The best Skiing coverage is at SkiJournal.com http://www.skijournal.com Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:22:41 -0400 RSSCreator 1.2 http://www.skijournal.com/images/design/skilogo.jpg http://www.skijournal.com New England Ski Journal http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/26_the_art_of_the_deal.php There are skiers and snowboarders who march up to the ticket windows at ski resorts throughout the Northeast each and every day during the winter, plunk down the plastic and pay the sticker price for a family’s worth of tickets to use the area’s lifts for the day. Or so we’re told. We are most assuredly not among them. Far from it. We plunk down our cash by the end of April the ... Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/24_all-terrain_gear_adventure.php The pioneers of backcountry skiing probably didn’t see it coming this far, this fast. Secluded pockets of privacy deep in the woods remain a reward worthy of their efforts, but with 5 million skiers and snowboarders venturing off-piste each season, the secret is definitely out. The backcountry represents a solid growth opportunity for the industry, as 20 percent of both skiers and snowboarders ... Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/24_ski_shop_all-terrain_gear.php Presented by Summit Ski & Snowboard DPS Wailer 112 The available “Pure” carbon-fiber construction of the Wailer 112 is the key to its lightweight construction. Keeping the ski light under foot means one can make ascents using less strength and have more energy to shred on the way down. And, a byproduct of the ski’s brilliant yellow color makes this an easy find if you ever lose ... Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/20_unplug,_unwind_at_loon_lodge.php It's exceedingly rare to find a genuine Maine sports camp offering accommodations through the cold winter months. But the Loon Lodge Inn & Restaurant is one such exception. If your travels take you to the reinvigorated Saddleback, you owe it to yourself and the family to look into this historic property. After all, Saddleback — one of the venerable “Big Three” in Vacationland ... Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/20_soul_survivor.php JoAnne Taylor, the director or marketing and communications for Saddleback Mountain, had an epiphany one day on the Red Devil trail at the Maine ski area. She stopped for a moment on the intermediate trail, far skier’s left on the mountain, and simply immersed herself in nature. The phenomenal view of the Rangeley Lakes. The fact that there weren’t dozens of skiers navigating around her. ... Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/18_back_from_the_sled.php First of all, before anyone accuses me of scare tactics, let me point out that skiing and snowboarding these days are very safe sports. The generally accepted rate of injuries is roughly seven mishaps for every 1,000 skier/boarder visits. That’s pretty impressive, and a testament to improved equipment, improved snowmaking and grooming, and even improved traffic design on the hill (and particularly ... Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/16_the_legend_behind_the_ski.php How does your ski or riding season begin? Well, if you’re real hard core, you could say around Aug. 1 you pick up your vertical running regimen, bicycle 50 miles a day, and begin your wall sits. But if you’re a little more truthful, or normal, your season begins mid-November with a visit to the Boston Ski Expo. You cruise around looking at the displays, picking up a bagful of brochures ... Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/14_a_new_tradition.php Traditionalists rejoice. Just because the world’s longest-standing snowboard event packed up and moved west this year doesn’t mean the roots of the sport aren’t alive, well and worth celebrating in Vermont — right where they’ve always been. The pink elephant in the Green Mountain State this season as far as snowboarding is concerned has been Burton Snowboards’ decision ... Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/03/12_nashoba,_snow_reel_in_park.php Score one for Nashoba Valley and Mount Snow, two ski areas that struck a blow for terrain parks in the Northeast in the eighth annual Ski Area Management contest. Nashoba Valley pulled down first-place honors in the feature category for its Down the Drain entry from last season. Designed by Keith Kreischer, Down the Drain included a sewer drain with a cliff box and ledge boxes that guide skiers and ... Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/24_overcoming_your_fears_101.php We all have fears. During my “formative years,” I was deathly afraid of spiders. I blame it on some well-intentioned Boy’s Life article about dangerous spiders, including the poisonous Brown Recluse arachnid. So, of course, I started seeing Brown Recluse spiders everywhere. To say I was petrified of spiders would be an understatement. Irrational? Maybe. But very real nonetheless. Fortunately ... Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/23_let_me_tell_you_about_some.php Let me paint the scene during that heartbreaking snow drought of 2012: Beneath the chairlift was a slender strip of white separating massive expanses of brown fields. Off to the sides were a dozen trails, all closed for lack of snow. Down the back side, only one slope was open, and it was an icy, horrifying mess. It was one of my worst ski days ever. I loved every minute of it. You’ve read ... Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/22_top_10_tips_to_keep_tabs_on.php Pats Peak Ski Area in Henniker, N.H., just like every other ski area across New England and up into Canada, bustled and boomed between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Tom Ryan and Rob Charron, up from New York City and staying in Charron’s home nearby, herded a bunch of young skiers upstairs at Pats as they prepared for a lunch break on a busy Saturday. Mostly, they were successful. On ... Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/21_ski_shop_apparel.php Presented by Summit Ski & Snowboard Skea women’s Chloe down parka Warm, stylish and sexy is the best description of this item from Skea. The down fill will keep you cozy warm while the shape and style will keep you looking hot on the hill. If you try it, you will buy it. Summit price: $499.99 Cross men’s Boden jacket Skiers will appreciate the design features of the Boden jacket. ... Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/20_diversity_drives_ski_fashion.php Mountain resort lift lines are about as far away from urban fashion runways as you can get. But if you look close, those runway influences on snowsports fashion these days are undeniable. Fashion designers are paying more and more attention to the winter sports apparel market, which isn’t surprising considering Americans paid out a record $1.2 billion in ski and snowboard tops and bottoms alone ... Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/19_tackling_bumps.php Vermont snowboard instructor Devin Mettler enjoys retelling a story his good friend Jason, also a professional snowboard instructor, shared with him about the day he gave comedian Robin Williams a lesson in the bumps at Squaw Valley, Calif. “Jason and Robin were practicing bumps after having traversed across from the Solitude chair,” Mettler said. “Jason started down after having ... Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/18_forty-five_shades_of_stupid.php A friend of mine has not skied for at least 10 years, since the day she was hit by an out-of-control snowboarder who had launched airborne just about the time she was bending over to adjust her boot. It happened at a confluence of about three trails. My friend was at the side of the trail and when she bent, she became nearly invisible (so said the perp who hit her). He never saw her. Sorry, Lady. ... Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/15_snowy_owl_a_classic_in_the.php When Tom Corcoran built Waterville Valley’s Town Square as an adjunct to the popular ski area he developed in Campton, N.H., the notion was simple and very workable. Develop a bed base, recreational area and shopping hub within a short shuttle-bus ride from the ski area base lodge. From the Golden Eagle to the Black Bear, the hotels and inns vary in style, but ultimately deliver the same product. ... Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/14_waterville_wonderland.php What’s not to love about Waterville Valley. My favorite barometer of any family ski vacation is the number of smiles it generates. By that measure, Waterville Valley routinely exceeds all expectations. Whether you’re hitting the slopes at the legendary Mount Tecumseh ski area, or whiling away the hours at Waterville Valley’s multifaceted village, this resort boasts a full array of ... Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/12_burkes_shiffrin_dazzles_world.php Mikaela Shiffrin, the on-the-rise ski racing sensation, was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and makes her home in Vail. But the sometimes-gnarly and oft-times firm snow of the ski hills of New England played a key role in her development, and the region can claim the World Cup winner as one of its own, too. “Really, the bulk of her early ski racing was done in New England,” ... Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/02/12_throwback_mountain.php Remember when skiing was about, gee, I dunno, the skiing? That’s not a dig at the many fine ski resorts that New England boasts, where skiing and riding is accented with ziplines, luxurious hotels and fine dining, attractions that have transformed some of New England’s most popular mountains into four-season destinations. There’s something for everybody at the behemoths, including ... Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/24_bbs_a_bonding_experience.php For many, skiing is more of a solitary pursuit. When they’re not heading to the backcountry, these folks will suffer through crowded slopes, or — gasp! — sharing chairlifts, in order to get their turns. That’s OK. Skiers, like the rest of the planet, come in all sorts of temperaments. Still, I have to admit, I don’t share the same approach. For me, skiing has always been ... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/22_city_slickers.php Vero Piacentini and the folks at Blue Hills Ski Area in Canton — you can say Boston if you’d like — have been known to gently correct callers looking for information about the place. “A lot of times we’ll get calls asking about the ski resort,” said Piacentini, the area’s general manager, with a chuckle. “The first thing we say is, ‘Take the word ... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/22_ski_shop_boots.php Tecnica Phoenix 120 HVL Attention he who has feet similar to Fred Flintstone: Tecnica has built a boot for you. The HVL (High Volume Last) design of the Phoenix 120 has the interior space of a loft apartment in New York City. Men with high arches, tall insteps, big heels and wide feet will be calling out “yabba dabba doo” with happiness in this model. Summit price $549.99 Tecnica Cochise ... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/20_boots_expert_f8202;it_is.php Robert Arnold recalls the early days of custom ski boot fitting with a certain level of fondness. His preferred technique was to climb into the bathtub with his state-of-the-art leather Molitors cabled up nice and tight around his feet. “My mom was furious,” the 61-year-old Bow, N.H., resident recalled. “They were my first expensive pair of boots. I believe they cost about $125 in ... Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/18_a_boost_for_bolton.php With diverse snowboard coaching and park-building experience at Western resorts such as Crested Butte, Colo., and Northstar at Tahoe, New England native Chaz Ferris has landed again in Vermont as the new terrain parks manager at Bolton Valley. He and his dog Lucky, a 14-year-old lab/Australian shepherd mix, live just 100 yards from the office, making it easy for Ferris to keep tabs on what needs to ... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/17_east_vs_west_a_not-so-icy.php After a substantial number of years and miles under the skis, Eastern skiers have no problem with ice. Even when said ice occurs in the troughs between moguls on a tight tree run, Eastern skiers have it covered. They’ve developed the instincts not to bail (weight back on the tails) as they are looking around, panic-stricken, for some salvation of packed powder nearby to escape to. And once a ... Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/16_alluring_attitash.php It’s difficult to pick a favorite trail at Attitash Mountain Resort. There are the sweeping views of the White Mountains that one can enjoy with a sauntering run down the Saco trail. There is the high-speed thrill of a bombing run down Avenger, the leg-burning bumps of Grandstand, and the challenging steepness of Tim’s Trauma and Idiot’s Option. There’s a variety at Attitash ... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/16_theme_decors_serve_up_adventure.php New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley has its share of bed and breakfast lodging options, featuring quaint, romantic accommodations. The same is true of Adventure Suites, which boasts a charming bed and breakfast themed suite, complete with a Jacuzzi. Of course, the hotel also has rooms designed like a deserted island, a wine cellar, a treehouse, a New York penthouse ... With 17 brilliantly ... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/15_ski_tips_pick_a_peak,_have.php OK, you have your new skis, boards, helmet and Christmas togs ready to pack in the car. Now, where to go? With 70-something ski areas scattered in the mountains of the East, this question calls for some thinking and planning. Like any other consumable, finding the right fit for you and your family in ski country takes some due diligence. Here is just one of the tradeoffs facing the skiing consumer ... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.skijournal.com/news/2013/01/14_santas_schuss_in_the_spirit.php The hills were alive with the sounds, and sights, of Santa. Make that Santas. Many, many Santas. As has been the custom for 13 years now, skiing and snowboarding Santas descended on Sunday River on the first Sunday in December for one last day of fun, festivities and recreation before they got down to their more serious duties later in the month. “It’s fun for all ages,” said Sunday ... Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST