Ski the East

Whiteface/Lake Placid Best In 2010 SnowEast Magazine Survey

From Whiteface/Lake Placid - Less than a month away from the start of the 2010-11 skiing and riding season at Whiteface, the accolades continue to roll in for Whiteface/Lake Placid.  On newsstands now is the November 2010 issue of SnowEast Magazine and the results of its reader survey.  The readers have spoken and more than 3,500 of them chose Whiteface, located in Wilmington, N.Y., as the East’s #1 ski destination.

 Whiteface was selected the favorite Eastern Resort by the magazine’s readers, while Lake Placid was tabbed the Favorite Destination Ski Village. In addition, Whiteface was also designated as having the Favorite Scenic View.  Whiteface won three of the seven eastern U.S. categories for mountains over 1,100 vertical feet of descent.

 “We’re taking tremendous pride in this ranking and survey,” noted ORDA president/CEO Ted Blazer.  “It’s a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in making both the mountain and the villages of Lake Placid and Wilmington such a wonderful destination.  The variety of activities and experience that can only be experienced at Whiteface/Lake Placid is what continues to separate us from all of the other ski resorts.”

 For the complete results from the 2010 survey go to SnowEast Magazine Reader Survey. The issue also features an article about last season’s U.S. alpine national championships which where held on Whiteface last March.

 Whiteface is scheduled to open for the season, Friday, Nov. 26. Whiteface boasts 86 trails and 3,430 feet of vertical, making it the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies.  For more information about skiing and riding see Whiteface, the Olympic mountain. 

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_{Whiteface photo © Mike Doyle}

Ski and Snowboard Sale Returns to UMass Amherst

From the UMass Ski 'n' Board Club:

The 43rd Annual Great UMass Ski ‘n’ Board Sale is back!  November 2-4th, the non-profit UMass Ski ‘n’ Board Club will host the largest ski and snowboard sale in Western Massachusetts. This sale, hosted by full time UMass students, will be held in the Student Union Ballroom of the UMass Amherst campus and will be open to students as well as the public, Tuesday and Wednesday, November 2nd -3rd, from 11:00am-8:00pm, and Thursday, November 4th, from 11:00am-7:00pm.  Parking is conveniently located in the Campus Center parking garage, located directly across from the Student Union. 

The UMass Ski ‘n’ Board Club is a non-profit organization and this sale is the club’s largest fundraiser. The Great Ski Sale allows the club to accomplish their mission of providing students with the highest quality recreational and social opportunities within the ski and snowboard industry. The proceeds from this sale will subsidize all the trips the club takes in the 2011 season.

During the sale, the Ballroom will be filled with over six million dollars of merchandise from four local shops: Competitive Edge, Theory, Ski-In and Fat-Trax.  These vendors offer great deals, discounting their merchandise by 40-70%.  Merchandise available will include skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, goggles, winter apparel, soft goods, movies and everything a skier or snowboarder will need for 2010-2011 winter season.  All major ski and snowboard manufacturers will be represented, including, but not limited to Burton, Salomon, Atomic, Volant, Rome, Smith, Oakley, Head, Ride, Volcom, Airblaster, The Northface and Columbia.

Each attendee who makes a purchase is entered into the 2010 Great Give-Away with over $2,000 in prizes, including lift tickets to Mount Snow, Killington, Okemo, Jackson Hole, Whiteface and many others.

For more information, please contact Taylor Bramhall via cell phone (781) 956-4168 or email, tbramhal@student.umass.edu .

 

Snow In The East

Check out some photos that were taken around some of the higher elevations on Whiteface, Stratton and Killington during Friday's (10/15/10) Nor'easter  .

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Sununu Family Purchases Waterville Valley

Waterville Valley Ski Area has announced that the Sununu family is leading a group of local investors and has completed the purchase of Waterville Valley Ski Area from Booth Creek Resorts, a California based resort group.  For the first time in almost 15 years the assets including the resort  plus Waterville Valley Nordic Center, Waterville Valley Conference Center and Town Square are now back under local control. 

Waterville Valley, one of New Hampshire's most popular family ski areas since 1966, is well known for its ski racing heritage, WVBBTS ski club (Gold Freestyle Ski Medalist Hannah Kearney is an alumnus) and the self-contained village designed as a four season resort by Olympian Skier Tom Corcoran. The ski area has one of the state's highest elevations at 4,000 feet with 52 trails on 255 acres, 12 lifts and 100% snowmaking.

Chris Sununu is heading up the efforts and will serve as Waterville Valley Ski Resort's new Chief Executive Officer.  Bob Fries, formally VP and General Manager of Waterville Valley during the Tom Corcoran ownership years will return as the new president.  Since leaving Waterville Valley in 1992, Fries has managed resorts from Breckenridge, Colorado to Stratton, Vermont including a stint at The Olympic Authority in Lake Placid. 

"Our vision for Waterville Valley puts the family vacation experience as a top priority," said Sununu.  "My family has been coming to Waterville Valley for 30 years and several of us have homes there.  We want to preserve what is so special about Waterville Valley and at the same time begin to invest in the mountain to ensure the best possible skiing experience." 

"Our team is coming in with some tremendous long term plans to make Waterville Valley the premier resort destination in New England", said Fries, "Although time is short before the ski season, we still hope to make noticeable improvements for this winter.  We are all very excited."

Tom Gross, local resident and current owner/operator of the White Mountain Athletic Club will also be joining the executive team to manage the groups interests in the valley itself. "We'll do whatever it takes to bring that magic back and give the vacationer and day skier what they expect and deserve", said Gross. "Waterville Valley will be a great experience with great value."

The Sununu family has strong personal and professional ties to Waterville Valley.  The Annual Christa McAuliffe Ski Invitational was originated and supported by Governor and Mrs. John H. Sununu from 1988 to 1994 with proceeds benefiting the Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical Trust Fund, a program dedicated to excellence in education.  Both the former Governor and his son, former Senator John E. Sununu have homes in Waterville Valley, enjoying the many year-round recreational activities the resort has to offer with their families.

"The Sununu family is perfect for taking over the ownership of Waterville Valley," commented Booth Creek Resort's President Chris Ryman." We will miss Waterville as part of Booth Creek Resorts, but know this is a positive ownership change with the long term ties the Sununu's have had in the community."

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Sunday River Fires Off 80 Snowguns

Early this weekend Sunday River, Maine, finished day two of its pre-season snowmaking quality-control test, firing off 40 Boyne Low-Energy Fan Guns across the slopes located near the South Ridge Base Lodge. Previously, the resort used another 40 tower guns for a test that took place on the highest elevation points of Locke Mountain.

"When you've been the first resort to open year after year, you're automatically held to higher standards," VP of Mountain Operations Brent Larson says. "Each year we have everything in order by September 15."

The past three years, Sunday River has been the first resort on the East Coast to open, based on a series of quality-control tests similar to the ones conducted this weekend.

Prior to this weekend, Sunday River checked for water pressure efficiencies across three mountain peaks. All hoses and hydrants have also been observed to ensure effectiveness so that once colder temperatures set in for the duration of winter Sunday River can begin to make snow on Locke Mountain, the resort's first peak to open the past three years, and push to open for the 2010/2011 season.

Sunday River opened last winter on October 14, 2010-its earliest opening in over a decade. Last year's early-season snowmaking efforts, led to the resort also celebrating the longest season in the east and its longest season ever, staying open six months and six days.

This weekend's snowmaking test happens to fall during the resort's annual Fall Festival Weekend and serves as a reminder to guests that winter is approaching. This timely display also serves to remind skiers and riders of the resort's pre-season pass sale deadline taking place Monday, October 11, 2010.

Sunday River's opening day for the 2010/2011 season is weather dependant and slated at this time for mid-November. "Of course, if we can start the winter off any earlier we will," Larson added. "We're just waiting on Mother Nature for a helping hand."

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_{Sunday River photo Copyright Mike Doyle} 

Whiteface Ranks #1 Eastern U.S. Ski Resort

SKI Magazine readers named Whiteface, in Wilmington, N.Y., the number-one ski resort in the eastern United States, second overall to Mont Tremblant, Quebec, in the Top Ski Resorts in Eastern North America category.  The independent survey of 7,000 readers put the Olympic mountain back on top for the first time since 2003.  In 2009-10, Whiteface was ranked fifth.
 
"Everyone at the mountain strives to give each visitor the best experience possible and this validates all of their hard work," said New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) president/CEO Ted Blazer.  "It's great to be on top again and now our goal is to stay atop year after year.  With Wilmington virtually at the foot of the mountain and Lake Placid a short drive away, we have a perfect combination of meeting everyone's needs."

Whiteface, which boasts the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies and 283 skiable acres and 86 trails, received high marks for its Après-Ski (#2), Dining (#2), Family Programs (#2), Scenery (#2), Terrain/Challenge (#2), Lodging (#4) and Overall Satisfaction (#5).  And for the 18th consecutive year, Whiteface/Lake Placid was chosen number-one for its Off-Hill activities, thanks to its array of Olympic-style sports including bobsledding, ice skating, cross country skiing, ski jumping, as well events such as World Cup racing, shows and concerts.

"All of these activities and experiences are what separates us from the rest of the pack," added Blazer.  "Nowhere else in the eastern U.S. can you ski in the morning, take an afternoon bobsled ride, take in the uniqueness of Main Street and enjoy a world-class show or event… all in one day.  This is what differentiates Whiteface/Lake Placid from all of the other ski resorts."

Over the past 10 years, Whiteface has invested in a gondola, chairlifts, parking, improved and increased snowmaking and grooming, terrain parks, upgrades to the base lodge and dining areas and expansion of the Kids Kampus, to name a few.  Most recently, Whiteface opened Lookout Mountain in January 2009 and last season added 25 additional acres of glade skiing with the opening of the Sugar Glades.

 "All of these investments and improvements have been 10 years in the making, and many thanks go to our staff who have worked hard to accomplish these improvements," remarked Whiteface general manager Bruce McCulley.  "They were made for one reason, to give our guests the best experience possible.  While there are no capital improvements planned for this season, we are always striving to find new ways to give each skier the best value for their dollar."

The Top 10 resorts in Eastern North America according to SKI Magazine's readers:

1. Tremblant, Que.
2. Whiteface/LakePlacid, N.Y.
3.  Stowe,Vt.
4.  Okemo,Vt.
5.  Stratton,Vt.
6. Sugarloaf, Maine
7. Sugarbush, Vt.
8. Sunday River, Maine
9. Smugglers, Vt.
10. Loon Mountain, N.H.

More: Whiteface and 2010-11 season ski rates   ORDA's Olympic venues and events

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Whiteface Slides copyright Mike Doyle