The snow melts fast as snowboarders heat up the icy slopes around Beijing

Whistler this is not, but there are still some quality rides to be had just a stone's throw away from Beijing. It's that time of year again when boarders get that itch around their collars and they are jonesing for a little China white. The mercury is firmly ensconced on the unhappy side of zero and snow makers are red-lining in unison.

It's funny how when life closes one door it tends to open a window. That is the story of the proclaimed "Grandfather of Snowboarding in China." When Steve Zdarsky traveled to China to study economics, little did he know he would start a craze, and for many a way of life. Like most winter sport lovers Zdarsky started skiing at a young age. His father owned a ski school in his native Austria. Maybe it was rebellion or just too much of a good thing but Zdarsky was pretty much done with skiing when snowboarding came screaming down the slopes.

"I tried snowboarding and since then I never skied again." It seemed neither skies nor slopes were a limit for Zdarsky as he went pro and picked up a couple well-heeled sponsors. That's when disaster struck.

"I worked as a snowboard instructor in my dad's school, was traveling around representing Volcom (a brand) and competing, judging etc. One day I blew out my knee and after that I decided to study Chinese and economics."

Zdarsky's cavalier attitude aside, he was the first man to scare the be-Jesus out of wealthy Chinese snowplowers earning him the moniker "Grandfather of Snowboarding in China".

"No people there had ever seen snowboarding before so it was a pretty funny time." Zdarsky has parlayed those humble beginnings into a career in China. He now designs snowboarding facilities for Mellow Parks, connected to Nanshan and Wanlong resorts.

China is a step or two behind Japan and South Korea when it comes to snowboarding and facilities, but coming on strong. According to Grandpa Steve the time is now for Chinese boarders.

"Since big brands like Quicksilver and Burton invest money in the market now I think it can be a pretty big sport like it happened in Japan and Korea before. The scene is getting more and more like the States or Europe where everyone is cooler than everyone else and it looses a little bit of the family flair it had. Foreign pro riders are coming to china to participate in events and the Chinese national team is participating in the next winter Olympics."

If you want to see how the pros do it you still have an opportunity. The final stop on the Mellow Snow Park Tour, a competitive event, goes January 7th. The event runs one day before the Snickers Nanshan Open.

If watching the pros is not your cup of green tea then according to Zdarsky there are many resorts to chose from, but not many in the way of quality.

"There are 13 ski resorts around Beijing now and about 300 other ones in total across china. Most of them for foreigners who have a background in skiing/snowboarding would not call them ski resorts at all. Also most of them add stuff in like petting dogs for money and other weird stuff. If you are looking for a decent riding experience there are only a few of them to go to."

If you want to listen to your elders, the Grandfather says that in the Beijing area Nanshan and Shijinglong are the leaders.
According to the Grand Wizard of white powder here are the local hot spots.

Nanshan highlights: Nokia Nanshan Mellowpark, best pizza (most ski resorts have crappy food), two snowboarding schools, several of the best snowboard shops in china and separate beginner areas for skiers and snowboarders. Traffic is light heading there or back.

Shijinglong highlights: It boasts the longest slope in the Beijing area, Snowboard Park, decent food, huge beginner area and it's not expensive. But beware, traffic mayhem!

Up in the north the good ski resorts with actual real snow are Wanlong, and far up in the north Yabuli. Wanlong is not so hard to reach but you should stay overnight as it’s at least a 3 hour car ride there. Yabuli is not so easy to reach and it's really freezing over there (like minus 40), but they have cool slopes!