Chasing the Big Mountain Dream and the Future of Snowboarding in Alaska

Chasing the Big Mountain Dream and the Future of Snowboarding in Alaska

Alaska is a place that will redefine your understanding of "outdoor activities." Just a 20-minute drive from downtown Anchorage, you'll be awestruck by the towering peaks of the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges. The scenic Highway 1 leads you into Mat-Su, hinting that human comfort doesn’t stretch too far into the wild.

I've been dreaming of this landscape since the eighth grade. Back then, sitting in the basement of my home in Denver, I spent countless hours playing 1080° Snowboarding on my Nintendo 64, listening to Blink-182 and Less Than Jake, and dreaming of epic runs and a daring life among the mountains. Even then, Alaska was always mentioned as a special place—a realm where riders like Jeremy Jones engaged in spectacular battles in Valdez, and Mike Hatchett's Totally Board series redefined action filmmaking on the peaks outside Juneau.

Touching the Dream

Fast forward to March 2026, and after nearly 30 years, I finally had the chance to make that dream a reality. The question was not only whether Alaska would live up to the image I had envisioned, but also how a regular snowboarder like me could connect with such a grand mountain dream.

On my first evening at Alyeska Resort, I shared dinner with ski journalist Melissa McKibbon. In the cozy atmosphere of the Sakura restaurant, I overheard laughter and chatter about the Natural Selection competition, where athletes and judges were staying in the same hotel as me. We even found ourselves across the table from Grete Eliassen and Dion Newport, seasoned names in the skiing world who were judging the event.

First Day on the Slopes

The next morning, I was picked up by Chugach Powder Guides (CPG) for a heli-skiing day. While this wasn’t my first heli-ski experience, it was undoubtedly the most efficient. Small groups of four or fewer were organized based on skill and experience, with a guide assigned to each group. CPG utilizes up to four A-STAR B3 helicopters, and the small group size made everyone feel more comfortable flying high over the peaks.

We marked 2,500 vertical feet on some of the purest terrain I had ever experienced, chasing my passion down to the cold waters of Cook Inlet. Although temperatures never exceeded 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the sunlight softened the surface snow to create perfect runs. Once we earned the trust of our guide Zach, he began expanding our skiing area, allowing us to push ourselves on steeper, powder-filled runs.

Life in Girdwood

Both the resort and heli-ski activities are located in Girdwood, Alaska's only resort town. The following day, I reacquainted myself with Alyeska. Skiing with CPG provided me with experiences on steep slopes and long powder runs, releasing emotions and connecting me with nature.

The resort opens daily at 10:30 AM, providing access to the tram. There's also the Alyeska Nordic Spa, featuring hot and cold baths as well as saunas, all in true Scandinavian style. Hotel room rates start at just over $200 per night. The terrain at Alyeska boasts significant vertical drop and nearly 700 inches of annual snowfall, more than enough for me to immerse myself in breathtaking runs.

Reflections on Alaska

During my two days at the resort, I tackled two runs on the famous “North Face,” Ragdoll and Pandora. Each run was steep and technical, combining open snowy areas above with tree-lined sections below. We spent most of our time repeating Glacier Bowl Express, where long steep runs allowed riders to stretch out and carve into turns.

My time in Girdwood exposed me to one aspect of snow culture in Alaska. However, just a few hours north in Mat-Su, my perspective on the dream I wanted to achieve began to shift.

Exploring Mat-Su

Here, I traded my seat and rotor blades for a snowmobile with Snowhook Adventure Guides, exploring the winter terrain as many Alaskans do. Instead of traditional walking paths, the roads in Mat-Su are often flanked by snowmobile tracks, sometimes winding up hillsides as riders couldn’t resist making fresh tracks.

I experienced a three-hour trip with Snowhook. Previously, I had thought this activity unnecessary, but taking to the “snow machine”—as Alaskans call it—was the only way to truly experience the area. At various points during the trip, dog sled teams passed us, giving me a firsthand glimpse into a sport I had only seen from afar.

Different Approaches

The echoes across frozen lakes and trails through the pine woods opened up a new view of the terrain I wanted to explore, demonstrating that accessing this landscape is a unique local knowledge. As the clouds parted in the morning, Denali stood out in the distance, recognizable even from around 200 miles south.

By this point, the trip had transformed into a broader understanding of how people here enjoy the snow season—by helicopter, chairlift, snowboard, or sled. This shift had prepared me for a deeper insight into the snowboarding culture here.