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Meadows Parks Update

1/31/2012 6:50:00 AM by Parks Crew in Connection, Parks Blog | 6 comments

Let’s talk about parks. As you all know, we’re on the back side of a huge storm cycle that buried our parks under 115” of new snow. We had to start from scratch, right? Actually, we were at less-than-scratch: before we could rebuild, we had to dig out all the buried features and groom the runs flat again.

That took a few days. Then park crew built the banked slalom for comps last weekend. OISA (Oregon High School Snowboarding) teams train at Meadows and hold their league competitions here, and the banked slalom discipline is their current focus.

Once we were back to square one, with flat-groomed park runs, we started with the Zoo. Why? Our philosophy is to always have something for everyone in our parks, so we start with the smallest and work up to the biggest. First we build the Zoo, then we build Forest and Shipyard, and then we work on Rose City and Park Place. Last place on the building list goes to the pipe, because once we start building it, most of our resources are there, and we’re limited in what we can do with the other parks.

So, where are we now? The Zoo is done. Shipyard is finished. The banked slalom is done. We’re adding features to Forest Park, including some jumps for our jump-starved Facebook fans. We've begun construction on Rose City, and next up, we’ll be starting work on Park Place. Watch for the progress in those areas over the next couple of weeks. It takes a lot of man-hours and cat time to push snow into jump foundations, so it will take some time, but that’s where we’ll be throwing our resources next.

We’re listening to you. We know you want jumps, and they are the next thing on the list. Now… Mother Natures just needs to keep the new snowfall in reasonable amounts, so we don’t have to start over from less-than-scratch again!

6 Comments

  1. rth

    January 31, 2012

    Bring on the snow! Bury the parks again!

    Meadows: This comment may receive a mixed reaction. =0}

  2. Randy

    February 1, 2012

    T-line had all of their parks and jumps open 2 days after the storm, how is this possible... it must not snow as much over there???

    Meadows: Thanks Randy. We also had parks ready 2 days after the storm, and continue to build and maintain them. We currently have four parks open and are maintaining 34 features (rails and jumps) plus the Banked Slalom course. We are also building Rose City and will be building jumps in Park Place next.

  3. Barkduh

    February 2, 2012

    I've been dreaming about park place, effin stoked! Forrest rides super fluent, sick features so far, can't wait to see what you guys do with the new snow, blue birds on the freshy, yes blue birds on the freshy. perhaps you guys could make a noob park for the noobs that don't get park etiquette?

    Meadows: We're stoked as well - February is leap month and the jumps are progressing in the Zoo, in Rose City and Forest Park. Park Place is next! Noobs should be directed to the Zoo - our park with small features. And everyone should follow the Smart Style codes of conduct:
    1. Make A Plan - Figure out your plan with each feature you want to use.
    2. Look Before You Leap - Scope around the jumps first, not over them. Know your landings are clear and clear yourself out of the landing area.
    3. Easy Style It - Start small and work your way up. (Inverted aerials not recommended).
    4. Respect Gets Respect - From the lift line through the park.

  4. Pass holder

    February 4, 2012

    again......

    3in snow in two week.... Really Mt. Hood Park crew one (1) kicker ONE is that all you the park crew can do in two weeks. No halfpipe and one kicker REALLY...Is the park crew full time staff?????????????????????????????

    Meadows: If all you can find is one kicker please stop by our ticket booth. There are more than 40 features, including several jumps in the six parks which have been totally rebuilt from scratch since we were buried by 10 feet of snow. By the way, we've received 45" of snow in the past two weeks - so this park reconstruction efforts have occurred in the past 10 days - an awesome effort by our freestyle grooming and parks crews!

  5. Mike

    February 9, 2012

    Please cut the pipe. Resorts with less snow have cut pipes. Competitors need to practice for up coming competitions.

    Meadows: We're in the process of constructing it - which can take 7 - 10 days.

  6. Mike

    February 23, 2012

    What's the deal with the pipe? It has been more than 10 days. Bachelor has its pipe cut. Meadows is boasting a bigger base than other North American resorts. What is the excuse this time?

    Meadows: No excuse. The pipe was cut and completed Friday for competitions this weekend. The construction took 10 days as we had anticipated, much of that farming snow from other areas to build up the walls before we could start shaping.

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