Big Mountain Legend Steve Klassen Finds First Turns of the Season at Mammoth
The signal has been officially given: the winter season countdown is over. The legendary big-mountain snowboarder and owner of Wave Rave Snowboard Shop, Steve Klassen, has just posted a video of himself taking the first recorded turns of the 2025–2026 season at Mammoth Mountain, California.
On September 30th, while most of us were still debating the merits of a puffy jacket, the 60-year-old veteran was up on the slopes, finding just enough early-season snow to strap in. It’s a testament to the dedication of a rider whose life revolves around the snow.
The Dedication of the First Track
We’re not talking about deep powder here. The video shows Klassen ripping turns on what appears to be a thin blanket of natural snow. This is the definition of high-commitment early-season effort.
The quest for the first tracks requires planning, intimate knowledge of the mountain, and, usually, a willingness to sacrifice a good base coat on your board. This type of riding is less about throwing massive tricks. Instead, it’s about celebrating the very first taste of winter. Klassen, a true OG, is making sure the transition from fall to full-on winter excitement is done with maximum stoke.
The Legacy of a Big Mountain Pioneer
For anyone new to big-mountain snowboarding, Steve Klassen is a name to know. He is one of the foundational figures of competitive freeriding. He famously won the first-ever Xtreme Verbier in 1996. Still dominating the iconic event, returning for an astounding 18 contests throughout his career.
What makes his passion so inspiring is his resilience. At age 54, Klassen returned to the formidable Bec des Rosses in Verbier for the FWT Finals in 2019, just six months after undergoing hip replacement surgery. That is the kind of fierce dedication and pure love for the mountains that TGR has always celebrated.
Now, five years later, at 60, he’s still the first one out there, reminding us that age is just a number when the snow is calling.
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The True Start to Winter
While Mammoth Mountain's official opening day is set for November 14th, Klassen’s early-season mission is the unofficial signal the community needed. It’s time to pull the winter gear out of storage, start that pre-season cardio, and dial in the base layers.
The winter 2025–2026 season is now officially underway.
