Biggest Skiing in America - Yellowstone, Big Sky, Moonlight - Boom!

I hate to say I told you so, but I did. I tweeted, on July 26, 2013 - ‏"@FamilySkiTrips26 Jul The Yellowstone Club to buy The Club at Spanish Peaks with Big Sky Resort! Good ski news! What's next? Maybe they buy @MoonlightBasin too #BiggestSkiinginAmerica #Boom http://fb.me/QLf1vITJ "

Prediction come true: on August 15, 2013 Yellowstone Club owner CrossHarbor Capital, in partnership with Boyne Resorts, who owns and operates Big Sky Resort, announced that they are acquiring Moonlight Basin from Lehman Brothers Holdings. 

Big Sky will manage Moonlight Basin, they already share a lift  - the Iron Horse quad, share flanks of  Lone Peak's awesome terrain, and offer an interconnected lift ticket. For the past three seasons,  Big Sky & Moonlight Basin have marketed the Biggest Skiing in America.... a combined area of 5,700 ski-able acres, 4,350 vertical feet and 23 chairlifts. These stats eclipse Vail's 5,200 and rivals that of Whistler/Blackcomb.

Well, that big Montana ski experience just got bigger if you consider Moonlight Basin abuts Big Sky which neighbors Yellowstone Club and Spanish Peaks - another private ski community with lifts and lodges including the Pinnacle atop the Ram Charger lift at Big Sky. I don't see Yellowstone Club dropping their secure boundaries and letting the riff raff in anytime soon, but the  modest terrain at Spanish Peaks will likely become fair game.

I am a huge fan of Big Sky - one of my favorite ski resorts anywhere. Moonlight Basin also makes my list - it has been a sleeping giant, no big crowds and pretty amazing terrain - comparable to neighboring Big Sky.  Moonlight has its own community of stunning slope side homes and a gorgeous mid-mountain Lodge but struggled through foreclosure with Lehman Brothers. I believe the Moonlight giant is about to be awakened. Boyne (who owns Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Loon, Boyne, Boyne Highlands, and Brighton) is big on quality lifts, grooming and snowmaking, Yellowstone is all about posh lodging and exclusivity. An interesting Montana match made for skiers.

Stay tuned.. and be sure to follow family ski trips on twitter - for breaking news in the ski biz! 

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Back to School - Ski bargains for College Students!

Ok, so I wish I could go back to college. I see the excitement in my two kids' eyes as they pack and plan for their fall semesters on campus.  New curriculum, seeing their classmates, and of course the anticipation of keggers and crazy times . My envy really piques when I see the annual season pass deals that roll out for college students. Certainly incentive to roll out of bed on weekends and hit the ski slopes.   

Here is a "new"  New England pass deal for college students - the 4.0 College Pass. Clever name, and an impressive conglomerate of 4 mountains - Okemo Mountain Resort, Killington Resort, Pico Mountain and Mount Sunapee Resort. And the price is nice at $369, if you purchase (or Mom and Dad do) by December 15, 2013. Even better scholastic news, the pass has no blackout dates - so you can ski during holidays, college break, Presidents weekend, you get the drill. There is also a buddy bonus, you can bring up to five college friends for 50% off tickets. Sounds like a plan, and an après ski party! The 4.0 College Pass gets students 378 trails or 150 miles of skiable terrain with 8,727 vertical feet at the 4 ski resorts, 19 terrain parks and 59 lifts - how's that for some Econ 101. Vermont and New Hampshire road trip anyone?

A smart student should compare that 4.0 pass to the College New England Pass, which is $349 if you buy before Nov 30, with unlimited skiing at Sunday River,  Sugarloaf and Loon. These three ski areas combine to give students  347 trails, 42 lifts, 2,265 acres and 7,260 vertical feet, to weigh in to their winter decision making.  Obviously ideal for students in proximity to Maine and New Hampshire ski slopes.  

Jay Peak and Burke Mountain have a Judge Pass for just $199 at the Northern Vermont sister ski resorts, but you need to jump on that price by September 5.

So make Dean's List, and make a decision on where to do your downhill thesis this season. The college pass deals will be making a splash at college fairs everywhere. Enjoy the student discount during those sweet four years before reality, careers and real ski sticker shock sets in.

More on www.FamilySkiTrips.com and www.LuxurySkiTrips.com

 

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Summer fun for skiers - bike, hike, zip!

 

Just because you are jonesing for snow and ski season to return...doesn't mean you can't make the most of the mountains and summer months with alpine alternatives. Ski resorts are rolling out summer amusements to retain business between snow seasons.

Mountain biking at ski resorts is a cool option, particularly when you can ride the chair lift up with your bike and enjoy an adrenaline rush ride down. Just be warned that green circle ski trails are more like black diamond descents on a bike - the surface is not soft carve-able snow - its dirt and rocks, grass and gravel. A full suspension bike is recommended and riding experience is essential for big mountain biking. See Heather's article on Sunday River's mountain bike park that offers 30 trails, lift accessed.

Hiking is another option, and ideal with a chairlift ride, up or down - your choice. Again, hiking bots are better than sneakers. You will be surprised how much steeper and uneven the trails are without snow cover. The reward is seeing how long, scenic and sprawling the mountains are in summer.

Ziplining is one of the coolest 21st century add-ons at ski resorts. The chairlift brings you to the summit, or at least up the mountain, where you harness in and zip down a cable from platform to platform with amazing views and a rush of a ride. I love Gunstock's zipline in New Hampshire - you control your own speed, and the scenery of Lake Winnipesaukee is amazing!

Okemo in Vermont has a zipline tour and a Timber Ripper mountain coaster - which is like a mini-railroad cart that swerves down the mountain on a track... very fun.

So don't dismiss the ski mountains in summer - there's plenty of fun pastimes and pretty spectacular scenery too! Ski season will be here soon enough!

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SAM's best & worst in ski marketing for 2012-13

Ski Area Management magazine is like the Bible for ski industry peeps, and the Sammy's are the Oscars, Emmy's and ESPY's of alpine awards! I am always excited to see the cheers & jeers for this year's ski ad campaigns from SAM magazine.

These are funny but usually right on! SAM features their best and worst in their May issue after the snow melts and ski area managers have met at the NSAA annual gathering in some sunny resort devoid of snow! This year it was Palm Springs...

On the East Coast, some of our favorites, Stowe, Sugarloaf, and Killington got kudos for their ski ads in print and online. Meanwhile a few got demerit marks, like Bretton Woods for a blurry ad and Stratton for a stuffed bear hucking off a jump. You just never know what's going to be brilliant and what is deemed "not your best work!"

See Heather's ski blog on Boston.com for this year's ski resort winners including props for learn to ski and season pass promos in the East this year!  And we'll see you on the slopes ...in the fall.

Until then we'll be biking and waterskiing to stay in top ski shape!

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Beast of the East...ski season ends for 2012-13!

Killington wins the longest ski winter 2013 for the East! Killington opened first this ski season on Oct 13 exclusively to passholders - ahead of perennial rope dropper Sunday River for a second year in a row.
The Big K, Kmart, #BeastoftheEast, had hoped to ski till June after such a good snow winter in New England...well, they outwitted, outplayed and outlasted the rest...but Sunday May 26 was their last day! In classic North East fashion - it rained then snowed for closing weekend, but there was no charge for skiing and riding on the Superstar Quad and Trail - some walking required, but now whining - it was a valiant finish. Did I mention it was free skiing?

The last time Killington stayed open into June was June 1, 2002. The latest the Beast has been skied was June 22, 1997 with that year's bounty of 301-inches of snow. This winter's snow accumulation was about 250-inches.

For decades Killington was The Beast with the longest ski season in the East, then Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and even Jay Peak, gave it a run. Looks like the Beast is back, and the European style umbrella bars, added in 2011 after Irene damaged the Superstar Pub, are the perfect complement to spring skiing in Vermont.

So now we start to wager who will open first? Halloween skiing? Till then, enjoy your water skiing, hiking, biking, boating, whatever you do to stay sane in summer! Stay tuned to Family Ski Trips

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How was your ski season 2012-13?

Killington is still spinning, perhaps through June - and The West just got dumped on - a foot of fresh at Arapahoe Basin. But I have switched gears to biking. Next week we launch the ski boat for some h2o skiing.

With a  hint of melancholy - here's my best and worst of this 2012-13 ski season:

The best was the SNOW, plenty of consistent snow fall East and West, and no big January thaws. So much better than the previous winter...thank you Mother Nature for quieting the global warming gurus.

The Weather Channel won respect with their crazy snow storm - very well timed for a bountiful snow year. Who will ever forget Nemo and Euclid's big dumps?! Network meteorologists resisted the urge to whisper the Weather Channel names! Brilliant branding.

There were monumental mountain birthdays - Vail hit the big 50, Loveland 70, NH's Gunstock, Cranmore and Cannon all turned 75. Dumont Cup at Sunday River reached 5 years - an event I have covered since Simon first hucked himself 75' in 2008 to break the world record. Hard to believe Sugarloaf's Reggae Fest turned 25!

My son passed his Level 2 PISA certification, while attending school full time at MSU and teaching skiing on weekends at Big Sky Resort in Montana. I am so very proud of his successful balancing act. I also admire how beautifully Ian skis - both technically and joyfully. He truly loves the sport we shared with him 19 years ago, starting at 23 months old. He has taken in to the next level - literally - PSIA Level 2! Those in the know recognize the alpine rigors of this examination process and the professionalism required.

Greg and I had amazing adventures, as usual, but I never take for granted our travels. We skied our way up the St Lawrence Seaway in Quebec over New Years. It was frigid cold, but the fantastic scenery and hospitality in Quebec City, Mont Sainte Anne and Le Massif were worth the chill.

Our ski safari to southwest Colorado unveiled new stashes, Telluride being a new favorite, Durango a close second, plus Crested Butte, Monarch and Wolf Creek. A refreshing detour from the big resorts and crowds of Summit County.

A romantic getaway to Bretton Woods and the grand Mount Washington Resort Hotel was a lovely reminder that New England has some top lodging, skiing and scenery - where you can sneak away even for a night and feel exhilarated.


Ending the ski season in the Swiss Alps, yeah that was cool too. Seriously, Switzerland is the king of skiing and we hit five of the best, from charming Adelboden and the vast Aletsch Arena, to the spectacular glaciers at Saas Fee, the steeps of Verbier, and the grand finale - Zermatt! Greg had proposed to me 27 years ago at this legendary ski resort...returning for three days of sun and perfect snow did not disappoint! A vow renewal...we love each other and skiing... still.

This ski season was slightly blemished by my tibia fracture, time stamp 1/28/13 11:30. I kept skiing - amid the 12 day assignment, stoic or silly? In my skier's silver lining playbook, I had the upside of a same season comeback, squeezing in 44 ski days. Already looking forward to next year's 47! Need to start skiing my age in days...and you?

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Swiss pass...for skiers on the go!

We recently traveled to Switzerland, the ultimate ski country, a destination we had not visited in 27 years... since photographer Greg proposed to ski writer Heather in 1986 in Zermatt...

Well, another happy chapter ensues as the editors of FamilySkiTrips and LuxurySkiTrips toured five fantastic Swiss ski destinations - traveling entirely by Swiss trains, buses and ski lifts all part of their Swiss Pass.  The trains worked with Swiss watch precision, the snow in April was amazing and the scenery was fantastic! So was the fondue ...

See our review on how to pack for two week ski trip when you are carrying your skis, boots and luggage for a  five ski resort odessey, see photos of the Swiss ski resort of Adelboden, Aletsch Arena, Saas Fee, Verbier and the legendary Zermatt.

We are home safe and sound, glad we flew into Logan airport and Boston the day before the  horrific Boston marathon massacre. We are blessed and send our best thoughts to all peace loving skiers and runners and doers across across the planet. Work hard, play hard, celebrate often!

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