VERMONT
By Heather Burke
The Millennium ski season in the Green Mountain is shaping up to be a banner one. Ski Resorts are planning superb events to celebrate the millennium and the entire 99/00-winter season for that matter. See the Ski and Ride Calendar for dates and check out your favorite areas’ web sites for details. As for capital improvement, areas will debut new lifts to transport you to the top in record time and comfort, new lodges and learning centers, and improved snowmaking. The Vermont snow sports industry is full of good news and good values too. Here are some of the accomplishments, offerings and accolades for the last ski season of this century. Northern Vermont:  Bolton
ValleyThe most newsworthy resort of the season is Bolton Valley Holiday Resort. Bolton is re-opening this season thanks to Ned Hamilton, the entrepreneur who premiered his chain of Peter Glen Ski Shops here years ago. Skiers and riders will be treated to a new look as the hotel, base lodge and sports center have been completely renovated featuring a new Vermont style log cabin village. A few of the new retail shops include a gourmet wine and cheese shop and an outlet catering to Nordic, Backcountry and Snowshoe enthusiasts. On the mountain, Bolton has improved their fleet with two brand-new state of the art groomers. Trails that had become overgrown have been trimmed over the summer to spruce the conditions, and new glades have been created. Vermont’s largest night skiing will be a welcome return for locals, and a new lighted tubing park will add to the excitement. Burke Mountain Best value award goes to Burke Mountain. Burke continues to give skiers and riders lots of elbowroom and great value for their dollar. Load up your car for the return of Car Load because for only $30.00 per car load for selected days you can ski or ride all day at Burke. This year Burke skiers and riders will find that the popular east side Big Dipper trail now has 100% snowmaking coverage top to bottom. The increase in snowmaking is part of $12 million, three-year “recovery plan” under way to achieve 90% coverage.  Jay PeakJay Peak is a sure bet for best new equipment with the installation of the longest mountain served-detachable quad chairlift in the East. In just 7 minutes, The “Green Mountain Flyer” will whisk skiers and riders from just north of the tram to the top shoulder of Jay Peak, depositing them at the intersection of Northway and Ullr’s Dream trails. “This (lift) will change forever the way Jay Peak is skied and will redistribute skiers and riders more evenly between the Stateside and Tramside areas providing a much improved downhill experience for our guests”, commented resort president Bill Stenger. Jay Peak resort is vying to be one of the first areas to open for the 1999/2000 ski season, with an increase in snowmaking coverage to add to its’ list of improvements. Mad River Glen The best kids’ deal is available at Mad River Glen. Free seasons passes are being offered to children 12 and under, and there is no adult purchase necessary. This program is part of Mad River’s efforts to introduce more families to the friendly, casual atmosphere. The only catch is the passes must be reserved by October 14th. In other news, Mad River remains steadfast to its ban of snowboarding, one of only 5 remaining in North America to take such a stand. “Ski it if you can” but riders need not apply. Smugglers’ Notch Best new beginner area award goes to Smugglers' Notch. A new 1,450-foot long double chair lift on Morse will open a totally new section of the mountain called the Morse Bowl, servicing beginners and advanced beginners. The five classic New England style trails were designed for skiers and riders who have conquered their first day on the slopes, and now want to practice in a quiet, gentle section of the mountain. The new Highland lodge offers a cozy respite between runs. Smugglers’ has also converted two indoor tennis courts in to “The Fun Zone”. This family activity center hosts wall to wall diversion from an obstacle course, boxes and slides, to mini-golf. The Fun Zone is part of “Smuggs Central”, located in the Village by the pool and hot tub club, the outdoor ice skating rink, and the Nordic and Snowshoe Center.  StoweIn the best toys category, you will find Stowe. This season debuts the “Toy Shop’, Stowe’s new one-stop, on-mountain demo center chock full of the latest gadgets to get you down the hill in new and exciting ways. From the top of the line skis and boards to the hottest boots and blades, Stowe has plenty of new toys for you to sample. Located at the base of the Mt. Mansfield quad chair, the Toy Shop has on site ski school instructors to assist you with navigating this new equipment. Stowe is also introducing “Comfort Zones” on both Mansfield and Spruce Peak in an effort to provide a safe atmosphere on the mountain. On these specially selected trails, skiers and riders are encouraged to enjoy the sport with increased awareness of others. The slogan “share the freedom” is the spirit behind these zones where everyone should experience a heightened level of safety. Sugarbush Sugarbush will have the honors of the newest grooming fleet, with eight new machines on the slopes this season. And for those who prefer to ski in the trees, three new glade trails will appear on the 1999/2000-trail map. For the past two seasons Sugarbush has been the first ski area in northern Vermont to open and last to close. Will this be the third for this extensive 18 lift, 115 trail resort. Central Vermont Ascutney Best snowmaking slogan has to go to Ascutney. “Operation Blizzard” is the aptly named snowmaking expansion that brings Ascutney’s coverage to 95%. Spending $1,500,000 in resort improvements before the turn of the century, skiers and riders will also discover new expert only glades on the western side and a new halfpipe. Work continues on the North Peak expansion scheduled to debut for the 00/01 season, which will be serviced by a mile-long detach quad.  KillingtonMost clever redesign award goes to Killington. Though still the East’s largest ski resort, Killington has reconfigured the Sunrise Mountain area to make it more accessible to skiers and riders. The Sunrise Northeast Passage Triple was moved 1 mile up the mountain, to improve the entry from Sunrise Village, providing gentler terrain with better snow exposure for the families. After several years of aggressive expansion, numerous high-speed lifts like the K-1 gondola, this year is a little quieter. The focus continues for the big interconnect with Pico, there is always “next year”. Okemo Best vision for the future is the claim to be made by Okemo. The resort has extensive plans to create a “four-season recreational facility that will promote economic growth while supporting sound environmental protection”. Okemo is expected to begin construction, in the spring of 2000 following final permit approval, of the Jackson Gore mountain and village expansion which will feature its own access road, a base village, 5 new lifts and 16 new trails. For this season, Okemo increases water-pumping capacity to what is already one of the state’s most impressive snowmaking systems. Southern Vermont  BromleyBromley Mountain Resort premieres the most improved rentals. Now Bromley is stocked with over $80,000 worth of new rentals, including shaped skis to compliment last year’s newly renovated Rental Center. As for season pass deals, Bromley will again offer the tremendously popular $195 early-season Midweek Season Pass (good midweek, non-holiday), but applications must be received by October 15th. Magic Mountain Lowest all around lift ticket prices are expected at Magic Mountain. Celebrating its’ third year of renewed operation this coming season, after a seven-year closure, Magic plans to continue to keep skiing affordable. Special value day traditions will continue with “Back to the 60’s” Tuesdays followed by “Foodbank Wednesdays”. More trails will be reopening this season, due to cutting and clearing of previously popular trails like Redline and Master Magician. Mount Snow Host of the trendiest sporting event is Mount Snow. The 2000 ESPN Winter X Games will be at Mount Snow February 3-6, showcasing 200 athletes from around the world competing in snowboarding, freeskiing, snowbike racing and snowmobile snocross. Over the past four years, Mount Snow has invested over $34 million in capital improvements on the mountain, including high-speed quads, new terrain parks and halfpipes, a family tubing park and a state of the art Discovery Center for new skiers and riders. It is no surprise ESPN found this to be the ideal venue to televise their alternative sporting event. Stratton The best six person couch lifts are at Stratton. This summer Stratton installed a second high-speed six-passenger quad. The new six-packer replaces the Grizzly double chair and the North American fixed grip quad. Ride time will be 4 minutes on the Ursa Express, named after Stratton’s mascot bear. Ascutney Mountain Resort, Brownsville, VT 802-484-7000 www.ascutney.com Bolton Valley Holiday Resort, Bolton Valley VT 802-434-3444 www.boltonvalley.com Bromley Mountain, Manchester Center, VT 802-824-5522 www.bromely.com Burke Mountain, Lyndonville, VT 802-626-3305 www.burkemountain.com Jay Peak, Jay VT 802-988-2611 www.jaypeakresort.com Killington/Pico, Killington VT 802-422-3333 www.killington.com Mad River Glen, Waitsfeild, VT 802-496-3551 www.madriverglen.com Magic Mountain, Londonderry, VT 802-824-5645 www.magicmtn.com Mount Snow, Mount Snow, VT 802-464-3333 www.mountsnow.com Okemo Mountain Resort, Ludlow, VT 802-228-4041 www.okemo.com Smugglers Notch, Smugglers Notch Vermont 800-523-2754 www.smuggs.com Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe, VT 802-253-3436 www.stowe.com Stratton Mountain, Stratton, VT 802-297-2200 www.stratton.com Sugarbush, Warren, VT 800-53SUGAR www.sugarbush.com To Contact Vermont Ski Areas Association: 802-223-2439 www.skivermont.com Or the new website for snowboarders www.ridevermont.com |
