What is
Zero Zone?
What is
Zero Zone?
Imagine a skate park for skiers and snowboarders to master their
craft without having to venture all the way to a resort and pay the
ridiculous ticket prices.
Zero Zone is an organization that brings collaborative hike parks to areas around Bozeman, for freestyle skiers and snowboarders to have local zone to hone their skills. Open before, during, and after the Bridger Bowl and Big Sky season, Zero Zone offers a local spot with hand-built metal and PVC features for riders of any age and ability to develop their tricks in an environment of like-minded individuals.
Imagine a skate park for skiers and snowboarders to master their craft without having to venture all the way to a resort and pay the ridiculous ticket prices.
Zero Zone is an organization that brings collaborative hike parks to areas around Bozeman, for freestyle skiers and snowboarders to have local zone to hone their skills. Open before, during, and after the Bridger Bowl and Big Sky season, Zero Zone offers a local spot with hand-built metal and PVC features for riders of any age and ability to develop their tricks in an environment of like-minded individuals.
How it Began
How it Began
The Zero Zone started out as an idea back during Covid-19.
Many ski resorts operated under a reservation system with
limited spots available to the public, and because of this
many of us were often left unable to ski at our local resorts
on busy days and the weekends. So we did what freeskiers
naturally do when our access to skiing is limited: we went out
and created it ourselves. The first Zero Zone was created in a
shady patch of Hyalite Canyon, initially just being a couple of
rails and a janky quarter pipe. But as the season went on we
noticed more snowboarders and skiers showing up to the spot,
some had been following the build progress all season, while
others had just stumbled across it while just looking for
somewhere to ride.
We quickly realized that establishing a public hike park near
town would be very beneficial to the local community, and we
set out to create a place that new and veteran riders alike
would appreciate. That’s when the idea for the Zero Zone
was born: to create a free, public hike park for local riders
to collaboratively build and enjoy. For the rest of the winter
we spent time building jumps, rails, pump tracks and other
features for the local community to enjoy. Ultimately however,
the original spot was turned into a private driveway later that
spring, and we had to set out to create a new Zero Zone.
The Zero Zone started out as an idea back during covid-19, Many ski resorts operated under a reservation system with limited spots available to the public, and because of this many of us were often left unable to ski at our local resorts on busy days and the weekends. So we did what freeskiers naturally do when our access to skiing is limited: we went out and created it ourselves. The first zero zone was created in a shady patch of Hyalite Canyon, initially just being a couple of rails and a janky quarter pipe. But as the season went on we noticed more snowboarders and skiers showing up to the spot, some had been following the build progress all season, while others had just stumbled across it while just looking for somewhere to ride.
We quickly realized that establishing a public hike park near town would be very beneficial to the local community, and we set out to create a place that new and veteran riders alike would appreciate. That’s when the idea for the Zero Zone was born: to create a free, public hike park for local riders to collaboratively build and enjoy. For the rest of the winter we spent time building jumps, rails, pump tracks and other features for the local community to enjoy. Ultimately however, the original spot was turned into a private driveway later that spring, and we had to set out to create a new Zero Zone.
Then as fate would have it, in 2021 @Twig and @katrina graciously used
leftover company budget to create the Newschoolers stimulus project, a
cash fund that was distributed to help fuel independent projects within
skiing. The Zero Zone was one of the projects selected to receive funding;
we were the only project selected that is not specifically a film or video
series, as it's more so a grassroots project to organically grow the local ski
and snowboard scene within Montana. After the funding was secured,
we began to scout spots, build features, and acquire tools and other
materials needed to make Zero Zone happen.
But then 2021 season saw abysmally low snowpack and injuries plagued
the core crew of Zero Zone, so we decided to hold off until the 2022
season. Over the course of spring and summer we spent our time
researching, building and scouring the land for jib-able materials to
build with. By the time the season kicked off here in Montana we had
an entire fleet of hand built and locally donated features ready,
with even more on the way.
Then as fate would have it, in 2021 @Twig and @katrina graciously used
leftover company budget to create the Newschoolers stimulus project, a cash fund that was distributed to help fuel independent projects within skiing. The zero zone was one of the projects selected to receive funding; we were the only project selected that is not specifically a film or video series, as it's more so a grassroots project to organically grow the local ski and snowboard scene within Montana. After the funding was secured, we began to scout spots, build features, and acquire tools and other materials needed to make Zero Zone happen.
But then 2021 season saw abysmally low snowpack and injuries plagued the core crew of Zero Zone, so we decided to hold off until the 2022 season. Over the course of spring and summer we spent our time researching, building and scouring the land for jib-able materials to build with. By the time the season kicked off here in Montana we had an entire fleet of hand built and locally donated features ready, with even more on the way.
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