Chasing Winter at Mt. Hood with Chris Rogers

Oregon’s Mt. Hood Timberline ski area has been a summer ski and snowboard destination for decades. With lift-served race, mogul, and freestyle clinics – as well as free-riding options – along with the opportunity to watch top athletes working on ways to improve their game, it’s easy to see why it’s a favorite.

AASI Snowboard Team member Chris Rogers has made regular trips to Hood to work as an instructor and coach on the sunswept slopes of Timberline’s Palmer Glacier. Here, he shares why the area offers such a great opportunity for instructors who want to keep chasing winter.

Q: Why is Mt. Hood such a great place to hit for clinics and training in the summer?

A: Mt. Hood is one of the few places where instructors can get on snow in the United States in the summer. Whether it’s through a PSIA-Northwest event, attending or coaching at a camp, or just heading up for some riding, Hood offers numerous opportunities for slushy fun turns, progression in the terrain park, and the camaraderie of fellow snow enthusiasts rounding out their season. Mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, wake surfing, and all of our various summer activities and cross-training programs are great, but nothing beats putting your snowboard or ski boots on and getting to slide on snow.

Q: Please give a little overview of the scene – both on and off snow – and what kind of levels of athletes you can expect to see there.

A: The area is an outdoors-lovers’ paradise, with a plethora of options for dirt and water recreation in near proximity. You’ll find everyone from beginners to top-level athletes putting in summer training hours.

Q: What kind of different camps do you see on the mountain, and what kind of groups have you traditionally led there?

A: The bulk of the snowboard camps are freestyle focused, as Timberline offers the biggest terrain park available during the northern hemisphere summer. This spring I was out there to work with PSIA-Northwest ed staff on elements of the PSIA-AASI alignment project, and to test out some of the process ideas that came out of Spring Conference. We’re very hopeful to have an AASI Rider Rally summer session at Timberline sometime soon.

Q: How does getting back on snow in the offseason help you stay engaged both as an instructor and lifelong learner?

A: I remember as a new member of the Rocky Mountain Ed Staff being envious of Tony Macri and Scott Anfang as they got back from New Zealand and came to our fall training already tuned up. When most of us were making our first turns of the season while working through examiner training, those who had been on snow all summer – and were still sporting goggle tans – were still dialed.

Cross-training is great, and there are so many sports and activities that help with fitness and readiness for the season. However, if you haven’t strapped in and spun a 360 over a small jump in six months, it’s going to feel a little rusty when you do. I feel like most instructors training for certification experience the situation of two steps forward during the winter season, and one step back in the summer. When the season starts up again, there’s a re-breaking in period where you’re just getting back to where you were in the spring. Any time I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the summer on snow, I feel like the progression never stops and, I’ve been able to continue pushing forward.

Q: At Hood, there really is a sense that everyone is actively working on improving. What’s it like to be around that vibe and how does it inspire you?

A: This is something I’ve experienced in many places where the runs are shorter. Whether it’s Midwest resorts, snow domes, or summer camps, as the acreage shrinks, the focus goes up. I remember my first trip to run clinics in the Midwest, at Highland Hills, there was a park setup where you would only get one or two features before heading back up the rope tow. Something about that setup leads to more focused practice. I’ve seen that at Big Snow [in New Jersey] and snow domes in China, at several different summer camps, and at many smaller resorts.

As a trainer and coach, it’s always incredibly inspiring to see people dedicating themselves to focused practice time. Being around others who are training always makes me want to push myself more, and that’s inevitably the vibe at Hood!

Q: What would you say to anyone who might still be thinking of making a quick trip there?

A: Do it! Portland is an easy airport to get in and out of, and especially with the heat all over the United States this summer, you won’t regret a trip to the snow!