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December 5, 2009

Ski areas ready to debut new features

Resorts await snowfall to test recent renovations

By DAN HEATH

ow we just need some snow.

With most ski and snowboard resorts open on limited terrain, many are waiting for a good supply of natural snow to show off improvements for the upcoming season.

Bolton Valley, in Bolton Valley, Vt., has installed a 100-kilowatt wind turbine at the top of its Vista Quad lift. Bolton Valley is the first ski area in Vermont and second in the United States with an on-site wind turbine.

Bolton Valley co-owner Larry Williams said it is a watershed moment for ski and energy industries in Vermont.

"We've demonstrated a commitment to 21st-century approaches to energy-generation and -consumption solutions on a Vermont scale," he said in a news release.

"Bolton Valley and its skiers and riders take great pride in being eco-friendly and will continue to work toward decreasing our impact on the environment."

The turbine is expected to produce energy equivalent to that used by 40 to 45 Vermont homes. It is part of a resort-wide plan to improve energy efficiency and recycling efforts.

Bolton Valley has also decided to keep its Timberline Area open every day during the 2009-10 season. It previously was open only on weekends and holiday periods.

The resort also plans to provide more snowmaking on the Cobrass trail, which links to the Timberline area from the main mountain.

gore mountain
At Gore Mountain in North Creek, work continues to improve offerings at Burnt Ridge Mountain, which opened last season.

That includes snowmaking installed on Sagamore, the 1,400-foot vertical expert trail. The resort will also debut Eagles Nest, an intermediate trail that runs from Upper Pipeline to the base of the Burnt Ridge Quad.

The Cirque Glades have also been extended all the way to the base of that chairlift.

The Gore Base Lodge has also been renovated. Improved retail, ticketing, food service, restrooms, lockers and storage space will be available.

Gore continues to redevelop its Ski Bowl Lodge, which will see an 80-percent increase in size. Guests will find updated ticket service, modernized food service, improved seating and new restrooms.

At the main mountain, Gore has widened its Wild Air trail and will use it for a terrain park.

Gore will debut a new snow-grooming machine and 35 new tower snowmaking guns.


Whiteface mountain

Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington continues to develop Lookout Mountain, which opened last season. According to the Whiteface Web site, Sugar Valley Glades will offer 25-acres of tree skiing and riding adjacent to the Wilmington Trail.

Additional trail work has been done on the other Lookout Mountain trails.

Whiteface will host the U.S. Alpine National ski championships in March. That has led management to widen the Parkway trail.

Whiteface has rearranged its terrain parks and features. The ski area's halfpipe has been moved to the Brookside Terrain Park.

Broadway will get some terrain-park features. Skiercross and boardercross features will be added to Wolf and Wolf Run.

Whiteface has installed new seat cushions on its Summit Quad chairlift.

Improvements have been made to the on-site restaurants, including a burrito bar in the Cloudspin Lounge.

okemo mountain
Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vt., said in a press release that it has added another 30 new HKD Ranger snowmaking guns. The resort has also reconfigured all of its HKD tower snowmakers to shorten the time needed to resurface its trail network and reduce energy consumption.

Okemo has purchased a second Prinoth BR500 grooming machine, matching the one that made its debut last year. The 500-horsepower units feature a 24-foot-wide tiller and 20-foot-wide blade to additionally speed the grooming process.

The resort's Ross Powers Superpipe will be improved for the upcoming season. The vertical pitch of the 450-foot-long halfpipe will be increased by 12 feet.



jay peak
Jay Peak continues to work on the new Tram House Lodge. The 57-room, ski-in/ski-out hotel is adjacent to the resort's main base lodge. The first- and second-floor rooms will be open Dec. 18.

The new Aroma's Cafe will open Dec. 17, and the new Tower Bar will start serving drinks and some food the next day. Alice's Table restaurant and a spa/fitness center are also expected to be open for the holiday.

The resort also has a new rental, repair and demo shop in the main lodge.

Jay is also building a 450-seat ice arena, expected to open sometime next spring.

Stratton mountain
In a press release, Stratton Mountain Resort announced a number of new features for 2009-10.

It will debut a new lift-served snow-tubing area, Sunbowl at Stratton Snow Tubing, which will feature four 750-foot-long lanes, located on the Big Ben trail.

The resort's advanced terrain park and superpipe have been moved to Sunrise Supertrail at Sun Bowl. There will also be a full-length jib park on Lower Middlebrook and a boardercross course.

Several glade areas will now have natural freestyle features. Trees have been thinned and brush pruned in Vertigo, Kidderbrook Ravine, Shred Wood Forest, Moondance, Diamonds in the Rough, Cabin Fever and Emerald Forest.

Stratton also has a new supply of rental equipment that features the Head BYS fitting system. That speeds up the rental process for maximum slope time.

mount snow
Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt., continues to improve its 100-acre Carinthia terrain park, which opened last season. The resort has added a 12-foot unnatural cliff drop, lights in its Grommet park and some new curved steel rails.

After unveiling 150 new fan snow-making machines last year, the resort invested in new pipes to supply water to the equipment, according to a news release.

Mount Snow has introduced a Skis on Demand rental equipment program. The resort's technicians will outfit resort guests with equipment right in their rooms.

killington
Killington continues to improve the efficiency of its snow-making system. Killington blogs report the resort has applied a new coating to its snowmaking pumps that reduces friction and reduces overall energy consumption by 5 percent.

That has helped what it bills as the world's most comprehensive snowmaking system allow for sporadic openings since Nov. 7. Killington Communications Manager Tom Horrocks said the resort re-opened Dec. 2 and expects to stay open for the season.

Two new Techno Alpine M18 fan guns have been installed in areas that need vast areas of coverage. The first is on a 32-foot arm near the bottom of Mouse Trap and Bunny Buster, and the second is on a 16-foot tower near the top of Superpipe trail.

Killington continues to improve The Stash, the all-natural terrain park designed by Jake Burton and Burton Team riders.

Two top entrances and other parts were thinned, the Sugar Shack deck was widened, and a number of other features were added.

smugglers notch
Smugglers Notch in Jefforsonville, Vt., has lengthened the Full Nelson trail on Sterling Mountain from above mid-point to the base area.

The Nordic Center saw West Woodrun widened for easier skiing. It is a popular connector to the perimeter of the resort's Nordic trail network.

There is also expanded learning terrain for beginning cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Smuggs also added a mini-terrain park and play area to help develop balance on cross-country skis.

sugarbush
Sugarbush in Warren, Vt., has expanded and added 75 acres of glade terrain at Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen. Some of the new areas feature gentle slopes and well-thinned trees to help remove some of the fear in tree skiing.

The resort plans to use its SugarTube video-sharing platform to record lessons. Instructors will be able post clips on secure accounts created for guests of the Ski and Ride School.

They can receive lesson analysis and improvement tips, as well as ask questions via Web cam or e-mail. Users can also share the videos with friends and family.

Sugarbush will also offer cat skiing to the first 12 people to arrive at Guest Services by 6:45 a.m. until the lifts open. The cat will also be used after the resort closes for the year, snow conditions permitting.

E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com

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Ski areas ready to debut new features
by By DAN HEATH , , Sat Dec 05, 2009, 10:28 PM EST
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