Winter in Vermont can leave you pretty stir-crazy, holed up inside for months on end. Sure, you can get out on the mountain with friends, making fresh tracks in the powder and throwing down tricks at the park. But what if you lack regular transportation or the time to get there every day? That’s what your yard is for. 

The first step in your quest for the neighborhood’s most epic backyard winter paradise is to go check out your local ski resort’s terrain park, where someone else has done all the work for you. Try out their features and figure out which ones you like and which ones can you can actually fit in your backyard. That way, your own personal playground will cater to your strengths and you can kick all your friends’ asses on your home turf. Plus, planning it out addresses the whole safety thing—nothing kills the mood like an injury that gets you holed up inside again.

So, you’ve gone to the mountain and plotted out your master plan while listening attentively in biology class. Now the school day is done and your buddies are over to help you construct your masterpiece. Time for tools. 

You need to haul snow from all the places you don’t need it to the location of the features. Shovels are good, so are sleds or garden carts. Also, flat surfaces are the easiest and quickest places to get snow. You can even earn some brownie points from Mom and Dad if you, say, shovel the deck and driveway. You’re really just doing it so you can use the snow to make a sweet tree jib, but they don’t have to know that. Plus, if you’re particularly savvy, you might be able to swap a ride or two to the big hills for your generally helpful attitude. 

Speaking of the art of driveway clearing, do your folks by any chance have a snow blower? This is the greatest tool in the art of backyard terrain-scaping known to man (unless you are magically in possession of your very own pipe dragon, in which case can we please be friends? I’ll bring the hot cocoa). Once you’ve figured out where you want all your features to go, you can use the snow blower to move snow right to the landing for your rail or jump. In no time you have piles and piles of delicious snow ready for sculpting. Make sure also have snow for the run up to the jump and the run out. Pretty much anywhere you will be riding, put a base layer down, so your park will last longer. That kicker you’re building won’t be much fun if it becomes an island surrounded by patches of grass. 

Once your snow is all in place, it’s time to pack it all down and form it into works of art that will get you lots of air and help in your quest to get the perfect action shot for your Facebook profile picture. The packing down is key. I’m sure anyone who’s ever made their own jump can tell you of a time they got it all laid out and ready to go, strapped on their board or skis, headed down for the maiden voyage and.... fail! They (and by “they” I mean me, I’ve done this several times) just flatten the jump completely amidst laugher of their friends and comments about their overconsumption of Ben & Jerry’s (to be fair, Hannah Teter’s Maple Blondie flavor is really good). So, to avoid this, make the jump sturdy and pack that snow down.

 

Here are some common features that will fit well in a backyard park: 

Rails 

Rails are perfect for a backyard park because they don’t require that much space, or even that much snow. While you could get pretty high-tech, there are also plenty of simpler ways to make them for those whose skills with power tools don’t quite match up with their skills on the snow. If your board or skis will slide on it and you can safely secure it, it can pretty much be a rail. 

An easy material to try is PVC piping.  To make it sturdy, screw the pipe to a piece of wood. If you want to get real fancy you can give it a little height by making some legs, or put it on an angle. 

Kicker: 

 The basic component to any terrain park: a jump, made out of snow. You know what a jump looks like, and you just form it out snow, right? Yet so many people manage to pull off epic fails. Save yourself from embarrassment with a few tips.  

First, you don’t want a flat landing. Either find a sloped place to put your landing or build it up with snow. Your legs and your ego will thank you later. Also, pack down the snow as you pile it up, to make sure the jump is sturdy. Spraying a bit of water on the layers can help. When the jump is done, try using one of those cool blue barrels or something to jump over. It will provide contrast against the white snow and make your pictures look cooler, showing off how much air you’re actually getting.

Barnside Quarterpipe/Jib:  

If you have a barn or garage— or any sturdy wall, really— you can use it to save time and snow. Use a snow blower or shovel to pile snow up against the wall, pack it down, and then shape into a quarter pipe. And you thought big features like that were only for the resorts. Make sure you build the lip a couple feet out from the wall to give yourself some space, and spray it with a little water so it’s firm. This is just one example of the many ways you can incorporate the landscape of your yard into your own winter wonderland. Use your imagination and whatever you can find and have fun! 

 

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