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December 4, 2008

Frosted flakes and yard sales

You run into all kinds of flakes while on the slopes. There is the kind that fall from the sky, wafting down from the heavens to form that magical white carpet we all love and appreciate. All of us except for the whiners of course, who have hopefully taken advantage of that great non-stop flight to Florida, so we don't have to listen to them whine all season. Flakes like that, we can do without.

He got off the chairlift last spring with the grace and style of a circus buffoon on steroids. Wearing shorts and exposing areas of his self that should only be seen by the beholder, he approached our group as if he belonged. No one seemed to know him though and his loud and boisterous demeanor made the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention. He proceeded to torment various women from base to summit with his crude and obnoxious behavior for several hours. After finally getting away from him, we later saw him careening off the trail, body parts flailing and equipment strewn over hundreds of square feet. It was a yard sale of epic proportions. The frosted flake had finally met his match and no one on the mountain seemed to be broken up about it. Must be Karma!

The ski and snowboard season got off to a great start across the northeast. I had the pleasure of being at Whiteface on opening day, which is traditionally the day after Thanksgiving. On this cloudy Friday, packed powder conditions were enjoyed by a seemingly record crowd and my boys even managed to find some untracked powder off of the beaten path. They assured me that they were not in any areas that they shouldn't have been and since they are such honest little angels, there is no reason for me to believe otherwise. Locals and tourists alike are anxiously awaiting the opening of Lookout Mountain, the long anticipated expansion at Whiteface. One trail is so steep and narrow that Bill Price and I are planning to hold hands the first time we ski it.

There is something for everyone though, including a much needed intermediate trail winding down to the base.

Sunday found us traveling down the Northway to sample the early season offerings at Gore Mountain. Here too, we found delightful packed powder conditions and very few people to ski it off. I had a chance to visit briefly with the Marketing Director, Emily Stanton, who is quite enthusiastic about this season. Especially with the grand opening of Burnt Ridge, complete with a brand new high speed quad chairlift, multiple trails and glades too. This expansion at Gore is slated to open sometime in December and will give them 2,300 vertical feet, which is well above many notable resorts throughout the country.

Titus Mountain has some new leadership this year and is also positioned for a great season. They even had a preview opening on the weekend before Thanksgiving, which may have been their earliest opening ever. Loyal fans are pleased to see Titus continue its rich tradition of friendliness, affordability and fun. I am excited to shoot a Slopesider video episode there later this month.

Even during these tough economic times, there are signs of a healthy ski and snowboard industry. In fact, my friend David Collin and his wife Barbara, who own Viking Ski Shop in Plattsburgh, have been quite busy. I stopped in their recently to say hello and to drool over the new gear, while my son picked out a birthday present. Spoiled Brat!

How is it the kids have all the new stuff, while the old man gets by with gear from swap shop?

The place was bustling and Dave hopes that favorable winter weather will keep the trend going. Yes my friends, favorable winter weather means a lot of snow and cool temperatures until April.

No whining please! It's all good!



John Bernardi is an avid lifelong skier and freelance writer. His skiing and snowboarding column will appear every other Friday throughout the winter season. Visit the Slopesider website at www.slopesider.net or contact him at john@slopesider.net.

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