Leon Butler

Every now and then we just seem to click with certain experiences that consume us, and we then fight tooth and nail to hold onto or stay a part of whatever feeling that situation conjured up.

As mountain folk we are lucky to share an activity that captives and consumes us in a healthy and positive manner. The need to get out in the outdoors and explore is in the bare bones of human nature and we need to protect the places that allow us to do it at all costs.

The winter calendar is chocka with events, races and festivals, but with spring around the corner there are a handful that really stand out. With the days getting longer and warmer, there’s more time for fun activities and good vibes, we feel these events will go a long way to ending your winter on a high.

Skiing and snowboarding are more than a pastime for a lot of people, it becomes a part of their lives that borders (sorry) on obsession. This list celebrates the creativity of athletes and filmmakers who blazed the way with unadulterated fun and balls-to-the-wall riding to some heavy hitting tunes.

With crowds getting longer and winter weather becoming increasingly variable, maybe it's time to get creative with the resorts we spend our hard-earned money on. That could be finding little gems of a resort that represent true value for money or splurging the cash for a once-in-a-lifetime trip that you tell the grandkids about. Either way, we’ve put together our five choices for resorts that you might not immediately think of, but should.

Been waiting all year for that week away to the mountains with the crew? Hit the ground running with a perfectly waxed ski and beat your mates down the hill.

In recent years the ski industry has seen an uptake in innovative ideas, ranging from the pointless to the ‘how did I ski without this’. In particular, there has been an active shift towards being more sustainable and also integrating tech to make the snow experience more enjoyable. Sometimes it's hard to weed out the good ones, so we’ve done it for you.

Getting tired of those lift lines? Or maybe that latest ski flick has channelled your inner powder hound, here's how to get into the backcountry and enjoy mountains in their purest form.