...that eastern ski resorts can open early.

We here at the Source like to think of ourselves as optimists.

While our hearts are certainly with the victims of the Frankenstorm, which is battering the east coast and has already claimed at least 38 lives across eight states, flooded countless homes and business and left millions without power, we've been desperately searching for a bright spot in all this dark news.

I think we found it.

Snow in the mountains! Hopefully the early snow storm translates to a healthy ski season for the numerous Appalachian ski resorts throughout the Northeast. Many of them have already received two to three feet of snow, with more on the way, according to forecasters. 

Warren Miller’s Flow State is your Saturday night/Sunday night solution.

Here's why: Beautiful snowriding shots set to dubstep, beer on tap, free giveaways from local retailers AND...

your $20 ticket GETS YOU ONE LIFT TICKET TO MT. BACHELOR! Yes, this is for real.

Our partners over at Lay It Out Events really want you to have a good time. And so do we. We just gave away two tickets to Flow State and we have two more to give away! Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page for more.

Like free stuff? Good. Powderhouse, Mountain Supply, Great Outdoors and others will be on hand with loads of new gear which they will throw into the crowd with abandon. Plus, if you fill out a simple form you’ll be entered to win one of three prizes from Warren Miller, where the top prize is a heli-ski trip in B.C. So, there’s that.

While compiling a short list of the best ski/snowboard films EVER for our annual SnowRider's Issue (on stands Oct. 18) we came across some real gems.

Mostly there involve late-80's ski legend Glen Plake, who is (still) the man.

Here are a few others that are on the list. What's missing?

So y'all are doing a really bang-up job of submitting your best ski/snowboard photos for our annual Snowriding Issue (on stands Oct. 18—that's next week!). We're pretty impressed with the quality of images. Not only are Bend shredders going big, they have an eye for photography. Who knew?

Anyway, keep sending in you photos! If we get enough quality images we'll run a TWO-PAGE photo spread of YOUR PHOTOS! the Source Weekly—the newspaper of the people! 

The submission deadline is 10am, Friday. Email all photos to [email protected] and remember...

Include: photo credit, high-res images.

Don't include: any text, stamp or photo credit on the image.

There's no shortage of ski films slated for screenings in Bend. Lucky!

On Saturday, TGR's 2012 release The Dream Factory is showing at the Tower (8pm, $12). The welcome-to-winter film highlights Alaska and its pioneers—old and new—from old-skooler Doug Coombs to new stompers like Seth Morrison. It's from TGR, so it's going to be awesome. Watch the trailer below if you don't believe me.

Unfortunately, TGR's dumbass website person listed Bend as a city in Idaho. So, don't be thrown off, or whatever. The film IS being shown at 8PM, SATURDAY at the TOWER. 

Okay. We've also got The Ordinary Skier showing at BendFilm, which starts Oct. 11.

Finally, the new Warren Miller movie, Flow State, is screening in Bend on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22. AND! Each $20 ticket includes a FREE LIFT TICKET TO MT. BACHELOR. We have some of these and we will give two away next week, so stay tuned.

The Sammy Carlson Invitational is coming to Mt. Bachelor on May 19. This is big news in the ski world.

Here's why: Carlson was the first skier ever to land a switch triple flip, a move he stomped at Mt. Hood in July of 2010. And, as reported by ESPN yesterday, his invitational includes such big name slopestyle/freeskiers as Sean Pettit, Alex Schlopy, Kaya Turski, Dane Tudor and more.

We're pumped for this, despite Bachy's new and reduced spring hours—a move that has drawn the ire of skiers, snowboarders, snow-tubers, snowshoers, nordic nerds, dog mushers and most of the rest of Central Oregon's snow enthusiasts.

See Carlson getting rad below—actual footage of his switch triple rodeo 1260:

...Where's there's a long line for the free Deschutes.

Actually, this forum should be very interesting, given Bachelor's new spring operating hours and the recent Community B.O.M.B. Facebook group page.

Check twitter (@sourceweekly) and our Facebook page for live updates.

The Riverhouse convention center is packed!

Cool video segment from Source columnist Sebastian Foltz that he shot on a recent spring trip with Mt. Bailey's crew. For his full report, read this week's Outdoors story. 

Then ski some more. And eat more. There's never a bad time to eat waffles.

Ski a bit and enjoy some treats at the Meissner shelter on Sunday, Feb. 26 starting at 10:30 a.m.

And don't forget to drop donations for Meissner Nordic (the ones who do all the grooming and provide updates) in the box near the parking lot.

From their website: This is a fun family event. Ski out to the Meissner Shelter and partake in a delicious, authentic Norwegian style waffle cooked in the wood stove at the shelter. First come, first served. . .  see you there!

National Geographic (Adventure version!), a publication which has a pretty good handle on these things, recently named Bend as one of the "World's 25 Best Ski Towns." Yep, right up there with Chamonix, France and Zermatt, Switzerland. You can read out editor's grumpy take on the piece in the blog below.

At first we were all, "Wha...?" And then we thought about it. And after that, we actually read the short intro to the article (after having only flipped through the pictures and the attached names of exotic ski towns). Now it makes sense. Bend is in fact, a damn fine place to live. And ride snow, regardless of what our trusty (and hyper-critical) editor thinks.

NG's basis for its picks:

"It starts, naturally, with skiing and snowboarding ... Then add an inviting mountain burg steeped in ski heritage, amenities, and culture."

We have that. Decades of ski history and plenty of snow? Check. Music, dining, shopping (Jesus, did I just say that?), higher education, craft beer, other cool local shit? Check. So, thanks, NG. We'll take it, especially given some of other smaller U.S. hills and towns listed in the article.