Mitch Kaplan's Blog

Posted by Mitch Kaplan

Just when you may have thought it was safe to go back into the wilderness, the New York Times is reporting that seven former national park directors are calling for more limited snowmobile access to Yellowstone National Park.

A good thing?

A bad thing?

A no-win thing?

Sure thing.

Posted by Mitch Kaplan

This past Saturday, March 17, 2007, the New York Times ran a piece by Matt Higgins entitled White Finds the Motivation to Reach New Heights.

Higgins talks about how snowboarding’s Olympic gold medalist Shaun White’s commercial endorsements and publicity appearances have detracted from his competitive success.

Undefeated in the last Olympic year, White recently failed to win in a few major competitions.

But, at 20 years old, he’s still pulling in millions from sponsors like American Express and Red Bull.

Nice work if you can get it.

Question is: is this what snowboarding is all about?

Hang out at any ski resort terrain park and you’ll find kids coaching each other, encouraging each other, and generally offering each other positive reinforcement as they try new moves or attempt to perfect new tricks.

It’s a spirit of cooperation, not competition.

And, yes, I understand why talented snowboarders would want to be able to appear in the Olympics.

And, I understand why they’d want to be rewarded with cash prizes and product endorsements.

Still, I think it countermands the basic attitude that has pervaded snowboarding since its inception.

Phenomena like Olympic and World Cup ski racing were considered stuffy, formalized, restricting. Even World Cup freestyle skiing, which was restricted to mogul skiing and aerial jumping, had succumbed to commercialism’s straight jacket.

Riders rejected all that.

Okay—at first they were rebels. But, given that most early snowboarders were young males, that attitude would be expected. And, in their rebelliousness, they banded together to form a kind of self-sustaining support group.

No more?

Well, from outward appearances, not on the highest levels.

That’s sad. On some level, at least.

Yet, the original cooperative spirit does remain. You see it still when you pass through most terrain parks. You hear it when you talk to the park rats. And, better still, with the rise in popularity of freestyle skiing, it has spread from snowboarders-only back to skiers.

Let’s hope it’s not lost in a blizzard of dollars.

Related Article: Snowboarding’s U.S. Open

Posted by Mitch Kaplan

Spring has sprung. Skiers and snowboarders rejoice.

The clocks have moved forward (although I have no idea why they must move forward sooner).

On Sunday, we skied in temperatures that pushed into the high 40s.

The sun is higher in the sky, and sticks around later in the day.

That warms the snow into a forgiving texture that makes everyone ski and ride better. We call it hero snow.

Indeed, spring skiing/snowboarding makes heroes of us all.

• The limbs are more limber.
• The clothes less encumbering.
• The spirit more elevated.
• The skiing/riding just plain more fun.

Okay, yeah, you do have to wait a bit longer to get out there in the morning. That soft snow crusts over during the night.

And, yeah, you're less likely to see fluffy powder dumps. More likely to see heavy, damp snowfall.

But, hey, remember this: March is traditionally the month in which the mountains get the most snow. We win both ways - warmer, sunnier weather and more snow.

I know, I know. We all tend to want to doff the skiwear for shorts and t-shirts as soon as possible. (Even this winter-lover will admit to that.) But, c'mon. This winter was so late in arriving (except, I guess, in the Pacific Northwest, where they may be digging out til next winter), I think the least we snow sliders can ask is an extra month here at the end.

So, put that tennis racket back in the closet. Stow those golf clubs awhile. Return the mountain bike to the garage.

Go skiing.

Go snowboarding.

And, remember this, too. Some ski resorts blossom most beautifully in spring. Such as?

• Killington, where bump contests reign, and the skiing and snowboarding have been known to stretch to Memorial Day.
• Sunday River, where you ski/ride free on May first.
• Arapahoe Basin, where barbecuing in the parking lot has become a lifestyle.
• Whistler, where the snowsliding continues almost all summer.
• Mt. Hood, same thing.
• And, Mammoth and Squaw Valley, where July 4 skiing is not unheard of.

Ski on! Ride on! Right on!

Posted by Mitch Kaplan

The timing may seem poor, given that the northeast has just been buried in snow.

But this article from the NY Times highlights a small but growing group who make their own backyard snow in order to have their own backyard wintersports emporium.

Check it out: Backyard Snow.

Posted by Mitch Kaplan

More good news. This from First Tracks Online:

Burlington, VT - It says it right on the front door of Burton's Global Headquarters in Burlington, Vermont: "We are closed if two feet falls in 24 hours." And that's exactly what the world's leading snowboard company will do on Thursday, thanks to a blizzard that's currently blanketing Vermont with several feet of fresh snow.

"Nothing makes me happier than giving the people who work here the opportunity to experience the essence of a sport that they are making accessible and fun for so many others," says Jake Burton, Founder and Chairman of Burton Snowboards. "Coincidentally, the Burton senior management team spent last night at the top of Stowe Mountain Resort in the 'Stone Hut'. Waking up to a foot of fresh snow (and plenty more coming) might have made for some cancelled meetings and an unproductive day at the office, but we all work pretty hard around here and riding is our best source of energy."

Burton's CEO Laurent Potdevin sent an email titled 'Powder Day' to Burton's 400-plus Vermont based employees announcing the good news. "It's dumping so much that we will be closing the office tomorrow (Thursday) all day to allow everyone to get to the mountain and ride," said Potdevin's email. "Stowe is getting pounded -- grab your board and get to the mountain."

Mandatory ride days are not the only unconventional benefit Burton offers its employees. Free season passes at several Vermont resorts, product discounts, progressive new parent policies and the option to bring your dog with you to work are just a few of the perks of working for Burton.