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Ski & Snowboard
Preview 2008/09
11.03.08
It's On
Resorts all around New England are
sporting new goods —
from black diamond trails and terrain parks to snow guns and the
Northeast's first Chondola. Here's a rundown of what's new at your
favorite resorts. (For a complete listing of New England ski resorts,
check out our page of
snowsports links.)
MAINE
NEW HAMPSHIRE
VERMONT
MASSACHUSETTS
CONNECTICUT
.jpg)
A snowboarder rides Mount Sunapee.
(Mount Sunapee Photo)
MAINE
SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN,
Rangeley – Open December 13 – Saddleback added three new black
diamond trails to what is already the largest advanced skiing complex in
the east. The new Kennebago Quad Chairlift replaces the old T-bar, new
snow guns were added, and Saddleback takes over operation of the rental
and retail shops in the base lodge, with a new fleet of skis, boards and
more ready to go.
SHAWNEE PEAK, Bridgton –
Projected to open early December – Shawnee Peak scrapped all its
low-efficiency snow guns in favor of the latest technology. In doing so,
they've decreased their energy use by 50 percent while making more snow.
They've also expanded the Beginner Area by 20 percent and added new
beginner glades for young kids.
SUGARLOAF USA, Carrabassett
Valley – November 21 – The folks at the 'Loaf dropped $5 million
in new investments on their resort during the offseason. They're opening
three new glades, a redesigned and extended superpipe, three new parks
for skiers and boarders of all abilities, and a new snowboardcross
course designed by gold medalist Seth Wescott. They've also added 75 new
energy-efficient snowguns.
SUNDAY RIVER, Bethel –
November 7 – Evening skiing comes to Sunday River as the resort will
offer 12-hour skiing and riding on North Peak and South Ridge on
Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. Also, New England's first chondola
starts operating at Sunday River this season. The Chondola will carry
six-person chairs and eight-person gondola cars on one high-speed lift
running from the South Ridge base area directly to the Peak Lodge on
North Peak. This new lift will cut what was a 20-minute trip on two
separate lifts to a single ride of just under seven minutes, bringing
skiers and riders to a point from where they'll have direct access to
six of Sunday River’s eight peaks in a single run.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
ATTITASH, Bartlett
– Open November 22 – New at Attitash is a natural terrain park, a
new rental facility, increased snowmaking and an improved grooming
fleet.
LOON MOUNTAIN, Lincoln
– Open November 22 – Among the $3 million in improvements at Loon
this year are two new trails, including Loon's first double-black
diamond, Rip Saw. In all, Rip Saw and the new intermediate trail, Escape
Route, add 14 new acres of terrain. For snowboarders and freeskiers, 10
new rails have been built to compliment the 65 trails, jibs and jumps
already in Loon's parks. Among other improvements are new
high-efficiency fan and tower snow guns, a new carpet lift and new
rental equipment.
MOUNT
SUNAPEE, Newbury – Projected open late November - More
efficient snowmaking production tops the list of improvements at Mount
Sunapee. They've purchased 30 more highly efficient snowguns for the
upcoming season. Along with the 18 purchased last year, their fleet of
new guns can produce the same amount of snow in temperatures above 25
degrees as older, less-efficient guns, while using only 12-25 percent as
much compressed air per guns. With their improvements, Sunapee's
electrical consumption is down 10 percent over the past two winters, and
their diesel fuel consumption is down almost 15 percent over that time.
WATERVILLE VALLEY RESORT,
Waterville Valley – November 22 - Waterville Valley invested more
than half-a-million dollars in improvements this summer. Among them were
buying 85 new low-energy tower guns for earlier, more expansive
snowmaking.
VERMONT
KILLINGTON RESORT,
Killington - Projected open mid November - Killington celebrates
its 50th season with more than $8 million in improvements. Among the new
additions is The Stash, a revolutionary resort run created by Jake
Burton and Burton team riders that utilizes the natural terrain, local
wood products and organic features to create the ultimate freestyle
riding experience. This all-natural terrain park with have 34 features,
including tree jibs, road jumps and log slides. Created for intermediate
and advanced riders, The Stash run provides an organic, big mountain
terrain park that follows the natural lines of the mountain. Riders will
discover rock-wall rides, log jibs, cliff drops, a Sugar Shack and other
one-of-a-kind obstacles hidden away in The Stash run. An all-natural
environment, The Stash uses no metal or plastics to create obstacles,
only stone, wood, trees, dirt and rocks. Even the signs that direct
riders to The Stash are hand-carved out of stone and wood and are
designed to be jibbed. Among other improvements is the new Skye Peak
Express, which replaces the Skye Peak Quad and reduces the ride time
from 14 minutes to just less than five minutes, allowing guests improved
access to Bear Mountain and Killington's long intermediate cruising
trails such as Skyeburst, Cruise Control and Needle's Eye. A number of
new trails and enhancements to existing trails debut this season. The
Snowshed Crossover has been eliminated, allowing for uninterrupted
skiing and riding on the following trails: The Stash, Skyeburst,
Needles's Eye, Cruise Control and Vertigo. The New Great Eastern Trail
off the top of Skye Peak will allow beginners more than three miles of
cruising terrain down to the Skyeship base area. The Gateway trail, an
intermediate trail off the south side of Skye Peak, will also be
extended. Snowmaking will also be installed on all new trails, including
The Stash.
MOUNT SNOW, West Dover –
Now open – Over the summer, Mount Snow dedicated the entire 100-acre
Carinthia mountain face into a massive system of freestyle terrain
parks. A smorgasbord of rails, jumps and halfpipes will cover nearly
five miles of terrain at Carinthia. A high-speed quad and a double
chairlift will shuttle skiers and riders up the hill, where they can
choose from a variety of approximately 125 freestyle features scattered
around 12 full terrain parks. A tree-skiing area, a superpipe with
18-foot walls, a mini-pipe with 8-foot walls, an all-natural park absent
of manmade material and a big-air site will also be featured. In
addition, the resort has added more than 150 fan guns.
OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT,
Ludlow – Projected open November 15 – The final two trails
of the original Jackson Gore layout are slated for completion in time
for this winter’s ski season. Although they have not yet been named or
officially ranked, Okemo officials believe the new trails will be rated
double black diamond. One of the new trails will measure about
1,000-feet long and the other will be about 2,600-feet long. The latter
will have a vertical drop of 850 feet. Together, the new trails will add
about eight acres to Okemo’s skiable acreage total
— now
632 acres. Additionally, 80 new snow guns have been added, and they've
upgraded their grooming fleet with four new machines.
SMUGGLER’S NOTCH RESORT,
Smuggler’s Notch – Projected open November 28 - The Attitude
Trail on Madonna Mountain has been added to Smugglers’ gladed terrain,
now at 22 percent and growing. Expert skiers can jump into the balsam
firs on Lower Drifter just before the mid-station and come out of this
steep pitch on Lower Rumrunner on Sterling Mountain.
STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT, Stowe -
Open November 22 - This season, Stowe has added a new slopeside
luxury hotel & spa, a new base area, an inter-mountain transfer gondola,
new trails, a new beginner area, two new high-speed detachable quads,
fully-automated snowmaking and more.
SUGARBUSH, Warren -
Projected open late November/early December - Cat skiing comes to
Sugarbush. A new 12-person Pisten Bully cat cab will take guests to
Allyn's Lodge for specialty dinners, full-moon skiing and snowshoeing.
But the real fun will come on powder days when the first 12 people to
show up at Guest Services by 6:45 a.m. will get to own the mountain
until the lifts spin. It will also make Sugarbush the only resort in the
East to have cat skiing, and when Mt. Ellen’s closes the last Sunday of
March, Sugarbush's highest peak will become the domain of the cat. Also,
the resort has done a $1 million renovation on Gate House Lodge, which
includes an expanded pub and a new deck with a walk-off to snow.
MASSACHUSETTS
BLUE HILLS SKI AREA,
Milton – Projected open mid December – Over the summer, Blue
Hills increased their snowmaking by 40 percent and brought in a new
terrain park rope tow. They've also cleared and widened trails, and they
improved the ski wee and beginner areas.
JIMINY PEAK,
Hancock - Projected open mid November - Jiminy has added a new
night trail. Outback is now lit for night-skiing, and it has been
regraded.
CONNECTICUT
WOODBURY SKI
AREA, Woodbury – Projected open early November – Even
though they are in Connecticut, Woodbury was open on November 3 last
year. Expect another early jump on the season. This year's improvements
include a new redesigned snowboard and tubing park, a new lodge for
tubers, and all tubing runs have been lengthened and are now lighted.
Numerous slide rails have been added to the snowboard park. Two Magic
Carpet lifts will now service the beginners' area. And the addition of
thrill sleds provides another winter sport option.
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