Skate. Snow. Surf. Riders Union.

Crystal Mountain opened today to 10 inches of fluffy new snow atop a base of around 24-40 inches depending on elevation. Conditions were excellent considering the early season snow depths, but with only four lifts running (Discovery, Quicksilver, Chinook and Forest Queen), the heaviest terrain–and that with the spottiest coverage, namely Rainier Express and Chair 6–has yet to be opened. Plenty of tracks over on the front side though thanks to the pre-season poachers and hikers that have been slaying pow since the big storm came through over the weekend.

Word on the street–or slopes as it were–is that Rex and Green Valley will open tomorrow. If I were to speculate on Chair 6 opening, I’d expect it to be open no sooner than this weekend as it looks like a bit more snow is needed for enough coverage up top. I guess we’ll know more tomorrow and as the next systems stack up through the end of this week.

Speaking of tomorrow, Mt. Baker will load butts on chairs tomorrow as hundreds of happy Northwest snowboarders converge on the remote and historic mecca for the commencement of another winter of some of the world’s deepest snow and most challenging terrain. As always I’m stoked for Baker’s opening day however this year I’m not going to make it for the festivities due to some previously scheduled travel plans. More powder for the riders that do show up for the first chair of the snow year.

The snowpack is building at The Summit and Stevens Pass as well. Stevens Pass’ website claims that they won’t be open this weekend, but with the current 30 inch base, they can’t be too far behind Baker and Crystal with regard to snowpack and rideability, so stay tuned. As for The Summit, Alpental is coming around nicely but probably needs two more good dumps to be ready. The other side of the freeway needs a good thirty inches before the lifts will run.

Stay tuned for more firsthand information and some photos of the early season action coming soon.

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Following up on the news from last week regarding Jeremy Jones’ sudden departure from long-time sponsor Rossignol, Jeremy announced on Monday that his next sponsor will be… himself. Yes, with the manufacturing power of Swiss board company Nidecker behind him, Jeremy Jones will bring his own brand of boards to market in 2010/2011. And yes, there are already rumors swirling that his line will include one or more split boards.

Leaving nothing to speculation here, I’ll just reprint the press release in its entirety and you can jump to your own conclusions. Either way, we wish Jeremy the best of luck and I personally am looking forward to seeing (and hopefully testing) the product very soon.

PRESS RELEASE, Squaw Valley USA, Professional Big-Mountain Snowboarder Jeremy Jones is proud to announce his latest contribution to the world of snowboarding – Jones Snowboards.

Based in Squaw Valley, CA, Jones Snowboards is the product of Jones’s desire to develop a line of snowboards catering specifically to freeriders.

Drawing on over 25 years in the snowboard industry and the peer proven talent that won him Snowboarder Magazine’s Big Mountain Rider of the Year Award an unprecedented eight times, Jones will combine his passion for freeriding with his vast research and design experience to deliver authentic products that far exceed today’s standards of freeride snowboards.

“I have started Jones Snowboards to develop the highest performance all-mountain snowboards on the market,” says Jones. “Freeride boards that reflect everything I’ve learned both on the snow and in the factory. Every snowboard we produce will be born of my passion and our designs will mirror the performance demands of my riding matched with the environmental demands of my conscience.”

The 125-year-old, family owned Swiss manufacturer Nidecker was chosen to engineer and manufacture Jones Snowboards because of their long-standing reputation as one of the most innovative and technologically advanced snowboard producers in the world.

“Jeremy’s talents have always inspired us here at Nidecker,“ says Henry Nidecker, company president. “We are excited to collaborate with him on this new project and offer Jones Snowboards both the award-winning technologies and the commitment to quality that we’re well known for after 25 years of building boards.”

With prototypes already in production, Jones Snowboards will make their first appearance at SIA and ISPO 2010. Expect worldwide distribution for the 2010-2011 winter season.

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