Ski Vermont 2008 Magazine

2008 ISSUE GUNS AND AMMO:

Shooting it out on the slopes of Vermont

EXTRA!

New Snowboarding Section

STORMY WEATHER:

The snows of an epic winter

FREERIDING:

On the park and pipe scene

PLUS:

Nordic treasure hunting, Bullwinkle alert, bathing in mud, and more . . .

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Stowe, Vermont. Two words that capture the perfect New England winter vacation. Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest peak, boasts legendary steeps and gentle cruisers–all of them 100% high-speed lift accessible. Convenience was raised to an even higher level last season with the introduction of the Over Easy Transfer Gondola–connecting Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak. And this year, we’ve made more upgrades in snowmaking, all on top of 350 inches of natural snow!

F

OU i ND Y

RS.

For up-to-the-minute resort info, please call 1-800-253-4754 or visit stowe.com. skivermont.com+ 3

2008 ISSUE PUBLISHER: SKI VERMONT Bill Stenger, Chair Parker Riehle, President Tori Ossola, VP of Marketing DITOR E Peter Oliver DESIGN Methodikal, Inc. PRINTER The Offset House COVER PHOTO Brian Mohr emberphoto.com

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FIRST TRACKS

TRAVELING TO VERMONT

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A SEASON OF STORMS

GUN RUNNING

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56

A DAY IN THE PARK

INSTANT INFO

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SPECIAL SECTION: SNOWBOARD VERMONT

PARTING SHOT

The inside line on people, places, trends, and happenings in Vermont this season.

The winter of 2006-2007 in Vermont was a latecomer, but it packed a punch.

The terrain park scene in Vermont just keeps getting bigger, for both skiers and snowboarders.

How to get to New England’s best skiing and riding.

When it comes to snow Vermont resorts have things covered.

A complete lowdown on Vermont Alpine and Nordic resorts.

A last look at last winter.

Courtesy of Emily Johnson/EmberPhoto.com

The Vermont snowboarding world, brought to you by our friends at Burton.

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FIRST TRACKS

NEVER NORMAL

Normal? Actually, last winter’s abnormal snow pattern was about as normal as it gets in Vermont. After all, no two winters are ever alike. Some are colder, some warmer. Some winters produce abundant snowfall, others not so much.

Sometimes snow comes early, sometimes late. Sometimes it comes in small, steady amounts, sometimes (as last winter) it comes in big, impressive storms.

Courtesy of iStockphoto

Normal – what the heck is that? When the 2006-2007 ski season in Vermont sputtered out of the blocks, there was much consternation and hand-wringing among local savants about the sparse December snow. It just wasn’t normal, they complained. And when the season later picked up in spectacular fashion, finishing with a grand, snowy flourish in April, weathermen were whistling a new tune, saying that the late-season snowfall totals were far above normal amounts.

When weathermen talk about normal, what they are really talking about is an historical average. But with so many variations in weather extremes in Vermont, any winter that consistently matched daily averages in temperature and snowfall would truly be weird. Let’s say one day was 40 degrees, the next 10 below, not at all unusual in Vermont.

That would make the average or “normal” temperature 15 degrees, which does little to describe what the weather was actually like either day.

planners who call months ahead and ask how much snow there will be on any particular date. Who can ever say? The historical charts might say one thing, but anything can happen. Would any lodge owner in December, for example, have dared to say that on Valentine’s Day last winter it would snow more than 40 inches? That abnormally bountiful storm represented the true normalcy of a Vermont winter: On any given day, almost anything can happen.

Look at last winter: In early January, temperatures rose briefly into the 60s and yet, just a few days later, it was 40 degrees colder and snowing heavily.

That is Vermont “normal” in a nutshell – constantly changing, never the same from one day to the next, a rollercoaster ride rather than a “normal” flatline.

Resort operators and lodging proprietors in Vermont find great humor in vacation

Weather experts say that global warming is beginning to affect seasonal

averages in Vermont and elsewhere.

Vermont resort operators are certainly acknowledging climate change and have responded with, among other things, faster and more efficient snowmaking to recover quickly when the winter weather makes an unexpected hiccup.

But if you are planning on visiting Vermont this winter, don’t expect to encounter normal. It could be 60 degrees; it could snow 60 inches. Who knows?

Thanks to the combo of snowmaking and nature, you can expect to find snow.

But spend a week in Vermont without crazy swings in the weather – a week of consistently “normal” temperatures and “normal” snow – and you will have experienced an aberration, not normalcy.

If you don’t like the weather in Vermont, just wait a minute.

— Peter Oliver skivermont.com+ 5

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Courtesy of Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa

FIRST TRACKS

AHHHHH, SPA Skiing Stowe’s steep, moguled Front Four, I was taking a pounding. Legs and back were aching, I was devolving into a shuffling Neanderthal. There was only one place to take my primitively pretzeled self: The spa.

Submerged under a warm, therapeutic waterfall, I was again taking a pounding, though this one was actually comfortable.

Then Gwen, trained in Thai massage, stretched and massaged my back, to restore me to my proper station on the evolutionary scale. From there, it was back to the pool, where I floated in an altered state, somewhere between consciousness and mental goo. Ahhhhh . . . .

In the past four years, several world-class spas have opened or have been expanded in Vermont. Offering treatments from maple scrubs - which exfoliate skin with real maple sugar granules - to river rock therapy, they can make a soothing end to a hard ski day.

TOPNOTCH RESORT AND SPA.

STOWEFLAKE MOUNTAIN RESORT AND SPA.

Expanded and renovated in 2004, this light and airy spa with a close-up view of Mt. Mansfield breathes calm. The extensive spa menu has a full array of body wraps, massages, facials, and salon services.

Try Thai massage, with yoga-based stretching and compression that relieves back and joint pain. And don’t miss the cascading waterfall in the Solarium. 4000 Mountain Road in Stowe; 800-451-8686, topnotchresort.com.

Sit under the 12-foot-high massaging waterfall, then soak in the Hungarian mineral pool. The maple scrub is the spa’s most popular treatment, but go for the skier’s facial, a hydrating treatment that breathes life back into dry, windburned skin. Hands and feet are pampered too—first warmed, then exfoliated and massaged. 1746 Mountain Road in Stowe; 800-253-2232 or 802-253-7355, stoweflake.com.

THE SPA AT THE EQUINOX.

CASTLE HILL RESORT AND SPA.

This Avanyu spa reflects the architecture, natural beauty and country purity of Vermont. Sign up for the Spirit of Vermont treatment, combining massage, reflexology (working precise pressure points on the feet) and Reiki (an ancient Japanese technique using gentle touch and specific hand patterns to allow energy to flow). 3567 Main Street (Route 7A) in Manchester Village; 800-362-4747 or 802-362-4700, equinoxresort.com.

In a restored 19th century carriage house, Castle Hill is an intimate spa on the lovely grounds of a former Vermont governor’s mansion. Swedish massage is the most popular, but for melt-intothe-table relaxation, try the combination of massage, hot stone therapy, and foot reflexology. At the junction of Routes 103 and 131 in Cavendish; 802-226-7419, castlehillresortandspa.com.

— Peggy Shinn skivermont.com+ 7

FIRST TRACKS

THE GREENER MOUNTAINS

Upping the environmental ante, the Middlebury Snow Bowl and Mad River Glen have gone completely green, paying to offset every molecule of carbon dioxide—the primary “greenhouse gas”—emitted from groomers, lift operations, base lodge heating, electric usage, everything.

The carbon offsets, purchased through NativeEnergy in Charlotte, Vermont, reduce the amount of electric power generated from burning fossil fuels by helping to fund renewable energy projects, such as farm methane projects and wind turbines. Mad River’s offsets promote renewable energy projects specifically in Vermont.

Both ski areas are also taking the added step of offsetting the carbon dioxide emitted by skiers’ and snowboarders’ cars—an amount estimated to be five times greater than that of ski-area operations.

Okemo and Stratton have offset all electric usage through the purchase of several million kilowatt hours of renewable energy

Courtesy of iStockphoto

With global warming’s impact on winter, ski resorts are going green to stay white. Vermont resorts have long promoted recycling and conservation, as well as erosion control and protection of species habitat on the mountain. But many are also now making extra efforts with behind-the-scenes initiatives—such as Killington’s and Mount Snow’s purchase of more efficient snowmaking compressors, or Sugarbush using biodiesel in its groomers and on-mountain heavy machinery.

credits. At Stratton, skiers and riders who purchase wind power credits for their home from Renewable Choice receive free or discounted tickets, depending on the amount of power purchased.

Smugglers’ Notch skiers and riders can choose to go green with the Ski Cool program. Pay for a Green Pass upgrade on a season pass ($10 upgrade) or daily lift ticket (50 cent upgrade) and offset the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a day or season of skiing, including the commute.

As Mad River Glen’s Eric Friedman says, “Skiers and ski area operators for the most part consider themselves environmentalists.

What we have and what we’re selling is the outdoors. We have the most to gain by protecting it.”

— PS

IN THE HUNT Everyone loves a treasure hunt, right?

So what could be better than a treasure hunt through the woods on crosscountry skis?

For the last two winters, several Vermont crosscountry centers have been participating in a Nordic Quest program that gives skiers an extra dose of fun to a day’s outing.

Here’s how a Nordic Quest works: Just follow the rhyming clues along a course that eventually leads to a hidden Nordic Quest box which holds a Nordic Quest stamp. Clues are available at skivermont.com in the Kids Zone or at the participating ski center. When you find the stamp, you can use it to decorate a log book to keep a record of your journey.

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Along the way, the clues are designed not only to lead you to the box but also provide interesting historical or ecological facts about the area.

Anyone can join in, whether you’re someone who has skied only once or twice before or you’re an old pro. A quest is not a race but instead is a chance to share time with other skiers in a fun activity while learning something about your surroundings. Nordic Quests have become especially popular with school groups and scout troops.

Although adults are welcome to go on a Nordic Quest, the program is geared toward 8-12 year olds and their family and friends. Most Nordic Quests require cross-country skis, although some are designed for snowshoers. Participants will need to pay a trail fee, but otherwise the Nordic Quest program is free.

A free treasure hunt – now that’s about as good as it gets.

— Heather Atwell

FIRST TRACKS

SKIVERMONT.COM You may notice something different the next time you type www.skivermont.com, so don’t panic! We’re just putting on some new gear for the upcoming season. You know how you see a new jacket or pair of pants, or in my case, a new hat, (I think I own twelve now), that you just have to have? We wanted skivermont.com to look better this season. We didn’t look bad before, now we look better and we think you’ll like it. Don’t worry, all the things you loved about skivermont. com are still there, including the very latest on conditions, the interactive lodging guide, events calendar, vacation clipboard to compare everything under the sun at all Vermont resorts, photo of the day and the rest of your favorites. There’s some fun new stuff to check out, too.

We’re going to get interactive on you! New for this year, you’ll be able to tell us what you love about Vermont. All you have to do is sign up for My Ski Vermont, log on and chime

in. We already know why we love Vermont, now you can tell us why you do, too. We want to hear your Vermont Voice.

Not only do we want you to tell us why you love Vermont, we want you to SHOW us, too. Grab your cameras, start filming and show us what Winter in its Original State means to you.

Log on to skivermont.com for more information on video production requirements and to see a complete list of prizes.

One more new feature this year; skivermont.com will have some new “zones” for women and snowboarders and the Kids’ Zone will be better than ever. You’ll find events, tips, equipment advice, and programs just for you in the zones.

We hope that you get in the zone to shout out with your Vermont Voice about what Winter in its Original State means to you this season!

-LD

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FIRST TRACKS

MOOSE ON THE LOOSE Call it the Bullwinkle boom. Only a few decades ago, it appeared that moose in Vermont might be on their way to extinction. But in the last couple of decades, moose have made a remarkable comeback, and now number roughly 5,000 according to state wildlife estimates.

A big reason has been improved and, in places, growing habitat. In fact, one of the most startling statistics about Vermont is that, despite considerable development statewide in recent years, more than 80 percent of the state’s land is classified as forested. Compare that with the early 20th century when, thanks to heavy logging, less than 20 percent of the state was classified as forested.

So abundant is the moose population that problems that once seemed unimaginable are now becoming commonplace, especially in northern parts of the state. In the Northeast Kingdom, for example, where the moose population of roughly three per square mile is the state’s highest, moose have been causing considerable environmental damage by 10 +skivermont.com

munching too enthusiastically on trees and underbrush.

But a more serious problem has been the propensity of moose to wander unexpectedly onto roadways and into the path of oncoming vehicles. Collisions between moose and cars have risen sharply in recent years. Although moose tend to be less active in winter, they don’t hibernate. So just because you’re visiting in winter, don’t think you’re destined to miss out on the moose-sighting action, especially during the dawn and dusk hours. Be careful, though – moose are hard to see in the dark, with their dark brown hides and with eyes that, unlike deer, do not reflect light.

A couple of the most likely spots to see a moose are in Granville Gulf on Route 100, south of Warren and Sugarbush, and along Route 2 near Burke Mountain. But moose have also been know to wander out onto Interstates 89 and 91, where a high-speed collision is no bargain either for you or the moose.

Stay alert. There’s no reason to go bowling for Bullwinkle.

— PO

Ski better. Ride bigger.

Feel younger. Laugh harder. Live longer.

Introduce your family to the resort that keeps everyone happy at Sugarbush.com or call 1.800.53.SUGAR.

y = HAPPINESS

BE BETTER HERE.

X = SUGARBUSH

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Is your family trying to tell you something?

We may have exactly what they’re looking for!

#1 in North America for Family Programs

SKI Magazine Reader Survey 9 years

#1 Resort Overall in the Eastern U.S.

SKI Magazine Reader Survey 2006, 2007 & 2008

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Bringing together everything families love most about a Winter vacation is what Smugglers’ Notch Vermont® is all about. For over 50 years we’ve wrapped our mountainside Resort Village lodging with a spectacular mountain experience and off-slope activities to create the gold standard for family fun. Our award-winning children’s programs consistently delight kids ages 6 weeks - 17 years. So this Winter give your family exactly what they’ve been looking for... a Family Vacation at Smugglers’ Notch Vermont. Best of all, you can arrange your entire vacation with just one phone call to our Vacation Planning Experts!

ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A WEEK-LONG FAMILY VACATION! For details, to enter and for a FREE Planning Guide and DVD call 1-800-451-8752 or go to www.smuggs.com/enterskivt

FIRST TRACKS

How best to refresh yourself after the cramped drudgery of air travel to Burlington? Try a bracing dose of Nordic skiing. Burlington is arguably the country’s queen city of cross-country skiing. Within a one-hour drive lie over 330 kilometers (200 miles) of groomed cross-country ski trails — a stat unmatched by any major city in the U.S. Set out from Vermont’s hip college town, pop a CD in the slot, and before the music’s over you can be at one of 9 Nordic areas — all complete with rentals, instruction, lodges warmed by wood fire, and trails packed down and smoothed to corduroy perfection.

The variety of Nordic skiing matches the quantity. Looking for a quick ski before an afternoon flight out of Burlington?

Then glide around the woods and fields of Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston, a non-profit center only 10 minutes from the airport. Want a little chill-out time while the kids go crazy in the terrain parks up at the mountain?

Stowe, Bolton Valley, and Smugglers’ Notch all offer prime cross-country trails by their Alpine base areas. How about a cruise around one of America’s poshest Nordic-only resorts?

Ski the rolling hills of Trapp’s in Stowe, owned by the family of The Sound of Music fame. For an ego-pleasing glide, try the flatter terrain of Ole’s in Warren and take in the striking mountain views of the Mad River Valley. Meanwhile, classic cross-country trails through backwoods and over hills await at other areas like Sleepy Hollow, Morse Farm and Blueberry Lake.

The bounty doesn’t end there. Count six alpine areas within that same distance and hundreds more kilometers of Nordic trails if you extend the drive an extra half hour, including 100km of world-class trails in Craftsbury and the 60km at Blueberry Hill in Goshen. And don’t forget Vermont’s famous Catamount Trail, the mostly backcountry route that stretches from Vermont’s southern border to Canada.

Happy trails!

Courtesy of Dennis Curran

THE B-TOWN 9

SO HERE’S THE LINE-UP:

Catamount – 35 km........................ catamountoutdoor.com Sleepy Hollow – 35 km.....................skisleepyhollow.com Bolton Valley – 20 km.......................... boltonvalley.com Smugglers’ Notch – 30 km..........................smuggs.com Trapp family Lodge – 55 km................. trappfamily.com Stowe/Mt. Mansfield Touring Center – 35 km.................................. stowe.com Ole’s – 45 km....................................................olesxc.com Morse Farm – 20 km............................. skimorsefarm.com Blueberry Lake – 30 km............... blueberrylakeskivt.com

— Alan Cote skivermont.com+ 13

A SEASON OF STORMS Words & Photos by Brian Mohr

Winter actually came early to Vermont last season. Before Halloween – before lifts opened – several feet of snow covered the tops of the Green Mountains. Local skiers hiked to the summits and came back to report knee-deep powder. But a warm, wet November washed the snow away, and December went by with just enough snow and cold to allow most ski areas to stay open.

Then the season really began. On New Year’s Eve, Old Man Winter dropped nearly a foot on the luckiest spots. Powder at last! In late January, after taking time to recoup its strength, winter decided to get serious. Snow showers plastered the highest elevations of Vermont, and by Valentine’s Day, one of the most powerful snowstorms in Vermont history was raging.

Nearly four feet of snow buried the Green Mountains, and the storm set the stage for a season that ended as one of the most powder-filled on record. By mid-April, Vermont’s highest mountains were counting nearly 400” of natural snowfall.

After the New Year’s storm, the Valentine’s Day blizzard set a pattern that stuck – as the snow kept up in earnest, the biggest storms for some reason coincided with holidays. On St. Patrick’s weekend, 20 to 40 inches turned Vermont into a powder-skiing paradise. “We had two powder days in a row – on a weekend!” says Brian O’Donnell, a Connecticut-based skier who was up with his family. “I captured the greatest photo of my daughter, armpit-deep in snow.”

Easter Weekend, arrived with abundant snowfall, and for two weeks in early April, over six feet of snow buried the highest elevations of the Green Mountains. No doubt, it was a season of storms. “It was two years worth of great skiing crammed into half a season,” is the way O’Donnell described the winter of 2006-2007.

Or as Vermont skier Ian Forgays says: “Did it top the great winter 2001? In many ways it did. I don’t think I’ve ever skied more fresh, untracked snow in a season…Vermont rocks!”

New Years Eve Nearly a foot of much needed snow fell just in time to give holiday visitors something to write home about. For the first time in the season, skiers were able to enjoy some of their favorite gladed runs again.

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Valentine’s Day Blizzard The storm intensified as the day wore on, threatening to collapse old barns and stop the snowplows in their tracks. For those who were lucky enough to make it to their favorite ski hill, the conditions were unforgettable. More than 40� of snow fell in less than 48 hours at many areas. The trick was to stay in the trees, out of the path of strong, storm-blown winds.

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St. Patrick’s Weekend For Mad River Valley skier Craig Augustinsky, the Sunday of St. Patrick’s weekend, “was absolutely my best day of the season…I can’t believe how deep the snow was! It might have been the best day of my life.” Snow started flying early Friday, and the snow didn’t quit until Monday morning – piling up nearly 40” deep at higher elevations.

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Easter Weekend Good Friday became “Really Good Friday� for skiers who hit the slopes early in the morning. A surprising foot of powder lay waiting. The snow kept up through the weekend and by Sunday afternoon, with the crowds gone, skiers were enjoying one untracked run after the next.

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Tax Day Hardly anyone in the mountains was now talking about global warming. It had been snowing for nearly two straight weeks, and for those who hadn’t already hung up their boards for the season, it was a powder skier’s dream come true. The previous storms had built up a huge base, crowds were non-existent, and the skiing in the trees was world class.

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A On skis or on board, freeriders are killing it in the parks and pipes of Vermont.

Nowadays, there is skiing and then there is freeskiing. Jen Hudak understands the difference, not only because she is part of the freeskiing scene, but because she is dominating it – in terrain parks and pipes as well as in the backcountry and big mountains.

Jen began skiing at age three at Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont.

The Connecticut native’s family owned a vacation home nearby and she spent most of her winter weekends on the slopes. “I knew what a halfpipe was the year before Okemo started to allow 22 +skivermont.com

skiers in their amazing Sobe Superpipe,” said Hudak. “I was up for it and that winter I competed in the first Junior World Championships for halfpipe and I won.” The winter was 2001-2002.

Fast forward a few years, and Jen is now spending all of her time during the winter and in the off-season training for a sport that didn’t even exist when she first took to the slopes. Last year she won first place in the Vermont Freeskiing Open at Stratton and has taken home first place in halfpipe for the past two years at Killington in the US National Freestyle Championships.

Jen is a freeskier, but what exactly is that? Matt Harvey, editor of Freeskier Magazine, the only ski magazine to dedicate itself completely to the sport, admits that the typical freeskier is

difficult to describe. “I think the term ‘freeskier’ inherently repels descriptions.

The more one describes the term, the more vague the definition becomes.

Freeskiers are big-mountain skiers, park skiers, urban skiers, and even racers when they aren’t racing, or mogul skiers when they aren’t competing. Freeskiers may have twin-tip or directional skis. They may have fat or skinny skis,” says Harvey.

But there is no doubt that parkand-pipe skiing is a big part of the freeskiing equation, with skiers searching obsessively for the best rails, jumps, pipes or other features. They do variations of tricks like airs, grabs, grinds, switches, spins, and flips. Their creative style, from the clothes they wear to the way they approach a run, has roots in snowboarding, not the traditional alpine world of slalom gates or arcing turns.

Courtesy of Okemo Mountain Resort and Russ Hurlburt

They’re park rats for sure, but they also appreciate tree skiing, powder, and bumps. “I could ski all day every day, just carving turns down the mountain... perfecting skiing backwards or hiking for two hours for a run that lasts five minutes, simply because I love to ski,” says Hudak. “But, when it comes to competition there is one event that I like the most and that is halfpipe. I love that this one feature can provide a canvas for so much creativity. It’s such a raw form of competition, just the snow and you. You create this run that is exciting and graceful in hopes of winning the competition. There are no gates, or cliffs, or rails, to serve you, just you and the snow.”

When resorts began building terrain parks in the early 1990s, they mainly

had snowboarders in mind. But as the popularity of parks began to explode, Jason Levinthal, founder of Line Skis - originally a Vermont company and now part of the K2 empire - took note. In the mid-1990s, he recognized the opportunity to rejuvenate and revolutionize skiing and to bring its cool factor onto a par with snowboarding.

Borrowing from snowboard design and using his degree in engineering, he created a new shape of ski, wider and with a curved tip in the back as well as the front of the ski, enabling skiers to ride frontwards or backwards, like snowboarders. It was a ski built specifically with terrain parks in mind.

Since then, of course, skiers have become as common a sight in parks as snowboarders. “Skiing’s current reality

has probably surpassed what I originally imagined the future of skiing to be but it’s pretty much what I was envisioning when I first started the company,” says Levinthal. “It wasn’t like I was inventing a new sport; I was simply fueling an old sport to catch up with all the other action sports of the world.

The blueprints were already done in other sports and simply needed to be transferred to skiing starting with a redesign of the product which ultimately enables its users to progress, while rejuvenating and growing the sport.”

Levinthal credits snowboarding and Vermont-based Jake Carpenter, founder of Burton Snowboards, with giving him the confidence to pursue his vision.

“Stopping by the Burton factory store in Manchester on the way to the mountains skivermont.com+ 23

rebellious sport,” he says.

progression through better technology.”

And if there is any question about the role Vermont played in all of this, Levinthal puts it pretty bluntly.

“Vermont is simply the best place in the East to live if you’re into winter sports so it was a natural place for the company to grow. Currently we’re owned by K2 Sports in Seattle but I still work for Line from my home in Burlington. I honestly couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.”

To maintain enthusiasm for freeskiing and to allow continued growth, Levinthal offers words of wisdom.

“Right now the best thing for the success of skiing is for people to have fun doing it. A big part of having fun at a sport is being able to progress and learn something new and have new experiences. New and innovative products enable this. The momentum will continue as long as the nextgeneration consumers embrace the sport’s infinite possibilities and apply their creativity to keeping passion for the sport, to make sure it stays fresh and fun. The same goes for manufacturers, mountains, and others.”

“Skiing is the new sport now,” claims Mike Nick, X-Games medalist and long-time Stratton skier. “I’ve actually met kids who think skiing was invented after snowboarding. It’s amazing.” Harvey agrees. “I think that snowboarding is getting SO big now and has been around long enough that skiing is turning back into a more

Ski manufacturers continue to develop new ski designs to keep up with the ever-changing sport. “One major trend that’s happening now in skiing is the creation of exceptionally ‘job’-specific skis,” says Harvey. “As skiers push themselves in the backcountry, the park and in the urban realm, companies are finding new ways to help the

If 10-year-old Carter Snow is any indication, the ski companies and mountains are using freeskiing to engage the much sought after youth market. Blessed with the perfect last name for any die-hard skier, Carter started skiing at age four. He’s a Smugglers’ Notch regular and at six, he started hitting the terrain parks there.

He particularly likes Birch Run Terrain Park, with entry-level and intermediate terrain park features for snowboarders and skiers. The 1,200-foot run covers two acres with three rails, two hits, and a halfpipe and is a perfect example of a progression park with less intimidating and large features than found in an advanced or expert level park.

Courtesy of Justin Cash

and watching what Jake was doing with the Burton brand and the sport was a huge influence. I was one of their core consumers and like many others at the time, immersed in what they were doing from a consumer’s perspective which definitely skewed my perception of reality.”

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Of all of Birch Run’s features, Carter’s favorite is the barrel jib because, as he says, “You can do anything over it or off of it.” Sometimes his friends ski in the terrain parks with him, and most of the time his dad is trying to keep up with him, especially since Carter got brand new twin-tip skis.

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Adam Moran // Rider: Kevin Pearce

Keeping it safe is a big part of skiing and riding in parks. At Killington’s snowboard-only event, Spring Loaded, a group of snowboarders were awaiting end-of-day scores while chatting about the event. When asked about skiers now joining snowboarders in terrain parks, they felt everyone gets along fine, as long as people follow basic rules. “As long as they don’t do stupid things,” said Cathy Newman, a 27 year-old Killington local, “like stopping below a landing or standing on the lip of a jump. Those are definite park and pipe no-no’s.”

Courtesy of Matt Levinthal/lineskis.com

Many Vermont resorts offer “progression” parks, similar to Birch Run, that give those new to the sport a place to play on features that are suitable for their level before moving up to the harder stuff. They are a great place for “newbies” to develop skills or for more experienced skiers and riders to work on perfecting different tricks.

Vermont resorts rank high for their parks and pipes. In 2007, Freeskier Magazine ranked Mount Snow as having the best terrain parks in the East Terrain Park guide; Okemo placed second. In Ski Magazine, Okemo placed number two in the East. Stratton has nabbed #1 Terrain Parks in the East by Ski Magazine for nine years running, from 1998 to 2006.

Most resorts have ways of encouraging park etiquette. At Stratton Mountain, for example, all those who enter the parks must complete the Safety Educations Session (SES) where they learn about rules and guidelines and watch a short video. Stratton’s SES program began in 2003 and was awarded National Ski Areas Association’s (NSAA) award for the 2007 Best Terrain Park Safety Program.

Other resorts post signs at park entrances to highlight basic rules.

Stratton, like most of Vermont’s resorts, keeps ramping up their offerings.

“Whether it’s the 22-foot-high superpipe, the 70-foot Vermont Open Big Air, or the full-size, school-bus box parked in Suntanner, Stratton’s park crew delivers features,” says Stratton’s Communication Coordinator Jeremiah Greco, an avid freeskier himself. Okemo is planning to expand their “familycross” park experiment on Lower Tomahawk from last season by adding a variety of terrain that all members can enjoy such as big bank turns, rolling swales and snow mounds.

Another good idea if you are new to the sport, consider taking a lesson. “Look up freestyle teams that are local to your area,” says Hudak. “That way you have a safe environment in which to learn new tricks and then you can decide if you want to compete.”

With all those parks, it’s no surprise that pipe and park competitions are very popular – opportunities for both freeskiers and snowboarders to continue pushing the limits of possibility forward. From the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships at

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Stratton – the world’s oldest and largest continually running snowboarding event – followed by the Vermont Freeskiing Open at Stratton to local rail jams or slopestyle events, the Vermont calendar is incredibly full. Some competitions showcase elite skiers and snowboarders, some offer cash prizes, and others are more low-key and grassroots. For the nine- to 13-year-olds like Carter Snow and his friends (sorry Dad), there is the increasingly popular Sports Illustrated For Kids Next Snow Search.

Vermont resorts host various Next Snow qualifying events during the year, with successful qualifiers going to the national finals. Last year’s finals were held in March in Killington, where skiers and snowboarders competed in everything from bumps to slopestyle to superpipe and big air. Vermont skiers and riders, including gold medalists MacKenzie Boylan and Jesse Wells, were prominent among the podium finishers.

For those who haven’t perfected a simultaneous true tail and true nose grab just yet, don’t worry. Once you get it, there will be a new grab or a new spin to challenge you in an ever-evolving sport. That’s what freeskiing is all about, and that’s what’s keeping it fresh.

Cross-Country Freedom Think the freeskiing scene is just for downhill skiers and snowboarders?

Guess again. Cross-country skiers are getting into the act, too, thanks to Vermonter Andy Newell. Newell, a current star of the U.S. cross-country ski team, has been a pioneer in pulling off freestyle maneuvers and tricks on skinny, cross-country skis less than 50 millimeters wide.

Newell is a very serious cross-country competitor, who two years ago earned the first U.S. podium finish in a World Cup event – third place in a sprint race – in more than 20 years. But when he’s just goofing off, in the pipe. In fact, his freestyle trickery has been so impressive that Fischer Skis decided to create a new category of ski, cross-country twin-tips called Jibskates, just because of what Andy has been doing.

And Newell has taken it a step farther into the freeskiing world by

Courtesy of Chris Milliman

he can be found doing flips off kickers or executing spins and grabs

forming a movie company, xskifilms, to record the tricks and antics that he and his cross-country friends have been pulling off at places like Stratton. Want to check out some of the action? Go to xskifilms.com.

– PO

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SNOWBOARD VERMONT A SPECIAL SECTION DEVOTED

Adam Moran // Rider: Hans Mindnich

TO RIDING IN VERMONT.

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BOARDER STATE

BY PETER OLIVER

VERMONT IS WHERE SNOWBOARDING BEGAN — AND CONTINUES TO RULE.

Ross Powers was seven years old in the mid-1980s when his

Bright and snowboarding’s ubermensch, Shaun White, each

infancy, and many people weren’t sure what to make of it. At the

winning the Burton Global Open series overall championship

mother bought him his first snowboard. The sport was still in its

earned $100,000 – snowboarding’s biggest cash prize – for

time, snowboarding was still not accepted at most resorts. “A lot

title. Only the multi-sport X Games and the Olympics vie with the

of mountains wouldn’t allow it,” Powers remembers. “And some

Open as events that the world’s top snowboarders most want to

required snowboarders to get certified.”

win.

Powers, however, managed to circumvent some of those early

It was in Vermont that the first snowboarding park was built, at

and Stratton. Eventually that led to Powers becoming the first

of American ski areas were still banning snowboarding at the

in 2002.

to build their own jumps and berms and other features that have

Thank you, Mrs. Powers, for that special gift, and chalk up one

course, is history.

obstacles, logging many hours riding on the slopes of Bromley

tiny Sonnenberg in Barnard in the early 1980s. The vast majority

American winner of Olympic gold in the halfpipe at Salt Lake City

time, but Sonnenberg threw out the welcome mat, inviting riders

more groundbreaking moment in an impressive list of firsts for

since become staples of the modern terrain park. The rest, of

Vermont snowboarding. Snowboarding has obviously come a

While Carpenter might be snowboarding’s godfather, he is not

thing remains unchanged: Snowboarding, like Powers himself,

of course, was the first men’s winner of Olympic gold in halfpipe,

long way since young Ross first stepped on a board, but one

alone in the realm of Vermont snowboarding pioneers. Powers,

has its historical roots deeply embedded in Vermont.

but the first American women’s gold medalist was also a

It was in Vermont, after all, that Jake Burton Carpenter, fiddling

Vermonter – none other than Kelly Clark.

around in Londonderry with a pre-snowboarding device called

And the Vermont beat goes on. Carpenter has turned Burton

revolution when he founded Burton Snowboards in 1977. There

one of the most important brand names in winter sport. Not

the Snurfer, became the catalyst in launching the snowboarding

into the long-reigning king of snowboard manufacturers and

were other variations on snowboards before that, but Jake

only does the company remain based in Vermont (in Burlington),

was at the forefront of taking existing ski technology, such as metal edges and polyurethane bases, and translating it into

snowboarding technology. Soon Burton was booming, becoming a name almost synonymous with the sport itself. Jake is still

considered the sport’s pre-eminent godfather - it is both his

inventiveness, enthusiasm and persistence that really got the ball rolling in the early years.

The U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, which can trace its Vermont roots back 26 years, was the country’s first major snowboarding event. In 1982, a bunch of snowboarders got

together at Suicide Six for a little racing, and the door was swung open. Later, as the event would grow and evolve, it would move to Magic Mountain and then to Stratton.

The Open has since become the richest and most prestigious

stop on the competitive snowboarding tour, annually attracting the world’s best riders and enormous crowds. Last year, Torah 34 +skivermont.com

but Carpenter lives in Stowe. Powers, too, remains true to his Vermont roots, living now in Londonderry, where he is raising two young daughters. He was recently named Okemo’s snowboarding ambassador.

At the Olympics, Vermonters continue to shine. Hannah

Teter, from Belmont, backed up Clark’s 2002 win by earning

halfpipe gold in 2006. And in the first-ever women’s Olympic

snowboardercross race, Lindsay Jacobellis, from Londonderry, won a silver medal that would have been gold had it not been

for her crash heard round the world over the last jump before the finish.

The question, of course, is: Why Vermont? The continuing

presence of Burton since day one is obviously key, but Powers says there is more to it than that. On snowboarding’s grand matrix, Vermont has pretty much all possibilities covered.

One reason that so many talented riders hail from Vermont,

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says Powers, is that for many Vermont kids, skiing and riding

are simply a part of growing up. Weekly school programs bring Vermont kids to the mountains at an early age to learn the

sport. Powers remembers Tuesday afternoons as a school kid

in Londonderry, when kids would be excused for an afternoon

of skiing or riding instruction. “I used to love that day at school,” Powers recalls.

For those kids who show an aptitude for the sport, Vermont

can then provide the next step up the ladder. Vermont can claim more ski academies than any other state in the country, and the

even the smaller resorts – a Bolton Valley, say, or a Suicide Six – can compete with mega-resorts anywhere in the world when it comes to creating first-rate snowboarding venues.

Indeed, it’s not the size of the slopes but what you make of them that really matters, and that comes down to snowmaking and creative grooming. It is probably fair to say that Vermont snowmakers know as much or more than anyone in the world not only about producing first-rate snow but also about grooming and shaping snow.

academies are breeding grounds for many future Olympians.

A couple snow droughts in the 1980s encouraged Vermont

and were quick to welcome snowboarders. Academies at

the point that now most resorts have more than 80-percent

provide rising young riders with the kind of coaching and support

dovetailed nicely with the snowboarding boom, which meant

example, crediting much of his gold-medal success to the

out perfect corduroy carpets, had a chance to show off their

Most Vermont ski academies saw the writing on the wall early,

resorts to invest heavily in snowmaking and grooming, to

places like Killington, Stratton, Stowe and Okemo continue to

snowmaking coverage. That increase in snowmaking

necessary to move quickly to the next level. Powers is a prime

that snowmakers and groomers, in addition to simply laying

coaching he got while at Stratton.

creativity in building halfpipes and terrain parks. Now the choice

Another critical factor is the combination of terrain and

snowmaking expertise at Vermont ski areas. Good snowboarding

of three or four parks at a single resort is the norm at Vermont resorts, not the exception.

terrain isn’t necessarily defined by big, steep, Alpine mountains

Brigham Young said it about Utah many years ago, but maybe

racing, and boardercross – are typically staged on relatively

Vermont: This, as Young said, is the place. As Powers says, “I’m

or even deep snow. In fact, the Olympic events – halfpipe, gate

Blotto // Rider: Chris Rotax

short slopes that barely have an intermediate pitch. That’s why

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Jake Burton Carpenter ought to say the same thing now about psyched to be in Vermont. I love it here.”

Jeff Curtes

JAKE SPEAKS OUT

Q&A WITH SNOWBOARDING’S MASTER What initially inspired you to develop snowboards 20-some years ago?

Actually, it was more than 30 years ago. During the late 60s, I

modified Snurfers until 1977 when I started Burton and built my first production prototype. I was a complete loser in shop class in school, yet there I was, working out of a barn in Vermont,

figuring out how to manufacturer a snowboard. There was no road map. I combined some skateboarding and a little bit of

surfing experience with the Snurfer, then added some common

sense--which is probably why it took so long to make a product that was rideable. The rest is history I guess.

How excited are you to see snowboarding’s current top

athletes increasing the amplitude and degree of difficulty of riding in the pipe?

It’s always amazing to me to watch the progression of

competitive snowboarding. Every year at the US Open, it’s

inspiring to see the riders mixing things up and pushing the

sport to new levels. But snowboarding is so much more than competitions, it’s really a lifestyle. So I think the thing I enjoy

most is seeing how much fun riders like Shaun White, Mason Aguirre, Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark have competing and progressing the sport.

Of snowboarding’s competitive disciplines — racing,

boarder cross, half pipe, slopestyle, etc. — what’s your favorite and why?

Racing and boardercross definitely represent the past of the

sport whereas halfpipe and particularly slopestyle are the most progressive competitive disciplines. Clearly the addition of

boardercross in the Olympics is a big change. I’m stoked for the thousands of boardercross riders out there who now have an

opportunity to compete with this kind of exposure. At the same

time, I feel that the hundreds of thousands of slopestyle riders got shafted in the process of adding another event. If the powers that be who determine what snowboarding events to introduce to the

Olympics don’t want to talk to the industry so be it, but at the very least they should talk to the kids who are participating in the sport

and are watching it. On a participation and interest level, slopestyle is the event that best represents what’s going on in our sport. It’s unfortunate that slopestyle is not part of the Olympic program.

How often do you get out on your board these days? And will we ever find you throwing big tricks in the pipe?

I ride over 100 days a year. I definitely enjoy taking a few runs through the park now and then. But really, my favorite part

about snowboarding is when there’s fresh powder and taking tree runs at my home mountain, Stowe.

What’s the next big thing for snowboarding?

The women’s market is definitely out-pacing growth in

the men’s market. Traditionally, snowboarding has always

been a male dominated sport. It’s super exciting to see the

tremendous growth in the women’s market. I also think we’ll see some changes in what resorts offer to snowboarders on the hill. Parks and pipes are cool, but I think that there’s a

better way to offer freestyle features and challenges to riders

in a more natural way. I remember talking to Craig Kelly about how ‘freestyle’ and the ‘mountain experience’ do not have to be mutually exclusive. I think the best runs of most people’s

lives are when they’ve merged the two and it’s just a matter of time before the resorts figure out how to offer it to all of us.

Check out more of Jake’s interview at vtsnowboardzone.com OM E.C ZON RD BOA W NO VTS

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GETTING ON BOARD

Burton’s Learn to Ride program is the best way to start snowboarding.

The stuff these guys pull off is truly inspiring—Ross Powers going HUGE at the Olympics, or Hannah Teter casually

stomping a 900 to wow a halfpipe audience. These guys are good. It makes you wish you could go half as big.

Let’s face it, though: people like Ross and Hannah didn’t just appear on center stage out of thin air. They had to work their way up through the ranks. Like every other

snowboarder, they had to start somewhere. And for both Powers and Teter, they had to learn things the hard way in the days before there was such a thing as a Burton

Learn to Ride Center. For riders today, the path to Olympic achievement—or perhaps the more modest goal of simply ripping it up at a local ski area—has never been easier.

Like most sports, snowboarding faces a significant

challenge—most people who try it don’t stick with it. One of the main reasons is often that they get an unfortunate

introduction. They fail to get proper introductory lessons, they start with ill-suited equipment, they get pushed by

well-meaning but untrained friends, or they find the learning

curve just too steep. They give up before getting the chance to find out what the thrills and joys of riding are all about.

different. A 12-year-old kid comes to snowboarding with

different objectives, athletic skills, and mindset than, say, a 30-year-old woman.

So it makes no sense to approach the two with the same learning progression and philosophy. That’s why Burton

has divided the Learn to Ride program into four separate

components: Adult Learn to Ride, Kids’ Learn to Ride for

those 12 and under, Women’s Learn to Ride, and Freestyle Learn to Ride for anyone who wants to focus on the parkand-pipe side of the sport.

One of the keys to Learn to Ride’s effectiveness is that equipment can make an enormous difference when it

The Learn to Ride program aims to change all that. Burton

comes to learning and advancing at snowboarding. That’s

Teter. It is also the snowboarding company for all riders

with gear that most effectively matches their athletic level

sport from the ground up. Critical to that effort is not only

company that probably knows more about snowboarding

coming back. That’s what Learn to Ride was all about when

make snowboarding easy from the start, with simplified

instructors to create the program in 1998, and it is what LTR

focused on getting riders up and going as quickly as

isn’t just on board for big-name riders like Powers and

why Learn to Ride Centers are equipped to provide riders

at all levels and is committed to continuing to build the

and goals. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from a

helping to bring new riders into the sport, but keeping them

gear than any other company on the planet. The idea is to

Burton teamed up with some of the world’s best snowboard

boards, boots, and bindings that are softer flexing and

continues to be all about.

possible.

In just a few short years, Learn to Ride has become the

Good equipment plus good instruction equals a sensible

Ride Centers can now be found at resorts in 19 countries

surprisingly fast. Said one first-timer after a Learn to Ride

of course, is Vermont, where seven resorts now offer Learn

from nervous to confident in one hour.”

new global standard for snowboarding instruction. Learn to

formula for success. No wonder results can come

worldwide and in 18 states in the U.S. One of those states,

session: “My instructor was intelligent and insightful. I went

to Ride programs: Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Killington, Okemo, Stowe, Stratton, and Sugarbush.

While all Learn to Ride centers are founded on similar

principals, they are certainly not all the same. Stowe, for

One of the principles of Burton’s Learn to Ride is a simple

example, has tossed in a few bennies to LTR customers,

for getting into the sport, and what they want to achieve are

and life-line-cutting privileges. Stratton, with its historic

one: Not all riders are the same. Who they are, their reasons

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including exclusive use of the hyper-cool, Primo lounge

links with snowboarding and Burton, last winter offered a five-day women’s LTR camp, featuring visits from Donna Carpenter, wife of Burton impresario Jake, and Nicola

Thost, the first-ever Olympic gold medalist in halfpipe (she won at Nagano, Japan in 1998). Bolton Valley has also put extra emphasis on its Women’s Learn to Ride program.

Dennis Gallagher has been teaching snowboarding at

Stratton for five years, and what he particularly likes about

Learn to Ride is the Burton gear. “So many people come to regular lessons with borrowed equipment that’s too long or too stiff, and it’s a nightmare,” says Gallagher. “The main

difference with Learn to Ride is that everyone is riding with

the same equipment. It’s very responsive and easy to learn on because it’s soft.”

As a result, Gallagher has seen a high return rate in the

hundreds of new riders he has shepherded through Learn to Ride. “I see a lot of return visitors,” he says, “and most people I run into are still on board.”

2

If you’re not smart about riding in the park, a big hit can turn into a big hurt. And not just for you—you might, for example, be putting a hurt on the guy hiding in the landing of the jump you didn’t scope out.

To keep things safe in the park, Burton has teamed up with organizations such as the American Association of Snowboarding Instructors and the National Ski Areas Association in a program called Smart Style. Smart Style is based on three main points:

1. LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP. 2. EASY STYLE IT. 3. RESPECT GETS RESPECT. The first point may seem obvious—check out any terrain-park feature before you hit it. Get a good feel for the speed of the snow, the size of the feature, and the nature of the landing. And just because you may have hit the same feature before, don’t think it’s always going to be the same. Snow conditions and weather can change the character of any feature dramatically, and sometimes groomers rework features in ways that can produce big changes.

The second point simply means avoiding going bigger than your ability allows. One of the highlights of Smart Style is a signage system that rates park features from small to medium to large. Build confidence and skill on smaller features before taking on the bigger stuff.

So what’s the catch? Typically, Learn to Ride costs a few dollars more than a regular group snowboarding lesson

package. But consider what the extra cash buys: A smaller group size, the top instructors in the business, equipment perfectly suited to your skill level, two, two-hour lessons, and a high rate of success. If you plan on staying with

snowboarding, paying just a little bit more is a no-brainer.

Gallagher, for one, has become a big booster. “I think it’s a great program,” he says. “I wish when I started that it had

Showing respect to your fellow riders and skiers starts in the lift line and ends in the lounge at the end of the day. It means waiting your turn before taking off on a jump, clearing the landing zone for the rider behind you, and helping other riders who may be new to the park.

Respect is part of camaraderie, and camaraderie is at the heart of the sport.

Burton continues to reinforce and refine the Smart Style program with new messages, including a new video to demonstrate some of the key points to safe riding in the park. Check out the new vid at burton.com. Smart Style is all about proving that riding in the park can be fun, creative, and safe, all at the same time.

been there. I could definitely have avoided a lot of bruising.”

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Experience the difference!

Ever since Mad River Glen opened in 1949 avid skiers have sung her praises. The mountain is famous for its legendary terrain, pristine scenery, and family friendly atmosphere. The Single Chair has long been the embodiment of the mountain’s unique personality, so when the single chair needed to be replaced Mad River Glen’s skier-owners knew better than to mess with success. Ski Mad River Glen and ride the “new” Single Chair this season to learn why Mad River Glen is revered by skiers “in the know”.

madriverglen.com (802) 496-3551

skivermont.com+ 41

Book Ski & Stay packages on-line at gostowe.com

ski Ski Vt Ad

6/26/07

9:52 AM

Discover miles & miles of trails to take you a million miles away.

• 100km of groomed & back-country trails • Equipment rentals, instruction & retail shop • Ski to the Slayton Pasture Cabin for a hearty fireside lunch

OR4044 Ski Vermont Annual Issue

6/12/07

9:11 AM

Page 1

800.826.7000 www.trappfamily.com

STOWE

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$80

PER NIGHT BASED ON AVAILABILITY. RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

It’s time to hit the slopes, so Stowe

Mountainside Resort at Stowe

away. At VRI’s Mountainside Resort.

Reservations: 1-800-458-4893 1-866-4MY-VACATION 1-866-469-8222 www.8664myvacation.com

Great condo living with kitchen, balcony, sauna, hot tub, indoor pool.

Overlooking the town. Minutes from skiing, dining, shopping.

CONDO RESORTS COAST TO COAST SKIVT

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Page 1

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JAY PEAK

10

13

SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH

8

BURKE 6

11

22

STOWE

23 27

BOLTON VALLEY

7 21

4 14

MAD RIVER GLEN SUGARBUSH 18 3

20

MIDDLEBURY SNOW BOWL

HOW DO YOU GET HERE?

PICO KILLINGTON 16

BY CAR

15

SUICIDE SIX 30

BEAR CREEK

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

ASCUTNEY 1 OKEMO 17

BROMLEY 12

BY TRAIN

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.

25

2

29

MAGIC 28

9

STRATTON 24

MOUNT SNOW HAYSTACK CLUB 19

26

5

BY BUS

Vermont Transit, part of the Greyhound system, connects communities throughout Vermont with Boston, Montreal, New York and other regional and national destinations. Call 1-800-451-3292 for information.

BY AIR

With excellent air service, Burlington provides a convenient point of access to northern and central Vermont resorts. Major air carriers serving Burlington include American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, United and US Airways.

Montreal also serves as a gateway to northern areas.

Visitors to central and southern resorts often fly to Albany, Boston, Hartford, Manchester NH and Rutland VT. Gateway cities for international visitors include Boston, New York, Montreal and Philadelphia. Rental cars are available at all airports and many resorts offer ground transportation.

Blue dots correspond with Nordic ski areas listed below.

NORDIC SKI AREAS 1. Ascutney Mountain Nordic Center

17. Okemo Valley Nordic Center

2. Blueberry Hill

18. Ole’s Cross Country Center.

3. Blueberry Lake Cross Country

19.s Prospect Mountain

4. Bolton Valley Nordic Center

Cross-Country Ski Center

5. Brattleboro Outing Club

20.sRikert Touring Center

6. Burke Cross Country Ski Area

21. Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Center

7. Catamount Family Center

22. Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Center

8. Craftsbury Outdoor Center

23. Stowe/Mt. Mansfield XC Center

9. Grafton Ponds Nordic Center

24. Stratton Mountain Nordic Center

10. Hazen’s Notch

25. Three Stallion Inn Ski Touring Center

11. Highland Lodge & XC Ski Center

26. Timber Creek XC Ski Area

12. Hildene Ski Touring Center

27. Trapp Family Lodge XC Ski Center

13. Jay Peak Ski Touring Center

28. Viking Nordic Center

14. Morse Farm Ski Touring Center

29. Wild Wings Ski Touring Center

15. Mountain Meadows XC Ski Area

30. Woodstock Ski Touring Center

16. Mountain Top XC Ski Resort

Catamount Trail Assoc. skivermont.com+ 45

SKI VERMONT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION LEARN TO SKI OR SNOWBOARD PROGRAM Vermont ski resorts will open up their doors to first-time skiers and riders for FREE lessons, rentals and lift tickets. The week of January 5 – 13, 2008 has been designated for the Ski Vermont New Year’s Resolution program. First time skiers and snowboarders are invited to sign up to learn to ski or ride at their favorite resort any time during this week – for FREE. Packages include lessons, rentals and a limited terrain lift ticket. For more information and to sign up visit www.skivermont.com.

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GUN

RUNNING A VARIED ARSENAL OF GUNS AND HOSES – AND SNOWMAKING IMAGINATION – GO INTO KEEPING VERMONT SLOPES COVERED IN WINTER.

Courtesy of Sandy Macys

By Sarah Tuff

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It’s the sort of June day that’s immortalized in colorful woodblock prints of Vermont. Green and dusky purple hills shimmer under blue skies, fields hum with insects and heat, and kayakers twirl in swollen rivers.

Snow—that cold white stuff that everybody was obsessing about just a couple of months ago—is the last thing on most people’s minds.

Except for Dave Lacombe, who rides a noisy, four-wheeled ATV over Killington’s work roads. As the snow surfaces manager for the resort, Lacombe’s thinking about guns and hoses, hydrants and valves, and other parts of the snowmaking arsenal that go into battle every winter to keep Killington covered. There is maintenance to be done on valves, pumps and compressors; plus software upgrades and recalibration of the pump house-instruments, which signal snow guns when to start and stop.

“This was a pretty barbaric operation back when I started,” says Lacombe,

terrain. “There’s a paradigm shift that’s taking place with snowmaking,” says Mark Horton, an agent for York Snow, who is based in Westford, Vermont. “Many resort operators are turning to technology to deliver a great skiing product while making them more efficient.”

Snowmaking comes down to basic physics: compressed air plus water equals hexagonal crystals. Its history, however, and the myriad ways in which snowmakers have learned to manipulate machinery - guns, pumps, fans, compressors, computers, and so on are far more complex.

The inventor of machine-made snow was, by some accounts, Wayne Pierce, a Connecticut ski maker who began fiddling with a paint spray compressor and a garden hose during the snowstarved winter of 1949-1950. (Skiers had been so desperate, they’d flocked to a trail of chopped-up ice trucked in at nearby Mohawk Mountain.) By other accounts, it was Ray Ringer, a Canadian scientist who stumbled upon snow

in Victor, New York, and used during the Salt Lake 2002 Games--which he can easily move from place to place.

“Ratniks work best for our system,” says Marston, who grew up skiing Bolton’s fake flakes without realizing that a machine could actually make snow. “We don’t have the huge piping like some of the other areas.”

Stratton, meanwhile, has been blowing snow since Lyndon B. Johnson was president and The Sound of Music premiered; in 1965, it had guns on North American, Suntanner, Upper Standard and Yodeler. Now, 220 million gallons of water in reserve and some 900 guns provide enough firepower to build a road of snow from Grizzly’s Bar in the base area to home plate at Boston’s Fenway Park in just two and half days.

A total of $16 million invested over the last decade and a flexible battle plan finalized every day at 1:30 p.m. provide 92-percent coverage of the mountain.

“Out there on the gun runs, we have to be ready to adapt to changing

Out there on the gun runs, we have to be ready to , adapt to changing conditions. Sometimes it s wind , speed or direction. Maybe it s rising humidity or , falling temperatures. We re constantly adjusting the blend, moving the guns. –Lynn Capen who’s been working at Killington for 29 years and, along with his peers, measures out the days in 12-hour shifts. “It was basically, do whatever you could using creativity and plumbing fittings to spray air and water out over the hill and make whatever you might call it.”

while testing the effects of rime ice on a jet engine. During the 1960s and 70s, various patents—and lawsuits—were filed while skiers (mostly oblivious to the backstage dramas of dueling manufacturers) began reaping the benefits of Pierce and Ringer’s eureka moments.

Today, Lacombe supervises a sophisticated system of 1,100 snow guns that fire the exact same kind of snow throughout Killington, whether you’re basking in 34 degrees at the base or shivering in three degrees at the summit. As at ski areas throughout the state, Killington’s artillery today is sleeker and smarter than ever before. And in going green while whipping up white, Vermont’s resorts are also using less energy to cover more

As Joe VanderKelen, the president of the Michigan-based Snow Machines, Inc. (SMI) explains, the flurry of ersatz snow entrepreneurs has since stabilized into a few major players who work extensively with Vermont resorts to match machines with weather patterns, terrain and budgets. Bolton Valley’s head of snowmaking for the past seven years, Brian Marston, says that he depends largely on Ratnik “ground” guns—made

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conditions,” says chief snowmaker Lynn “Cape” Capen. “Sometimes it’s wind speed or direction. Maybe it’s rising humidity or falling temperatures. We’re constantly adjusting the blend, moving the guns.”

Laid end to end, Stratton’s 420,262 feet of snowmaking pipe would stretch from the base area all the way up to Middlebury—whose Snow Bowl has its own weaponry for fighting fickle weather. Manager Peter Mackey has a variety of options at his disposal, each with its unique advantages. Twelve ground guns are good for moving to steep pitches. Twelve sled towers provide good hang time for the water-air mixture, allowing a better chance for the

Courtesy of Sandy Macys

droplets to freeze. And 30 fixed towers are particularly efficient snowmakers.

Okemo’s snowmaking manager, Ray Kennedy, admits that it can become pretty competitive among ski areas when it comes to output. “You’re thinking, ‘What are they doing? What do they got?’” he says. “We really keep an eye on that.”

Mike Leslie of Magic Mountain, which has about 70 guns, takes a more diplomatic approach. “Every ski resort’s different,” he says. “And pretty much every manager has their own special guns that they like to use. For me, it’s Arecos, which have their own compressor and can be moved around.”

The nature of the terrain is an important variable in determining what equipment or strategy works best. At Stowe, mountain operations coordinator Mike Manley dedicates some of his 600 guns to parts of the heart-hammering Front

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Four. “It’s treacherous just walking around up there,” he says. For Manley, snowmaking means logistics, science, wind, “and a wild guess sometimes.”

Courtesy of Sandy Macys

Hardy Merrill worked at Sugarbush from 1994 to 1999 and then spent five years at Copper Mountain, Colorado, where the snowmaking was easier, thanks to lower humidity and a lack of rain. When he returned to Sugarbush, Merrill faced not only the challenge of New England winters, but also

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making the mountain more efficient and environmentally friendly. The solution was a switch for the 2005-2006 season to high-tech snow gun nozzles that use a third of the compressed air. “There’s more energy involved in creating compressed air than in pumping water,” explains Merrill.

The result? Sugarbush eliminated burning 90,000 gallons of diesel fuel, without impacting the total snow that it produced.

In 1994, Okemo installed the first of its HKD low-energy towers and has since added more than 700 of the guns.

The resort’s fuel use for compressed-air generation has plummeted as much as 36 percent while demands on its snowmaking plant have increased 64 percent. Carbon emissions have dropped by some 4.8 million pounds each year.

Higher efficiency also means fewer humans dressed up like Everest climbers and zipping around the mountain to tinker

with snow guns. Stowe’s Spruce Peak now has 60 York automatic guns which can be started and stopped within 90 seconds by the click of a mouse. “The automatic guns continuously adjust to all temperature and pressure changes and are always operating at the most efficient level,” says Horton of York. “This means the largest amount of snow is being produced with the least amount of resources.”

Killington’s Lacombe, who helped build the area’s own proprietary guns—the

K2000 and K3000—in house, says that the future holds more fixed tower guns and more automation to streamline the snowmaking process.

elevation, high-traffic areas. The guns typically run in the early season. “We like our snow from the heavens, not the hoses,” says Friedman.

Or maybe not. “Snowmaking—isn’t that just a fad?” says Eric Friedman of Mad River Glen. Though known for going au naturel, the Fayston area does have snowmaking guns. Two of them. There’s also a “snowmaking puddle” that covers 10 percent of the terrain (versus 80 to 90 percent at other resorts) at low-

On the other hand, says Dave Moulton, director of mountain operations for Mount Snow, “There’s nothing like creating a blizzard when you want it.”

Most Vermont skiers would agree—even if that cold white stuff happened to arrive on a beautiful day in June.

skivermont.com+ 51

07

20 er, Winter

nnes Kroem

photo: Joha

photo: R

ob Bossi,

Winter 2

006

AMERICAN EXPRESS

WINTER ESCAPES

Escape to Vermont this season with American Express. This winter, American Express® Cardmembers will find exclusive ski offers from many of Vermont’s favorite ski resorts at SkiVermont.com/amex. Whether it’s savings on Ski and Stay packages, lessons, or lift tickets, American Express will be with you from the first snowflake to the last run of the season. Log on. Check it out. Then head for Vermont!

w w w. s k i v e r m o n t . c o m / a m e x

© 2007 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. 52 +skivermont.com

skivermont.com+ 53

VERMONT VOICES LET YOUR VERMONT VOICE BE HEARD. HEAD TO SKIVERMONT.COM AND SHARE WHAT WINTER IN THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE MEANS TO YOU.

“My favorite part of winter in Vermont is watching a nor’easter storm build and then juggling any business and personal responsibilities to make sure that we can be in the heart of it. Then feeling like I am 10 years old again and playing in the woods with friends. No work, no worries, no boundaries.”

“Skiing in Vermont means even more since I have had the chance to help my boys learn and love the sport the same way my parents gave that gift to me. Even if I am on the beginner hill all day.”

Stew Jensen, Interactive Strategist, Propeller Media Works Home ski area: Stowe

Joy Reap, Project Manager, Reap Construction, Ltd. Home ski area: Wherever the storm’s going to hit.

“We always knew that Vermonters had a great cross-country skiing legacy. To know that you could be a skier from Vermont and make it to the Olympics – Bill Koch (1984 Olympic silver medalist) brought that to us.”

“Winter recreation is a fundamental way of life in Vermont. From the first fall snow to the sunny bluebird days of spring, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts take pleasure in our thousands of acres of magnificent skiing and riding terrain.

And, we love to pass on our passion for the outdoors with ski and snowboard schools that offer opportunities to every level of skier and rider.”

Andy Newell, 2006 Olympian in XC Hometown: Shaftsbury

Governor Jim Douglas Hometown: Middlebury

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skivermont.com+ 55

ALPINE

ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN RESORT

BEAR CREEK MOUNTAIN CLUB

BOLTON VALLEY RESORT

BROMLEY MOUNTAIN RESORT

Brownsville, VT 05037 www.ascutney.com

Plymouth, VT 05056 www.bearcreekclub.com

Bolton Valley, VT 05477 www.boltonvalley.com

Manchester Ctr., VT 05255 www.bromley.com

General Info:.............802-484-7711 Snow Conditions:.. 800-243-0011 x2 Reservations:............800-243-0011 FAX:...........................802-484-3117

General Info:.............802-672-4242 Snow Conditions:.......802-672-4242 Reservations:............802-672-4242 FAX:...........................802-672-4243

General Info:.............802-434-3444 Snow Conditions:.... 802-434-SNOW Reservations:........... 877-9BOLTON FAX:...........................802-434-6850

General Info:.............802-824-5522 Snow Conditions:.......802-824-5522 Reservations:............800-865-4786 FAX:...........................802-824-3659

Vertical:................................. 1,800’ Trails:.......................................... 57 Trail acreage:............................ 150 Lifts:.............................................. 6

Vertical:................................. 1,300’ Trails:.......................................... 15 Trail acreage:.............................. 60 Lifts:.............................................. 3

Vertical:................................. 1,704’ Trails:.......................................... 64 Trail acreage:............................ 165 Lifts:.............................................. 6

Vertical:................................. 1,334’ Trails:.......................................... 45 Trail acreage:............................ 177 Lifts:............................................ 10

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 142 Snowmaking coverage:........... 95% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 6 of 6

Snowmaking acreage:................ 15 Snowmaking coverage:........... 30% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 1 of 3

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 100 Snowmaking coverage:........... 60% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 5 of 6

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 138 Snowmaking coverage:........... 85% Lift Serving Snowmaking:... 10 of 10

BURKE MOUNTAIN SKI AREA

COCHRAN’S SKI AREA

JAY PEAK RESORT

KILLINGTON RESORT

East Burke, VT 05832 www.skiburke.com

Richmond, VT 05477 www.cochranskiarea.com

Jay, VT 05859 www.jaypeakresort.com

Killington, VT 05751 www.killington.com

General Info:............888-BURKEVT Snow Conditions:.......866-496-2699 Reservations:...........888-BURKEVT FAX:...........................802-626-7310

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

General Info:.............802-988-2611 Snow Conditions:.......802-988-9601 Reservations:............800-451-4449 FAX:...........................802-988-4049

General Info:.............802-422-3333 Snow Conditions:.......802-422-3261 Reservations:......... 800-621-MTNS FAX:...........................802-422-6113

Vertical:................................. 2,011’ Trails:.......................................... 45 Trail acreage:............................ 250 Lifts:.............................................. 4

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

Vertical:................................. 2,153’ Trails:.......................................... 76 Trail acreage:............................ 385 Lifts:.............................................. 8

Vertical:................................. 3,050’ Trails:........................................ 150 Trail acreage:.......................... 1001 Lifts:............................................ 26

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 100 Snowmaking coverage:........... 80% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 4 of 4

Snowmaking acreage:.................— Snowmaking coverage:........... 66% Lift Serving Snowmaking:.............—

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 238 Snowmaking coverage:........... 80% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 8 of 8

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 600 Snowmaking coverage:........... 60% Lift Serving Snowmaking:... 26 of 26

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Courtesy of Dennis Curran

ALPINE

MAD RIVER GLEN

MAGIC MOUNTAIN

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL

Waitsfield, VT 05673 www.madriverglen.com

Londonderry, VT 05148 www.magicmtn.com

Middlebury, VT 05753 www.middleburysnowbowl.com

General Info:.............802-496-3551 Snow Conditions:.......802-496-3551 Reservations:...............................— FAX:...........................802-496-3562

General Info:.............802-824-5645 Snow Conditions:..........................— Reservations:...............................— FAX:...........................802-824-5199

General Info:.............802-388-4356 Snow Conditions:.......802-388-4356 Reservations:...............................— FAX:...........................802-388-2871

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

Vertical:................................. 1,700’ Trails:.......................................... 40 Trail acreage:............................ 135 Lifts:.............................................. 4

Vertical:................................. 1,050’ Trails:.......................................... 17 Trail acreage:............................ 120 Lifts:.............................................. 3

Snowmaking acreage:................ 20 Snowmaking coverage:........... 15% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 5 of 5

Snowmaking acreage:................ 95 Snowmaking coverage:........... 70% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 4 of 4

Snowmaking acreage:................ 52 Snowmaking coverage:........... 43% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 3 of 3

MOUNT SNOW RESORT

OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT

PICO MOUNTAIN

SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT

West Dover, VT 05356 www.mountsnow.com

Ludlow, VT 05149 www.okemo.com

Killington, VT 05751 www.picomountain.com

Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464 www.smuggs.com

General Info:.............802-464-3333 Snow Conditions:.......802-464-2151 Reservations:......... 800-245-SNOW FAX:...........................802-464-4141

General Info:.............802-228-1600 Snow Conditions:.......802-228-5222 Reservations:.........800-78-OKEMO FAX:...........................802-228-4558

General Info:.............802-422-3333 Snow Conditions:.......802-422-1200 Reservations:......... 800-621-MTNS FAX:...........................802-422-6113

General Info:.............802-644-8851 Snow Conditions:.......802-644-1111 Reservations:............800-451-8752 FAX:...........................802-644-1230

Vertical:................................. 1,700’ Trails:........................................ 106 Trail acreage:............................ 590 Lifts:............................................ 19

Vertical:................................. 2,200’ Trails:........................................ 117 Trail acreage:............................ 624 Lifts:............................................ 19

Vertical:................................. 1,967’ Trails:.......................................... 50 Trail acreage:............................ 214 Lifts:.............................................. 6

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

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 472 Snowmaking coverage:........... 80% Lift Serving Snowmaking:... 19 of 19

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 605 Snowmaking coverage:........... 97% Lift Serving Snowmaking:... 19 of 19

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 156 Snowmaking coverage:........... 72% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 6 of 6

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 159 Snowmaking coverage:........... 62% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 8 of 8

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 FAX:...........................802-253-3406

General Info:.............802-297-2200 Snow Conditions:.......802-297-4211 Reservations:......... 800-STRATTON FAX:...........................802-297-4395

General Info:.............802-583-6300 Snow Conditions:.......802-583-7669 Reservations:..........800-53-SUGAR FAX:...........................802-583-6303

General Info:.............802-457-6661 Snow Conditions:.......802-457-6666 Reservations:............866-448-7900 FAX:...........................802-457-3830

Vertical:................................. 2,360’ Trails:.......................................... 78 Trail acreage:............................ 485 Lifts:............................................ 13

Vertical:................................. 2,003’ Trails:.......................................... 92 Trail acreage:.......................... 600+ Lifts:............................................ 16

Vertical:................................. 2,600’ Trails:........................................ 111 Trail acreage:............................ 508 Lifts:............................................ 16

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

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 435 Snowmaking coverage:........... 90% Lift Serving Snowmaking:... 11 of 13

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 444 Snowmaking coverage:........... 95% Lift Serving Snowmaking:... 16 of 16

Snowmaking acreage:.............. 286 Snowmaking coverage:........... 70% Lift Serving Snowmaking:... 15 of 16

Snowmaking acreage:................ 50 Snowmaking coverage:........... 50% Lift Serving Snowmaking:....... 3 of 3 skivermont.com+ 57

NORDIC Resort

Location

Email & Website

Phone

Toll-Free

Fax

Trails

Machine Tracked/ Skating Terrain

Instruction/ Rental

Ascutney Mountain Resort

Brownsville, VT 05037

info@ascutney.com www.ascutney.com

802-484-7711

800-243-0011

802-484-3117

30km

25km/15km

Y/Y

Blueberry Hill Ski Center

Goshen, VT 05733

info@blueberryhillinn.com www.blueberryhillinn.com

802-247-6735

800-448-0707

802-247-3983

75km

60km/40km

Y/Y

Blueberry Lake X-C

Warren, VT 05674

www.blueberrylakeskivt.com

802-496-6687

-

802-496-5198

30km

30km/30km

Y/Y

Bolton Valley Nordic Center

Bolton Valley, VT 05477

info@boltonvalley.com www.boltonvalley.com

802-434-3444 x1076

877-9BOLTON

802-434-6870

100km

35km/35km

Y/Y

Brattleboro Outing Club

Brattleboro, VT 05302

xc@brattleborooutingclub.com www.brattleborooutingclub.com

802-257-1208

-

802-257-3537

33km

25km/18km

Y/Y

Burke Cross Country Ski Area

West Burke, VT 05871

info@skiburke.com www.skiburke.com

802-626-7300

-

802-626-7310

80km

70km/55km

Y/Y

Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Inc.

Williston, VT 05495

landj@catamountoutdoor.com www.catamountoutdoor.com

802-879-6001

888-680-1011

802-879-6066

35km

20km/20km

Y/Y

Catamount Trail Association

Burlington, VT 05401

info@catamounttrail.org www.catamounttrail.org

802-864-5794

-

-

300mi

-

Craftsbury Outdoor Center

Craftsbury Common, VT 05827

stay@craftsbury.com www.craftsbury.com

802-586-7767

-

802-586-7768

135km

85km/85km

Y/Y

Grafton Ponds Nordic Center

Grafton, VT 05146

gponds@sover.net www.graftonponds.com

802-843-2400

800-843-1801

802-843-2245

60km

30km/30km

Y/Y

Hazen’s Notch Association

Montgomery Ctr., VT 05471

info@hazensnotch.org www.hazensnotch.org

802-326-4799

-

802-326-4966

70km

40km/0km

Y/Y

Highland Lodge & XC Center

Greensboro, VT 05841

highland.lodge@verizon.net www.highlandlodge.com

802-533-2647

-

802-533-7494

52km

45km/45km

Y/Y

Hildene Ski Touring Center

Manchester, VT 05254

info@hildene.org www.hildene.org

802-382-1788

800-578-1788

802-362-1564

15km

12km/3km

Y/Y

Jay Peak Ski Touring Center

Jay, VT 05859

info@jaypeakresort.com www.jaypeakresort.com

802-988-2611

800-451-4449

802-988-4049

20km

20km/20km

Y/Y

Morse Farm Ski Touring Center

Montpelier, VT 05601

ski@morsefarm.com www.skimorsefarm.com

802-223-0090

800-242-2740

802-223-7450

25km

20km/15km

Y*/Y

Mountain Meadow XC Ski Area

Killington, VT 05751

bcoutfitters@adelphia.net www.xcskiing.net

802-775-7077

800-221-0598

802-747-1929

45km

45km/45km

Y/Y

Mountain Top Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Ctr.

Chittenden, VT 05732

stay@mountaintopinn.com www.mountaintopinn.com

802-483-6089

800-445-2100

802-483-6373

80km

60km/60km

Y/Y

Okemo Valley Nordic Center

Ludlow, VT 05149

info@okemo.com www.okemo.com

802-228-1396

800-78-OKEMO

802-228-7095

22km

22km/13km

Y/Y

Ole’s Cross Country Center

Warren, VT 05674

ski@olesxc.com www.olesxc.com

802-496-3430

877-863-3001

802-496-3089

50km

50km/45km

Y/Y

Prospect Mountain X-Country Ski Ctr.

Woodford, VT 05201

ski@prospectmountain.com www.prospectmountain.com

802-442-2575

-

-

45km

35km/30km

Y/Y

Rikert Touring Center

Middlebury, VT 05753

rubright@middlebury.edu http://go.middlebury.edu/rikert

802-443-2744

-

802-388-2871

42km

30km/15km

Y/Y

Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Ctr.

Huntington, VT 05462

info@skisleepyhollow.com www.skisleepyhollow.com

802-434-2283

866-254-1524

802-434-2283

40km

30km/25km

Y/Y

Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Center

Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464

smuggs@smuggs.com www.smuggs.com

802-644-1173

800-451-8752

802-644-2713

32km

24km/23km

Y/Y

Stowe/Mt. Mansfield XC Center

Stowe, VT 05672

info@stowe.com www.stowe.com

802-253-3688

800-253-4754

802-253-3406

75km

35km/35km

Y/Y

Stratton Mountain Nordic Center

Stratton Mountain, VT 05155

agriswold@intrawest.com www.stratton.com

802-297-2200

800-STRATTON

802-297-4117

30+km

10km/10km

Y/Y

Three Stallion Inn Touring Center

Randolph, VT 05060

www.3stallioninn.com

802-728-5656

-

-

30km

20km/10km

Y/Y

Timber Creek XC Ski Area

West Dover, VT 05356

vtcxc@sover.net www.timbercreekxc.com

802-464-0999

-

802-464-8308

14km

14km/14km

Y/Y

Trapp Family Lodge XC Ski Ctr.

Stowe, VT 05672

www.trappfamily.com info@trappfamily.com

802-253-5755

800-826-7000

802-253-5757

100km

55km/55km

Y/Y

Viking Nordic Center

Londonderry, VT 05148

skiandstay@vikingnordic.com www.vikingnordic.com

802-824-3933

-

802-824-5602

35km

35km/30km

Y/Y

Wild Wings Ski Touring Ctr.

Peru, VT 05152

wwwxcski@sover.net www.wildwingsski.com

802-824-6793

-

802-824-4574

25km

25km/0km

Y/Y

Woodstock, VT 05091

email@woodstockinn.com www.woodstockinn.com

802-457-6674

866-448-7900

802-457-6699

60km

50km/20km

Y/Y

Woodstock Ski Touring Ctr. 58 +skivermont.com

*Weekends by appointment

skivermont.com+ 59

SAVE ON SKIING AND RIDING IN VERMONT THIS SEASON Ski Vermont would like to invite you and your friends and family to sample some of our great ski resorts. Ski Vermont offers a 3 day and a 5 day sampler pass so you can try out a few hidden gems around our great state. For around $40.00 a day (a substantial savings) you can purchase your very own personalized non-holiday sampler pass. 3 day passes are $125.00 and 5 day passes are $200.00. Please email passes@skivermont.com or call 802.223.2439 for more information and to receive an order form. We look forward to having you join us to discover Winter In Its Original State!

5TH GRADERS SKI AND SNOWBOARD FOR FREE Ski Vermont, the Vermont Ski Areas Association, wants to give 5th graders a winter of free skiing and snowboarding! With the Vermont 5th Grade Passport, 5th graders can ski or ride three times each at participating Vermont Alpine (downhill) and Nordic (cross-country) ski areas. Visit the Kids Zone at www.skivermont.com for more information.

60 +skivermont.com

skivermont.com+ 61

IT’S NOT A DREAM.

Courtesy of Brian Mohr/EmberPhoto.com

IT’S VERMONT.

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

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2 +skivermont.com