a weather forecasting company; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Traveling (5:01)Current snowpack in the West (6:42)History of modern weather forecasting (8:48)Weather Models Galore (23:05)Advancements in Forecasting (27:39)Forecasting Research (33:11)Joel's background as a skier (36:56)Studying Meteorology, Public Policy & Business (39:54)Why start a weather forecasting company? (43:11)OpenSnow today vs the early days (48:39)How much do you ski these days? (1:03:20)Why subscribe to OpenSnow? (1:05:46)Joel at the Blister Summit (1:15:16)RELATED LINKS:Exclusive Offer: OpenSnow.com/BLISTERBecome a Blister MemberBlister Summit RegistrationSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episode 104: Forecasting for pow with OpenSnow's Joel Gratz

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 60:24

In Episode 104 of Totally Deep Podcast, Doug Stenclik and Randy Young of www.cripplecreekbc.com bring you the lowdown on the world of uphill and backcountry skiing and boarding. Gear, technique, fashion, jargon, guests, and assorted spray from folks who know how to earn it in the backcountry. The world's best backcountry skiing podcast. Episode 104 features an interview with OpenSnow's Joel Gratz. Often touted as a meteorological wunderkind, Gratz, like the rest of us, like sliding on snow. OpenSnow's website and app allow those seeking powder snow and forecasts to know where, when, and how deep. Gratz discusses how the site and models assisting with the forecasts have changed over the years. On Episode 104 of the Totally Deep Podcast: 1) The impending storm. 2) The on-piste off-piste dilemma. 3) Forecasting accurately for a specific locaton. 4) The La Niña triple dip. 5) No public heat maps for backcountry spots. 6) Exloring new locations based on forecasts. Have a listen and get ready for the impending vert and lovely descents. Thanks for listening and joining us for the 2022-2023 season. And remember: be safe out there. More info about TDP at Totally Deep Podcast Blog on Cripplecreekbc.com or wildsnow.com. Comments: info@cripplecreekbc.com. Or leave a voicemail: 970-510-0450 Backcountry Skiing, Uphill Skiing, Rando (skimo?) Racing, Splitboarding, it's all uphill from here.

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EP 39: WINTER STORM UPDATE 1/16/22, OpenSnow App, Jay Peak

"DROP IN" New England

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2022 10:52

EP 39: *WINTER STORM UPDATE*, OpenSnow App, Jay Peak

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Evening News - Wednesday December 8th, 2021

KVMR News

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 24:49

State lawmakers allocated 1.5 billion dollars for forest management and other wildfire prevention methods yesterday. The California Report shares details before speaking with Bryan Allegretto, a forecaster with OpenSnow.com about a series of winter storms headed our way next week that could bring significant amounts of snow to the Sierra and foothills. After a brief look at regional headlines and weather, Felton Pruitt speaks with The Nevada County Toy Run's new organizer, Eric Oliver. We close with a commentary by Reed Hamilton.

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The Meteorologist and OpenSnow Founder - Joel Gratz

Coffee/Lunch/Beer

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 73:36

We talked to meteorologist and founder Joel Gratz about turning his lifelong love of weather into a successful career, if going to business school is a good idea, jokes you should never tell a meteorologist, and more. Mark also expresses his love for Total Request Live VJs and pitches a new cookbook idea. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Tom Day

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 44:42

Tom Day started working on Warren Miller films in 1984 alongside Scot Schmidt. He started as a young, extreme skier pushing the boundaries and today, he is one of the most celebrated ski cinematographers in the industry. He has been to nearly all seven continents and has worked with some of the most legendary athletes over the years. Tune in to listen to Tom talk about the magic of filmmaking, how a dishwasher ski bum inspired him at a young age, his gratitude for the life he’s lived and about that one time in Italy when he ended up intoxicated and quite literally on fire. Big thanks to our sponsors Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, OpenSnow and SKI Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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86 - GO CO: Joel Gratz and Jason Maurer Live From Neptune

Wintry Mix

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 52:41

Are you ready Colorado? Joel Gratz of OpenSnow and Jason Maurer of Colorado Mountain School live from Neptune Mountaineering's Virtual Kicking Into Winter Party. Use code WINTRYMIX to get $10 off ski shop work at Neptune through Nov 30. This episode is supported by Beau Jo's Colorado Style Pizza and 10 Barrel Brewing Company. Email me alex@wintrymixcast.com. Leave the pod a voicemail/text at 802 560 5003. Questions. Rants. Anything. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Google Play or elsewhere. Now on Spotify too. Follow and/or pester me on instagram @wintrymixcast. All the links are on the sidebar of WintryMixCast.com too. Image courtesy of Colorado Ski Country by Carl Frey

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Bobby Brown

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 34:32

Known for big air and slopestyle freeskiing, Bobby Brown grew up in Colorado. He’s taken home multiple medals from X-Games, even garnering perfect scores and has podiumed at other major freeskiing competitions like the Dew Tour and the Sammy Carlson Invitational, among others. Tune in to hear Bobby talk about his current film projects, his not-so-secret love for sports, home renovations, why the world could use more empathy, how meditation can impact perception and that one time he hung out with Miley Cyrus on her tour bus. Big thanks to our sponsors Protect Our Winters, OpenSnow, SKI Magazine, the IKON Pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Jeremy Jones

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 32:41

Jeremy Jones is a professional big mountain snowboarder, filmmaker, climate advocate and the founder of Jones Snowboards. Raised in New England, Jeremy now calls Tahoe home. Listen to Jeremy talk about how much joy he still gets from snowboarding after 30 years of riding, why quarantine is like waiting out a storm in the mountains, why he’s so disorganized in everyday life, why he started Protect Our Winters (POW) and he tells a story about being 18 years old down in Baja with a minivan... Big thanks to our sponsors Protect Our Winters, OpenSnow, SKI Magazine, the IKON Pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Elyse Saugstad

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2020 42:03

Elyse was born and raised in Alaska but now calls Tahoe home with skier husband, Cody Townsend. Known for skiing huge lines, Elyse is one of the most decorated big mountain skiers. Tune in to listen to Elyse talk about life in lockdown as a professional athlete, her love for fashion and football, why her husband and her make a such a great cooking duo, killer surf trips, that time she lived in Italy and more. Big thanks to our sponsors Protect Our Winters, OpenSnow, SKI Magazine, the IKON Pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Todd Ligare

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2020 47:32

Growing up, Todd ski raced in Park City with big names like Steven Nyman and raced through college at the University of Denver. These days, he calls both SLC and Lake Tahoe home and spends his seasons skiing deep snow and harry lines up in B.C., Wyoming, Alaska, Squaw, outside of SLC and beyond. Listen to Todd talk about taking cold dips in the river year-round, why we should not let our thoughts dictate how we feel about ourselves, the highs and lows of being host Amie Engerbretson’s boyfriend, making it through the era of quarantine and more. Big thanks to our sponsors Protect Our Winters, OpenSnow, SKI Magazine, the IKON Pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Leah Evans

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 41:50

Leah Evans grew up in Rossland, British Columbia skiing at RED Mountain Resort but she calls Revelstoke her home today. She has competed in freeride and big mountain competitions and has been featured in video projects like the satirical film “Dream Job”. Most notably, Leah is the founder of Girls Do Ski, which hosts multi-level freeski camps and facilitates mentorships for women looking to grow on and off the mountain. Tune in to hear Leah talk about women working together as enablers rather than competitors, music in nature, what connecting youth to wild spaces can look like and why passing her ACMG guide exam was so empowering. Big thanks to our sponsors Protect Our Winters, OpenSnow, SKI Magazine, the IKON Pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Griffin Post

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 40:36

Griffin Post grew up skiing Sun Valley, but has called Jackson Hole his home mountain for about a decade. He is a two-time US Extreme Freeskiing Champion, a published writer, has been in multiple ski films and can be seen hitting some of Jackson’s biggest lines both on and off-piste. Tune in to hear Griffin talk about his pet pinatas, his encounters with grizzly bears, his love for (mid-week) NY Times crossword puzzles and why you should never be afraid to ask for help. Big thanks to our sponsors Protect Our Winters, OpenSnow, SKI Magazine, the IKON Pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Hilaree Nelson