If you’ve never experienced Washington’s majesty beyond the Eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, let me be the first one to tell you how vastly different it is from Western Washington. I grew up there, in fact. Massive evergreens are replaced with sagebrush and drylands. Soaring peaks turn into rolling hills with acres of farmland as far as the eye can see. Though I have my roots in this dryer Eastern zone, I had yet to visit Bluewood Resort, just outside of Dayton, Wa. I was in for a treat, to say the least.

The first thing I was told about Bluewood was how awesome its tree-riding could be. Granted, it was mid spring by this point, so I wasn’t expecting to turn upon any powder stashes that were left nestled in the woods. To our great surprise, the group awoke on Sunday to nearly 8 inches of Washington’s finest “champagne.” Thoughts of pond-skimming and park laps were quickly overwhelmed by the opportunity to tear up some late season fresh.

Bluewood knows how to party – I will give them that. With only two lifts to access the sweeping ridge line, the family-run staff was kind enough to let us raid the Bluewood Express for countless laps on Vintners Ridge (this cat service is also open to the public for a very small fee, conditions permitting). As you’ll see from the video footage, this was no mere day of groomers. The getting was good – and we got it.

Come one, come all to the second annual White Pass Rhythm N Bruise, scheduled for the weekend of April 28-29. Don’t you love that on-snow events will still be taking place that late in the season!? If you’re a stranger to the rhythmic riding style that is needed for such an event, SkiWashington recommends taking a few laps through the trees, park or best rollers at your resort of choice to practice on. With a giant cash purse at stake, we’re sure there will be a serious group of contenders pressing their luck for gold.

Rhythm N Bruise is a unique snowboard event with a course unlike any other. Part BMX, part motocross, part MTB, Rhythm N Bruise embodies what snowboarding in a rhythm section could be like. 

Rhythm N Bruise is a fun-first event that centers around camaraderie, progression and friends. The low-key feel of this event combined with the support of some amazing sponsors make for an energy that would be hard to duplicate. 

There couldn’t be a more fitting place to hold RnB than WhitePass, WA. The feel of WhitePass is exactly what makes it such a fun place to ride and to hold an event. If you’ve never been to WhitePass, RnB makes a perfect excuse to make the trip. 

Attend this years event to see what people are talking about. For more information, please visit http://www.rhythm-n-bruise.com/

Stevens Pass, WA has had an unusual winter to say the least. Emotions have run high, powder days have extended beyond their normal operating schedule, and due to that the overall stoke is still high (and it’s APRIL). Check out this video of Casual Industrees rider Matt Wainhouse and his friends at they hot dog it through the soft and fluffy stuff. From the looks of it, they tore up just about every section on the hill. Also, the vid was shot entirely with the GoPro HERO 2.

Keep ‘er Casual
casualindustrees.com/
The Snowboard Shop
stevenspasssnowboardshop.com/
Matt’s Blog
wainsworld.tumblr.com/

Riders include; Kurt Jenson, Bart Patitucci, Ian Wood, Jesse Park, Stone Parker, Tim Carlson, Travis Claughton, Michigan, Travis Leamer, B-Rad Miller, Ken Kelly, Ari Strickland, Hans Jangaard, Manuel Diaz and Matt Wainhouse

Shred STEVENS for J.B., C.R., and J.J.

JUNIOR FREERIDE CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS: The competition is open to male and female skiers and boarders from ages 11-18 (if in High School). There will be a limited amount of slots available to participants, so riders are encouraged to sign up quickly. Registration will be done online and costs $85.00. We strongly recommend that participants join the Crystal Freeride Program to get training and coaching this season or, at the very least, drop in for a session or two. Judges will use the IFSA format. Venues will be determined based on weather and snow conditions, but will likely be three of the following: the Throne, Elk Chutes, the King, Silver Basin, and Bear Pits.

More information can be found on the Team Freeride Page. Register for one of the Triple Crown Events here

Crystal Freeride Program Triple Crown prize list: 2 Crystal season passes, 4 pair of K2 skis, contour cameras, Gear from Dakine, OR, Smith Optics, Clifbar, cash giveaways and more. Northwest Freeride media team will have photographers on hand catching the radness. Pizza and drinks will be provided to wash all the good times down. Come be a part or keep rocking your old gear!

KING/QUEEN OF THE HILL DETAILS: This competition strays from man-made race courses and instead works with the mountain’s natural features. Men and Women skiers and boarders choose cliffs, steep terrain, and speed to increase the difficulty and technicality of their run. This event will become their showcase for freeskiing’s progression; skiers and snowboarders are continuously seeking to achieve what’s just beyond what’s been achieved before as they try to win the top cash prizes: $1,000 to the King of the Hill and $500 for the Queen of the Hill. Plus other great prizes from K2 Skis, K2 Snowboarding, Fulltilt, Outdoor Research, Dakine, Smith, Contour, Red Bull, Crystal Mountain Boot Works, Crystal Mountain Season Passes and more to come.

Pre-registration is $100 or day-of registration is $125 per person. Ages 18 and over only with a maximum of 85 participants.Click here to register online now

Check-in and registration will take place in the Chapel. Please contact Sean Bold by email to be placed on a wait list if the online registration fills up. The Northwest Freeride Media Team will be on hand taking video and photos of the event.

The Icicle River Nordic Trails ticket booth is open Saturday and Sunday, March 17-18th, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and located off Icicle Road at 7505 Cyo Road, Leavenworth, WA 98826, with 8 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails just 4 miles from downtown.”

Icicle River Nordic Trails: http://www.skileavenworth.com/locations/icicle-river

Ski Rentals: http://www.skileavenworth.com/equipment-rental

Info: (509) 548-5477

Snow Line: (509) 548-5115

Photo: Jason Hummel

“I don’t actually remember my first day on skis but I know it was at White Pass. I probably skied with my dad, after a breakfast cooked by my grandma, on a run my grandpa—who worked at the ski area—helped maintain. White Pass isn’t just about skiing with family, White Pass is family.

From the beginning, that family included most of the employees and locals, so I always had a chaperone. Not the kind who said, “No, you can’t do that,” but rather, “Go out, have fun, be safe, see you at four.” With White Pass as my playground, I took full advantage.

It started with races down Creek Bed—a banked, winding gully that spilled out to Chair 4—mini cliff hucks below Mach V, and the bamboo slalom courses and kickers my cousins and I would set up under the night-skiing lights.

As I grew, my days of exploring White Pass led to the discovery of tucked-away tree stashes, cliffs, pillow lines, and backcountry access. I began to see another shade of White Pass’s beauty: short lift lines, plentiful parking spaces and lodge tables, and freshies that linger in the trees long after the Cascade storm faucets turn off.

Since those early days, I’ve watched the look of my mountain change. The lifts and lodge have been updated, and the demand for a larger area brought last season’s 767-acre expansion into the rolling glades that percolate down Hogback Basin. But White Pass, with its breathtaking view of Mount Rainier, has yet to attract the large-ski-area crowd or lose any of the vibe I remember.

I travel the world, from hamlets in Europe to villages of subsistence farmers in India, to ski. But I always find myself coming back to White Pass to hike with my dog before the chairs open, lap the Basin quad with my nephew Kadyn, and film the backcountry with Nimbus Independent.

Folks come to White Pass for the skiing. There isn’t a village full of restaurants, shops, bars, and hotels. Condo visitors must walk the cold concrete to the outdoor pool, and most of the parking is right along the highway. White Pass may be a bit old-fashioned, but its people don’t need much more than the freedom of the mountains as an excuse to spend time with the family.-Andy Mahre

White Pass: Deep in wine country.”

» Average Snowfall: 380 inches » Skiable Acres: 1,500 » Vertical Feet: 2,050 » Advanced/Expert Terrain: 58% » Lift Ticket Price: $58 » Down Day: Wine tasting in the Yakima Valley. Try Thurston Wolfe and Wilridge vineyards. » More Info: skiwhitepass.com

For more from Skiing Magazine, please visit http://www.skinet.com/skiing/

Attack Of The Storm Factory: Crystal Mtn. from Lib Tech on Vimeo.

“The big news for Crystal is the extended spring season. After our winter season finishes April 15, we’ll be open Fridays -Sundays in April and Saturdays–Sundays in May, along with Memorial Day. Season passes and spring passes will go on sale April 1. If you purchase a season pass for the 2012-2013 season this spring, it will be valid for the 2012 Spring Skiing Season!”

Upcoming Events – You can find full listings here: http://www.crystalmountainresort.com/Events

• March 10: Hope on the Slopes
• March 10: Women of Winter
• March 11: Nevado Mountain Adventures Gear Demo
• March 17-18: Women’s Clinic
• March 24: Crystal Mountain Triple Crown
• March 24: Sturtevants Demo Day Spring Fling
• March 24: Dirt Bag Ball
• March 31: Brewfest on the Mountain
• April 1: Military Appreciation Day
• April 1: Movin 92.5 Ski Day
• April 8: Easter Sunrise Service
• April 14: Bikini and Boardshorts Downhill
• April 14: Adult Freeskiing Competition
• April 21: Crystal Mountain Triple Crown Finals

Crystal Mountain Resort Video Update – March 1, 2012 from Ski Crystal on Vimeo.