Ski the East

Mount Snow’s Carinthia Opens Superpipe

From Mount Snow: The first pipe on the east coast belongs to Carinthia at Mount snow. At 10am December 29, it was official and the first rider of the season dropped in on perfect walls and soared to epic heights.

 

This pipe measures over 400 feet long and has 16 foot walls. It will be open to the public through the Martin Luther King holiday and then shut down and built larger for the Winter Dew Tour – Toyota Championships on February 4-7, 2010.

 

Carinthia currently has over 55 features on more than 67 acres of trails, by far the east coasts leader in freestyle terrain. The opening of the superpipe this early further cements Mount Snow’s dominance of freestyle terrain in the east. For the latest information on what’s happening at the #1 park on the east coast check www.carinthiaparks.com or call 800-245-SNOW.

Gore Mountain Region Offers NYC, NJ Transportation Opportunities

From Gore Mountain: Two new bus services will increase accessibility to and around the Gore Mountain Region this winter season! 

Gore Mountain has partnered with Adirondack Trailways to offer packages that combine lift tickets with round-trip transportation from both New York City and Ridgewood, NJ to North Creek.  "For the first time, skiers and riders in New York City can purchase Gore Mountain lift tickets along with convenient bus service to North Creek.  Two-day lift tickets packaged with transportation is priced under $200," commented Emily Stanton, Gore Mountain Marketing Manager. 

To purchase a package, call Trailways at (800) 858-8555.  Bus service can be purchased with a 1-day adult lift ticket for $154, with a 2-day lift ticket for $196, and with a 3-day lift ticket for $232.  Lodging should be reserved separately with area properties who provide shuttle service to Gore, which include The Copperfield Inn, the Alpine Lodge, or the Summit at Gore Mountain in North Creek.

Trailways guests, as well as all visitors and residents of the region, can rely on regular shuttle service between Main Street North Creek, the Ski Bowl, and the Gore Mountain Base Area.  The North Creek Business Alliance coordinated the new shuttle service, which is available 8:00am-4:30pm every Saturday, Sunday, and holiday period day through March 15.  

For complete details about Adirondack Trailways and the North Creek shuttle, visit www.GoreMountain.com

Happy Holidays!

Hidden Valley Club Opens for 2009-10 Season

Vernon, NJ Ski Resort Offers Family Friendly Atmosphere, Amenities

From Hidden Valley, NJ:The Hidden Valley Club opened for the 2009-2010 season with improvements to its facilities and amenities, offering one of the best, family-friendly ski experiences on the East Coast. 

The Hidden Valley Club also announced that it is transitioning to a ski club, and has begun to offer family memberships, which provide additional benefits. The Hidden Valley Club remains open seven days a week to the general public, which can purchase daily or season passes.
 
Among the changes at The Hidden Valley Club are enhanced snow-making ability, improvements to many of the trails and upgrades to its chair lifts. Family Membership at The Hidden Valley Club includes a wide range of amenities, such as preferred parking, equipment storage and valet services, locker facilities, special members-only lift lines, après ski events, and discounts on food and equipment.

"We want to make The Hidden Valley Club more than just a place for skiing; we want to be a destination where families can enjoy themselves and connect with other families in a social setting that just happens to have tremendous skiing opportunities as well," said Greg Porcino, general manager at The Hidden Valley Club. "The Hidden Valley Club was started more than 30 years ago as a ski club, and we're returning to those roots.  We offer families a much different experience than other resorts in the area - an intimate setting in which families can have a great time skiing in a relaxed and safe environment."

Because all the trails at The Hidden Valley Club funnel down to the base lodge, it's much easier for parents to keep an eye on their children.  Additionally, The Hidden Valley Club ski patrol is also trained to encourage and help younger skiers.  The sale of lift tickets are capped on the weekends, helping to ensure the shortest possible lift lines.
 
The resort, though, is not just for beginners.  The Hidden Valley Club Racing Program is recognized as one of the longest and most successful programs on the East Coast, producing top ten ski racers on a regular basis, with many Hidden Valley Club racers going on to prestigious New England racing academies. 

Adolfo Pulido-Moyano, with nine years experience coaching at the FIS level and with the Spanish National Ski Federation, returns to coach the United States Ski Association program at The Hidden Valley Club.  Pulido-Moyano has also coached teams in the World Cup, Europa Cup, World Championships, World University Games and European Junior Olympic. The Hidden Valley Club is also home to the New Jersey High School Skiing League and a popular adult racing league.

"The staff here as worked year round to provide the best skiing experience possible for our visitors, and we're looking forward to another great season," said Porcino.  "From the trails, to the chair lifts, the lodge, and even the outdoor seating, we continue to provide for the best family skiing experience possible."

The Hidden Valley Club, located on 44 Breakneck Road, in Vernon, N.J., is one of the oldest and most respected ski destinations on the East Coast, and offers trails for skiers of every level.  The resort is approximately a one-hour drive from New York City, and within 40 minutes of most of northern New Jersey, Rockland and Westchester counties in New York.  For more information on pricing, hours of operation and resort conditions, visit www.thehiddenvalleyclub.comor call 973-764-4200. 

Photo Copyright Hidden Valley Club

Gunstock Freestyle Academy Begins

From Gunstock, NH:

GFA started its season on Saturday, December 19^th, at Gunstock with the annual Ride with the Coaches.  An exciting and casual day to meet Steve Lee, head coach, and fellow members while getting you legs back in the groove. 

 

GFA provides skill based education and training in a safe and positive environment with a 5:1 athlete to coach ratio and a variety of memberships to meet individual needs.  Competitive, Recreational and Half Time options are still available for all ability levels and interest.  GFA meets Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm until the end of the season.  Information regarding the program can be found at GunstockFreestyle.com or by calling Anne Guyotte at 293-4752

Bud Light Concert Series at Sugarloaf

From Sugarloaf:

 

Sugarloaf will welcome four of the nation’s top touring musical acts this winter, with Little Feat, Rusted Root, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, and the Rustic Overtones set to headline four different concerts during the 2009-2010 winter season. The shows are part of the annual Bud Light Concert Series, which brings nationally renowned acts to Sugarloaf’s main stage throughout the winter season, and will feature four dates this winter, in addition to the annual Bud Light Reggae Festival in April.

 

Little Feat will kick off this year’s Bud Light Concert Series at Sugarloaf on Saturday, January 16. Rusted Root will take the stage on Saturday, February 6, Grace Potter will perform on March 13, and Rustic Overtones will headline the show on Saturday, March 27.

 

Tickets are on sale now for Little Feat, Grace Potter, and the Rustic Overtones. Tickets for Rusted Root will go on sale Monday, Dec 20. All Bud Light Concert Series shows are 21-plus and proper identification is required at the door. To purchase tickets call 1-800-THE-LOAF. Complete pricing information is available at www.sugarloaf.com.

 

For more information on the Bud Light Concert Series visit www.sugarloaf.com or call 1-800-THE-LOAF.

Duxbury, Mass. Native Sets His Sights on U.S. Olympics

In Suomu, Finland, U.S. Ski Team veteran and Killington Mountain School (KMS) Alumnus Michael Morse (‘99) took sixth place in the first of five critical World Cup events that will determine which four U.S. freestylers will compete on the Olympic team in Vancouver in February. The Duxbury, Mass. native and 2008 National Champion in moguls and dual moguls is off to a solid start for the 2009-2010 season. For Morse, the road to the Olympics is the final push after years of hard work and dedication that began on the slopes of Killington Resort with KMS coaches.

“I’ve put the time into training. That’s what helps my head the most for me,” said Morse. “Knowing that I’ve put in the hours… that’s what makes me confident in my mind.”

After missing half of the 2005-06 season and all of 2006-07 due to major back surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back and severe damage to his sciatic nerve, Morse returned in 2007-08 to win the individual and dual moguls titles at March's Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships at Deer Valley Resort in Park City. In 2009 he had 5 top 10 finishes on the World Cup Tour, including third in Voss, Norway.

Morse and the coaches and staff at KMS have maintained a close relationship over the past 10 years, with Morse even calling upon his former KMS Coach Matt Gnoza to train him in Australia this summer. Gnoza currently is the head KMS mogul coach and the director of the KSC/KMS Competitions Program. KMS, consistently ranked among the best five-month ski academies in the country, is following Morse’s road to the Olympics and highlighting his journey on its website, www.killingtonmountainschool.org.

“At KMS, my main goal was to get better in order to make the U.S. Ski Team,” said Morse. “My dream was to make the team and ski on the World Cup Tour to see how I could do against the best guys in the world. Once I got to that point, that’s when I really wanted to go to the Olympics.”

In order to make the U.S. Olympic Team, Morse must put himself on the podium in the five upcoming World Cup events. He needs either one top three World Cup finish or two top five finishes in the next five events. The top four US freestyle skiers make the team, one of which is the winner of the Olympic Trials held in Steamboat Springs Dec. 23-24. The final three will be those with the best collective finishes. The team will be officially named on Jan. 26, 2010.

Morse will compete in the regularly scheduled World Cup in Finland, Saturday, Dec. 12. After that, his next event will be the Olympic Trials Dec. 23-24. To follow Morse’s road to the Olympics, visit www.killingtonmountainschool.org.