Riding the Land Down Under

With the 4th of July still nine days away, most of us have yet to reach the halfway point of the off-season. Now that Killington is no longer interested in opening earlier than everyone else, I'm still closer to the last time I strapped into my snowboard than I am to the next time I'll get to ride.

With that in mind, one can imagine the jealousy I felt after speaking to a British ski instructor friend of mine who is living in New Zealand for the "summer." I say "summer" because, well, it's winter where he is! Talk about living the dream - Tom has achieved the ultimate goal of the modern skibum: Endless Winter. Oh, sure, between the time he left Vermont and the time he arrived at Cardrona he had to "endure" seven weeks without snow. Seven weeks. That's it?! I could do seven weeks without snow standing on my head! Cardrona's website says they'll be opening this Friday, June 27^th. Most of us stuck stateside will be lucky to be back on snow by Thanksgiving!

If you're jonesing badly enough to drop some coin on a flight, there are several regions for you to choose from. In the Northern Hemisphere, Whistler Blackcomb in the Canadian Rockies goes strong throughout the summer, as does Timberline Lodge on Oregon's Mt. Hood. Options in the Southern Hemisphere abound. From South American resorts like Las Lenas, Agentina or Ski Portillo, Chile to Australian adventures at Mount Hotham or Thredbo, winter is just beginning down under. Of course, there's always New Zealand, too, where my friend Tom will be suffering terribly as he blows past the 200 days-on-snow mark for the year. If you're headed Tom's way, drop me a line. Those of us not enjoying Endless Winter are seeking justice!