Powder Buoy - Connecting Ski Soul Riders From Hawaii To The Rockies

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How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From the Blog

Powderbuoy Pilsner

Proceeds from Powderbuoy Pilsner sales go to the Utah Avalanche Center (Provided by Park City [...]

10
Nov

What is a Buoypop 101

In 2004 a friend of mine who lived part of the year in Hawaii and [...]

25
Oct

How do I interpret the plume data (Blue line graph)?

The Atmospheric Sciences Department at the University of Utah is one of the best, if [...]

25
Oct

From Instagram

Genuine Buoypop right there, should last 4-5 days, that puts MLK weekend+ on the radar. Between now and then we have a little storm on the 7th/8th flying through and again on the 13/14th. I’ve been mostly quiet on the 800 lb 🦍 in the room because I try to make this outlet one of positivity and stoke. When I moved to Utah to go to the U of U in 1993, one of the first classes I took was an EMT class at the Park City Library with hopes of working ski patrol, back when Billy Gray ran the show. I have been first on scene for an inbounds avalanche sadly with fatality in 2008, caught and carried about 100+ meters in an inbounds avalanche myself in the same spot in 2009 two weeks after my daughter’s birth. (Thank you Jimmy Collinson for finding my ski later that summer which lives on as a shot ski). I remember ski patrol saving a friend’s son’s life after an inbounds avalanche at the Canyons. His survival is a statistical miracle given how long he was buried, kudos to ski patrol and Docs who helped him. These are just a few small stories that represent why I stand with our Ski Patrol at all resorts. They are critical in their jobs as first responders and as snow safety mitigators. Mr. Rogers said, always look for the helpers, well, they’re right there, men and women in red, can’t miss em. I’ve used this small soap box to talk about snow safety and promote the Utah Avalanche Center, as I view them as a vital resource to our community. I view our men and women in red as being under that same umbrella. Resorts don’t run without knowledgeable ski patrol. Now every sport has got its patron saint, With whom it is, without it ain’t. Foot pads have their Doctor Scholl
Socialists have G.H. Cole, Boston has its Cabot and Lowell, Skiing has its Minot Dole. Now what is he the father of?
It’s not free wine, it’s not free love
He didn’t find the Dead Sea Scroll
He didn’t invent the casserole
Or even the original jellyroll
He created the ski patrol. Yell for the ski patrol. Yell for the ski patrol. Skol!

Jan 5

Genuine Buoypop right there, should last 4-5 days, that puts MLK weekend+ on the radar. Between now and then we have a little storm on the 7th/8th flying through and again on the 13/14th. I’ve been mostly quiet on the 800 lb 🦍 in the room because I try to make this outlet one of positivity and stoke. When I moved to Utah to go to the U of U in 1993, one of the first classes I took was an EMT class at the Park City Library with hopes of working ski patrol, back when Billy Gray ran the show. I have been first on scene for an inbounds avalanche sadly with fatality in 2008, caught and carried about 100+ meters in an inbounds avalanche myself in the same spot in 2009 two weeks after my daughter’s birth. (Thank you Jimmy Collinson for finding my ski later that summer which lives on as a shot ski). I remember ski patrol saving a friend’s son’s life after an inbounds avalanche at the Canyons. His survival is a statistical miracle given how long he was buried, kudos to ski patrol and Docs who helped him. These are just a few small stories that represent why I stand with our Ski Patrol at all resorts. They are critical in their jobs as first responders and as snow safety mitigators. Mr. Rogers said, always look for the helpers, well, they’re right there, men and women in red, can’t miss em. I’ve used this small soap box to talk about snow safety and promote the Utah Avalanche Center, as I view them as a vital resource to our community. I view our men and women in red as being under that same umbrella. Resorts don’t run without knowledgeable ski patrol. Now every sport has got its patron saint, With whom it is, without it ain’t. Foot pads have their Doctor Scholl
Socialists have G.H. Cole, Boston has its Cabot and Lowell, Skiing has its Minot Dole. Now what is he the father of?
It’s not free wine, it’s not free love
He didn’t find the Dead Sea Scroll
He didn’t invent the casserole
Or even the original jellyroll
He created the ski patrol. Yell for the ski patrol. Yell for the ski patrol. Skol!

Genuine Buoypop right there, should last 4-5 days, that puts MLK weekend+ on the radar. Between now and then we have a little storm on the 7th/8th flying through and again on the 13/14th. I’ve been mostly quiet on the 800 lb 🦍 in the room because I try to make this outlet one of positivity and stoke. When I moved to Utah to go to the U of U in 1993, one of the first classes I took was an EMT class at the Park City Library with hopes of working ski patrol, back when Billy Gray ran the show. I have been first on scene for an inbounds avalanche sadly with fatality in 2008, caught and carried about 100+ meters in an inbounds avalanche myself in the same spot in 2009 two weeks after my daughter’s birth. (Thank you Jimmy Collinson for finding my ski later that summer which lives on as a shot ski). I remember ski patrol saving a friend’s son’s life after an inbounds avalanche at the Canyons. His survival is a statistical miracle given how long he was buried, kudos to ski patrol and Docs who helped him. These are just a few small stories that represent why I stand with our Ski Patrol at all resorts. They are critical in their jobs as first responders and as snow safety mitigators. Mr. Rogers said, always look for the helpers, well, they’re right there, men and women in red, can’t miss em. I’ve used this small soap box to talk about snow safety and promote the Utah Avalanche Center, as I view them as a vital resource to our community. I view our men and women in red as being under that same umbrella. Resorts don’t run without knowledgeable ski patrol. Now every sport has got its patron saint, With whom it is, without it ain’t. Foot pads have their Doctor Scholl
Socialists have G.H. Cole, Boston has its Cabot and Lowell, Skiing has its Minot Dole. Now what is he the father of?
It’s not free wine, it’s not free love
He didn’t find the Dead Sea Scroll
He didn’t invent the casserole
Or even the original jellyroll
He created the ski patrol. Yell for the ski patrol. Yell for the ski patrol. Skol! ...

2789 75

One more shot coming in tonight into New Year’s Eve. If only 5-10 degrees colder the last few days…. I’ll take it as base building and character building so far. Lots of avalanche activity out there and not over just yet. Very thankful for well-trained ski patrol who know our terrain and how to keep us all safe. Next storm on target for the 4th/5th. Looks like the 8th may be more of a fly by to Jackson and Colorado, now looking at the 11th and I think the 17/18th is in play. #yeahbuoy

Dec 29

One more shot coming in tonight into New Year’s Eve. If only 5-10 degrees colder the last few days…. I’ll take it as base building and character building so far. Lots of avalanche activity out there and not over just yet. Very thankful for well-trained ski patrol who know our terrain and how to keep us all safe. Next storm on target for the 4th/5th. Looks like the 8th may be more of a fly by to Jackson and Colorado, now looking at the 11th and I think the 17/18th is in play. #yeahbuoy

One more shot coming in tonight into New Year’s Eve. If only 5-10 degrees colder the last few days…. I’ll take it as base building and character building so far. Lots of avalanche activity out there and not over just yet. Very thankful for well-trained ski patrol who know our terrain and how to keep us all safe. Next storm on target for the 4th/5th. Looks like the 8th may be more of a fly by to Jackson and Colorado, now looking at the 11th and I think the 17/18th is in play. #yeahbuoy ...

1791 24

Boxing Day buoypop, eh! This snow should still last into the new year then a break for a few days, start again around the 5th and then the 8th. #yeahbuoy

Dec 26

Boxing Day buoypop, eh! This snow should still last into the new year then a break for a few days, start again around the 5th and then the 8th. #yeahbuoy

Boxing Day buoypop, eh! This snow should still last into the new year then a break for a few days, start again around the 5th and then the 8th. #yeahbuoy ...

1410 5

An incoming storm is expected to bring snow to the region beginning this evening, and we can expect 4-8 inches of snow (0.5-0.9 inches of SWE) by tomorrow evening. Winds will decrease and shift to the NW tomorrow morning as the storm moves out of our area, bringing a short break in weather before the next system moves in. An active series of storms appears to be on track for northern Utah, beginning Thursday afternoon through the weekend, and we could be measuring snow in feet and not inches. Copied from @utavy #yeahbuoy

Dec 24

An incoming storm is expected to bring snow to the region beginning this evening, and we can expect 4-8 inches of snow (0.5-0.9 inches of SWE) by tomorrow evening. Winds will decrease and shift to the NW tomorrow morning as the storm moves out of our area, bringing a short break in weather before the next system moves in. An active series of storms appears to be on track for northern Utah, beginning Thursday afternoon through the weekend, and we could be measuring snow in feet and not inches. Copied from @utavy #yeahbuoy

An incoming storm is expected to bring snow to the region beginning this evening, and we can expect 4-8 inches of snow (0.5-0.9 inches of SWE) by tomorrow evening. Winds will decrease and shift to the NW tomorrow morning as the storm moves out of our area, bringing a short break in weather before the next system moves in. An active series of storms appears to be on track for northern Utah, beginning Thursday afternoon through the weekend, and we could be measuring snow in feet and not inches. Copied from @utavy #yeahbuoy ...

984 21

Happy winter solstice. The buoy has been firing for the past few days and looks to keep firing thru the 26th. Snow looks to be on 🎯.It’s a real beaut Clark. #yeahbuoy

Dec 21

Happy winter solstice. The buoy has been firing for the past few days and looks to keep firing thru the 26th. Snow looks to be on 🎯.It’s a real beaut Clark. #yeahbuoy

Happy winter solstice. The buoy has been firing for the past few days and looks to keep firing thru the 26th. Snow looks to be on 🎯.It’s a real beaut Clark. #yeahbuoy ...

2441 42

Soon enough…..

Dec 20

Soon enough…..

Soon enough….. ...

727 18

It’s gonna be a happy new year. #yeahbuoy

Dec 19

It’s gonna be a happy new year. #yeahbuoy

It’s gonna be a happy new year. #yeahbuoy ...

2242 78

Still calling for Xmas snow and the 28th too. Things are starting to shape up into the new year and into Jan 4/5 ! #yeahbuoy

Dec 17

Still calling for Xmas snow and the 28th too. Things are starting to shape up into the new year and into Jan 4/5 ! #yeahbuoy

Still calling for Xmas snow and the 28th too. Things are starting to shape up into the new year and into Jan 4/5 ! #yeahbuoy ...

1432 23

Calling for some Christmas Eve snow #yeahbuoy

Dec 12

Calling for some Christmas Eve snow #yeahbuoy

Calling for some Christmas Eve snow #yeahbuoy ...

786 11

So you’re telling me there’s a chance? The 9th dropped a dusting, 14th/15th looks to be shaping up a bit better, then a little some thing possible right before Xmas and looking most interesting between Xmas and new years. #yeahbuoy

Dec 12

So you’re telling me there’s a chance? The 9th dropped a dusting, 14th/15th looks to be shaping up a bit better, then a little some thing possible right before Xmas and looking most interesting between Xmas and new years. #yeahbuoy

So you’re telling me there’s a chance? The 9th dropped a dusting, 14th/15th looks to be shaping up a bit better, then a little some thing possible right before Xmas and looking most interesting between Xmas and new years. #yeahbuoy ...

969 16

This weather report is brought to you by the letter H, and by the worst SLC inversion I’ve seen since I moved to Utah 31 years ago. 🤮

Dec 7

This weather report is brought to you by the letter H, and by the worst SLC inversion I’ve seen since I moved to Utah 31 years ago. 🤮

This weather report is brought to you by the letter H, and by the worst SLC inversion I’ve seen since I moved to Utah 31 years ago. 🤮 ...

889 52

Waiting on a storm…. Reminds me of a great song by @bryonfriedman. Some small hope coming around the 9th, 13th and now 19/20th. High pressure is the name of this lame game, Canada still having all the fun for now. Check out freedog’s song in profile link

Dec 5

Waiting on a storm…. Reminds me of a great song by @bryonfriedman. Some small hope coming around the 9th, 13th and now 19/20th. High pressure is the name of this lame game, Canada still having all the fun for now. Check out freedog’s song in profile link ...

366 15

Wednesday was a pretty solid start to the season! Was hoping for some follow through on that storm but looks like we need to wait 2 weeks. Canada having all the fun this year so far, need the flow to drop down a few clicks to the south. Hurry up and wait.

Nov 29

Wednesday was a pretty solid start to the season! Was hoping for some follow through on that storm but looks like we need to wait 2 weeks. Canada having all the fun this year so far, need the flow to drop down a few clicks to the south. Hurry up and wait.

Wednesday was a pretty solid start to the season! Was hoping for some follow through on that storm but looks like we need to wait 2 weeks. Canada having all the fun this year so far, need the flow to drop down a few clicks to the south. Hurry up and wait. ...

1200 19

Buoypop! Dec 8/9 on the radar. Incoming storm this afternoon for a few days, not too shabby for pre-thanksgiving. Not sure if you’ve seen but all those storms I’ve mentioned going to AK and BC the past few months have filled things in really nicely up there. Not too shabby in the PNW either, Mt Baker looked pretty sick this past week too. Time for this jet stream to move into our general direction. #yeahbuoy

Nov 25

Buoypop! Dec 8/9 on the radar. Incoming storm this afternoon for a few days, not too shabby for pre-thanksgiving. Not sure if you’ve seen but all those storms I’ve mentioned going to AK and BC the past few months have filled things in really nicely up there. Not too shabby in the PNW either, Mt Baker looked pretty sick this past week too. Time for this jet stream to move into our general direction. #yeahbuoy

Buoypop! Dec 8/9 on the radar. Incoming storm this afternoon for a few days, not too shabby for pre-thanksgiving. Not sure if you’ve seen but all those storms I’ve mentioned going to AK and BC the past few months have filled things in really nicely up there. Not too shabby in the PNW either, Mt Baker looked pretty sick this past week too. Time for this jet stream to move into our general direction. #yeahbuoy ...

1305 9

Ramping up! Snow starting the 24th and lasting through the end of the month. Looks like we have a few buoypops lining up out in the waters NW of Kauai. We just came off a smaller but extended pop that ended on the 19th, which pulls us into the beginning of December. Upcoming buoypops look to be the 25th mini and a more sizable one on the 29th, so that keeps us in the game through mid December. Stay tuned for more on those. #yeahbuoy

Nov 21

Ramping up! Snow starting the 24th and lasting through the end of the month. Looks like we have a few buoypops lining up out in the waters NW of Kauai. We just came off a smaller but extended pop that ended on the 19th, which pulls us into the beginning of December. Upcoming buoypops look to be the 25th mini and a more sizable one on the 29th, so that keeps us in the game through mid December. Stay tuned for more on those. #yeahbuoy

Ramping up! Snow starting the 24th and lasting through the end of the month. Looks like we have a few buoypops lining up out in the waters NW of Kauai. We just came off a smaller but extended pop that ended on the 19th, which pulls us into the beginning of December. Upcoming buoypops look to be the 25th mini and a more sizable one on the 29th, so that keeps us in the game through mid December. Stay tuned for more on those. #yeahbuoy ...

1789 22

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