Free skiing at Red

There's no catch. If you're kicking around BC this week, turn up at Red Mountain on Friday 22 December and just ask for your free lift ticket.

That's right - the mountain will be handing out complimentary lift tickets to all skiers and riders for one day only. Ski and snowboard instructors will also be on hand to offer tips. Lifts will be open from 9am to 3pm.

If you're hanging around over Christmas, join Santa for a run on Christmas Day. Meet him at the Paradise Lodge.

Photo credit: Red Mountain Resort

Huge dump forecast for Whistler

OK folks, get yourself a flight out to Canada. Zoom, Air Canada, BA, whoever - find a seat. Whistler is expecting 65-110cm of fresh stuff over the next few days.

While the Alps have been basking in balmy 20-degree temperatures, the epic start to Whistler's season keeps going and going. To top it off, the new Symphony Express chair opens on Whistler this Saturday (16 December), providing access to over 1,000 acres of terrain.

If you're in Whistler this week, you can win a golden ticket for a seat on one of the first chairs. All you need to do is find an orchestra conductor (wearing a black tux) on Whistler mountain and ask for a Symphony Express golden ticket. As I write, there are nine tickets left.

Map credit: Whistler Blackcomb

More Canada openings

November's record snowfall in western Canada has brought legendary opening day conditions for yet more resorts.

Red opened on 1 December, followed a day later by fellow BC resort Kicking Horse. The latter's 350cm+ snow accumulation meant the mountain opened two weeks ahead of schedule, though it will open on weekends only until 15 December.

Meanwhile, across the provincial border in Alberta, Canada Olympic Park in Calgary was forced to close for three days at the end of November after icy conditions swept through the city.

You might not imagine there's much skiing in Manitoba, but the prairie province received a welcome 15-25 cm the other day and Asessippi ski area plans to open on 8 December.

And for those 'back east' in Ontario, Horseshoe Resort near Barrie opens on 6 December.

Photo credit: Red Mountain Resort

More early openings for Canada

The huge storms pummelling Canada's west coast means more early openings for local ski hills.

Apex opened today, while Sunshine opened up Goat's Mountain, the earliest ever opening for that section of the resort.

Silver Star opens tomorrow, followed by Big White on Saturday.

Vancouver Island isn't missing out on the snow either. Mount Washington has announced plans to open a week early on 30 November.

Brent Curtain, spokesperson for Mount Washington, said: “The amount of snow up here is unbelievable! This is only our third November opening in the last 15 years and it looks like it may be one of the best openings we’ve seen in the resort’s history."

Record snowfall for Whistler

Blackcomb is opening tomorrow (23rd) and it couldn't come sooner for boarders in Whistler, where over 300cm of snow has fallen since the beginning of the month - the most ever recorded in November.

Thankfully, as mentioned below, Whistler opened last weekend and has received a whopping 70cm in the past 48 hours alone. The base is already a respectable 153cm.

The plan is to have around 5,000 acres open this weekend, so check out Zoom's website and see if you can find yourself a deal.

Burton designs snowboard run

Being the most successful snowboard manufacturer clearly isn't enough for Jake Burton, who has now designed his first snowboard run at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Burton has helped snowboarders build The Stash, a run featuring trees, jibs and road jumps constructed from wooden logs and other local materials. The new run is due to open on 15 December.

The Stash will also include pillow lines, natural rail slides built from massive logs, and the CK Cabin (named after legendary rider Craig Kelly), which riders can jib or gap.

Check out the promo video at www.thestash.com. (Note: It takes a while to load.)

Northstar-at-Tahoe is scheduled to open on 22 November.

Whistler opens early

Whistler Mountain opened early yesterday, thanks to a handily timed winter storm.

The mountain's been blessed with a healthy 129cm of snow in the past seven days and is boasting a 129cm base too. Judging by today's murky-looking webcams, snow is falling as I write.

It's a bit like 'pass the parcel' though: you only get to unwrap a bit at a time. Both Whistler gondolas are running, but skiers and riders are limited to Emerald and Red chairs once in the Alpine. Those cheeksters at Whistler Blackcomb are holding off opening the Peak, Harmony and the eagerly-anticipated new Symphony chair. Wouldn't want to waste too much snow on staff and locals...

Blackcomb opens on Thursday 23rd November. Check out the latest snow report at www.whistlerblackcomb.com.

Snowy start for Sunshine

Sunshine Village has opened early thanks to a healthy dump of powder last week.

The resort, which kicked off its season on Friday, is boasting an 80cm base and has received a not-too-shabby 26cm in the past two days. Even better, it's still snowing and the forecast is for more of the white stuff.

Seven out of 12 lifts are open, plus 44 out of 107 runs. If you're into early season bargains, this could be a good bet - tickets are currently going for C$49.95.

If you want to check out conditions before booking your flight, Sunshine's installed some new high-res webcams this year. Check 'em out here.

Celtek launches new website

Perhaps not one for the Rangers fans (or so says my husband, Angus) - glove manufacturer Celtek has just launched a new website.

Leather seems to be back in style as far as the Leines boys (Celtek's youthful-looking CEOs) are concerned, though to me the fashion is scarily reminiscent of ski instructors' Descente gloves with a noughties twist which they just about get away with.

Still, this is what youngsters are into apparently.

Hoodies, tees and touques are a sideline, including the Celtek tooth beanie. (See my earlier obsession with houndstooth designs under the Japanese Burton store opening entry.)

New Zoom route takes off

Scottish snowboarders will be able to cut their travel time to Banff, Fernie and Jasper thanks to a new Glasgow-Calgary route launching this winter.

Zoom Airlines is running the new service between November and April. The carrier already operates winter flights from Glasgow to Toronto and Vancouver, with Ottawa being added from January 2007.

Prices for the Calgary route start at £129 one way plus tax.

Zoom also flies to Canada from Gatwick, Manchester and Belfast.

Mini mountaincoaster to open in Switzerland

A cross between a rollercoaster and a mini funicular railway will be the most stylish mode of transport going in the Swiss Alps this winter.

The Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa is opening its very own private mountaincoaster to whisk guests 500m from the hotel reception to the slopes. The natty little cabins will carry up to six passengers each from 1 December.

This is the first project for manufacturer Coaster Verkehrssysteme Vertriebs GmbH. The company hopes its new product will also take off in cities. I think this would be a fine way to cruise above Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus.

Snowy start to Colorado season

Colorado is looking like the best option for early season boarding. Loveland and Arapahoe Basin (or A-Basin to the locals) have both opened already and Copper Mountain has announced a 3 November opening.

In September I was reporting 2ft dumps in Breckenridge and the current images on the resort's site suggest the snow is showing no signs of abating. Aspen reported 10 inches of the fresh stuff last week, while Snowmass saw 16 inches, and more pow is forecast over the next couple of days.

Keep an eye on all the Colorado snow reports and opening days at www.coloradoski.com.

Burton store opens in Tokyo

If you're planning to pound the slopes of Hokkaido or check out the latest wacky Japanese fashions in Nagano, you might have time for a little retail therapy in Tokyo's new Burton store, which opened this weekend.

I imagine those multi-coloured equestrian prints and all-in-one girls' white boiler suits will go down a storm in the Japanese market, but if you're looking for something a little more subtle, the 2006/7 range has plenty of stylish stuff in more muted shades.

If the weekend travel supplements are anything to go by, Japan is this year's must-do ski destination. If you can bear to join the package hordes, Crystal and Inghams have added it to their brochures.

OK, and I admit I secretly like the equestrian/houndstooth styling and have a little purse in the aforementioned print tucked away for a special occasion.

London premiere of latest ChunkyKnit film

The London premiere of Last Winter, the new girlie snowboarder film from ChunkyKnit productions, is taking place on 20 October at the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, Olympia.

The film will kick off at 5pm in the Retro Retox Bar. To check out the latest antics of Lesley McKenna, Jenny Jones et al, arrive in plenty of time, as spaces are limited.

The girls visit Japan and Romania as well as the world's best snowboarding destination - Scotland!

Mammoth savings at Mammoth

Here's a deal: California's Mammoth Mountain is offering a Silver season's pass for the bargain price of US$699. Compare that to the Gold Pass, which sells for a less-than-bargainous US$1,500.

The catch? There are 14 blackout dates when you can't ski or ride. But that's it - 14 days out of the whole season. The majority are around Christmas and New Year, with the remaining three over Presidents' Day weekend (a nightmare weekend for lift lines anywhere in North America).

Avoid those dates and you can ride to your heart's content for the rest of the season (which begins nice and early on 10 November by the way). Oh yes, and it covers you for riding at June Mountain too.

Bearing in mind the cost of a one-day lift pass from December to April is US$78, this is a pretty sweet deal if you're planning a couple of weeks out west.

Buy before 8 November, and those kind folks at Mammoth will throw in a couple of free passes to use on the aforementioned blackout dates. Check out the deal at www.mammothmountain.com.

September dump for Breckenridge

Two feet of snow in two days. In September.

Fresh tracks for ski patrol. In September.

Snow from top to base. In September.

The photos on the Breckenridge website tell it all. Just click on the photo gallery and try not to let your chin drop to the floor.

Vail voted no 1 in North America

Vail has been voted number one resort in North America by readers of Ski magazine.

No big surprise, as the mountain boasts four terrain parks, seven bowls and 5,289 acres of freeride terrain. Check out why it's so popular at vail.snow.com.

The readers' top ten resorts were:

1. Vail, Colorado
2. Deer Valley, Utah
3. Snowmass, Colorado
4. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
5. Park City, Utah
6. Breckenridge, Colorado
7. Aspen, Colorado
8. Beaver Creek, Colorado
9. Steamboat, Colorado
10. Sun Valley, Idaho

Go to www.skinet.com for top tips on each resort.

Season's first snow in Whistler

Woo hoo! Winter is on its way in Whistler. The first snowfall of the season arrived last Thursday (14 September) - a respectable 15cm. Let's hope this is a good sign for the season ahead.

Check out the pics on the Whistler Blackcomb website.

Meanwhile, anyone who can wangle a visa to work in Canada (try BUNAC) will be interested to know the Whistler Blackcomb recruitment fair is being held from 23-26 October.

End of long drive to Fernie?

If you've ever arrived on the long haul flight from London to Calgary, only to be faced with a four-hour drive to Fernie, the news that Cranbrook Airport's expansion is nearly complete might be welcome news.

The expansion of the airport, soon to be renamed the Canadian Rockies International Airport, is due to be completed this winter. The airport will be able to accommodate both larger aircraft and more passengers.

Although the likes of BA and Air Canada are not likely to announce a direct UK flight quite yet, the new name and the construction of a Canada Customs and Immigrations facility suggest Cranbrook has its eye firmly on the international market.

Board for a bargain in Kosovo

This could be one of the best deals around. A week's pass in Breznica, Kosovo's main ski area, will set you back a mere 60 euros. UN Special Representative Joachim Rücker has also announced plans to privatise the resort, so get there while it's cheap.

The slopes in Breznica, in the Dinarske mountains, range from 1718-2522m in altitude. Piribeg, a 3.5km black run, covers the entire vertical. The resort boasts seven lifts and eight other runs, with a total of 16km of trails. For not much more than the cost of a day in the snowdome, you can't go wrong.

New snowdome for Manchester

Work has begun on the new Chill Factore snowdome in Manchester, which is due to open in October 2007.

The new dome will be next to the Trafford shopping centre and will include three interconnecting slopes of varying difficulties. The combined slope length will be 180m (the longest in the country), with a vertical drop of 40m.

According to the Chill Factore website, this will be "a place where active lifestyle shops, themed bars and contemporary restaurants create an authentic alpine village".

I wonder if they'll have a few bell-wearing goats and sheep roaming the slopes in that case.

Serbia to open new ski resort

New lifts and runs are going to be constructed on Stara Mountain in Serbia, as part of the government's €50 million National Investment Plan.

Stara is one of 20 basic ski hills which operated for decades before the Balkan War, but will now be converted into an international ski destination.

Kopaonik ski area has already been reintroduced to the international market and has expanded successfully.

The first development at Stara will be the installation of two chairlifts.

Snowdomes in the sand

Not to be outdone by Ski Dubai, Abu Dhabi's Snoworld is due to open later this year, complete with ski slope, ice rink and shopping mall.

Snoworld will be part of the Marina Mall, one of the world's biggest malls, with 900,000 visitors each month.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia is looking for a piece of the snow action and is examining the feasibility of constructing a Ski Trac, a rotating ski slope.

Back in Britain, plans for SnOasis in Suffolk, which would be the world's biggest indoor ski slope, have been put on hold by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. A public enquiry into the planning application could take up to two years.

Braving Whistler's bike park

Whistler's ski season may be coming to an end this weekend, but the good news is adventure seekers can still find fun on the mountain in the bike park.

Blackcomb glacier closes to skiers and riders tomorrow, but the mountain bike park on Whistler mountain remains open until 9 October. There are over 200km of graded runs to test your nerves on.

Different levels of skills centres give riders the chance to practise ramps, jumps and teeter totters (see-saws). This is me wobbling my way over the tiniest ramp on the mountain.

Read all about my attempts at downhill mountain biking in my feature on the Sky Living website. Just click on the Canada story with the picture of a biker.

easyJet winter flights on sale

easyJet winter routes are now on sale for the 2006/7 season.

The flights have been on sale since 21 July, so there should still be plenty of deals around.

Remember though, the cheeky airline charges £15 each way for your snowboard (2005/6 price), even if it is your only piece of baggage.

British Airways, on the other hand, will carry your equipment free of charge, with a generous short-haul baggage allowance of 23kg.

Snow Train 2007 timetable published

If you're feeling guilty about the environmental impact of flying to European resorts, Rail Europe has just launched next season's snow train timetable.

Beat the rush and book by 31 August for an earlybird deal. Prices start at £199, a saving of up to £30 on the regular fare.

The Eurostar trains run from London Waterloo and Ashford via Paris to Chambery, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime, Landry (I once did my laundry there actually) and Bourg St-Maurice.

The added bonus of taking the train is that you arrive on Saturday morning and leave on Saturday evening, allowing eight days of riding.

Book at www.raileurope.co.uk/snowtrains.

Himalayan ski packages offered

France - been there. Canada - done that. India - not yet? This year you could be the envy of your boarder friends and book a package to the world's highest resort.

Ski Himalaya is now taking reservations for winter 2006/7 trips to Gulmarg in Indian Kashmir, the only major Himalayan resort.

A new gondola covers 1350m of vertical, more than any lift in the USA.

The company is offering 15-night packages from US$960pp, including accommodation, transfers and most meals. For an extra US$500, skiers and riders can treat themselves to two weeks of guiding with Kashmir Powdercats.

Skier numbers are low, meaning plenty of fresh tracks for all. The snowfall looks pretty impressive too. Last season, almost 8m of snow fell in February alone.

Getting there involves a flight from Delhi to Srinigar (1 hour 30 mins) and a 56km drive. There are hotels near the base.

No more getting stuck on the flat

Sick of unstrapping and breaking into a sweat as you skate along the flat, while skiers smugly fly past you? A new pole for boarders could change all that.

The Snowstik is a snazzy new gadget from snowboarder Richard Marks. The telescopic pole is designed to be clipped onto your boot and extends at the press of a button from 55cm to 140cm.

You can propel yourself along the flat or straight on and off the chairlift without ever needing to undo your bindings.

The pole comes in five colours, including a girlie lipstick pink (boys might prefer gunmetal or stealth) and is on sale for £55.

Snowclips cost £11.75, though it might be more comfortable if you bung it on the outside of your backpack.

Find out more at www.marxboarding.com.

UK skier numbers increase by 7%

Seven per cent more British skiers took an overseas ski holiday last winter than in the previous season according to the annual UK Ski Industry Report released this week.

The number of skiers and riders visiting the USA and Canada increased by 30 per cent. Other countries showing growth included Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia and Finland.

France is the most popular destination, taking just over a third of British skiers and boarders, followed by Austria and Switzerland.

The figures were released by British ski tour operator Crystal.

2014 Winter Olympics shortlist

The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in either Austria, Russia or South Korea.

The International Olympic Committee narrowed the shortlist from seven to three at a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.

The remaining candidate cities are PyeongChang in South Korea, Salzburg in Austria and Sochi in Russia.

The winner will be chosen in Guatemala City on 7 July 2007.

NZ club fields opening

It looks like it's going to be a stonking start to the season for some of New Zealand's club fields this weekend.

Among the weekend openings will be Craigieburn and Mt Olympus, which open on Saturday 8 July, and Temple Basin, which opens on Sunday 9 July.

All three are located in South Island's Canterbury region and have fantastic bases thanks to recent dumps. Mt Olympus is reporting an impressive base of 123-183cm today with a whopping 44cm of fresh pow falling overnight.

If you're thinking of heading to these powder traps, bear in mind they only have rope tows, requiring a tow belt, nutcracker, protective gloves and a healthy dose of skill and determination.

Women only coaching at The Remarks

Girlie riders at The Remarkables can take advantage of a new women only coaching programme announced by the Kiwi resort today.

The programme, which begins on 19 July, aims to encourage female boarders to try something new and improve their style in a macho-free environment.

Laura Woerlee, freestyle snowboard coach and co-ordinator at The Remarks, said: "It's all about having fun with your friends while introducing riders to freeriding, parkriding and a variety of different terrain."

The mountain will run five-hour sessions every second Wednesday, aimed at intermediate and advanced riders.

Find out more at www.nzski.com. (Check out their revamped web pages!)

Summer snow in Scotland?

Six hardy skiers made it onto the slopes of Cairngorm last week to mark the beginning of summer. Yes, you read that correctly, skiing in Scotland in June.

Ski Press reported yesterday that the determined skiers found a sizeable snowfield not far from the top of the Ptarmigan tow. Amused hikers are said to have watched all the action, and the skiers even showed off a few tricks on a kicker.

Perhaps it's time to scoff a little less at Scotland's perceived lack of snow. Winterhighland.info reckons "there is certainly scope for some July snowsports for the ultra-keen".

Since this year's season kicked off in November, that would make July the ninth month of skiing and riding.

Check out the pics on www.winterhighland.info.

Sky News summer snow feature

Looking for ideas on where to board over the next couple of months? Check out my summer snow article on Sky News' lifestyle website, www.sky.com/living. Just click on the skier photo to read the story.

Niehues map for Treble Cone

Whistler aficionados will appreciate the style of Treble Cone's new trail map. It was designed by none other than James Niehues.

Past projects by Niehues have included trail maps for Heavenly and Vail in the USA, Lake Louise and Whistler Blackcomb in Canada, and Thredbo in Australia.

Treble Cone's season began today with excellent conditions. All lifts at the Kiwi resort were open, including the Saddle Quad, which opened up new terrain in 2005.

Check out the new trail map or visit James Niehues' website, www.jamesniehues.com, to admire his full collection.

Ride launches 2006/7 range

Two new women-specific boards are among Ride's recently launched 2006/7 range.

The Verona is aimed at "accomplished women who ride the entire mountain with style and opt for luxury performance", while Fever is a brand new freestyle board.

Also new for female riders are two women-specific high-back bindings, the DaLux and DaLux Lite.

Men haven't been forgotten. New this year is the Society, a high-end freestyle board.

Check out the new range on Ride's website www.ridesnowboards.com.

New Zealand snow keeps falling

Yet more snow storms have been buffeting New Zealand this week and it's been a bumper start to the ski season.

Another 35cm hit Mt Hutt yesterday, bringing the base up to 1.2m. The season's start has been described as one of the best for over 15 years.

Cardrona opened today with bluebird skies and beautiful freshies, while Mt Lyford had to postpone opening until tomorrow as the snow hadn't stopped.

The Remarkables also kicks off its season tomorrow and this year will be the location for New Zealand's first Burton Learn to Ride Freestyle Centre.

In the North Island, roads around Mt Ruapehu have been closed by snow and wind, with more dumps forecast over the weekend. Turoa's base has reached 1.4m and Whakapapa's has hit the 1m mark. Impatient skiers and riders may have to wait until Monday for the weather and roads to clear.

Treble Cone opens on 27 June, with most other Kiwi resorts opening by 1 July.

Might be worth checking out the latest Air New Zealand deals...

Tignes snowpark open

Tignes' snowpark opened this week, which is great news for European freestylers if the likes of New Zealand and Chile seem a little too far afield.

Check out the French resort's neat range of pipes, rails and jumps on the Snowpark map.

As you can see from the map, it's not all about the hardcore stuff. There's a beginner's halfpipe and a designated Easy Zone with smaller jumps and rails.

Tignes has plenty of other summer activities too. There's a top class mountain bike park, or you can try your hand at paragliding, golf, hiking, canyoning, rafting...The list goes on. There's also a swanky new 5000 sq m aquatic centre.

The Grande Motte glacier stays open for skiing and riding until September, meaning there's only a short break before the winter season kicks off again in October.

Find out more at the official Tignes website.

Queenstown Winter Festival

Queenstown, New Zealand, celebrates the start of the winter season with its annual winter festival which begins on Friday.

There are over 60 events, from old favourites such as the Speight's Dog Derby and the Mardi Gras Parade, to the new Stolichnaya Expression Session, in which New Zealand's top boarders and skiers will show the crowd some style.

The highlight of the festival for girlies will be watching Queenstown's finest strutting their stuff at the Top Bloke Finale on Sunday 2 July.

The Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival runs from 23 June to 2nd July.

South American season begins

South America's ski season is underway and the snow conditions are looking good.

Chile's Valle Nevado opened yesterday, followed by fellow Chilean resort Portillo today. Las Lenas and Catedral in Argentina also kick off their seasons today.

Catedral has installed six new lifts, including a quad cable car and a triple chair, as well as a drag lift taking advanced skiers to an off-piste area. The resort now has 39 lifts.

Portillo has added one new lift, Vizcachas. It is running themed weeks this winter, including a Chilean Wine Week from 5-12 August.

Coronet Peak now open

'First on the chair' T-shirts and Lindauer bubbly were handed out to four eager locals at today's Coronet Peak opening.

Ski area manager Duncan Smith said: "It was an awesome morning, and everyone was smiling."

The Coronet Express, Meadow Chair, magic carpet and handle tow are all running. Greengates Express and the Rocky Gully T-bar will open later in the month.

The snow guns are blowing and more snow is forecast, so signs are that this could be a good season.

Coronet Peak to open on Thursday

Queenstowners will be rushing for first lift this Thursday when Coronet Peak opens for the season.

The Kiwi mountain was disappointed to miss its original opening date of Saturday 10 June, but 27cm of fresh snow in the past two days have bolstered the base.

Temperatures are ideal for snowmaking too, and the machines are pumping out powder, meaning conditions are looking good for opening day.

Winter storm dumps on NZ's South Island

It has been puking it down in New Zealand's South Island today. Both Mt Hutt and Treble Cone have reported dumps of 85cm!

Mt Hutt had a successful opening weekend, but with its upper mountain base now at 100cm, the next few days are promising to be sweet.

Treble Cone plans to open on 27 June. Look out for the new permanent terrain park.

Check out the latest Mt Hutt snow report.

More Aussie and Kiwi mountains open

Perisher Blue may have beaten them to it, but fellow Aussie resorts Mt Buller and Thredbo were hot on its heels. Both opened officially today, as did Mt Hutt, in New Zealand's Canterbury region.

Mt Buller (www.mtbuller.com.au) has kicked off with a winter festival over the weekend and has launched a new automated snowmaking system. The snow levels don't look up to much at the moment though. The website says two lifts are open, but the snow report lists a base of 0cm and the webcam suggests a distinct lack of snow.

Thredbo (www.thredbo.com.au) looks a more promising option, with light snow currently falling and possible blizzards forecast for tomorrow.

Mt Hutt (www.nzski.com) was able to open from summit to base, thanks to a 20-30cm base. The Summit Six chair, Exhibition Quad and beginners' terrain park are all open.

Coronet Peak (www.nzski.com), near Queenstown, has been less lucky with the weather and has had to postpone its opening date, originally intended for today.

Perisher Blue opens early

Thanks to a 30cm dump last week, Perisher Blue beat the other Aussie ski hills by opening two days early today.

Cold temperatures since the snowfall have meant snowmaking cannons have been put to work, adding an extra layer to the natural base.

Find out all about season opening events and check out the latest webcam pics on the Perisher Blue website. I've added it to my links on the right hand side.

Surfing the crud in Whistler

Just back from a week in Whistler, BC. It was the last week of the winter season and Angus (my husband) and I treated ourselves to some end-of-season slush.

This year Whistler Blackcomb received nearly 12m of the fresh stuff, with a record 469cm in January alone.

Temperatures may have risen by the time we arrived, but the snow was sticking nicely and the base was still a respectable 170cm. A few determined riders were even making it down to the gondola midstation.

It's a brilliant time to go if you want to practise a few freestyle tricks. The lifts were quiet, and the Habitat Terrain Park under the Emerald Chair was still open, with a good selection of kickers and rails to suit all levels.

We moved pretty fast on the slush on our first day, but a couple of hot days meant conditions deteriorated, and the slopes were looking decidedly mucky.

Top tip: get your board tuned up with some super spring wax. By the end of our last afternoon, my board was black and my speed had reduced to about 1 mile an hour.

Whistler mountain wrapped up its winter season on 4 June, but Blackcomb has just opened for summer glacier skiing and riding, complete with a half pipe for the public, thanks to all that snow.

There are a few camps running over the summer. If you want to head up on your own however, the glacier is open daily from 12pm-3pm until 30 July. A one-day pass costs $47, or if you're heading out for the summer, earlybird season passes are available until 11 June for a bargain $299 (usual price $349).

More soon on the Whistler mountain bike park and other summer activities in the village.