final dec jan

8/13/2019 Final Dec Jan

1/40

1

R M O NT S K I A N D R I DE M A G A Z IN E , D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 P

1

M A G A Z I N ERidean

d

SkiMt. Ellen

Freeskiing champ Devin Logais back for more

A classic peak celebrates its50th with a 60s party and a $6.50 lift ticket!

The Secret of

LessonsYes, youll ski better, butcheck out the wild deals!

Holida

GuideA dozen-plus gif

all made in Vermon

How to buy

BOOTSthat fi

Plus: Vermont Slope Posse in the limelight Brews, Spirits & Wine Events not to miss!

FREDecember-January 2014


2/40

2

P AG E 2 V E RM O NT SK I AND R IDE M AG AZ INE , DE C E M

Okemo FP

i i ll i : . l i i l i i l


3/40


4/40

4


23 South Main Street, Waterbury, Vermont

prohibitionpig.com

Featuring New Englands largest & best curated selection of craft b

proper cocktails, eclectic wines with a full menu featuring

local food and true Eastern North Carolina style barbecue.

SUPPER 7 NIGHTSLunch Fri, Sat & Sun

Chalkboard brunch specialsSATURDAYS & SUNDAYS

24TAPS

Including beers fromHill Farmstead, Lawson'sFinest Liquids andThe Alchemist "Heady Topp

2012 WINN

boltonvalley.com 1.877.9BOLTON

Every Saturday Starting in January$19 lift tickets from 4-8 pm

$2 atbread pizza slices and sodasDraft beer specials

The holiday week from December 26th - 31st isjam-packed with activities for everyone in the fam-

ily including the Indoor Amusement Center withinatable games and video games, complimentarysnowshoe tours, bonres with free cookies and hot

chocolate, and free ice cream socials with kidsmovies. Dont miss the torchlight parade and re-works on New Years Eve followed by a Teen Dance

Party in the Indoor Amusement Center.

BLTN

ATE DRK

HLIAY EE


5/40

5


PublishersDesk

Early trainingMembers of the Middlebury College Nordic team got some early training runs on a sunny and warm Nov. 15 at the Rikert Touring Center in Ripton thanks to early sno

and cold weather that allowed the snowmaking facilities at Rikert to lay down some groomed tracks. Wasnt lengthy, but a 1,000 meter loop with a decent incline wplenty to get the heart beating and the adrenaline owing in anticipation of another year on the snow.

Photo by Phil McLau

Winter in Vermont started fast and furious.Killington opened the first week of November, and skiers were hiking to the tops ofaks a couple weeks before that. Mild snowstorms came and went, but the key wasld temps, allowing the states snowguns that cover 80 percent of the groomed runswork their magic. By pre-Tanksgiving week, nine areas were up and running, andkemo had five runs open top-to-bottom by mid-November.

Tat same week, Rikert ouring Center in Ripton (10 miles from Middlebury, which is usu-y in Vermonts banana belt), opened a 1K loop for those Nordic skiers itching to get off their

ate skis and onto the real stuff. It wasnt much, but it was 50 degrees and a sunny, blue-birdturday and the throng of us thought it was spring skiing in November! Te photo below isstimony to that glorious day, and, hey, you dont need a big loop to work up a sweat.As Im writing this, the Middlebury College Snow Bowl opened Dec. 11, which honestly

eans that almost every area in the state has a reasonable base by now and is close to full-onperation! Sugarbush reported a foot of new snow in the past couple of days.

What does that mean for you? Well, we know local skiers and riders who have posted 40-plusys this season, so the message is: Get those skis to the shop, tune them up, and get out there.ecember can offer some of the best skiing of the year the ice has yet to form, the air is coldd when it dumps, the snow is light and fluffy and the crowds are minimal.ow, just give us one storm of two feet and youll hear us hollering all theay to Brooklyn.

**********Once those skis are tuned and ready to go, this year do yourself a favor:

ke a lesson.Even if youve skied for 40 years.Youll be surprised what you learn, what youve forgotten, why you might

off-balance on a double fall-line, and, as importantly, how to finesse thoseumps to keep the ride a little smoother for your lower back and stiff knees.And kids? For heavens sake, if you havent already, treat yourself and give

em to lessons.We all know that lessons will help you ski better, faster. We all know itlps families with kids to have a vacation focused on fun times, not frustra-

on. But it also makes financial sense.Heres why: Lesssons with a pro can cut learning times significantly. In

ssons, you can advance from beginner to intermediate to advanced in angle year. ry to teach yourself, or your kids, or learn through your bud-es, and the same progression could take years. Now, if youre the teacher

and having to go their pace, youre missing a lot of runs per day. On a cost-panalysis, thats a losing deal.

If youre 20-35, say, and new to the sport, lessons are still a bargain.Figure a days ticket is $75 and youre a beginner just managing to get 6-7 ru

day (taking 30-45 minutes to get down from the top). ake lessons for three haand heres what will happen: Youll double your runs per day. Itll be easier. Youmore fun. Youll be pysched youre learning so fast, and youll focus on form andnique thus setting up the basis for learning more each time you ski a run.

Now, do the math: At 7 runs for $75, thats roughly $10 a run. Double that n(after lessons) and youll do 14 runs for the same $75, or about $5 a run. imby a single season, and youve gotten a lot more for your ski ticket value each da

those first few lessons cost you.Heres the sweet part:ski resorts across the state are starting to offer surprising deals con

to lessons. At Sugarbush, their First-imer to Life-imer program ties a three-day lesson ($255) to a free season pass for the rest of the year! No kidding. In Killington, theyve set up day lesson program that once completed offers a free pair of skis, half prices on day tickets fnext two years and other discounts on equipment.

And it makes sense. Vermonts ski areas want you to enjoy the sport, and they knowenjoy it more if you know how to ski or ride better. Check out the story on Page 22-23, thenout the programs at your favorite resort.

**********In other news, Mt. Ellen (originally called Glen Ellen) turns 50 this year and the fo

Sugarbush are celebrating in style. Read the story and recall the roaring 1960s in VermontSugarbush was known as Mascara Mountain, those cute gondola caschussing folks up the mountain, and feasts with day-long parties wweekly norm. Candice White tells that story with style (pages 6-7) annects the current ties that bind the two resorts and the half century otimes and great skiing.

Hermitage Inn owner Jim Barnes takes a novel approach in his previtalize the former Haystack Mountain ski area in southern Vermmaking it a private club. Its an ambitious project that ties in with th

dreds of other lost or defunct ski areas throughout VermoNew England.

**********Lastly, the photo within the column says it all. It is an endearing m

captured as father (Howard Zinman) and son walk toward Spruce PStowe Resort. Its a life-long sport that bridges generations in a wothers can. Its about riding with friends and family. Its about goodadventure, precious moments.

Tanks to Howard, who rides at Stowe, for sending it to us anbe the peace of this holiday season grace all your days here, and at hom

Angelo S. Lynn, p


6/40

6


50yearsofjoy!

Mt. Ellen celebrates a birthday!

By Candice White

Cynthia Greenfield remembers it well.

Walt came home in December of 1961, and informed

me that he was going to build a

ski area.

Really? Cynthia responded at the time. What does that

mean for me?

It means were moving, Walt replied.

o Warren, Vermont. And youre going to love it.

Greenfield was skeptical. Raised in New York City, Green-

field was an urbanite living in Connecticut and expecting

her first child. Her husband, Walt Elliott, had spent time in

South Africa in his youth, and had then gone on to earn an

engineering degree from Cornell. Tey had met at Gustin-

Bacon Manufacturing, an acoustic tile company based in

New York where Walt still worked. But not for long.

What seems to have been more influential to Elliot t than

his urban existence was his presidency of the Stamford Ski

Club. During his tenure, Elliott had been involved in build-

ing a ski lodge in Killington, Vermont, just an hour south of

what would become the Glen Ellen Ski Area .

Greenfield remembers the drive up to her new home in

Warren. Te town was not much different in the ear ly 1960s

than it is todaya post offi ce, a librar y, a fire station, an inn,

and a general store. Elliott had rented a house next door to

the post offi ce.

In those days, I drove a sports caran Austin-Healey. I

drove up in January, and it was snowing, Greenfield remem-

bers. Te floors [of the house] went downhill. And the

people were not that friendly Where was Fifth Avenue?

Te change from New York City to Warren wasand still

isstark. And the closest Cynthia Greenfield would get to

Fifth Avenue would be Sugarbush, a ski resort just south

of Glen Ellen that had opened a few years before and was

already a weekend retreat for New York models, editors and

socialites. Walt Elliott, however, was founding a new and

different ski mountain, one that would never aim to achieve

the glamour of neighboring Mascara Mountain.

A Family MountainTe ski area that Elliott conceived in the early 1960s would

be, above all, a family mountain. Purchased from a private

landowner with funds raised by Elliott and a small groupof investors, Glen Ellen opened for business in December

1963, with twenty-eight trails, three chair lifts, and a bar.

Greenfield remembers that individual shares of the moun-

tain were sold for $1,500 and included twenty years of free

skiing; family shares sold for $4,500. Bud Lynch, who hailed

from Stratton Mountain, designed the original

loggers cleared the land and sold off the wood.

oversaw food and beverage sales and, as she says

the money. Neil and Zip Robinson moved up fr

ley to run the ski school.

Elliotts training as an engineer was a useful b

for running a ski area, and people who worked

remember him being very hands-on. He cou

about anything, recalls Barbara de Lima, who w

his marketing assistant in 1969 and worked on

Glen Ellen and Sugarbush until 2009.

Tat man never asked you to do anything h

do, adds Bill Bozack, who joined Glen Ellen a

tant ski patroller in 1965. (Bozack went on to b

national professional director of the National Ski

was named NSP Outstanding Professional Ski Pa

1972. His wife, Mary Ann, became the second

the nation to be certified by the NSP.)

Walt and Cynthias daughter racie Condon re

the school bus to the mountain every day after sc

with her younger sister, Dawn. Much of her chi l

centered there.

And despite Cynthia Greenfields early imp

Warren, Vermont, she, too, grew to embrace t

area. I always felt it was a lot of fun, she says,

minded working seven days a week after getting t

to school.

Having FunMost people who were part of the early Glen

mention the cowbell, a gift to Elliott from Stadel

cowbell hung in the bar on the second floor of the

then called the Golden Tistle. Elliott would en

his days here, not unlike resort owner-operators

Walt would pull out the champagne, Greenfie

On the fiftieth anniversary of the development of Mt. Ellen,

a look back at the carefree early days of a family mountain with a few adult traditions

Photo by


7/40

7


rs. Youd stand behind the bar and pull the cork. If it hit

e cowbell, you didnt pay for your drinks that night.

I remember one night opening a bottle, the cork hitting

e [ceiling] beam, then the bell, and then falling right into

alts champagne glass, reca lls de Lima.

Aprs-ski gatherings in the bar were a fundamental part

the scene back then. So too were the Sunday afternoon

unches, which Greenfield still remembers vividly. In

ose days, wed have a Sunday brunch, she recalls, a big

ffet upstairs from noon until eight p.m. It was famous fore seafood Newburg with scallops and shrimp scram-

d eggs, bacon, rolls and coffee.

Te weekend visitors would have a hearty meal before

ading up their cars to return to Connecticut, Massachu-

ts or New Jersey, and the seats would then fill with staff

ming off the mountain for the day, with big appetites and

ions of pinging the cowbell.

Te Golden Tistle hosted a New Years Eve dinner dance

ch year, and Condon remembers folks riding their snow-

obiles up the mountain to watch the fireworks from the

en House, and then skiing down afterward. Te Fasching

ostume Ball, a party honoring the German Carnival season

d around Fat uesday each year, was yet another opportu-

y for the mountain and its skiers to celebrate.

ony Egan, who had moved up from New York City ine early 60s and managed public relations for Glen Ellen,

calls another tradition, the Gelandesprung Championship.

Te title comes from the German word for jump.) Wed

ild a takeoff area right off the base lodge, and watch a lot

people with no brains and big balls go off, Egan says.

Tere were lots of spills. It was a great spectator event.

Another spectator sport, Pond Skimming, was held in the

rly days of Glen Ellen, and rumor has it that, along with

e six-foot-three Walt Elliott skimming (and coming up

ort), one of the ski patrollers participated in the event in

e nude. Races were held between the ski patrol and the ski

hool each year, as well as slalom races pitting local restau-

nt waiters and waitresses against one another.

InternationalismOver at Sugarbush, Norwegian Olympian Stein Eriksenomoted his signature style of skiinggraceful, and with

narrow stancefollowed by Austrian ski racer Sigi Grot-

ndorfer. Glen Ellen set itself apart in December 1968 by

ing French National and Olympic team member Pierre

amos. Earlier that year, Stamoss teammate Jean-Claude

lly had made a clean sweep of medals in the Olympics

Grenoble, thus drawing considerable attention to the

mewhat unorthodox wide-leg stance of the French tech-

que. Stamos brought with him a small group of French ski

instructors and a bit of international intrigue. According to

the Glen Ellen Reports, a 1968 brochure for the mountain,

Stamos was a handsome and charming 27-year-old bach-

elor.

He certainly was Mr. Smooth, recalls ony Egan.

Walt El liott had been an early proponent of ski racing,

and Pierre Stamoss arrival furthered Elliotts interest. GlenEllen was one of the first Eastern resorts to adopt National

Standard Race (NASAR) ski racing, and it is said that

Stamos may have been the NASAR national pacesetter

shortly after his arrival. In 1970, Glen Ellen won the privi-

lege of hosting the USSA National Championships, plan-

ning to stage the downhill event on F.I.S., the slalom on

Cliffs, and the giant slalom on Inverness. After the first two

events went off without a hitch, the Inverness lift suffered a

mechanical problem before the giant slalom race; neighbor-

ing mountain Mad River Glen stepped in to host the event,

one of several examples of longtime collaboration be

the two mountains.

Elliotts early support of the racing culture provided

come environment for the nascent Green Mountain

School (GMVS). Started in 1973, GMVS first began

ing at Mad River Glen, but soon moved to Glen Ell

the late 1970s, the school had started a relationship wimountain management that would serve to fund and

necessary facilities for student training well into the f

Al Hobart, one of GMVSs founders, recalls a dea

snowmaking: Glen Ellen was looking for money.

them a loan to put in snowmaking on the top of Inv

so we could use the trail. (Elliott was an early pion

snowmaking, installing his first guns on the number

now the Sunny Double, in the late 1960s.)

In 1982, GMVS helped fund the installation of a

A T L A R E A U F A R M

Lodging & lift ticket packages available

Hearty farmhouse breakfast included

On the Mad River, in the heart of TheGreen Mountains

Minutes from Mad River Glen &Sugarbush

Home of American Flatbread

Pets can be accommodated

Great rates from $85 to $135

ph: (802) 496-4949/www.lareaufarminn.com

On the Mad River, in the heart of the GreenMountains

Minutes from Mad River Glen & Sugarbush

Home of American Fla tbread

Hearty farmhouse breakfast included

Children & pets can be accomodated

Great rates from $90 to $135

mt. ellen

(See Mount Ellen, page 8)

Norwegian ski legend Stein Eriksen, Austrian ski racer Sigi Grottendorfer, center at a lesson, both at Sugarband Glen Ellens Pierre Stamos, a French ski racer, were three of the world-class skiers who settled in the MRiver Valley in the 1960s and helped create a star-studded scene. Opposite page, bottom, a classic style of late 1960s; opposite above, Mt. Ellen and Braggs Farm.


8/40

8


lift specifically for student training on

Inverness. And as recently as 2011, GMVS

and Sugarbush co-funded the purchase of 40

energy-efficient Snow Logic guns for addi-

tional snowmaking on Inverness.

A New EraCynthia Greenfield returned to New York

in the late 1960s with her two daughters,leaving Walt to run the mountain with the

team he had built. Walt and Cynthia divorced

shortly after her departure. In 1973, Elliott

sold the mountain to Fayston resident Jenna

Van Loon. Elliott remained in Vermont,

but died tragically in a plane crash in 1978.

Van Loons ownership was brief, ending

with a bank intervention. Former Canadian

Olympic team member and Stratton Moun-

tain manager Harvey Clifford bought the

mountain from the bank and returned it to

solid footing. Ten, in 1979, Roy Cohen

who had purchased Sugarbush the previous

yearmade an offer to Clifford and took

over Glen Ellen, changing the name of themountain to Sugarbush North. Te moun-

tain was referred to as both Sugarbush North

and Mt. Ellen going forward; since 2001, it

has been called Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush.

While Lincoln Peak at Sugarbush has

benefited from an investment strategy that

includes development of a slope-side hotel,

private town homes, and an upgraded base

lodge and skier services buildings, little has

changed at Mt. Ellen. Te base lodge is

much as it was in the Golden Tistle days.

Pond Skimming has moved to Lincoln Peak,

as have the New Years Eve celebrations,

but Mt. Ellen remains true to Walt Elliotts

original mission: the mountain is a family

ski (and ride) area, offering affordable season

passes, a variety of discounted ski days, and

an aprs-ski bar scene that some claim is the

best at Sugarbush.

Tis season, Mt. Ellen turns 50, with a

weekend-long celebration scheduled for Jan-

uary 912. Tere will be discounted skiing as

well as on- and off-slope events throughout

the weekend that give a nod to the moun-

tains past. It will be a time for veteran skiers

and newcomers to come togethe

ebrate Walt Elliotts visionone

alive and well today. And with

the mountain will have an oppo

welcome characters from its stor

owners, employees, pass holders,

perhaps even the hallowed cowbe

mt. ellen(Continued from page 7)

BY BIDDLE DUKEUntil my mom stopped skiing a few years ago, I would

get messages every now and again that a big winter stormhad hit Manhattan, dumping enough for her to ski fromher apartment through the streets of New York.

I remember one letter in particular from the mid 90s,rhapsodizing about skiing in the city in a blizzard. Tesnow was so deep there was no traffic in the streets none and the city was silent under the white blanket,as silent as it gets. Perfect was the word she used todescribe it.

Mom taught everyone in our family to ski my dadand four children. It changed our lives. Anyone who skis

or rides, particularly learning as we did on whatever hillwe could find, understands.Mom wasnt a great skier, but she loved it, from her

start as a teenager until the last day we skied togetherbehind the Stoweflake Resort on Stowe. She was 85.

She learned about skiing while working at the 1939Worlds Fair in Flushing, Queens. She bought bootsand skis from the Polish delegation, which was sellingeverything because, thousands of miles away, the Naziswere a t that very moment marching into their country.She was 16.

In the ensuing decades, she skied everywhere she could,trekking all the way to Gulmarg in the Indian Himalayasin the 1980s where she was working at the time. Tere,

she climbed up and skied down, and pronounced it greatterrain. Tere are lifts there now and a ski complex.

She and Dad headed right up the middle of FirstAvenue in that blizzard in the 90s. Heading north, theavenue climbs up to 57th. At the top, they turned aroundand went back down. Tey made a few laps. People braveenough to be out in the storm stopped to watch.

I was working far away at the time and I rememberreading Moms letter and thinking: I missed out. WarrenMiller should have been there.

Watching United We Ski recently, brothers Elliotand yler Wilkinson-Rays documentary movie, recalledthat letter for me, and my own lifelong relationship

to skiing. Te filmmakers (and their dad and creativepartners) have made a simple, wonderful movie that doeswhat good art should: it captures the intangibles in life.In other words, a feeling.

United We Ski, which opens tonight in Burlington,is the story of three tiny Vermont ski areas HardAckin St. Albans, Cochrans in Richmond and NortheastSlopes in East Corinth and two private Vermonttows Gebbies ow and Chapman ow and thecommunities behind them.

Te story the brothers tell is as much about places andpeople as it is about the magic of the sport.

Te Wilkinson-Rays know something about thesubject. Tey grew up skiing at Cochrans, and Elliot

went on to attend the Mt. Mansfield Winter Aand race at the highest levels out of Stowe. Skiicoaching the sport has taken them all over the glothey are living proof that the sport transforms livshrinking affordability and accessibility to the putting that out of reach.

Skiing used to be part of the very fabric of life England. Te region once had more than 700 skmany of them village tows and -bars. About 80 and only a few of those have kept it simple and inex

Ski and snowboard movies these days grab yostunning footage of elaborate backcountry skiiadventures in the most outrageous and obscure pla

extreme conditions imaginable. Tere is some speskiing in this film, and the wish-you-were-thereexists, but its the anti-ski-movie ski movie. Monbuy what this film conveys.

Te brothers went out to document the existenccool, small affordable, fun hills. What they foundwhat they reveal is unquestionably the very skiing.

I left thinking Northeast Slopes is on my hit the winter. But the sweet image that kept replamy mind was of the kid skiing all the way homenarration, no explanation. Just a perfect run. Liday in the blizzard on First Avenue.

Biddle Duke is the publisher of the Stowe R

The soul of skiing

From the top of Mt. Ellen, two boys look West over the farmland of Addison County, to Lake Champlain and the Adirothe distance.

Photo by


9/40

9


Y FRANCESCA WHYTEOfficials from Vermont Adaptive Ski andorts and Pico Ski Education Program wel-med over 100 people to the grand openingthe Andrea Mead Lawrence Lodge at Picoountain on Friday, Nov. 8.Te $1.3 million, 6,000 sq. ft. building isfirst-of-its-kind facility in Vermont and aw permanent home for Vermont Adaptivei and Sports and its partner Pico Ski Educa-

on Foundation.om Aicher, Secretary of Pico Ski Educa-

on Foundation opened the celebration oniday, thanking the community for their

pport. If we dream big, we create greatizens, great community leaders, and world-

ass competitors. All should have the oppor-nity for mountain life, he said, continuingpublicly recognize Ed Clarke, from N.B.Fchitects of Rutland, who made the newilding look as though it had always beenere, and Brent Wilbur, from Naylor &een Builders, Inc.Pico Ski Education foundation is a non-

ofit organization that supports and enables

young athletes to pursue their dreams. Ver-mont Adaptive Ski and Sports is the largestnon-profit orga-nization in Ver-mont to offerdaily, year-roundsports pro-grams to peoplewith disabilitiesfrom Vermontand aroundthe world. Tebuilding is spe-cifically designed

for participantsin Vermont Adaptives programs, providingeasy accessibility for all, regardless of ones dis-ability.

Erin Fernandez, the executive director ofVermont Adaptive, thanked a lot of new friendsand donors, What we thought was impos-sible has been brought to fruition through ourpartnership with Pico Ski Club. Tank you forsharing this proud moment in Vermont Adap-tives history. Fernandez added, Tis is phase

one of a three-phase plan (to create state-of-the-art Vermont Adaptive homes) and I feel confi-

dent moving for-ward.

Te crowd onFriday drew vol-unteers, partici-pants, donors,sponsors, part-ners and com-munity mem-bers. Sarah Will,a U.S. Paralym-pic skier, helped

raise $60,000 forthe new lodge. She hails from Pico and is a PicoSki Club alumnus. Will made the transitionfrom able-bodied skier to a mono-skier andbecame one of the most decorated U.S. wintersports athletes of all time, winning a record 12gold and one silver medal.

Pico is the most accommodating andfriendly mountain, Will said. And this lodgeshows how much care, commitment andthought has gone into building exactly what

the adaptive community needs.Te President of Killington and

Resorts, Mike Solimano, cut the ribbacknowledged how much this new bwill do for disabled athletes, All of uscommon goal to support the sport of and whether able or disabled, all shoulthe opportunity to enjoy winter sport.

During the ceremony, a $50,000tion from John Cumming, CEO of Corp, was presented, leaving approxi$100,000 still to be raised to compleportion of fundraising. More than $9has been raised in donations and pled

about a year and a half.As part of the celebrations, a publi

house was held on Saturday, Nov. 9,150 volunteers began their adaptivteam-building training. On-snow twill begin in December once volunteedecided on a specific discipline. Mor500 volunteers will now work primarilthe new Vermont Adaptive HeadquaPico, while keeping bases at Sugarbushin Warren and Bolton Valley Resort in B

A crowd opened the Andrea Mead Lawrence Lodge at Pico in early November with Killington President Mike Solimano doing the honors. The $1.3 million, 6,000-squacility is the rst of its kind in Vermont for Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports. Two more such lodges are planned in Vermont.

First-of-its-kind adaptive ski and sport lodge opens at Killington-Pico

The Swimming Hole 75 Weeks Hill Road Stowe

802.253.9229 www.theswimmingholestowe.

The Swimming Hole is a non-profit community pool & fitness center that welcomes community sup

Fun for all, under one roof!Competition-sized Swimming Pool Toddler & Child Pool Water Slide Diving Board

Swim Lessons Swim Club Masters Swimming Personal Training

Group Fitness Spinning Classes Kranking Classes Yoga

MEMBERSHIPS & DAY PASSES AVAILABLE


10/40

10

P AG E 1 0 V E RM O NT SK I AND R IDE M AG AZ INE , DE C E M

BY EVAN JOHNSONTe thrill of the undiscovered is a constant allure

for skiers in the Northeast and as long as there havebeen skis; people have cut their own tracks on thehillsides and through the woods in search of thatperfect line or secret stash of untracked powder.

Fortunately, Vermont has plenty of space forboth skiing on trails and off-piste exploring. WhileVermont was the first, and continues to be the onlystate in the country that leases public land to private

ski resorts, the land leased to those seven resortsKillington, Okemo, Jay Peak, Burke, Bromley,Stowe and Smugglers Notchtotals less than 2percent of the total acreage available to the generalpublic. Te Vermont Association of Snow ravelerstrail system is more than 1,800 miles of maintainedtrails connecting towns from Bennington toNewport, snaking its way through most of thestate. Te Catamount rail system runs the lengthof Vermont and has ample resources and clinicsavailable for people looking to explore. Skiers canuse these trails and others to access their own secretstashes or simply get around.

According to a 20-page document publishedby Vermont Department of Forests, Parks andRecreation, backcountry skiing is classified asan allowable use in the national forest, meaning it is notconfined specifically to trails. Holly Knox, recreation and trails

coordinator for the Green Mountain National Forest, says thatwhile backcountry skiers can use any of the networks of trails onpublic property, there are few policies dictating how land shouldbe managed for backcountry skiing.

Its something that we are trying to figure out and its raisinga lot of management questions that we are trying to answer,she told the Rochester gathering. Were contemplating shouldour designation be as trails or something that we can show ona map. Were trying to meet what our users want and also meetour standards.

o be clear: backcountry skiing is not illegal, but it hasbecome a hot button issue for both skiers and the owners ormanagers of the land on which they ski. In recent years, it hasevolved into a discussion thats produced more questions thananswers, blurred the lines separating public and private property

and clashed the interests of resorts like Killington, Jay Peak,Stowe, Mad River Glen, Sugarbush, Mount Snow and Stratton,with both novices eager to get into the woods and longtimeveterans stubbornly trying to protect their secret spots.

Satisfying all of those interests can be even more difficultwhen some take matters into their own hands. While skiers arepermitted to use public lands, the priority for land managementagencies is balancing skiers desire to enjoy the wilderness withthe stability of the ecosystem. Fragile environments like highelevation areas or areas trying to rebound from disturbances areparticularly vulnerable.

Failure to maintain this balance can have disastrous effects.Te most alarming example in recent memory was in 2009when two skiers used chainsaws to cut nearly 1,000 trees andcreate a 40-foot-wide by 2,000 feet long swath on Big JayMountain. Te two men later pleaded no contest to federalcharges of unlawful mischief, but the incident, many agree, wasa black eye for the entire community.

Since then, local skiers and appropriare quick to temper any enthusiaattracting a larger number of backcounthe state with caution.

Lost skiers and cut treesAfter the disastrous cut at Big Jay an

lost skiers, notably at Killington Resortyear or two, the backcountry commitself lumped together with chainsa

outlaws or down-country wannabes duto ski out of bounds.

Its an image problem that some steroid-injected ski publications or filmexpectations of what a ski experience But from the resorts perspective, its a mexperiences that yield a unique policy at

With the seven resorts that have leastate forests, areas like Stowe have beenlenient in the past, allowing limited acspecific times to the top of Mount Masurrounding areas.Other resorts, like Mad River Glen, wh

in its entirety on private land, has seen attitude over the years because of past abVice President of Communication Eric

says the resort used to be more tolerantselling lifts for a nominal fee, for examplebut had to st

too many skiers were taking multiple rides on theirticket. It was just too difficult to enforce, he saysworth the aggravation.

Te resort community in Vermont as a group doeformal policy on backcountry skiing, according to VArea Association President Parker Rhiele, who wouthat the association and ski resorts would likely keemind on the issue and try to address upcoming with flexibility.

What all agree on, however, is that the actions ofaffected the entire community. Last year, a bill preseVermont Legislature by Killington-area representatiwould have charged skiers for the cost of their ownrescue missions.

Backcountry skiers organize for acce

(See Access, page 11)

A skier on Stowes Mount Manseld carves down the upper reaches of the mountain. Manseld can be particularly appealing because of its stature, but its also fhigh winds, cold temperatures and a steep descent into the Smugglers Notch canyon that is lled with strewn with cliffs. Backcountry skiers are responsible for safety and rescue.

Photo by Brian Mohr/Ember

At a recent gathering in Rochester, more than 150 skiers and riders attendeda meeting to discuss backcountry access and the idea of creating a statewideorganization.


11/40

11

R M O NT S K I A N D R I DE M A G A Z IN E , D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 P A

It failed for several reasons, with state policed backcountry rescuers both opposed to the

w, based on the likelihood the victims andeir families would be hesitant to call forlp sooner and might, therefore, put moreopleand rescuersin danger. Davidoodman, a writer from Waterbury Centerd the author of several guidebooks onckcountry skiing in New England, says the

w was misguided.When they proposed the law, I dont thinkey were even thinking about backcountryers, he says. Tey were thinking about

ds from New Jersey ducking out-of-boundsd getting lost. Te only thing is, in that bigt that they threw out, the real thing theylled in when the net came up was us.

Image ControlEven though the bill failed, many view ita warning. With that in mind, groups ofers began to discuss ways of cleaning upe image of off-piste enthusiasts and policingemselves.Weve lost the public relations battle,ys Oliver Blackman, a backcountry skier,tructor and ski patroller at Smugglers

otch. Other users of backcountry land areumed to be virtuous hikers, are wonderfulwards of the environment, (while) skiersdirtbag criminals. We need somebody to

ange that.Amy Keley, Executive Director of thetamount rail Assocciation, points to thes of standards ranging from the Snowsports

dustry of Americas Backcountry Code to thermont rail Ethic from the Vermont railsd Greenways Council. Te Catamountail Association encourages users to practiceave-No-race ethics and to respect private

ndowners.I think a lot of the basic elements areeady there, she says. We just need to findway to share them in a unified way with aoad audience.Some are advocating for a backcountryers advocacy group that would act as aified representative body. Jason Duquette-offman, co-founder and owner of Vermont-

based ski company Worth Skis, says a dialoguebetween policymakers and the trail users isnecessary.

What I hear from people that have accessto policy development is that they dontunderstand what we need and they dontunderstand how to translate it into policiesthat make sense on a statewide basis. What wereally need to do is help them. Tis (meeting)

gives them a sense of who we are, but we reallyneed to step up and give them that advisorycapacity.

As a hopeful answer to these concerns,

the Rochester Area Sports rail Alliance,(RASA) is a nonprofit founded last winterwith the intention of promoting backcountryskiing access to both public and private lands.Founding member Dean Mendel has lived inRochester (population 1,139) for 40 years andsays the valleys and hills along scenic VermontRoute 100 offer unparalleled potential foroutdoor recreation. An organization like

RASA, he says, would act as an representativeon behalf of backcountry skiers as well asa resource, providing local knowledge andadvice to people looking for a place to start.

While much of the discussion backcountry has revolved around decisions and the finer details of the discMendell maintains the way forward foand other backcountry enthusiasts ismore simple:

Everyone needs to step upcommunicate what we all do, he saylove what we do and that communica

key. Do we want to keep it in our back or do we want to share it with someonot a secret, its all about the fun.

Few of Vermonts 18 ski resorts have armal, stated policy on backcountry skiing,t many do have general guidelines theylow. Heres the response from 10 ski areasthe issue of accessing the backcountry via

eir ski resorts.

MAGIC MOUNAINWith the former imber Ridge ski areathe backside of Magic, there is backcoun-access here with an old trail system that

ll exists and is maintained by the ownerthe former ski areas property. Most findenty of tree-skiing opportunities on thent side of our hill and see no need to gockcountry.But for backcountry adventurers, there isat opportunity and there are no ropes atagic restricting access.Tere is also no transportation providedck to Magic once someone goes off toe imber Ridge side, so skiers are solelyponsible for themselves once they head

ff Magics property. We recommend skiinggroups of at least three and making sure

hers know when and where they are head-

ing in the backcountry. Also bring alongplenty of food, water, medical and com-munications equipment in case of trouble.We often have backcountry skiers ask us forroutes to access the imber Ridge side andwe provide that information.

Geoff Hatheway, Vice President of Mar-keting.

BROMLEY:Our location on a national forest means

it really isnt our policy so much as its thepolicy of the national forest. As of now,Bromley doesnt have that policy.

Michael van Eyck, Director of Market-ing.

SMUGGLERS NOCH:Skiers and boarders can access the back-

country from our area as long as they have avalid lift ticket. Once they are beyond theski area boundary we are not bound to pro-vide any search or rescue services. Any suchservices provided may be billed per VermontState Law.

Karen Boushie, Public Relations Direc-

tor.

BOLON VALLEY:At Bolton Valley we actually have back-

country skiing as part of our 100km ofNordic and backcountry terrain; 15km ofthis terrain is groomed for traditional skateand classic skiing, the other 85km is back-country. You need to have a valid trail ticketor season pass to access the terrain. Maps areavailable at the Nordic Center. Best of all this

terrain is located next to the lift-served ter-rain. You can even access part of it from Wil-derness Lift. As far as people accessing otherbackcountry areas that are not on this map,we discourage it.

Josh Arneson, Director of Sales andMarketing

KILLINGON:Killington Resort clearly marks boundar-

ies with flags, ropes and signage, and skiingout of bounds is not allowed. For skiers andsnowboarders in search of fresh snow betweenthe trees, Killington offers 475 acres of Natu-ral Woods terrain in-bounds, which is open

for exploration by resort guests. Whnot illegal to ski out of the ski area boin Vermont, like it is in some westernVermont law does state that skiers/riliable for all expenses of search and ryou ski or ride beyond the ski area boand a search is conducted.

Michael Joseph, Public Relationslington

MAD RIVER GLEN:

We allow folks to earn their turnMRG is not open (both pre and postas well as after operating hours in-sIn regard to stuff near our area whave any policies at all. Folks certainlythe side-country here at MRG, but wpatrol it. We do have signs warninthey are leaving the ski area boundary

Eric Friedman, Marketing Direct

SRAONMountains like Stratton are with

national forest, where no restrictionsTeir comment is simple: A ticket is r

Backcountry policies are vague, or developing, at many state ski areas

access(Continued from page 10)

(See Backcountry, page 13)

A skier takes a leap into deep powder in the Green Mountains. Gaining access to such areas and sharing some of that inmation is at the heart of a discussion in Vermont on backcountry access.

Photo by Brian Mohr/Ember Photo


12/40

12


GROCERYMEATSANDSEAFOO

beer and wineDELICATESSENTake-out convenience

BAKERY PIZZA CATERINGVT PRODUCTS MAPLE SYRUP

802-422-7736 Deli 422-75www.killingtonmarket.co

Open daily 6:30am.2023 Killington Rd.

BREAKFAST, LUNCH

& DINNERto-go

Killingtons On-MountainGrocery Store

AT

Open Daily802-422-ROCS www.ontherocslounge.com

Located above The Phat Italian 2384 Killington Road

ALL 20OZ.IMPERIAL PINTS $5

LOCAL'S NIGHT EVERYTHURSDAY: BUY ONE

ENTRE, GET SECONDENTRE FOR 1/2 PRICE.

LADIES NIGHT

EVERY FRIDAY:

$3 GLASSES OF WINE AND1/2 PRICE APPETIZERS!


13/40

13


RACE GEARSPECIALISTS

LOCATED @ THE TOP OF THE KILLINGTON ROAD ON YOUR RIGHT,1/2 MILE BEFORE SNOWSHED

802.422.9447

SHOP ONLINE AT PEAKSKISHOP.COM

CELEBRATING25YEARS

ride the lift and we do not require a tickethike uphill.Craig Panarisi, VP of Mt. Operations

AY PEAKOur Patrol and Operations staff workh members of the Green Mountain Clubdetermine when to open the gate to Big. Tose who choose to make the trip outow that they are leaving the resort andon their own. Teyre strongly encour-d to ski in teams of three, have a whistle

d some sort of communication device,ve water, and to notify someone of theirpected time of return.As to accessing the backcountry routes,

you do it from the top of the resort, youve to have a lift ticket. Were workingan uphill route policy now, but have tork through the safety issues of havingo-way traffi c on trails where the major-of people are not expecting to see some-

e skinning up and collisions can becomeoncern. Even accessing the trails beforeafter the lifts spin can be sketchy as catsd snow mobiles are zipping around the and winch cables can be set right at kneeght and go unseen by someone skiingwn during the times the lifts are closed. JJ oland, Director of Communica-ns/Events/Partnerships

SUGARBUSHBasically, we are supportive of backcoun-skiing as a winter sport. We point back-

untry enthusiasts to Slide Brook Wilder-s area, a 2,000-acre area between our

two mountains, which is out of bounds,not patrolled, and not maintained by ourmountain operations crew. When back-country skiers/riders want to access Sugar-bush terrain within our boundaries, theythen must follow the rules of our WinterUphill ravel Policy below.

We have a policy for Winter Uphill ravelpublished on our website. Tis policy is ineffect before and after our mountains openfor the season, as our machinery is operat-

ing well before and afterwards in prepara-tion for the winter season. We also allowskinning on several designated trails duringoperating hours, but those skiers must havea lift ticket, and must check in with guestservices beforehand to find out which trailsare permitted.

Candice White, communicationsdirector

MOUN SNOWAny time anyone rides a chairlift they

need to be wearing a valid lift ticket orseason pass. We do not actually have apolicy for accessing terrain beyond theresorts boundaries, but from the summitmuch of that area is public land managedby the National Forest Service as part of the

Green Mountain National Forest. Since itis public land, citizens use it at their ownrisk. If they access it using a chairlift atMount Snow they need a valid lift ticketor season pass; or if they access it via uphilltravel using Mount Snows terrain they needto get an uphill travel pass and read theuphill travel policy before setting off.

Dave Meeker, Communications Manager

STOWES WINTER

ADVENTURE CENTER

Telemark, AT,

and Backcountry

Ski Gear!

SAVE

10-50% OFFK2, Black Diamond,

Garmont, G3, Voile,

Madshus, Fischer,

Rossignol, Mammut,Outdoor Research,Tubbs,

TSL, MSR, and more!

GUIDED TOURS RENTALS SALES CLINICS

UMIAKOUTDOOR

OUTFITTERS

Route 100Stowe, VT253-2317

www.umiak.com

Open 7 days

backcountry(Continued from page 11)


14/40

14


NORTHERN SKI WORKS2089 Killington Road, Killington, VT 05751 (802) 422-96

10 Main Street, Ludlow, VT 05149 (802) 228-3344

KILLINGTON &

LUDLOW LOCATION

BEER CAVE - VERMONT MADE PRODUCTS - WINE & CHEESE ROOM - FRESH JUICE & SMOOTHIE BAR - WE DELIVER

Store Hours: 6a.m.-12a.m. Sunday-Thursday. 6a.m.-2a.m. Friday & Saturday.

Deli Hours: 6a.m.-8p.m. Sunday-Thursday. 6a.m.-10p.m. Friday & Saturday. Store Hours: 6a.m.-10p.m. Monday-Sunday. Deli Hours: 6a.m.-7p.m. Monday-Sunday

BY EVAN JOHNSONAfter a lengthy process of hearings, the

District #1 Environmental Commission hasthe information it needs to begin deliberationson two applications for development in theKillington area. Te Commission has receivedhundreds of pages of related information forboth the Killington Village Master Plan and

the new Resort Parking Project.SP Land Company LLC, has requested

a permit to subdivide 15 lots throughoutthe Killington Mountain area and seeks toconsolidate another 10 lots. Additionally, TeKillington Village Master Plan would developapproximately 2,300 individually occupiedresidential units; a replacement skier servicesbuilding and associated commercial space.

Meanwhile, Killington/Pico Resort seeks

a permit to authorize the construction ofreplacement parking lots, realignment of aportion of Killington Road and reconfigurationof the Killington Grand Resort Hotels parkinglot.

Te approval of either plan hinges on thecriteria of the Land Use and DevelopmentAct, known as Act 250. Te Commission will

evaluate each plan as they comply with each ofthe Acts stipulations.

Te Commission has raised concernswith both projects. SP Land faces the issueof increased traffi c, specifically duringconstruction, while Killington/Pico Resortrisks building on areas deemed to be ofhistorical importance. If the applicants cannotoffer suitable alternatives or contingency plans,neither proposal could be approved.

Progress continues for Killington

Village plans at base of mountain

Passion for Snow, a film detailing thecontributions to skiing by Dartmouth Collegestudents and staff produced by former Museumboard member Lisa Densmore and current

director Rick Moulton, is on the schedule ofthe Vermont International Film Festival inBurlington, Vermont on Sunday October 13,2013 at 4 PM. Based on the comprehensivebook Passion for Skiingby Stephen Waterhouseand additional authors, the film was releasedlast winter.

Te film will be followed by a reception

where participants in the film, Olympians,both Dartmouth and non-Dartmouth, andother ski legends present will be introduced.

Also to be screened at the event there

will be White Rock, the offi cial film of the1976 Innsbruck Olympics, introduced byits producer, Adrian Wood, the curator ofOlympic films for the International OlympicCommittee, who is coming from England.

Both the book, Passion for Skiing and thefilm, Passion for Snow, are available in theMuseums online shop.

Film on Dartmouth skiers debuts at Vt. Film Festival


15/40

15


Buy Local.Save Big!

Save up to 50%withVermonts best merchants.Sign up for free today!

MORE BREAD, LESS DOUGH!

Fine-Dining Sports & Fitness

Lifestyle & Culture Authentic Vermont ExperiencesEvents And did we mention Fine-Dining?

SOWE, V Te rapp Familydge has been selected as host of the 2014nior National Cross Country Ski Cham-onships set for March 1-8. Races will beld on the Lodges 100-kilometer networkcross country ski trails.Te rapp Family Lodge cross country

mplex includes man-made snow when

eded, warming huts, and full serviceuipment rentals and sales. Te world-

class racing course has long met all of thefacility, logistical and homological courserequirements of the International Ski Fed-eration. Over the last few decades it hasbeen a favorite venue for the Eastern Cupraces, and has hosted many NCAA NationalChampionships.

For more information, contact Chair-

person of the Organizing Committee Kris-tina von rapp at ([email protected]).

Mobile Middlebury AppHandy. Info. At your fingertips...

Ski Info. Dining. Lodging. Services. Maps. Events.

Powered byRoute 802. Brought to you by Vermont Ski & Ride Magazine.

Trapps to host 2014 Ski Junior Nationals

B,

Te locals guide to AprsBy Katie Nichols

ens of thousands of New Englanders love to escape to theountains of Vermont as soon as the snow starts sticking. We

all day, aprs at the best bars, savor the local eats and thent for drinks. omorrow, we wake up and do it all over again, weekend after weekend and

ve it!I dont know about you, but I have this nostalgia for the winter season where no matterere you go, ski hats, hoodies, spandex, and the most bomber winter boots are proper

ess. You sit by the fireplace at the local bar comparing stories of the day over a nice colder because, hey, youre thirsty and a nice cold Vermont brew is just the fix. Life is good.Here are some of my favorite winter libations to accompany you this season.From old breweries to brand new ones there is a wide spectrum of local breweries inrmont to fulfill your aprs needs.Me? I favor the wheat beers, saisons or ales, like my new flavor of the season the Lostation Saison Lamoille. Marrying spice and fruit in the classic farmhouse style of saisons,th a lower alcohol content of 5.9 percent, it is a delicious beer to sit by the fire with andtch it snow.In the tried-but-true category, Switchback is a great beer all year long, but even morerfect while you thaw out your toes. But when in Vermont, you can get whichever style yousire from any of several regionally renowned breweries, such as Te Alchemist in Waterbury,ll Farmstead from Greensboro, Lawsons from Warren, Lost Nation from Morrisville,

op-In Brewery in Middlebury, or find them on tap at most local bars in many of Vermontscommunities or outlier communities like Montpelier and Waterbury (hey, we all skire so you have to be pretty remote not to be considered a ski town in Vermont!)

**********Cider is on the prowl. Everywhere you go the newest thing seems to be about the localders, and in Vermont they are making headway from hard cider to ice cider. Offeringeat options for gluten free drinkers, as well as lower alcohol contents, ciders are refreshing,ght and great to mix and match. Simply add a touch of ginger and lemon to give it ale oomph, like the Dirty Mayor from Citizen Cider, or just enjoy it as is like I do. Andnt overlook Woodchuck Cider, produced at its new headquarters in Middlebury. With 60rcent of the nations hard cider market, they market specialty brews on occasion, and alwaysve their staple of varieties in six packs to accompany any party.Ice Cider, what is it? Derived originally from the French Canadians, you harness the sheerd of Vermont winters to freeze the apple juice and concentrate cider with an optimumance of acidity and sweetness. A dessert wine in its simplest form, Ice Cider can be used in

any other ways from a topping on ice cream (yum!), or mixing into a cocktail.Mix it with a prosecco and a twist of lemon and you will find a delicious concoction to

oy. You may also find something called Orleans, a local aperitif cider infused with herbsat are based on European traditions of infused wines such as Vermouth or Campari, perfectblending into creative cocktails. Just ask your bartender.

**********Bring on the cocktails. Vermont also has a growing list of nationally known spirits. While

micro-breweries and wineries catch the interests of visitors, keep a watch on local spiritsGreen Mountain Distillers and Smugglers Notch Distillery, as well as Saxon River DistiWhistle Pig (near Middlebury), and Caledonia Spirits (near Hardwick), which was recelauded for its internationally acclaimed Barr Hill Gin. Check out the brewery pages in tissue for more about Vermonts wineries, breweries and spirits.

**********Vermonts excellent restaurants serving locally grown food pair well with several variet

wines local, domestic and foreign, red, white and bubbles. ake your pick. Each mowell pick a favorite based on small producers, eclectic varietals, and just great wines for season.

Tis months featured wine is Atteca because of its seasonally hearty notes of spice, coand blackberry. Rich old vines of Garnacha from Spain warm you up on those brutal widays and pair perfectly with braised pork shoulder or even carnitas. Look for it at your lwine shop (at Cork in Waterbury it sells at $18).

If you prefer white wines, try to find the Ontanon Vetiver, which is from the region oRioja. Made up of a grape called Viura this wine imparts a creamy and rich quality filledcitrus notes. Forget the chardonnay, this wine is your new best friend for any kind of mefor just a glass after work, skiing or relaxing anytime.

No matter what your style, check in next month and well explore more libations, somwhich are sure to become your new favorites.

**********A Vermont native, Katie returned to Vermont after college at CU (Boulder) to manage Co

Wine Bar & Market in Waterbury. Finding a passion for wine at Cork, Katie has recently bea part of the wine Bottega in the north end of Boston.


16/40

16


1stpubinVermonttoserveGuinness

of Irelandauthentic tast

Guinness Harp Smithwicks Longtrail On Tap

Serving Lunch and Dinner

The McGrath FamilyInnkeepers Since 1977

QANDA

Ski&Ride:What sparked your imaginationto create a book about skiing squirrels?

Ray: We see many squirrels in the Con-necticut woods, and one beautiful snowy daymy wife told me she saw a squirrel glide downa slope, as if he were on a pair of skis! Tatimage stayed with me, and the story of Squir-rels on Skis took off from there.

S&R: Did you originally write it as partof the Beginner Book series or did that comeabout after?

Ray: I didnt think about categories, but Iknew I wanted this book to be a classic thatkids would demand to hear again and again. Ifelt there was an interesting story to tellpartmystery, part comedyand when the first line

By Polly LynnSquirrels on Skis, written by J. Hamilton

Ray and illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre,is the newest addition to the best selling

Beginner Books series, which originatedwith Te Cat in the Hat in 1957.

Squirrels on Skis is a humorous storygeared toward young readers, ages 48,that tells of an idyllic snow-clad townthat is overrun by squirrels on skis. Tisimaginative infestation takes place in asmall mountain village that resembles manyin Vermont with church steeples, a localgrocery store, B&Bs, a town green, villagehall, arts gallery, and quirky residents thatget vocal at a town assembly.

An intrepid young reporter named SallySue Breeze speaks up above the rest andultimately resolves the town-wide dilemmawith imagination and finesse, just beforethe town pest-controller, Stanley Powers,sucks them up in his vacuum device. Hercharming solution makes both her townand the squirrels happy.

With delightfully whimsical illustrationsby Pascal Lemaitre, this is the perfect bookfor beginning readers and its clever rhymesalso make it a fun book to read out loud.

Te author, J. Hamilton Ray, has a

distinguished background in animatingbeloved childrens books to video, particularlythose of Teodore Seuss Geisel (better knownas Dr. Seuss.) Among his distinctions, Ray

has won two national Emmy Awards forOutstanding Writing for Children. Heswritten and produced for the hit PBS kidstelevision series Between the Lions, and hescreated many animated videos of picturebooks, including those of P. D. Eastman, Stanand Jan Berenstain and, of course, Dr. Seuss.

We called for a quick interview:

came to me, I knew that it would be a rhym-ing book. When I was done, I read the bookaloud to Random House Childrens publisher,Kate Klimo, and to Dr. Seuss own art direc-tor, Cathy Gold- smith. Teyimmediately saidit would make awonderful classicBeginner Book,and they boughtit on the spot!Kate said sheliked Squirrels

on Skisbecauseit was writtenin an originalvoice in theSeuss vein,yet it was notan imitationof Seusswhich theyapparentlyget allthe time.She toldme shethoughted Geiselwould have absolutely loved it.

S&R: How did you choose Pascal Lemaitreas the illustrator for this story?

Ray: My publisher, Random House, sug-gested Pascal, and I thought his characters hada lot of personality, so I agreed. I am a pro-ducer/director, so I was very involved in direct-ing the artwork. I gave my publisher a full sto-ryboard, in which I drew sketches of the entire

book, and made decisions of page scenes. Pascal brought a lot of hisand humor to the book, so it was cessful collaboration.

S&R: Can you tell us about yence writing your first childr

Ray: It derful Once I my mind ing out therhymes all in the show

garden, whiId get very exa new idea orto me, and Ida pen and papforgot it. And took more shaplike music to song I was tryinout.

S&R: How the author differother roles as pranimator of childrmovies and .Vming?

Ray: V is lighact io n ! Whereas in writing sit alone in a quiet place and crethat you live in for a whileso iand your charactersyoure the enof this train! Fortunately my wifauthor (the novelist, C.A. Belmocan communicate and encouragewhenever we each come up for air

With author

J. Hamilton Ray


17/40

17


Winner of The Best

of New England Area

Snowboard Shop

(802) 422-3931

www.surftheearthsnow-

boards.com

AWESOMECLOTHING,EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES

RENTALS & SEASONAL LEASES

DEMO & TUNING PROGRAMS

FRIENDLY CUSTOMER SERVICE

SALES & IN-STORE SPECIALS

Bolton Nordic TrailImprovements Underway

BOLON Bolton Nordic and backcoun-try skiers will enjoy significant trail improve-ments this winter season.

A partnership between the Vermont Depart-ment of Forests, Parks and Recreation, TeFriends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Back-country (FOBVNBC) and Bolton Valley SkiResort has resulted in significant trail work.

Since the property was acquired in June,around $40,000 has been invested into thetrails located on state land.

Te property was conserved by Te Ver-mont Land rust and transferred to the stateafter a 1.8 million dollar fundraising campaignwhich utilized grants funding as well as hun-dreds of individual donations by the Boltonskiing community and others.

Te Nordic rails are operated by BoltonValley Resort, as in past years, through a licenseagreement with the state.

For information on Nordic rail tickets orseason passes, visit www.boltonvalley.com. Formore information on Te Friends of BoltonValley Nordic and Backcountry, visit www.boltonfriends.org.

ossignol teams withki Vermont for 2014MONPELIER Mountain lifestyleand Rossignol will headline the 2013-14ing and snowboarding season as the Offi -l Ski Partner of Ski Vermont. Te brandsl combine efforts to reach millions of winter

thusiasts and to introduce skiing to a newdience.Rossignol has been a leading snow sportand for over 100 years, committed topanding and improving on skiing and snow-arding, Ski Vermont marketing directorle Lewis said. A partnership between strong

ands like Vermont and Rossignol only makesnse as we both look towards the future ofountain sports. Were particularly excitedout combining our learn-to efforts and

roducing new people to the sport together.After spending more than 30 years head-artered in Vermont, Rossignol enjoys strongs to eastern skiing and snowboarding stillday, said Jason Newell, Director of Market-g, Rossignol Group NA and a Middlebury, resident.

Vermont alone boasts 19 resorts, giving ite of the largest concentrations of ski resortsthe country; not to mention incredibly pas-nate skiers and riders. Te fact is its neveren a better time to ski or snowboard. Teest innovations in construction and designve made skiing and snowboarding easier,

GOSHEN Afteryears of providing

oomed Nordicing opportunities,ueberry Hill Inn inoshen has turned in itsooming equipment

d is returning tosimpler model ofoviding recreationportunities totdoor enthusiasts.r the 2013-2014son Blueberryll will provide

and snowshoeportunities onils that will remaingroomed.Te wide, wellarked trails takenter outdoor lovers over a variety ofrain in the mixed hardwood forest of theoosalamoo region of the Green Mountains,

luding the popular Hogback and Romanceountains. No trails fees will be chargedt donations are gratefully accepted to helppport year-round maintenance and providewarm place to return to and gather withends. Soup and other lunch items will beailable, as will snowshoe rentals.It is simply a matter of economics,ueberry Hill offi cials said. Te majority ofe trails are part of a special use permit withe U.S. Forest Service. Many of the bridgesre wiped out in recent storms, especially

Irene, and thereplacement of thebridges which meetspecifications requiredof the Forest Service isjust out of reach and isnot sustainable.

Blueberry Hill Innbegan a relationshipwith the ForestService in 1972, andhas developed andmaintained a 50Knetwork of trails thathave provided some ofthe best cross-countryskiing in the east for42 years. BlueberryHill Inn will continueto work with theU.S. Forest Service

to determine the best way to continue tomaintain and secure the use of these trails forfuture generations to enjoy.

Blueberry Hill offi cials say feedback hasbeen good, as people seem to appreciate thediversity of winter recreation opportunitiesavailable in the Moosalamoo Recreation Area.With nearby Rikert Nordic Center havingrecently invested in 5K of snowmaking andimproved trail systems, Blueberry Hillsungroomed trails for skiing and snowshoeingwill complement the outdoor recreationofferings in the area.

Blueberry Hill will host an open house onSaturday, Jan. 4.

more accessible, and more fun than ever before.We look forward to working closely with SkiVermont as we communicate this message to

the masses throughout the coming season.

Blueberry Hill touring center

changes to backcountry trails


18/40

18


HOTEL/CONCIERGE SERVICESfor owners who rent

themselves through VRBO. Check In/Check Out

usekeeping

urity Depositcheck/refund

RENTING &MANAGING

Private Homes, Highridge,

Edgemont, Pico Village,

Pinnacle, Trail Creek,

Killington Region.

Let us show you why people are switching to

SCAN HERTO BOOK NOW

ASK ABOU

OUR GOLF

AND

WEDDING

PACKAGES

Dont forget to

TAppinto to learn m


19/40

19


BY EVAN JOHNSONIts that time of year again and to make your holidayson a little less hectic, weve compiled the best gifts of the

ar in one easy list, from sweaters to spirits, so youll spend

s time shopping and more time doing the important stuff,e skiing and riding. Heres what youll find on our wish list:

ex Outerwear,

50 - $400Located in White

ver Junction, Ver-ont, Ibexs base oferation is a con-ted car dealershipth a small, laidbackff. Ibexs goods

made of 100%rino wool, whichimported from

w Zealand andnufactured state-

e into the finest quality woolens that are machine wash-e, moisture-wicking, non-flammable, wont stink like yournthetic base layers or itch like your granddads sweaters.e imported wool is third party certified to be ecologically,cially and economically sustainable. Shop locations are inston and Seattle, but you can find the full line of theirods at www.ibex.com, and in many Vermont retail ski ande stores.

Gift Card,

Vermont

Country

Store,$25 -$500

If you want to play itsafe, get them a gift card. If you want to get

em a one-of-a-kind gift card, pick one from the Vermontuntry Store. Founded by Vrest and Ellen Orton 1945, theeration began with a 12-page catalog featuring 36 items,iled to friends on their Christmas card list. o comple-nt the mail-order business, the pair opened Te Vermontuntry Store in Weston, Vt., in 1946, the first restored rural

neral store in the nation. With two locations in Westond Rockingham, Te Vermont Country Store prides itselfpurveyors of the practical and hard-to-find, and with aalog spanning everything from Bag Balm to peppermintcks to the original Stormy Kromer hat, anyone should bee to find something, no matter how picky they may be.

utting boards and

erving trays, J.K.

dams Co.,$10$100Since its found-

g over 65 yearso, J.K. Adams haspplied cooks andme entertainers withe innovative and functionalting boards, bowls, utensils, wine and knife racks available,handcrafted in Vermont. Teir materials include Newgland-sourced materials including ash, hickory, and slate.op online at www.jkadams.com

annel, Vermont Flannel

ompanyIf youre in need of anything warm and plaid, this really

a no-brainer. Owned and operated by a husband and wife

team in Barre, Vt., Te Vermont FlannelCompany has been producing fine

flannel goods for over 20 years.Stop by locations in Burlington,Ferrisburgh, and Woodstock for

flannel pants, pajamas, robes,shirts, shorts, jackets and othernecessities like dog jackets andscrunchies.

A Lifetime of

Vermont People,

By Peter Miller,

$49.95, hardcover.Vermont Photographer

Peter Millers latest book is anintimate and insightful glimpseinto the lives of Vermonters. Te idea for the book came in1988, after Miller had quit his job at Life Magazine. Orig-inally turned away by 13 publishers, Miller went it alone,remortgaged his house, and traveled the state in search of

subjects. Te result is a beautiful book encapsulating 60 yearsof photography. Printed in duo tone in Verona, Italy, thiselegant coffee table book is 208 pages long with 200 picturesand 60 Vermonter profiles.

Whistle Pig Whiskey,$68.99;Barr Hill Gin, a bargain at

any priceIf youre looking for holiday season liba-

tions and have someone with a discerningtaste for rye on your list, look no furtherthan Whistle Pig. Based in Shoreham, the100-proof straight rye whiskey is aged for atleast 10 years through a double barrel process.

Tis rye has received 96 pointsfrom Wine Enthusiast, their high-est rating ever for a rye whiskey, a

highest recommendation fromSpirits Journal, as well as accoladesfrom Te Wall Street Journal, GQ,Forbes, Imbibe Magazine, andmany others. Meanwhile, BarrHill Gin near Hardwick recentlyreceived an international award inHong Kong as the best gin in theworld. Hard to beat that recom-

mendation! Enjoy responsibly!

Darn Tough Socks,$20

Finally, somebody madesocks people enjoy receiving.

Darn ough Socks is a three-generation-old hosiery business in

Northfield, Vermont, that special-izes in making arguably the mostcomfortable, most durable, andbest fitting socks in the world.Featuring high-density knit-ting (114 stitches per inch!),

quality merino wool and all thetechnical specs you expect from a pair of performance socks,these are lovingly made to last. If you somehow wear out apair, send them back to CEO Ric Cabot and hell send you areplacement. Teyre guaranteed for life!

Worth Skis,$700 - $800With only four models of skis, Worth is the underdog ski

manufacturer, but this company proves that size isnt every-

thing. Tis staff of three offers partial custom designs iing choice of two core construction options, two comlayup options and customize-able flex to match the feperformance of the shape you choose to your individuaacteristics and style. Finished with extra-thick edges afinest 4001-sintered base material, these skis are built twhat the East dishes out. Google them for specs.

Vermont Peanut

ButterChris Kaiser has already

been on our radar as the guywho did for peanut butter whatBen & Jerrys did for ice cream,but his latest creation goesone step further. Forget Guor Hammer Gel, this energybooster is all natural and tastesa lot better too.

Filson X Burton

Sentry Snowboa

Jacke,$324.95Tis recent collabobetween two foremos

fitters from the EaWest coasts combi

the technical featurexpect from an all s

Burton shell, with a practical and stylish finish from leary Filson. No matter the task ranching or runninglaps this is one jacket to keep you warm and dry.

Holiday

Chocolate

Assortment,

15 pieces, Lake

Champlain

Chocolates, $32Forget the candy canes and

marzipan these gift boxesfrom the Burlington chocolate-maker are some of the finest.Tis set features luxurious flavors like Cappuccino, Cpagne, and French Roast as well as traditional favoritHazelnut Praline, Peanut Butter Cup, and Evergreen(Tere are lots of smaller local chocolate-makers as wesome terrific product. Check out Laughing Moon Choin Stowe, or

Assorted neckwear, Cerebella

Design,$65Founded by Middlebury College graduate, Arielle

these slick options for neckties, bowties and scarves are inby microscopic views of living tissues of plants and an

Faber views samplesa microscope, photowhat she sees and theverts the image to pshe can print onto Patterns so far itapeworms, starfishfrog skin, whale skintion of human trachemore a surefire csation starter.

Vermont Holiday Gift Guid2013


20/40

20


december/january events 20december/january events 20After a record number of resorts opened by Thanksgiving,

the best of winter 2013/14 is yet to come with events andpromotions around the state for the whole family. While everyresort in Vermont has dozens of activities and events going oneach week, here are some of what we see as the highlights:

DECEMBERVermont Holiday Festival at KillingtonDec. 13-14

The 2013 Vermont Holiday Festival meets for two days of holidayfun and entertainment for all ages. A portion of the proceedsfrom the festival will go to the Vermont Foodbank. The VermontChamber of Commerce named the Vermont Holiday Festival aTop Ten Winter Event in 2010 & a favorite Pick for Kids in 2011.

Opening weekend andInternational WomensSki Day at Magic MountainDec. 14Depending on conditions,SheJumps and the K2 Alliancebegin Magics season withInternational Womens SkiDay. All levels and all ages arewelcome. 3 pm-4:15 pm.

NATO Telemark Primer at

Bromley MountainDec. 14-15The North American TelemarkOrganization will offerintensive one-day on-snowtechnique clinics for beginnersto expert skiers. The TelemarkPrimer covers basic Telemarkand cross-country downhillturns.

Troops Ski and Ride Dayat Jay PeakDec. 14Jay Peak and Q Burke will hosta Troops Ski and Ride Day onSaturday, December 14. Allactive duty personnel and their

immediate family memberswill receive a $20 lift ticketwhen presenting their militaryIDs.

Season Pass holder party at Jay PeakDec. 14Jay Peak honors season pass holders with a complimentaryparty, featuring drinks, appetizers and live music. Location:International Room, 4 PM to 6 PM

Winter Tri #1 at Craftsbury Outdoor CenterDec. 15Another winter of Keith Woodward avored multi-sportmadness kicks off on Sunday, 11 am. This event will be run/bike/ski, at approximate distances of 4/8/6k. In the event oflimited terrain, the run and bike legs may be on dirt.

Killington Test FestDec. 17-18Killingtons two-day gear expo features over 30 reps toutingthe latest gear. The demo area will be open from 9 AM to 4PM each day.

Demo Day at Mount Snow ResortDec. 21Demo Day at Mount Snow will feature brands with the bestof this seasons hard gear. Registration is at the new democenter, located at the Cape House. All the demos are freeto try, but a credit card and drivers license are required fordeposit. Once signed up, you can demo any skis from thereps located in the Main Base Area, at the base of the BlueBird Express. Registration and demos for snowboarders will

be outside Backside Snowboards.

Intro To Ski and Ride at Bromley MountainDec. 21

Bromley Ski & Snowboard School in Bromleys newly sculptedTerrain Based Learning Zone. Package includes a LearningZone lift ticket, rental equipment and instruction from 10:30am to noon. Industry representatives will be available on site

for ski & snowboard deals. Lift ticket and equipment rentalis good all day.

Stateside Hotel Opening Weekend at Jay PeakDec. 20-21

Jay Peak celebrates the opening of the new Stateside Hoteland Day Lodge with two nights of live music, lodgingpackages, drink specials and giveaways.

World Snowboarding Day at Okemo MountainResortDec. 22Last year 160 resorts in 37 countries participated in thisyearly tradition. This year, Okemo Mountain Resort willoffer discounted Learn To Ride packages for a day ofsnowboarding. Park Rangers will host impromptu contestsall day and distribute free stuff at will. Okemo also will beoffering discounted Learn To Ride packages and free boarddemos in our Clocktower snowboard shop. Finally join us atthe summit at 2 PM for a record-breaking snake run.

NENSA Eastern Cup Opening Weekend at CraftsburyOutdoor CenterDec. 21-22For the 4th year in a row, Craftsbury will kickoff off the NENSAEastern Cup series with two FIS racesa skate sprint andclassic mass start distance. Saturday, December 21: 1.4kSkate Sprint with heats. Qualifying round, interval start at9:30 AM for allcategories. Ofcial Sprint Heats will begin at1:00 PM. Awards ceremony at 4:30 PM. Sunday, December22: Mass Start Classic, racing starts at 10 am with the J2s,5km; Women, 10k; Men, 15 km; BKL 2k. Note: There willbe a separate optional Masters wave 5 minutes after theregular start for both the mens and womens races. Awardsceremony at 2:00 PM.

Okemos Family New Years Eve at Okemo ResortDec. 31Midnight arrives early for friends and family whole host of activities.

New Years Eve Celebration and Dogat Sugarbush Resort

Dec. 31Bark in the New Year at the 4th Annual Dog Pyour canine friend in his/her most festive costumregistration fee goes towards PAWSitive Pantrynight rolling with a New Years Eve Celebration th

a torchlightreworks, livemore.

JANUARJanuary is Ski and SnMonth at Resortsmonth of 2014Beginners geticket for thearea, lessoequipment rerestrictions areserve in skivermont.co

Burke Academy Training CaJan. 3-5Attending ath12-15 will sldorms, eat inhall, and traBMA NordAthletes will BMA Head CBarton and cNordic team Training will

snow sessions, indoor gym training, video seclassroom instruction on training methods and p

Specialty Food Days at Vermont ResortsJanuary through April 2014Sample delicious Vermont food while skiing Vermont slopes. Ski Vermont, the Agency of and the Vermont Maple Foundation join forces Vermont specialty foods at area ski resorts. VermoFood Days offer skiers and riders the opportunitytasty treats from a variety Vermont food compavisiting resorts.

College Days at Bolton Valleymidweek from Jan. 1-17$19 lift tickets for college students.

Bolton After Dark at Bolton ValleyEvery Saturday starting in January, 2014$19 night skiing and riding for all ages, plus $slices, $2 sodas and draft beer specials. Plus, a freof a ski or snowboard movie.

$30 Thursdays at Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush RNon-holiday Thursdays starting January 9Ski and ride Thursdays at Mt. Ellen all day for just non-holiday periods and then join the aprs pGreen Mountain Lounge featuring live music, freefrom local sponsors and beer specials.

BullWheel Bar at Jay Peaks new Stateside Hotel. Photo courtesy of Jay Peak


21/40

21


december/january events 201december/january events 201ee Alpine Demo Day at the Nordic Barn, Topnotchsort & Span. 9y the latest and greatest alpine equipment free includingy adult high performance ski package or choose skis only.

ount Ellen 50thCelebration at Sugarbush Resortn. 9-12

. Ellen turns 50 this year! Join Sugarbush time-honored Mt.en customs such as: a 1963 priced ski day on Thursday,and off mountain events throughout the weekend and aditional Sunday brunch buffet.

ur De Trapp 30K/15K Skate Marathon (Zak Cup)Trapp Family Lodgen. 18great season opener for distance racing. The two or fourp, mass start skate race will occur on a thrilling and newlydated FIS racecourse.

th Annual Nationally Sanctioned Ice Carvingmpetition at Stowe Mountain Resortn. 25e countrys best amateur and professional Ice Carversmpete by creating frozen masterpieces in the Spruce Peakza at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort.

ounded Military Heroes Weekend at Bromleyountainn. 25-26e Bart Center for special needs will host the eighthnual Wounded Military Heroes weekend. This weekenddedicated to veterans who have been wounded in action.

ll Back the Clock Day at Mad River Glenn. 28e last Tuesday in January is always Roll Back the Clocky at Mad River Glen. To celebrate lift ticket prices are

olled back to the 1948 rate of $3.50.

EBRUARYSSMA Sugarbush and Mad River Glen Randonneeceb. 2

Join us for one of the biggest and best Randonnee races inNorth America, right here in the Mad River Valley.

Free Ladies Winter Adventure Day at the NordicBarn, Topnotch Resort & SpaFeb. 6Snowshoe or cross country ski adventures with free rentalsand refreshments. Space is limited, reservations required.

Moms Day Off at Bromley Mountain ResortFeb. 7Bring a picture of your kid and ski or ride all day for a $15donation to the Southwestern Vermont Regional CancerCenter.

The Annual Skier/Border Cross Challenge at JayPeak ResortFeb. 8Test your skills and agility as you careen at mach speedsthrough gates, banked turns and table tops. Open for skiersand riders of all abilities.

50+ Years of Magic Retro Day at Magic MountainFeb. 8Magic is said to be old school and this is the day to auntit on the slopes! There will be aprs ski trivia contests, bestretro outt awards and buffet dinner and dancing to music

since the 60s.

Cloud Nine Nuptials Resort at Mount Snow ResortFeb. 14Couples are invited to renew their vows or tie-the-knot forthe rst time at 3,600-feet during Mount Snows Cloud NineNuptials on Valentines Day.

Feb Fest! at Bromley Mountain ResortFeb. 15Starting 7p.m. watch a torchlight parade followed byreworks. Then its dancing in the Wild Boar, the silentauction, vacation rafe, and dessert tasting in the baselodge.

Torchlight Parade & Fireworks at Quechee Ski AreaFeb. 16Participants meet at the base of The Ski Hill, with ashlights,

for a winter dance down the hill. Fireworks and hot chocolatetop the night of festivities.

FamilyFun Winter Carnival at Smugglers ResortFeb. 20Smugglers teams up with FamilyFun magazine to hoWinter Carnival, an afternoon of games, giveawaypainting, music, free barbecue and lots of family fun snow!

Middlebury College Winter Carnival/EISAChampionships at the Snow BowlFebruary 21-22, 2014Dont miss some of the best collegiate skiing in the couthe Middlebury Panthers take on UVM, Dartmouth, Wand other ski powerhouses of the East.

Magic WinterFest 2014 at Magic MountainFeb. 22The biggest winter celebration at Magic with the BlackExtreme Challenge, Alpine Club Silent Auction and apparty, buffet dinner and Torch Light Parade with rew

Triple Crown Unconventional Terrain CompetitMad River GlenFeb. 22The Mad River Glen Triple Crown Competition Series kwith the Unconventional Terrain Competition. Comp

are challenged by the Ski It If You Can steeps, cliffs, and rocks, as they plunge down the relentless Lift Line cCardboard Box Derby at Quechee Ski AreaFeb. 22Kids design and build their own cardboard box sledrace them for prizes. Creativity abounds in the designparticipating vessels.

Hope on the Slopes Vertical Challenge at Jay ResortFeb. 23Every foot of vertical you rack up equals dollars goingght against cancer. Fight as a team or on your own.

Stowe Derby at Stowe Mountain ResortFeb. 23The Stowe Derby is the oldest and original downhill Country race in North America - a race from the top

Manseld, Vermonts highest peak to the historic villStowe.


22/40

22


By Evan JohnsonAn introduction to snow sports at any

age is a thrilling experience and if doneright, can mean the difference between askier or rider just for the weekend and askier or rider for life.

Kevin Harrington, director of the MountSnow Ski School, knows exactly what thatslike.

Ive met people that say, Yeah, I wentskiing once, and I always say, What doyou mean once? So many first experiencesare ruined by bad first experiences.

he image of the hapless brand-newskier or rider is a fixture at almost everymountain. Stand at the bottom of theslope, look up the hill and youll be ableto pick them out; the ones sporting gearpurchased at a yard sale or hunched overtheir rental skis, knees together, twistingand contorting themselves as they struggleto link turn after turn at what seems like a

painful, crawling pace.Whats even sadder about these situa-

tions is more often than not the person hasenlisted the help of a family member, friend or significantother to teach them. Will they want to continue skiing orriding after a first experience like this? Not often.

Any number of the things wrong with the above imagecould have easily been fixed with proper instruction andVermont resorts have developed programs to assess and helpeveryone from novice to advanced get the most out of theirwinter sport of choice be that skiing, riding or Nordic.

Lessons, of course, cost money, and as the cost of skiing

rises, there is the temptation to cut costs.

But the untold story of ski and riding lessons is why theymake economic sense and are, in every way, worth the moneyspent.

Novice skiers, novice mistakesFor a novice, small initial mistakes can have an impact on

their success of the lesson. Jeff Spring and Harley Johnson,Operations Director and Director at the Snow Sport Univer-sity at Smugglers Notch, respectively, are quick to point out

three mistakes people commonly make that keepthem from having a best possible first experience.

Sometimes its terrain, says Johnson. Its theclassic example of when the guy takes his girl-

friend up Sterling lift (which accesses the mostadvanced terrain), thinking hes going to teachher how to ski. hen it takes them two hours toget to the bottom and by the time they get down,their relationship is pretty strained.

Other times, the error is in the equipmentand preparation. Showing up wearing jeans anda cotton sweatshirt in subzero temperatures canonly make for a miserable day on the hill. Out-dated or improperly tuned equipment will likelyprove an unnecessary obstacle when learning thebasics, and is also unsafe.

Both skiing and riding emphasize using effi-cient movements to make turns to controlspeed. Using incorrect movements, results inwhat Spring describes as the herky-jerk-ies,

where the skier or rider, unaware of how theirbody should properly move, does anything fromwildly flailing arms to bizarre positions.

If your back is sore after a day on the snow,you should probably be in a lesson, he says.

A ski lesson ensures that the skier or rider is onterrain appropriate for their level and suitable forthe skills the teacher is trying to develop. Instruc-tors also commonly check students equipmentand clothing to make sure theyre ready for theday in the snow.

We have one coach that routinely sits downwith his group right at the beginning and checksthe students equipment making sure theyre

only wearing one pair of soctheir ski pants arent tucketops of their boots. Small thican have a big draw on the sustudents, says Spring.

Importance of teacHarrington is quick to em

value of snow sports to familas quick to issue a word of ca

Skiing is something yourest of your life, he says. Itserational, something that yodo together with your kidscan continue to share Buto teach anyone you love or c

It may sound callous, explains, it means a world oin the experience of the stud

As parents, we rush it always want to move fasterdo, he explains. When

from friends or family, the paalways there.

Spring agrees. With parhave routines and expected behaviors and they those expectations a little more readily when the pone teaching the lesson, he says. hose expecmean any number of things, and many of them for teaching a new sport like skiing or riding.

heres always an element of fear that comes ing, Spring says. And that fear can manifest itseent ways. hey may not have fallen before in this kation and some of the movements that we commcan be scary. he teachers job is to get the fear equation].

An instructor often has more experience in hdents confront those anxieties and there is a difof a dynamic between teacher and student. Havinunfamiliar be the teacher puts a student in a differewhere they are more receptive to the material thproviding.

Harrington uses his own daughter as an exampAt the age of three, she spent

final dec jan

Documents