Nelson State of Mind | The North Face
It was Day 13 on the road when we huddled inside the Logan, Utah, In-N-Out Burger to weigh out our options. Spirits were high after chasing Bode Merrill and Shane Charlebois around the backcountry earlier that day, but the end of our strike mission was looming. Jack MacDougall was broke and ran out of underwear, Brin Alexander sprained his ankle, and I was growing tired of the vape-odours that coated my Tacoma.
Suddenly, King Snow dropped into my inbox: “We’re scheming a trip to Nelson next week. We’d love to get you guys in on it.” Brin looked down at his ankle and said, “I don’t know if I’ll be good to go by then,” paused for a beat, “but I’m down.” Fuck it, we decided to conceal the status of his ankle. I had no doubt he’d be able to get the job done—even with an injury that’s still bothering him to this day. We downloaded Creed Radio onto an iPhone and bombed the 22-hour drive back home to Whistler that night. Only to repack and hit the road again.
Words and Photos by Alastair Spriggs
PURSUING THE UNKNOWN
Winter of 2024 was a bust for most. Substantial snowfall, followed by abnormally high temps is not a savoury recipe for backcountry snowboarding. On the West Coast, it was one step forward, two steps back. In our world, weather is the greatest instigator. Next up, comes the idea of traveling elsewhere in hopes of shredding a waist-deep tree lap, or a perfectly built snowpark. Combine the two, and you’ll motivate any boarder to get off their ass, off social media, and go pursue something totally unknown. These same catalysts led Brin, Jack and myself down to Utah, then up to Nelson to link with boarder Mitchell Davern, videographers Finlay Woods and Gradestone, as well as King Snow Editor, Jesse Fox. The timing of our trip couldn’t have been better. We explored zones new to us at the legendary Whitewater Resort, scored deep pow, sunshine, breezed through our shot-list, and even snuck in a few laps for the soul.
We joked about jumping off this diving board at first. Towering above the traverse track across Catch Basin, it boosts a flat takeoff and an even flatter landing. Mitch was the youngest on the trip so we all agreed he had to send it first.
Mitch Davern, Frontside 720.
JUST GO SOMEWHERE
Smooth-and-shiny shred trips—especially during unfavourable winters—are hard to put into words. But now, as I sit here binging The Darkest White a novel by Eric Blehm, most insights from the legendary Craig Kelly seem to resonate. “Society is full of rules,” said Kelly, in a 1988 interview with Japan’s SNOWing Magazine. “I use the time I spend in the mountains as an opportunity to free myself of all constraints… Now that I’ve recaptured the feeling that made snowboarding so special to me, I’m not about to give it up.” Inserting yourself into a vast mountainous environment with the sole purpose of riding natural landscapes and capturing creative content is a liberating and present-inducing experience. But, I believe Kelly’s sentiments transcend far beyond snowboarding itself. The process of assembling a crew and scheming a destination, then loading up the truck and getting the journey underway is oftentimes more liberating than the shredding itself. Hell, even checking out a new café on route to the mountain and riding newfound groomers can enact a sense of excitement. We cherish the small things and go with the flow. It’s truly a beautiful thing.
For instance, my most memorable experience from Nelson came on our final night after following a group of 25 guys back to an after-party—with zero expectations in mind. Jack led the charge up a neon-lighted staircase towards a three-bedroom apartment, and hints of Creed’s “One Last Breath” echoed through the old dingy building (flashbacks of our long journey from Utah filtered in) and the corresponding music video was displayed on a projector in the living room, a platter filled with fresh Pakoras and curries was ripe for the taking, and a local named Jim ensured each of us had a healthy dose of magic mushrooms. For a group of snowboarders with partners at home and no agenda for the night, we hit the jackpot.
Shred trips should act as a reminder. You don’t have to go to Nelson, or anywhere near it for that matter… just go somewhere, go with the flow, make new memories outside of the bubble, and recapture the feeling that made snowboarding so special to you in the first place. I guarantee you won’t want to give it up.
Whitewater is known for its world-class pillow poppers—and with a little bit of effort, these fluffy bumps can be worked into primo slackcountry jumps.
Jack MacDougall, Frontside 360.
Long days and sore legs. Whitewater: where the work is always worth the reward.
Brin Alexander, Pow Town.
NELSON HIT-LIST
A classic watering hole for après, karaoke, or film premieres. Think lengthy beer selections, communal vibes, and the most underrated chicken parm this side of the Rockies.
Red Light Ramen was the post-shred meal we didn’t know we needed. Fuel the bod with natural and healthy ingredients, bask in the flavours, and recharge to do it all over again tomorrow.
A longstanding rider-owned boardshop stacked with boards, splits, and pow surfers. Perfect place to get your setup dialed, learn some local beta, and of course, support local.
The cafe competition in Nelson is stiff. But luckily for you, we tried them all, and mutually agreed that Empire had the best pastry and sandwiches in town.
___
Easily accessible, golden-lighted, spiny-features. An afternoon Trash Chutes session at its finest.
Mitch Davern, Backside 360.
