As many skiers know (especially those who have ever skied at Big Mountain) with winter storms often come complete whiteouts.  It just comes with the territory.  Vertigo and faceshots are often directly related and “1 chair” visibility days require powder-hounds to stick to the trees and feel their way through their favorite stashes.  Limited visibility does have its advantages however, providing cover for those who wish to keep their favorite lines to themselves or duck a rope to poach a few illegal turns.  It also keeps the lift lines small as the not-so-hardcore skiers position themselves safely along “mahogany ridge.”  While the world may be full of comments on the weather there is certainly no control over it — and if there was it would snow 3 feet overnight and clear up at 9am.  Every day.  Without the bitter the sweet is never as sweet so the next time you’re scraping the rime off your encrusted goggles remember your favorite bluebird day and that the next one is right around the corner.

Speaking of seeing with your feet, check out the latest press on Montana Ski Company from Montana Headwall Magazine (here).  Sign up for the Montana Headwall video contest and you may find yourself riding some custom skis from MSC.

4th Annual WF Mtn Films

What is Whitefish Mountain Films?  The best chapters from the best new outdoor films from 2012 at a sweet venue in downtown Whitefish.  Cost…. $5 donation to the Whitefish Trail project.  BlueBird Guides and Outside Media have again teamed up with a ton of great sponsors (including MSC of course) to bring outdoor adventure films to the Flathead Valley.  Enjoy local food, beer, and wine, and meet the professional athletes and filmmakers. Try your luck in our large raffle, with prizes including skis, outerwear, ski trips and dinners at local restaurants. All raffle proceeds benefit The Whitefish Trail!

WMF will be held November 10th at the O’Shaughnessy Center downtown Whitefish, and will benefit The Whitefish Trail.

More information on Facecrack here

Check out MSC in the latest edition of Backcountry Magazine’s Gear Guide.  BC’s Gear Guide is quite possibly the most legit gear guide in the industry.  Why?  Their test is the largest of its kind in North America, with more brands represented than many other gear reviews.  Not only are all the testers solid all around skiers who know their stuff but the test goes against a trend in the skiing industry where gear reviews are pay-to-play events where the brands write the reviews themselves.  Here at MSC we would like to thank the good folks at Backcountry for truly keeping it real.  For more reviews and the beta on all the new goods pick up the September issue on news stands now.  As for our review…”Industry newcomer Montana Ski Company is based in Whitefish, Montana, where hardcore rippers are the norm, not the exception — and the Skookoleel is their ride.  With a stiff, traditionally cambered construction using poplar wood core and tip rocker to keep the tips afloat, ‘the Skook wowed testers with its high-speed chops.”  Word.

I don’t ski often, but when I do… I shred the gnar, bro.  Here’s the link to the Backcountry Magazine interview with Jonathon Goldsmith who plays “The Most Interesting Man in the World.”

Lone Peak looking stunning on day 1 of Schralpfest

While many scholars debate the origins of the word schralp, it is a well known colloquialism amongst the gnarly that “to spew is human; to schralp, divine.”   And so, after an epicurean weekend of Skiing the Sky with some amazingly awesome and humble riders from across the Pacific Northwest, we would like to thank our host the infamous Neddley Dew Chester.  Mr. Chester graciously overlooked previous faux pas and invited us back to the Jager Palace for Schralpfest 2012 and we’ve never been more stoked for a second chance.  Photos and more will be uploaded to Facecrack once we have separated what may or may not qualify as blackmail.

PABST BLUE RIBBON CUSTOM SKIS LIMITED EDITION BY MSC

Is is karma?  Is it fate?  Does Ullr have a special place in his heart for PBR drinkers?  We’re not really sure but serendipitously we are now working with PBR to create a limited edition line of custom skis for PBR.   That’s right….custom MT Ski Co designed PBR skis.  Our special run of PBR skis (nicknamed the Pabst Backcountry Rippers) are designed to be light weight and quick for tight tree stashes and chutes yet stiff enough to handle aggressive high speed turns on open faces.  PBR will be rolling out TEXT to WIN programs at select retailers as well as drawings and give-away drawings at your favorite ski town watering holes.  For more information visit Pabst Blue Ribbon on the ol’ interwebs or keep in touch via Facecrack.

La Nina finally arrives

After a dismal beginning to winter (Canadians hold your tongue please) we are stoked that winter has finally arrived.  The tip of the storm rolled through Monday and there was nearly 2 feet of cold smoke on the north facing slopes of Big Mountain [read: Sick Day].  We’ll be traveling around the state to sample the goods at Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, Discovery Basin and others so let’s hope the snow keeps falling.  If we see you on the road we’ll have a cold PBR and celebrate an awesome day of skiing.  Here is to the late arrival of that bitch La Nina and to all those powder hounds who didn’t give up the dream that 2012 could still be an epic snow year.  Cheers!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the zone
Not a ski bum was hiking, not even on Lone.
The ski socks were hung by the wood stove with care,
In hopes that deep powder soon would be there.

The nuggets were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of pillow lines danced in their heads.
And hottie in her ‘kerchief, and I in my beanie,
Had just fired the grill for brews and a weenie.
When out on the porch there arose such a clatter,
The couch surfer sprang up see what was the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and spilled his chron stash.

The moon on the carpet of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of bluebird to pockets below.
When what to his bloodshot eyes should appear,
But a huge fatty sled, and eight massive reindeer.

With a crusty old driver, yet lively and quick,
He knew in a moment “Whoa bro, that dude is SICK!”
More rapid than Bode his rippers they came,
And he whistled, and bellowed, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the mountain! To the top of the headwall!
Now slash away! Slash away! Slash away all!”

As dry leaves that smoke before the powder does fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, huck huge to the sky.
So up to the A-Frame the rippers they flew,
With the sled full of toys, and that gnarly dude too.

And then, in a twinkling, we heard on the roof
The pounding and pawing of each mega hoof.
As we drew in our heads, and were turning around,
Down the chimney the jolly Dude came with a bound.

He was dressed super steezy, from his dome to his foot,
Yet his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had in a sack,
He looked like Patrol, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples were merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose totally cherry!
His stoke was quite epic, his pants hung quite low,
And the beard on his face was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a gi-normous belly,
That rocked the house as he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was massive but plump, like Buddy The Elf,
And broski cheezed out in spite of himself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Told us he was irie like the most natty dread.

He spoke not a curse word, but got straight to his work,
And crammed all the ski socks, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his digits aside of his beak,
And giving a nod, rose straight up to the peak!

He sprang to his sled, to his team gave a yammer,
And away they all flew like he was dropping the hammer.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he launched out of sight,
“Happy Ski Season to all, and to all a good-night!”