Hello Everyone –.
This is my last column of the year and to cap off a season that has seen tons of snow and plenty of cold temperatures from the start to now just about the finish, I have come up with Joe’s ninth annual (Mike and now Tim and Kenny have been putting up with me that long) “SNOWY” awards or “SNOWIES” whichever suits you the best. The committee (which again this year consisting of me, myself and I and we argue, just ask my wife) picked out ten categories and spent hours upon hours tabulating the results (believe that and you saw me win the Giant Halfpipe competition in X-Games). So without anymore (thank goodness) fanfare, here are the 2013/2014 season “SNOWIES”.
- Most Indecisive – Southeast snow gooses (a number of weather forecasting folks) They will give a snow forecast like this, 1 – 3 inches expected but if the front turns this way or that way might give us 3 -5 inches or maybe 2 – 10 inches or it might not snow at all. Just make a decision folks and stick with it.
- Most Valuable – Again this year to first time Southeast Skiers and Snowboarders – For having faith that all of the region’s resorts would teach them how to have fun in the winter time outside on the slopes and how to ENJOY winter when we actually have one like we did this year.
- Unsung Hero – The snowplow drivers that make sure your travel to and from the resorts is safer than in most cities.
- Most Overrated – Multi – repeat winner in this category. Advanced weather forecasts, such as ten day forecasts. Unfortunately too many people give too much weight to those future forecasts and make incorrect plans accordingly. This more than anything drives resort marketing folks completely nuts. Heck I found out this year that the National Weather Service will NOT go past seven days because of all of the possible changes that could happen.
- Go For It – For the resorts that were willing to listen to the skiers and snowboarders who were willing to hit the slopes past the announced closing dates and then remained open for a few more days, a number did this year in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Way to go!
- Fighting To The Bitter End – Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia for giving everyone one more weekend, in April.
- Most Patience – That ski instructor who has to answer questions from a parent whose child just took their first lesson and they want to know if the kid is of Olympic caliber.
- Going The Extra Mile – To Dusty, the Snowtubing attendant at Winterplace who let a Florida father work with his daughter who was seeing her first snow on the tubing hill during a slow day. You had to be there to completely understand, but Dusty did and that’s all that really counts.
- Cy Young (Best Pitch) – Another repeat winner here, to the folks who continue the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month national campaign. New blood in the sport means future skiers and snowboarders and continued fun during the winter.
- Stepping Up To The Plate and Hitting It Out Of The Park – Though many may totally disagree with me here but let’s here it for Mother Nature who provided winter before the actual season started and after spring had officially arrived.
That’s it folks for the 2013/2014 season – it’s been fun riding with you again this year. Just 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 for the 2014/2015 season, my 30th in the industry, wow how time flies when you are having fun.