By Joe Stevens
Hello Everyone.
This is my last Snow News Is Good News column of the year and it puts a period on a season that will be remembered for tons of manmade snow and not much from Mother Nature. It will be remembered for continued strong visitation throughout the region, as skiers and snowboarders knew where to have some winter fun and where snowmaking rocks.
Taking everything into consideration, I have once again, come up with Joe’s eighteenth (seems like yesterday that I called Mike Doble with the column idea) annual “SNOWY” awards or “SNOWIES” whichever one you like the best. As always is the case, the same three-person committee (me, myself, and I) picked out ten categories and spent way too much time tabulating the results. That’s my story and I am sticking to it. So, drumroll please, here are the 2022/2023 season’s “SNOWIES.”
1. Most Indecisive – In other words, should I stay, or should I go? Those out there that are experiencing spring-like temperatures in January, not realizing it could be a 20-degree difference at the high elevations, where the resorts are located.
2. Most Valuable – Without hesitation the region’s snowmakers and groomers. Without them there is no 22/23 ski season. Point. Set. Match.
3. Unsung Hero – Each resort reservationist who had to answer the question in October, “What is the weather going to be during Christmas?” Ugh!
4. Most Overrated – Base depths on snow reports. Who needs more than 12-18 inches of snow under them anyway? Just saying!
5. Go For It – Skiers and snowboarders who relied on all of the resorts on-slope cams to make the decision to slide that day.
6. Fighting To The Bitter End – All of the mountain ops folks that showed up with lunch bucket in hand and got to work putting the slopes back together so some sliding could takes place.
7. Most Patience – To the lift attendants who had to tell folks that four people can’t fit on a triple lift. Saw that firsthand and made note.
8. Going The Extra Mile – To those resort employees that find themselves working in the bases’ food operations. Let me just say, skiers and snowboarders can make a mess without even trying hard.
9. Cy Young (Best Pitch) – For those in the industry that are attempting to get the young folks into the sport. They are the future of the business and as soon as everyone understands that fact, the better off the industry is going to be.
10. Stepping Up To The Plate and Hitting It Out Of The Park – For those readers that come to this space every week and as I understand, there are a bunch of you. Your acceptance of my weekly thoughts is greatly appreciated.
That’s it for the 2022/2023 season – it’s been fun being with you again this year, and watching my son play and teach his best friend how much fun one person can have sliding on snow.
Finally, remember to always be patient as whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! Time to get everything tuned up for the 2023/2024 season, my 39th in the industry. Check the calendar, we are only eight months away from making snow. Something we really know how to do in these parts, that’s for sure. I can’t wait. Be safe out there.