So It has been a bit since I last got my blog on, but as usual life has been extremely busy. Between early season training, ski season getting underway, work, and the Holidays, I haven’t had much time for much else but eating and sleeping. But now that the frantic Holiday season is over I can finally take the time to get organized and prepared for the rest of the season.
So far Aspen has been doing really well in terms of snow. As usual everyone was a little worried around Thanksgiving as we were skiing the white ribbon of death past patches of dirt and sticks. But it did start snowing and by the end of December we had reached the 100 inch mark. The snow has been amazing and light and despite a week long high pressure that hit us this last week allowing for big hard moguls to form, the snow came again and the amazing conditions are back. After having such an amazing season last year it has taken a little while to get back into the groove. This feeling also has a little to do with the fact that the backcountry has been extremely sketchy. Natural slides from wind loading and buried depth hoar have been occurring and it has kept everyone on piste. Hopefully the snow continues to fall and the backcountry settles out but until then we will continue to enjoy the fresh snow in bounds.
On another note, “The Ripple Effect” a film by Futuristic Films had it’s world premier this Friday at the Wheeler Opera House in the Center of Aspen. The film, produced by Aspen Snowmass was a project focused on capturing the epic winter of 2007-08. It also pays tribute to Snowboarder Wallace Westfeldt who died during a backcountry shoot for the film. Wallace was an extremely talented snowboarder and I am very fortunate to have called him a friend. The film also features my sister Kate Cardamone, Chris Davenport, Stian Davenport, Pat Sewell, Gretchen Bleiler and myself. It is a beautiful film, shot entirely in 16mm and remastered in HD. It features amazing lines skied all around Aspen and Snowmass both on Mountain and in the backcountry. Many lines featured could only be skied last season due to the large amount of snow. I highly recommend checking out this film if you get the chance.
Here is a sequence of me from the film. Pillowlicious!
Here are some early season pics to check out. Hope you enjoy.
Calling upon Ullr to bless us with freshies
Early season blower
My sister Kate making it look good