For skiers in southern New England, this means wondering if there will be a season at all.
Unseasonably warm weather and record-low snowfall has left the mountains bare in mid-February and closed by Saint Patricks Day.
Freeskiing is a creature wholly removed from its parent sport.
Freeskiers are adaptable, monitoring snow conditions and adjusting from feature to feature as the temperature and snow changes.
These riders dont wait for the bluebird days to learn new tricks; they dont have that luxury.
But its about exploration.
You do what you might with it.
These arent your million dollar babies, explains Harvey.
This next generation will be one of fun-loving, at-heart shredders.
Any weather, any conditions, any features, theyre ready to go.
The southern New England terrain park education is one of bruises, broken edges, and gouged bases.
They land their tricks, they use their edges, theyre always struggling with the conditions but getting it.
The end result is a burgeoning of creativity and a style of gritty determination.
These skiers stick it out, and will continue to do so, to the bitter, bloody end.
Its a lot less expensive to make snow on a 1,000 ft terrain park than a 5,000 ft trail.
Powder Ridge is one of the mountains preparing for the possibility of a snowless winter.
In 2017 they opened a 365 Synthetic Snow Park.
Right now, the mountain is looking into going full synthetic in the next few years, he explains.
This would make it the largest synthetic hill in the world.
The riders born out of it wont be your elegant big air artists.
These will be the ice freaks and the street nuts.
With luck, theyll have a park crew creative enough to keep the locals happy.
