GIANT DEALS VII

Stop. Watch this.

The most prestigious and coveted award in all of snowboarding is NOT a gold medal from the Olympics, it is the legendary gold roll of duct tape given to the winner annually of the Mt. Baker Banked Slalom. The best riders from all over the world come out of the wood work to test themselves on Mt. Baker's epic terrain, but it is much much more than just a contest, it is a gathering of the tribe of snowboarding, a hallowed event that is a rite of passage for core snowboarders around the globe. The LBS is shrouded in legends but none more than that of Terje Haakonsen. Terje is almost synonymous with tall tales and epic stories of races past and no one has won the race more times or added to the mystique than him. This year was no exception a low snow year resulted in the course being moved slightly and cold temps left the course savagely icy. Once again the man from Norway added to his legend by passing someone in qualifiers, as well as posting a faster time than the winning time..........switch (he did this in the switch race). The race is far from all about 1 person however, it brings out elusive legends like Temple Cummins, Scotty Wittlake, Josh Dirksen, and many more. Pros like rider of the year Gigi Ruff, Lucas Debari, Austin Smith, Marie-France Roy, Bryan Fox, and countless others compete alongside friends, family, and snowboarders from all walks of life. Thank god for snowboarding and thank god for The Baker Banked Slalom to keep reminding everyone how great awesome riding a snowboard with friends is.

Tom Sims. Shaun Palmer. Craig Kelly. Rob Morrow, Terje all champs.
Not the Olympics, it's the Mt Baker Banked Slalom.

Contests You Can't Win

Check out this contest to win a helmet, most of them are cross-dressers allowing you to do other extreme things safely. You got three days to enter, so far only 76 others are in the game. Remember, helmets don't last forever, after a couple seasons or a few good falls, it's time to reup.  

Warren Miller
Ol' man Miller is sponsoring a hometown film contest beginning on March 3rd, I think kidnapping  Tommy Moe and developing your voiceover tone would be good prep.

East Coast

Mountain Creek Ladies Night
Get out to dirty Jersey and hit Mountain Creek for ladies who shred night. $25 bucks on Thursday's gives all you ladies a chance to shred but you gotta buy the beers.

Sugarbush, VT
Head up to the Mad River Valley, and hit up the bush for three days at $159. Stay for super cheap at Grampa Grunts Lodge. Grampa's has a pool table, a big old fire, and most likely a couple of ski bums snoring in your room. Rates start at $30.

Wildcat Mountain, NH
My first memories of New Hampshire were hauling 30 packs of Coors to the Ford station wagon for my dad. We would load her up to the brim. Word is liquor is cheaper at a New Hampshire state store than anywhere is America. While stocking up, don't miss the liquor store sponsored snowboard contest, yes it is true, the Winterfun contest. Wildcat Mountain is trying to keep up by offering a ton of deals including two lift tickets, two lessons and two burgers for $110 on Mondays.

The rest of NH
Ski New Hampshire has put together an amazing vacation planning tool for all those with little monsters who rule over their powder days. For others, it may provide information on how to best avoid the vacation crowds. Is that possible in NH?

West Coast

Sun Valley, ID
Long. Steep. Baldy.
I'm only posting one so you concentrate.
$81 per person let's you live like an oil baron and ride the a hill that hosted the World Cup before it existed and built the first chairlift. The Harriman Cup, named after the chairman of Pacific Oil W. Averell Harriman, started in 1940. The included lodging on this deal is at the Sun Valley Lodge, which is I imagine is similar to the Lodge past the pearly gates. Actually, you probably shouldn't go, Idaho is really far away and everyone there is terribly mean. I will be there enjoying the corn, mmmm....corn.

word by QtheGiant