Tag Archive for: Okemo ski area

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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trailmasterimage_CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows announced that the The Audi FIS Women’s Alpine World Cup at Squaw Valley (March 9 – 12, 2017) will be 100% carbon neutral. The area will materially reduce and offset emissions directly related to the event. Activities will include composting, fresh water stations (both areas discontinued sale of single use plastic ater bottles last season — the first in the nation to do so), and a variety of car-pooling and other eco-friendly transportation options.

Mountain High, 90 minutes from Los Angeles and Orange County, is open for the season. It bills itself as   Southern California’s learn to ski and snowboard resort. 70+ are free, every day.

NEW MEXICO

The Town of Taos was selected as the country’s top ski town in a USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice contest. Other cities in the running included Whitefish, Montana and North Conway, New Hampshire.

QUEBEC

The annual Quebec Winter Carnival will take place January 27-29. It is the classic winter event. If you plan to go, dress for the cold!

UTAH

Brighton Resort is open and operating from top to bottom.

Park City Mountain Resort lifts are now running for the season. It is the largest ski resort in the US and has something for every skier and boarder. Like most other Utah resorts, it’s a short ride from the airport.

VERMONT

Okemo announced that opening day featured top to bottom terrain, a feat it has achieved for four opening days in a row. Thank you, snow making crew!  Okemo is also planning demo days on 12/10-11.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Several resorts are planning to open this weekend in New Hampshire.  Black Mountain, Cranmore, Gunstock, and Ragged Mountain are making snow and grooming.  Check conditions before you go with Ski New Hampshire. 

OTHER

Patagonia’s Black Friday sales hit $10 million, 100% of which was donated to grassroots environmental organizations working around this fragile planet of ours. Thank you, Patagonia!

Mountain Collective provides two days of skiing at 14 iconic North American resorts, including Alta/Snowbird; Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, Jackson Hole, Revelstoke, Whistler Blackcomb, and Stowe. The pass costs $419. Pass holders get 50% off additional days (no blackouts). It is ski value at its best if travel plans take you to those great locations.

Timber Creek Lodge is a new relaity show on the Bravo network. It’s set in an upscale ski lodge and, based on the trailer, features a selection of curvaceous and hard body youngsters doing what they can to please the patrons and each other. Premiers Monday, December 5th at 10pm ET/PT.

Jon Weisberg

This Bubble Is Heating Up

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What is hot, orange and headed uphill?

Okemo recently announced installation of its Orange Bubble, a heated-seat, six-pack chair, the first of its kind in New England.  And, Canyons Resort in Park City installed its Orange Bubble Quad a few years ago. I’ve taken that lift, and the warmth and orange-filtered view are nice‑especially on a bitter day.

Like riding up in a ski goggle Credit: Rob Bossi/Canyons

Like riding up in a ski goggle
Credit: Rob Bossi/Canyons

The technology gives the seats a fast charge when the chair passes through the lift terminals. Fannies and spirits are in a good mood on the way up. These seats have been popular throughout Europe for the past decade and recently started migrating to North America. Vail installed the seats on its Number One gondola about three years ago.

Heated seats on a bubble chair are a vast improvement over the heavy wool blankets worn from the 40’s to the 70’s to fight cold at Stowe, Killington, Mad River, Bromley, Aspen, Gore and Holiday Valley.  Under certain conditions, they froze cardboard stiff.  Under all conditions, they were pleasantly musty. Under no condition was your butt comfy and warm.

Scott Pierpont, SVP Sales, Doppelmayr USA, explains this emerging North American trend as providing another level of comfort beyond the bubble. His company built the lift at Canyons Resort.

Credit: Rob Bossi/Canyons

Keeping Tushies Happy Credit: Rob Bossi/Canyons

Both he and Rick Speer, president, Leitner-Poma of America, the company that built the new Okemo lift, believe that we’ll be riding on many more heated seats over the coming years.

“It’s all about skier comfort,” Speer explains. “The older you are, the more you’re going to like it.”

Why orange?  We have our theories, but what do you think?

Here’s how it looks and feels.  The spiel from the Canyons…