Alpine / downhill skiing
This weekend we're looking forward to taking in some ski racing action! The UVM Winter Carnival starts today and goes through Sunday. It features the best collegiate skiers in the eastern US taking on the slalom and giant slalom courses at Stowe, and the nordic racing trails at Trapp Family Lodge.
The University of Vermont has a strong ski team again this year. Some of the racers have been competing across the country in NorAm races, and a few have even competed in their first World...[Read more]
Friday, February 3, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cross-country skiing, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
I arranged to take the morning off, knowing that we were to get some fresh snow on Sunday night. I made a good decision!
I headed over to Bolton Valley Resort to get my morning powder fix. I'd say there was about 5 to 6 inches of fresh and it had blown deeper in many places. Plus, it snowed all morning, despite the sunny weather down in town. We were in a snow cloud.
For those who like the groomed packed powder, it was lovely. For those who seek out powder like I do, it was...[Read more]
Monday, January 30, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley
Thursday featured skiing above the clouds at some of Vermont's ski resorts, while Thursday night and Friday featured a mix of snow, sleet and rain. Grrrrrrrrr.
The ski resorts are reporting that they picked up a couple inches of snow, but they also got freezing rain and plain old rain. The groomers will have to work their magic!
Check on the latest conditions on our Vermont ski resort snow conditions page, where we have direct links to snow reports.
In Print
In...[Read more]
Friday, January 27, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cross-country skiing
Charities are making it fun to raise money for their causes by bringing the fund-raisers to the ski slopes and nordic trails. Here are a few events this winter that might pique your interest.
Tubbs Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer to benefitVT/NH Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure3k or 5k snowshoe, walk or raceStratton MountainJanuary 28Website
Camel's Hump Challenge to benefit Vermont Alzheimer's AssociationChallenging backcountry tour around Camel's...[Read more]
Thursday, January 26, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cross-country skiing
We’ve seen some nice photos of fresh snow around the state. We’ll be out in it this weekend — will you?[Read more]
Friday, January 13, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bromley, Cross-country skiing, Stowe
Today was all about fast, cruising ski runs at Sugarbush’s Mount Ellen. I headed over to spend some time on my alpine skis on a cloudy morning turned partly sunny midday.
I zipped down the stiff corduroy snow in the morning and stayed on the snowmaking trails, which had a solid base. At the top of Vermont's highest chairlift (top station is perched at over 4,000 feet), the trees were encrusted in natural snow and the views were great. I saw both of Vermont and New...[Read more]
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Food, coffee & après ski, Sugarbush
The Skimeister and I got out on the trails at Bolton Valley Resort during the lunch hour and early afternoon today. We took our telemark skis and played on the packed powder ski runs, which were not very busy on this Friday.
The ski area had about four to five inches of fresh, natural snow on the sides of the trails and on less-traveled connector trails. It was fun to plow through some freshies!
The coverage on the snowmaking trails was very good and we enjoyed taking runs on the Mid-Mountain...[Read more]
Friday, January 6, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley
Some fresh snow fell on ski areas in Vermont yesterday, most notably at the northern resorts, and today it is darn chilly and that is just fine with me! The ski resorts are reporting that they are cranking out the snow from their snowguns and snow fans.
In other news, I came across some interesting techie news recently ... I’ve learned of two Vermont ski resorts that are now viewable with the “street view” feature that is available on...[Read more]
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Burke, Stowe, Western skiing
Ski resorts in the northern and central parts of Vermont picked up another round of unexpectedly high snowfall yesterday. Depending on location, it was on the order of 6 to 12 inches of snow! (Check the snow reports on our Vermont Ski Resorts page for details.)
Base areas first experienced some rain and then it changed to snow as the temperatures dropped through the day and, well, it just kept snowing! Today we have cold temperatures that are surely helping with snowmaking, as...[Read more]
Thursday, December 29, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Pico, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush
Things got a bit jollier at the end of this week when Vermont ski resorts received anywhere from an inch to six inches of natural snowfall. It really made for a beautiful day at Bolton Valley resort. I took laps in the sun on the Vista Quad chair and enjoyed looking at the frosty trees that were all around me.
I skied the available route from the summit that was made up of Sherman's Pass and Bear Run. I actually took my telemark gear out today to get more practice on...[Read more]
Saturday, December 24, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley
Boy there’s a lot of snowmaking going on lately! Seems like the ski resorts are opening new terrain every few days or — in some cases — every day!
Stowe Mountain Resort reported that it set a new record: “We had over 130 snowguns running continuously this past weekend.” And I saw the snowguns in action on the petite Cochran’s ski area this weekend.
All the ski resorts are talking up their snowmaking “firepower” and respect for their hard-working snowmaking teams. (A...[Read more]
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cochran's, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Mad River Glen, Magic, Northeast Slopes, Stowe, Suicide Six, Trapp Family Lodge
Vermont ski resorts are enticing never-ever skiers to join the wonderful community that is made up of skiers and snowboarders. (We are a special group, aren’t we!?!)
A dozen ski resorts have joined with Ski Vermont to offer a $29 learn-to-ski package in January. It’s offered on non-holiday days in January and you have to reserve in advance through Ski Vermont or the mountain of your choice starting December 19.
What’s included? How about a ski or...[Read more]
Thursday, December 15, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Ticket discounts
I knew the forecast called for a gloriously sunny Monday, so I rearranged my work schedule to get some runs in this morning instead of over the busy weekend. And I was rewarded with an uncrowded early-season ski morning at Sugarbush!
Skiers and riders were skiing the top of the mountain when I arrived. Jester and Downspout were open so I did laps on them via the Heaven's Gate chair, which goes to the top of the 3975-foot-high Lincoln Peak. Later in the morning the...[Read more]
Monday, December 12, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Fall & Early season, Sugarbush
One to seven inches of snow fell around the state on Wednesday night to help make things look a bit more wintry in Vermont. Today and tonight some areas will see snow showers.
Dipping temperatures have helped with plans for three more ski resorts to spin their lifts for the first time this weekend. Bolton Valley Resort plans to open Saturday, as does Mount Snow. Bromley Mountain plans to open on Sunday.
Mount Snow will celebrate the "first flight" of the Bluebird Express, its...[Read more]
Friday, December 9, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Bromley, Cross-country skiing, Fall & Early season, Mount Snow, Okemo
What a nice, sunny weekend. And it featured some first-of-the-season happenings today:
Stratton opened for the season Smugglers’ Notch opened for the season I got my first turns of the season today!
While it was a windy day, and lift holds were apparently an issue at Sugarbush, I was able to get some morning runs in at Smugglers’ Notch for the first time this ski season!
Smuggs opened its Sterling Lift and and essentially one long run today. I heard some...[Read more]
Sunday, December 4, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Fall & Early season, Smugglers' Notch, Stratton, Sugarbush
This time of year can really try a skier's patience. Temperatures rise and fall. Rain can sneek in, rather than snow. And sometimes we can get a blizzard. You just never know.
As we turned our calendars to December this week, some colder temperatures returned to the region — thankfully — after a warm spell. Snowmaking guns and fans could be heard at several of Vermont's ski resorts. Small armies of snowmakers were painting the ski trails white.
This weekend Stowe, Okemo and...[Read more]
Friday, December 2, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Fall & Early season, Jay Peak, Killington, Okemo, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush
This Thanksgiving we're thankful for some fresh snow falling in Vermont! Some higher elevations and ski areas are reporting 6 to 10 inches of new snow so far this morning. The amount depends on location. A wide central swath of the state seems to have picked up a good snowfall.
This morning a few more ski resorts announced their plans to open. So here's a recap of where you can ski in Vermont (these have been announced as of 9 a.m. this morning).
Killington (has been...[Read more]
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Fall & Early season, Jay Peak, Killington, Okemo, Stowe, Sugarbush
I flew in over a frosty-topped Camel's Hump yesterday afternoon after a trip out of town. I soon heard that the forecast calls for a winter storm tonight into Wednesday! Could be a few to several inches of snow accumulation, or a mix of rain and snow depending where you are in Vermont. [See forecast.]
The new colder temperatures and potential snowfall may help those Vermont ski resorts that want to open this Thanksgiving week and weekend.
Stowe has confirmed that they will...[Read more]
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Fall & Early season, Jay Peak, Killington, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Stratton, Sugarbush
For the 2011 - 2012 ski season, new ski lifts are being installed at three ski resorts in Vermont. New lifts are coming online at Stowe and Burke Mountain up north, and Mount Snow in the south.
Here's the scoop on these resort improvement projects:
Stowe Mountain quad
A new high-speed, detachable quad replaces the old one that's been in service since the 1980s. The new "Four-Runner" unloads a bit higher above the Octagon summit lodge than the former...[Read more]
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Burke, Mount Snow, Resort improvements, Stowe
With that crazy October snowstorm, Mother Nature allowed Killington to get a jump-start to the ski season. The resort continues to offer skiing daily as weather and conditions allow.
Meanwhile, other Vermont ski resorts are pulling out their snowmaking guns and fans and preparing the lifts and base lodges for skiers and riders later in November and December.
Ski Vermont recently reported these tentative opening dates:
October 29: Killington...[Read more]
Saturday, November 5, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Fall & Early season, Jay Peak, Killington, Mount Snow, Okemo, Stowe, Stratton, Sugarbush
Yes, we haven't yet hit November — the time when several Vermont ski resorts target their opening dates — but we've got lifts spinning just the same! Mount Snow opened a small jib park with lift service for the weekend, while Killington opened a couple of trails serviced by riding the K-1 Gondola to the Northridge Triple.
The October 29 storm that made a snowy mess in the northeast last night dumped some snow on southern and central Vermont mountains. Not nearly...[Read more]
Sunday, October 30, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Fall & Early season, Killington, Mount Snow
—UPDATE ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28: Killington and Mount Snow ski resorts in Vermont will both open for skiing this weekend with very, very limited terrain. Check their snow report links on our Vermont ski resorts page for full details. —
Well the weather forecasters were right; we got some snow in the mountains of Vermont today!
The temperatures have dropped and with a couple inches of natural snow in central and southern Vermont, Killington has decided to start making...[Read more]
Thursday, October 27, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Fall & Early season, Killington, Mount Snow, Stratton
Updated 2/3/2012
When it comes to the 2011 - 2012 ski season, are you wondering what’s new for lift ticket discounts in Vermont? We’ve been compiling our annual list of what we think are some of the better lift ticket deals and promotions so that you can start shopping around.
As usual, we’ll update this blog post as new ticket discounts are announced throughout the fall and ski season.
Of course, when it comes to getting the best value for your skiing dollar, it’s...[Read more]
Friday, October 21, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Burke, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush, Ticket discounts
On October 23 in Killington, four skiers will be inducted into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame. They are mogul champ Karen Huntoon Miller, longtime ski coach Greg McClallen, nordic expert John Morton, and resort leader Preston Leete Smith.
Here is a bit about the new hall of famers from the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum website.
Karen Huntoon, originally of Brandon / Rutland and a graduate of Rutland High School, won five world championships in mogul skiing and is now in...[Read more]
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cross-country skiing
After a delicious lunch stop at the The Mad Taco in Waitsfield, I headed up to Sugarbush for an afternoon of sunny spring skiing. I feasted on corn snow — that super soft, granular snow that we get to enjoy in the spring.
I tackled lots of bumps on runs such as Organgrinder, Paradise and Murphy's Glades. The moguls were like heaping spoonfuls of mashed potatoes.
The only thing that threw me was some unexpected ice while descending Paradise, an expert trail off the Heaven's Gate Triple. This...[Read more]
Friday, April 22, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Food, coffee & après ski, Spring skiing, Sugarbush
You can still ride the lifts at three ski resorts in Vermont: Sugarbush, Jay Peak and Killington. And the weather looks nice for Friday and perhaps Sunday, which is Easter.
Are you going to hop to it and get in some of your last runs of the year? I think I'll have to get out there one more time! I'll let you know where I end up.
I'll also continue to update my post about which ski resorts are still open in Vermont.[Read more]
Thursday, April 21, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Jay Peak, Killington, Spring skiing, Sugarbush
I met up with a couple ski buddies at Smugglers' Notch on Friday for an afternoon of sun and snow and smiles. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there really is a lot of snow up in the mountains in northern Vermont! (I believe there are over 90 inches of snow at the stake atop Mt. Mansfield, for example.)
We like skiing in the glades so we hit up several of them including Shakedown and Bermuda. We only had to avoid an occasional stump or rock. It really is amazing for April.
Get...[Read more]
Saturday, April 9, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Smugglers' Notch, Spring skiing
Had a great time skiing with some ski buddies at Smugglers' Notch, Vermont, on Saturday. We enjoyed about 3 to 4 inches of new snow on top of a very strong base of snow. We kept remarking how good the coverage was despite this late date!
I especially enjoyed the terrific conditions in the glades. Not many rocks or stumps to avoid. Add some sun, some dramatic clouds, short lift lines and very comfortable temperatures and you couldn't have asked for a nicer day on the slopes!
A few Vermont ski...[Read more]
Sunday, April 3, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Smugglers' Notch, Spring skiing
Updated 5/10/11
I've been checking in on the dates that Vermont ski resorts are closing. Typically the smaller ski areas close first because of lower elevations and smaller operating budgets.
This is not a complete list because the ski resorts don't always announce their intentions in advance. Please check the website of the resort you'd like to go to before you head for the hills! We have links on our Vermont ski resorts page.
Closed as of March 30:
Pico MountainMt. Ellen side of...[Read more]
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Bromley, Burke, Cross-country skiing, Killington, Okemo, Spring skiing, Stowe, Sugarbush
I skied at Smugglers' Notch ski resort on Friday, and I have to tell you: It's still winter up on the hill!
We skied in three inches of fresh powder, on top of the snow they got earlier this week. The coverage was very good for the end of March. In fact, it felt more like late-February!
I was skeptical about what we would find in the woods, because we had warm temperatures last week and then it's been cold since. But it was even good where they hadn't groomed! The glades were great!
The...[Read more]
Saturday, March 26, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Smugglers' Notch, Spring skiing
Looks like most Vermont ski resorts picked up about 2 - 6 inches of new snow on the first day of spring. That should help things a bit after a warm, sunny weekend.
Okemo, Killington and Bolton Valley ski areas all report about 4 - 5 inches. And temps will stay cool this week so we'll likely see a few more flakes.
On another note, we heard some news from Stowe Mountain Resort this week. They’ll be replacing the FourRunner Quad with a new, modern detachable quad. The FourRunner was installed in...[Read more]
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Killington, Okemo, Spring skiing, Stowe
Scenes from a glorious March spring skiing day in northern Vermont!
I skied at Stowe on St. Patrick's Day. (One of the two discount days of the year when I can afford to ski there.)
There's still a lot of snow in the mountains! Coverage was excellent!
Warning: Some of these images may induce bouts of extreme jealousy. Proceed with caution.[Read more]
Thursday, March 17, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Spring skiing, Stowe
There are skiing discounts available in Vermont for St. Patrick's Day — and you don't even have to be Irish to enjoy them!
Right now I count six lift ticket discounts in Vermont for Thursday, March 17. Get your green on and go take some runs!
Look at this lift ticket discount blog post to learn more about the St. Patrick's Day deals on March 17. These are the Vermont ski resorts who are offering the deals:
Burke Mountain Mad River Glen Mount Snow Smugglers' Notch Stowe Mountain...[Read more]
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Spring skiing, Ticket discounts
It's been exciting to have the nation’s best collegiate skiers around this week in Stowe!
First the good news: Congratulations to UVM's Tim Kelley on his top performance in Saturday's NCAA championship slalom race. This Starksboro, Vermont, native is the 2011 slalom champ!
Other area skiers in the top 10 included Trevor Leafe of Dartmouth in 4th place and Andrew McNealus of Middlebury College in 6th place. McNealus hails from Woodstock, Vermont. Leafe is from New Hampshire and he...[Read more]
Saturday, March 12, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Stowe
Top college ski teams after day one of NCAA skiing championships in Stowe, Vermont:
1 U. Colorado 2 Dartmouth 3 U. Utah 4 UVM 5 U. New Mexico 6 Denver U. 7 U. Alaska/ Anchorage 8 UNH 9 Middlebury 10 U. Montana
Let's go, Cats!
On Wednesday, in addition to the regularly scheduled nordic races, they also snuck Thursday's GS ski racing in a day early in anticipation of warmer temperatures (i.e. soft snow) and mixed precipitation....[Read more]
Thursday, March 10, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cross-country skiing, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
The good times certainly rolled today on the mountain. With more than two feet of new snow, warm temps and bright blue skies, today was an amazing day to be skiing in northern Vermont!
At Smugglers' Notch, I met up with a friend who had the same idea that I had: to rearrange the work schedule to accommodate some powder skiing. It felt like I was back skiing in Colorado. The sun came out bright and strong just a day after a really big snowstorm. So sweet!
I woke my feet up by taking my first...[Read more]
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Smugglers' Notch
The snowstorm that is currently hitting Vermont has been most ferocious in the northern part of the Green Mountains. (It's about time! Several of the storms this season favored southern Vermont!)
Here's what Vermont ski resorts are reporting for snowfalls via social media as of 7 and 8 am Monday morning. And it's still snowing in northern Vermont.
Note: Check with the resort before you drive there. Some are indicating late openings or ice (southern Vermont) and weather-affected lift...[Read more]
Monday, March 7, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Smugglers' Notch, Sugarbush
What a fun morning to be skiing on my newish, wider skis! The width came in handy in the wind-blown powder at Bolton Valley, Vt., this morning. Area ski resorts received about a foot of new snow with the snowstorm that hit Vermont yesterday.
It must have been quite windy yesterday and last night. On wider trails the snow was a bit wind-packed. But if you found a part of a trail that doesn't get whipped by wind, or if you were in the glades, you found softer, fluffier snow. It was a...[Read more]
Saturday, February 26, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley
Skiers in Vermont are all a-twitter about today's snowstorm. It's been snowing heavily, starting in southern Vermont and working its way up to northern Vermont.
Here in the Champlain Valley, I was disappointed not to wake up to the sound of a snowplow, but by 10 a.m. the roads were getting white and the snow had been coming down hard. (Here's a shot of snow falling against my car at 10:30. The snowbank remains from past storms.)
Magic Mountain, Mount Snow and Stratton ski resorts already...[Read more]
Friday, February 25, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing
Oliver, the Smugglers' Notch telemark instructor who coached me this week, seems to have the same skiing philosophy that I do. Why stick only to skiing on the trails and why stick to just one kind of skiing? Branching out and trying something new will keep skiing forever fun and interesting!
This is what I've been doing for the last eight years or so. This lifelong alpine skier married a former nordic ski racer, so guess what new sport I picked up? Then I was introduced to...[Read more]
Friday, February 18, 2011
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Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Backcountry skiing, Cross-country skiing, Smugglers' Notch
