This has been one of my best winters yet. Lots of powder, an amazing mountain right at my doorstep, and great friends to share stories and adventures with.
Thank you, everyone, who has been with me this season, creating these ever-lasting memories…
With more snow falling and cold temperatures, this season is not over yet!! I will be riding until the end of July on the Blackcomb Glacier, coaching at Camp Of Champions, and enjoying the world’s best summer park on this year’s massive snowpack!
Don’t forget to watch all my footage from this winter in AlternaFilms’ newest production, to be released in the fall!!
THANK YOU for reading my blog!
THANK YOU Whistler Mountain for letting me shred you all year...
THANK YOU park staff for digging and creating the funnest obstacles
THANK YOU my friends for being there for me and sharing the best memories
WINTER IS NOT OVER YET!!!
just headed up the mountain to shred SOME MORE POWDER!!!!
see you up there!!!
After a straight 48 hour drive from Anchorage, Alaska, it feels great to be back home in Whistler and I am happy to report that the biggest snowbanks we have seen by far are ON THE DUFFY!!!
There is so much snow still in Whistler and it feels good this season will go on for a long time! I love spring riding – the days are long and sunny, the slush makes for amazing park riding. It also makes it easy to explore the mountain, as you can hold high traverses and it’s easy to hike around!
How much snow there still is can easily be seen in the latest Love At First Turn Episode by Nadia Samer!!! lots of good stuff in there and I’m happy to have the opening part!!! Thanks girl!! You rock!!
Hold on tight
Whistler is about to get WILD!!
I’m on my way back from Anchorage, Alaska and will be arriving back home just in time for the World Snowboard Festival. A whole Festival surrounding 420 – with lots of events, concerts, parties…
Can’t wait to hit up the amazing spring conditions!! With a freezing level of 1000m and fresh snow, Whistler just announced to keep Blackcomb Mountain open until May 30th!!!! And the glacier is opening up just shortly after!!
If you are ready for the sickest summer park you should sign up NOW for Camp Of Champions and shred with me all summer long!!
Dear Whistler,
Sorry I have been cheating on you for the past days with the Chugach Mountain Range in Alaska…you know I will be back soon but I would love to share a few photos and thoughts:
The King Of The Hill is the heart of snowboarding to me. I grew up reading about this legendary event and looking up to the world’s best riders, who would come together on Thompson Pass each spring to ride what they found was the most divine terrain – and to crown the King and Queen!
Thompson Pass is the snowiest place in North America and so it was unusual to be at a lack of snow this year. Many people bailed on the event but the core of the sport still showed up – only to be blessed with massive snowfalls and a bluebird day for the event. The Gods mean well for this Royalty…
BroBowl is a supersick Backcountry Bowl and as far away from any ski area or controlled terrain as you can possibly get. This is the real backcountry..
Steve Klaassen, former King Of The Hill, showed up to show the youngsters whats up. Camp of Champions head coach Rob Kingwill, last years “prince” (or 1st after Travis Rice) layed down some sick runs. Mikey Basich killed it as usual – he has been coming here annually for 20 years!! Nick Peralta and Mark Sullivan put on one hell of an event – thank you so much for keeping this alive!!
hangin out w/ Sarka Pancochova
The younger crowd around camp might not have as much experience, but lots of motivation and fire. I am so happy to be riding these mountains with sick shred girls Iris Lazzarechi and Hana Beaman, who have been laying down some amazing runs yesterday during the event.. Can’t wait to find out results tomorrow!
Ski or snowboard, guys or girls -
none of it matters on pow days when it’s all smiles and slashes!!
Pro skier/snowmobiler Nadia Samer put together this sweet powder video, part 2 of her newschoolers.com webseries “Love At First Turn” featuring myself, Nadia Samer, Tobin Seagel, Graham Haywood, and Thomas Walker…
There is still lots of powder up there!! Go get some!
Which other place got as much snow as Whistler/Blackcomb this season??
I’m claiming that we have gotten the most, best, and most consistent season IN THE WORLD!!
tweet at me if you disagree @verajanssen
these pictures are my proof,
together with burning legs and an overall exhaustion from riding powder 14 days in a row!!
I love being in the forest - it makes me feel so close to nature!
Powder Smiles in Creek Gondy – w/ Dave Short, Jon Conway, and PY
powder-high5's with Tadej Valentan
Accumulating snow on Red Chair
double-slash with Tadej Valentan
headed towards the edge of the world with Dave Short
Snowmobiling is my absolute passion.
Not only is it my favorite winter hobby next to snowboarding, I also use my sled for “work” – to go film and shoot pictures in the untouched wilderness that surrounds us.
And trust me - it is a “workout”!!!
The areas surrounding Whistler have some of the best sled-access terrain worldwide – no other place this size can compete with the precipitation and the fairly stable snowpack.
Snowmobiling isn’t generally regarded a GIRLS sport – but there are a couple of crazy, strong, knowledgeable, and smart women who are courageous enough to step up to Big Mountain Freestyle Snowmobiling. These girls jump cliffs, hit jumps, and drop cornices on their 500pound machines – all in the ever-changing environment of the biggest park there is – the backcountry.
Steph Sweezy, Ashley Chaffin, Nadia Samer, Julie-Ann Chapman – you ladies are an inspiration to me and with this video I hope to inspire even more girls to go sledding!!!
MAHFIA GIRLS SLED DAY from MAHFIA.COM on Vimeo.
there is a huge smile under my helmet
riding my Kitty into the sunset after a great day in the wilderness
shooting photos right off the sled-track on a cloudy day
With winter sticking around heavily, there is nothing more therapeutic to winter depression than staying busy, heading outdoors and into the mountains, and shredding some deep, BC powder.
My whole life has been one long winter and even though I love the cold, snowboarding is what keeps me sane and smiling in the dark months of the year.
headed towards Symphony
And because I’m often so busy with filming and managing my career, I make a conscious effort to take days for SOULBOARDING -
just going out for the love of shred – no cameras, no pressure – just me and the mountain..
It just feels so right…
this big crow is chilling with me
It makes me remember what I am doing this for, and it reminds me of the little girl I was when I first fell in love with cruising through the trees and discovering new terrain.
good FRIENDS like Anette are great soulboarding companions
Dear Whistler Mountain – Thank you for all the sick days so far this season… Love, Vera
looks like a soulboarding day with Mr. Dave Short
What an amazing La Nina Winter!
While Europe was completely dry for three weeks and my friends in the Alps are starting to go on “powder days” after flurries, BC has been getting hammered with the best La Nina conditions:
Caused by cooling of the eastern Pacific Ocean, La Nina brings lots of precipitation and cold temperatures, which have kept my Whistler friends happy and smiling…
To those whose passion for wintery mountains equals a religion, this year has been epic. To quote Dan Treadway’s Twitter @bigairdan from last week “Day of the Decade” – coming not only from a true local, but also from one of the world’s best skiers AND snowmobilers, this means a lot!
6am wakeups and long days in the snow have been draining my energy. Snowmobiling gets difficult when you sink in up to your armpits the second you step off your snowmobile. Not a good time to get your sled stuck – and yet that’s exactly what easily happens in these conditions..
slashing pow
Avalanche Danger also has been fairly high with all this fresh snow – we have had small slides take out our landings a few times, which can be quite frustrating if you’ve spent hours shoveling a huge cheese wedge. But at least we’ve all managed to stay safe and healthy (except a few bruises and sore muscles). Be safe out there!
makes Vera happy
pics shot with my GoPro…
after ONE FULL WEEK of powder days (87cm in 48hrs, 55 in 24hrs, 78 in 48hrs – best storm cycle EVER!!):
- I am so tired I can barely type but am getting up at 6.30 tomorrow
spending my week in snowy trees, lots and lots and lots of snow
- I have neglected my bills and duties all week
Anette and I don't like paying bills - we'd rather be snowboarding - so we DO !!!
- Whistler has surpassed the Average Annual Snowfall
Pro Snowboarders Andrew Burns, Craig Beaulieu, and Tadej Valentan checking the snowpack
- Valentine’s Day was never so satisfying
Victor Engstrom likes 36cm on Valentine's Powder Day
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