Weather patterns define what we're able to do in the mountains. Sometimes, crazy weather can wreak havoc, but other times, it brings the good. In Argentine, the Zonda is a fast and wild wind specific to Cuyo, Argentina that comes down from the mountains into the valleys at terrific speeds, destroying most things in its path. The upside? Following each Zonda is cold weather and plentiful snow. Dorian Densmore joins Adria Millan and Argentino snowboarder Alejo Sanchez to ride the most snow the area has seen in 20 years.

1/23/24 - This week’s stoke:

What we’re watching:

• The Pass - The Rogers Pass avalanche control program is one of the most impressive systems of its kind in the world. Designed to protect the Canadian National Railway and the Trans Canada highway, the system uses 17 howitzer placements to shoot artillery rounds at the peaks to intentionally trigger slides. Arcteryx's new film dives deep into the history of the program that operates in some Canada's finest ski terrain.

• Fabio Wibmer Rides The Streif - The Streif is one of, if not THE, gnarliest ski race ever. Blasting down the side of the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel, Austria, the legendary DH race drops down some of the steepest pitches in the Alps. It's terrifying on skis, so freeride mtb pro Fabio Wibmer thought why not try it on a mountain bike?

The Beta:

• FWT Cancels Baqueira-Beret Stop 1 - The Freeride World Tour canceled its first stop of the 2024 season in Baqeuira-Beret due to lack of snow in the venue. There will not be a replacement event, so riders now have fewer chances to qualify for the finals.

• Atomic Releases 2024 Ski Lineup - Atomic released their 2024 ski lineup and it includes two new Bentchetler skis, a FWT-ready freeride ski called the Maverick 115 CTi that was designed with help from Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, and several new women's specific skis and boots.

Elevating the Craft:

• Backcountry News Summary from the High Route - The High Route summarizes some of last week's news in the backcountry skiing world. The snowpack in the West became incredibly unstable and led to numerous high profile accidents, including several fatalities. They also detail an interesting article from the Avalanche Review about guide safety habits.

Sidetracked:

• Heli Skiing Helicopter Crash in BC - A heli skiing helicopter crash left 3 dead, and 4 in critical condition near Terrace, BC. The aircraft was operating with Northern Escape Heli and the cause of the crash remains unclear according to the RCMP.

• Colorado Skier killed in Avalanche Outside Ophir - A snowboarder was killed by an avalanche while riding outside Ophir, Colorado on Tuesday in the Waterfall Creek drainage. The victim was identified as 67-year-old Peter Harrelson, a local physician and longtime resident of Ophir.

Thanks for reading and see you next week,
Max Ritter and Andrey Shprengel