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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Best Easter skiing in years!

If the Easter bunny is a skier, he's been spotted him on the slopes in past seasons, he has to be stoked for this Sunday! Easter weekend is as early as it gets on the calendar, and the skiing is as good as it gets all around the country! 
 

You should consider taking the family to the ski mountains this weekend. The snow covered mountains are very spiritual, and many ski areas provide Sunday sunrise service. As a bonus, there are egg hunts on the ski trails, costume parades and even ticket deals if you dress the part. It's going to be an epic Easter weekend to ski. Next winter Easter is late again, April 20...

Read Heather's ski blog on Boston.com for Easter ski events in New England. And get out your Easter bonnet, and your best spring ski outfits for sun and fun on the snow ...April is going to be great - no April foolin!
See our Top Ski Resorts for Spring Skiing in New England at Family Ski Trips and our Top Ski Resorts for Spring Skiing Out West on Luxury Ski Trips.

We'll see you on the slopes.
Don't forget the SPF! 

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Thank you for being ski friends...

"The fact that you are back skiing so soon speaks to the passion that you have for the sport and for your ski writing," said my editor friend Susan Grisanti from Maine Magazine. Fellow ski writer Amy Patenaude (of the Pats Peak family) said, "Heather, I believe you have never taken for granted how much you love to ski and that you didn't need an injury to remind you how much you love to fly downhill! You are strong and fast and fun, and we all want you back on the slopes!"

Comments like that make me grateful for what I do, and for the people who share my passion. I am also thankful that my tibia fracture did not sideline me for the entire ski season - just 5 painful weeks. The physical discomfort was nothing compared to the emotional frustration and fear of losing what I love. Writing about skiing from my desk looking out at the continually accumulating snow was anguish. But I had friends sending me texts and messages that they were skiing my favorite runs for me, keeping me in the alpine loop  in my absence. I appreciate that more than I can express.

This weekend at Sunday River, being able to ski wall to wall corduroy, cranking arcs on a white welcome mat of soft snow with friends was amazing. We skied 45 runs and logged 54,000' of vertical in two days - which is way more fun that rehabbing on a stationary bike!  Shout out to to Sunday River's groomers for the seamless carpet from Jordan Bowl to White Heat.

I thank all of you, friends and followers for your kind words of encouragement, for reading my blogs, even when I was fractured and freaking out, broken and blue, and for the big smiles when you saw me back on the slopes.

And finally to my husband, my forever ski date and photographer, thank you for shoveling all that powder snow that fell in February and for not pointing out the obvious - that I jammed up our winter plans with my injury. But the rest, and the best, is still to come this ski season. Stay tuned.

See you on the slopes!

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