Did any of you guys feel anything different when you got up this morning? From our data this last 10 days is unofficially the longest stretch of steady, cold temps that we’ve had this season. Although portions of Western North Carolina did get one day of freezing rain and drizzle in the midst of it, it has still be cold for ten days straight and the even better news is that we’re seeing highs all the way through next Monday that will keep us basked in colder than normal temperatures.
We also have some more snow in the forecast! There’s a chance for a bit of snow tonight, Thursday, Thursday night and Friday. It doesn’t appear to be anything more than a 2-4” type of snow but SNOW is SNOW! Yahoo! Lows tonight should be near 18°, Thursday night looks colder at 13°, Friday night 16°, and then it “warms” a bit for Saturday night to around 23°! Sunday and Monday nights should drop to around 20°. (Some forecasters are saying that the first of next week will be even colder!)
Those kind of low temps allow the snow makers to really put out a VERY FINE variety of manmade snow that is so powdery that it is as close to gliding on God’s own snowfall as it gets!
More Snowmaking Means More Slope Openings!
The trend of the reports coming from ski areas across the region is that these great temps will deliver skiers and riders MORE terrain to play on for this coming weekend! I was skiing with my two girls last night up at Hawksnest and I can tell you that they will have Sock Em Dog open for the weekend. I was speaking with Vance Duggan just after he came off the slopes from a between sessions grooming tour of the mountain and he said that they were hoping to get Sock Em open for today, but that he doubted it would be quite that soon. However, expect Hawksnest and other resorts to have more terrain to offer us by Friday or Saturday across the state.
Speaking of grooming, Lord Have Mercy that young man (Duggan) can put down a nice, corduroy surface. I have watched from time to time when he or Lenny Cottom has driven the machine slowly up and down the mountain and I can tell you that the surface last night was nothing short of amazing! There was also a huge mound of manmade snow just off the top of Goshawk that was almost like skiing through six or eight inches of the “real” thing and that was pretty SWEET as well! It was a school night for my Valle Crucis ladies so the three of us got in eight or nine runs from the top and headed home.
If you haven’t rode Hawksnest in a while – you owe it to yourself to revisit the mountain soon!
Here’s Some Highlights From Around the State
Appalachian Ski Mountain – App has TWO Terrain parks open for your riding, sliding, jumping and twisting pleasure. If you’re into rails, steps, boxes and more and have not seen Appalachian’s park, you are missing out. Nothing else in the region comes close.
Cataloochee Ski Area – Don’t forget to join the Cat Crew on Thursday nights at Cataloochee for the Cataloochee Challenge Cup Race Series. Individuals race against the clock for the better of two runs. Top three challengers in both men’s and women’s’ age divisions win cool stuff. You must be 21 years of age or older to participate. Racing begins at 8pm with a post awards party at 10pm, so dust off those racing skills and test your luck. The Cat is where it’s at on Thursday night’s Challenge Cup Race Night. Call the ski area for more information.
Hawksnest Resort – Snowmaking continues on the main portion of Sock Em Dog. Upper is open off the top, but then you currently have to ski around to The Right Stuff. They are blasting the black diamond, lower portion of the slope so that they can construct the terrain features and get things hopping over there.
Don’t forget that Hawksnest is playing host to the Southern Division of the United States College Ski Association races this weekend. Race teams from NC and adjoining states will be competing. See more about the event in another update this morning! Get in on the fun by calling 800-822-4295!
Sapphire Valley – They are on their normal operating schedule for this time of year, meaning that they will be open today at 5pm for skiing, snowboarding and tubing! Sapphire was making snow when we called this morning and will continue as long as temps allow!
Ski Beech – They have been making snow to beat the band and will be opening more terrain soon! Don’t forget that today is “Retro Wednesday” at Ski Beech. On Wednesdays they have retro prices with $16 lift tickets and $15 ski rentals.
Sugar Mountain – They have added 3 new slopes today! Whoopdedoo, Sugar Slalom and Easy Street Extension. They also anticipate opening tubing tomorrow and the Snowboard Park by the weekend. Since we are in a “race talking mode” this morning, Sugar has some racing fun to watch on Monday nights. The Monday Night Adult Ski/Snowboard league, takes place every Monday night, with the championship race on February 26, 2007.
Wolf Ridge Resort – Wolf is hosting a Slope Style competition set for this weekend…Sat. Jan. 27, 2007. Registration for the competition begins at 9 am at the upper Wolf Ridge Lodge. There is a $15 registration fee and a 25% discount on lift tickets for competitors. The competition begins at 1pm and includes skiers and snowboarders. Each competitor will be given 2 runs judged by a panel of 3 judges. The score will be based on style, amplitude and technicality. The top 5 competitors will move on to a final 3rd run. Prizes will be given to the top 3 competitors. Possible prizes include cash, gear, passes and trophies. The event is sponsored by Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, Breakaway Village, Zero Gravity Skate Park of Brevard, FLIPSIDE skate shop and Red Bull. The Park Place terrain park has the following features: 13′ Straight Rail, 16′ C-box, 16′ flat down T-box, 10′ rainbow rail, 16′ flat box and a 3 ft. mini kicker.
Until Next Time…
THINK COLD AND SNOW!!!
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For more information about the ski resorts of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic visit www.SkiSoutheast.com
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