Early snow reports are encouraging
Word in from Vermont’s Okemo Mountain Resort, received Tuesday, reported that “The past couple of days have been excellent for making snow. Over 150 blasting on six trails, with open slopes, Village Run, Screaming Demon, Haven’s Gate, Express Lane and Roundhouse Run.”
As of Tuesday Okemo had 12 trails, three lifts, 92 open acres and 13 percent of its ski/ride terrain open. The mountain said, “Snowmaking crews also started focusing on the mid-mountain area where there was a temperature inversion, meaning 18 degrees at the base and 27 degrees
at the summit. This early season snow condition report is encouraging as we draw closer to the Christmas holidays. But until we receive natural snowfall, it is best to check conditions daily.
If you hold a valid Real Easy Card, and ski Okemo on Sunday, December 6, you can obtain a $39 lift ticket by bringing a new toy, a new article of clothing or a non-perishable food item that will be distributed to Black River Good Neighbors in Ludlow,
VT. If you are not registered with a card, you can register for a $5 fee and still get the $39 deal.
Council Ski Racing (NYCDSC). The final dates for New York Capital District Ski Council giant slalom ski/ride racing among its member clubs, has been announced. The Out of Control Ski Club Invitational GS is set for January 9, at Belleayre in the Catskills. As you may or may not know, Belleayre is operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) that also operates Gore Mountain and Whiteface in the Adirondacks. On January 30, the NYCDSC GS Invitational
will be held at Vermont’s Pico Peak, followed on February 6 by the Albany Ski Club Invitational at West Mountain.
These GS competitions consist of two runs and, for safety reasons, helmets are required.
It doesn’t seem possible that Stratton Mountain, VT is celebrating its 55th anniversary. Stratton’s Myra Foster claims visitors are raving about the mountains renovated base lodge where 4000 square feet and 350 new seats have been added. The resorts Grizzly Bar & Restaurant have also been redesigned.
U. S. Olympic slalom Gold Medalist, Mikaela Shiffrin, jumped into the World Cup lead after having fallen a day earlier in WC slalom in Aspen, Colorado. Albany Ski Club president, Dally Vanderzee of Clifton Park used to ski in the Berkshires with Mikaela’s mother when Mikaela was a small girl. Even back then, Vanderzee says, Mikaela was a serious competitor.