Snowboarding in windy condition advice
 

I was planning to go to Winter Park this Thursday. The forecast calls for 20to 35 mph winds with gusts of 45. What the max wind you have boarded in and would you recommend going in these conditions?

Wind is probably the worst thing, combined with low vis it makes for a pretty bad day.

In Austria on a trip there about 2 years around the Dachstein West area they were having gusts of like 60MPH and I wasn't riding till the wind dropped to around 40 and that wasn't very fun.

Snowboarding in wind is pretty much a way of life here in CO, especially along the divide. Try heading over to Loveland. That's a normal day on The Ridge.

God knows what the strongest wind is that I've ridden in. Fucking STRONG.

As long as the lift isn't on a wind hold I'll ride it. It's only cold on the lift. Once I'm riding, I rarely ever notice the wind, even on a really windy day.

If you cover all layers of skin, and wear hi-visibility goggles, you should make-out ok. There will be shelter from the wind in the trees, and there should be fewer people on the mountain. Start recognizing trends in how the snow is deposited. Follow those trends to find the fluff and avoid the funk.

QFT

Wind and Snow is what fancy gear is for and pussies to stay home. I run hotter n fuck tho, I'd ride in about 14f all the time if I had my druthers.

and FWIW, if you are paying a chunk of change for a WP ticket, they OFTEN close the top lift (Panoramic Express, which takes you to the big wide bowl above treeline) due to wind there, so if that is important to your dollar value, it's worth considering. Most of the mountain stays open just not that lift on windy days.

i did baker one day, and the wind was so strong to stop me in my tracks… people would simply stop, turn the other way, and lay down until the gust stops. it was quite the experience.

Hakkoda is regularly 50+ MPH. They run the lift up to 59MPH winds, so there is a good opportunity to get some wind boarding in. I don't mind it personally but if you aren't covered head to toe with something you can get frostbite quick. I got it on the top of my ear after one of those days out here. swelled up and turned white :thumbsup:

There are a couple of notorious places where it just screams and scours. I've been blown backwards getting off the chair ramp...the best is not to lay down but get the hell out of that spot. The upside, there are then some very good wind blown stashes.