Terry Peak, South Dakota.
In case you’ve been living on the East Coast, Europe and/or don’t give a shit, the US West Coast is seriously lacking snow right now. It hasn’t snowed at all in Oregon, Washington has had storms followed by rain, California is bone dry. It was warm and raining last week in Utah. Colorado has faired the best, but three inch storms can only do so much. Even Montana, where it’s always winter, was reported to be “the worst ever” last weekend.
With things this dire, there’s only one thing for a desperate snowboarder such as myself to do – head east! But since I’m driving and I don’t want to get too far from Oregon, or drive more than 6 hours at a time, there was only one viable option for me. South Dakota.
Look at the beautiful view of some sort of mine!
Nestled in the Black Hills and affectionately referred to by the locals as “the Bump,” Terry Peak is nearly 1000 vertical feet of terrain you won’t find anywhere else. Literally. I’ve always been fascinated by small resorts you never see or hear about, so when Will Johnstone, who I know only because I accepted his friend request on Facebook suggested I come check it out after SIA I figured, why the hell not?
I know you guys love it when I post selfies!
Unfortunately, Will had to work at Edge Sports in Rapid City on the day I was there, so he set me up with aspiring jib Girl Alleiyah Crawford for the grand tour. Despite what you’d expect from its nickname, Terry Peak is actually not that tiny for “the Midwest.” (Is South Dakota still the Midwest?) There are four high speed quads, multiple tree runs, one kinda steep section and tons of super fun gully runs that the South Dakota wind shapes into perfect berms. Locals have stashed mini jibs in the woods and there’s also a low impact snowboard park with my favorite, ride on rails!
Don’t mind the reflective snow.
South Dakota might not be a sleeper snowboard mecca, but a day riding mini shred with Alleiyah definitely put a perma-grin on my face, and I think we can all agree, that is what snowboarding is really about. Next stop, Montana, where it is finally supposed to snow.
Corrugated tube art.
Skier in a cowboy hat. Check.
Why wouldn’t you just go ride like Hyland, Wild, Troll, Afton? Anywhere not in South Dakota…? That was just poor planning, you were so close..
It is a place that has not been posted about, something different.
reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit, is it?
hyland troll and afton alps are 8-9 hours away, however, for us rapid city folk, terry peak is about an hour away. puffthemagicdragon…. you ignant as fuck
looks like a Mom & Pops resort. Pretty cool!
yobeat audience = goldfish memory
Terry Peak sucks. It is literally the only ski area in the world where skiers and snowboarders are hated. The gold mine is their only interest anymore.
Terry Peak is a fine ski hill. The Black Hills are really a beauty to behold. We get decent snow and the occasional 4 foot dump. We have top notch lifts that run.. Every day. The runs are well groomed every night. Snowmakers busts their knuckles to provide us with enough snow to ski until April. Skiing at the resort, snowshoeing/x-country skiing in maintained areas, or snowmobiling the 350 miles of groomed trails; the Black Hills has what snow enthusiasts travel for. Come hang out.
okay saul goodman
Terry Peak is not that great buddy and the black hills suck.
snowboarding is snowboarding you dumb fucks, that’s whats nice it doesn’t take anything fancy with bells and whistles to go snowboarding.
Brooke, were you on acid?
90% of Americans don’t know south Dakota exists
Terry Peak Represent
Brooke you look like a man
3 inch storms in Colorado? Just today Winter Park got 10 inches and Steamboat received 18 inches in the last 48 hours. Copper has already received nearly 200 inches and it’s only Feb. 5th!
Sorry you hate Colorado Brooke but if you’re going to bash a state at least know the facts. Then again you never use facts, so why am I surprised.
vermont has better conditions than colorado… just saying
#firebrooke
I’ve visited some small places but this one was one of the worst…the peak, excuse me hill as a joke and the frozen sheet of ice over mostly man-made snow left a lot to be desired.