Powdr Corporation : Boreal

We ended up going to Boreal twice, the first after a huge snow dump. The snow kept falling the whole day while we rode. It padded the ground at a rate of about three inches per hour. Unfortunately, Boreal is relatively small and flat which makes freeriding in deep pow difficult. Even though half the trails were closed and the terrain parks were buried, we had a great time.

We returned to Boreal for "Bored '99", a concert and competition event that the mountain hosts every year. Several bands showed up, including "No Use for a Name" and the band formerly known as Sublime. Another part of the festivities included a freestyle competition with riders sponsored by local board shops. The day was warm and sunny, perfect for a park riding day, which is Boreal's strong point. They have a number of well made table tops and an awesome halfpipe. Boreal's terrain is suited perfectly for freestyle, so if that's your thing, Boreal should be a high priority on your list.

I had a ton of fun both times we went to Boreal. The first time we visited was a major pow day, almost more fresh snow than we could ride on. The groomers had trouble keeping up with the snow! The only chance at survival was to stay at least somewhere near the packed trails, as you quickly sank in the 3' deep pow when off the beaten path. Unfortunately, due to the amount of snow, the park was closed, but we still managed to tear it up, creating hits off little rollers and jibbing stuff that wasn't normally jibbable.

The second time we came to Boreal was for the Bored 99 mountain party/festival. Lots of live bands were playing at the bottom of the amphitheater-shaped resort. Pros like JP Walker, Blaise Rosenthal, and other local riders were throwing down mad skills in a competition and everyone there had a blast. The parks were full of people and, although it was pretty crowded, there were tons of hits to choose from.