The snow is falling at Revelstoke - 71cm to date with more to come this week.

But it's not open until December 5 - lucky for some, those (including the author) who aren't arriving until the festive month, unlucky for those who have to stare at the snowcapped mountains while they cross the days off their calendars.

Worse though is the reviews from those already getting tracks - the lucky bastards in Colorado (Loveland) have been ripping it up for weeks, and the glowing reviews just make it worse for us waiting.

There's only so much a snowboarding video can do to scratch the itch, before it gets to a point where it actually makes it worse - the more you watch the more you want to go.

Hell, even watching Out Cold is making me hurt.

On a positive - Lake Louise opens on Friday and Sunshine next week, with a bunch of resorts opening in the lead-up to the important one: Revelstoke on Dec 5.

Hurry up...