This past weekend, Burton threw an amazing Mountain Fest with their sponsors at Mountain Creek, NJ. They provided the gear to demo and all they asked in return was your enthusiasm to continue to get up after you inevitably eat it... a lot. While Burton doesn't throw such an awesome bash on the regular; here is my inside look of the event, along with a few tips from a beginner's point of view.
Packing:
Obviously, you will need an appropriate winter jacket. I recommend the Burton Wyle GORE-TEX®, because not only is it super warm and comfy, but Burton will back this product with lifetime warranty. Bring your own goggles or you will be stuck either paying for a pair at the resort or going without (both options suck). You may also want to pack a change of clothes (shirt, pants, and socks), as you will most likely sweat through your initial outfit. I added a Cliff Bar and Gatorade out of habit, but didn't end up touching them so use your own judgement.
Transportation:
While the locals can simply get in the car and drive to the resort, us city dwellers will need to rely on a shuttle bus (unless you don't mind paying Uber $340). Thankfully, NYC Snow Bus has round trip packages for everything you need. They have three main pick-up/drop-off stops: Brooklyn, Union Square, and Times Square. Allegedly they will expand to Upper West Side, but we shall see. Bonus feature: Free Bagels and Beer.
Mountain Creek:
The bus will drop you off and pick you up in front of the Red Tail Lodge. This is where you will pick-up any gear you reserved and check-in for any lessons you may have booked. If you have a backpack full of necessities you wish to stow, they have lockers you can rent for $10. This is also the main hub for food and catching the Lift. If you attend a future festival, I recommend checking out what kind of gear you can demo first to then determine what you will need to rent.
Demo:
This was basically a free candy shop for all snowboarders. Burton supplied their latest fleet of boards and hardware to demo all day... for free.
Board of Choice:
I'm not remotely close to being a pro, but I would definitely recommend the Feather for anyone still learning. She had a super waxy glide in the snow making the transitions easier; but be careful with breaking, as she likes to keep moving.
Burton Girls Ride Day:
Burton has an awesome ambassador program that empowers young women to come together and not only shred the slopes (which they slay at), but also have a voice in a space that has historically been dominated by the boys. Luckily on Saturday they had "Ride Day", which allowed girls of all ages to hang with these awesome ladies on the slopes and base all day.
Relax:
After hours of enduring many inevitable wipeouts, take a minute to relax before heading back to the bus. Grab a brew of your choosing and park your very sore bum by the fire pit. You won't regret it.
Until next time Mountain Fest!
xx Nicolette
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