Ski Vermont 2014 Magazine

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BURLINGTON, VT PERMIT NO. 19

STAT E

ORIGINAL WINTER IN ITS

Good morning

Great morning Everything’s better with a great cup of coffee.

Exceptionally smooth. Perfectly balanced. A harmonious blend of flavor, body, and aroma.

THE BEST-SELLING BRAND FOR THE KEURIG® BREWING SYSTEM

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Experience the best of Vermont and Green Mountain Coffee® by visiting our Visitor Center and Café, ⁄ Rotarian Place, Waterbury, VT. WaterburyStation.com © 2013 Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.

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skivermont.com

SkiRideVT

Ski_VT & RideVermont

/SkiVermont & /RideVermont

@Ski_Vermont & @RideVermont

www.SkiVermont.com

2 F RESH TRACKS Do it for the love.

30 B ACK TO THE ROOTS

For Roy Tuscany, nothing keeps a good man down.

CONTACT INFO Ski Vermont P.O. Box 368 Montpelier, VT 05601 T: 802.223.2439 F: 802.229.6917 E: info@skivermont.com

Story by Peter Biolsi

4 MOUNTAIN HAPPENINGS

41 VERMONTOGRAPHS

8 G ENERATION NEXT

46 OLYMPIC VERMONTERS

Where to go and when to be there.

Raising the next wave of riders.

Story by Luke Q. Stafford

The year in pictures.

Chasing gold, from the Green Mountains to Sochi.

COVER PHOTO Dennis Curran Christmas Eve on top of Lincoln Peak, Sugarbush, VT.

17 MADE IN VERMONT

You’re never too old to learn.

Story by Mike Hannigan

54 F IRST DAY

Taking poetic license with the birth of a new season.

Story by Sarah Wojcik

27 S HARE THE LOVE

Help your friends learn to turn with great first-timer deals.

60 ALPINE AND NORDIC SKIING FACTS AND STATS Get the details on Vermont’s diverse array of skiing and riding destinations.

Courtesy of Justin Cash

EDITOR Kyle Lewis

PRINTER Lane Press

PUBLISHER SKI VERMONT Sky Foulkes, Chair Parker Riehle, President Kyle Lewis, Director of Marketing

B:11.125"

T:10.5"

S:9.75"

DESIGN Methodikal, Inc.

Story by Peter Oliver

SkiVermont.com

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FRESH TRACKS

DO IT FOR THE LOVE When you cross over the border into Vermont–be it by plane, train or automobile–you feel something special. The feeling is truly difficult to define, but the word that most people use is love. “Vermont? I loooove Vermont,” is usually the reaction that I get when interacting with folks from other states. Love and Vermont are so closely intertwined that they actually can merge into one: I lovermont. Vermont is the most visited state in the East among skiers and snowboarders, and we want you to discover what the buzz is about. We want you to experience what makes Vermont so enchanting.

My own love affair with Vermont started at the age of 2, when my dad taught me how to ski at Bolton Valley. I have spent many days since then on the spine of the Green Mountains in all four seasons, fueling that romance with Vermont. In the following pages, we express why so many of us have fallen in love with skiing and snowboarding in Vermont by showing you the soul and spirit of the state—its allure to those who visit from around the world.

We keep doing it because it’s fun. Skiing and snowboarding are fun. When I fall on the slopes, I don’t get mad or frustrated—I laugh. I laugh because it’s so much fun, and snow lovers of all ages know you just get back up and try again.

MORE THAN JUST A SKI AND RIDE DESTINATION Resorts across the peaks of Vermont offer memorable escapes, whether a day trip or a two-week ski safari through the main artery to the heart of Vermont, Route 100. Reliable snow keeps visitors coming back to Vermont; the 80 percent snowmaking coverage that blankets our trails ensures great coverage and a long season. On top of the world-class terrain, our photo essay in the pages of this magazine will show you the array of activities that will keep you coming back to Vermont each winter to make new memories with your family. You will discover what makes Vermont special to you, and before you know it, you’ve developed a lifelong affair. Don’t worry, there’s enough to go around.

Kyle Lewis, Director of Marketing

Courtesy of Justin Cash

A SPORT FOR THE GENERATIONS The entire family can enjoy skiing and snowboarding, sports that create lasting memories and even stronger bonds.

Sharing the passion for skiing and snowboarding with loved ones strengthens relationships as you spend time enjoying the outdoors together and embracing the excitement of a new sport. Skiing and snowboarding continuously challenge participants; there is always room for improvement (I myself could use a lesson to conquer the moguls). Vermont’s

mountains provide a progression of challenges for first-timers of any age all the way up to Olympians.

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SkiVermont.com

Come see where the great taste of Cabot begins. cabotcheese.coop

FRESH TRACKS

2013–2014 MOUNTAIN HAPPENINGS DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

RAILS 2 RICHES AT KILLINGTON RESORT

JANUARY IS LEARN TO SKI AND SNOWBOARD

USSMA SUGARBUSH AND MAD RIVER GLEN

The East Coast’s top rail jam is back again

MONTH AT VERMONT RESORTS

RANDONNEE RACE

in 2013 and boasts an astounding $20,000

Beginners pay just $29 and get a lift ticket for

Join in one of the biggest and best randonnee

cash purse. Watch professional and amateur

the beginner area, a lesson and equipment

races in North America, right in the Mad River

skiers and riders battle it out under the lights.

rental. Some restrictions apply; reservations

Valley of Vermont. This United States Ski

Saturday, December 7, 2013

required: skivermont.com/learn.

Mountaineering Association–sanctioned race

Month of January 2014

starts at the base of Mad River Glen, climbs to the top, traverses the Long Trail to Mount

SPECIALTY FOOD DAYS

Ellen, descends into Slide Brook, climbs into

AT VERMONT RESORTS

the Lincoln Peak area and finishes at Valley

Sample delicious Vermont food while skiing and

House Lodge.

riding Vermont slopes. Ski Vermont, the Agency

Sunday, February 2, 2014

of Agriculture and the Vermont Maple Foundation have joined forces to promote Vermont specialty

FREE LADIES WINTER ADVENTURE DAY AT THE

foods at area ski resorts. Vermont Specialty Food

NORDIC BARN AT TOPNOTCH RESORT & SPA

Days offer skiers and riders the opportunity to

Time to get out and set your winter in action!

FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE

try tasty treats from a variety of Vermont food

Choose from a 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

AT OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT

companies while visiting resorts.

snowshoe adventure or a 2:00 p.m. to 4:00

Midnight arrives early for friends and family

January through April 2014

p.m. cross-country ski led by Nordic Barn owner

enjoying a whole host of activities at Okemo.

Don Allen. Includes rentals and refreshments.

Following early evening ice skating, snow

BOLTON AFTER DARK AT BOLTON VALLEY

Space is limited; reservations required.

tubing, snowshoeing, mountain coaster rides,

Bolton After Dark offers $19 night skiing and

Thursday, February 6, 2014

horse-drawn wagon rides, cookie decorating,

riding for all ages, plus $2 flatbread slices,

bingo games and a trivia tournament, families

$2 sodas and draft beer specials. Plus a free

MOM’S DAY OFF

can ring in the New Year early with a DJ dance

screening of a ski or snowboard movie.

AT BROMLEY MOUNTAIN RESORT

party—and still get the kids to bed in time for

Every Saturday starting in January 2014

Hey Mom! Show off a picture of your kid

a full day on the slopes on New Year’s Day. Tuesday, December 31, 2013

and ski or ride all day for a $15 donation to SIXTH ANNUAL LADIES NORDIC SKI EXPO

the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer

AT TRAPP FAMILY LODGE

Center—100 percent of the proceeds are

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION AND DOG

Traditional Nordic, backcountry and telemark

donated! Keep it local and have fun; this

PARADE AT SUGARBUSH RESORT

instruction for women by women at one of the

is a terrific way to get out on the slopes and

Bark in the New Year at the Fourth Annual Dog

most beautiful venues in all the Northeast.

support a great cause.

Parade with your K9 friend in a festive costume.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Friday, February 7, 2014

Pantry. Keep the night rolling with a New

NINTH ANNUAL PAINTBALL BIATHLON

CLOUD NINE NUPTIALS MOUNT SNOW RESORT

Year’s Eve celebration that includes a torchlight

AT MOUNTAIN TOP INN & RESORT

Couples are invited to renew their vows or

parade, fireworks, live music and more.

Mountain Top’s Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Center

tie the knot for the first time at 3,600 feet

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

hosts this fun biathlon, a one-day event, with

during Mount Snow’s Cloud Nine Nuptials on

participants from Bill Koch Youth League and

Valentine’s Day. It starts with a procession up

high school biathletes.

the Sundance Quad; at the top, a local justice

Sunday, January 26, 2014

of the peace awaits to conduct the ceremony

The $10 registration fee goes toward PAWSitive

for dozens of lovebirds standing around a giant ROLL BACK THE CLOCK DAY

heart painted in the snow.

AT MAD RIVER GLEN

Friday, February 14, 2014

The last Tuesday in January is always Roll Back the Clock Day at Mad River Glen. To celebrate, lift ticket prices are “rolled back” to the 1948 rate of just $3.50—seriously!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 4

SkiVermont.com

FRESH TRACKS

MARCH

APRIL

FAMILYFUN WINTER CARNIVAL

BUD LIGHT MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION

23RD ANNUAL POND SKIMMING CELEBRATION

AT SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT

AT MOUNT SNOW RESORT

AT BURKE MOUNTAIN RESORT

Smugglers’ teams up with FamilyFun magazine

The Bud Light Mardi Gras Celebration features

Celebrate spring at the outdoor Barbecue &

to host the FamilyFun Winter Carnival, an

skiing jesters, lift-line giveaways, 10,000+

Beer Tent and watch 50 crazy contestants

afternoon of games, giveaways, face painting,

beads, après parties at Cuzzins and a huge

skim the pond (or enter yourself!) for the title

music, free barbecue and lots of family fun on

Bud Light concert at the Snow Barn. New this

of King and Queen of the Pond.

the snow!

year, guests can channel their inner penguin

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Thursday, February 20, 2014

during the Penguin Sliding Championships.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

MAGIC WINTERFEST 2014

SUGAR SLALOM AT STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT

AT MAGIC MOUNTAIN

EXTREME SKIING CHALLENGE

One of the oldest ski races in the United

The biggest winter celebration at Magic, with

AT SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT

States. Shoot the gates, then enjoy sugar on

the Black Magic Extreme Challenge, Alpine

Take on the most challenging lift-accessed terrain

snow at the finish.

Club Silent Auction and après ski party, buffet

at Smugglers’ in this freeskiing competition, now

Saturday–Sunday, April 5–6, 2014

dinner and torchlight parade with fireworks!

in its second year. Competitors are judged on

Saturday, February 22, 2014

line, control, fluidity, technique and style.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

18TH ANNUAL CARDBOARD BOX DERBY AT QUECHEE CLUB SKI AREA

24 HOURS OF STRATTON

The Derby, Quechee’s most popular event,

AT STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT

has been growing exponentially over the last

Teams compete in a 24-hour skiing and riding

few years. It’s a great time for everyone from 1

marathon to benefit the Stratton Foundation.

to 90! Creativity abounds in the design of the

Enjoy parties plus more events for fans in this

participating cardboard sled vessels. Pick your

Vermont Top 10 winter event (as rated by the

favorite and cheer on the teams!

Vermont Chamber of Commerce).

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Saturday–Sunday, March 15–16, 2014

HOPE ON THE SLOPES VERTICAL CHALLENGE

NOR’BEASTER AT KILLINGTON RESORT

AT JAY PEAK RESORT

Killington can’t get enough of spring in the

Every foot of vertical you rack up equals dollars

mountains, and it’ll be celebrating with six

going to the fight against cancer. Fight as a

jam-packed weeks of music and competitions

team or on your own.

including the Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Thursday, March 20–Saturday, May 3, 2014

STOWE DERBY AT STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT

POND SKIMMING AT BOLTON VALLEY

The Stowe Derby is the original downhill

Try to skim Bolton’s giant artificial pond or

cross-country

race

in

cheer others on as you stay dry.

Athletes

from

the

race

North top

America. of

Mount

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, to the

FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON AT

historic village of Stowe. The course has

BEACH PARTY AT JAY PEAK RESORT

a total vertical drop of over 2,600 feet.

It’s simple, really; enjoy sun, snow, music,

Sunday, February 23, 2014

volleyball and frothy adult beverages at Jay

SKIVERMONT.COM/EVENTS

Peak’s annual Beach Party. Don’t go thinking it’s beach volleyball, though. This court is made out of snow.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

SkiVermont.com

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Overlooking Vermont’s scenic Mad River Valley is a place where legendary skiers have come to experience the best New England terrain, and tradition pairs with elegance to form the most modern base area in the East. Four seasons of limitless adventure, luxurious amenities, and exceptional service await you.

FRESH TRACKS

KIDS SKI FREE WITH THE 5TH GRADE PASSPORT Winter in Vermont rocks. It’s a way of life, an opportunity to get outdoors, to be healthy and active, and to share amazing experiences with friends and family.

Saving money–that rocks too. The Ski Vermont 5th Grade Passport program lets all 5th graders ski and ride for free, and fall in love with winter in its original state.

Learn more and sign your future Olympian up at skivermont.com.

This season marks the fourth year that proceeds from the program will be donated to Keep Local Farms, supporting local dairy farmers.

NEED A LIFT?

With so much to offer, it’s no wonder Vermont is a top destination for getaways year round. Whether you’re from Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York or anywhere along the way, the most scenic way to get here is by train.

Travel on the VermonterSM and the Ethan Allen Express® and save 20%.

Visit VermontVacation.com/Amtrak for more information.

Amtrak, Ethan Allen Express and Vermonter are service marks of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

You don’t have to leave winter in Vermont behind when you head home. Before your memory melts away, scoop up the latest and greatest Ski Vermont poster to adorn your wall. Grab the one that speaks best to your day on snow, or make the entire collection yours. We’ve got you covered at SkiVermont.com/store, where you’ll find pricing details and how to place your order.

SkiVermont.com

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GEN ERAT NE ION 8

SkiVermont.com

Courtesy of Justin Cash

XT

by Luke Q. Stafford

I am a snowboarding statistic. It’s painful to admit, but it’s true. I started snowboarding in the mid-1990s during my “Nirvana phase.” Back then the sport was rebellious and original. It was personified by social agitators like Shaun Palmer and soulful artists like Jamie Lynn. There were no Red Bull mega-events. Snowboarding was just a fun, new sport.

(CONTINUED on PAGE 11) SkiVermont.com

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Courtesy of ©Brian Mohr/EmberPhoto

(CONTINUED from PAGE 9)

Here we are in 2013. I’m now in my early 30s. I have a wife and two children, a mortgage, a business and a life insurance plan.

Whereas my life once revolved around getting to the mountain, it now revolves around getting home to spend time with my daughters. In college, I made it to Stowe to ride four days a week. Nowadays, I’m lucky to go four times a month. I used to wax my board in the mornings and cram my friends into a dilapidated Honda Civic to catch powder days. Now I pour bowls of Chex in the morning and pile my kids into car seats to catch the farmers’ market.

During the 1991–92 winter season, snowboarders accounted for just over 7 percent of visits to U.S. ski resorts. But then, around the time I was strapping into my Sims Dual snowboard for the first time in the mid-1990s, snowboarding exploded.

By the 1997–98 season, snowboarders accounted for 22 percent of visits to U.S. ski resorts. Burton Snowboards, a once-tiny company operated by Jake Carpenter in southern Vermont, had become a global corporation. In 1998, snowboarding became an Olympic sport. Whether snowboarding purists liked it or not, the sport was becoming mainstream. By 2006, one-third of visitors to U.S. ski resorts were snowboarders. Shaun White was a household name, and his face was beamed into millions of homes all over the world during the Olympics in Turin, Italy.

But something happened after the Olympic hysteria quieted down: Snowboarding started to quiet down, too. Whereas snowboarders once made up 33 percent of visitors to resorts, they made up less than 30 percent in 2013. Kelly Davis, director of research at SnowSports Industries America, recently reported that snowboard purchases are down again this year, continuing a steady decline since the 2008–09 season. Industry analysts are quick to point fingers at likely causes: the Great Recession, joblessness in America, high fuel prices and lessthan-ideal winter weather caused by climate change. But, as National Ski Areas Association President Michael Berry explained at Ski Vermont’s annual meeting, there’s another problem. That problem is me.

Snowboarders like me, “core” riders who flocked to the mountains in droves in the 1990s, are lapsing out of the sport.

We’re entering our career- and family-building years and, unfortunately, snowboarding is taking a backseat. It’s a vexing problem: How do ski resorts and snowboard manufacturers get guys like me, the Gen Y’ers, back on the hill? Do they take the Axe Body Spray approach and direct loud, expensive marketing campaigns at us? Do they design the next great innovation in men’s snowboard gear technology and sell it worldwide?

Actually, they’re doing the exact opposite. And it just may save snowboarding.

Enter Jeff Boliba. He’s the global vice president of resorts at Burton Snowboards. He is also responsible for creating the Burton Riglet program, a system of terrain parks, learn-to-ride techniques and

snowboard gear designed specifically for youth. Riglet terrain parks, which are popping up all over the country, are laid out to teach children the basics of snowboarding. Burton’s Chopper snowboard, built for boys, and the Chicklet, for girls, are built to be forgiving to brand-new riders. And the Riglet Reel, a simple but brilliant invention that allows adults to tow wee-boarders around sideways, is providing parents an opportunity to get their offspring on a board when they are as young as 3.

“When I first came to Vermont,” explains Boliba, “my son was about 2 years old. One day I was walking the dog and towing my son around in his sled. I looked back as he was sitting in the sled and realized he should be standing sideways.” The match was lit, and Boliba’s idea flared from there. He drilled a hole in the nose of a 100-centimeter board and attached a leash to it. The Riglet Reel was born.

“[They’re] a product of the snowboarding community telling them we need this kind of equipment for kids.”

After more beta testing on the bunny slopes at Stowe and Jay Peak, Boliba brought his brainchild to Burton’s product team. The team spent a few years refining the design, eventually settling on a disc-shaped reel that attaches with a few screws to the nose of a snowboard. Parents—or snowboard instructors—have a retractable leash to for pulling kids around. This “allows coaches or parents to teach kids how to maintain balance, make beginning movements and learn control from the start,” says Boliba.

Burton didn’t stop there. Whereas 100 centimeters was once the shortest board available for sale, the product team developed a pint-sized 80-centimeter model—about the size of a regular skateboard—for both boys and girls. The Chopper and Chicklet models are beveled all the way around to alleviate edge-catching. They have enough soft, torsional flex to be extremely forgiving. Tiny, single-strap bindings are SkiVermont.com

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available, but Burton encourages the youngest riders to start out free-footed, standing atop stomp pads on the deck of the snowboard. “Overall the equipment is softer, lighter, smaller, narrower and full of fun graphics,” says Boliba.

Ski Vermont presented him with the Vermont Ski Areas Association Friend of the Industry Award at its annual meeting, a gathering of more than 300 attendees representing resorts, marketing partners and other members.

“These boards are not just a product of companies trying to reach kids,” says Evan Ricker, manager at the Darkside Snowboards retail shop in Killington, Vt. “[They’re] a product of the snowboarding community telling them we need this kind of equipment for kids.” Ricker, who started riding at age 7 with an oversized Nale board and a pair of knockoff Sorel boots, seems relieved to see the high-quality children’s gear now available in his shop. “We’re just now starting to usher in that niche of snowboarding. High-quality equipment like this has never been available before,” he says. Ricker adds that other board manufacturers, such as Capita and Lib Tech, are paying special attention to the youth market as well. Rome Snowboards, another Vermont-based snowboard maker, builds

Snowboarder visits may be declining slightly overall, but there are some bright spots. As Davis of SnowSports Industries America reported at the 2012 TransWorld Snow Conference, snowboarders are a passionate and dedicated lot. Whereas only 23 percent of alpine skiers in the United States are considered “core,” meaning they ski nine or more times per year, 35 percent of snowboarders are core. “That’s huge,” says Davis. “That means you have a much more authentic base than almost any other snow sport.” Davis also reported at the conference that the number of female riders grew 25 percent from the 2008–09 to the 2009–10 season. Among 18- to 35-year-olds, female ridership grew 44 percent. “The 18- to 25-[year-old] category is taking off,” says Davis, “which is awesome because those

SNOWBOARDERS ARE A

PASSIONATE AND DEDICATED LOT. boards as small as 90 centimeters under its Minishred line.

Burton’s Riglet Reel, Ricker notes, can be attached to any snowboard, no matter the brand.

With the proper equipment now in place, a new challenge presents itself. Where can children, some of whom learned to walk not long before hopping on a snowboard, safely learn to ride? Burton developed the Riglet terrain parks as “snowboarding playgrounds” for kids, as Boliba puts it. They are a “fun introduction to the foundations of snowboarding through play and guided discovery,” he says, made up of interactive features like ramps, miniature quarter pipes and low-to-theground boxes, all built into a gentle slope. Riglet-branded parks are all over the country, including at Mount Snow, Okemo, the Canyons, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Smugglers’ Notch, Mountain Creek, Jay Peak and Loon Mountain, to name a few places.

“We found [the Riglet Park] fun and beneficial for youngsters,” says Bonnie MacPherson, director of public relations at Okemo.

At a time when many young families are taking a break from snowboarding, Okemo hopes to “embrace the spirit of Riglet across all our learning programs with more snow play and ski/ ride readiness,” says MacPherson, adding that these features keep whole families active in the sport. “Kids can have success in their first experience” with snowboarding, adds Boliba, “while parents can have fun watching and interacting.”

In recognition of Boliba’s passion for getting kids excited about standing sideways on snow through creative innovation,

girls are getting ready to have kids. Those kids are going to be snowboarders.” For his part, Boliba wants those future riders to have even more choice in snowboard gear technology. In October 2013, he tells me, Burton will introduce the Progression 9C snowboard boot, “the smallest snowboard boot ever made.”

From his vantage point behind the counter at Darkside Snowboards, Ricker is upbeat about snowboarding’s future.

“Honestly, it comes back to the community [of snowboarders],” he says. “Visits go up and down, but as far as Vermont goes and as far as Darkside goes, I think we’re a testament to the fact that snowboarding is here to stay.”

Is Boliba’s Riglet program winning over Generation Y’ers like me who are having children? If my own experience is any indication, the answer is yes. I purchased my daughter’s first Chicklet snowboard as a Christmas gift last year, when she was barely 2 years old. I knew she was probably too young to ride it immediately, but I couldn’t wait. As I affixed the Riglet Reel on Christmas Eve, my daughter asleep upstairs, I was more excited about the prospect of riding with my child than I was about any of the presents I might receive myself the next morning. I soon brought her to Okemo to try it out. We made one “run” before she had a minor meltdown and begged for a lollipop. I plucked her off the board and carried her into the lodge, vowing that I would never force her into the sport I love.

We’ll try again. As I type, the board is tucked safely away in the garage, ready for the first snowfall of the 2013–14 season. ❄

for the few who appreciate the difference between “ski trip” and “life experience.”

300+ Inches of snow AnnuAlly • Gourmet dInInG world-clAss spA • performInG Arts center • A reAl town

It’s Bigger Than A Mountain

Book your vacation at STOWE.COM today. Because once you stay at Stowe, Stowe will stay with you.

www.madriverglen.com

FRESH TRACKS

INSIDER GEAR GUIDE STEEZ FOR YOUR NOGGIN: The anon Talon has the most freeride style of any anon helmet, while anon’s M2 Goggle gives you Magna-Tech™ capabilities for swapping out lenses on the fly. www.anonoptics.com Goggles: anon, M2 | Helmet: anon, Talon

BROMLEY & SUN Purveyors of Fine Powder and Winter Tans since 1936.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? With the heart of a high-performance carving machine and an effortless freeride feel, the Experience 88 delivers amplified performance in all snow conditions. Auto Turn Rocker, Extended Sidecut and Cascade Tip combine for easy maneuverability, playfulness and effortless speed control. Traditional camber underfoot delivers powerful edge grip and confident stability. Experience more whether blasting through chop, ripping through trees or carving trenches on hardpack with this award-winning one-ski-quiver. www.rossignol.com

GIVE ME AN EXODUS-FIVE: The Exodus glove is a premier style within Kombi’s Lifted collection.

A strategic combination of ripstop nylon, 3-layer softshell, and a goatskin leather palm creates a protective yet flexible barrier against the elements.

Hands stay warm and dry with a waterproof/breathable Gore-tex® insert, Primaloft® insulation, and plush highpile fleece lining. The Dual-Pull cuff closure system provides a snow-proof seal. www.kombisnow.com 3984 Route 11, 6 miles from Manchester, VT

www.bromley.com

802-824-5522 SkiVermont.com

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Reap the rewards of a $6 million investment in the resort experience for 2013-14 including snowmaking, grooming, dining and lodging.

See the big changes at Stratton Mountain Inn, combining convenience and comfort with that classic Vermont lodge vibe.

STRATTON.COM 1-800-STRATTON

By Michael Patrick Hannigan

SkiVermont.com

17

But I’m the baby in my family, 16 years younger than my closest sibling. By the time I came along, nobody skied anymore. My parents had hung up their skis in favor of golf clubs and tennis rackets; my brother and sisters were busy chasing around their own growing broods. Childhood skiing just never happened for me.

I wasn’t one of those people who was born into skiing.

You know the type: 4 years old, not a fear in the world, bodies made of rubber. In many ways, I probably should have been a born skier: I grew up in New Hampshire, loved snow, was good enough in sports to avoid embarrassment, and had come from a family of skiers.

Fortunately for me, Vermont changed all that. And although the Green Mountain State now offers a host of programs that make it easy for everyone to learn to ski and ride (see the sidebar on page 27 for specifics), for me, it was just the simple desire to avoid missing out. I went to college at Saint Michael’s in Colchester and soon saw almost all of my friends slipping out right after class—or skipping class altogether on big snow days—and heading to the slopes. Hours later, they’d bounce through the door, laughing about who-did-what, half exhausted and half elated, smelling faintly of beer and good times. I didn’t need to be in Mensa to realize I was missing out.

So I started. It was an inauspicious beginning. I remember hitting something on the trail on the first run, causing my knee to bounce off my chin. But once the swelling stopped, the good times started. Soon I got my own gear and begged my folks for a season pass—and the rest is history.

Fast-forward 20-some years, and I can’t imagine my life without skiing. I go every day I can. It’s how I spend my time with friends. When I first met the woman who would become my wife and saw that she owned even more pairs of skis than I did, I knew she was “The One.” Skiing’s even become part of my professional life. We have a rule at the company I co-own that states firmly, “If it’s a powder day, we’re closed.” Skiing in Vermont not only changed my life, it became a huge part of it.

Last winter, when the early season snows started to fall and the trail counts started to rise, I found out that a couple of my friends were going to take the plunge. Neither had ever skied—much like me a score of years earlier. And it reminded me that, Oh yeah, some people are still just finding out about this thing that’s so dear to me. I decided to tag along and remember what it’s like to fall in love with sliding on snow. Along the way, I found a couple of other folks just getting started, including the littlest skier you’ll ever meet on the chair and a dad who just got tired of standing out in the cold.

As the ominous voice says at the beginning of Law & Order, these are their stories:

18

SkiVermont.com

Courtesy of Justin Cash

PETER KELLEY BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT Pete’s a father of three who, like many others, just never caught the skiing bug. Growing up, although he spent plenty of time outdoors in the winter, he never strapped on a pair of boards.

But once his own kids started skiing and riding, and Pete wound up stomping his feet to stay warm on the sidelines, he realized the time might be right.

doing. I told him my story. “How many kids do you have?” he asked. When I told him three, he said very plainly, “So do you plan on just standing here for the next several years?” It seemed obvious at that point that I should probably learn…

MH: So what finally got things rolling?

PK: My oldest, 9-year-old Ethan, told me he wanted to join the school ski program. I told him that we’d support him, but that I couldn’t help him much, because I really knew nothing about it. He was fine with that, so we signed him up.

MH: Sounds like a wise man.

PK: Yeah. My wife found the learn-to-ride program, so I signed up and took my 5-year-old daughter with me.

She’s not old enough to be in the school program yet, but says she wants to next year. We drove to Bolton Valley for the lessons, since they had no problem including a 5-year-old.

I chaperoned the first few weeks, which really meant standing at the bottom of the slope, helping kids getting buckled or unbuckled for snack breaks, etc. At the end of my third week of standing in snow for six hours, doing nothing besides drinking coffee, a much-older man came gliding down the mountain and asked me what I was

MH: What did your daughter think?

PK: Emma and I both love the winter. Our instructor was incredibly nice and very patient. Emma showed some shyness, but after a hot chocolate and my best pep talk, we headed out. We spent the next six hours on the kiddie slope, learning how to make our turns. Emma later told

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me she’d like tickets to Bolton Valley from Santa next year.

I went back to Okemo as a chaperone, and when the timing was right, I hit the magic carpet to work on my skills. My son coaxed me into going on the “big kid” slopes with him and his friends for the afternoon. I took some solid spills, but it was fun anyway.

gets a little cold. But I’m going to work hard at it because I want to be a good skier, just like my mom and dad.

MH: What does your dad think of your skiing?

FD: He grew up skiing in Vermont, so it’s a big deal to him.

He keeps talking about how this is something that we’ll be doing for the rest of our lives. I’m like, “That’s great, Dad. But I’m 2. Let’s take it one day at a time.”

MH: Did you manage much progress?

PK: On the last day of the season, I never stood at the bottom. I snowboarded with my oldest son all day and had a blast. I’ve since talked one of my friends into giving me a good deal on his “backup” snowboard, so I’m ready for next year.

FINN DONOVAN WATERBURY CENTER, VERMONT I’ve known Finn nearly his entire life. Which, since he’s only about 2 years old, isn’t that long, but it is thorough. Finn’s dad, Shawn, is a good friend. He’s one of those skiers who is born to rip, making tele-skiing seem as easy as falling out of bed.

When Finn was born, we joked with Shawn and his wife that it wouldn’t be long before Shawn and Finn were tearing around the mountain together. Little did we know it would only be a matter of months. Shortly after Finn started walking, he started skiing. He’s a ski bum in diapers.

Shawn helped me translate Finn’s deepest wisdom regarding learning to slide on snow: MH: Finn, tell the world who you are.

FD: My name is Finn Michael Donovan and I am almost 2 years old. This winter I learned how to ski, and it was so much fun.

MH: What was your favorite part?

FD: My favorite thing to do is ride the “Magic Apple” to the top of the mountain (that’s my nickname for the gondola at Stowe because it looks like a big red apple). I love being outside in the fresh air and skiing with Mom and Dad. MH: No magic carpet for you?

FD: No. Only real lifts for me.

MH: So are you a pro yet?

FD: Learning how to ski can be difficult and sometimes it

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BRITTANY COMEGNA ROCHESTER, NEW YORK Brittany is a grad student at Rochester Institute of Technology.

While many people overcome obstacles and fears to learn to ski and ride, Brittany has overcome more than most. You’d never know it from talking to her, though.

MH: So what was your history with skiing?

BC: In 2009, I was overweight and struggling with depression. When my parents took my brother and me on a skiing trip, I wanted to learn to snowboard, but I was overwhelmed with apprehension. Should I abandon skiing for the week and take the leap with a new sport?

Also, I am profoundly deaf. When I was taking my lesson, I was anxious about how the instructor might treat me.

I did [try snowboarding], and it is the best decision I ever made in my life. Snowboarding revitalized my self-esteem, gave me the motivation to lose weight and get in shape, and helped me make new friends.

“ONLY REAL LIFTS FOR ME.” –FINN DONOVAN

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Nowadays, snowboarding is not just something I do; it’s a part of me.

MH: Have you gotten anyone else involved?

BC: I brought my Dominican-born boyfriend to Killington this year. I heard about the Bring a Friend Challenge through Ski Vermont. I wanted to share the Vermont experience with him. That weekend turned out to provide some of the best runs I’ve had. The powder was fresh; I tore up the trees and hit the moguls. The verdict is this: Vermont is boss.

Admittedly, skiing has been on my bucket list, but the fear of broken bones (and a shattered ego) was enough to keep learning at bay. But I couldn’t shake a nagging little feeling that I might be missing out on something great.

MH: What did your boyfriend think?

BC: He was inspired by the passion of his instructors. He knew that they weren’t there to earn money, but that they were there because they really wanted to help people develop their skills. He’s committed to snowboarding for life now.

MH: Is there something different about Vermont for you?

BC: I have been to many areas, but Vermont is unique. I love the strong skiing and snowboarding community here, as well as all the resorts being so close to each other.

I actually romanticize the idea of living in Vermont someday and snowboarding at Jay Peak, Smugglers’ Notch, and Stowe, to name a few.

ANTONIA OPITZ & BETH MURPHY BURLINGTON, VERMONT Beth and Antonia are both athletes. Beth has run the whole Long Trail to raise money for charity. They both do marathons. They’re not afraid to break a sweat or get outside and enjoy Vermont.

Despite that, neither had ever learned to ski or ride. The two of them were partners in crime last winter, learning through the First-Timer-to-Life-Timer program at Sugarbush. They got season passes, gear rentals and lessons for a crazy-low price.

MH: Why did you learn how to ski?

AO: I met a boy. My fiancé has been skiing since he was 4 years old and is as comfortable flying down a double black diamond as he would be lounging on the couch.

It wasn’t until he came home one July day with a pair of skis and a giant smile that I realized he might actually want me to participate. “Look what I got you!” That was two years ago and eventually I started to run out of excuses.

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BM: I decided to learn how to ski for two reasons. I like to have fun outdoors, and I like to socialize. Skiing, to me, equals socializing in the snow. With the Sugarbush deal, I was really encouraged by the access you could have, and it was affordable. I’d always been interested and it seemed like a perfect fit to make me an addict. It helped that Antonia felt the same way. Plus, we’re both marrying guys who like to ski and take family ski vacations, and I don’t think Antonia or I wanted to sit on the sidelines.

AO: Also, I was told there would be beer. And, thankfully, at the end of each day there surely was beer. Cold beer served up by friendly staff in a warm pub, buzzing with rosy-cheeked folks happily chatting away about the day.

MH: Were you surprised about anything?

AO: I think what surprised me the most is that it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. That’s one of the things that kept me from skiing for 35 years. I was so scared of the chairlift. And I was so scared of falling or getting hurt, and that fear probably increased the older I got. It turned out it wasn’t that scary.

(CONTINUED on PAGE 27)

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Courtesy of ©Brian Mohr/EmberPhoto

“MY FIRST ‘YARD SALE’ WAS A MILESTONE. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MYSELF LAUGHING AS I GOT BACK TO MY FEET.”

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WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU LEARNED? We asked our Facebook friends to share their memories and experiences of learning to ski and ride. How they started, why they’ve stuck with it, when it all began and where it’s taken them. Here’s what they had to say:

Gaby Kahane Hoffman I first learned to ski when I was 8. We took a family trip to Zermatt. My mother is from Switzerland, so I always associated skiing with warm family memories. After college, I committed to really learning how to ski. I took lessons, joined

Bryce Hunter Bandish

a ski club in Killington and went every weekend. That’s where I met my husband; he proposed on the slopes. Now we have

My father taught me to snowboard at age 3 on our back hill.

two boys and ski every weekend. Being on the slopes with

The dog used to chase me and I usually wound up riding far

my family offers so many special opportunities for staying

down the driveway. Sixteen years later I still ride with him.

close in a way we couldn’t with other sports.

I’m a tad better now, but nothing means more to me than my first turns on the back hill, or my first runs at Mount Snow and Stratton. Without the outdoors, the snow and Vermont I definitely wouldn’t be who I am today.

Gordon Kohl I learned when I was 19. The first time my friends brought me to the mountain they took me up the lift to the top of the

Willie Colt

mountain—and then I asked them how to snowboard. It took me about an hour to get down the mountain. My friends

My dad went skiing at Ascutney in 1990 when I was 16 months

passed me about 10 times while I was trying to get down.

old. His plan was to ski with me in a baby’s backpack. The

When I finally got to the bottom, I found the bunny slope, and

lift operators told him he couldn’t take me on the lift, so he

by the end of the day I was turning on both edges without

went to the rental shop, rented the smallest gear possible

falling. I went on the same lift we started the day on and made

and took me skiing. When I was 5 I went over the headwall of

it down without falling. I have been hooked ever since.

Tuckerman’s and skied 100 days; I’ve skied more than 100 days every year since. I’m 24 now and I broke 150 days last winter alone; we’ll see where the summer takes me! It has been a lifelong love that started right here in Vermont.

Sara Pierce I was told to at around 5 or 6 years old up at Boyne Mountain, Mich., where my mother and all her siblings were

Christine J. Feehan

taught to ski by my grandpa, who developed a love for the sport. Now that I live in the East, I go skiing every chance I

My father taught me to ski at age 5 at the now-defunct

get. What can I say? I’m addicted.

Craigmeur Ski Area in northern New Jersey so he could take his three children on ski vacations to places like Bromley, where my parents had their first official date, or Stowe, where we took our first family ski trip together. Twenty-seven years later, I’m a Burlington resident and Stowe season pass holder

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who writes about ski racing for a living. Quite the epic journey!

Come be our fan and share your story with us and all the VT Ski lovers out there. Facebook.com/skivermont

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(CONTINUED from PAGE 22)

MH: What were you afraid of with the lift?

AO: I was afraid of falling, like when you’re getting off it. And holding everybody up and looking ridiculous.

MH: Walk me through your first time on the chair. Were you scared?

AO: Oh my God, I was terrified. It was OK though. Beth was with me, and we had the instructor. The instructors were great, by the way. They were just so mellow and walked me through the whole process. They answered all of my silly little questions about chairlift etiquette and what you’re supposed to do in line.

MH: What didn’t you know about chairlift etiquette?

AO: Like when you’re in line and you’ve got all of those people merging, how were you supposed to figure out who you were sitting with? Once you were sitting2 on the chair, how do people know which direction everyone is going when they get off? Do people just intrinsically know that? Or do they plan it out beforehand: “You’re going left. Great, I’m going right.” I just had no idea.

MH: What stands out as you look back?

BM: Après-ski. Being outdoors. Socializing. And, most important, being able to do something I had written off for so long. Getting on the lift or slapping my ankles into bindings no longer scares the daylights out of me. I really have the instructors to thank for that.

AO: There was this really sunny, warm spring skiing day. It was that “spring skiing” that I’d always heard about— warm, the snow felt good. That might have been the last day of the year. I also felt really confident on skis by then.

MH: Do you two consider yourselves to be “skiers” now?

BM: Honestly, I’m just enjoying the slopes and feeling comfortable, now that I know that I can “master” a green [trail]. I am OK with that. If I get to a blue, that’ll be fabulous.

AO: For the first time in 35 years, the possibility isn’t laughable. I foresee a day when this skiing idea might become more of a habit. Heck, maybe I’ll even try my hand at snowboarding. I do know that next winter, I can make the trek to the mountain with excitement, envision the possibility of growth, and maybe even graduate to a <gasp> blue trail. Plus, I was told there would be beer. ❄

LEARN

TO TURN

TO

SKI & SNOWBOARD MONTH

Looking to get your friends and family into skiing or riding? We’ve got you covered. Here are some ways to start sliding on snow in Vermont:

FOR JUST $29, Ski Vermont gives first-timers a chance to try skiing or riding, including a beginner area lift ticket, equipment rental and lesson. The package is available throughout January (except holidays) and must be purchased in advance at skivermont.com/learn. Limit one per person.

THESE RESORTS ALSO OFFER SPECIAL INCENTIVES FOR COMPLETING LEARN TO SKI OR RIDE PROGRAMS: BOLTON VALLEY: After the third day, learners get a Learn to Love It card, entitling them to 50% off full-day lift tickets, lessons and full-day rentals for the rest of the 2013–14 season.

BROMLEY MOUNTAIN RESORT: After one lesson, learners get the Recognition Card, entitling them to $25 off lift tickets and $15 off lessons, rentals and incentives for next season as well.

KILLINGTON RESORT: Learners get a free pair of Killington-branded Elan skis and bindings after completing the four-day adult Learn to Ski Package.

SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT: Learners who complete three days of the First Timer Program get a FREE Bash Badge. Badge holders get $25 full-day and $15 half-day lift tickets, plus 50% discounts on group lessons, rentals and more for the rest of the season.

STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT: Learners who complete two days of the Learn to Ski Program earn a FREE X2 Card, letting guests skip the ticket window and save on every visit.

SUGARBUSH RESORT: Learners who finish three lessons in the First Timer Program get a FREE Sugarbush All-Mountain Season Pass for the rest of the 2013–14 season.

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You can go to college anYwhere, but if You love to ski and ride, there’s onlY one place where You can earn a VT°

Find your path at VtdEGrEES.orG

BACK TO THE ROOTS

BY PETER BIOLSI PHOTOGRAPHS: JENNIFER L ANGILLE

In 2006, Roy Tuscany was lapping the park at California’s Mammoth Mountain, a familiar playground for the 24-year-old freestyle ski coach. Growing up in Waterbury, Vt., he’d spent his formative years chasing freeskiing legend John Egan around the slopes of Sugarbush, but like many other East Coast college grads, Tuscany set his sights on the steep terrain and deep snowpack only the West could offer.

As he’d done hundreds of times before, Tuscany launched off the first kicker and, in his usual style, he went big. But this time, he went so big he overshot the landing and came crashing back to earth, taking the full impact of the fall in his legs and back. His T12 vertebra was crushed instantly and he was paralyzed from the waist down.

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(CONTINUED on PAGE 34)

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(CONTINUED from PAGE 30)

What took place over the months that followed could easily fill the pages of this magazine cover to cover. But this is the abridged version. Today, Tuscany can walk, albeit with a pronounced limp. He even gets out to the mountain a few dozen times per season. He’s traded in his park sticks and high-flying attitude for a four-tracking setup of two skis and two outriggers—think forearm crutches with ski tips mounted to the bottom—and a more conservative approach to sliding on snow.

Despite his new equipment and pace of life, Tuscany is just what he always was: an athlete.

Overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotional and financial support he received, Tuscany pledged his new life to making a difference in the lives of like-minded athletes in his situation.

He founded the High Fives Foundation to raise money and awareness for athletes who suffer lifealtering injuries while pursuing a dream in winter action sports.

Tuscany’s recovery wasn’t the result of some revolutionary surgical procedure or experimental pharmaceuticals. It was steeped in resilience, honesty and community—principles instilled by his five-generations-deep Vermont roots. He takes pride in the way these lessons, whether subconscious or more direct, helped to bring him back from the brink of paraplegia.

“The biggest thing I always relate back to is how our state is so unique and the people are such hard workers,” he says, recalling his grandmother, who worked in the Johnson woolen mills while his grandfather was laying pipeline for Vermont Gas. Their values of hard work and earned success filtered down through his parents and ultimately to him. “It just naturally came to me from growing up in Vermont that hard work pays off,” he says. But hard work on Tuscany’s end wasn’t the only ingredient in his tremendous recovery.

GET TING PEOPLE BACK ON THE MOUNTAIN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. “Being honest and true to yourself is something I learned from Vermont. If you lie or you’re not cool to people there, they call you out on it … and they can smell out the bullsh*t really fast,” he says in a less-than-comedic tone. “Honesty’s just the easiest way to live life.” And from the moment Tuscany could comprehend the severity of his injury, he was honest with himself. It would be a challenge, but he was committed to not only walking again, but skiing as well.

The final Vermont-grown ingredient: community. Tuscany firmly believes a vital part of the recovery process is “the community you surround yourself with.” He is a clear example of that. Despite having health insurance, he learned that much of his medical treatment and adaptive sports equipment wasn’t covered. Community came to the rescue. Friends in California and back home in Vermont raised nearly $85,000 to defray the debilitating expense of his rehabilitation.

(CONTINUED on PAGE 37)

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(CONTINUED from PAGE 34)

Enter the High Fives Foundation. High Fives is based on the simple gesture that punctuated his months of physical therapy and stimulated his and his doctors’ positivity. Since 2009, the nonprofit headquartered in Truckee, Calif., has successfully raised funds, secured alternative treatments and aided in the recovery of more than 43 athletes through Winter Empowerment Grants.

The foundation’s success, Tuscany notes, is reliant on the “community-like atmosphere” at the core of its approach to both healing and fundraising.

One of the hallmark events brings Tuscany back to his home mountain of Sugarbush. The FAT Ski-A-Thon, which raised more than $65,000 in 2013, is the foundation’s most successful fundraiser to date. Participants complete as many laps as possible on the Summit Quad lift, donning their “fat” powder skis with a waist of 70 millimeters or more.

Fifty percent of lift ticket proceeds are donated directly to High Fives. Tuscany hopes to top $100,000 for the next event on March 2, 2014.

High Fives’ strategy for a successful fundraiser? Focus on the first three letters: FUN! “When you can enrich community with something they can get behind, you’re going to see the biggest reward,” Tuscany says. “We started with stickers and T-shirts to spread the community, and now it’s grown to include some very affluent donors. It all started from creating a community around our cause and keeping our events fun.”

The national state of adaptive sports still has a long way to go, in Tuscany’s opinion.

He says, “Adaptive athletes already have a big enough challenge before getting to the mountain. Once they’re there, things should be as easy for them as possible.”

He sees big room for improvement in technology, in making equipment lighter and easier to use, along with changes at SkiVermont.com

37

the resort level. “I don’t think every resort in the country can become an adaptive-approved mountain,” he adds, “but there should be a greater effort to establish specific resorts that excel at this in every region where the sport is popular.”

Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports is filling that void in the Green Mountains. “People come from around the U.S. to ski with us,” says director Erin Fernandez. “Vermont is already a national ski destination and we’re helping to make sure the snow is accessible to everyone, regardless of age, disability or ability to pay.” The organization connects interested athletes with equipment and instruction through a 500-person volunteer base and program locations at Killington/Pico, Bolton Valley and Sugarbush Resort. “We couldn’t do it without the resorts,” notes Fernandez.

“They see the value in having a great adaptive sport organization in Vermont. It’s awesome.”

This season, Vermont Adaptive will open the new 6,000-square-foot Andrea Mead Lawrence Lodge at Pico Mountain. The state-of-the-art $1.3 million facility will serve as the state headquarters for Vermont Adaptive and the Pico Ski Education Foundation, while providing program space for a variety of adaptive athletes in addition to skiers. Like the High Fives Foundation, Vermont Adaptive relies on a strong community of supporters and annual fundraisers such as the Vermont 100, the Vermont 50 and the Long Trail Century Ride.

Middlebury’s Kelly Brush Foundation is another big player in the advancement of adaptive athletes. Like Tuscany, founder Kelly Brush was a Vermonter destined for professional skier stardom. But in 2006, two months before Tuscany was airlifted from the Mammoth terrain park, a crash during competition left Brush paralyzed from the chest down. Her nonprofit has since developed a strong community of its own. Each September, its annual bicycle Century Ride raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to help injured athletes overcome the prohibitive costs of adaptive equipment, in addition to supporting paralysis research and spinal cord injury prevention by improving the standards of ski racing safety.

“Getting people back on the mountain is the most important thing,” says Tuscany. “Riding on a chairlift is one of the most empowering things for winter sports athletes. You’re bonding with friends over something you love. I think the importance of that chairlift ride gets lost on a lot of people.”

A Vermont-based office is next for High Fives. “Over the next 10 years, I’d like to expand the same facilities and services to Colorado, Utah and the Pacific Northwest,” Tuscany says. And with each person who participates in running fundraisers, sponsoring athletes or doling out high fives, the community will continue to grow in number and strength. “But first,” he adds, “we’ve got to bring it back home.” ❄

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ometime in the afternoon of Saturday, February 15, 2014, Liz Stephen, a delightful 26-year-old cross-country skier from East Montpelier, Vt., will take off on the third leg of the 4-by-5-kilometer Olympic relay. She’ll be part of a team with a great shot at winning the first-ever U.S. medal in that event. But think of that relay exchange in metaphorical terms—as a link with the generations of Vermonters who have represented the U.S. over the years at the Winter Olympics.

In Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Games, more than 15 Vermont skiers and riders are likely to compete for the United States. A substantial Vermont presence at the Olympics is nothing new; at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, 10

P E T E R

O L I V E R

Vermonters were among the skiers and riders on the U.S. team. That was more than the number of athletes from other winter-sport states such as Colorado and New Hampshire.

When Vermonters get to the Olympics, they often do well. Andrea Mead Lawrence started the trend by winning two gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Oslo, Norway. Since 2002, mogul skier Hannah Kearney and snowboarders Ross Powers, Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter have all been gold-medal winners.

Lindsey Jacobellis just missed being on the list of gold-medal Vermonters when she famously crashed near the bottom of the 2006 snowboard cross course and had to settle for silver.

The reasons for Vermont athletes’ successes are many: the long and snowy Vermont

winters; the presence of numerous ski areas, both alpine and Nordic; a culture that supports and nourishes winter sports; and in at least one case, a strong bloodline.

If any group in U.S. skiing history could be considered a dynasty, it is the Cochran family, which will again be represented at the Olympics this winter.

It started with Mickey and Ginny Cochran, who built a small family ski area in Richmond, Vt., in 1961 and raised their four children—Marilyn, Barbara Ann, Lindy and Bobby—to become Olympic athletes. Barbara Ann won (CONTINUED on PAGE 52)

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Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Snowboarding

HANNAH TETER

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MIKAELA SHIFFRIN 48

SkiVermont.com

SkiVermont.com

49 Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team

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VERMONT’S GOLDEN ONES 1 2 3 4

6

5

7 8

9 10

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1. Mikaela Shiffrin // Photo Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team 2. Hannah Kearney // Photo Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team 3. Daron Rahlves // Photo Courtesy of U.S. Ski Team 4. Ryan Cochran-Siegle // Photo Courtesy of Eric Schramm/ U.S. Ski Team 5. Hannah Teter // Photo Courtesy of Tom Zikas/U.S. Snowboarding 6. Kelly Clark // Photo Courtesy of Tom Zikas/U.S. Snowboarding 7. Jimmy Cochran // Photo Courtesy of Eric Schramm/ U.S. Ski Team 8. Liz Stephen // Photo Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team 9. Ross Powers // Photo Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Snowboarding 10. Robby Kelley // Photo Courtesy of Eric Schramm/ U.S. Ski Team 11. Lindsey Jacobellis // Photo Courtesy of Tom Zikas/U.S. Snowboarding

(CONTINUED from PAGE 48)

Olympic gold in the giant slalom in 1972, and has passed the baton to the next generation. Jimmy Cochran, Bobby’s son, competed in two Olympics, in 2006 and 2010. Now Robby Kelley, Lindy’s son, and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Barbara Ann’s son, will likely be headed for Sochi.

The cousins, who lead a new wave of talented skiers on the U.S. alpine team, were best childhood buddies from Starksboro who “grew up skiing Cochran’s,” says Kelley. It was a special place, permeated with the aura of skiing greatness. “There were all the trophies there,” says Kelley of the awards accumulated by the previous generation of Cochrans. “It’s still my favorite place to ski by far.”

That is really saying something for a guy whose racing career has already taken him to the great mountains of Europe, the

West, and the Southern Hemisphere. But the intimacy of Cochran’s—the smalltown feel of everyone knowing everyone else that is at the core of Vermont life—is something that is impossible to replicate elsewhere. “Family focused, community driven” is the tagline for the ski area, evoking an era when many Vermont towns had their own small hills on which young skiers could hone their talents and their dreams.

At Cochran’s, Kelley and CochranSiegle would log lap after lap on the 500-vertical-foot hill, often ending the day with what Cochran-Siegle calls a “bombing run”—trying to carry enough speed to make it up the small rise at the bottom to the lodge. Cochran-Siegle is

now making a name for himself on the U.S. Ski Team as a rising speed-event star, with two Alpine Junior World Ski Championships gold medals to his credit.

He says that his downhill and Super G talents really started to reveal themselves when he attended Mount Mansfield Winter Academy in Stowe as a teenager.

But surely the bombing runs at Cochran’s had something to do with blossoming into a speed-event world champion.

Stephen, the cross-country veteran from East Montpelier, has soaked up all the varied skiing bounty that Vermont has to offer. She grew up as a promising alpine racer before switching to Nordic racing at 15 when she attended Burke Mountain Academy. That led quickly to a spot on the 2006 Olympic cross-country team and a stellar 2012–13 season that saw her rise into the top 15 in the world.

When she talks about the foundation of SkiVermont.com

51

her success, the word community comes up frequently. “The Burke community and the central Vermont community are two of the best communities I’ve ever been a part of,” she says. And such is Vermont’s cultural influence, she adds, that anyone who spends any length of time in the community of Vermont becomes a lifetime Vermonter by association.

2012–13 with a gold medal at the World Ski Championships and an overall World Cup title. Shiffrin attended Burke Mountain Academy as well as the summer Eliteam conditioning camp run

by Vermont Olympian Doug Lewis in Fayston. “We consider her a Vermonter because she went to Burke,” says Stephen, only half jokingly.

That’s why she found herself rallying behind non-Vermonter Mikaela Shiffrin, the slalom skier who burst onto the international scene in the winter of

Daron Rahlves, a four-time Olympian who attended the Green Mountain Valley School in the 1990s, understands the decision by someone like Shiffrin to

attend a Vermont ski academy. “The fast guys were in the East,” says Rahlves of his choice to come to Vermont from California. “If I was going to be as fast as I could be, I had to go against the fastest guys.”

i’ve been to a lot of places in the world, but i couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. i love vermont. i will always call it home.

Among the fastest guys at Sochi will certainly be several Vermonters.

Medals will be expected from Vermont snowboarders, and Liz Stephen and fellow Vermonter Ida Sargent, who developed as a junior at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and Burke Mountain Academy, both have reasonable shots at the cross-country podium. In addition to Kelley and Cochran-Siegle, a Vermont alpine skier to watch is Nolan Kasper, considered the top U.S. slalom skier before being slowed by injuries in the 2012–13 season.

Olympic competition is a fleeting experience that happens just once every four years. Being a native Vermonter is something that touches on immortality.

“I have roots in Vermont that will last forever,” says Stephen. Her sentiment is echoed by Kelley. As a member of the U.S. Ski Team who has traveled all over the globe, he says: “I’ve been to a lot of places in the world, but I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I love Vermont. I will always call it home.” ❄

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A N O T H E R B E S T D AY

Photo : KALICE

FIRST DAY

By Sarah Wojcik

Wake to the smell of fresh-brewed coffee.

Hear the crack of an egg;

The sizzle in a pan.

Wrap yourself in long underwear that waits like an old friend.

Layered in thermal and memories of seasons past,

Pack the car with skis and mud-crusted boots.

Go back for the down, add duct tape to pants.

Dust the fluff off the windshield.

Coerce the pup through the hatch.

Smile as the car slowly starts

In 20 degree temps.

Travel down a familiar road With a common companion.

Play songs for a season That is just beginning.

First Day.

Turn the corner.

See the white on the peak.

With autumn leaves Framing the stripes

Of descents.

A lump in the throat.

A fluttering heart. First Day. This is home. Feeling whole.

A good start.

54

SkiVermont.com

FRESH TRACKS

Any season. Any reason.

How big was my air? Which trails did we ski? And just how fast did I rip it? Now you can answer all of those questions– and earn some sweet rewards–with Ski Vermont’s Check In to Win Program.

Check In to Win rewards you for trying different resorts around Vermont. The more you visit, the more you can win, including prizes from Green Mountain Coffee, Cabot Cheese, Darn Tough Socks, anon. Optics, Kombi, Burton, and Rossignol. You can also enter to win a Vermont winter vacation when you sign up.

It all happens via the Alpine Replay app on your mobile phone, which tells you your speed, runs, air time, and more.

You can also post your day to Facebook, Twitter, etc. And thanks to Verizon’s expanded 4G LTE Network, coverage in the Green Mountains is better than ever before.

Head to SkiVermont.com/checkin to download the app to your mobile device, and the next time you ski or ride in Vermont, you’ll be ready to Check In to Win.

SkiVermont.com /checkin

SPONSORED BY:

SkiVermont.com

55

On the slopes.

NOT OFF THE GRID. Stay connected from the lift to the lodge on America’s Largest 4G LTE Network.

Download the Check In to Win app to let your posse know where you’re skiing and win cool prizes.

1.800.256.4646

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verizonwireless.com

|

OFFICIAL WIRELESS PARTNER OF SKI VERMONT.

vzw.com/storelocator

IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Subject to Customer Agmt, Calling Plan & credit approval. Up to $350 early termination fee & up to $15/GB after allowance. Coverage not available everywhere; see vzw.com. 4G LTE is available in 500 markets in the U.S. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. © 2013 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. Samsung and Galaxy S are both trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. © 2013 Verizon Wireless.

FIRST TRACKS

11

JAY PEAK

8

C a na da

9

SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH

Maine

Vermont

BURKE

6

20

STOWE 25

N e w Yo r k

21 26

19

M a s s ac h us e t t s

BOLTON VALLEY

5

C o n n e c t i c ut R h o d e Is l a n d

3

COCHRAN’S

New Hampshire

10

12

MAD RIVER GLEN

P e n n s y lva n i a New Je r s e y

Atla ntic Oc e a n

SUGARBUSH 16 2

18

NORTHEAST SLOPES

MIDDLEBURY SNOW BOWL

22

1

PICO KILLINGTON 14

SUICIDE SIX 17

13

D e l awa r e

HOW DO YOU GET HERE?

BY CAR

29

Vermont resorts are an easy, convenient drive from anywhere in the East. Interstates 89 and 91, and Vermont Route 100, the fabled skiers’ highway, provide excellent access to our mountains and villages.

OKEMO 15

BY TRAIN

BROMLEY 28

Maryland

MAGIC 27

Two Amtrak routes operate between Washington, D.C., New York City and Vermont, providing daily passenger service to many of Vermont’s mountain communities. For information, log onto Amtrak.com or call the resort you plan to visit.

7

STRATTON 23

MOUNT SNOW 24

4

BY BUS

Green dots correspond with Nordic ski areas listed below.

NORDIC SKI AREAS

BY AIR

1. Blueberry Hill

16. Ole’s Cross Country Center.

2. Blueberry Lake Cross Country

17. The Quechee Club

3. Bolton Valley Nordic Center

18. Rikert Nordic Center

4. Brattleboro Outing Club

19. Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Center

5. Catamount Outdoor Family Center

20. Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Center

6. Craftsbury Outdoor Center

21. Stowe/Mt. Mansfield XC Center

7. Grafton Ponds Nordic Center

22. Strafford Nordic Center

8. Hazen’s Notch Association

23. Stratton Mountain Nordic Center

9. Jay Peak Ski Touring Center

24. Timber Creek XC Ski Area

10. Kingdom Trails

25. Topnotch Resort

11. Memphremagog Ski Touring

26. Trapp Family Lodge XC Ski Center

12. Morse Farm Ski Touring Center

27. Viking Nordic Center

13. Mountain Meadows XC Ski Area

28. Wild Wings Ski Touring Center

14. Mountain Top Nordic Center

29. Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center

15. Okemo Valley Nordic Center

The Greyhound bus system, connects Vermont communities with Boston, Montreal, New York and other regional and national destinations. Call 1-800-231-2222 for information.

Catamount Trail

With excellent air service, Burlington International Airport is a convenient point of access to northern and central Vermont resorts. Major air carriers include Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, United and US Airways, and Porter out of Toronto. For those who prefer charter flights or have a personal aircraft, Heritage Aviation is ideal. Visitors to central and southern resorts often fly to Albany; Boston; Hartford; Manchester, N.H.; Newark, N.J.; and Rutland, Vt. Gateway cities for international visitors include Boston, New York, Montreal, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Rental cars are available at all airports, and many resorts offer ground transportation.

SkiVermont.com

59

ALPINE

COCHRAN’S SKI AREA

JAY PEAK RESORT

KILLINGTON RESORT

MAD RIVER GLEN

Richmond, VT 05477 www.cochranskiarea.com

Jay, VT 05859 www.jaypeakresort.com

Killington, VT 05751 www.killington.com

Waitsfield, VT 05673 www.madriverglen.com

General Info:...........802-434-2479 Snow Conditions:.....802-434-2479 Reservations:............................. —

General Info:........... 802-988-2611 Snow Conditions:.....802-988-9601 Reservations:........ 800-451-4449

General Info:........ 800-621-MTNS Snow Conditions:.....802-422-3261 Reservations:...... 800-621-MTNS

General Info:...........802-496-3551 Snow Conditions:.....802-496-3551 Reservations:............................. —

Vertical:................................... 350’ Trails:........................................... 8 Trail Acreage:............................ 15 Lifts:............................................. 3

Vertical:................................ 2,153’ Trails:......................................... 76 Trail Acreage:.......................... 385 Lifts:............................................. 9

Vertical:................................ 3,050’ Trails:....................................... 140 Trail Acreage:.......................... 752 Lifts:........................................... 22

Vertical:................................2,037’ Trails:......................................... 45 Trail Acreage:.......................... 120 Lifts:............................................. 5

Snowmaking Acreage:............... 10 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 66% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 3 of 3

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 308 Snowmaking Coverage:.........80% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 9 of 9

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 602 Snowmaking Coverage:.........80% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:.22 of 22

Snowmaking Acreage:.............. 20 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 15% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 3 of 5

OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT

PICO MOUNTAIN AT KILLINGTON

QUECHEE CLUB SKI AREA

SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT

Ludlow, VT 05149 www.okemo.com

Killington, VT 05751 www.picomountain.com

Quechee, VT 05059 www.quecheeclub.com

Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464 www.smuggs.com

General Info:........... 802-228-1600 Snow Conditions:.....802-228-5222 Reservations:......800-78-OKEMO

General Info:.......... 866-667-PICO Snow Conditions:.... 866-667-PICO Reservations:........ 866-667-PICO

General Info:...........802-295-9356 Snow Conditions:.....802-295-9356 Reservations:.........802-295-9356

General Info:...........802-332-6841 Snow Conditions:..... 802-644-1111 Reservations:.........855-814-7325

Vertical:................................2,200’ Trails:....................................... 120 Trail Acreage:.......................... 651 Lifts:........................................... 19

Vertical:.................................1,967’ Trails:......................................... 53 Trail Acreage:.......................... 265 Lifts:............................................. 7

Vertical:................................... 650’ Trails:......................................... 13 Trail Acreage:.......................... 100 Lifts:............................................. 3

Vertical:................................ 2,610’ Trails:......................................... 78 Trail Acreage:.......................... 310 Lifts:............................................. 8

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 605 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 96% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:.19 of 19

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 199 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 75% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 7 of 7

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 100 Snowmaking Coverage:....... 100% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 3 of 3

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 192 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 62% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 8 of 8

60

SkiVermont.com

ALPINE

Vermont’s Sun Mountain

BROMLEY MOUNTAIN RESORT

BURKE MOUNTAIN

Bolton Valley, VT 05477 www.boltonvalley.com

Manchester Ctr., VT 05255 www.bromley.com

East Burke, VT 05832 www.skiburke.com

General Info:.......... 802-434-3444 Snow Conditions:.. 802-434-SNOW Reservations:........ 877-9BOLTON

General Info:.......... 802-824-5522 Snow Conditions:.... 866-856-2201 Reservations:........ 800-865-4786

General Info:......... 888-BURKEVT Snow Conditions:..... 866-496-1699 Reservations:....... 888-BURKEVT

Vertical:................................ 1,704’ Trails:......................................... 70 Trail Acreage:.......................... 300 Lifts:............................................. 6

Vertical:................................ 1,334’ Trails:......................................... 45 Trail Acreage:.......................... 178 Lifts:............................................. 9

Vertical:.................................2,011’ Trails:......................................... 55 Trail Acreage:.......................... 270 Lifts:............................................. 6

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 180 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 60% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 5 of 6

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 151 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 85% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 9 of 9

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 216 Snowmaking Coverage:.........80% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 6 of 6

MAGIC MOUNTAIN

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL

MOUNT SNOW RESORT

NORTHEAST SLOPES

Londonderry, VT 05148 www.magicmtn.com

Middlebury, VT 05753 www.middleburysnowbowl.com

West Dover, VT 05356 www.mountsnow.com

Rt. 25, East Corinth, VT 05040 www.northeastslopes.org

General Info:.......... 802-824-5645 Snow Conditions:.... 802-824-5645 Reservations:........ 802-824-5645

General Info:.......... 802-388-4356 Snow Conditions:.... 802-388-4356 Reservations:............................. —

General Info:.......... 802-464-3333 Snow Conditions:.....802-464-2151 Reservations:......800-245-SNOW

General Info:.......... 802-439-5789 Snow Conditions:.... 802-439-5789 Reservations:........ 802-439-5789

Vertical:................................ 1,700’ Trails:......................................... 43 Trail Acreage:.......................... 195 Lifts:............................................. 4

Vertical:................................ 1,050’ Trails:......................................... 17 Trail Acreage:.......................... 125 Lifts:............................................. 3

Vertical:................................ 1,700’ Trails:......................................... 80 Trail Acreage:.......................... 588 Lifts:........................................... 20

Vertical:................................... 360’ Trails:......................................... 12 Trail Acreage:............................ 35 Lifts:............................................. 3

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 133 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 75% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 4 of 4

Snowmaking Acreage:.............. 56 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 45% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 3 of 3

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 472 Snowmaking Coverage:.........80% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:.20 of 20

Snowmaking Acreage:............... — Snowmaking Coverage:............. — Lifts Serving Snowmaking:......... —

STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT

STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT

SUGARBUSH RESORT

SUICIDE SIX SKI AREA/ WOODSTOCK INN

Stowe, VT 05672 www.stowe.com

Stratton Mountain, VT 05155 www.stratton.com

Warren, VT 05674 www.sugarbush.com

Woodstock, VT 05091 www.woodstockinn.com

General Info:.......... 802-253-3000 Snow Conditions:.... 802-253-3600 Reservations:........ 800-253-4SKI

General Info:...........802-297-2200 Snow Conditions:..... 802-297-4211 Reservations:..... 800-STRATTON

General Info:.......... 802-583-6300 Snow Conditions:.....802-583-7669 Reservations:...... 800-53-SUGAR

General Info:...........802-457-6661 Snow Conditions:.... 802-457-6666 Reservations:........ 866-448-7900

Vertical:................................2,360’ Trails:........................................116 Trail Acreage:.......................... 485 Lifts:........................................... 13

Vertical:................................2,003’ Trails:......................................... 97 Trail Acreage:.......................... 625 Lifts:........................................... 11

Vertical:................................2,600’ Trails:........................................111 Trail Acreage:.......................... 578 Lifts:........................................... 16

Vertical:................................... 650’ Trails:......................................... 23 Trail Acreage:.......................... 100 Lifts:............................................. 3

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 485 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 90% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:.11 of 13

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 594 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 95% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:.11 of 11

Snowmaking Acreage:............ 405 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 70% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:.15 of 16

Snowmaking Acreage:.............. 50 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 50% Lifts Serving Snowmaking:... 3 of 3

Courtesy of Deshler Photography

BOLTON VALLEY

SkiVermont.com

61

NORDIC

Resort

Location

E-mail & Website

Phone/ Toll-Free

Blueberry Hill Ski Center

Goshen, VT 05733

info@blueberryhillinn.com www.blueberryhillinn.com

Blueberry Lake X-C

Warren, VT 05674

Bolton Valley Nordic Center

Snowmaking

Trails

Machine Tracked/ Skating Terrain

Instruction/ Rental

802-247-6735 800-448-0707

75km

60km/40km

Y/Y

www.blueberrylakeskivt.com

802-496-6687 -

30km

30km/30km

Y/Y

Bolton Valley, VT 05477

info@boltonvalley.com www.boltonvalley.com

802-434-3444 877-9BOLTON

100km

26km/26km

Y/Y

Brattleboro Outing Club

Brattleboro, VT 05302

xc@brattleborooutingclub.com www.brattleborooutingclub.com

802-254-4081 -

33km

25km/18km

Y/Y

Catamount Outdoor Family Center

Williston, VT 05495

mail@catamountoutdoor.com www.catamountoutdoor.com

802-879-6001 888-680-1011

35km

20km/20km

Y/Y

Catamount Trail Association

Burlington, VT 05401

info@catamounttrail.org www.catamounttrail.org

802-864-5794 -

483mi

-

N/N

Craftsbury Outdoor Center

Craftsbury Common, VT 05827

stay@craftsbury.com www.craftsbury.com

802-586-7767 -

✔

135km

85km/85km

Y/Y

Grafton Ponds Nordic Center

Grafton, VT 05146

info@graftonponds.com www.graftonponds.com

802-843-2400 800-843-1801

✔

60km

30km/30km

Y/Y

Hazen’s Notch Association

Montgomery Ctr., VT 05471

info@hazensnotch.org www.hazensnotch.org

802-326-4799 -

70km

40km/0km

Y/Y

Jay Peak Ski Touring Center

Jay, VT 05859

info@jaypeakresort.com www.jaypeakresort.com

802-988-2611 800-451-4449

20km

20km/20km

Y/Y

Kingdom Trails

East Burke, VT 05871

info@kingdomtrails.org www.kingdomtrails.com

802-626-0737 -

50km

50km/50km

N/N

Memphremagog Ski Touring

Derby, VT 05829

info@mstf.net www.mstf.net

-

30km

30km/30km

N/N

Morse Farm Ski Touring Center

Montpelier, VT 05602

info@skimorsefarm.com www.skimorsefarm.com

802-223-0090 800.223.0560

25km

20km/25km

Y*/Y

Mountain Meadows XC & Snowshoe Ctr.

Killington, VT 05751

mtmxc@sover.net www.xcskiing.net

802.775.7077 800-221-0598

✔

40km

40km/40km

Y/Y

Mountain Top Nordic Center

Chittenden, VT 05737

stay@mountaintopinn.com www.mountaintopinn.com

802-483-6089 -

✔

60km

40km/40km

Y/Y

Okemo Valley Nordic Center

Ludlow, VT 05149

info@okemo.com www.okemo.com

802-228-1600 800-78-OKEMO

22km

22km/22km

Y/Y

Ole’s Cross Country Center

Warren, VT 05674

ski@olesxc.com www.olesxc.com

802-496-3430 877-863-3001

50km

50km/45km

Y/Y

The Quechee Club

Quechee, VT 05059

tina.moses@quecheeclub.com www.quecheeclub.com

802-299-2105 -

25km

25km/12km

N/Y*

Rikert Nordic Center

Middlebury, VT 05753

rikertnordiccenter@middlebury.edu www.middlebury.edu/about/facilities/rikert

802-443-2744 -

✔

50km

50km/50km

Y/Y

Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Ctr.

Huntington, VT 05462

info@skisleepyhollow.com www.skisleepyhollow.com

802-434-2283 866-254-1524

✔

40km

30km/25km

Y/Y

Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Center

Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464

smuggs@smuggs.com www.smuggs.com

802-644-8851 800-451-8752

34km

18km/26km

Y/Y

Stowe Mountain Resort XC Ski Center

Stowe, VT 05672

info@stowe.com www.stowe.com

802.253.3601 800-253-4754

75km

35km/35km

Y/Y

Strafford Nordic Center

Strafford, VT 05072

info@straffordnordicskiing.com straffordnordicskiing.com

802-765-4309 -

20km

10km/20km

Y/Y

Stratton Mountain Nordic Center

Stratton Mountain, VT 05155

awanamaker@intrawest.com www.stratton.com

802.297.4482 800-STRATTON

30km

10km/10km

Y/Y

Timber Creek XC Ski Area

West Dover, VT 05356

timbercreekxc@gmail.com www.timbercreekxc.com

802-464-0999 -

14km

14km/14km

Y/Y

Topnotch Resort

Stowe, VT 05672

info@topnotchresort.com www.topnotchresort.com

802.253.8585 -

30km

0km/0km

Y/Y

Trapp Family Lodge XC Ski Ctr.

Stowe, VT 05672

www.trappfamily.com info@trappfamily.com

802-253-5755 800-826-7000

100km

55km/55km

Y/Y

Viking Nordic Center

Londonderry, VT 05148

skiandstay@vikingnordic.com www.vikingnordic.com

802-824-3933 -

35km

35km/30km

Y/Y

Wild Wings Ski Touring Ctr.

Peru, VT 05152

wwxcski@myfairpoint.net www.wildwingsski.com

802-824-6793 -

28km

28km/0km

Y/Y

Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center

Woodstock, VT 05091

email@woodstockinn.com www.woodstockinn.com

802-457-6674 866-448-7900

60km

50km/20km

Y/Y

✔

*Weekends by appointment

62

SkiVermont.com

Fly to downtown Toronto starting Christmas 2013.

ďŹ&#x201A;yporter.com

Courtesy of Greg Petrics

AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.

64

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