Snowmaking begins at Eldora!

Nederland, CO - Cold temperatures and a burst of winter weather over the weekend allowed Eldora Mountain Resort to begin snowmaking operations for the season. The video linked below offers a look inside Eldora’s snow-making operations and the 100 new low-energy HKD® snow guns recently added to Eldora’s fleet. “These new guns will significantly reduce our energy usage for snowmaking,” said Eldora Spokesman Rob Linde, “and provide a great snow surface for Eldora skiers and riders in the early season.” Eldora Mountain Resort the plans to open for the 2012-2013 Season on Friday, November 16th. ­

Unprecedented! Sugar Mountain Ski Resort Plans To Open For The New Winter Season On Halloween

Banner Elk, NC - Unprecedented! Sugar Mountain Ski Resort in North Carolina plans to open on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31, 2012 for skiing and snowboarding. In its 43 year history, Sugar Mountain Resort's earliest opening was on November 5th in 1976. The mega storm, Sandy, which continues to pound the East Coast is ushering in winter in the North Carolina Mountains. Several inches of natural snow have fallen already with eight inches plus expected. Snow continues to fall while temperatures are forecasted to remain in the low to mid-twenties through Wednesday. Snowmaking began Sunday evening, October 28th and continues around the clock. On Wednesday, skiers and snowboarders can expect a natural and manmade powder surface covering the Upper and Lower Flying Mile slopes. The Summit #1 Lift will be in operation to the 3/4's station.

Improvements Focus on Children's Programs!

Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA - Family and beginner friendly Shawnee Mountain is pleased to announce several improvements to enhance its popular children’s Learn to Ski and Snowboard programs for the coming 2012-13 winter snow sports season.

Snowmaking Upgrades
It all starts with dependable snow and on Shawnee’s learning center slope, home to over 6,000 children’s ski and snowboard lessons annually, new airless snow guns have been added. The new energy efficient fan guns promise all Shawnee beginners more consistent snow depth throughout the season enabling contoured nightly grooming to optimize learning.

New WEEriders program
Adding to the impressive mix of Shawnee children’s ski and snowboard programs which include it’s nationally recognized SKIwee, Mountain Cruisers and Young Riders programs is the all new WEEriders. Developed for ages 4, 5, and 6, this beginner snowboard program will be offered daily in 2 hour sessions and limited to 4 students per class. Each class will have two children’s snowboarding instruction specialists. Shawnee Children’s Program Director, Robin Manfredi, comments, ‘We developed the new WEEriders as a result of parents demand to introduce their children to snowboarding at ages younger than 7 which is the starting age of our existing Young Riders program. Last season, after securing smaller snowboard rental equipment and doing some test lessons, we settled on offering the 2 hour sessions with the two instructors to 4 students ratio having produced the best results”. Cost for WEEriders is $75 per child per session and includes complete snowboard rental. Reservations are required.

Online Reservation Improvements
Several programming changes have been made to the Shawnee Children’s Program online reservation system for 2012-13 which promises parents an easier online reservation process as well as more accurate presetting of children’s ski and snowboard rentals.

BurkeBlast!

East Burke, VT - Another fantastic summer on Kingdom Trails and in the Burke Bike Park has come to an end. As we say goodbye and thank all our summer visitors we also welcome the new season ahead. The "switch over" to winter operations has been especially exciting this year. On the snowmaking front, 100 new snowguns are installed with 40 more on the way and our new air compressor will arrive tomorrow, right on schedule for snowmaking to begin the first week of November. Groomers,snow machines and chairlifts are also receiving their last tune-ups in anticipation for a November 23 opening. We celebrate summer and welcome winter this month with some great events. We hope to see you there. Think Snow!

We celebrate summer and welcome winter this month with some great events. We hope to see you there. Think Snow!

After a successful Kingdom Enduro event last weekend in the Burke Bike Park, we thought we would bring you one last challenge. The 2nd Annual CircumBurke Challenge on October 28 challenges runners and mountain bikers to complete a 24 mile course around Burke Mountain. Experience the "wild side" of Burke Mountain through the town of Victory, make your way through scenic State and private lands, and wind back to a new part of Kingdom Trails on this challenging course.

Saturday, October 20, the 9th Annual Kingdom Trails Ride the Rhythms Concert celebrates the end of another fantastic mountain bike season and all the land owners that make the Kingdom Trails network possible. We'll be riding the rhythms of the Duty Free band and giving away raffle prizes throughout the night. An annual event not to be missed!

Arapahoe Basin Opening Day Photos

Arapahoe Basin, CO - It's a beautiful opening day at Arapahoe Basin here are some pix to get you fired up for the season!

"Snow Guarantee" from Winter Park Resort

Winter Park, CO - Don’t worry, we understand better than anyone; when planning a ski vacation, snow matters. Especially after last season’s less than record breaking snowfall totals, Winter Park Resort has just the solution for the guest who needs assurance. When looking for consistent, reliable snow, our visitors always find it at Winter Park Resort. With an average snowfall of 326 inches per season over the last ten years, choosing Winter Park Resort is the best choice for a ski vacation – now guaranteed.

Winter Park Resort launched an "Early Snow Guarantee" on October 15, 2012. This means that we now provide a level of confidence to our guests who may be considering an early season vacation to Winter Park.

Here’s the offer:

Book a trip to Winter Park for arrival/departure between November 14 – Dec. 20, 2012.

If our snow is not up to your standards, you can reschedule your trip to Winter Park for later this season.

Notification of plan to reschedule must be made 48 hours prior to arrival (by 4 pm two days prior to arrival).

The cost of your early season vacation will be applied to the later dates, difference in cost to be paid by guest.

Rescheduling will be on a space available basis.

Rescheduled trip must be used by April 21, 2013.

No refunds. Lodging only.

Telluride Ski Resort Partners with Ibex

Telluride, CO - Beginning this Fall, Ibex Outdoor Clothing will be the official wool clothing sponsor of Telluride Ski Resort in Southwestern Colorado. Ibex will outfit Telluride Ski Resort employees in the North American-made Merino wool apparel. Telluride ski resort will help Ibex create a distinct presence in Telluride and the two brands will further their reach into essential markets with key demographics. Ibex and Telluride Ski Resort look forward to unique media promotions and campaigns this fall and winter.

“This is a great partnership because of the heritage of Telluride, and its commitment to being a premier ski town and destination,” said Keith Anderson, VP of Marketing at Ibex. “We feel that Ibex fits into Telluride’s specific mountain lifestyle; and although we are east coasters, we all dream of big mountain skiing.” Ibex apparel is ideal for the employees of Telluride Ski Resort due to its durability, versatility and functionality. It can be worn on the mountain by lift ops and ski patrol or in the office by executives. Ibex combines both the professionalism and adaptability of a superior product that a mountain resort desires.

“The opportunity to partner with such a quality company that provides a great, functional product for our employees and guests alike shows the consumer what we are all about,” said Matt Skinner, VP of Sales and Marketing for Telluride Ski Resort. “These are two unique brands coming together to exhibit the enjoyment of the great outdoors in comfort and style.”

This partnership exemplifies Ibex’s commitment to building a strong presence in the Rockies, not only with retailers, but with large market influencers as well. Ibex is looking forward to developing a long-term relationship with Telluride skiing some good lines in the midst of it all.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area to open Wednesday 10/17/12

Arapahoe Basin, CO - Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) announced that Wednesday, October 17, 2012, will mark the official start to the Colorado ski and snowboard season. The Black Mountain Express lift will start at 9:00 a.m. MST to shuttle guests to the beginning of the intermediate High Noon trail at mid-mountain.

“We’re extremely excited to be the first ski area to open in Colorado,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin COO. “The staff and I can’t wait to see skiers and riders out on the hill having fun. That’s what we live for.”

New at A-Basin for the 2012-13 season is the Pika Place Learning Area, scheduled to open November 2012. Situated in the base area adjacent to the Black Mountain Express lift, Pika Place is geared toward younger guests and first-time skiers and riders. Pika Place features a new trail, a new conveyor lift and Ace’s Kids Park, a beginner-level terrain park with smaller versions of popular features found in A-Basin’s other two terrain parks.

This season, A-Basin launched an on-site Rossignol Experience Center designed to help skiers elevate their on-mountain experience and skiing technique. This rental program features an array of Rossignol skis with auto-turn rocker technology, an innovation that provides greater control and confidence to skiers of all abilities.

Greek Peak Mountain Resort Fall Festival

Cortland, NY - Greek Peak Mountain Resort hosts their annual Fall Festival on October 13, 2012, from 12pm - 5pm. Skiers and snowboarders will have the opportunity to purchase Ski Season Passes at a discount rate, as well as receive 20% off the Adventure Center activities. There will be chair lift rides, a pumpkin patch, rock climbing wall and much more!

"Although the Fall Fest has been an annual event since the 1970s, this year is even more important to reach out to our customers, homeowners and guests," states Al Kryger, President of Greek Peak Mountain Resort. On August 1, 2012, Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Hope Lake Lodge and Indoor Water Park was forced to filed Chapter 11 Reorganization Protection. Some have called it the perfect storm with the harsh economic downturn which greatly effected real estate sales, and of course last year's record warm winter season with only 50 inches of snowfall.

Kryger goes on to say that, "operations will continue at the same high-level the Resort's previous guests have experienced. All scheduled and future functions, meetings, weddings, conferences will continue with the same customer service that earned Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Hope Lake Lodge 2012 "Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice" award and the "Trip Advisor Award of Excellence." The management team assures our community that they will experience the same customer service that our facility has been delivering for the last 53 years.

"Snow Guarantee" from Winter Park Resort

Winter Park, CO - Don’t worry, we understand better than anyone; when planning a ski vacation, snow matters. Especially after last season’s less than record breaking snowfall totals, Winter Park Resort has just the solution for the guest who needs assurance. When looking for consistent, reliable snow, our visitors always find it at Winter Park Resort. With an average snowfall of 326 inches per season over the last ten years, choosing Winter Park Resort is the best choice for a ski vacation – now guaranteed.

Winter Park Resort will launch an "Early Snow Guarantee" on October 15, 2012. This means that we now provide a level of confidence to our guests who may be considering an early season vacation to Winter Park.

Here’s the offer:

•Book a trip to Winter Park for arrival/departure between November 14 – Dec. 20, 2012.

•If our snow is not up to your standards, you can reschedule your trip to Winter Park for later this season.

•Notification of plan to reschedule must be made 48 hours prior to arrival (by 4 pm two days prior to arrival).

•The cost of your early season vacation will be applied to the later dates, difference in cost to be paid by guest.

•Rescheduling will be on a space available basis.

•Rescheduled trip must be used by April 21, 2013.

•No refunds.

Right now, when guests book 3 nights they get a 4th night free. Special winter rates are available starting at just $52pp/pn.

Holiday Valley Ranks Sixth in Eastern US

Ellicottville, NY - Readers of SKI Magazine rated Holiday Valley Resort as the 6th best winter resort in eastern North America. This survey was mailed to 40,000 SKI Magazine readers at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. This ranking places Holiday Valley among the top ten resorts in the East for seven of the past ten years.

Holiday Valley’s top rankings include 1st in the East for lifts and 1st for service, 3rd for lodging, 5th for access and après ski, 7th for family programs, 8th for dining and off hill activities, 10th for weather, 11th for grooming and digital presence, 12th for terrain parks, on-mountain food and character, 13th for overall satisfaction and 14th for snow.

Holiday Valley’s President, Dennis Eshbaugh said, “We are so proud of our 6th place ranking because it comes right from the skiers. The ranking is exciting coming off of a challenging natural snow year where people tend to be more critical. We’re especially proud of the #1 rank in service. Service is one of those intangible things; it is very delicate because there are so many points of contact with customers and every contact must be positive. Service is stressed in our yearly orientation meeting and throughout the year, but it is a step beyond everyone’s physical job so to be named number one is a great compliment to all our staff.”

Win Heli Skiing with Selkirk Tangiers!

Revelstoke, BC - Everyone should try heli skiing at least once in their lifetime so Selkirk Tangiers is making it easy by offering a chance to WIN a day of heli skiing for two! The contest coincides with the launch of the 10 Reasons to Heli Ski with Selkirk Tangiers campaign and offers the lucky winner and their guest a day of heli skiing, two nights’ accommodation at the Hillcrest Hotel, and a day of skiing at Revelstoke Mountain Resort!

For contest entry, prize details, and to download the NEW! STHS Magazine featuring the 10 Reasons to Heli Ski with Selkirk Tangiers and other great articles from the STHS team, visit: Here!

Greek Peak Mountain Resort Fall Festival

Cortland, NY - Greek Peak Mountain Resort hosts their annual Fall Festival on October 13, 2012, from 12pm - 5pm. Skiers and snowboarders will have the opportunity to purchase Ski Season Passes at a discount rate, as well as receive 20% off the Adventure Center activities. There will be chair lift rides, a pumpkin patch, rock climbing wall and much more!

"Although the Fall Fest has been an annual event since the 1970s, this year is even more important to reach out to our customers, homeowners and guests," states Al Kryger, President of Greek Peak Mountain Resort. On August 1, 2012, Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Hope Lake Lodge and Indoor Water Park was forced to filed Chapter 11 Reorganization Protection. Some have called it the perfect storm with the harsh economic downturn which greatly effected real estate sales, and of course last year's record warm winter season with only 50 inches of snowfall.

Kryger goes on to say that, "operations will continue at the same high-level the Resort's previous guests have experienced. All scheduled and future functions, meetings, weddings, conferences will continue with the same customer service that earned Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Hope Lake Lodge 2012 "Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice" award and the "Trip Advisor Award of Excellence." The management team assures our community that they will experience the same customer service that our facility has been delivering for the last 53 years.

It’s a Festival Weekend in Lake Placid...Flaming Leaves and Brew Fest Highlight Weekend Fun

Wilmington, NY - Some of us may be turning our attention to the upcoming winter season, but there’s still plenty of autumn fun ahead. Last weekend’s 21st annual Oktoberfest drew thousands of visitors to Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y., and this weekend guests will flock to the region to participate in the annual Flaming Leaves Festival and the inaugural Lake Placid Brew Fest.

The festival weekend in Lake Placid gets underway at the Olympic Jumping Complex when several of the nation’s top ski jumpers soar through the fall skies as they compete in the annual Flaming Leaves ski jump competition. Jumping begins Saturday, at noon, while Sunday’s event gets underway at 11 a.m. Saturday’s event is also the second of three 90-meter competitions to determine the prestigious 2012 Art Devlin Cup series champion.

Some of the sport’s youngest athletes are also set to compete both Saturday and Sunday, when they soar off the 20-meter jump. The Grasshoppers’ competitions will begin a half-hour after the completion of the 90-meter events.

While spectators take in all of the high-flying action they can also enjoy live Blues music both days and brews and barbeque provided by Centerplate. The Blues begins at noon, Saturday when Lostdog takes to the Olympic Jumping Complex stage for their first of two sets, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Saturday’s Blues line-up also features Joe Lowry & The Second City Blues Band, from Albany, N.Y., from 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. On Sunday, it’s Los Blancos, from Syracuse, N.Y., and Larry Stone & The Stoneground Express’ turn. Los Blancos’ first set is from noon-1 p.m. and then they’re back from 2-3 p.m. Larry Stone, a retired ski jump instructor, and his band will entertain the crowd from 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.

While at the jumping complex, spectators can also check out the autumn colors from atop the 120-meter ski jump. A chairlift will take visitors to the base of the jump, while a 26-story elevator ride will take them to the top of the jump where guests can overlook the Adirondack’s high peaks.

The annual Flaming Leaves Festival is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days and admission is $15 for adults and $9 for juniors and seniors. Two-day passes are also available, $25 for adults and $15 for juniors and seniors, while the Olympic Sites Passport will also be honored for admission.

From the Olympic Jumping Complex the festival fun moves to the Olympic Center’s 1932 rink and the inaugural Lake Placid Brew Fest, from 3-7 p.m. Open to everyone 21 years and older, the brew fest, sponsored by Centerplate and Saratoga Eagle and co-hosted by the Great Adirondack Brewing Company and Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, will feature 20-plus micro-brew companies from around the country.

Each of the breweries will be on hand to offer samples and talk brewing. There will also be live music, with Mike Pedersen, and food provided by Centerplate. Advance $35 tickets for the Lake Placid Brew Fest are available on line by visiting Whiteface.com or by calling 518-523-3330. Tickets will also be available at the door for $40 and admission for designated drivers is just $10. Admission includes beer samples and souvenir glass.