Hello Everyone –
I was on the phone last week with a Charleston, West Virginia radio talk show host, when after he said, “Is there really any snow on the slopes?” I just wanted to reach through the phone to strangle him. Better yet I wanted to jump into my car and take him to a resort and show him personally the tons and tons of snow that’s on the slopes right now. You try and try to educate everyone that the temperatures might be mild in their town, but (especially in January, February and March) there’s still plenty of snow on nearby slopes.
You tell everyone that when the temperatures are cold, the resorts aren’t holding back and make as much snow as possible as long as temperatures permit. But who listens, it seems no one. I have been on this Charleston News Talk Show a number of times this year and have spoken almost to exhaustion about how good the conditions are this season. Then the host asks me “Is there snow at the resort since it has been almost 70-degrees this week?” Ouch, that hurt. No wonder the region’s marketing directors throw their hands in the air sometimes.
I was able to make some more turns at a resort in the region on Saturday and the conditions were just fine thank you. Hats off to all the snowmakers and groomers from Tennessee to Maryland for the work they have accomplished this season. Oh yea, I would be remise not to send a shout out to Mother Nature for the natural snow and cold temperatures. I can’t remember the last time I saw this much snow on the slopes over the President’s Weekend holiday. Judging by the number of skiers and snowboarders on the slopes I think the correct word has gotten out to some. Thanks for listening.
As a follow up to last week’s comments about shops starting “End of the Season” sales this season, I heard a shop in Charleston, West Virginia announce a sale and for skiers and snowboarders take advantage of the savings by enjoying the best conditions in years. Now that’s the way its suppose to work. Hats off to the management of Sport Mart.
That’s it for this week, more to come as winter is here. Just remember, whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! See you on the slopes.
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Joe Stevens, a member of the southeast ski industry since 1990 is a regular columnist for skisoutheast.com and serves as the Communications Director for the West Virginia Ski Areas Association.