Mammoth Mountain R: Derek Shea P: Eric Meyers

Mammoth Mountain has long been the standard of supreme shredding on the west coast, and this year looks like it is shaping up to be another legendary season in the high Sierras. Last winter, Mammoth Mountain broke snowfall records left and right and the chair didn’t stop spinning until the Fourth of July. Now most resorts would probably want to sit back and relax after such a long season, but Mammoth stepped up to the plate this summer and got busy with a whole slew of recently announced improvements.

For starters, its going to be easier to get there this year, as Mammoth/Yosemite airport expands flight service to include routes from San Diego and Orange County while continuing service from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose.

Then, when you arrive at Mammoth, getting on-snow will be easier than ever thanks to a new radio-frequency ID ticketing program that allows lift tickets to be pre-loaded so you can skip the lines at the ticket office.

Next, be sure to take your fancy radio-transmitting ticket through the gates and into the lift lines quicker than ever and unfortunately presumably with less Australians to chat with. On the upper mountain there will be a shiny new high-speed quad replacing the old fixed-grip chair 5, getting you up into the pow-day playground known as Upper Dry Creek.

Down where it really matters, in the Unbound Terrain Park, the fellas have been hard at work all summer making improvements to the dirt base of both halfpipes, as well as welding up a whole new slew of features for the return of the Art Park, which this season will feature the work of Jamie Lynn. Sponsorship partners Oakley and Monster Energy will also be creating signature features for the park this season.

Oh, and they’re adding a snowtube park because, well, why not? Tubing is rad and usually makes for a fun snake at the end of the day!

Once upon a time, myself and some friends from the East Coast drove across country to the lauded slopes of the High Sierras in hopes of making the big time. Our route took us through Utah, and just outside of Salt Lake City our friend Ben was practically assaulted by a lunatic homosexual. I’m the furthest thing from a homophobe, do your thing, but this guy was a lunatic with a penchant for my friend. Then, about a year later, we went to a rail contest at Park City and I was robbed of my jacket and scarf in the blink of an eye. Then, on the way home from that trip, a convenience store clerk had the cops chase us down because we mentioned how excited we were to set off fireworks in the desert.

Lucky for you, its a new year with new beginnings, and my friends in Utah assure me that the place has really cleaned itself up over the last few seasons. So don’t be afraid to head up to Park City for the Friday Night Live rail jam series this winter. Beginning Friday at 4pm, its an all-out assault on the registration table to be one of the first and only 100 to sign up and throw down ten bucks.

The set up is going to have five features, so you can proudly show off your quiver of tricks on all things jib in the quest for the cash prizes up for grabs. Skullcandy DJs will provide the beats, you provide the action. Skiers, snowboarders, pros, girls and newbs are all invited to compete in their own divisions. Check out Park City for more details, and if you can’t make this one, mark your calendar for the next events on February 18 and March 4!