Ski the East

Sunday River Celebrates 50 Years

From Sunday River:

Sunday River has always been known to "go big." In 50 years, Sunday River has expanded from one mountain to eight peaks, added 16 modern lifts, and blown the competition out of the water with an impressive 1,900 snowmaking gun fleet to ensure the most dependable snow in New England. Now, Sunday River is adding to its season-long 50th celebration with a justly named Mega Pass that combines the ultimate in convenience and premium service.

The new Mega Pass, priced at $2,900, includes unlimited skiing and riding at Sunday River, Sugarloaf and Loon Mountain, unlimited preferred parking, unlimited tuning, unlimited use of a season-long ski/snowboard locker, unlimited use of Sunday River's tubing park, plus retail benefits and two days of both First Track early lift access for four people and use of the luxurious, private ski suite located in the South Ridge Base Lodge.

The Mega Pass is now on sale and can be purchased by visiting www.sundayriver.com or by calling (800) 543-2SKI. For skiers and riders who have already purchased a New England Pass and want to upgrade to the Mega Pass, the cost of their 2009-2010 pass will be deducted from the $2,900 price for a final balance.   

Sunday River celebrates 50 years to the day on Saturday, December 19, 2009 with a kick-off birthday party unlike anything any guest to Sunday River has ever seen. For more details on the Mega Pass, Sunday River's 50th celebration, and season-long activities and events, visit Sunday River's new 50th website: www.sundayriver.com/50.

Photo Sunday River copyright Mike Doyle 

'Ski New Hampshire Anytime' - Ticket Deals

From Ski New Hampshire:

Winter is approaching fast and now is the time to plan some money-saving options for hitting the slopes this winter.  Ski NH's Anywhere, Anytime ticket packages offer approximately 20% off weekend and holiday lift ticket rates at New Hampshire's ski areas.

The packages consist of fully transferable lift tickets, making them a favorite of families, ski clubs, co-workers and more.  Tickets are valid any day during the 2009-10 ski season, including holidays and weekends, with no blackout dates.  Skiers and snowboarders can customize a mix of lift tickets to their favorite ski areas; tickets are broken down into five price categories of $25, $30, $42, $52 and $60 per ticket.  Packages begin at a minimum of 12 lift tickets, with no more than 50% of the tickets from one ski area. 

Ski areas included in the offer are Loon Mountain, Attitash, Bretton Woods, Wildcat Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Mount Sunapee, Waterville Valley, Gunstock Mountain Resort, Cranmore Mountain, Pats Peak, Crotched Mountain, Ragged Mountain, Black Mountain, King Pine and Purity Spring Resort, Dartmouth Skiway, Balsams Wilderness, Granite Gorge, and McIntyre Ski Area.
 
Since there are limited ticket quantities available, skiers and riders should make their purchase sooner than later to be sure to get their favorite ski areas.  For details on Ski NH's Anywhere, Anytime Ticket Packages and order forms, visit http://www.skinh.com/ or call 800-88-SKI-NH (800-887-5464). 

Ski NH is the statewide association representing 36 alpine and cross country resorts and more than 200 lodging and guest service properties in New Hampshire. 

Photo Bretton Woods Copyright Mike Doyle

Sunday Evening 11/1/09 - What Does Warren Miller Dream?

I was watching the trailer for Warren Miller's 60th annual major ski film - Dynasty - and I coluldn't help thinking what does Warren Miller dream about?  Miller turned 85 a few weeks ago and has probably filmed and photoed more ski country than any person alive. Just think of all the awesome stuff he has seen that is stuck in his head and never made it into a camera.

Think back through the years from when Warren was sleeping in his car in the parking lot of Sun Valley - i think it was Sun Valley - anyway it was early ski country. I don't care what peple were dressed in or what they were skiing on, it was the ski country that brought him there. 

All over the world there are these breathtaking, jagged rocky peaks that poke through snow plastered mountains and meadows on mountains that look like pillows. Rewind in your mind whatever ski porn you awed at that showed the choppers taking skiers deep into ranges of Alaska and Canada.

Those mountains were holding snow and beauty for millions of years and I feel just lucky to be around when, if I can't ski them, and I most likely never will, I can at least see them in High Def and I don't care if no one is skiing them. Heck, I'm happy just watching National Geo or Nature but I admit many epic films ago Warren Miller put the bug in my head.

That's what I love about the Alps - gondolas and lifts can put you right smack in the midle of the most aweinspiring landscape of snowfields and always surrounded by a 360 degree curtain of mountaintops. And you kow what - you can ski a lot of these. Depends on your daring and your ability but you can. Once I was skiing with a guide in the Haute Savoie whe she told me we were on her family's high grazing land and that she has 500 years of ancestral records for it. Imagine.

Well, there's still no snow in sight around Saratoga Springs and I didn't see a heck of a lot in Killington last week. But it will come. Now, it's to bed, to sleep - perchance to dream - thanks Warren.

Photo between Val d'Isere and Tignes copyright Mike Doyle

Ski and Snowboard Sale Returns to UMass Amherst

From the UMass Ski 'n' Board Club:

The 42nd Annual Great UMass Ski 'n' Board Sale is back!  November 18-20th, the non-profit UMass Ski 'n' Board Club will host the largest ski and snowboard sale in Western Massachusetts.  The Student Union Ballroom of the UMass Amherst campus will be open to the public and students Wednesday and Thursday, 11:00am-8:00pm, and Friday from 11:00am-7:00pm.  The ballroom will be filled with over six million dollars worth of merchandise from Competitive Edge, Theory, Ski-In and Fat-Trax. 

The sale is the UMass Ski 'n' Board Club's largest fundraiser, allowing the club to offer the most affordable high quality trips available to members.  The aforementioned vendors offer great deals, discounting their merchandise by 40-70%.  Merchandise available will includes skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, goggles, winter apparel, soft goods, movies and everything you will need for 2009-2010 winter season.  Merchandise from all major ski and snowboard manufacturers will be present, such as, Burton, Salomon, Atomic, Volant, Rome, Smith, Oakley, Head, Ride, Volcolm, The Northface, Columbia and many more.

To encourage sales and reward supporters of the UMass Ski 'n' Board Club, each attendee who makes a purchase is entered into the 2009 Great Give-Away with over $2,000 in prizes.  Prizes are donated by ski and snowboard resorts and companies throughout the United States.  Raffle prizes will include lift tickets to Mount Snow, Killington, Okemo, Jackson Hole, Whiteface and many others.   Winners will be chosen on the final day of the sale, Friday, at 6:00pm.  Winners will be notified via email or phone and do not need to be in attendance for the drawing. 

The UMass Ski 'n' Board Club is the largest and oldest Registered Student Organization at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  Since its inception in 1969 the mission of the club is to provide students with the highest quality recreational and social opportunities within the ski and snowboard industry

For more information, please contact Michael Heberlein via cell phone 516/672-7366 or email, mheberle@student.umass.edu.

An Olympic Deal at Waterville Valley

From Waterville Valley:

Learn to Ski and Ride for $21

Already known for its progressive learning programs, Waterville Valley, New Hampshire  has come up with an Olympic size learn to ski and ride deal in honor of the 21st Winter Olympic Games. 

Three "WV Learn to Ski and Ride Weekends" are on the resort calendar, December 12 and 13, 2009, January 9 and 10 and March 20 and 21, 2010.  Each weekend will feature the resort's Olympic $21 Learn to Ski and Ride Specials including a beginner lesson, skis or snowboard rental equipment and a beginner area lift ticket for the day.

"With all the excitement of the Olympics this winter", explains Pete Weber, Waterville Snowsports Director, "we thought it would be really fun and fitting to create a few festive weekends to get people out on the slopes and give skiing and snowboarding a try.  It's also a great way to bring attention to and honor the Olympic athletes who got their start at Waterville Valley." 

Waterville Valley 's Learn to Ski and Ride Packages are for ages 7 and up.  At the end of day one, each new skier or snowboarder will be given a WV Learn to Ski/Ride Pocket Guide full of incentives to come back for two more days.  After Day 3, a Love To Ski/Ride Pass provides 50% off lessons, rentals and lift ticket discounts for the rest of the season.

Learn to Cross Country Ski for $21
The Waterville Valley Nordic Center is also offering a $21 Learn to Cross Country Ski Weekend on January 9 and 10, 2010 for adults and juniors (ages 6-12).  The package includes a beginner lesson, cross country ski equipment and a trail fee for the day. 

Olympic Athletes from Waterville Valley

With a long heritage of ski racing that started with resort-founder and 1960 Olympian Tom Corcoran, Waterville Valley is on the map for launching world class athletes in skiing and snowboarding. 
Several Waterville athletes are hoping to represent the United States in the 2010 Winter Games.    Michelle Gorgone, a 2006 Olympian and WVBBTS Ski Club alumna, is expected to compete again in Alpine Snowboarding.

Hannah Kearney, also a 2006 Olympian and alumna of the WVBBTS Freestyle Ski Program is currently on the Women's A Team for Moguls and a front runner to represent the USA.  Nordic skier Kris Freeman, will be heading to his third Olympic appearance and claims Waterville Valley as his official training site.  The resort is also hoping that Dylan Ferguson, currently on the U.S. Aerials B Team will be selected to the Olympic roster.

_{photo copyright Waterville Valley}

Sunday Evening 10/25/09 - Waiting For Snow

I haven't seen a snowflake anywhere around my house in New York . I did see some natural snow cover at Killington and Pico last week, but I'm getting itchy to see some falling.

I came across this Canada backcountry ski touring outfit -  Golden Alpine Holidays (GAH) - actually they Tweeted me. Basically, they run a helicopter accessed chain of remote backcountry lodges in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia.

They offer alpine touring, telemark, cross country skiing and snowboarding. But, from what I saw surfing around it's helicopter in and out and you do the rest - all skinning and sliding. Sounds neat and a lot cheaper than heliskiing.

However, what I want to show you tonight is this year round web cam loop at one of the GAH lodges. You'll love - A Year in the Life of Sentry Mountain Lodge - especially if you haven't seen any snow this month.

I think if you look close there are about 2 weeks in September when there was no snow in the picture. Dream on!

_{photo touring in VT copyright Mike Doyle}

Stratton Unveils ‘Family Four Packs’ for 2009-2010

From Stratton Mountain Resort:

The price of a weekend movie ticket hovers around 10 bucks nowadays and that’s without the buttery popcorn and sugary sodas to boot. And because of that, families will look long and hard to cure cases of ‘Cabin Fever’ without having to break the bank to do so.

Stratton Mountain Resort has a solution for those families looking to spend quality time together with an added bonus: physical activity. So grab the kids, pack up the car and get outside to ski and ride all winter long with family friendly packages for all.

- Kids 17 and younger ski and stay free when two adults purchase a lift and lodging package at any Stratton condominium. Packages start at $95 per adult / per night (two nights minimum) with double occupancy.

- Our $99 family four-packs include Sunday afternoon lift tickets for two adults and two children 17 and under, plus one large wood-fired pizza at Grizzly’s, a favorite après destination. Add rental gear for only $10 per person.

- A full menu of instructional programs for juniors from the very beginner to the aspiring racer and freestyle competitor, including full ski and ride programs from ages 4-12. With FLAIK GPS Tracking, keeping track of the kids on the slopes has never been easier.

- With a fully-equipped Sports Center, ice skating and resort village shopping, activities and amenities will keep everyone busy for days at a time.

And thanks to ‘Gold Medal Grooming’, critically acclaimed terrain parks and close proximity to Boston, New York City, Hartford and Albany, Stratton offers a big mountain experience at an affordable, small mountain price.  

For more information on Stratton packages or to book your vacation call 1-800-STRATTON or visit www.stratton.com.

2009-2010 Family Four Pack Dates

November 29

December 6, 13, 20

January 10, 24, 31

February 7, 28

March 7, 28

April 4, 11

 

Early Morning Skiing Stratton copyright Mike Doyle

Sunday River Opens

From Sunday River:

Sunday River is the First Resort in the East to Open for a Third Year in a Row!

For the past two years Sunday River has been the first resort in the East to open, doing so on Halloween both times, and today, they’re staking the claim once more opening a full 13 days before Halloween and every other East Coast ski area out there.  Sunday River will offer free skiing and riding this afternoon from now until 3:30 p.m.

Sunday River received three inches of natural snow yesterday, October 13, and has used this and the cold temperatures this past week to make enough man-made snow to open.

“Cold temperatures and advanced snowmaking technologies including tower guns and fan guns helped us open,” said Dana Bullen, Sunday River General Manager. “Opening ahead of the pack is a great treat to offer skiers and riders across New England and we’re proud to be able to stake this claim for a third year in a row.”

Tomorrow, lift access will begin at 9 a.m. and will remain open though Sunday, before temporarily closing for the following midweek period.  Open terrain includes the upper portion of Locke Mountain and is for advanced skiers and riders only.  

Lift tickets starting tomorrow will be $25 for all ages, and can be purchased out of Barker Base Lodge. Lift access will be on the Locke Mountain Triple. Additional trails may open for the weekend depending on temperatures and snowmaking. Updates and conditions reports will be posted online at www.sundayriver.com.

photo copyright Mike Doyle

Vermont Cody Marshall Fund Raiser

From THINKCODY.COM:

There is a fundraiser for Cody being held in Vermont this month.

The Event Details are as follows:

Ice Cream Social and Silent Auction Fundraiser

DATE:10/26/09 Monday
TIME: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Sherburne Elementary School in Killington, Vermont.

 Thank you to Kelly Ziegler and the Sherburne Elementary school for thinking Cody and for your continued support for the Marshall family.

Permalink: blog.thinkcody.com/2009/10/14/update-wed-430am.aspx

Big Guns At Killington

Snow guns started blazing at the Big K about 1AM today and Mother Nature helped out with 4 inches at Killington Peak. Yes, Yes we're off and running for another great season!

photo Killington Resort