ICYMI for October 2023
Credit:Rinat Khairitdinov
We’re all gearing up (pun intended) for another great downhill and XC season, with snow already dusting the slopes of our favorite areas.
ICYMI (in case you missed it), here are some tidbits of this and that from here and there around the wonderful world of snow sports, to remind us what a great season it was in 22/23, and hopefully will be again in 23/24.
Vail Resorts Opening Dates
Of course it depends on the cooperation of Mother Nature, but these are the tentative opening dates for several Vail Resorts destinations:
- Mid-October (pending early season conditions): Keystone (CO)
- November 10: Breckenridge (CO), Vail Mountain (CO)
- November 17: Heavenly (CA), Northstar (CA), Park City Mountain (UT)
- November 22: Beaver Creek (CO), Crested Butte (CO)
- November 23: Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia)
- December 1: Kirkwood (CA), Stevens Pass (WA).
Another New Ikon Pass Perk
If you like to veg out in front of the TV after an exhilarating day on the slopes, or at home in between ski trips, you are in luck. Alterra and Ikon Pass have partnered with Paramount+ to provide a free three-month subscription for unlimited streaming. You’ll have access to live sports and a library of films, series and concerts, from channels including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, the Smithsonian Channel and Showtime, including movies about skiing and snowboarding. Information is on the Ikon Pass website.
Dan Egan to Manage Tenney Mountain, NH
Former extreme skier Dan Egan, who has been a coach and media spokesperson since retiring from competition, has taken on a new role – General Manager of Tenney Mountain, NH. He has the task of revitalizing the small, independent area, which has shuttered several times since it first opened in 1959. It re-opened last year under new ownership, which has already spent $1.5 million on upgrades such as snowmaking, according to the industry trade magazine Ski Area Management.
Tenney is scheduled to reopen this season with two chairlifts – a triple for recreational skiing and a double for backcountry access, plus night skiing.
Wasting Away in Lake Tahoe
The Margaritaville brand is launching its first foray into lodging in a ski destination with the opening of Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe in December.
It is the former Lake Tahoe Resort, at the base of Heavenly, re-opening after a multi-million dollar renovation as an all-suite hotel. Each of its 399 suites offers either a mountain or lake view, and some have fireplaces. There’s also an indoor heated pool, multiple restaurants and bars and a nine-story indoor atrium. Now accepting reservations for Dec. 20 and beyond. Because it’s always five o’clock somewhere.
Japan
Two of Japan’s largest ski resorts are being linked by a chairlift to create a mega-resort of more than 450 acres. The resorts are Alts Bandai Snow Park & Resort and Nekoma Snow Park & Resort in Japan’s Aizu region. The new lift replaces a long hike between the two resorts via a walking track.
Although the length of the 2,600+ lift might be scary, lift ticket prices are not – the twin areas already have been accessible on a single lift ticket, starting at just $35 ( ¥4,900) for a one-day pass.
Alts Bandai is the larger of the two and boasts high-speed hooded lifts and modern facilities, including the ski-in-ski-out Bandaisan Onsen Hotel. It is also famous for its views over the stunning Lake Inawashiroko to the south. Skiers and riders seeking some of Japan’s best powder and tree skiing are more likely to find it at at Nekoma
The new lift is expected to open in December 2023. In a bit to attract international travelers, the twin resorts are offering a discounted accommodation package for the upcoming season.
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Kind of got a few bits about Tenney not quite right. As one who is a NH resident, a snowsports instructor, and has been tele skiing Tenney in Plymouth NH when it re-opened under Michael Bouchard a few years ago. – The double runs to the “summit” and is not to backcountry.. and the tripple runs off to “lookers right” to a lower point.
Michael did extensive work to bring the mountain back on-line by completely replacing the drives/controls on both lifts as well as add snow-tubing. In addition, he had to do extensive repair work on the existing water lines for snowmaking as well as the pump house. The previous owners had NOT drained down the lines when they closed the mountain, teh lines froze and split open. some spots were buried. There was also a bit of water bar work performed to insure melt/run-off returned to the pond.