Vermont Ski + Ride, Winter 2017

FREE! WINTER 2017

Vermont’s Mountain Sports and Life

THE BEST OF

SPRING YOUR ‘TO DO’ LIST:

THE 8 RITES OF SPRING SWEET STASHES & PRO TIPS

SIDECOUNTRY SECRETS

THE 7TH LIFE OF

JAKE BURTON

CHAIRLIFT INTERVIEW

EXTREME BROTHERS + WHAT’S NEW FOR KIDS

THE ULTIMATE SKI HOUSE

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FEATURES THE WILD SIDE, p. 28

There’s plenty of new sidecountry and backcountry to explore.

Vermont’s best skiers and riders share pro tips on how to ski the woods and where to get the goods.

THE 7TH LIFE OF JAKE BURTON CARPENTER, p. 34

Eighteen months ago the man who launched snowboarding lay paralyzed, thinking he was going to die. He’s back now and has another reason to celebrate: Burton turns 40.

THE ULTIMATE SKI HOUSE, p. 40

When a family with four young skiers set out to build their dream home, they didn’t know it would lead to building their own ski hill, a cabin, trails and a lift as well.

CONTENTS / 02.03 Where there’s rime, there’s a reason to turn. A skier catches high country rays at Sugarbush.

FIRST TRACKS

COLUMNS

FIRST TRACKS | THE 8 RITES OF SPRING, p. 4

You’re not a true Vermont skier until you’ve done all of these.

LOCAL HEROES | MEET THAT GUY, p. 9

Phooto courtesy Sugarbush Resort

He plays the skier we love to hate. But Spencer Crispe is one cool dude.

CHAIRLIFT Q/A | THE EXTREME BROTHERS, p. 13

John and Dan Egan have been called the best skiers in the world. Here’s why. .APRÈS | NEW ADVENTURES FOR KIDS, p. 17 With cooking classes, climbing walls, ice rinks and more, Vermont resorts keep kids busy long after the lifts close.

RETRO VT | HARRIS HILL: FLYING HIGH AT 95,

p. 25

One of the oldest ski jumps in America hosts one of the biggest events.

EDITOR’S LETTER SWEET SPRING,

p.3

Savor this season of big snowpack, sunshine and silliness. It’s short and sweet.

COMPETITION | FANTASY SKI RACER, p. 46

Warren’s Nolan Kasper didn’t want to be just a World Cup ski racer, he wanted to be a fantasy ski racer, too. Mission accomplished.

GEAR | DIY SKIS,

p. 55

If you want a really custom ride, make your own boards. These guys can help.

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR | SOUL FOOD | FIRE AND ICE,

p. 63

p. 72

Wood stoves do more than warm the body. By David Goodman.

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SWEET SPRING

PUBLISHER, Angelo Lynn angelo@vtskiandride.com EDITORIAL Editor/Co-Publisher, Lisa Lynn editor@vtskiandride.com Creative Director, David Pollard Staff Writer, Emma Cotton emma@vtskiandride.com Conributing Editors & Photographers: Brooks Curran, David Goodman, Bud Keene, Evan Johnson, Greg Morrill, Brian Mohr, Doug Stewart, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur ADVERTISING SALES & DISTRIBUTION Christy Lynn, Advertising Manager christy@vtskiandride.com | 802-388-4944 Michael Giorgio michaelg@addisonindependent.com Dave Honeywell dave_golfhouse@madriver.com Greg Meulemans greg@vtskiandride.com Jennifer Peterkin jenniferp@vtskiandride.com

One rule in our house: We don’t miss spring skiing in Vermont. Come February, the snowpack is usually solid enough to explore the woods (and in this issue, some of the best skiers and riders in the state tell you where to go.) By March, there’s tailgating, pond skimming, soft bumps and ridiculous outfits. In April, sap flows and the sweet smoke from sugarhouses snakes across Vermont’s hillsides.

For Jake Burton Carpenter this spring is especially sweet: he’s back on track to ride 100 days a year. In 2015, lying paralyzed in a hospital, he questioned whether he would move again, much less ride. Recently, we spent a day at Stowe with him and his wife, Donna, learning about their year from hell and what’s ahead as Burton turns 40.

Most of all, spring is a time when you look around the liftline and realize that your tribe is here. It hits you that the best conversations you’ve had all year have been on chairlifts. Your best friends? The ones you could keep up with on powder days.

Savor this season. It is short and sweet. —Lisa Lynn, Editor

What’s New at VTSKIANDRIDE.COM? WIN A WEEKEND IN STOWE, RENOUN SKIS AND MORE! We’re giving away a Tradewind Aviation flight from Westchester, Renoun skis, a stay at Topnotch Resort, lift tickets to Stowe and XC passes and dinner at Trapp Family Lodge. NEW SKI REVIEWS Check out detailed reviews of New England’s top brands from our friends at Exotic Skis. WHO CUT THE GLADES? Read Kim Brown’s fascinating history of woods skiing.

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE: Don’t miss an issue. Sign up for a free digital edition, our weekly e-newsletter, news updates, contests, deals and more.

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Circulation and Distribution Manager: Lisa Razo subscribe@vtskiandride.com HEADQUARTERS VT SKI+RIDE is published four times a year by Addison Press Inc., 58 Maple Street, Middlebury, VT 05753 VT SKI+RIDE print subscriptions are available for $24 (U.S.) or $35 (Canada) per year. Digital subcriptions are free. Subscribe at vtskiandride.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

He got his start as a snowboarder in Wisconsin. Now, photographer Jeff Curtes travels the world (often with Jake Burton Carpenter and his family) shooting and riding in places ranging from British Columbia to Russia. See his work on p. 34.

“Fantasy Ski Racer” (p. 46) writer Marina Knight knows ski racing, has covered two winter Olympics, and is a former staff writer for The Stowe Reporter. When she’s not writing, she is most definitely skiing or working with the U.S. Ski Team’s T2 Foundation.

Evan Johnson, who wrote “DIY Skis,” p. 55, has met just about every ski manufacturer in Vermont.The former VT SKI + RIDE staff writer now works for our sister publication, The Mountain Times. Why? The offices are only five minutes from Killington’s lifts.

ON THE COVER: Ralph Kucharek, at Bolton Valley, likes his powder shaken, not stirred. Photo by Shem Roose

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THE RITES OF SPRING

With pond skimming, tailgating, jack jumping and sugar on snow, silly season revs up quickly. You can’t really call yourself a Vermont skier or rider unless you’ve done each of these at least once. Give yourself a point for each event you’ve done and see how you score.

GONE EXTREME POND SKIMMING Yes, we all love to see people on skis and boards dress up… and get wet. In recent years, skiers and riders around the state have taken pond skimming, a time-honored right of spring, to new levels. At last year’s High Fives Pond Skim in Stowe, two skiers rode a single pair of ski jumping skis (mounted with two sets of boots) right across the pond and then kept going. For a list of pond skims around the state, see calendar, p. 66.

RACE THE STOWE DERBY It started as a race between top alpine skier Sepp Ruschp and Norwegian mountaineer Erling Strom, some 77 years ago. The course: ski from the top of the Stowe double chair, along what is now about a 16-kilometer route to the church in town. The longest-running downhill/cross country race in the nation, the Derby (Feb. 26 this year) now has a fat bike start as well. Serious racers (and yes, it attracts quite a few) earn bragging rights by doing the skate event, then heading back up to race classic cross-country division. The even more studly can go on to earn the “Fat Meister” title by doing the fat bike course as well. The rest of the 800-some contestants seem happy to dress up, avoid the inevitable crashes on the downhill and entertain a crowd armed with cowbells.

MAKE IT, RIDE IT AT MOUNT SNOW Springtime means it’s time to roll your sleeves up and get crafty, and Mount Snow is here to help.

On March 5, race through slalom gates on a jack jump—a single ski with a seat attached—for Mount Snow’s Jack Jumping World Championships. If you’d rather not perch yourself atop a rickety contraption that’s moving very fast, grab a spot on the sidelines and watch the successful (and notso-successful) competition. Entry fee is $50 and includes the race, lift ticket and après awards party.

Then, on March 26, slide, crash and spin down the tubing hill inside a structure you can make from only cardboard, zip ties, paint and duct tape: it’s Bud Light Duct Tape Derby time. Awards go to best slider, most creative, best kids-only sled and judges’ choice.

GO GELANDE AT SUGARBUSH On April 1, Sugarbush closes Mount Ellen for the season with gelandesprung (Gel-AND-esh-prung). Dress in your best retro costume, rocket off the gelande, Sugarbush’s homemade ski jump, and see how far you can soar. The competition is open to all ages and abilities (the least experienced will be the most enter-

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Photo by Jennifer Langille

FIRSTTRACKS Though the name of the game is to make it across the pond without getting wet, style points are just as important at Stowe’s pond skim.

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A Duct Tape Derby descent at Mount Snow

Hot dogging at Sugarbush

Serious fun at The Stowe Derby

taining, so don’t hesitate to give it a whirl). The jumper with the greatest distance wins a pair of skis, and the winner of best retro style gets a pair of Dodge boots. The day ends with the Cowbell Champagne Party, where you’ll be challenged to shake up a champagne bottle ($15 to $40 a bottle specials) and see if you can hit the cowbell with the cork.

SAMPLE SUGAR ON SNOW AND RACE A SUGAR SLALOM Vermont sugarmakers are fiercely proud of the liquid gold they tap from maples each spring. So much so that each year they open sugarhouses around the state and give the public a chance to sample “sugar on snow,” (hot syrup poured over fresh snow until it hardens like taffy.)

This year, Maple Open House Weekend is March 25-26, and you can find participating sugar houses at vermontmaple.org. Or, race and then sample sugar on snow at Stowe’s Sugar Slalom on April 8. This fun race has been going on for 77 years and draws every level and age of skier from first-time racers to World Cup talent.

How Did You Score?

1 to 3: Flatlander, you need to spend more time here.

3 to 5: Yes, you probably have a goggle tan. Wear sunscreen.

6 +: Your next challenge? Do these all in one year. Then call us.

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CELEBRATE EASTER SUNRISE AT THE SUMMIT Easter is on April 16 this year, and you can count on Jay Peak, Stowe, Sugarbush, Smugglers’ Notch, Killington, Stratton, Mad River Glen and Okemo to hold early-morning sunrise services on the summit. After, chocolate eggs just might magically appear.The Easter bunny also leaves eggs for hunting at Bromley, Bolton Valley, Mount Snow, Burke and Magic Mountain. (Check websites for details.) Mad River Glen keeps the celebration going all day with two egg hunts, a costume parade and après music on the deck.

BASH BUMPS AT KILLINGTON Amateur bumpers from around New England head to Killington on April 8 for the classic Dos Equis Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge, which pits bumpers in a head-to-head contest in front of a crowd.

Once the lactic acid has drained from your quads, come back on April 29 for the Killington Triathlon. Ski down Superstar, mountain bike and run. One thing you can be sure, none of it will be easy.

SKI, RIDE OR SLIDE TUCKERMAN RAVINE New Hampshire’s Tuckerman Ravine is a rite of passage. Hike up the headwall and prepare for one of the steepest descents in America down a 40- to 55-degree slope. The conditions are usually best in April when the snow turns to corn and the snowpack is solid. Another reason to do Tuckerman soon? The Mount Washington Cog Railway has proposed building a 35-room hotel just 1,000 ft. below the summit. n

Photo couresy Mount Snow

Grillin’ and chillin’ at Jay Peak

Photo by Benjamin Bloom

Photo courtesy Sugarbush Resort

Photo courtesy Jay Peak Resort

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Local Heros

MEET THAT GUY

Photo top courtesy Mondo Media Works, right, Spencer Crispe

S

pencer Crispe wears a colorful and alarmingly tight one-piece suit. He sports a furry hat with earmuffs. He throws trash off the lift. He drops his skis in the parking lot. He talks incessantly on his cellphone while riding the chair. He cuts in line. Spencer Crispe is every skier who has ever made you cringe: he is “That Guy.” “That Guy,” is the brainchild of Mondo Media works’ Luke Stafford. The character is part of the hilarious series of web videos Ski Vermont began producing last season to gently inform the uninitiated how not to act in the Green Mountains (watch them at vtskiandride.com/that-guy/).

“Imagine someone giving you permission to act ridiculous for a day? This was a way to show how awful it was to be ‘That Guy,’ as in ‘Don’t be a drunk and go skiing, don’t cut people off, etc.’ I was like ‘Hell yeah I’ll be That Guy! It was great, I got to cut loose and do everything you are not supposed to,” says Crispe.

Crispe played the part beautifully—and all the more so if you consider that in real life, he could not be farther from “That Guy.” A seventh-generation Vermonter, Crispe, 38, is a lawyer

In Ski Vermont’s web videos, Crispe plays the skier who makes us all cringe: “That Guy.” In real life, he rips on skis as well as on a skateboard.

NAME: Spencer Crispe AGE: 38 OCCUPATION: Personal injury lawyer CLAIM TO FAME Starring role as “That Guy” LIVES IN: Brattleboro, Vt. SKIS AT: Mount Snow

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u in the family firm Crispe & Crispe and a wellrespected figure in Brattleboro. “I come from a family of die-hard skiers,� he says. He means it: Spencer’s grandfather, Luke Crispe, was one of the founders of Stratton and his dad, Lawrin, skied the woods on Stratton Mountain long before trails were cut. Spencer has climbed all 115 of the mountains in Vermont that are over 3,000 ft. in elevation. And he’s skied off the back sides of many of them, including the west side of General Stark (at Mad River Glen). “It was great, I found a way down through the trees all the way down to the road in Huntington and then hitchhiked back,� he says.

Well versed in the ways of the woods, he is not a backcountry “That Guy�—he goes in prepared. “I have an arsenal of stuff: a Delorme satellite phone so I can avoid dead spots.

I carry extra warm-and-dry everything and a waterproof bag with fire starters, two lighters and a bivouac bag. I really regard safety as paramount.�

Crispe has been skiing since before he learned to walk. “There’s a Tbar in Brattleboro with one slope and I learned to ski there when I was

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Crispe has skied every section of the Catamount Trail.

one or two years old. It’s my favorite part of Brattleboro that people can ski for $5 and they keep it going every year.� He puts in more than 50 days a year on skis —often with his family at Mount Snow. And he’s one of about five dozen people who have skied every section of the Catamount Trail, the backcountry route that runs 300 miles, the length of Vermont. “I love skiing in the backwoods, the sense of adventure and exploration and, especially, skiing at night. You go out after a fresh snow and you see the silhouettes of the twigs and the shadows across the snow—this is the best life gets.�

While Crispe has traveled a fair amount, he’d never consider leaving Vermont. “I went to high school here, I went to the University of Vermont and when it came time to apply to law school, I only applied to one, Vermont Law School. I decided if I didn’t get in, I wouldn’t be a lawyer. I love this state that much.� n

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Londonderry/Landgrove, VT Circa 1860 Post and Beam Farmhouse on 36.5 acres, with panoramic views and walk to Village. (1995 renovation, 2005 update) Kitchen /Great Room with professional kitchen, living room with stone fireplace, covered porch, sunny dining room with built ins, first floor main suite, dressing room, bath with Carrera marble.

4 bedrooms, 4 baths, attached 2 car garage, mudroom with loft. Barn, trout stream, pond, hiking and ski trails.

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Londonderry, VT Circa 1860 Farmhouse on 141 acres, end of road, top of the hill beautiful views. Country kitchen with soapstone top; a new master suite with walk-in closet, new bath, in-floor radiant heat; den with wood stove; great-room with views, Endless Pool; den/office with fireplace; family room, 7 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 car garage, horse barn with 14 solar panels, 2 ponds, hiking and x-county ski trails.

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Londonderry, VT Circa 1790/1997 expanded cape on 29.2 west facing acres with big views. The Dining room has dutch oven fireplace alongside the cooking fireplace, beamed country kitchen, hidden pantry, great-room with wood stove, master w/brick fireplace; 4 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, and tiled hot tub and sauna. In-floor radiant heat, spray foam insulation, new 4-car 2/story barn with potting shed.

Hiking and x-county ski trails.

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Chairlift Q/A

THE EXTREME BROTHERS

Vermont’s “Siamese Twins” of skiing are getting inducted into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame. By Angelo Lynn

Photos courtesy Dan Egan

T

his April, in Stowe, John and Dan Egan will be the first brothers inducted into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame. Known as the “Siamese twins of skiing” for their synchronized skiing, they often skied where world-wide news was breaking: at the Berlin Wall when it was being torn down, and in war fronts around the Middle East and former Soviet satellite countries.

The Egans starred in a dozen Warren Miller films and produced their own films under Egan Entertainment Network. John also did numerous first descents on terrain that, as Warren Miller said at the time, “no one thought could be skied.”

When he is not hosting clinics at Killington, Dan, 52, still runs Egan Entertainment Network and pro-

Known for their ability to ski anything —and in sync—the Egan brothers have starred in 12 Warren Miller films (top).

Dan, left, at the Sochi Olympics.

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u was hot lava, geyser fields and funky skiing.

That was a real experience. Dan: Ah... too many to tell. Come take a clinic with us to get the stories!

SO, BRUTHAS, IF WE WERE ON A CHAIRLIFT, WHAT CHAIR WOULD WE BE ON? John: Castlerock (at Lincoln Peak, Sugarbush), no question. And we’d be heading for the Cliff Trail (right under the Castlerock lift), one of the best trails in Vermont. Dan: For me, it’s the Bear Quad at Killington to access Devil Fiddle, the best run in Vermont.

WHAT PUSHED YOU TO BE SO GOOD? John: I think we were just determined little Boston boys who loved to play hard. I was drag racing as a teen, hitting 92 mph in souped-up go-karts and bikes. By the time I got introduced to skiing, speed seemed fun. I came to Sugarbush in 1976, met some amazing skiers and learned from them. Then I went to Europe with Warren Miller, lived in Chamonix, met other amazing skiers and was taken in by them. Dan was six years younger and in high school but he wanted to go too. We became the Egan Brothers per se in 1988. We got to travel five continents together and do a bunch of crazy stuff.

FAVORITE SKI DAY (CAUGHT ON FILM)?

Dan: Skiing in Portillo Chile in 1989 making 75 powder 8 turns and jumping the train tracks with Kevin Andrews. John: Probably skiing Greenland. It’s amazing skiing right to the water’s edge. But also, Dan and I skiing together right here in Sugarbush in a film we made, Return of the Shred-I. WHAT’S YOUR BEST STORY FROM YOUR TRAVELS? John: I was invited by a Russian colonel who loved skiing to ski volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia. It’s a military zone with 122 volcanoes—the most active ring of fire in the world.

I went there for a month. We cased out the mountains from an old Soviet helicopter, and skied a bunch of them. It was cold, but there

Sugarbush’s John Egan has been named one of the top 50 skiers of all time by Powder.

WHAT’S KEPT YOU IN THE EAST? Dan: I’m an Easterner, born with aYankee mind set and my family is here. Making my home here has allows me to travel the world and, when I get home, I have the beauty of New England to restore my soul. John: This is the training ground. I challenge anyone in the world to keep up with the guys I ski with here. They keep me on my toes, and that’s important.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR SKI CAREER? Dan: How many people I’ve been able to guide and coach. John: It’s the friends I have made and influenced over the years, especially, kids from the YES (Youth Enrichment Services) program out of Boston, and the kids I help coach.

COOLEST THING ABOUT BEING IN THE HALL OF FAME? John: I don’t know if Dan and I thought about our careers when we were skiing for films. It went by so fast. It’s kind of cool and humbling at the same time to look back and realize that maybe you made a difference.

Photo courtesy of Sugarbush Resort

duces documentaries for the U.S. Sailing Team and the America’s Cup. He also guides ski and mountaineering trips around the world under skiclinics.com. John, 58, is the Chief Recreational Office at Sugarbush, where he also hosts clinics. For clips from their movies, see vtskiandride.com

SCARIEST MOMENT? Dan: In 1990, I was lost in a mountain storm on Mount Elbrus in Russia that killed 33 people. I spent 38 hours in the storm with 14 others, and that experience changed how I view the world around me.

John: The famous clip of Dan and I skiing in the opening of Extreme Winter in 1990. We’re in Grand Targhee, Wyo., when this cornice breaks off in front of me and I barely managed to ski out of it (as Warren Miller said in the film, I “cheated death that day.”) And there was the time at Heavenly Valley (Calif.) when I jumped off a cornice and into a chute just as it breaks apart and avalanches. I looked down and it was a jigsaw puzzle fracturing as I landed, and down I went with the avalanche. In the film, the camera pans back to Dan looking down and Warren Miller says, ‘And now we’re down to one Egan,’ but, of course, I made it out.

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Après Kids still have some energy to burn? Send them tubing.

Okemo’s tubing park has multiple lanes and stays open until 5 p.m.

NEW ADVENTURES FOR KIDS

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s a child, my father grew up skiing backcountry forests and steep mountain terrain. Each time he ventured out, my grandfather warned my father and his five other siblings to “keep up or risk getting

left behind.”

He wasn’t joking—one day the family station wagon

had cruised halfway home before my grandparents real- BY ized my dad’s youngest brother, Buzz, was still on the hill. EMMA COTTON I know this story because my dad has told it, chuckling, a hundred times over dinner, whenever we see my extended family and every time we go skiing. The rest of us sit back and happily listen. And when we’re not listening, we’re skiing.

Photo courtesy of Okemo

With new climbing walls and cooking lessons, coaster rides and Fun Zones, resorts are ready to keep your kids (and your inner child) entertained long after the lifts stop running.

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My dad set me—terrified and blissful—on his skis when I was four. Now, I chase him in figure-eights down the diamonds.

Most adults who love skiing or riding started young, so it’s up to parents to get kids started early. The stakes are high because, as with my family, these early memories get relived, years later, over and over at the dinner table. So, the important question remains: how do you create both a positive and a memorable experience for kids?

Step one: Do not leave your child in the backcountry.

Step two: Make sure everyone’s having a blast.

Lately, ski resorts around Vermont have been making this task much easier. To start with, lift ticket scanners at many resorts can tell what lifts your kids are riding at all times, so you’re not likely to lose them. Smuggler’s Notch even attaches a GPS Flaik tracking system to its ski schoolers. That system logs runs, vertical feet and other fun data that parents can see at the end of the day.

And with ski school programs as focused on making sure kids have fun as they are on making classic pizza wedges and French fries, kids are learning faster. Harley Johnson, director of the Ski and Ride school at Smugglers’ Notch, says it’s important to make the lessons fun so the kids want to keep coming back.

“Good lessons are made by instructors who have a connection to their students and focus on engaging the kids in fun-based activities,” Johnson says. “Kids learn more quickly when they are enjoying themselves. We try to introduce different features and props on the hill to help make learning how to ski and ride as enjoyable as possible. The social connections made on the mountain solidify the skiing and riding experience and make them want to come back and do it again.”

RIDE A COASTER

At both Okemo and Killington resorts, you might be silently carving turns, only to hear shrieks of children—and adults—in the distance.

Don’t be alarmed. These thrill-seekers you hear are screaming in delight as they ride Okemo’s Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster, or at Killington, the Beast Mountain Coaster.

Okemo’s track, located at Jackson Gore, climbs 1,600 feet, then drops you in a series of twists and turns through forested terrain.

You’ll follow the downward slope of the mountain for almost 3,500 feet. Both coasters are controlled through levers the rider can push down to go full-speed or yank back to brake, so you and your kids stay in control the whole time.

There’s plenty of room for parents on this ride—the car fits two ($15 for the driver, $10 for passengers). The Beast Mountain Coaster, based out of Killington’s Snowshoe Lodge, will take you through 4,800 feet of forest in 360-degree corkscrews and drops that are sure to thrill your young ones—and you! Rides start at $15.

Photo courtesy Okemo

Let the kids scream...on a coaster.

Lessons can push kids out of their comfort zones in a way a parent often can’t. If your kids love launching off ski jumps and you’re not up to giving them a safety lesson (because, let’s face it, you don’t love launching off ski jumps), book a private lesson with a freestyle coach. At Sugarbush, for instance, private instructors offer specialized instruction on any of the mountain’s three terrain parks. Staff teach your kids the correct stance to take off and land smoothly, along with some jazzy (but safe) tricks that they can show all their ski buddies. Lessons start at $100 for one hour.

Just as important, resorts are making sure there’s as much fun to be had off the slopes as on. New this year, Stowe’s $80 million Adventure Center opened in July. Along with housing all the ski school programs, it features the Stowe Rocks climbing wall and its own dedicated cafeteria, The Canteen.

This March, Smugglers’ Notch plans to open a 26,000-sq.-ft. Fun Zone with, hold your breath: a slot car track, a 4,000-sq.-ft. twostory themed laser tag arena, two Smuggs Warrior courses with a built-in timing system, an arcade with more than 20 games and a 30-foot multi-sided climbing wall. There will also be a second floor with ping pong, mini-golf, shuffleboard and a Smuggs’ café.

With recent additions like Stowe’s private lactation pod (developed in Vermont by Mamava), Sugarbush’s cooking classes for kids and the bar that overlooks Jay Peak’s water park, resorts are thinking about the needs of the whole family.

“Ski resorts in Vermont have been adding more kid and family friendly amenities for several years now,” says Dana Freeman, the founder of All Mountain Mamas, a blog published by Ski Vermont. “It is an upward trend. It makes resorts viable for all four seasons—no longer do activities have to involve snow. And, resorts want to cater to families. They want to bring them in and keeping them coming back.”

So yes, there’s lots of fun to be had on the mountains, but here are a few ways that kids (and inner children) can have fun off the slopes, too. Call it “Après for Kids.”

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CLIMB THE WALLS

It’s all about the details.

When your kids are seeking refuge from the cold, keep their mind and muscles active in a climbing gym. Stowe’s new $80 million Adventure Center, which opened this July, features Stowe Rocks, a 40-foot, fourstory indoor tower that overlooks the slopes. The center is the final component of Stowe’s development plan that has spanned more than a decade. Steps away from the slopes, the building also holds the resort’s licensed daycare facility and kids’ ski program. Continued on p. 20.

Photo courtesy Stowe Mountain Resort

PRO TIP: SAVE BIG AT SMALLER MOUNTAINS If you don’t need all the bells, whistles and slopeside amenities of a big resort, you can save a bundle on lift tickets at one of Vermont’s smaller mountains.

“We’ve skied at Suicide Six and my kids grew up skiing at Bolton Valley,” Freeman says. “I love those, because you feel like you have more of a sense of community. You see the same people riding the lift, and if your kids are in ski programs, chances are they’re riding with someone you know.”

At smaller mountains, skiing can be remarkably affordable and, often, less crowded. Northeast Slopes in East Corinth offers day tickets for adults at just $15. At Middlebury College Snow Bowl, the magic carpet is free and a weekend adult ticket is only $55. If you book ahead online at Pico, a smoke-free resort that’s owned by Killington, weekend adult tickets can go for as low as $45 a day.

If you are headed to or from Vermont and don’t need a lot of vertical, stop in Brattleboro at Living Memorial Park and ski the community-supported hill with T-bar for just $5 for an all-day ticket (Thursday-Sunday), night skiing included.

Night skiing can be the cheapest date you have with your family. This year, to celebrate its 50th year, Bolton Valley has $19.66 night-skiing tickets good from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Just down the road at Cochran’s, a day pass for an entire family costs just $80. On Friday nights, you can ski under the lights from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for just $5 and then have a family-style lasagna dinner (adults $12, kids $6).

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Butterflies, Live

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u Altogether, the Stowe Rocks center has 50 routes, which include both top-roping and bouldering, as well as eight TruBlue auto belay stations designed to safely catch kids when they fall. Day passes are $26 for kids and $30 for adults. Kids under age 14 need adult supervision, but there’s also a Kid’s Zone for those 13 and under. Thousands of newbies have recently discovered the sport of indoor rock climbing, and for good reason: it all but erases the fear of heights, promotes full-body strength and requires problem-solving. Head over to the Canteen, the Adventure Park’s kid-friendly restaurant, to grab some pizza or a burger when the adventuring day is done.

Slated to open in March, Smugglers’ Notch will have a multisided climbing wall in its new Fun Zone as well.

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RIP DOWN A ZIP LINE

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If your kids enjoy the thrill of flying through powdery terrain on skis, they might enjoy zipping through the snowy treetops, too.The ArborTrek Canopy Tour offers year-round tours at Smugglers’ Notch. Hand your trust over to two experienced guides and fly with your family through the Notch’s beautiful backcountry. The tour features ziplines that range from 175 to 1000 feet in length, at heights up to almost 75 feet.

Three separate packages allow you to pick the tour best suited for the whole gang. Arbor’s Wild Ride ($99.95) lasts up to three hours and crosses eight ziplines up to 73 feet high. Arbor’s Winter Wild Ride ($87.95) has six ziplines and lasts up to two and a half hours, but gives you maximum height at 73 feet tall. With only three ziplines, The Arbor’s Express ($65) is best suited for younger kids as it lasts only one to two hours.

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TUBE DOWN THE HILL

Sometimes the kids just can’t get enough of the snow, even when their (and your) legs are beat from a full day of skiing. Resorts made tubing parks for these exact occasions. Nothing is easier than parking the kids’ bums in these giant inflatable bubbles that drift safely down the hill. Some parks are even accessed by a magic carpet ride, giving tired legs a free pass from trekking back up. Tubes come in big and small sizes—don’t be shy, parents.

Mount Snow’s tubing park is often a favorite because of its magic carpet ride to the top. This park, one of the biggest in Vermont, has

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eight lanes and is free on Mondays to season pass holders. Otherwise, tickets are $20 for two hours of tubing, and $30 to tube all day. Okemo’s multi-lane tubing park is located in Jackson Gore Village, near shops, restaurants, the lodge and the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster. Tickets are $13 per person and $9 for 6-and-unders. At Killington, kids and adults can tube for 90-minute periods under the lights—the park is open until 7 p.m., long after the lifts have closed. Tickets start at $20 for kids and $25 for adults. Smugglers’ Notch boasts two tubing parks: The Sir Henry Hill, which is open during evening hours to serve the après crowd, and Smugglers’ North Hill, which added three 400-foot lanes last winter. The parks are free to guests of the resort who hold a valid pass. Magic Mountain, which reopened this season, has tubing right in front of the base lodge for $25 per day.

Photo courtesy Stowe Mountain Resort

SKATE ON ICE

If your kids want to channel their NHL player or Olympic figure skater, a number of resorts have ice rinks and rental skates right on the mountain. This past summer, Okemo upgraded its rink using the same technology that Rockefeller Center’s rink uses. Plus, a gas fireplace sits nearby so that you can warm up, then skate on. Unlimited skating costs only $5, and an additional $5 for rentals. At Stowe, an outdoor rink at Spruce Peak Plaza sits in the center of the action, right in between the Spruce Camp Base Lodge and Adventure Center. Bring your own skates to make this a free skating activity, or rent a pair, starting at $16 per day (rink access is complimentary). Jay Peak’s Ice Haus is often the site for intense hockey games and training camps, but in between, the public can hit the Zamboni-smooth ice or grab a beer at the rink-adjacent bar and watch the action.

Admission is free for kids age 3 and under, $4 for Vermonters and $6 for general admission. Skate rentals start at $3.

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LEARN TO COOK

Après-ski is one of the most important parts of the day for adults, right? It can be for kids, too. While other resorts might teach your kid how to make a pizza wedge with his or her skis, ride the lift or even ski the glades, Sugarbush can also teach kids ages 6-12 to make actual pizza. The Kids’ Cooking Classes, held every other week in

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groups of no more than 20, feature local produce from nearby farms like Gaylord Farm in Waitsfield. The hands-on classes rotate between fresh Mexican cuisine, a “Vermont’s finest” theme and “Pie in the Sky,” where kids make their own homemade pizzas. Instructors teach the basics of kitchen safety, food handling, cooking techniques and (just for you, moms:) table setting. The regular classes ($38) are offered every other week, and include making (and eating) an appetizer, dinner, recipe card and a chef apron.

RIDE THE WAVES

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When it comes to indoor recreation, Jay Peak doesn’t mess around.

The mountain’s 6,000-square-foot water park is complete with water slides, flowriding (“a cross between skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding”), a big lazy river, a pond play area, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, an arcade and a snack bar. Best of all, a bar called “The Drink” sits on the second floor, allowing you to keep the little ones in sight while sipping on something made just for adults. The folks at Jay recommend leaving your turtleneck in your suitcase: the park stays a balmy 86 degrees year-round. Tickets to the Pump Indoor Water Park are $39 per day and can be reserved online in advance.

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Retro VT FLYING HIGH AT 95

One of the oldest ski jumps in America hosts the 95th anniversary of one of the sport’s bestloved events.

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Harris Hill draws top ski jumpers from around the U.S., Canada and Europe, including the 2014 winner, Miran Zupancic (inset) from Slovenia.

Photo courtesy of Allan Seymour.

n 1809, a Danish/Norwegian lieutenant who wanted to demonstrate bravery for his soldiers launched himself off a 30-foot hill in Norway.

Thus, ski jumping was born.

It didn’t take too long for the sport to become popular in the United States. In 1922, two years before ski jumping was introduced to the Olympics, Fred Harris built a jump into a hillside in Brattleboro, Vt. Since then, Harris Hill has hosted 18 national championships, along with the annual jumping competition, the U.S. Cup. This February 18-19, Harris Hill celebrates its 95th anniversary with the U.S. Cup and Pepsi Challenge on Saturday and the Fred Harris Memorial Cup on Sunday. The hill was FIS-certified in 2011 and is the only of Olympic size in New England. Skiers often hit speeds of up to 60 miles per hour as they plummet down the 90-meter hill.

After taking off, they soar for up to 300 feet.

Even in its early years, the event drew crowds of thousands. Spectators dressed in furs and wool and big bands played at the event’s Ski Ball. Today, down and Gore Tex are preferred and there’s tailgating, live music, a beer tent and food vendors.

One thing hasn’t changed: it’s still one of the best chances you may have to watch top ski jumpers in action. www.harrishillskijump.com —Emma Cotton.

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THE WILD SIDE

BACKCOUNTRY AND SIDECOUNTRY SKIING IS FROM VERMONT’S TOP SKIERS AND RIDERS ON HOW Photo by Peter Cirilli

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TAKING OFF AROUND VERMONT. PRO TIPS TO SKI THE WOODS AND WHERE TO GET THE GOODS. Blasting through the branches in the Stowe sidecountry on Dec. 10, 2016.

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Ready to take a ski on the wild side? Places such as Sugarbush’s Slidebrook Basin, Killington’s Natural Woods and the terrain off Stowe’s The Chin can challenge even the best skiers. So grab the fat boards and take some tips from extreme brothers John and Dan Egan, coaches Bud Keene and Doug Stewart and rising stars Dylan Dipentima and Tami Razinger.

JOHN EGAN: Extreme skier, Chief Recreation Officer, Sugarbush “The biggest mistake I see people make is they look at the trees and not the spaces between. Also, someone who hasn’t skied the trees a lot will stop in the middle of a clearing. I tell clients to stop in a narrow spot or between trees, not in the wide open. That way when they start again, they are looking at open spaces, not the trees they have to go into.

Some skiers fight gravity, rather than work with it. I try to tell my clients that it’s math and physics: you are part of the game, part of the gravitational forces carrying you down the mountain. You are body weight and momentum and you have to work with that, embrace it, become a part of it. When people are afraid, the human instinct is to back up and stop moving. Their reaction is, “Save me!” Instead, we should scrunch down, get aggressive and save ourselves, like any animal would do.

SIDECOUNTRY SECRETS: “Sugarbush’s Slide Brook Basin is pretty sweet; it’s a long run with a sustained pitch. There are three main runs in Slide Brook; I like the second entrance, it splits and divides and comes back together several times. It has nice variety and it’s the longest of the three. And Egan Woods are fantastic... that area has lift service, easy access and it’s nice and cleared out with a good fall line.”

DYLAN DIPENTIMA: 2015 Ski The East Freeride Tour Champ “I really learned to ski the woods watching my coaches, Ryan Hawks and Lars Chickering-Ayer at Mad River Glen. They skied really fluidly and that’s what I try to do. If you are active with your legs, you can absorb the terrain and keep your upper body quiet. I ride my bike the

John Egan showing his Jedi moves in

Photo courtesy Sugarbush Resort

Sugarbush’s Slide Brook Basin.

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Photo courtesy Smugglers Notch Resort

FOCUS ON THE SNOW, NOT THE TREES

BUD KEENE: Olympic Snowboard Coach My advice pertains to both skiers and riders: Don’t go in alone. Go in pairs at a minimum—a threesome is even better. Wear a helmet and eye protection. Use equipment that’s shaped specifically to float on top of the snow. Look way ahead and pick your line.

Focus on the snow, not the trees. When faced with narrowing sections where you have to ride closely between trees, look ahead to see where the terrain opens up beyond. Then when you shoot through the narrow gaps and pick up a little speed, you can make a big power turn in the wider section to slow yourself back down.

One thing that’s different for snowboarders:You can’t pole, shuffle, herringbone, step up, or traverse directly across the fall-line as skiers can. That means you must always be traveling down the hill with a bit of forward momentum to avoid getting stuck. This is especially true when the snow is deep and even a modest downhill incline may not be steep enough to maintain forward progress.

Pick your line carefully with this is mind. When you do need to stop, to scope the terrain or communicate with your group, always make sure that you are either on or just above a pitch steep enough for you to slide down and continue without getting stuck.

Trust me, falling over, or simply coming to a stop on a snowboard on a flat pitch in the woods is a pain-in-the-you-know-what that you won’t want to repeat. It will happen to you – once. After thrashing, sweating, and fogging your goggles to extricate yourself, it (hopefully) won’t happen again.

SECRET SIDECOUNTRY: I could tell you. But

I’d have to kill you.

The woods off Smugglers’ Notch are lovely, dark and deep.

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At Mad River Glen, Dylan Dipentima shows the stuff

same way, using my legs but staying still with my torso. Also, I try to ski the opposite line from everyone else so that I have fresh snow, which helps me ditch speed. Usually, everyone turns in the same place, going, left, right, left. If that’s the case, I go right, left, right.

SIDECOUNTRY SECRETS: I love all the woods off Mad River Glen.You can usually go in there when there’s say, a 40-inch base versus the usual 50-inch base that I use as a gauge for elsewhere. That’s because there are so many skiers there who really help maintain the terrain.”

DOUG STEWART: PSIA Examiner “Skiing in the trees isn’t about high edge angles like carving on a groomer is. Instead, you should stay more over your feet and skis and pivot with your legs to turn.You do, of course, still tip the ski up a bit and use the edges, but riding high edge angles is not what’s going to turn our skis in the trees.

The modern all-mountain ski is made to do just that: turn in deeper snow. The wider waist—maybe from 90 mm to 100 mm for everyday Vermont off-piste terrain, and wider on a powder day—gives a bit of float and provides a nice platform to balance on.

The concept of having rocker in the profile of the ski is all about making the ski “loose” so it isn’t trying to engage the edges and it

can pivot better. A traditional ski has full camber, which brings the tip and tail of the ski down toward the snow. That helps the ski engage the edges and “hook-up” with the snow even with very little tipping of the ski.

Having rocker in the tip or tail (or both) keeps the edges from engaging the snow until you tip the ski up on a high edge. This way a rockered ski can still carve on a trail when you are getting on a high edge, but can pivot a lot easier while skiing low edge angles.

Try turning your skis with very little edge angle on a groomed run.

These types of turns will feel like you are drifting around, instead of carving or leaving a clean arc in the snow. In making these drifty turns, keep your upper body facing downhill, and allow your legs to make the turns. Your hips will be more a part of your upper body, while your legs will rotate in the hip socket and steer the skis from side to side.

Get so you can make short, quick turns like this. Once you have a nice, drifty, short turn on the groomers, it is time to get into the trees.

And when you do head into the woods, the three things I always mention are: pole straps off, goggles on, and look at the spaces, not the trees.

SIDECOUNTRY SECRETS: My favorite sidecountry skiing is going out to The Bench from the gondola at Stowe. There are so many fun lines out there that it never gets old. I also love leaving the resort via the old

Photo by Brian Mohr/EmberPhoto

that’s earning him movie credits.

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Photo left by Chandler Burgess, right by Brooks Curran

Dan Egan slips quietly through Killington’s woods.

Tami Razinger sends it off Mt. Mansfield’s The Chin.

Bruce Trail, and ending up at the Matterhorn for a drink after skiing. A beer tastes even better when you ski there!

someplace where you can ride a lift back up. The area between Killington and Pico is amazing, too, but it’s easier to get lost there.

DAN EGAN: Extreme skier, host Dan Egan Ski Clinics The last few years we’ve over-taught edging and people haven’t learned the art of feathering and slipping.That’s what you need to be good in the trees. Many people try carving, accelerate and then they get scared. The most important thing in the trees is to be able to check your speed.You need selective edge pressure, meaning: get into position before the turn (facing the fall line), apply a little edge pressure and then quickly release.

You always want to be in the fall line, making short turns and edging will take you across the fall line. The other thing is to plan your turns. Look ahead and decide where you are going to start and stop.

That way you always stay in control.

Also, I ski in any weather, and to be a really good skier you need to feel the wind and know where it blew snow in and where it might have scraped snow away.

TAMI RAZINGER: Competitor on Freeride World Qualifying Tour When you head into the trees, you should always be thinking ahead.

Look at least three turns ahead and look at the spaces between the trees, not the trees themselves.

The most important thing when you are skiing uneven terrain is to keep your head up and keep looking forward. That way if you come to an obstacle or a small drop or cliff, you can check your speed or stop. Also, keep your knees loose.

If you do go over something, the tendency is to sit back, which is the worst thing you can do, and pretty much guarantees you have no chance of landing well.

If you keep your knees loose and absorbing impact, and your weight centered and charging forward, you can pretty much ski over anything. You just have to trust yourself.

SIDECOUNTRY SECRETS Killington is great because it has everything—steeps, moguls, trees—and the whole area is open, including the 745 new acres known as the Natural Woods. Julio’s is awesome, as is all the stuff in the Canyon. The best part? All of this spills out to

SIDECOUNTRY SECRETS: I coach freeriding at Smugglers’ Notch, so I like everything off there, like the Birthday Bowls. I also like to hike The Chin from Stowe and ski Hellbrook and everything that spills you out onto the Notch Road.

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7

The th Life of

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Jake Burton Carpenter rides out of the shadows at a Mike Wiegele heli-boarding

Photo by Jeff Curtes

trip in British Columbia.

“Let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: Behold, human beings living in an underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light…”

—PLATO, ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE, THE REPUBLIC

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uesday in early January, there’s a slight drizzle.

Snowboarding’s most famous couple is at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort, razzing each other about who picked up whom on New Year’s Eve, 1982, at the Mill in Londonderry.

“My name is Jake and I build snowboards.

That was his pick-up line,” says Donna Carpenter as she unstraps from her board. She stretches out his name, ‘Jaake,’ the way actor Jeff Bridges in the film, “The Big Lebowski,” says “I’m the Duude.”

“So, I’m this cool girl from New York City and wanted nothing to do with him,” says Donna, with a laugh. Jake Burton Carpenter shakes his head and steps out of the new Step-On prototype bindings.

“No way, you picked me up,” he says.

She was 18. He was 28 and making snowboards in a barn.

Thirty-five years later, they are married with three kids. Donna is the CEO of Burton, (the “CE-Ho” Jake calls her). It is a global company now with a 35 percent share of the snowboard market, five offices around the world, and retail outlets from Haight-Ashbury to Soho. They own subbrands, Anon, Red, Channel Islands surfboards and more.

The company is still headquartered in Burlington, Vt. It celebrates

its 40th year this year and is about to come out with the Step-On binding, a breakthrough product it’s been developing for four years.

Donna and Jake are healthy and, at 53 and 62, remarkably fit. They live in a relatively modest farmhouse in Moscow, Vt., albeit a farmhouse with a basement you can skateboard in. They ride 100 days a year.

This all seems slightly miraculous on any number of levels—not the least of which is that Jake Burton Carpenter is still alive.

THE DARK

“How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?” —Plato, The Republic.

“The last 18 months have been pure hell,” says Donna on the chairlift ride up. We’ve done a few runs on buttery-soft snow, Jake pulling ahead. “I’m not as fast as I was,” he says. “I used to be able to do really short, quick turns—that was my thing. But I’m getting stronger. Last year I had a hard time keeping up with Donna.”

In January 2015, Jake had a full knee replacement. In March 2015, he went to the U.S. Open in Vail and snuck in turns with his son George, pro rider Kevin Pearce and his surgeon and friend Bryan Huber.

The next week, Jake was back in Stowe and swimming. A strong

Photos by Ben Sarle (top) and Andrew White (right)/The New York Times

T

They met when she was 18, he was 28. Thirty-five years later, Donna is Burton’s CEO and Jake, the visionary.

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surfer and a captain of his college swim team at New York University, he regularly swims intervals at The Swimming Hole. “I was in the pool when I began seeing double,” he says.

“I thought he’d just been partying too much and blew it off at first,” Donna remembers. The next day, Jake went to Copley Hospital in Morrisville. “They were great, did all the tests. Then they told me, ‘This isn’t something we can handle: you need to go to Dartmouth Hitchcock.’”

“When I got to Dartmouth, I heard: ‘Tomorrow you won’t be able to swallow. The next day, you won’t be able open your eyes. The day Inspired by Plato, artist Jeff Koons (right) did the graphics for The Philosopher board.

not removed until August 19.

Six days later, Burton was being flamed across the internet. YoBeat, a website that bills itself as “making fun of snowboarding since 1977” (the year Burton was founded) published an anonymous letter alleging that two of Burton’s key management team were using drugs on the job, alienating employees, mismanaging funds and leading the company away from the core snowboard culture it had built. It prompted Vice to run the headline “Is Burton in Trouble?”

Then, on Christmas eve, 2015, two of the Carpenters’ sons headed up to the Stone Hut, the state-owned, off-the-grid cabin near the summit in Stowe. The family has spent many Christmases there, but that day the boys headed up to stoke the fire for friends who were supposed to arrive later that day. To get the fire going, they left the door of the wood stove open and a wet log leaning against it. The next morning, ski patrol found the hut engulfed in flames. The Carpenters donated $150,000 towards its rebuild.

The rest of the season it barely snowed on the East Coast or in Europe, two of Burton’s biggest markets. In March, 2016, Burton announced layoffs.

The Light

“Anyone who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eyes are of two kinds and arise from two causes: either from coming out of the light or from going into the light.” — Plato, The Republic

after, you won’t be able to breath,’” Jake recalls. He would be placed on a feeding tube and would need a tracheotomy to breathe.

Jake was diagnosed with Miller-Fisher syndrome, a nerve disease related to Guillain-Barre syndrome that causes the auto-immune system to fight first the sheath of the nerves and then the nerves themselves. If caught soon enough and treated, the resulting paralysis is temporary and treatable. “If it gets to the nerves, not just the sheaths, it can mean three years before you recover, not three months,” says Donna.

As Jake lay flat, able only to communicate by scribbling notes on a pad, his mind went to a very dark place. “I wrote notes to my kids that I was thinking about suicide,” he says softly. “ I was lying on my back unable to move or speak or breathe. Miller-Fisher really messes with your mind and impacts your brain. I didn’t know how out of it I was and I just didn’t believe I would ever get better.”

It was not Jake’s first brush with a serious illness. In 2011 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He went to the Mayo Clinic and went through four rounds of chemotherapy. His oldest son, George, came out to help. “That time really brought us closer together,” Jake says.

“If Jake has nine lives, he’s on about number seven,” says Donna.

In July, Jake was well enough to move home where Donna began to care for him, while still running the company. His feeding tube was

During Jake’s illness, a steady stream of Burton pro riders, including Mark McMorris, Danny Davis and Shaun White, made pilgrimages to the hospital room. “It’s those guys who keep the passion going and keep me stoked,” says Jake. “It’s those guys and girls who inspire me.”

In the early days of snowboarding, Burton fought hard to wrest pro rider Craig Kelly away from Burton’s biggest early competitor, Sims. He won. Kelly rode for Burton for more than 20 years before he was killed in an avalanche in 2003. Since then Burton has signed—and helped make—the biggest names in the sport: including Terje Haakonsen, Jeff Brushie, Kelly Clark and Mikkel Bang. (It also supported emerging riders like Ralph Kucharek, 24, from Burlington, who is on the cover of this issue riding Burton’s unbranded board, Knowbuddy.)

“Like us, these guys are passionate about snowboarding,” says Jake.

“Shaun White would snowboard even if he never got paid a dime because he loves it.”

“Passion is what it is all about,” Donna agrees. “When we were starting out, we looked at the ski industry and realized those guys had lost their passion: the ski companies were getting bought out by big companies. They were being run by guys in suits and hosting their meetings at golf courses,” says Donna. “That’s why we give employees lift tickets and have our meetings on snow.”

Snowboarding revolutionized winter sports. But as with skiing, it has seen a decline in recent years, going from 8.2 million in 2010-11 to 7.7 million in 2014-15, according to Snowsports Industry of America. “We certainly thought about selling the company,” Jake admits. “But the best thing we’ve done is keeping it private. If we had gone public, I would have been fired long ago.”

“Staying private has meant we can think long-term and not make those decisions that might be good short-term solutions but harm the company down the road,” says Donna. “For instance, I’d say our number one

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Donna, Jake, Timi, Taylor and George Carpenter. In 2003, the

innovation now is a focus on sustainability.”

In the last year, the company has managed to save 60 to 85% of the waste from producing a board by upcycling it into things like name tags or sample holders for breweries and 80 percent of its apparel is bluesign approved, an environmental standard for textiles.

One of the things Burton has focused on is consistently innovating and putting out new product but not oversaturating the market— a problem, Jake notes, that has become rampant in the ski industry.

“Who wants to see some guy show up with the same board as you but he bought it this year at 30 percent off?”

It has also grown through expanding its outerwear and durable goods line to include backpacks and even tents. Much of the expansion has been done through co-branding collaborations, which this year include South Park, Star Wars and outdoor tent company Big Agnes— “everything from Disney to Playboy,” says Donna.

The latter collaboration earned the company some heat, especially as Donna was trying to play a larger role in getting women on boards.

“At first, I was like, no way are we doing a Playboy board,” she says.

“But then I saw the graphics, and they were more kitschy, and sort of 1950s style – not really porn. Now, not even Playboy is showing full nudes so the collaboration seems pretty benign.”

On this rainy day, Donna is wearing a long jacket with logo patches. It is part of the LAMB line, a collaboration with Gwen Stefani. Jake, who tests every piece of new men’s apparel, has a black, microfiber button-down shirt from next year’s line and a retro pull-over shell that looks a lot like the first Powder Shell he launched in 1984. With a helmet and goggles on, you might never recognize the godfather of snowboarding until you look at his bindings: they have no straps.

The Future

When it came time to build an R&D facility in Burlington, the Carpenters named the 10,000-square-foot space “Craig’s,” in memory of Craig Kelly. While you can tour much of Craig’s and see boards being built, parts of it are hidden from view. There, over the past four years, engineers have been secretly working on the “Step-On” binding.

“You told the guys, ‘Hey, I’m 60 years old, I’m tired of sitting on my ass in the snow and strapping in,’” Donna says to Jake. While step-in bindings have been around for two decades, the challenge has been to create one that doesn’t jam with snow. “This binding has three clicks to it, so you can click in lightly and then, as the snow melts, you stomp down harder and click in more,” says Jake.

The binding and the accompanying boots come in two stiffnesses and two models for both men and women. They will come on the market next fall. “It’s going to be a game changer,” says Jake. “It’s probably the third biggest innovation I’ve seen in snowboarding, after metal edges and the high-back binding.”

Craig’s is also where Jake built his first and only signature board, The Stone Hut, the limited-edition board he named for the cabin atop Stowe. And it’s where he worked on the shape and design board he is riding now, The Philosopher, with graphics by artist Jeff Koons.

“I thought I was a control freak, you should see Jeff at work,” Jake says of Koons, the contemporary artist whose orange Balloon Dog, sold at auction for a record $58.4 million. Koons fell in love with snowboarding and came to Burton two years ago for a collaboration.

“When you’re on a snowboard, there is a sense of oneness, and I’m just mesmerized by it. So, I created an idea for a board that reflects the philosophy of this feeling, starting with Plato’s Cave – the idea of transcendence, freeing oneself and walking out of that cave in a higher state of consciousness. That’s what the act of snowboarding does for me,” Koons told Britain’s The Telegraph.

Koons wanted the graphics to be reflective so Burton created the largest foil stamps ever used. Only 50 boards were made, each priced at $5,000.

They were sold to raise money for The Chill Foundation, which the Carpenters launched to introduce underprivileged kids to snowboarding.

The allegory of the cave tells the story of prisoners who are tied up in a cave and can see only shadows of the real world that are projected on the walls from the outer world. It’s only once they emerge from the cave that they see things as they are.

After a year of hell, Jake and Donna are beginning to see light ahead. “One thing this past year has done is it helped me really rely on John Lacy, our president. He’s my retirement strategy,” says Donna.

Their oldest son George (whose middle name is also Burton) now plays a role in the business too.

“We told all of our kids they had to do three things before they could join the business: they had to work somewhere else, they had to learn a foreign language and they had to do service work and volunteer. George has done all three and joined us as a product developer.”

The family spent Christmas in Utah where Timi, the youngest has been studying to get his backcountry guide certification. “If anything, this past year has brought us all closer together,” says Donna.

Jake nods and smiles. “Flying home from Utah I was thinking that if this plane went down right now I wouldn’t think I’d been shortchanged in any way. No, I have no regrets.”

Photo by Jeff Curtes/Burton. Timeline and images courtesy Burton

family took a year to travel six continents chasing snow and surf.

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40 Years of Burton 1954: Jake Burton Carpenter, born April 29 in N.Y.C. 1961: Jake skis for the first time with his family at Bromley Mountain in Vermont.

1968: Jake begs for, and gets, a Snurfer for Christmas.

1977: Jake graduates from New York University and works for a small investment banking company in Manhattan. Quickly figures out that the finance world is not that fun. Moves to Londonderry, Vt. and builds “Burton Backhills” out of his barn.

1979: Sells a mere 300 snowboards and is forced to lay off his only employees, two relatives and a friend.

To keep Burton afloat, Jake goes back to New York to teach tennis and bartend.

1980: Burton sells 700 snowboards and hopes that the 133-percent sales increase is a trend.

1981: Jake signs Burton’s first team rider, Doug Bouton. In the years to come, Burton will sponsor the world’s best snowboarders, including Craig Kelly, Shannon Dunn, Jeff Brushie, Terje Haakonsen, Kelly Clark, Nicolas Muller and Shaun White, to name a few.

1982: Meets his future wife at The Mill Tavern in Londonderry, just after midnight, New Year’s Day. 1982: The National Snowboarding Championships are organized at Suicide Six, Vermont by Paul Graves. Jake competes on the latest Burton equipment.

1983: Convinces 19-year-old Donna Gaston, whose mother was concerned that he never combed his hair, to marry him. Also convinces Stratton Mountain to become the first major resort to allow snowboarders on lifts.

1984: Jake develops Burton’s first snowboarding outerwear line, which includes the “Powder Shell,” “Powder Pants,” and “Riding Gloves.”

1985: Jake and Donna move to Europe and open Burton’s European headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria.

1986: Over 1,000 retail shops in the U.S. alone carry Burton Snowboards’ products.

1988: Craig Kelly comes in third in the Open’s first halfpipe event on a ‘Mystery Air’, a high-tech board that Burton built for him, completely unbranded due to a legal battle with Craig’s former sponsor Sims.

1989: Jake and Donna move back to Vermont from Austria.

1992: The Burton factory and head office relocates from Manchester to Burlington, Vermont with 104 employees.

1995: Jake and Donna create ‘Chill’, a non-profit foundation that provides life-changing experiences to underserved urban kids by taking them snowboarding for an entire season.

1996: Creates Burton’s first separate brand – RED Impact Protection, which introduces the first helmet designed specifically for snowboarding.

1996: Jake hands out equal prize money to women and men at the US Open Snowboarding Championships. It takes the X Games until 2008 to pay women snowboarders equally.

February 1998: Goes to the first Olympics where snowboarding is officially a sport in Nagano, Japan. They spell snowboarding wrong.

1998-2001: Creates Gravis Footwear, Anon Optics and Analog Outerwear. The brand evolves into a yearround clothing company based in Southern California.

2003: Japan becomes the first market where snowboarders make up more than 50 percent of resort visits.

Jake and Donna take a 10-month trip with the kids to snowboard and surf on six continents.

2004: Burton buys snowboard brands Forum, Special Blend and Foursquare and collectively renames them ‘The Program.’

2006: Burton riders Shaun White and Hannah Teter win Olympic gold in outerwear that Burton designed exclusively for the US Olympic Snowboard Team. Burton buys Channel Islands surf company. “For me, that was like buying the Yankees,” says Jake, a serious surfer.

2006: Works with team riders to develop the first Stash run at Northstar-at-Tahoe, Calif.. Additional runs are stashed away at Killington, Vt. and at other resorts around the world.

2007: Burton’s ‘Poach for Freedom’ contest challenges riders to submit videos of themselves poaching the four mountains that still didn’t allow snowboarding. Taos suddenly announces it is time to open its slopes to snowboarders.

2008: Jake welcomes DNA Distribution (Alien Workshop, Habitat and Reflex Bearings) to the Burton family of brands.

2009: Launches Playboy “Love” board amid much controversy. Playboy line gets relaunched in 2015.

2010: Shaun White become the first snowboarder to win two Olympic halfpipe gold medals. Burton riders and Vermonters Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark take home silver and bronze.

2012: Jake and Donna become the first snowboarders inducted into the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Museum (VSSM) Hall of Fame.

2013: Burton opens its first flagship store in San Francisco on Haight Street.

2014: Slopestyle makes its debut at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Jake is on the cover of Inc. Magazine.

2015: Jake gets a full knee replacement in January, and is diagnosed with Miller-Fisher syndrome in March.

2016: Donna Carpenter is named CEO and John Lacy, president of Burton.

2017: Launches Step-On binding.

2017

1970s 1982

Forty years of innovation: from the original Backill that Jake Burton Carpenter produced out of his barn in Londonderry, to the 2017 Step-On binding.

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THE

ULTIMATE

40 Winter 2017 vtskiandride.com

SKI HOUSE When a family with four young skiers set out to build their ultimate ski house, they didn’t know they’d end up with a ski hill, a cabin, trails and a lift as well.

By Lisa Lynn | Photos by Nat Rea

With views out to the private trails and an adjacent guest bunk room that sleeps six, this great room over the barn garage is made for parties.

vtskiandride.com Winter 2017 41

S

ay you have four kids who all ski race.You spend years waking up at 5 a.m. and sorting through their gear, finding missing gloves and goggles and tuning skis. When they return from the hill, you feed dinner to them‌and their friends. You host slumber parties, you clean up and you do it all over again the next weekend.

Then, after years of commuting between the Boston suburbs and your evermore-crowded Vermont home, you have a chance to build the house of your dreams. What does it look like?

Of course it has a killer ski tuning room, with a tuning bench and racks for 30 pairs of skis.

And another room with numbered lockers, like in a ski club, where kids can hang jackets and stow gear. And a heated boot room. And a big gabled room over the barn with a bar and a pool table and a room off of it with six bunks (set over numbered drawers that correspond to numbered hallway closets). Perhaps you can squeeze in a few more guest rooms and bunk rooms so if you do end up with 20 people spending the night, everyone has a bed to sleep in.

And then, what about carving some trails on the side of the hill? Heck, why not clear a ski slope? And put in a J-bar? And get your own Pisten Bully snowcat so you can groom the trails ?

And maybe a few snowmobiles so you can zoom up to the top of the mountain?

Since the top of the mountain has incredible views, that might be a great place for a cozy, off-the-grid log cabin where you could sleep another 15 or so.

High, high on a hill looking down over Quechee and east to the White Mountains, that ultimate ski house is evolving into reality. Over the last five years, designer-builder David Anderson Hill and interior designer Courtney Taylor have worked closely with the owners to create what may be the ultimate dream home.

42 Winter 2017 vtskiandride.com

“I tried to create views from every room,” says designer/builder David Anderson Hill. He seemlessly replicated the feeling of a Vermont farmstead by attaching the red barn to the clapboard living quarters and anchoring it with a structure of reclaimed red brick.

Much of the masonry inside and out, including the fireplace in the master bedroom (below left) was done

by Knight Ide, who has been called the “godfather” of Burke’s Kingdom Trails. Ide also set about building the nearly six miles of ski and bike trails that wind up the ridge. The trails and J-bar get put to good use by the four kids—all serious skiers who also spend time in what has to be the ultimate ski tuning room (below).

Though the house spans 12,000 square feet, it has an intimate feel, thanks to some clever design work on the part of Hill and his partner Susan Fuller. A traditional farmhouse, with an exterior of reclaimed brick, anchors the home and houses the immediate family’s bedrooms.

That flows into a clapboard structure where the kitchen and main living areas are. Then, into the red barn that houses the giant mud room, ski tuning room and garage with the pool room and bar upstairs.

The owners (who preferred their names not be used) met when they were both at Dartmouth and knew the area. “We’d lived in Hong Kong when the kids were young and realized we didn’t really have any roots,” J. says. The kids joined the local club ski team and became hooked. “Some mornings we’d have 13 pairs of skis to load in the car. I wanted the garage to be high enough so I could drive in with the Thule rack on the car and unload inside,” she says.

“Working with these owners really taught me a lot about using space,” says interior designer Courtney Taylor who also worked with the couple on their home outside of Boston. “She tucked beds into hallways, railroad-style with drawers under them. Everything in the house has a place and a function.”

As the main house was finished, the family began to turn their attention to the 200 acres that stretch around it. “We thought, what can we do with these woods?” J. said. As it happened, trailbuilder Knight Ide (of Kingdom Trails fame) was working on masonry in the home. He set out carving ski and mountain bike trails down the face of the hill that rises nearly 800 vertical feet above the house. “My husband found out that the old Dartmouth Skiway J-bar was for sale,” J. said, and it went in a year ago. This past Thanksgiving, the family had 24 for the holiday and

vtskiandride.com September 2015 00

Photos bottom left by Lisa Lynn

“This place is all about family and traditions. We want this to be where our kids always come back to, where we celebrate holidays and get a chance to be with each other.�

44 Winter 2017 vtskiandride.com

revved up the bullwheel.

Though the J-bar only goes partway up the hill, “Sofia” and “Matilda” are on hand to help get skiers to the top of the ridge.

“My husband has a ball with ‘Sofia,” J. says, explaining that ‘Sofia’ is the name they have given to the massive Alpina Sherpa snowmobile that seats four and has a trailer that can carry another six. “We also have a rope that we can use to tow skiers behind it.” Loaded with ten, it takes the family of racers high up the ridge to where they can ski down trails groomed by “Matilda,” the full-size Pisten Bully snow cat.

Or, if you want to truly feel like you are in the backcountry, you can ski, snowshoe or ride the trails to what feels like a remote spot high on the top of the ridge. There, the family has just finished a log cabin. Off the grid, with solar power and bunks and custom pull-out couches that sleep more than 20, it has a stunning view south to Ascutney. Hike out a little trail and you can have a view of Killington and, coming back to the main house, you can see Mt. Washington off to the distance. “It’s like a little National Park with views everywhere from that ridge,” says Hill.

As Rob Lycett, the caretaker, notes, “The cabin is the place where the family hopes they can come and just unplug – no TV, no Internet, just a chance to be alone together on top of a mountain.”

“This place is all about family and family traditions,” says J. “We want this to be where our kids always come back, where we celebrate holidays and get a chance to be with each other.” And if you have a family of ski racers, having your own ski hill is a pretty good guarantee they’ll be back. n

At New Years, more than 125 people often show up for a party and more than 20 can stay over in beds like the Dutch beds tucked into a hallway of the main house (top) or on the custom pull-out sofas (above) in the cabin. A small sitting room opens into the large, airy living room (left). The kitchen (opposite page) is designed with open shelves so guests can easily find what they need. Caretakers Rob and Ruth Lycett (far left) live near the cabin and help groom the trails using the Pisten Bully, which the family named “Matilda,” to

Inset cabin photo by Lisa Lynn

keep the J-bar running smoothly.

vtskiandride.com Winter 2017 45

COMPETITION

BY MARINA KNIGHT

FANTASY SKI

RACER Still feeling the buzz from the FIS World Cup in Killington?

Not sure how to keep the stoke alive?

You can stop fretting: Fantasy Ski Racer is here to help.

N

olan Kasper, an up-and-coming racer from Warren, Vt. and Utah’s Steve Nyman (now a three-time Olympian), were both in Lake Louise, Canada, racing NorAms. It was 2009 and Kasper had been running his own ad-hoc fantasy ski racing league with some friends from Burke Mountain Academy on Facebook. He was sitting in the lodge before his race, trying to get his fantasy picks posted before the deadline, when he and Nyman started to chat.

“Steve and I started this conversation that lasted all weekend because he had been thinking about the idea for a fantasy skiing league, too,” Kasper said.

As the two hashed out all the details, they made notes on a napkin. “We wrote it all down and then didn’t really do anything about it until I told my brother, Michael, about the idea and he was like, ‘Yeah, we should do this!” Nyman recalled. “Michael really is the one who made this all happen. We had the idea, but he took it and made it real.”

46 Winter 2017 vtskiandride.com

Photo by Eric Schramm

Warren’s Nolan Kasper lays it down at the Audi Birds of Prey in 2014. Kasper, currently on the World Cup circuit, started a fantasy ski race league while he was a student at Burke Mountain Academy.

vtskiandride.com Winter 2017 47

COMPETITION

Kasper (below right) with World Cupper Stacy Cook. Top right, Warren Nickerson adds color commentary to the site.

48 Winter 2017 vtskiandride.com

In addition to the alpine version, Fantasy Ski Racer has a cross-country, ski jumping and Nordic combined version.

A WORLD CUP LEAGUE “The cool part is that lots of current World Cuppers and former top athletes are pretty into it,” Nyman says. “Ted Ligety, Patrick Jaerbyn, Luca De Alprandini, Marie Pietilae-Holmner, the German team is into it and the French are really into it.”

Just as you can see these athletes’ actual results after they race, players can also track how their favorite racers fared in the fantasy version of their race and see how they stacked up against them.

Nyman, for example, who is currently ranked seventh in the world in downhill in real life is ranked an unimpressive 732 in the downhill rankings on Fantasy Ski Racer.

“When I am in the race, I always have to pick myself as the winner,” Nyman explained. “That’s my rule. Currently, I’m ranked 732 overall in downhill, but I’m really good at women’s slalom.”

In addition to picking their top ten finishers for every World Cup race on the 2016/17 calendar, players can read predictions on a blog written by World Championship medalist, NBC commentator and Warren resident Doug Lewis and former World Cup racer Warner Nickerson, from New Hampshire. Players can also listen to the “Piste OFF” podcast, produced weekly.

“At NBC we did a fantasy ski league (a private league) and I was the commissioner for eight years. Fantasy Ski Racer is so much easier,” Lewis said.

Lewis is now in a highly competitive Fantasy Ski Racer league of current and former racers, including Nyman, Thomas Vonn and Julien Lizeroux.

“What’s really great about it is it gives you the same old-time feeling of watching together that we had when we crowded around the TV to watch a race,” he said.

For his part, Nickerson loves how FSR forces people to make an informed pick and look up information about an athlete they might not know very well.

Photo bottom by Sarah Brunson/USSA; top by Tom Kelly/U.S. Ski Team.

Nyman (below left) and

The site launched in 2010 and has slowly grown ever since. Just like Fantasy Football and Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Ski Racer allows players to accumulate World Cup points and compete with an entire network of other ski racing fans across the world. The slick and easy-to-use app, which is available on iTunes and Google Play, now has 20,000 players and is growing by the second.

Nyman and Kasper’s idea has gone through several iterations. The newest version, Nyman says, is finally dialed and ready to push out to the world. “Several thousand people are playing every race, and once we hit the 50,000-player benchmark, that’s when we have value and can start really generating revenue,” Nyman said.

The beauty of today’s version of Fantasy Ski Racer is its simplicity. Players can join the game as individuals or join a league with friends. After creating a profile and opting in or out of the various ways to connect on social media, you click on an upcoming race and view the current rankings in the discipline.

Then, you simply drag and drop the racers who you think will fill out the top 10. Scoring is based on the actual World Cup points system. Choose the winner correctly and you’ll rack up 100 points, second place gets 80 and so on. Fantasy Ski racer also keeps track of a player’s rankings within specific disciplines, allowing you to compete for overall crystal globes just like athletes.

Points are awarded based on where a player predicts an athlete will finish and where the athlete actually finishes.

For example, if you had chosen Mikaela Shiffrin to win the slalom at Killington, in addition to being in the majority, you would have scored 100 points. If you had chosen her to place second and she won, you would only score 80 points.

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COMPETITION

SOCIAL RACING Eva Shaw, who raced in Vermont, went to Green Mountain Valley School in Warren and is now a student at Middlebury College, has been an avid player of Fantasy Ski Racer for the past few years.

“I would spend a lot of time on my picks. It’s easy to pick the winners but picking who will place seventh through tenth is tough,” she explained.

She connected with athletes through their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram and used the FIS website to look up past results on specific hills to inform her fantasy picks on a weekly basis.

“Social media was a good bridge to keep track of what was going on. For example, I could look at Henrik Kristoffersen’s Instagram and see he was sick, so I wouldn’t choose him that week,” she said. FSR also kept her friends from high school in touch.

“After high school some friends are still ski racing and others aren’t, so playing together kept us connected. It’s a unique

way we can all keep sharing something we all love,” Shaw said.

Last year, the Kelly Brush Foundation (the Vermont-based nonprofit whose mission is to empower those with paralysis to lead engaged and fulfilling lives through sport), and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association both got involved by awarding grants to clubs who signed up to play Fantasy Ski Racer. Each month, they gave $1,000 to the top-ranked large, medium and small club who competed in the virtual game.

“When they approached us about it, we saw it as a great opportunity to bring ski club communities together and also promote our mission of safety,” Executive Director Zeke Davisson said.

Tiny Prospect Hill Ski Team in eastern Massachusetts racked up the “small club” award and $4,000 in grants for safety equipment. Just as in real ski racing, sometimes the biggest winners come from the smallest ski hills. n

Warren’s Doug Lewis used to have his own fantasy ski race league. Now he’s a regular commentator for FantasySkiRacer.com.

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50 WINTER 2017 vtskiandride.com

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“I know more about the current group of racers on the World Cup now than ever, and I think that’s such a cool thing, to get fans to connect with not just their own athletes from their country, but to know a lot about all the racers in all the disciplines,” Nickerson says.

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craftsbury.com

Hazen’s Notch

65 km

60 km

60 km

Dec-April

Montgomery Center

802-326-4799

hazensnotch.org

Highland Lodge & XC Center

40 km

40 km

40 km

Dec-March

Greensboro

802-533-2647

highlandlodge.com

Jay Peak Nordic & Snowshoe Center

20 km

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Jay

802-988-2611

jaypeakresort.com

Kingdom Trails

45 km

20 km

20 km

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East Burke

802-626-0737

kingdomtrails.org

Memphremagog Ski Touring Foundation

35 km

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Derby

802-334-1357

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Morse Farm Ski Center

25 km

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802-223-0560

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Ole’s Cross Country Center

48 km

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35 km

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802-434-2283

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Stowe XC Ski Center

75 km

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Stowe

802-253-3688

stowe.com

Stowe ake Resort

5 km

5 km

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802-253-2232

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160 km

55 km

55 km

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Stowe

802-253-8511

trappfamily.com

Rikert's 55 km of trails wind through old forests, farm fields and past Robert Frost's summer cabin. The Center offers a full service rental shop and ski school. Jump on early season skiing with 5 km of snowmaking. Open 7 days a week and home to the Middlebury College Panthers.

The Nordic Center is the gateway to Bolton Valley’s legendary backcountry terrain.

It offers guided tours, lessons and rental equipment to get you out to enjoy some of the best Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in New England. Bolton has a 100 km Nordic trail system with 15 kilometers of groomed trails.

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60 km

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20 km

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60 km

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802-228-1396

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30 km

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802-464-0999

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Viking Nordic Center

39 km

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Dec-March

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Wild Wing’s Ski Touring Center

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u

Gear DIY BOARDS

Back from his “Speed

If you want a truly custom ski or board, you’ll have to make it yourself. And these three builders are here to help.

Photo by Shem Roose

F

of Sawdust” tour, Jesse Loomis oversees classes at the PowderJet workshop in Peru, Vt.

orget custom skis. If you truly want to ride a board (or a pair of boards) that’s truly unique, you make it yourself. The DIY craze has taken off—and Vermont’s at the heart of it. Whether it’s learning to make a snowboard with a shaper in Peru, Vt., handcrafting wood skis with an artisan who works out of a trailer, or taking a class at Boston’s burgeoning custom ski builder, Parlor, here’s what you need to know to build your own ride.

the motto that Jesse Loomis gave his business, which he opened in 2009.

A carpenter by trade, Loomis, 42, found his calling in 2008 when he took a spin on the first Burton board he’d ever owned and found the old board could still perform in the

POWDERJET Show up on a Saturday morning at PowderJet’s workshop in Peru, Vt. and by Sunday, you can have your own custom snowboard. “They have factories, we have a woodshop,” is

“I realized I could tie all those qualities into one board and it actually worked,” he says. He added sidecut and flex. “My mindset was to create the cleanest, simplest snowboard with as small an environmental footprint as I

BY EVAN JOHNSON

deep snow. He was looking for a board that could maneuver through the tight woods of Vermont and float through deep snow like a surfboard: that early design had it.

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Gear could manage,” he says.

The next step was to teach others to make them.

After moving to Maine for two years and partnering with a surfboard maker, Grain, Loomis moved PowderJet back to southern Vermont in July 2016, and set up a shop and press in Peru with the idea of hosting classes there.

Then, after getting pleas from former pro rider Dale Rehburg to give a class in California, Loomis took PowderJet on the road. This past fall, the “Speed of Sawdust” tour took Loomis around the country. He’s hosted classes in places that range from the local West Dover, Vt. shop, Invasion, to Patagonia stores in Encinitas, Calif., New York and Boston. Loomis is also partnering with Parlor and hosting a workshop at their Boston headquarters on Feb. 25-26 and is then headed to Grain, inYork, Maine, for another workshop on April 8-9. Loomis will also put on a custom class for four or more.

Loomis presses and shapes the boards himself, controlling the sidecut and flex. As he says, “I want to make sure they all have a similar ride.” But then the nose and tail shape and graphics are up to the individual. “For instance, some people want a deeper notch in the swallow tail, which impacts how deep it sinks in powder.” Students often sign up six months ahead of time. “They really like to nerd out on just what they want their board shapes and graphics to be. I even had one guy do this really cool dolphin tail on the board.” Graphics might entail painting or burning or etching the board. The final step is a Minwax finish that Loomis likes because it can be reapplied after the board gets scratched.

Though he now uses steel edges and P-Tex, Loomis has tried to stay true to his environmental ethos. Boards are shaped with FSC certified poplar wood sourced from the United States, and use an environmentally-friendly entropy resin. A class and a board cost $795. powderjet.com

56 Winter 2017 vtskiandride.com

Silo Skis from a trailer he keeps out back on his property in Richmond.

the lifts no longer turn, including Hogback in Marlboro and Maple Valley in Dummerston.

After a stint living and skiing in Jackson Hole, he came back to Vermont in 2001 and started work in carpentry.

Then, in 2013, he completed a six-week apprenticeship with Matt Neuman, a custom ski builder in Idaho.

Photos by Evan Johson

SILO At the end of a long and narrow dirt road, a bumpy tenminute drive from Cochran’s ski area and the rugged expanse of wilderness that surrounds Camel’s Hump, sits the global headquarters of Silo Skis: an 8-foot by 16-foot trailer, powered by a rumbling generator.

When it comes to boutique ski manufacturers, Silo Skis is about as small as it gets. That’s because Lars Whitman, sole employee and owner, doesn’t really want to make you a pair of skis. He wants you to make them.

Whitman, 42, grew up skiing in southern Vermont, linking turns at Mount Snow, Stratton and areas where

Lars Whitman handcrafts

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Gear

“We wanted a New England ski that would perform on the trails we know,” says Mark Wallace of Parlor (above).

Right, Wallace tests his product at Sugarbush

Photo by Brooke Kalstas/Truckieloo

and Stowe.

Today, Whitman still does some carpentry and works for Citizen Cider in Burlington, but his passion is building custom skis and guitars.

The idea for a portable factory came after seeing the setup of 333 Skis, a two-person team in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. that had its entire operation based in a similar trailer.

“I found that I really don’t need much space to work in,” he says. “The trailer forced me to have my entire workspace planned out.”

The nondescript trailer includes interlocking cabinets and shelves that hold supplies, peg-boards and drawers for tools and a specialized jig Whitman has designed for shaping

the ski and adding camber or rocker. Another space under a counter is where the skis are pressed. A gas-powered generator behind a panel provides power when he’s on the road.

Whitman likes this mobile setup as it allows him to take his operation directly to the mountains. It takes him about 16 hours to produce a pair of skis and last year he had 30 orders. Half of those were from folks who wanted to roll up their sleeves to build their own pair.

Whitman has yet to take the trailer to a customer’s house (something he’s looking forward to trying). Instead, customers make the drive up the dirt road in Richmond to work in the trailer over a weekend. Whitman says it takes about 16 hours to complete a pair of skis.

He starts his design with a questionnaire that addresses everything from what kind of snow the skis will be used on, the skier’s style (examples: “leisurely, ski like a freak, charge everything, bump-a-holic, and Chuck Norris”), the kind of bindings that will be used and any graphics.

Whitman uses birch cores, fiberglass, epoxy, metal edges, and conventional base materials.

He eschews the idea of a “quiver of one” ski. Instead, he tries to steer customers to where they ski most of the time.

“If you ski on the East Coast, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be skiing the same stuff over and over,” he says. “What we do is design the ski that hits the sweet spot, that area where you ski 90 percent of the time. In designing the ski, it’s about education as well.”

Instead of simply building the skis to spec and then sending them on their way, much of the process is spent discussing the methodology.

“I want people to understand what we’re doing and how that affects what we do down the line,” he says.

“When you see someone pulling their skis out of the press and cutting them open, the excitement is palpable. It’s the most fun,” he says.

A pair of Silo Skis costs $700 and with a one-on-one workshop, is $850. This winter, look for the Silo Skis trailer in the parking lots at Mad River Glen, Sugarbush and Killington, where you can demo pairs of skis and sign up to build your own pair. siloskis.com PARLOR When it comes to DIY skis, Parlor is to Silo what Boston, Ma, is to Richmond, Vt. Though based right near Logan Airport, Parlor’s founders, Mark Wallace, Jason Epstein and Pete Endres spend many winters skiing Vermont. “It’s our test bed,” says Wallace.

The three met when they were ski racing at Williams

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Gear

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College. Wallace raced semi-pro for a while after and then went to work for a construction company where he learned about materials and how to build.

After getting his MBA, Wallace teamed up with the other two to launch Parlor. It started in 2009 in a Cambridge building that once housed a funeral parlor.

The original idea? “We wanted to make custom skis that were really geared to the terrain that people ski around here,” says Wallace. “We realized there really wasn’t a New England ski brand and we wanted to make one that would make people’s ski days better here.”

One of the first questions Parlor asks any customer is: “What runs do you ski?” “It makes a difference because there’s a good chance we’ve skied that run and we’ll know what the terrain is like,” Wallace says.

While Parlor has some set models (ranging from the all-mountain Cardinal to the 120-mm powder gnasher, the Heron) each ski gets adjusted for a customer’s weight, height, skiing preference and, of course, custom graphics.

After moving to a warehouse space out by Logan Airport in 2015, Parlor began offering a few workshops where people could come in and build their own skis. “It started out as few friends of ours wanting to come over and see what we did. Now, we have classes that run from April through August,” Wallace says. Some businesses even book ski building classes as corporate outings.

The space now comprises 3,500 sq. ft. and classes can include six to eight people. “It takes about 8 to 10 hours to make a pair of skis,” says Wallace.

During that time, he guides students through the process of selecting the wood cores, shaping, hand-gluing the edges, applying the resins, laminating and, as Wallace calls it, “the fun part — the graphics.”

You can either work with Parlor’s designer to come up with a graphic or create one on your own.

In 2016, the classes sold out and for 2017, Parlor’s extended the schedule to include both intensive weekend classes and weekday after-work classes that run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Classes cost $1500 and include the pair of custom skis you build. For $25, you can also just sign up for a “Shop Night,” which gets you a t-shirt, a beer and a chance to hang out and watch the process. parlorskis.com YES, BUT HOW DO THEY DO ON SNOW? Sure, these microbrands are cool, but how do they perform? Excellent question, Bueller. We’ve tried many of the boards that are made in Vermont and, frankly, are impressed. But don’t take our word for it. Recently, we worked with Exotic Skis, an unbiased, unaffiliated group of ultra-techy ski testers who specialize in in-depth reviews of small-batch skis. They put our local boards through their paces and, as of press time, have created detailed reviews of Parlor, J, Renoun and WhiteRoom skis.

To see what they have to say, visit vtskiandride.com.

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Introducing Mountain Haus

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• Storage Units in basement with stair and elevator access • Parking • Snow Plowing and Lawn Care • 5 Minutes to the Lift

For Leasing Information and Floor Plans go to bullrockcorp.com Bullrock Corporation | 145 Pine Haven Shores Rd. | Suite 1150 | Shelburne, VT 05482 | 802-985-1460, Ext. 6

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THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR JANUARY 14 | Let It Glow Laser Show and Fireworks, Ludlow, Vt. Okemo presents a laser light show spectacular with colorful lasers projected on the Bull Run trail and into the night sky just outside Okemo’s Clock Tower base lodge. A fireworks finale and live music are sure to amaze. okemo.com 14-28 | Stowe Winter Carnival, Stowe, Vt. Stowe’s 43rd Winter Carnival returns with sports events, ice carving competitions, ski movies, Kids Carnival Kaos, a broomball tournament and a beer garden. stowewintercarnival.com

11 | Ski To Dine, Goshen, Vt. Ski with a guide for 15K from Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton to Blueberry Hill Inn in Goshen and enjoy a four-course seasonal meal at the Inn. Headlamps and your own equipment are required. Call Blueberry Hill for reservations: (802) 247-6735.

14 | Cloud Nine Nuptials, West Dover, Vt. Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Mount Snow by renewing your vows or getting married at the top of Cloud Nine. mountsnow.com 14 | Valentine’s Day at Okemo, Ludlow, Vt. Okemo celebrates romance with an on-snow scavenger hunt. Red hearts will be “hidden” along ski trails for skiers and riders to find. okemo.com

16 | Mad River Glen Family Tournament, Waitsfield, Vt. Mad River Glen’s annual friendly competition pits members of your family against each other. madriverglen.com

18 | February Festival, Bromley, Vt. Bromley hosts an annual celebration benefitting the Bromley Outing Club with fireworks, a torchlight parade, silent auction and live music. bromley.com

18-Feb. 22 | Green Mountain Skimo Citizen Race Series Bolton hosts the first uphill event in the Green Mountain Skimo Citizen Race Series. Routes are 1.5-3.5K long with 700-1000 feet of climbing and descending. Seven more events are held, as follows: Jan. 25, Bolton; Jan. 28, Stowe; Feb. 1, Bolton; Feb. 4, Sugarbush; Feb. 8, Bolton; Feb 15, Bolton; Feb. 18, Sugarbush; Feb. 22, Bolton. catamounttrail.org

18 | Triple Crown Unconventional Challenge, Fayston, Vt. The first leg of the Triple Crown Competition Series sends skiers down the Lift Line trail at Mad River Glen. Skiers are challenged on steeps, cliffs, jumps, and rocks, as they plunge down the relentless course. The second and third legs challenge skiers to a mogul course and to as ski as much vertical as they can. The UTC is one of the original stops on the Ski The East Freeride Tour. madriverglen.com

18-22 | Winter Rendezvous Gay Ski Week, Stowe, Vt. Stowe hosts the East’s biggest gay ski event, attracting hundreds of LGBTQ skiers and riders to Stowe for activities, parties and entertainment. stowe.com

18-19 | 95th Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition, Brattleboro, Vt. The 90-meter Harris Hill Ski Jumps hosts two days of jumping, music, tailgating and a climb to the takeoff for an up-close look at the jumpers as they fly by. Part of the United States American Ski Jumping tour. harrishillskijump.com

20-22 | Smuggs Ice Bash, Smugglers’ Notch, Vt. Winter’s biggest climbing and ice climbing event happens in the Notch and at PetraCliffs in Burlington. Sign up for free gear demos, clinics, slideshows by sponsored athletes, competitions, a kick-off party and prizes at The Barn at Smugglers’ Notch. smuggsicebash.com 28 | Craftsbury Marathon, Craftsbury, Vt. The 36th Craftsbury Marathon, the largest ski marathon in New England, features a redesigned course aimed at reducing the number of laps racers have to ski.

Distances include 16.5K, 33K and 50k. skireg.com 29 | John Egan Hall of Fame Induction Celebration Sugarbush’s Castlerock Pub celebrates John Egan, a Warren Miller Film star, who will be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in April. sugarbush.com

FEBRUARY

4 | Nordic Rendezvous and Back To The Barn Tour, Ripton, Vt. Cross-country ski, fat bike or snowshoe on scenic trails, leading you to the cabin where Robert Frost wrote. Hot chocolate and luminaries guide the way. Afterward, Bread Loaf Inn hosts a hearty dinner and dance party in front of the fire. rikertnordic.com 5 | Brandon Gap Backcountry Area Ski and Splitboard Tour, Brandon, Vt. Join RASTA, The Catamount Trail Association and VTBC in an exploration of more than 15,000 vertical feet of backcountry terrain. The six-hour-long tour is open to all abilities. rastavt.org 5 | USASA Northern Vermont Series, Stowe, Vt. Stowe and the U.S. Snowboard and Freeski Association host a slopestyle competition on Stowe’s terrain park. All age and ability levels are welcome. smuggs.com 5 | Sugarbush’s Sugar Slide, Warren, Vt. USSA members compete on the bumps and jumps of Sugarbush’s Spring Fling. sugarbush.com

18-20 | Fourth Annual Memphremagog Ice Skating Festival, Newport, Vt. Kingdom Games hosts 1-, 5-, 21- and 42-kilometer races on a 1K circuit, plus a supported Adventure Skate on a cleared trail north up Lake Memphremagog as far as weather and ice conditions permit. kingdomgames.co 19 | Camel’s Hump Challenge, Huntington, Vt. In this rigorous wilderness ski touring experience, backcountry and Nordic skiers traverse around Camel’s Hump to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Contact Mary Rockwell Thon, mthon@alz.org.

TASTE VERMONT SPECIALTY FOOD DAYS Sample Vermont maple syrup and local foods from brands like Cabot and Ben & Jerry’s as well as beer, cider and spirit tastings.

1/14: 1/27: 1/28: 1/31: 2/11: 2/18: 2/21: 2/24: 3/4: 3/5: 3/11: 3/18: 3/19: 3/25: 4/8:

Quechee Ski Area Jay Peak Resort Burke Mountain Resort Mad River Glen Bromley Mountain Middlebury College Snow Bowl Smugglers’ Notch Resort Okemo Mountain Resort Pico Mountain Magic Mountain Killington Resort Sugarbush Resort Bolton Valley Stratton Mountain Resort Stowe Mountain Resort

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Green Living At Wake Robin, residents have designed and built over four miles of walking trails. Each Spring, they make maple syrup in the community sugar house, and each Fall they harvest honey from our beehives. Residents compost, plant gardens, use locally grown foods, and work with staff to follow earth-friendly practices.

Live the life you choose––in a vibrant lifecplan community.

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THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR

1

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BREAKFAST DINNER FULL BAR SUNDAY BRUNCH

25| Southern Vermont Freeskiing Challenge at Magic, Londonderry, Vt. Junior freeskiers (ages 15-18) head to Magic Mountain to show off their skills on the Red Line trail. skitheeast.net 25 | Snowshoe Festival, Goshen, Vt. Join the Endurance Society for 10K, 30K, 60K and 5K Sled Run races, starting at the Blueberry Hill Inn in Goshen. snowshoefestival.eventbrite.com 25 | Grafton Winter Carnival, Grafton, Vt. Enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating and an ice bar, hosted by the Grafton Inn and held at the Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center. graftoninnvermont.com 25 | Winter Wild Uphill Race, Ludlow, Vt. Climb up the slopes of Okemo with snowshoes, skins or plain old running shoes, then ski down to end this uphill race. Afterward, get first tracks—the slopes open to participants before they open to the public. okemo.com

Family-friendly, Vermont-style bar and grill with a touch of diner.

Amazing burgers, salad bar, local beer, homemade desserts, and so much more!

26 | USASA Northern Vermont Series, Smugglers’ Notch, Vt. Smuggs and the U.S. Snowboard and Freeski Association host a slopestyle competition at the Birch Run Terrain Park. All age and ability levels are welcome. smuggs.com 26 | Stowe Derby, Stowe, Vt. Ski or cheer on skiers in this descent from the top of Mountain Road, down to the Stowe bike path, finishing in the center of town. Race is open to skate and classic XC (or alpine) skis and fat bikes as well. www.stowederby.com 27 | Silver Fox Trot, Hanover, N.H. The Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center is the site of a Bill Koch League freestyle XC race for young racers. A citizen race will follow the BKL race, with distances to be determined. www.nensa.net.

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3 | Triple Crown Vertical Challenge, Fayston, Vt. The second leg of Mad River Glen’s Triple Crown Competition Series sees how many vertical feet competitors can ski in a day. madriverglen.com 3-4 | Fifth Annual Winterbike Festival, Burke, Vt. Hundreds head to East Burke as The Kingdom Trails and Mountain Bike Vermont host winter’s biggest bike event and party with fat bike demos, lunch and beverages, music, fire, sugar on snow, games, races and swag. kingdomtrail.org.

4 | The Frigid Infliction, Bolton Valley, Vt. This 8-hour winter adventure requires you to navigate using a topographical map and compass. Snowshoe and cross country ski through the course and be ready for surprises. gmara.org

Enjoy your stay!

There’s something for everyone!

4 | Castlerock Extreme Challenge, Warren, Vt. Advanced skiers tackle the terrain on Sugarbush’s renowned Castlerock Peak to find the best skier on the mountain and claim a $1,000 cash prize. sugarbush.com 5 | Jay Peak Skimo Challenge, Jay, Vt. One monster randonnée race challenges the advanced ski-mountaineer. The course is 8 miles with 4,920 feet elevation gain. jaypeakresort.com 5 | High Fives Fat Ski a Thon, Warren, Vt. Lap the Summit Quad on your widest planks. Each lap completed on “fat” skis of 70 millimeters or more will raise money to support the High Fives Foundation. sugarbush.com

Skiing

olfing

Mountain Biking

Dining

Stowe Resort Homes www.stoweresorthomes.com 4915 Mountain Road, Suite 6, Stowe, VT 05672 (802) 760-11 7 • Fax (802) 760-1164

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THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR

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5 | Jack Jump World Championships at Mount Snow, Dover, Vt. The Jack Jump World Championships return to Mount Snow’s racecourse complete with speed, racing action and great crashes. mountsnow.com

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BECAUSE YOUR VACATION SHOULD BE EVERYTHING YOU EXPECT.

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Nestled in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains, count on Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterbury Stowe to provide the unique experience and comfort your family deserves.

To reserve your room, call 1-802-241-1600 or visit Marriott.com.

5| Extreme Skiing Challenge, Smugglers’ Notch, Vt. The Smugglers’ Notch Ski and Snowboard Club hosts junior and adult freeskiers who can show their stuff on cliffs, bumps, trees, chutes and stumps. Competitors will be judged on line, control, fluidity, technique and style. smuggs.com 10-11 | Carinthia Freeski Open, West Dover, Vt. Mount Snow’s acclaimed terrain park challenges freeskiers. Plus, there’s a $7,000 cash purse up for grabs and tons of gear for prizes. mountsnow.com 10-12 | Vermont Open, South Londonderry, Vt. Stratton invites snowboarders of all ages to compete in Vermont’s only Open competition, featuring a retro pipe, slopestyle and rail jam. stratton.com 11 | Triple Crown Mogul Challenge, Fayston, Vt. In the third leg of Mad River Glen’s Triple Crown Competition Series, skiers are challenged with moguls on the Chute trail in front of a Single Chair audience. madriverglen.com

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott® Waterbury Stowe Waterbury, VT Rates are per room, per night, based on availability, not available for groups of 10 or more rooms.

11-12 | 80s Weekend, Stowe, Vt. Bust out your stretch pants and straight skis for Stowe’s 80s Retro Weekend. Join in the fun for a Ski Ballet and Retro Jam, 80s music, a party and a BBQ at the Midway Bar. stowe.com 11-12 | Slash and Berm Banked Challenge, Killington, Vt. Snowboarders race a technical slalom course with curves, knolls and drops as they fly down Bear Mountain. killington.com 17 | St. Patrick’s Day Special, Waitsfield, Vt. Wear green and ski for half price at Mad River Glen. madriverglen.com 17 | St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt and Après Ski Party, Ludlow, Vt. Find hidden shamrocks on Okemo’s trails, then head to an après party featuring Guinness and musical guest Gypsy Reel. okemo.com 18 | NE Rando Race Series “The Sun,” Peru, Vt. Bromley hosts a randonnee race with over 4,793 vertical feet with a skintrack, but with no bootpack. nerandorace.blogspot.com 18 | Sugaring Time Festival, Warren, Vt. Celebrate sugaring season with a scavenger hunt with maple prizes, maple dining specials, maple-inspired games and more. sugarbush.com 18 | SideSurfers Banked Slalom, Warren, Vt. Competitors race on a banked slalom for a cash purse. Elements will include table tops, berms and rollers. sugarbush.com 18-19 | Ski the East Freeride Tour Championships at Jay Peak, Jay, Vt. Skiers charge some of Jay Peak’s most difficult terrain in pursuit of the series championship. jaypeakresort.com

POND SKIMMING Find an Elvis wig or gorilla suit and glide across the ponds for this classic rite of passage into spring.

3/25 4/1 4/8 4/8 4/8 4/15 4/15

Stratton Bolton Valley Smugglers’ Notch Warren Sugarbush Jay Killington

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Celebrating 30 years

25 | Island Weekend, Warren, Vt. Spring Break at Sugarbush with reggae music, island cuisine, drink specials and fun-in-the-sun activities. sugarbush.com

CAMEL’S HUMP CHALLENGE HUNTINGTON, VERMONT

February 19, 2017

25-26 | Spring Thing, Bolton Valley, Vt. Bolton hosts a 50th Anniversary spring bash. Join in for a snow bar, face painting, banked slalom, camp fires and more. boltonvalley.com

APRIL 1 | Galendesprung and Mt. Ellen Closing Party, Warren, Vt. Ski jumpers and newbies are invited to show their stuff on the Gelande. Longest jump wins a pair of skis, while best retro costume wins a pair of Dodge ski boots.

The party will close Mt. Ellen for the season. sugarbush.com 1 | 38th Annual Beach Party, Jay, Vt. Jay Peak hosts a beach party complete with live music, beach chair raffles and water slides. jaypeakresort.com 8 | 77th Annual Sugar Slalom, Stowe, Vt. Originating in 1940 and one of the oldest ongoing races in the country, the Mount Mansfield Ski Club’s annual Sugar Slalom celebrates spring with serious racing, serious fun and sugar on snow. teammscc.org

Register & Donate at camelshumpchallenge.com

An Endurance Ski Event & Fundraiser To Benefit Media support provided by Vermont Sports

8 | Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge, Killington, Vt. Bump it out on the slopes of Outer Limits in the amateur competition. The top 32 men and 16 women will go head-to-head for the mogul challenge. killington.com 5 | Snowsport History Week, Stowe, Vt. A series of events throughout the week, including parties, talks, riding and more lead up to the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 8. skihall.com 16 | Easter!

Look for sunrise services and easter egg hunts at your favorite mountain.

29 | Nor’beaster: Killington Triathlon, Killington, Vt. Challenge yourself with a Killington-style triathlon, which includes skiing, biking and running. Course details to come as the race date approaches. killington.com

ONGOING: Night Rider Series at Bolton Valley The first event of the Night Rider Series will start off with a rail jam in Hide Away Park on Jan 18. Come ride with your friends and win prizes. Night Rider Series events will also take place on Feb. 1, Feb. 15, Feb. 22 and March 22. Events details will be decided as events draw closer. boltonvalley.com Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge Series All abilities of skiers and snowboarders compete in casual but competitive races, held at mountain resorts throughout New England. In Vermont, races will be held at Sugarbush (Jan. 28), Suicide Six (Jan. 29), Bolton Valley (March 4), Bromley (March 12) and the New England finals will be held at Jay Peak on April 18. skiverticalchallenge.com Ski The East Freeride Tour Ski The East visits five Vermont mountains to challenge freeskiers and riders to a competition with a $5,000 tour-wide cash purse. Competitions will be held at Mad River Glen on Feb. 18, Magic Mountain on Feb. 25, Sugarbush on March 4, Smugglers’ Notch on March 5, and the championship at Jay Peak on March 18-19 with an extreme competition and cash purse of $1,000 for the winner. skitheeast.com

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Cozy Comfort at the Center of Vermont’s Big Three Ski Areas At the entrance to Sugarbush Mt. Ellen & just 5 min. from Sugarbush Lincoln Peak & Mad River Glen, our 26-room Inn serves a full breakfast in a homey setting at affordable rates. Perfect for groups. www.WhiteHorseInn-Vermont.com

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THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR CLINICS, LESSONS AND TOURS 1/14 | Ladies Nordic Ski Expo, Stowe, Vt. The Catamount Trail Association and Trapp Family Lodge host this opportunity for women to work on classic, skating and backcountry skills, taught by some of the best female ski instructors in the Northeast. catamounttrail.org 1/14 - 3/11 | Kids’ Cooking Classes at Sugarbush, Warren, Vt. Classes held starting on Jan. 14, then Feb. 4, Feb. 22, March 2 and March 11. Children learn basic kitchen safety, food handling and cooking techniques while using fresh, local ingredients. sugarbush.com 1/14 - 3/11 | Women’s Only Telemark Clinic, Waitsfield, Vt. Mad River Glen hosts clinics by and for women to help achieve skiing goals. The clinics include all-day coaching and lunch. Dates: Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, madriverglen.com 1/15 - 3/12 | Ski With John Egan, Warren, Vt. Take a tour of Sugarbush with John Egan. This tour is open to seven participants.

Each session requires a specific level of ability—see website for details. Dates: Jan. 15, Feb. 12, Feb. 26, March 5, March 12. sugarbush.com 1/15 & 2/22 | Photography Outback Tour, Warren, Vt. Tour the Mad River Valley with a photography guide and capture the wildlife and backcountry of the SlideBrook basin on camera. Camera (smartphones included) and snow boots required. Dates: Jan. 15 and Feb. 22. sugarbush.com 1/21-22, 2/25-26 | Women’s Camp with Donna Weinbrecht, Killington, Vt. Killington hosts an 18 and over women’s camp, led by Olympic gold medalist and world champion mogul skier, Donna Weinbrecht, along with Killington Resort’s top female coaches. Dates: Jan. 21-22 and Feb 25-26. killington.com 1/27-29, 3/10 | Burton Girl’s Time Out Camp, South Londonderry, Vt. This women-and-riders-only camp provides personalized instruction to improve everything from turns to advanced technique and new terrain. Riders of all abilities, 18+, are welcome. Dates: Jan. 27-29, March 10. stratton.com 2/10 | Lawson’s Finest Beer Lovers Dinner and Full Moon Snowshoe, Waitsfield, Vt. Naturalist Sean Lawson guides a 1-hour full moon snowshoe through Mad River Glen, followed by a buffet locavore dinner. Ticket includes one Lawson’s Finest brew. madriverglen.com 2/27-29 | Women’s Discovery Camp, Warren, Vt. Ladies are invited to a multi-day ski and ride camp designed specifically for women that includes instruction, demos, video analysis, equipment talk and après. sugarbush.com 3 /4-5 | The Kare Andersen Telemark Festival, Peru, Vt. Bromley hosts professional telemark clinics from beginner to advanced levels all weekend. A classic telemark race will be held Sunday morning. Dates: March 4-5 bromley.com

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The Green Mountain State is home to some of the best breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries. Many of them use the finest Vermont products, including local apples, grapes and 100% maple syrup to create their unique libations. For more information, links and maps to each location check out www.vtskiandride.com.

133 North Main St, St Albans, VT 802-528-5988 www.14thstarbrewing.com 14th Star Brewing started as a daydream in the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan. While deployed overseas, soldiers have plenty of time to contemplate two things: Beer and getting out of the Army. 14th Star’s now owner and head brewer Steve Gagner and his buddies were doing just that in 2010 when the idea came to the long-time homebrewers: Why not open a brewery, preparing for the day we can retire from the Army? Thus started the journey from a handwritten business plan in the back of a notebook to a fully-licensed craft brewery.

64 Vt. Route 104, Cambridge, VT 05444 802-644-8151 www.BoydenValley.com Experience Vermont’s award-winning Winery, Cidery, & Distillery. Crafting a variety of products including VERMONT ICE using sustainable agriculture and socially responsible practices. Tastings, Free Tours, and seasonal Gourmet Cheese Plates available. Two convenient locations: Cambridge – Winery & Tasting Room (only 7 miles from Smuggler’s Notch) and Waterbury - Tasting Room Annex at Cold Hollow Cider Mill (minutes from Stowe). Visit our website for hours and tour times.

46 Log Yard Drive, Hardwick, VT 802-472-8000 www.caledoniaspirits.com Caledonia Spirits is a craft distillery in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Raw honey distinguishes our Barr Hill vodka, Barr Hill gin, and Tom Cat barrel aged gin by imparting a pure and soft botanical essence into each bottle. All of our spirits reflect our deep connection to the land and Vermont’s agricultural heritage.

Open daily 12-5 for free tours and tastings at the distillery.

3597 VT-74, Shoreham, VT 802-897-2777 www.champlainorchards.com

Open daily 9-5. July-Nov. Please call ahead.

We offer guided tastings of our locallymade hard cider including our Original Hard Cider, Mac & Maple, Limited Edition Ginger Spice as well as our Pruner’s Pride and Honeycrisp Ice Cider. All our ciders are made onsite with our ecologically grown apples. 100% of our electricity is generated from our solar orchards. 2015 Winner of Vermont Cider Classic.

316 Pine Street, Suite 114 Burlington, VT 802-497-1987 www.citizencider.com We are cider makers who love to take fresh local apples and ferment them into delicious, refreshing, dynamic, clean and fulfilling cider!

We use 100% locally sourced apples and cider for 100% of our products, 100% of the time. Never made from concentrate, ever!

Our goal is bold, yet simple: Make cider for the people, by the people. Visit us on Pine Street in Burlington for tastings and a great meal.

610 US Route 7, Middlebury, VT 802-989-7414 www.dropinbrewing.com Steve Parkes and Christine McKeever, owners of Drop-In Brewing and the American Brewers Guild, pride themselves on educating brewers and creating worldly beers with Vermont character. In a small but fun atmosphere, customers can try our 7 beers on tap in our tasting room and take home any of three different sized growlers.

622 Keyser Hill, St. Johnsbury, VT 802-745-9486 www.duncsmill.com At Dunc’s Mill, we know that true craft spirits take time, care and effort. That’s why we try to do everything the right way. We have one goal: to create from scratch the highest quality spirits that can be produced. We do every step of the process by hand, and it’s all done in-house. Find our rums at over 50 locations around Vermont, or call and arrange a time to come visit.

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

DRINK VT

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150 Main Street, Newport, VT Near Jay Peak 802-334-1808 www.edenicecider.com

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

Founded in 2007 on an abandoned farm in the Northeast Kingdom, Eden produces high quality ice ciders, aperitif ciders and naturally sparkling hard ciders from heirloom and true cider variety apples grown at our own and 5 other local orchards. Slow Food Snail of Approval, Good Food Award old eal, reat akes nternational ider ompetition est in how .

353 Coburn Hill Road Newport, VT 802-334-7096 kingdombrewingvt.com This working farm is the northernmost brewery in Vermont. It has a greenhouse for food production, a lack Angus beef herd for spent grain and trub recycling, a geothermal cooling system and wood-fired hot water... we are Vermont Green.

8814 Route 30, Rawsonville, VT Junction VT Rt 30N and VT Rt 100N 802-297-9333 www.CraftDraughts.com An intimate shop with over 300 craft beers plus ciders, meads and two rotating ermont taps for growler fills. A muststop for craft beer lovers traveling through southern Vermont.

740 Marshall Ave, Williston, VT 802-999-7396 www.goodwaterbreweryvt.com

Warren, VT 802-496-HOPS www.lawsonsfinest.com

632 Laporte Road, Route 100 Morrisville, VT 802-888-9400 www.rockartbrewery.com

GoodWater Brewery blends classic beer styles with modern tastes. ome visit us at our Williston location and check out the 20 BBL brewhouse adjacent to the tasting room. n oy sampler flights, pints and of course, growlers and cans to go.

Lawsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest is an award winning small artisanal brewery located in Warren, VT, producing an array of hop-forward ales, specialty maple beers, and unique creations of the highest quality and freshness. ind our beer at lawsonsfinest.com.

Enjoy samples of our beers during your visit and have a growler filled to take home to enjoy later. We have the best selection of our beers on tap. ouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also find great ock Art swag, Vermont foods and wonderful items from local artisans.

4445 Main St, Isle La Motte, VT 802-928-3091 www.hallhomeplace.com

5 Bartlett Bay Rd South Burlington, VT 802-658-BREW MagicHat.Net

We make the most distinctive ard ider, ce ider and Apple Wine in the world.

Enjoy them around your meals or as wedding favors & toasts or sitting on your front porch watching a sunset.

Where ancient alchemy meets modern-day science to create the best tasting beer on the planet. ome watch our spores dance and play! isit the Artifactory for samples, tours and the most unusual shopping experience!

485 West River Rd, Brattleboro, VT 802-246-1128 www.saplingliqueur.com onveniently located ust off - , stop in to see how all of our handcrafted spirits are made! While you are here you can pick up a few bottles and souvenirs, learn about the distilling process straight from our master distillers, and of course, taste all of our delicious liquors. sponsored content

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Drawing on the alchemy of a father/ son dream, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery creates Vermont inspired, small batch, and remarkably distinctive vodka, bourbonbarrel aged rum, hopped gin, 802 Blend gin, bourbon and wheat whiskey.

Open daily for tastings at both locations 11 to 5.

1197 Exchange St, Middlebury, VT 802-388-3000 www.stonecutterspirits.com Stonecutter Spirits captures complexity and tradition in their barrels of awardwinning Single Barrel Gin and Heritage Cask Whiskey. Sip samples of each--or try a seasonally-rotating craft cocktail--as you gaze at hundreds of aging barrels from their hip, cozy tasting room in Middlebury, Vermont.

von Trapp Brewing 1333 Luce Hill Rd. Stowe, VT 802-253-0900 www.vontrappbrewing.com von Trapp Brewing is dedicated to brewing the highest quality Austrianinspired lagers with a Vermont twist.

Experience “a little of Austria, a lot of Vermont,” in every glass. Plus come visit our new bierhall at the brewery!

52 Seymour Street Middlebury, VT 802-897-7700 whistlepigwhiskey.com Whistle ig showcases the tremendous flavor potential of rye while maintaining a smooth and balanced profile, identifying it with the most acclaimed whiskeys in the world.

1321 Exchange St Middlebury, VT 802-385-3656 www.woodchuck.com Here at the Woodchuck Cidery in Vermont, we handcraft every batch of Woodchuck Hard Cider. Our Cider Makers utilize the highest quality ingredients and meticulously oversee each small batch from start to finish. We reinvigorated American cider in 1991 and continue to lead the category through our commitment to craft innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

FIND MAPS AND MORE INFO AT www.vtskiandride.com/drink-vermont

DRINK

VT

802 254 5306 www.whetstoneciderworks.com Kingston Black, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Ashton’s Bitter, Dabinett, Reine de Reinette, Belle de Boskoop....

What do these apples have in common? ou can find them in our award-winning, dry, food-friendly ciders. Our family-run ciderie handcrafts small batches of fine cider here in outhern ermont. Taste the difference that locally-grown, traditional heirloom and cider apples make.

Pine Street Brewery Flatbread Brewpub 716 Pine Street 115 St. Paul Street 802-497-0054 802-861-2999 www.zerogravitybeer.com Visit either of our two locations for two distinct ZG experiences: The Pine Street Brewery houses a 30-barrel brew house, full canning line, tasting room, retail shop and a sundrenched beer garden in Burlington’s South End Arts District, and our original location in downtown Burlington at American Flatbread features the full line-up of flagship and pecialty brews alongside some of the finest wood-fired pizza you can find. heers!

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

276 Main Street, Jeffersonville, VT Barrel House Tasting Room 2657 Waterbury Stowe Rd. Waterbury Center, VT 802-309-3077 www.smugglersnotchdistillery.com

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Soul Food

BY DAVID GOODMAN

FIRE AND ICE

T

he old fellow who sold me my house in northern Vermont a quarter-century ago was eager to introduce me to the wood stove he was passing on to me. It was a brawny oval thing that sat on a brick hearth in the living room with no frills or ornaments to dress it up. Its deep sooty color spoke of years of faithful service.

“Kept us warm through 15 winters,” Vern asserted proudly. “She ain’t pretty, but she burns hotter ‘n hell.”

He moved aside the lid, fed in some newspaper and small sticks, and gradually added bigger and bigger logs.Within minutes, the room resonated with the crackle and pop of burning timber. A warm woody scent percolated throughout the house. Vern carefully adjusted the dials and vents to feed air to the fire. His nubby fingers seemed to caress the old workhorse as he fine-tuned the flame.

“Each stove has its own personality.Ya gotta get to know how she breathes,” said Vern affectionately.

To heat with wood is to become intimate with it. First there is the wood itself: it must be cut, split and stacked. Some of my neighbors venture into the woods to cut their own timber and then haul it out. Most of us let the loggers do that part. The best firewood is hardwood, such as maple, ash and oak. These burn hot and slow.

Stacking wood is a time-honored art. A well-built wood pile has sturdy cross-hatched ends for support, is oriented to get plenty of sun and air, yet pro-

tects the wood from moisture. Wood burns best when it has been split and dried for at least a year.

The effort that goes into heating with wood is well rewarded. Wood, say the old timers, heats you four times: when you stack it, when you split it, when you haul it inside, and finally when you burn it.

The first winter after we moved into our house, my wife and I would do relays out to the wood pile, ferrying wheelbarrow loads into the wood box next to the stove.

I fell into a rhythm of splitting kindling on a stump, the cool fall air punctuated by the steady thunk of my axe. We adapted our routine to the change of seasons: the wheelbarrow was soon replaced by plastic sleds, and finally we had to don snowshoes to reach our wood pile.

In recent years, I built a woodshed to keep the wood dry.

Our wood stove is the heart of our home. Each November, we rearrange our furniture and pull a couch directly in front of the stove. This will be our perch where we start and end each winter day. Visitors to our home instinctively migrate to the warm hearth like weary hunters drawn to a campfire, the deep wood heat relaxing and even sedating us all.

The wood stove is part of my ski ritual. Even on a powder day when I am focused on charging out the door, I begin by feeding the hungry stove. That ensures that the house will be warm on my return, and that others will wake up to civilized temperatures. After a strenuous day of skiing, I head home and stoke the stove again. I haul in new wood while I’m dressed to be outside. The work of heating with wood is an endless cycle, repeated with a comforting regularity.

As the coals burn, slowly, the sensation of battling gusty summit winds subsides and the sharp bite of single-digit temps on my cheeks recedes. The rhythmic movement of a long backcountry climb exits my weary muscles. And the exquisite feeling of dropping into a steep face becomes a pleasant blur.

The piercing warmth of burning wood is how every ski tour ends. I lay my wet clothes and boots to dry and sit down in a chair to watch the dancing flames for a few moments. I wake up hours later.

Perhaps that is what is most alluring about wood stoves, something primitive man learned long ago: Fire warms more than the body. It warms the soul.

David Goodman is the author of the classic,Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast and numerous other books. He lives in Waterbury, Vt. with his wife Sue Minter and son Jasper and heats his house with wood.

Photo by Angelo Lynn

After a day on the mountain, there’s only one way to truly warm the soul.

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Be covered in fresh powder again.

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sugarbush.com

800.53.SUGAR

#SUGARBUSH

UPCOMING EVENTS $30 THURSDAY AT MT. ELLEN

Thursdays, non-holiday

BASE CAMP AT MT. ELLEN

Moonlit skin & snowshoe w/ pizza, bonfire & drinks Saturdays thru Mar 25

TORCHLIGHT PARADE & FIREWORKS Jan 14 & Feb 18

WOMEN’S DISCOVERY CAMPS Jan 27 – 29 & Mar 6 – 8

JR. CASTLEROCK EXTREME CHALLENGE Feb 11

$14 VALENTINE’S DAY ALL MOUNTAIN TICKETS Feb 14

CASTLEROCK EXTREME CHALLENGE Mar 4

MOUNTAINEERING RACE Mar 12

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ISLAND WEEKEND Mar 25 – 26

POND SKIMMING Apr 8

STEIN’S CHALLENGE Apr 22

For more information on restaurants, activities and events call 800.53.SUGAR or visit sugarbush.com.

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Community is Better at Sugarbush There’s something more to the Sugarbush experience than the legendary terrain variety, the meticulous snowmaking and grooming, the fabled history, and the authentic Vermont mountain setting.

Come discover what makes Sugarbush different.

1/15/17 7:16 PM