Bear Valley, CA, Delivers a Once-in-a-Lifetime Weekend After 100+” in 4 Days Report from February 21 & 22 After Bear Valley Mountain Resort, California, logged more than 100 inches of snow in just four days, I knew we were staring at something special. The kind of storm cycle you talk about years later. Following a three-day resort closure due to treacherous snow and road conditions, operations resumed, and what waited on the […] Conditions Report Jack Bynum | February 26, 2026 1 Comment
The Top 5 Travis Rice Films That Capture the Soul of Snowboarding Travis Rice films are the essence of snowboarding. They remind you why snowboarding feels so addictive and meaningful. Every project he touches carries intention and emotion. Big lines. Mother Nature. Human vulnerability. His movies make you want to grab your board and chase something deeper in nature. Here are the top 5 we feel here at SnowBrains that really capture […] Jack Bynum | December 4, 2025 0 Comments
The 7 Most Bizarre Ski Resort Mascots in the World From fire-breathing dragons to half-boiled eggs on skis, the world of ski resort mascots is far weirder and far more wonderful than most people realize. Across the globe, resorts have dreamed up outlandish characters to charm kids, entertain visitors and embody their mountain’s spirit, often with results that defy logic and delight everyone. #7 Schmidolin: The Fire-Breathing Dragon of Schmittenhöhebahn […] Laughs Jack Bynum | October 25, 2025 0 Comments
Crystal Mountain and Stevens Pass, WA, Announce Opening Dates Following Early Snowfall The wait is over, and winter has finally returned to Washington’s mountains. The first major storm of the season has rolled through Washington, dropping heavy snow across the Cascades and setting the stage for an early start to winter. Crystal Mountain Ski Resort and Stevens Pass have now confirmed their projected opening days, signaling the return of ski season for […] Industry News Jack Bynum | October 15, 2025 0 Comments
French Skier Breaks Sand Skiing World Record at 75 MPH in Peru A 23-year-old French ski instructor has set a new world record on sand, reaching 121 kilometers per hour, or about 75 mph, on the massive Toro Mata dunes in southern Peru. Mahé Freydier made the run on September 25, 2025, during a single attempt that pushed the limits of what skis can handle outside the snow. The speed breaks the […] Jack Bynum | October 13, 2025 0 Comments
Top 5 Most Missed Snowboard Brands Snowboarding started to take flight in the late 70s and early 80s, and part of the reason for the meteoric rise of snowboarding was the creativity and rebellious attitude of pioneers of the sport. The early eye-catching boards (and mono-skis) allowed riders to show off their wild and funky side while doing something new and innovative. 50-odd years ago, when […] Jack Bynum | October 11, 2025 0 Comments
Snoop Dogg Set to Bring His Flair Back to the 2026 Winter Olympics Snoop Dogg is trading the lights of Paris for the heights of the Italian Dolomites. NBC announced on Monday, September 29, that the iconic rapper and entertainer will return to cover the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, adding his unique voice to an event usually built on tradition and tight analysis. Related: Friday Fun: Snoop Dogg Narrates “Planet Earth […] Olympics Jack Bynum | October 2, 2025 1 Comment
Utah Trail Runner and Influencer Shatters 11,752′ Mt. Timpanogos Speed Record Utah trail runner Zach Frisch has etched his name into the mountain running community by breaking the Fastest Known Time on the Timpanokee Trail to the summit of Mount Timpanogos. He reached the peak in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 38 seconds, lowering the previous best of 2:16:13 set by Jason Dorais in 2016 and setting a new standard on one […] Jack Bynum | September 29, 2025 3 Comments
How to Volunteer at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Volunteering at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics offers a front-row seat to an incredible array of sports, including alpine skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding, ski jumping, and bobsled. The Games will feature sports across various disciplines, attracting athletes from over 90 countries. Typically, the Winter Olympics host about 2,800 athletes, all competing at the highest level in their respective sports. These […] Olympics Jack Bynum | August 25, 2025 0 Comments
Top 5 Most Longed-For Extinct Ski Brands According to SnowBrains Readers We all remember our first pair of skis, no matter how many years ago we got them. Whether they were brand new, hand-me-downs, or some classic rentals, these early skis played a role in our love for the sport and community. Many new brands were starting, and a pair of skis was more than just a tool to get turns […] Jack Bynum | July 2, 2025 8 Comments
Northstar and Kirkwood Ski Resorts, CA, Extend Season With Bonus Week of Skiing and Riding After Epic Snowfall in March Good news has arrived for ski enthusiasts in the Tahoe region. If they thought winter was winding down, Mother Nature had other plans for the final weeks. The recent storm system that swept through the Sierra Nevada mountains last week has dropped over 2.5 feet of fresh powder, creating ideal conditions for spring skiing. We’re talking fluffy top layers mixed […] Industry News Jack Bynum | April 5, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Spring Break Fun, Lake Tahoe Style Report from March 24-26, 2025. The moment we rolled into Incline Village, we knew this would be more than just another ski trip. Six of us, a mix of seasoned riders and snowboarding newbies, had converged on Lake Tahoe, California, with nothing but spring skiing on our minds and a rental house packed with enough energy to melt the remaining […] Conditions Report Jack Bynum | April 1, 2025 0 Comments
Brandon Davis Battles Sevi Van Der Meer in Natural Selection Tour Debut DUELS Match at Kirkwood, CA The Natural Selection Tour makes its debut at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, bringing the world’s elite freestyle snowboarders to battle on untamed terrain in California’s Sierra Nevada range. Among the most compelling matchups, 29-year-old Swiss rider Sevi Van Der Meer faces 28-year-old California native Brandon Davis. Both riders are making their Natural Selection Tour debuts, bringing fresh energy to the event […] Industry News Jack Bynum | March 1, 2025 0 Comments
Mountain Peaks Meet Island Vibes: A Journey Through Lake Tahoe’s Winter Reggae Festival Reggae music, snow, and the mountains are the three things I love most in this world… The Lake Tahoe Winter Reggae Festival is a scene that shouldn’t make sense with reggae music in the heart of ski country yet somehow feels perfectly natural. Good Vibez Presents has created something magical here: a fusion of island culture and mountain spirit that […] Jack Bynum | February 22, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Two-Day Blend of Powder Days and Bluebird Après Action This report is from Friday, February 7, and Saturday, February 8 We prayed to whatever snow god would listen. It was a warm 37℉ and rainy Thursday night at Incline Village, and we needed those temperatures to drop for a fantastic Friday of riding at Palisades Tahoe, California. We each took a shot of Lebron x Hennessy to bring us […] Conditions Report Jack Bynum | February 10, 2025 1 Comment
Lake Tahoe Winter Reggae Festival 2025: A Weekend of Snow and Rhythms The 2025 Lake Tahoe Winter Reggae Festival, presented by Good Vibez Presents, is set to bring an unforgettable weekend of music, culture, and community to the Tahoe Blue Event Center. Scheduled for February 15 and 16, this two-day event features a carefully curated lineup of reggae legends, contemporary stars, and rising talent. With the stunning Sierra Nevada as the backdrop, […] Jack Bynum | February 3, 2025 0 Comments
Capturing the Thrill: The Evolution of Ski and Snowboard Videography In a world where adventure sports and social media merge seamlessly, snowboard videography has become an art form, blending athletic skill, visually appealing aesthetics, and boundary-pushing action. But how did it get here, to a place where a few minutes of filmed adrenaline can captivate millions and create the sport’s next superstar? The First Snowboard Films: Capturing a New Culture […] Brains Jack Bynum | December 16, 2024 0 Comments
Eileen Gu Sets All-Time Record for FIS Freeski World Cup Wins Eileen Gu has solidified her place in freeskiing history by claiming her 15th FIS Freeski World Cup victory at the Winter Games NZ 2024, held at Cardrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand. This win makes Gu the all-time leader in World Cup titles for both men and women at the young age of 21. Competing in challenging weather conditions, Gu dominated […] Jack Bynum | September 10, 2024 0 Comments
Cocaine Found in Colorado Rivers: The Hidden Cost of Labor Day Celebrations Every year, as Labor Day rolls around, the rivers of Colorado, particularly the picturesque Clear Creek in Golden, bear witness to more than just the joyous splashes of holiday revelers. New research conducted by the Colorado School of Mines and Johns Hopkins University reveals a sobering reality: these waters are being tainted with a cocktail of contaminants, including cocaine. This […] Jack Bynum | September 2, 2024 0 Comments
Tragic Selfie Attempt Leads to Death of Czech Gymnast Natalie Stichova at Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany On August 15, 2024, the life of Natalie Stichova, a talented 23-year-old Czech gymnast, was tragically cut short in a devastating accident on Tegelberg Mountain in Bavaria, Germany. Stichova, known for her love of outdoor adventures, was visiting the famous Neuschwanstein Castle with her friends when the horrific accident occurred. Tegelberg Mountain is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering […] Climbing Jack Bynum | August 27, 2024 0 Comments