While most people were dreading the seasonal weather shift to that of below-freezing temperatures and seemingly endless snow, he did everything he could to make sure that when the first snowfall finally came, he would be ready. Like many other snowboarders, Leahy was unaware of just how good the 2000-01 season would be.
More snowfall has many advantages to snowboarding other than just prolonging the season.
Many riders found the continually fresh snow to be more forgiving when trying to learn new things and test personal limits. Along with allowing riders to try new things, the larger snowfall amounts brought accessibility to more terrain. With all the snow we had, I was trying new things, did stuff I had never done before. According to Tewksbury, the larger amounts of snowfall caused some smaller trees and other ground cover to be covered up, making some wooded areas easier to ride. The larger base also made it safer to drop off of cliffs found in backcountry areas.