ROCK HOPPING
Tahoe terrorists like I. J.
Valenzuela (left) would
rather hurl themselves
into the uncharted wilds
behind Mt. Rose, Nevada,
than pay thirty bucks a
day on lifts. Meanwhile,
just this side of the Conti-
nental Divide, boarders
who work at Breckenridge
ride Arapahoe Basin.
Hardcore A-Basin locals
like Joe Schrolez (spread)
show they are laidback
even when they get out of
bounds. Arapahoe features
plenty of off-trail chutes,
over 12,00 feet of lifts and
is one of the last Rockies
resorts to close for the
summer. Speaking of sum-
mer, Timberline resort
(opposite page, inset) on
Mt. Hood, Oregon, busts
the glacial style every year
with a full summer camp
schedule complete with
snow pipes, skate ramps
and plenty of sunshine.
ICE
BLAST!
A SNOWBOARD PRIMER
This article assumes that you
already snowboard. If you don't,
well, too bad. If you do, then absorb
the following as a kickstart for the up-
coming season. For most flatlanders,
getting to the slopes takes at least a
little planning. You know, transportation,
tire chains, lodging and what color of
sunscreen you're going to wear on your
nose this year. One solution is the old
"take this job and shove-it and move to
the snow country" maneuver. It has been
known to work successfully, and all you
have to do is wake up, go outside and
shred. Of course, if you already live in a
place like June Mountain, Arapahoe Basin
or Breckenridge, well, call us city slicker
kooks, look at the pictures and start doing
the snow dance.