The snow gods giveth, and the snow gods taketh away.
We’ve got fresh snow at Beech, Sugar, Canaan Valley Resort, Timberline, and Snowshoe this morning. But we also have the final day of the season for Canaan Valley Resort, Ober Mountain, and Wisp.
It’s a bittersweet day, indeed. This is always the point in the season where I start to get really sad that I never made it to some of the ski areas that are calling it quits for the winter. For me in particular, another winter has come and gone without me making it to Ober Mountain. There’s still time to get on snow before having to hop on a flight to do so though, so get out there, get some turns in, and don’t forget your sunscreen.
Snow guns are firing at Beech, Cataloochee, and Snowshoe.
The Beech Bums cleanup day has been canceled due to icy conditions. It would be risky to walk down the mountain, so that will happen at a later date.
National Champions
The Lees-McRae ski and snowboard team is national champions once again.
The men’s team won the slalom national championship with three riders finishing in the top 10. Kenneth Stanford, Aiden Garner, and Jakob Craver finished in fifth, sixth, and seventh places. James Madison University finished in fifth place in that same event.
The team also took home boardercross national champions honors. Craver finished second overall, while Stanford and Garner finished in sixth and seventh place. Luke Elting finished in eleventh place.
Bryce
Ski patroller Bill Nabers was at Bryce this weekend.
Here’s what he had to say:
Good skiing today. We closed White Lightening. We are down two slopes. The rest are open. The listing shows tubing closed, but that is open every day. The ribbons of white are still fun!”
Snowshoe
It’s snowing. On March 10. Can you believe it? There’s about an inch of fresh stuff this morning, and the National Weather Service is predicting between 4 and 8-inches to come down through tonight. From the snow report:
FRESH SNOW ALERT! We interrupt your spring skiing programming to inform you that winter isn’t over yet here at 4,848ft! Our snowmakers are back in action and the NWS is predicting 4-8″ of accumulation through tonight. Evolution Park will be closed this morning for a USASA Slopestyle competition. Wind gusts are expected to reach upwards of 50+mph today which may impact operations for our high-speed lifts. Snowmaking will be in progress on some open terrain today. Please note that there are some areas with thin cover and bare spots so stay under control at all times and pay attention to all safety signage.”
Canaan Valley Resort
There’s a massive storm rolling through for the Valley’s closing day.
There’s already nearly an inch of fresh snow on the ground this morning, and high winds look like visibility is tough on the slopes.
Here’s what resort officials had to say about closing day:
Due to the recent unseasonable conditions, we are ending operations for the 2023-2024 Season at Canaan Valley Resort State Park’s Ski Area on Sunday March 10th.
Thanks to all of our guests that shared their mountain experience and made memories with us this season! And a special thank you to our incredible staff of Mountain Operations, Snow Makers, Snowsports School, Patrollers, Ticket Window, Tube Park, Ice Skating, Retail and Food & Beverage Departments for all your hard work this year. We are already looking ahead to the next season!”
Timberline
That same storm has blessed Timberline, too.
The Governor’s Cup Race will be taking place on Lower Dew Drop today. Bonus Days have begun,, and Perfect Pass and Gold Pass holders can use their pass to bring a friend and get a free lift ticket. Silver and Bronze Pass holders can enjoy the slopes any day- including the weekend!
Lift tickets are $20 off at the window.
There are 17 trails open and four lifts spinning. Timberline has a base between 10 and 32 inches.
Ober Mountain
Today is the last day of the season.
There is one lift spinning and two-and-a-half trails open. There is a base between 10 and 25 inches deep, and the slopes will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Beech Mountain
The Beech Bash will go off next weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pros Brantley Mullins and Lauren Derminio will be there for this community ride day, and there will be prizes and fun features placed throughout the mountain.
DJ Raheim Andrews will provide the music, and food trucks from Diggy Donus and The Cardinal will be set up in the park.
By the way, if you missed out on the Park Rat Classic, here’s a highlight reel from it. It looks HYPE.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
App Ski will host its meltdown games next Saturday and Sunday. There will be a rail jam, cardboard box derby, and trashbag downhill race on Saturday, and a high ollie contest, pond skim, and Chinese downhill race on Sunday.
Dew Tour
Alex Ferreira made history yesterday, winning his seventh straight halfpipe skiing event of the season. It’s a run that the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team called “the most dominant season in freeski history.” https://usskiandsnowboard.org/news/ferreira-wins-dew-tour-marking-perfect-season
Meanwhile, Blowing Rock’s Luke Winkelmann came in second place in the snowboard streetstyle event, just finishing behind Liam Brearley.
Video Of The Day
Get acquainted with Lauren Derminio’s riding before you meet her at Beech next weekend. She joins Dusty and Dillon Henricksen and Denver Orr in Monster Energy’s Buster. Street rails, slushy days at Donner Ski Ranch on Lake Tahoe, and a whole lot of jibbing on a picnic table. What more could you ask for?
The Rest
Thanks to everyone that has already joined us on Discord.
Think snow!
Think cold!
Click here to join us on our new SkiSoutheast Discord channel. It is a great way to meet new snow loving friends and shares experiences, ask questions, and more!
And as always, email me at [email protected] with your thoughts and photos.