by Joe Stevens
Hello Everyone.
This is my last Snow News Is Good News column of the year and it puts a period on another season that will be remembered for tons of manmade snow and not much from Mother Nature. Frankly, I’m getting a little tired of that, but what are you going to do. We will just grin and deal with it, I guess.
Taking everything into consideration, I have once again, come up with Joe’s nineteenth (seems like yesterday 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 2023/2024 season’s “SNOWIES.”
1. Most Indecisive – In other words, Mother Nature. Come on mom, please make up your mind and understand there are thousands of us that actually appreciate and enjoy having winter in the southeast. I am not very happy about having spring skiing conditions in January.
2. Most Valuable – Hands down, the region’s snowmakers and groomers. Without them there is no 23/24 ski season. I still don’t think there is an appreciation of their accomplishments each and every season.
3. Unsung Hero – Each resort employee that handles the customer service desk. This season, you either got it is too warm or too cold to ski or snowboard. Just breathe in, breathe out and move on.
4. Most Overrated – A two time winner here. Base depths on snow reports. Who needs more than 12-18 inches of snow under them anyway? Just saying! Go out and enjoy what is there.
5. Go For It – Skiers and snowboarders in the southeast that understand flowers might be blooming in their back yard, but there is snow in the mountains in every state.
6. Fighting To The Bitter End – Hey the guys at Snowshoe get the gold star. Thanks to aggressive snowmaking into mid-March, skiing and snowboarding at the West Virginia Resort will continue through Easter weekend. Way to go!
7. Most Patience – To the skiers and snowboarders that understand the situation and have to answer questions from friends, “you mean there is still snow in the mountains”.
8. Going The Extra Mile – This is a back to back winner for the resort employees that find themselves working in the resort’s food operations. Let me just say, skiers and snowboarders can make a mess without even trying hard.
9. Cy Young (Best Pitch) – For the resorts that hang their hats on the snowmaking rungs. Again, there reason the southeast has skiers is because the region has the best snowmakers in the country. They make magic on the slopes and the marketing departments understand.
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 and as long as I can bang the keys, I will continue my Sunday thoughts.
That’s it for the 2023/2024 season – it’s been fun being with you again this year, and watching some kids at Nitro High School where I chaperon a ski club during the season learn to love the sport.
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 (maybe a new board) for the 2024/2025 season, my 40th in the industry and 20th writing this column. 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. Until we meet again.