Mt Buller, Australia... Friends and Family

Top of Little Buller Spur

The mystique surrounding an endless winter is hard to understand for those that don't snowboard or ski.  Going from one hemisphere's unforgiving and relentless winter to the other might seem like a brutal punishment, rather than and epic journey filled with good times, snowstorms and friends.

Sarah Baca, Brodi Bos and Nicole Gibson

This is my third neversummer in the Southern part of the world, but only my first in Australia.  For years I have heard about how fun Mt Buller was from my good friend and fellow competitor Ratty Sheidow, but I have never had the opportunity to experience it myself until now.
 

I arrived at Buller within 48 hours of arriving in Australia and it has been one good time after another with a tight knit mountain family.  Whether there is fresh snow or heaps of man made goodness, we manage to have an amazing time.  Up until now, many aspects of snowboarding concern the snow conditions and mountainous terrain.  At Buller that all comes second to having a great crew surrounding you. 

Diana Christie Smashing Box in Kofflers Park

Here we mob around the mountain laughing, buttering, smashing box and jibbing everything in sight.  It pushes you to be a better rider, to not take yourself so seriously, and brings you back to the root of snowboarding...  Fun.  

The Southern Winter... Mt. Buller, Australia

The end of the season in Jackson Hole was quick and dirty.  The sun showed it's face more often than not, and brought spring right on schedule.  It wasn't an epic continuation of winter like last year, rather it was a fast transition into the warmth and perfection of a summer in Jackson, Wyoming.  However, that perfection was not taken for granted but short lived, as I chose to leave the Northern Hemisphere and travel to the deep, deep, South for another season of winter in Australia.

I arrived last Tuesday in Melbourne and we headed up to the resort the next day.  There is a buzz throughout the entire village in anticipation of winters arrival.  As of yet, we haven't received too much snow but one of the lifts did open on schedule.  Currently we aren't getting any "formed snow" but it is in the forecast through the weekend.

The Aussie's have been more than welcoming and have greeted me with warmth and kindness.  I may be a long way from my mountain home, but the excitement here feels just like Teton Village in the fall.  Everyone is coming back from their long summer apart and reuniting on the hill for another great season ahead.  The feeling of winter is upon us, with cold temperatures, cloudy skies and the lack of electricity due to snow making...  Ahhhh, the wonders of the man-made world.