I’ve just come back from another week in Nova Scotia – the Canadian province I have re-named the ‘Land of Trees and Lakes’ due to the region being smothered in a rich blanket of trees punctuated with cool clear, fresh and salt water lakes.

But it’s not only the lakes nestling round every corner that make Scotia so beautiful  - fishing towns, which are really hamlets by UK standards, are quaint and quiet, dotted with candy cane houses all the colours of the rainbow. And Halifax, the capital city, is more like a really chilled town. No one rushes anywhere and everyone has the time to ask you, ‘How ya doin’?!’ 

But you never hear of Nova Scotia – and certainly not for its snowboarding!

Canada’s second biggest province is eclipsed by the Rockies out West, the Great Lakes of Ontario and of course Niagara Falls, and when people rave about the Fall colours, they are talking about New England further south in the States.

But this under-rated and seemingly undiscovered corner of Maritime Canada was on fire when myself and my Nova Scotian husband paid his folks an impromptu September visit. Early autumn was ablaze with trees singeing as Hurricane Kyle caused their blood red and caramel ginger flames to lick around the province - making our road trips a delight.

Ski Martock

On the way back from Cape Split – a remote point of the Annapolis Valley, up by the Bay of Fundy - we dropped by on ‘Ski Martock’, where my other half worked as a snowboard Instructor for two seasons way back when, in the late 90s. Martock is only 45 minutes from Halifax but has the facade of utter remoteness as other than the tiny resort’s restaurant-bar and nearby local convenience store - there is nothing around for miles…and miles…in either direction, other than the odd house or farm.

But this is the essence and the beauty of Canada.

Martock elevates to a whopping 600 meters with one chair lift and three drag - but there are rails, a ½ pipe, night boarding, and a cross country skiing park. The season runs from late December to mid March and mainly relies on snow guns, thus keeping conditions consistent - and with arguably the best facility management of all, Martock reveals itself as the ‘best skiing in Atlantic Canada (i.e. New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and (maybe) Newfoundland!).

Ski Wentworth

Other ski hills include Wentworth, which also has a terrain park, ½ pipe and night skiing and tends to get the most snow being situated in a valley and on the Nova Scotia snow-belt. Wentworth also has 10km of cross country skiing and several Nova Scotian residents claim it to be the best resort for free-riding.

Ski Cape Smokey

Cape Smokey and Ben Eion are Scotia’s two other resorts and can both be found on Cape Breton Island, famous for whale watching and the picturesque Cabot Trail. Cape Smokey nestles in the Cape Breton Highlands and is the province’s highest resort at 1000m, with all of two lifts feeding 16 runs.

Ski Ben Eion

Ben Eion overlooks the beautiful Bras d’Or Lake and is slightly more accessible near the urban spot of Sydney and in addition to its terrain park and ½ pipe boasts 12km+ of cross country trails – a fantastic way to get the heart pumping whilst breathing in serene and stunning surroundings.

All these resorts are perfect for the novice rider and although expert riders may tire of any one of these in a couple of minutes (!) Scotia is a great place to get your CASI (Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors) Level One - because without the ‘distraction’ of vast/epic terrain, the focus remains on the teaching.

But even if you are an experienced rider, with a great country and western atmosphere, the best radio stations (its rockin’ out on every frequency) and lift tickets at around £15/day - if you combine your riding with a few road trips and take time to admire the wild and open spaces that surround you, making sure you absorb every ounce of the chilled Canadian way – you may find yourself falling victim to the charms of this fruity coloured wilderness and falling in love with Nova Scotia (or indeed a Nova Scotian!) in all its entirety…

“When I see rain, I think…What a waste of perfectly good snow”

This was one of many comments, which had me nodding at my laptop and publically crying tears of laughter – these guys are funny, British wit at its most parched…

‘The Ketchup Smugglers’, consisting of Jack Rabbit, aka film maker Paul Lappin, Bald Eagle, Lone Wolf, and Big Bear can’t understand why sponsorship eludes them – after all they can get a good 3 or 4 inches of air? Nevertheless this short movie shows how they manage to dodge the paparazzi and learn how to jump turn having had only a Tenants Special to start the day.

With clever editing - one of them comments on Lone Wolf’s “riding ability…as an accomplished rider” as he tumbles through the pow – and a complementary soundtrack, teamed with the guys’, board-clutched-close-to-the-heart, sincerity this is one hilarious amateur concoction!

I can’t believe they managed to keep a straight face throughout – these guys’ talents obviously aren’t just confined to their tremendous board sliding skills.

I’m sure they’ll do their new sponsors, their local fish n chip shop and hair salon proud!

You can see for yourself that these guys really could be, the world’s worst snowboarders on: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aqe2QvnriCs

I have sorely missed the sun this summer - its warming energy infuses inspiration into me and enables the fulfilment of my persistent craving to be outdoors. Activities we poor Brits normally have to endure under grey skies and rain can, let’s face it, be far better enjoyed when the sun shines… For example, the ever rare, past-time of swimming (minus wetsuit) in cold salt waters or in fresh water rivers; bright and sweaty tennis games interspersed with the glugging of cool sweet soda in the shade, and afternoons long-boarding along smooth, dry sidewalks.

Yet even during the rare and precious sun worshipping I have conducted this ‘summer’, I have still found myself dreaming about the mountain heaven of snow I will come to immerse myself in this season.

So in these sporadic dry spells, I turn my enthusiasm to my plank with wheels, as when the perfect hill has been found, long-boarding is the closest I’ve come to mimicking the feeling of snowboarding on dry land (in the absence of any massive sand dunes and/or a mountain board!).

After a particularly intense bout of rain and cloud, upon waking to a bright sun the other weekend, the hunt was on for a hill to cruise down and a 20 minute push from home later, we found ourselves contemplating several narrow paths which ran off in different directions through the trees.

After an aggressive and narrow beginning, our choice route widened and flattened out into a path named ‘The Avenue’, so using our imaginations - this concrete slope became our mountain and similarly to snowboarding, a sense of freedom and exhilaration was aroused as we carved broad swooping turns in swift succession.

Shaded from a burning sun, under a canopy of very British Oaks graffitying the concrete with their shadows, run after run, we evaded the stares of passersby - perhaps a little envious at our determined yet yearning kindred spirits…

I heave a sigh of desolation as the rain relentlessly pours outside my kitchen window making my very leafy back garden frustratingly delicious for even more unwanted slimy visitors…I can think of nothing more perfect than to drive the 20 minutes to my local Airport (Bristol), and treat myself to a hot July/August amongst the mountains, shredding the irony that is summer snowboarding.

So in case, unlike me, you are lucky enough to escape (even in part) another wet British summer, and spend your days sliding around gaily in the sun, here is a list of possible European destinations you can choose from (for more infomation on guides to summer snowboarding see our World Snowboard Guide review).

(I hope you don’t suffer any chaffing from your sweaty snowboard pants now! Jealous, me?…)

France

Fancy honing your jibbing skills ready to show off to your buddies this winter? This is where all the die-hard, baggy panted crew come to hang out (so I’ve heard)…

(Fly Grenoble/Lyon)

Tignes – Grande Motte Glacier, June-October (Park)

Les Deux Alpes - June-August (Park & Pipe)

Alpes D’Huez – October-November (Is this late or early season?!)

Switzerland

The Glaciers of some of these uber swanky, prestigious resorts can keep riders entertained, the year round…

(Fly Geneva/Zurich)

Zermatt – Matterhorn Glacier Paradise/Theodul Glacier, May-September (Zermatt Gravity Park)

Laax – Vorab Glacier

Crans Montana – Plaine Morte Glacier, June-October

Gstaad – Les Diablerets Glacier, May–September

Leysin – Les Diablets Glacier

St Moritz – Diavolezza Glacier, May–November

Villars – Glacier 3000, June-August

Austria

If you like sausage, this place will rock your world…Terrain is not bad here either.

(Fly Innsbruck)

Hintertux Glacier (Mayrhofen), May-November (Beware! Usual Park not definite in July/August)

Kaprun – Kitzsteinhorn Glacier; 3203m high, May-October

Solden (Obergurgl) – Rettenbach Glacier, June–October (Park)

Schladming – Dachstein Glacier, May-November (Park and Pipe)

Stubai Glacier - (This is the only Innsbruck resort open for summer snowboarding), May-November

Zell Am See – May-October (Park & Pipe)

Italy

Less prestigious maybe, but less costly and less pretentious (I hope I haven’t spoken too soon…)

(Fly Geneva/Verona)

Passo Tonale (Presena Glacier), June-October

Cervinia

Courmayeur

Norway

If you want to ride where the sun never stops shining (literally), check out how the Scandinavians do things in the home of the vikings…

(Fly via Oslo & Tronoheim)

Stryn - Jostedalsbreen Glacier; esteemed summer resort for this region, April–August

For more extensive information on where to get your summer shred on, check out the ‘World Snowboard Guide’ and Snowboarding the World which you can rely on for blatant, honest opinions about all the above resorts (and more), to help you figure out where might tickle your fancy the most.

Have fun!

(I’m as green as the slug infested leaves in my garden)

For more on summer snowboarding, see our articles on the Iceland Park Project.

Do you love snowboarding/skiing and writing about it?

Yes? Then come and join SnowSphere and get experience at one of the finest online snow magazines in the business.

What would I have to do?

You would be responsible for editing, formatting and posting around one article a week to the site (the article will be supplied to you - you don’t have to write one every week - unless you want to!). You will also be expected to write a blog post (about 250 words) every couple of weeks.

Where would I be based?

Anywhere with an internet connection. The SnowSphere team is spread far and wide across the globe - from Australia to Edinburgh. This role is entirely net based.

What experience do I need?

You must:

• Have a whole lotta love for skiing or snowboarding
• Enjoy reading and writing about skiing, snowboarding and travelling
• Ideally have a blog or website already which you regularly update
• Ideally have some experience of uploading content to a CMS
• Be able to spare about two hours a week

We are looking for enthusiasm as much as experience - someone who can share their travelling experiences and love of skiing/snowboarding in a well written, entertaining fashion.

What are the hours?

This is a casual, part time role, that would probably take 1-2 hours a week.

How much do I get paid?

SnowSphere is a labour of love. Currently, nobody involved in the SnowSphere Team gets paid. We do it because we love snow, we love writing about snow and we love sharing our love for snow with others.

So I don’t get paid? What’s in it for me?

Well - let me tell you a story. Four years ago, I quit my job at a research lab in England to go and explore a bit more of the world by teaching English in Japan. At the time, I couldn’t speak Japanese and I’d never taught before but those two years spent living in a rural little place called Fukui, changed my path forever.

I began to write about my experiences of life in Japan in the form of a Japan Blog. I spoke of the warmth of the natives, the beauty of the mountains that encircled Ono, the small town where I lived, the incredibly heavy snowfalls that crushed houses and derailed trains, and the amazing cultural adventure that Japan is.

My weekly blog postings and pictures fuelled a love for documenting life, and became the basis for many articles that came to be published in various travel magazines, national papers and guidebooks. It was my experiences of snowboarding in the tiny ski areas of Fukui, Japan that also spurred me on to start SnowSphere.com.

A few years down the line and I’ve contributed to dozens of magazines, written columns for major ski and snowboarding publications, and am currently writing a chapter for a new ski guidebook, in addition to keeping the good ship SnowSphere afloat (see my portfolio).

So what I’m saying in a somewhat roundabout fashion is: small things often lead to bigger things. If you’re serious about breaking into travel writing, then getting involved with SnowSphere.com isn’t a bad place to start.

Who knows - you could become the next editor of White Lines or Snowboard UK…

Interested?

Send an email detailing your love for snow, your writing experience and your web savvyness to: editor@snowsphere.com.

Be sure to include any examples or links to any work/blog/websites you have been involved with.

Here at SnowSphere HQ, we’ve always had a whole lotta love for innovators. In the past, we’ve run articles on DIY Backyard Terrain Parks, the K-trak snowbike and even a story about an English entrepreneur who bought an entire mountain and built his very own ski resort: Košútka in Slovakia.

So when we stumbled upon a product that could help snowboarders and skiers get their freestyle fix - without needing any snow at all - we were intrigued.

American company Backyard Terrain Park have done away for the need of sub zero temperatures, cloud formation and precipitation with their ingenious invention: “SnowGel”. Described as “Fake Snow. For Real”, you simply add water and slop it onto your homemade ramp. The resulting goo reduces friction to the point where you can happily ride your DIY set up all day - what ever the weather.

Part of me is amazed at the lengths that snowboarders and skiers will go to, in order to slide a 3m length of metal. They’ll build elaborate setups requiring ramps, rails, lengths of carpet and even lighting rigs for night riding. Then there’s all the strapping in and out of your gear; backyard rail setups give you a ride time of approximately thee seconds. Is it really worth it?

To me, this is so far removed from the original sport of skiing or snowboarding that it’s pretty much a separate sport all together. However, in a warming world, where snow is getting scarce, travel is becoming more expensive and carbon guilt trips are supposed to be curbing our jet setting lifestyles - are backyard ski resorts the future of “winter” sports?

For me - I have to say no. It’s not just the physical action of snowboarding itself, but the whole package of being surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, inhaling crisp air and waking through crunchy snow, that does it for me.

However, these SnowGel set ups look like a lot of fun, and it does make “snow” boarding and skiing more accessible by negating the need for travel or the white stuff - plus it’s a good way of practising your freestyle trickery too.

So this summer, forget the snow domes and forget the dry slopes. You don’t need mountains. You don’t need ski lifts. You don’t even need snow. This summer, it’s all about the DIY snowboarding in your own backyard.

Picture from Backyard Terrain Park. SnowGel retails at $14.95 (about £7) plus shipping from the States. Check out SnowGel.com for more information.

Ktrak is a special kit that converts almost any cycle into a snow bound bike.

At $399 (about £200) for the conversion kit consisting of the rear wheel track and the front ski, it’s not too pricey, but the question is, though the Ktrak may be great fun to ride, is there room in the already saturated ski market for yet another snow bound contraption?

Snowboarding succeeded because it was sufficiently different from skiing to attract an entirely different market; namely, skate and surf punks who reveled in snowboarding’s rebellious nature and were attracted by the obvious similarities of snowboarding to their mother sports.

However, other relics of the winter sports world were not so lucky. The Monoski, Snowblades (officially called Skiboards) and the Ski Scooter were never much of a commercial success, (though they still have a hardcore following) and are rarely seen on the slopes nowadays.

But the Ktrak may have practical applications that its gravity bound predecessors lacked. As it is powered by pedal, the Ktrak could be used as a form of transport in snowy conditions in addition to a recreational piece of kit.

Having read a few reviews of the Ktrak - it seems that one of the potential problems that faces Ktrakers is the rear wheel sinking in deep or soft snow and the exertion of pedaling the thing along flat or uphill sections.

However, I like the look of the design and the footage of people riding them looks fun and if I ever come across one, I’d definitely give Ktraking a try.

We’re still tidying up a few loose ends here and there, so please bare with us while we finish things off, but we hope you like the new look and new functionality of the site, especially the blog, which is now much more, errr…”bloggy”, than it was before.

Let us know your thoughts on the new look, using the comment feature below.

SnowSphere is pleased to announce that we have just expanded our Snowboard Japan T-shirt range to now include Snowboard Japan Hoodies. The hoodies are currently available in four different colours and we will soon be expanding the range to include ladies hoodies too.

We’re also offering 10% off all garments with colour prints. (That’s any print that’s NOT black or white.)

To get your 10% off just select a Snowboard Japan Tee shirt or Hoody with a colour print, and enter the following code at the checkout: SPRINGCOLOUR

Happy shopping.