Say YES.
A program that gets low-to-moderate-income youths from the Boston area to the slopes is turning 40. Since 1968, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) says it has helped more than 100,000 kids get outside while building self-esteem and respect. Part of its outreach includes a ski and snowboard program that runs Dec. 8 to March 20.
"Because of participating ski areas' belief in our mission and generous donation of lift tickets and resources, our entire winter programming is assured," said YES president Mary Williams.
The program ventures to Black Mountain, Jiminy Peak, Killington, Magic Mountain, Mt. Abram, Pico, Pats Peak, Loon, Shawnee Peak, Ski Butternut, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, Mount Sunapee, and Wachusett Mountain.
YES is always looking for adult volunteers to do everything from teach to chaperone trips. To volunteer, contact Will Morales at 617-267-5877 ext. 20 or wmorales@yeskids.org.
Packed with goodies
While the New England snowsports community engages in its annual early-season ritual of waiting for the white stuff, an embarrassment of riches has blanketed Alyeska Resort, about 40 miles south of Anchorage.Since the start of November, 258 inches of snow has fallen at the Alyeska summit. When added to the preseason base of 40 inches that fell in early autumn, that equates to nearly 25 feet of snow. For a closer-to-home comparison, the average amount of snowfall at Mount Washington is 256 inches - for the entire winter.
Before you get jealous, there's a catch: You can't ski or board Alyeska right now.
The mountain has been closed since Thanksgiving because rain, temperatures in the 40's, and wind gusts up to 100 miles per hour have created an unstable snowpack. High avalanche warnings have been posted, and after missing nearly a week's worth of operation, the resort is tentatively scheduled to reopen with limited terrain by the end of this week.
The X is for extra
The 12th Winter X Games (Jan. 24-27 at Aspen, Colo.) will feature a trio of new twists to the event's eclectic lineup of snowsports: Snowmobile speed and style, skiing big air, and snowboard big air. Also, judging in some disciplines has been expanded to allow for fan voting via text messaging.Snowmobile speed and style combines aerial aspects of freestyle with speed of snowcross. The head-to-head competition is conducted around a course with multiple jumps and obstacles. Scoring is based on trick difficulty and time elapsed.
The two new big air contests will be limited to four competitors in each category, and the scoring will be partially viewer-interactive, divided equally between fan voting and judging by television analysts.
Helping others
Veterans from across the country are encouraged to participate in the 22d National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo., March 30-April 5.The subsidized program instructs disabled veterans in adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing, providing mono-skis and bi-skis, if required. Stand-up skiing programs are available for the visually impaired, and alternate activities include sled hockey, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and curling. More than 200 certified ski instructors for the disabled, including several current and former members of the US Disabled Ski Team, help run the event.
According to Jenny Tankersley Ballou of the Veterans Affairs public relations department, the annual event draws between 350-370 participants; nearly 400 participants are expected to attend this year.
The deadline for filing an application is Dec. 15. The clinic limits costs to just lodging and meals, but Ballou said national scholarship programs are available, and local organizations often pay the way for disabled athletes to attend.
"Rarely is it the case that veterans have to pay the costs," she said.
Details are available by calling 970-244-1314.
By the numbers
Snowsports Industries of America recently released its annual Intelligence Report, the 30th such update on the trends, sales, participation, and demographics in the market.The Alpine skier and snowboard participation in the United States continue to show a decline from 13 million in 2003 to 11.6 million in 2006. Another 2.56 million people participated in Nordic skiing in 2006, over 600,000 more than in 2005.
Alpine skier participation declined since 2000, from 7.39 million to 6.39 million. And while snowboarders have increased from 4.347 million to 5.2 million in 2006, their numbers have declined since 2004 when they outnumbered Alpine skiers for the first time.
The Rocky Mountains continue to lead the nation in the number of skier visits (20.85 million in the 2006-07 season), with the Northeast (11.8 million visits) second.
Although total visits partly reflect weather trends, the Northeast declined from 13.6 million in 2004-05, while the Rockies showed an increase at the same time, up from 19.6 million visits.
Overall skier/boarder visits in the country declined from 56.88 million in 2004-05 to last season's total of 55.06 million.
The SIA report also shows a decline in numbers of skis and boards sold (in snow sports retail shops) over the last three seasons. Skis dropped from 372,915 pair sold in 2004-05 to 248,652 last season. Over the same period, board sales declined from 336,966 to 305,723.
Park it here
Mosey over to the Wild West at Bretton Woods. Plans call for a new all-natural terrain park on West Mountain as the season progresses. "The elements will be log rails, tree bridges, and ledge jumps," said ski area public relations manager Irene Donnell. Down Route 302 at Attitash, events coordinator Corey Maddens says Bear Peak will get its first terrain park, located off the Avenger trail . . . To be 16 again. That's the cutoff age for Waterville Valley's season-long Little Slammer Series that starts this weekend. There are two categories: Little Slam and Big Slam. Both are competitions loaded with prize opportunities. The Little Slam is free, while Big Slammers pay $5 at each session and have a shot at winning a one-year Waterville Valley sponsorship that includes a season pass. Skiers compete Saturday, riders Sunday . . . Get the adrenaline going during Wachusett's film festival Dec. 5-8. The showcases start Wednesday with two Warren Miller movies, followed Thursday by a couple from Teton Gravity Research. Friday it's the goods from Level One, which includes the flick "Sublimation Experiment" with Chris Kitchen, who skied Wachusett before moving to Jackson Hole, Wyo. Saturday's theme is snowboarding . . . Ever want a day dedicated to you? That's part of the prize package being offered during Ski Sundown's contest to name its new 4-acre signature terrain park on Stinger. E-mail your suggestions to the New Hartford, Conn., ski area at namethepark@skisundown.com by Dec. 31. The winner also gets a season pass. Dedication day is Jan. 5.Globe correspondents T.D. Thornton and Tony Chamberlain contributed to this report.
