Yes I know it's a bit early but it snowed this weekend. (which means its safe to talk about the upcoming season and glorious powder days of the past) Friday 35c, Saturday snow. Crazy I know, but its a good omen. When it snows on the last week of August or the first week of September then we will have a great year. This is an omen in Colorado so I am just switching it to Switzerland. I've had a feeling this summer that we will have a good winter, I don't know why, but the feeling was there. (maybe cause last year sucked balls) So does anyone know of any Swiss omens for snow?
Another good omen is when the next mother of all snowboard movies is made.

oh yeah! snowboard season is comming! i'm looking forward to try my new banana magic

OOO My first winter in ZH never boarded in my life AND I CANT WAIT FOR IT!!! Loved skateboardng back home and did the odd bit of surfing. Cant wait to get involved this year! Any tips on newbie friendly spots would b nice

Last year was my first time in Switzerland and also first season for snowboard.
Did only on 2 ski stations (Crans montana and Verbier).
Crans Montana found it much easier for beginner as the slops are wider and not so steep.
Verbier was nicer because of the people there (saw more young and nice people ) and the snow is more smooth as is not under the sun all day long like in Crans Montana.

Hope someone else with more experience answer you!

Dude you'll be busting 3's by the end of the season. My very first day was not on a green run but in the park (along the outer edges) after a few runs I was already hitting the jumps. I almost landed a 3 on my first day but I did manage to land a 180 and even made it to the top of the deck in the half pipe (they were smaller then, I think it was a 12 footer) I was sore as hell the next day but I was hooked. Coming from a surf/skate/MX background makes it sooooo easy. Flumserberg has a kiddy park which would be great to learn on.
This cold weather is turning me on.

This is something i always wanted to do..

I am in Schwyz, there is a place called Settle near me. They have snow boarding,

Any one know where i can go as a begginer to rent a snowboard and get basic lessons? (Maybe approx cost)?

Those banana boards look super fun and super easy to butter. I would love to try one for the day. It takes so much pressure to butter my NeverSummer that if it was a Burton it would break, and this will be the 10th season on my NS. (Every year I say this will be the last for this board but it still rides like new) 600-700+ days on one board. You can't break them.

I think you mean Sattel. Settle is in the Yorkshire Dales in the U.K.

Completely Agree! It really does feel like we going to have a Deep winter!
Super stoked! I am so convinced that I am going on out on a limb and get myself some 120 Underfoot skis!

At the moment you can get some awsome bargains, especially around france. Last year modelss at 50% !!!

Even thinking about skiin is make me giddy!

Winter is coming!

Here's a video of one of my buddies from back home, gets me amped for the season ahead!!

Nice footage thinks me, but let's enjoy the summer. The winter can wait. Or can it?

Sure, but I/we can't wait for winter!

My board whispers sweet songs of sadness to me every time I visit the basement, it's soon time to free her from her chains and unleash her on the slopes...

Epic. Absolutely epic. The powder hound was waking up slowly. Now he's hungry. Thanks

LOL, just realizing that the voice in the beginning of the first vid you posted is also my buddy Jake. He's come so far and he totally deserves it, the most modest kid you'll ever meet...

Summer is yesterdays news. Snow guns will be firing in Colorado ANY DAY NOW!! Resorts are buzzing with work (even though they look dead) HR is hiring, rental shops are opening boxes and mountain ops is putting in overtime trying to finish the summer projects before they make the overnight switch to winter preparation. You may not be able to see winter just yet, but trust me its here. And thank God too. I was MTB'ing in February so my summer started early.

He can shred.
Where is your home mtn? I call Beaver Creek/ Vail my home base.

I hail from Stowe, Vermont so Mt. Mansfield was my base until they underwent multi-million dollar expansion and their prices forced locals to surrounding peaks, e.g. Jay Peak and Smuggs.

But Jake has moved out west to Bellingham, WA so he's got access to all the biggies. Doesn't matter where the hell he is though since he hits up Europe, South America and NZ at the drop of a hat. Lucky SOB.

Got a couple buddies in Breckenridge, ever been?

Where do you normally ride around here? Jura or Alps? Contemplating a season's pass somewhere this season...

Breck is my favorite drinking town to do a bit of snowboarding in. I hear good things about Jay Peak but essentially its still the ice coast. I lived in NY one winter and rode Hunter. Hated it. I ride mostly in Wallis. I lived in Zermatt my first year here but have not been back since as I find the little resorts are waaay better, less people and more pow pow. Opps, did I say that out loud?

The life of a snow pro.......sounds nice.

Only got into Switzerland in February so I only rode in the French Alps last season a bit. I'm hoping you're premonitions are on point about a good, fluffy season because then I'll probably get a (comparatively) low-cost season-ticket somewhere in the Jura: few people, close to where I live and better backcountry than the barren Alps (at least from what I experienced).

How did you find the terrain in Wallis (from which I just learned was the German translation of Valais in French)? I was totally gutted when there were no woods for me to explore in France. Got any favorite, affordable resorts?

Ice just makes the powder days sooo much sweeter. Those days where you're absolutely forced to call in sick for whatever your plans were and head straight to the lifts. Man do I crave a good powder day in the woods!!