| | Mountains, Not Molehills
Are you looking for the pinnacle of boarding experiences? The next challenge is always sweeter than the last. Amped 2 brings you a whole new range of mountains and terrain parks to conquer.
Each mountain in Amped 2 has three, four, or even five different runs to explore. You pick the heat of your experience when you choose which run you’re going to tackle. Claim your mountain. Make it your own. You’ll soon be inventing super sick trick combos to wow your fans.
Millicent, Utah, USA
Runs: Milly, Park Run, Evergreen, Main Street, Cliff Run
Millicent Mountain rises to the east of the Great Salt Lake. Jibbers never had it as good as you will among the many runs here. World-class super pipes on Park Run give you a chance to show off your tail grabs and other tricks. Each run has a beautiful mangle of jumps if you want to grab some air—and be sure to hit the monster kickers, too.
A lot of pros make their homes in Utah, and there’s a reason for that: You can’t beat training in your own backyard. Utah boasts more than 500 inches of powder every year, so stand sideways and get ready for the ride of a lifetime.
Breckenridge, Colorado, USA
Runs: Four O’Clock, Dukes, Vista Haus
Nearly 150 years ago, the first pioneers came to Breckenridge and staked their claims. The excitement hasn’t stopped since. These days, Breckenridge attracts its own brand of pioneer: snowboarders.
The Cutter’s Cup event is held in Breckenridge. Here, the runs have a combination of slopestyle, superpipe, and big air challenges. Steeps and deeps and massive terrain parks make Breckenridge one of the best places in the world to seek out winter thrills.
Bear Mountain, California, USA
Runs: Bear Express, Gold Mine, Outlaw
People come year-round to the Big Bear Valley, where they can fish and boat on the lake or hike in beautiful wooded parks. Higher up on the mountain, you’ll find the trails and terrain parks ofAmped 2. You may not think they have snow in California, but sweet powder is up there on Bear Mountain, ready for you to carve your mark across its face.
Mt. Hood, Oregon, USA
Runs: Cauldron Drop, The Glacier, Rock Garden
Each run on Mt. Hood has its own personality: some quirky, some sweet, some bad-tempered, and some out-and-out rabid. Likewise they all have a variety of jumps, rails (straight, snaked, and cornered), pipes, freeride areas, and jump-rail combos. The higher drops give ample opportunity to practice your melon 720s, corked 5s, and flips. You’ll find rails of varying difficulty levels ripe for the killing. Bring your biggest bag of tricks to this mountain; it’s Christmastime.
Laax, Switzerland
Runs: Plaun, Curnius, Fatschas, Curtgani, Crap Sogn Gion
Willkommen bei den Riders! Known for its pistes, half-pipes, and freestyle events, Laax lies amid the Alps, just an hour and a half from Zürich. You can almost imagine Heidi here, singing a little song as she rides down the mountain. One unfortunate element of the Laax experience is the locals refer to a “peak” as a “crap.” That’s why there’s an après-ski club known as the Crap Bar. The name is good for a laugh, but most folks don’t belabor the joke. They just want to get to the snow!
Mt. Buller, Australia
Runs: Horse Hill, Wombat, Town Square, Blue Bullet
To get to Mt. Buller, 237 kilometers northeast of Melbourne, you drive through Victoria’s famous wine region. After you’ve made the climb to approximately 1,800 meters above sea level, you’ll find some of Australia’s finest natural terrain parks. Each run offers a plethora of choices for tricks, and insane drops and bowls draw riders with more sass than sense. Mt. Buller is part of a rich aboriginal heritage, and local myth claims that the mountain has a life and mind of its own, so it’s not surprising that you and your mates will find it so challenging and crazy fun.
The slopes in Amped 2 are like the real thing, only better: They always have fresh powder and sunshine. The terrain parks—designed by renowned course architect Chris Gunnarson—take advantage of each mountain’s strengths and weaknesses. So let’s hit the slopes!
By Violet Leigh |
