It's always good to be back in Whistler, and especially for the 07 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival. For those not in the know, the Telus Festival is one of, if not the largest, winter festival in the world. Ten days of music, art, booze, contests and general shredding on Whistler/Blackcomb. Each day features an impressive assortment of events and activities ranging from last night's Stephen Marley performance to the week-long urban-inspired art show, Brave Art.. Check whistler2007.com for the event schedule.

Besides the planned PG activities, each night in this fabled après town lasts early into each morning. Telus Tip #1: if you are not a local, and want to get into any of the popular bars, arrive early the lines build up fast and once the club is packed, ain't nobody leaving. A quarter-million additional visitors rolling through town this a week--you get the idea. All in all, if you can, get up to here! The deepest snowpack in 10 years, snowing in the village and the shredding is pretty damn good for April.

I rode pow yesterday, did you?

Growing up in Washington State, I have grown accustomed to expecting huge snow storms, but this recent weather pattern that has hit our neck of the woods is seriously out of control. Twelve feet of snow has fallen on the North Cascades in one storm, for all you math dorks out there that is 144in. -- or for our friends to the north that is over 365cm. To put it into perspective, Mt. Baker already has half of the base they received during their world record year of 98 and the resort has just been open a couple of weeks. Make your vacation plans now Santa got here early.

Reports began coming in from friends and the web that Whistler Mountain was opening a week early and after summer spent scratching a couple days at Hood, and requisite Mt. Baker pond skimming, this was not to be missed. With warming temps plaguing the few open Washington resorts, the decision was easy. Packing my bags, I made a few phone calls, blew off my previous plans and left B-ham way to early in the morning and arrived at Whistler hours before the lifts opened. Better than hours after. The snow was deep, light and plentiful. Dodging the mild lift lines was accomplished via uploading at the gondola mid-station: I was able to ride virtually all day without standing in any lines. Not bad for an opener anywhere, let alone the site of the next Winter Olympics. The whole resort had solid coverage and even afforded super long burn out pow runs all the way down to base. Pretty damn good for a Nov 18th day one.

The Blackcomb side of the resort opens on the 23rd and if the extended forecast turns out anything like its supposed to, its going to be a powder week in the BC mountains. Wax up those sticks and grab your snorkel.

The Seattle snowboard video premier tour continues with Think Thank's "Patchwork Pattern's" at the Evo space in Seattle's Fremont District last Sat night. Known more as the "center of the Universe" for naked bicyclists, Vladmir Lenin sculptures, and yuppie exercise centers -- Fremont rocked this night with a packed house with attending athletes including Patrick McCarthy, Mark Landvik, Sean Genovese, Jesse Burtner, Tarek Husevold, Lucas Debari, Nathan Lind, Donnkie, John Laing, Jeff Keenan, Gus Engle and Danielle Hambleton from K2, Peter Saari from Lib_tech, filmer extrodanaire Nathan Yant, Ride’s Tara Miller, Evo proprietor and K2 two-plank phenom Bryce Phillips, Sara, Ryan and Stephan from Spacecraft, Sno Conn’s John Logic, Snoqualmie Pass’s rock promoter Krush Kulesza, Ride team head Matt Sickles, and the frequency TSJ crew. This was a multi-event evening that included the release of Spacecraft's All-Star sticker pack, featuring many top shred friends of SpaceCraft. K2's new team photog Mike Yoshida had a gallery on display and Christina Burtner was showcasing an impressive painting that she finished hours before the doors opened. Think Thank soundtrack musician Robbie Gonzalez kept the crowd alert with his percussive assault.

A great turn-out filled the venue and then some. And, in a very non-typical premier move, drinks were free. Yes, free. Jesse Burtner and Evo prove they clearly know how to rock the house. Add Patchwork Patterns to your Shopping Cart and view what many are calling the most progressive video of the season.