The West Coast Wednesday Update
It has been a good winter all around for South West B.C. With huge snow dumps from November to today, mid March, it has been said to be one of the best seasons ever. This new weekly report will cover some of the goings-on in the South West B.C. such as the Vancouver Locals, the Coastal Mountains, and a bit of the B.C. Interior. Read on for snow conditions, avalanche updates, and other updates and news pertaining to B.C.
Snow Conditions:
Snow is at it’s best right now! If you’re looking for powder, look no farther than the Vancouver locals. With a minimum of 15-20cm a day over the since about Friday, last weeks dry spell was nicely greeted by a fantastic and consistent dumping of snow. Terrain Park crews have been digging out their parks constantly the past month or so, as the weekly dumps and reached often up to 100+ cm in a few days. The snow is expected to slow down over the next few days but still 5-10 cm (a few inche) are expected daily.
For those riding the B.C. Interior the story is looking a little different for the most part, but the snow is mainly good all around. Only a few centimetres for some places (about an inch for those using Imperial) and just a dusting forecast for the rest of the week and others with a little more up to 20cm a day.
State of The Backcountry
The avalanche danger is currently set at High for the Coastal Mountains at all levels from below the treeline to the alpine. There is a persistant weak layer that is approximately 1.5 meters (or aobut 4 and a half feet) deep. Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs are found at all elevations and rated from Very-Likely to Certain to avalanche as well as Persistant Slabs found below alpine elevations rated Likely to avalanche.
The avalanche danger is set at high as well for most other parts of South West B.C.
The Canadian Avalanche Center is recommending to avoid all avalanche terrain!
Vancouver Locals Terrain Parks Update:
Most likely all parks on each Mount Seymour, Cypress Mountain, and Grouse Mountain are buried because of the recent snow that have hit the locals in the past 5 days. Before the the snow, all three mountains were running prime parks and once they are dug out they should be up and running the same setups
Cypress Mountain:
The Cypress Bell Park is fully equipped with and the Upper Park has been dug out recently and should be good to go. The Upper Park setup consists of: a Culvert, Berm, Vert pole Jam, Jump #1, Backside Hip #3 – rebuilding for something bigger & badder, Hip #4, Jump #2, Hip #2. The Lower Park which is currently being dug out consists of: Jump # 3, Jump #4, Battleship, 12′ Box, 20′ Box, 16′ Flat Rail, 1/4 pipe stall with step up Step Down, Street Rail, Hip #4, MFM Box, 30′ Culvert, Exit roller. There is also a very small beginner park which is sporting a few box features for riders new to the terrain park.
Grouse Mountain:
With the building of the setup for the Showdown Over The City next weekend Grouse has closed The Cut Jump Line . The Quicksilver Park is fully up and running with a ton of jumps and rail features: Rainbow Rail, Down Mario Tube, Down Flat Down Rail, Jump #1,Jump#2 20’&15′, Jump#3 15′, Jump#4 10′,Jump#5 20′. 20′ Flat Box, A Frame, 25′ Down T Box, Down Flat Rail, Down Rail, Down Flat T Box, 25′ Cannon T Box,Flat Pontoon, Down C Rail, 25′ Down rail, 20′ flat box, 20’flat bar. The Paradise Jib Park is also running a few features for the beginners out there: 8′ Flat Box, Mini Rainbow Rail, Jump #1 > 5′ Step Down, 16′ Flat Box, Up Flat Rail, Jump #2 > 10′ Table.
Mount Seymour:
The Seymour parks are all being dug out and rebuilt this week. After Northlands was freshly dug out yesterday, it now has a street style down rail, 20ft down box, 30ft down rail, a 32 box high roller, and a line of 3 jumps, 2 large and one medium perfect for linking new tricks. The Pit is being rebuilt today and will be up and running by Thursday. The Pit has some awesome, super creative features in it right now including: 16ft down rail, Cory P to drop, Cory P transfer to Van, the LRG Pyramid, a 40ft down bar, the Monster Propane tank, a triple roller line and a hip. The Young Guns park will also be dug out and rebuilt this week. This park hosts the biggest features on the mountain including some replica urban features and a XL jump line. Currently in the park is: Burlington Rail Feature, 40ft Jump, 45ft Jump, Flat Rail, Down Rail, Down Rail, Down Flat Down Rail, SLC Down Rail, Flat Down Flat Box, Picnic Table. Also, for riders new to the terrain park, there is the Mushroom Park with a few small box features and rollers.
The Showdown Over The City – March 23-24
The Showdown Over The City is coming back to Grouse Mountain next weekend. This event is one of the top snowboard slopestyle events in Canada. Both professional and amateur athletes compete in both a rail jam and slopestyle event over the Friday and Saturday for the top prize.
This year there is two new events open for Filmmakers and Photographers. The Filmmaker Showdown will be putting 5 of B.C.’s top film makers against each other to create the best film possible in order to compete for the chance to win the top prize of $5000. The Photographer Showdown is a chance for new unpublished photographers to have their photos published on Snowboard Canada, and win some prizing courtesy of Quicksilver. If you’re  a new photographer check out the Photo Showdown Page to find out how to enter.