Billabong slash up Baldface

By Transworld
Mon, Mar 17 2008 12:00 am | Comments

High up in the mountains above Nelson, B.C. is the remote Baldface Lodge. The access is by a grueling 1.5-hour cat ride, a 45-minute snowmobile blast, or seven-minute heli bump. I recommend the heli.

Everyone is split up into groups and assigned a cat and guides.

Day one, first run out of the cat, we spotted a big snow bump right at the top of our line. Kale Stephans hit it natty and let the rest of the group and guides know he's down.

Five-star accommodations to say the least.

Surf legend, Gerry Lopez, rips on snow. Here he slashes the snow lip and points it. It's all water, right Gerry?

Kale leads the group down a cornice drop to fresh line with a mellow front 3

Pro Surfer Shane Dorian entertained us with stories of towing in at 50-foot Jaws and showed us how he does things at waves like Teahupoo!

Keani Watson a former pro surfer from Hawaii now spends a lot of time on snow--and it shows. Sunset booter back three into another pow landing.

Our trip leader and all-around Billabong Snow man, Andrew Marriner, lays into a classic toeside turn first run.

Kale Stephans, backside 180 in front of the setting sun. Jeff Pensiero whipped this booter up for us in no time with his trusty Piston Bully.

Our guide, Heath, shredded the hell out of his Malolo, getting first tracks every run. And, of course, he took us to all the sweet zones.

Kale Stephans, coming in hot and sending a monster backside three deep into the corner pocket of the Mushi bowl.

Runs straight out of a video game!

Kale, frontside 180. Moments later, Jeff Pensiero's dog dropped in on this line and straight-lined the thing down to Kale.

Endless lines off Mushi when it¿s open. We got the green light on day three. Kale drops in and tests the water.

When not taking hot laps with our cat group, we were out shooting and testing out the lodge's sleds. Andrew Marriner getting loose.

Mushi ridge, sure is purwitty, huh?

The Junction, right above the Lodge and the gateway to a ton of insane terrain.

Our cat, heading to the next spot.

Run two of the trip, Risto Scott tries out the No Fish, which was kicking around the cat. The No Boards can get a little dicey, especially down in the trees. Risto had a couple sweet rag dolls while trying to figure it out. I¿d try it, but maybe on the l

Billabong Pro Surfer Shane Dorian and Snowboarder Kale Stephans.

Although we had insane conditions and the snow seemed to be pretty stable, frost hore like this is a concern and can create weak layers, which make later snowfalls prone to avalanche.

Shane Dorian tests the snow with a classic surf style turn 2nd run of the trip.

Shane Dorian negotiating trees and deep pow.

Baldface Lodge.

Keoni hits the lip with a layback, and everyone enjoying the sauna inside the lodge wonders what the hell¿s going on.

Shane Dorian squeezes in a couple more turns before dark.

A passing bird checks out the aftermath at Mushi.

Sunset Tilt shift photo obstructed by a flying Kale

Thanks to Billabong and everyone at Baldface for making it happen and epic.

CATEGORIZED: Backcountry, Photo Gallery, Photos, Travel
TAGS: Backcountry, Baldface, Billabong, Canada, Cat Boarding, Cat Snowboarding, Gerry Lopez snowboarding, Kale Stephans, Nelson, Nick Hamilton, Powder

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