You could argue that one or two more East Coast ski resorts should have made the cut, but there's no doubt that Jay Peak belongs on Outside Magazine's list of North America's 16 best ski resorts.

The Vermont resort was the only ski area east of the Mississippi to make the magazine's list, featured in this month's edition. In the category, "perfect for off-piste," local expert Chris Young, a principal at Craftsbury School, wrote:

It's not your typical warm, wet East Coast snow. The storms stick around for a few days. We might not get Utah's four-foot dumps, but the glade system maintains the snow longer—there are skiable pockets for days after the storm if you know where to go. People divide the mountain into two sides: Tramside and Stateside. The Tramside runs tend to have longer vertical and get more traffic. Two epic Tramside glade runs are Staircase and Everglade—they go on forever and have steep, tight lines. I ski Stateside; it's easier to get farther out of bounds. Local knowledge comes in handy. I'm going to get killed if I give you any more information.

The other resorts to make the list were Alta/Snowbird, Snowmass, Whistler-Blackcomb, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Jackson Hole, Alyeska Resort, Silverton Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City, Power Mountain, Bridger Bowl, Crested Butte, Steamboat, Taos, and Mammoth Mountain.

Some interesting numbers here from Snowsports Industries America's 2009 Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report (via AlpineZone):

• 1 in 14 of Americans consider themselves to be skiers or riders
• 14.8 million Americans participated in a snow sport in 2008
• The average snow sports participant is about 30 years old, has a college degree and household income exceeding $100,000 annually
• 1 in 5 female snowboarders are over 35 years old and plenty of girls are in the pipeline
• The snow sports demographic experienced a doubling in unemployment rate during the 2008.09 season as the economy tanked

That last statistic could prove significant for ski resorts during the 2009-10 season. While it's not surprising that the unemployment rate for skiers and riders would be on par with the rest of the country, it will be interesting to note whether this means longer mid-week lift lines with people out of work, or more enticing midweek deals to lure the cash-strapped unemployed to the slopes.

Check out this LINK.

The CEO of Vail Resorts Co. gave up his 2009 salary = $840K.

White Gold has perks,
S.G.

Check this LINK as seen on SkiNet.com.

Kind of disturbing....

Feedback Welcome

S.G.

The Sunday/Monday Snowstorm absolutely reeked havoc on the S.G.’s travel plans. It also gave the New England ski areas a much needed shot of powder. The areas further south in NH and East in MA caught the windfall getting double digit totals.

This link will show where the best snows fell (note: sort with the "last modified" tab at the top). NOAA Snow Maps

Fact: March is the BEST month to ski and ride in our region.

the S.G. hitting the Tower Three Chute at Jackson Hole on 2/28

Tonight – Saturday 2/21/09 - Bretton Woods and Bolton Valley both have night skiing!

These areas have seen the best snows in New England over the last 48 hours.

Night Move: If you are stuck inside reading this and are getting a little spooked by the Monster snow storm heading our way - then the night move could be the right move. You are going to have to get ready and leave soon. In the car by 3:00 = a few hours of Powder Turns under the lights!

photo courtesy - Bretton Woods, taken 2/20/09

People, some congratulations are in order. Let us all give some - standing on her skis - props to Katie Leake. She is a native of Marblehead, MA and spends most of her days on the snow getting after it at Sugarbush, VT.

On Thursday 2/19/09 she reeled in a VERY respectable fourth place in the U.S. Junior Extreme Skiing Championships!

This is an annual event, and in the S.G.’s opinion one of the best each season. It is always held at Crested Butte in Colorado. The difference between this year and most is that the resort has seen world class snow. All the ropes dropped on the premier expert sections of the mountain. Spots like the infamous “Headwall” were open to competitors, so they could throw down their best lines.

pic of Katie Leake - courtesy of her

Here is something you can circle up on your calendar. Saturday 02/28/09 is the first ever Saddleback Mountain Challenge (SMC).

This is a serious race.

If you got the right gear, and are into physically challenging things - keep reading...

The Ski Mountains of New England are in line to receive over a foot of new snow. Some could even see up to 20 inches out of this snow event.

Do not be fooled when things start to switch from flakes to a wintery mix, and then possibly even rain here in the Hub, because tomorrow (Thursday) could be one of the best ski days we see this year in the Northeast!

If you can somehow finagle a day trip go for it!

Use this link to keep an eye on your favorite mountains Conditions. Most resorts will update new snow totals twice a day (early morning and when the lifts close around 4 pm).

Radar image from AccuWeather

They start tonight (1/22/09). ESPN has them. The Disney influence makes viewing family friendly. Tune In...

Good television watching. Snow events are cool.

Here is a LINK to get your online fix.

Two weekends past, I was up at Killington. Third run on Saturday the 10th is when I tweaked my back. No fall, just a turn that did not agree.

It put me on the shelf for 9 days.

It was strange because almost every other time the back has gone out there was a distinct moment and action the lead to the surprise burst of pain. This time it crept up on me and I was caught in the middle of a run contemplating on how I was going to limp to the base lodge and eventually get home.

covered with snow in January 2009

The Maine resort hit the jackpot on MLK Day with 18 inches of fresh snow.

Sugarloaf operated on Monday with 131/138 trails. Those open included the steep runs of the front face of the snowfields.

First tracks on White Nitro - pic coutesy of Sugarloaf

The list of options for MLK weekend keeps growing. WaWa has lined up an international snowboarding icon for a visit this Saturday (01/17/09). Given that the ski area in Princeton, MA is only about an hour away from downtown Boston this is an easy win.

Ross will be the judge of honor for a Slopestyle Competition that is open to any competitors who care/dare to sign up. A slopestyle event incorporates runs down a closed course with Big Airs and Rails.

Looks like New Years Eve day is going to bring us a shot of much needed new SNOWFALL.

This is great news!

S.G. Thought: Take one last vacation day from the job in 2008 and make a ski trip happen tomorrow. Maybe it is just a day trip. Maybe you can spend a New Years Eve in the mountains.

Honestly, it looks like the best snow is going to fall on the southern ski areas. The Day Trip is a solid pick, especially if you already have NYE plans and need to be back in town for the ball drop.

New England will be covered with white, fluffy POWDER this weekend.

Old Man Winter has shown up to the party early this season, with bells on! This storm should sock most of the mountains in New England with a foot or more of new snow.

radar image from Accuweather.com

The ice storm that crippled a large portion of New England last week has taken its toll on some ski areas. There are still a lot of folks attempting to recover from the blow Mother Nature dealt last week.

What to use your chain saw? Think Wachusett in Princeton, MA.

From WaWa

For anyone interested in volunteering, we are organizing work parties to meet in front of the Ski Patrol Building on Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 a.m. for instructions. Bring a helmet, work boots and gloves and chain saws.

Icing was a problem. It will continue to be a problem.

Very cold air is on the way into New England. Many of the southern areas are going to being dealing with hard and fast conditions tomorrow. One would imagine currently they are doing everything in their power (no pun intended) to groom the ice out of the snow surface.

Saturday should be a nice day to ski. Most of New England will be in the 20’s and prevailing sunshine. Kind of a bummer, because if that storm tracked another 50 miles south the “Day Trip” would have been the business this weekend.

There are cancellations all over the local evening newscasts.

Hope for cold air. We want to see that line move south tonight.

image from Accuweather.com

There is some seriuos Swooshing going on up at Bretton Woods.

This video was shoot yesterday (12/8) by Ski New Hampshire - Enjoy.

Here is a great pick for the weekend if you are willing to brave a little extra windshield time. Skiing from the lofty summit is available at now Sugarloaf, ME. The mountain has had a tremendous start to the season, one of their best in decades.

The area has experienced a stretch of wonderful early season weather, which will continue with great snowmaking conditions. Even better, more natural flakes are in the forecast.

I saw this picture hit the Inbox and had to share.

Taken at Loveland which picked up over four feet of snow Thankgiving weekend.

pic form CSCUSA

more on the CO storm...

How quickly things change. On Monday night, I was looking at the weather and was pretty much convinced that the past week and a half of perfect snowmaking was going to be completely washed away. New England braced for a powerful weather system. It looked like all rain…

Not so fast... It Snowed! Many of the mountains checked in with double-digit tallies. Better yet, there is still more in the forecast for Friday.

Tom H. testing the new product yesterday, picture form Killington

Airlines raising prices has been a hot topic. Be careful this year on your destination trip. Bottom line is the penalties will get expensive quickly so look into the carriers policies before locking in your ticket.

Five out of the last 6 times I have flown (for mountains) I have not brought my skis with me. It is easier to demo at the resort. Budget about 125 dollars for this piece of the trip. Do your homework and call around ahead of your arrival to reserve some gear. Tell your friends to do the same.

The last place I brought my skis to was Moonlight Basin, MT. Back then, the completely over stuffed ski and boot bags were free as one piece of luggage. If I tried that this year I am certain there would be a cost or plenty from the airline.

Simon Dumont took "Go Big or Go Home" to another level last week at Sunday River.

He is from Bethel, so he went home --- and then he went BIGGER than anyone has ever gone before!

The Record: Highest Air on a Quaterpipe

The story is attached.

photo from Sunday River & Red Bull

The resort in West Dover, VT already bagged first to open in the state. For a long time running a place about 2 hours north on VT Route 100 has held that crown.

Times in New England most definitely are a`changing.

With only a few weekends left for the warriors --- it is time to think about next season.

I am glad to read that Mount Snow is pulling out all the stops.

There is a lot going on this spring in New England. I am going to try and dish out information from various mountains as it hits my Inbox...

Hope you find these posts helpful.

There is a TON of snow in the mountains still...take adavantage of what looks to be the best Spring Skiing in years for New England!

In this post what you need to know from Okemo, VT.

This time of year, you can usually get some deals.

Spring Passes although rare, do exist. Season passes for next year are on sale and most of them will get you lift rides the rest of this season as a bonus. Here are a few that hit my radar.

S.G. Tip - If you have a favorite resort keep you eye on their website, heck give the customer service a call and ask them what’s up.

S.G. Note - If you do call, first ask if it is snowing. That is a S.G. rule of thumb. Whenever I call a ski area or anything around the mountains, I always ask if it is snowing.

Here is a quick data dump of things that hit my inbox and caught my attention.

I hope that some of you find this useful. Spring is here and we still have over a month of good skiing left in New England. Some of the regions biggest events on the snow are right around the corner.

New Website: Check this website put out there by SIA. Not too shabby… I gave it a few quick turns…and found some useful stuff of all walks after digging around a little. Look for yourself, you are probably reading this at work anyway. SNOWLINK

The S.G. muscled up to the Mad River Valley on Friday night.

The drive took 4 hours and some. Roads were not perfect. Overall, though, it was not a very difficult ride. I was not in a rush and missed the bulk of the Friday evening traffic by holding back my departure from the Hub until almost 8:00 pm.

heading to Paradise on Saturday morning atop Lincoln Peak

This will be the first of a 2 part series. Going to start with South on Saturday now, North on Sunday later. Here is how Saturday went down...

Wow! Out of nowhere, snow rules the forecast again for New England!

Only a few days ago I was sweating the next few weeks of the ski season as most long range outlooks were calling for warmer then average temperatures and precipitation that was not exactly frozen. Honestly, I feared the worst for the month of February and possibly beyond.

As of tonight, things have done a complete 180º. Unfortunately areas to the south did not fair so well today, but those further north picked up some invaluable new snow totals.

radar image from Intellicast.com

There is a post on the FORUM that details this type of thing.

The S.G. got these photos from my mother. They are of Dubia, United Arab Emirates. Her source will remain ‘unknown’ but they could be from anywhere…the intranet is all knowing.

Nevertheless, I thought they were worth sharing.

This is apparently what you build when $$$ are not an option.

under construction...

The Superpipe at Killington is Brand New and open for business!

I snapped this picture of the Pipe Dragon hard at work on Sunday afternoon.

Check out how far it throws the snow over the deck!

This is the pow quote from Accuweather as seen 01/22/08 @ 10:38 pm EST - Check this LINK

The clipper on Wednesday will reach the Midwest before moving into the mid-Atlantic region by Thursday. There is the potential the clipper could develop into a coastal storm that may bring snow to the mid-Atlantic coast and extreme southeastern New England.

Sunday = Game Day - photo, S.G.

New SNOW! Not to late to still get north.

Check out this radar loop form Accuweather.com. Looks like the perfect scenario for the evening drive to the Ski Mountains from Boston. This storm should actually give way to clear, starlit skies by the time the whistle blows for the working masses.

If you are still debating about the weekend, just go ski. Here a few things you should be aware of…

• Today’s storm is going to drop on average a half foot in the North Country.
• Ski areas have had the snowmaking online for over 48 hours.
• There is a chance for more snow on Saturday night.
• Sunday is going to be Very COLD, bring your warmest gear.
• Conditions should be best in the mornings before a lot of traffic hits the slopes.
• Monday is a holiday for most.

This season Mad River Glen is getting a lot of attention. It should be because the skiing up there right now is absolutely World Class. Everything is open!

As of Saturday, the mountain had already received 5 feet of natural snow (w/ a foot of that on Thurs).

Open trails/terrain for all abilities

• green circles groomed to perfection View image
• blue squares with untracked edges and small soft bumps in the center
• black diamonds with packed pow and large bumps
• virgin powder and bumped lines galore in the trees

what is this?

Tuesday night and the midterm snow totals are out, posted by most areas. There were plenty of big winners. Two feet over the last 48 hours is a very good way to start December.

The thing is most of the mountains continue to see the flakes falling. This is not going to change until Thursday afternoon. In fact, an additional disturbance will be a snowmaker if/when it hits us (half dozen inches) Friday evening into Saturday.

This New Hampshire ski area got a very big snowmaking upgrade this summer.

It works!

Attitash has not wasted anytime showing off their new ability to conjure up a blizzard.

The S.G. got a close up peak at one of the 34 monster fan cannons they hooked up with at the Ski Expo. Some of the folks in the booth were giving me the hairy eyeball as I climbed all over this thing like a kid with my camera clicking.

Awesome piece of equipment!

After the two big guns in Maine opened their slopes to skiers and riders it goes unsaid that more ski areas across New England would be following the lead.

This weekend Bretton Woods was the first New Hampshire mountain to take advantage of the cold air over the past week and show off the hard wok of the mountain operations snowmaking team.

Waist Deep, good snowmaking

Take a guess.

Nothing?

Fine, it is Sugarloaf USA, ME! Friday 11/09.2007 is the areas opening day.

Q: Um, what is going on up there in Maine?!?!?

Sunday River in Bethel, Maine is the first ski resort to open in New England.

They were able to beat out the rest of the crowd by spinning the lifts on Halloween (maniacs) and now they have them turning full time.

Fact 1: The Locke Mountain Triple opened for skiers and riders on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 11:30 a.m.

a little proof

Sugarloaf USA, Maine is reporting snow.

Sweet....the season is right around the corner.

picture taken around 15:15, report of 4-5 inches up top ~ supplied by Sugarloaf

It is beginning to look, feel, and smell like winter in the Hub.

That actually means the folks at Boston.com are testing the Ski Guru blog system like the mountains of New England are blowing the mice out of their ski areas snow making pipes.

Warning: This is a warm up entry, knocking the rust off the edges and dried mud off the boots.

Attitash, NH - flexing a $2.5 million improvement to their snowmaking on 10/29/07

There was a bunch of noise this past weekend up in Killington, VT. Some originating form the ground, but most seemed to be coming from the folks hanging on the lifts.

A thirty plus inch dump of fresh snow gets people pretty fired up. Personally, I got the “Snowboarder Down!” whistle into play (built into my jacket). I also threw around a little, “Get Some!”

In the Growler trees I was hooting and hollering my way down a fresh line and folks were yelling back from the Skye Peak Quad.

the crew working on the bump course for this weekends event on O.L.

Winter is not done yet.

These past few days it has begun to feel a lot like springtime. Do not get used to it. This weekend the mountains of New England are looking to pick up another shot of fresh snow and the timing could not be better.

Saturday is Saint Patrick’s Day!

Do you really want to be sitting in Boston with a million other knuckleheads?

Need some additional encouragement: POWDER SKIING RETURNS

the Bear Mountain deck at Killington is a favorite spring right of passage

After sizing up the weekend’s weather the S.G. decided that a day trip was in order. Saturday looked pretty tough, cold and windy. Figuring many areas chairlifts may be experiencing wind holds, I took the day off.

Sunday was the gem. A must ski! With temperatures soaring north of 40 degrees around Boston and sunshine galore it was the perfect opportunity for the Day Trip.

Mount Sunapee, NH - looking up at North Peak and the Summit from the learning area

Just this past Saturday morning the S.G.’s cell phone is jingling. Ouch - still in bed at 9:45! No need to even check the caller identification, not getting up to answer, it could not be all that important. But the bell served as a nice wake up. I was already running late, typical.

It was a dangerously cold Friday night and the prospect of traveling solo for several hours behind the windshield was not very far up on my list of “to do’s.” Visit this LINK for more on the message board. The skiing this past weekend was going to be good, the best we have had this season, that much I knew. Putting on the Guru hat, I drank the standard 25 ounces of black coffee and made some outbound calls to friends up in VT.

the S.G. with a 'you know what' eating grin in line for a ride up the Single. photo form MRG

How about this? A first class mountain that Intrawest Resorts has had a hold of for the last six years.

Polishing: Read development and making this resort one of the best in CO if not the country has been a full scale initiative.

Even though some may argue this type of large scale overhaul can destroy an area and its character the town itself still has a feel of local and low key fun. Good food and company for families, groups of friends, or the single journeyman like me.

looking into the back country from the North Cone (summit)

What a difference a day makes. In case you did not notice it was cold yesterday. As the Canadian air rushed into New England it picked up moisture from the warm lakes and redeployed it as snow across some parts of New England. Check this LINK for totals at open areas.

The weather has been all the news the past few weeks. Most folks in the Hub have been thrilled to have October like temperatures as they slip out of the office to grab a sandwich for lunch. The gloves and scarves have only been necessary on a handful of days - so far.

I hope that they all enjoyed it, because these times they are a changing.

Alright, last season was not awesome. Two seasons ago we had some moments, but generally suffered here in New England. The three seasons prior to those were nothing special either. BUT at least for all five of those we had something to work with.

Aerial photos taken 12/15 around 2:00 pm of snow in the Berkshires from Jiminy Peak

As I poked around the internet on Wednesday morning a few things caught my interest.

Primarily: Cold Air and some natural SNOW

Loon, NH making Patriotic snow

Do you feel that, smell that? For the first time in a while, ski weather yesterday. There was a noticeable chill in Boston. It smelled like snow, damp and cold. At noon the shadows were long form the angle of the winter’s sun.

There is reason to be excited. Our first significant snow event is overdue. With a cold snap gripping the region over weekend many resorts are on a mission to provide terrain for Thanksgiving. The snow making systems are throttled. The higher elevations also picked up and inch or two of snow Monday and every bit helps.

This past weekend the Ski Guru and a dozen or so friends gathered at Jay Peak, VT. We were very fortunate. Our planed trip coincided with the best conditions New England has seen so far this season. Started snowing up on the mountain Friday afternoon and by the time it tapered of to flurries Saturday night Jay Peak had received well over two feet of powder.

The snow that fell was of the highest quality. It was dry and light. Perfect for powder skiing. The weekend conditions as a result were absolutely pristine, could not have scripted it any better. Epic!

S.G. in some Pow Pow!

New England got snow, as did much of the Eastern Corridor. NYC set a record, logging the most snowfall in the 140+ years it has been recorded in the city. Boston got hammered, 19 inches on my back porch. It was extreme outside on Sunday. Like a scene from a movie, the usually busy streets were desolate. I walked out of my apartment armed with the ski goggles and the digital camera, they both came in useful.

This storm never had me convinced, I wished it to turn north for our mountains, but then again, why should it? My doubt dictated my weekend ski plans. Here is how it played out…

Hanover Street around 12:30 on Sunday

Skiing at Moonlight Basin was exceptional. I cannot even fathom where to start. Montana is a very special place. Once I touched down in Bozeman (the airport about an hour drive from Moonlight/Big Sky) I saw something I had never before encountered in my travels. More on this in a bit...

I will no doubt get everything I would like into this post, but since there is not a whole lot to be had right now in New England I figure I would get this out there for everyone. Obviously, there will be more on Montana to follow, it was grand.

the A 2 Z shoots in the backdrop at Big Sky

What does the Ski Guru do when it is Icy? He goes to a shop and has them put an edge on his skis. Ice in New England happens. It is a fact of skiing and the main reason why many, from all parts of the country, will tell you that the most skilled skiers do in fact come from the East.

The guns were on @ Killington

Day Trip!

The Math: A Patriots victory on Saturday = a day trip Sunday.
The Destination: Pats Peak in Henniker, NH
Drive Time: 1.5 hours
Why: The name says it all

What you get: I can not really write enough positive points to justify my experience at Pats Peak on Sunday. So here are a few…

It actually feels like a ski area, not a resort. The operation is well organized. No parking lot chaos, clean facilities, well thought out base area.

My favorite thing about Pats Peak: Fixed grip lifts!

Extreme-or-e: Kristen Ulmer (skied in jeans)

Pats Peak snow tubing area

Stowe, VT – With bounties of natural snow already this season The Cathedral of Eastern skiing is off to remarkable start. To match the total snow accumulations, the resort was boasting more than 60% of its legendary, hand cut, terrain this past weekend.

Some prefer The Cradle of Eastern Skiing. In 1940 the area installed its first chairlift—a single. At the time it serviced what was widely considered the most difficult terrain in the country, the Front Four. Mount Mansfield (the resorts home) is the tallest peak in Vermont standing at 4,395 feet. The town that rests below the ski area only adds to the lure Stowe has had on skiers and winter snow sports enthusiasts for decades.

The Chin

Good News is that we will experience cold air and snow over the next ten days throughout much of New England.

Ski Conditions should be fine this weekend, best bet is Sunday morning—early chairs.. Some areas may see up to a foot of new snow over the next 48 hours. Last check we had 16 areas twisting the chain in New England.

Be careful, driving could be sketch in certain pockets.

Crested Butte from RSN.com

Yikes! We are getting dumped with water. Hope the Northern regions and higher elevations receive the mixed bag. Temps should drop by Thursday and stay down for over week.

We will probably see fresh flakes before the weekend at most of the mountains. Should be good skiing. Not as crowded as last weekend, when multiple resorts reported RECORD THANKSGIVING ATTENDANCE!

November Pow @ the Bush, from RSN
FULL ENTRY

With the Ski show in the rear view mirror and a new pair of skis and bindings for the first time in three seasons the Guru is fired up for snow. The list of resorts that are already open is growing daily. Here is what we got as of Sunday, the websites are linked or check out Conditions for Snow Country information.

Bretton Woods, NH
Crotched Mountain, NH
Jiminy Peak, MA
Okemo, VT
Killington, VT
Sugarbush, VT
Sunday River, ME
Sugarloaf, ME
Waterville, NH

Sugarbush, from RSN

The Nor’easter that barreled through New England earlier his week caught everyone a bit off guard. We saw the headlines, read the reports, and heard the whispers of huge snowfall potentials up north - but who would’ve thought?

Answer, only the most optimistic or insane amongst us.

photo: J. Cash - skier: T. Horracks - location: Killington

Whew, busy weekend, a ton going on to report from ski country.

On the home front, I gave the Jeep a winter’s prep. A good wash and wax to defend the finish against endless hours of windshield time on the sand and salt laden interstates and back roads of New England. Also, went through the gear (uugghhh, it is all old and beat to heck) and I am ready on a moments notice when the snows calling.

Sunday, picked up a new shovel View image at Lowes for $14.95, the perfect tool for digging the ride out, building kickers or sledding, if so inclined.

For leaf peeping Columbus Day weekend is traditionally the busiest across New England. Unfortunately, this year was a washout. I am sure the crowds were still out in full force, but gazing at the foliage through a heavy, gray rain is not quite what most had in mind several months ago when they booked their trip.

Sunday River

Preseason: Looking to tickle the ski bone in your soul? Here are some early season to do's that will do your mind right until the flakes start to fly. Save the dates on your Outlook calendars...

Old school WM