We’re getting very close to perfect conditions everywhere in the Southeast. The surest sign of that is the number of resorts that are 100% open…and those that are now very near to 100% open. Appalachian, Cataloochee and Hawksnest are 100% and the rest are darned close in North Carolina. Sugar is reporting that they are 99% open today, but that is a slight exaggeration since they have 19 of 20 slopes open for 95%. Nevertheless, conditions are going to be PERFECT at your favorite resort for today and this weekend.
All resorts made snow again last night and continue to do so this morning. It will be cold out today and this weekend with highs in the 20s and lows in the low 20s and we even have a possible 3-6" of snow coming in on Saturday. The forecast AFTER Saturday is a little "iffy" with a mixed bag of winter tricks on tap…but the rain that WAS in the forecast for the week ahead might be all but gone…with only slight chances if light precip Monday – Wednesday and the potential is still there for a significant snow event for NEXT WEEKEND! THINK SNOW!!!
Snowboard Competition – As many of you know, the Edge of the World Snowboard Competition was rescheduled last weekend due to adverse weather conditions and it will be held at Hawksnest this coming Sunday. The weather will AGAIN be "iffy" to say the least…but should not keep the event from happening this time around.
Lenny Cottom up at Hawksnest wanted us to let you guys and gals know that they now have the terrain park ready to test your skills and win your adventure-seeking business. The new snowboard park is ready to test your skills. The Park has a 30, 20 & 10 foot tabletop, 3 foot mini quarterpipe, 10(2), 15 & 20 foot flat rails, 28 foot flat down flat rail, 24 foot up flat down rail, 18 foot flat down rail, 30 foot rainbow rail, 25 foot up flat rail. 13 rails & kickers for your enjoyment. The park is open NOW for anyone to enjoy and Hawksnest is open for skiing and riding until midnight Friday and Saturday nights.
The Edge of the World competition will be held Sunday January 30th. Registration starts at 8:30am. All skill levels welcome.
Since we’re on Hawksnest right now, we might as well also tell you that they have 6 lanes of snow tubing open. experience the longest tubing lanes in the South. The Snow Tubing lift is the longest "moving sidewalk" in the U.S. Check out our webcam to watch your friends, you should be there too.
TOP GUN…their most challenging and most popular trail is NOW OPEN AS WELL!
Conditions will be AT THEIR BEST OF THE SEASON RIGHT NOW AND THROUGH THIS WEEKEND! SO GET YOUR GEAR AND YOUR REAR UP HERE AND HAVE SOME FUN!
Blowing Rock’s WINTERFEST IS GOING ON NOW AND THROUGH THIS WEEKEND! – The WinterFest events actually began on Thursday, however the marquee day is Saturday…with the ever popular POLAR PLUNGE happening Saturday morning at 10:00am. They will have to break some ice in Chetola Lake for knuckleheads…I mean participants to dive into the icy waters. It’s a lot of fun as most participants dress up in a variety of costumes and take the dip.
Other events take place all day and Sunday. They offer hayrides, dog sledding and the popular CHILI CHALLENGE. The CHILI CHALLENGE is from 11am-1pm at the Blowing Rock School Gym and is only $5 to try chili, chili and more chili. As the promoters say, "Rolaids and Tums are NOT included!"
For more information…visit http://www.blowingrockwinterfest.com
Keeping It Real – We have received some emails asking about why we are only reporting the minimum base depth at some resorts. Suffice to say that we are trying to equitably promote all resorts and too many people are incorrectly influenced by "ego" numbers that are being posted by some resorts. As a case in point, Appalachian is GREAT at making snow, but they do not have an AVERAGE maximum base depth of 92" across all nine of their slopes as they continue to post. They have WONDERFUL, DEEP conditions but they are trying to say that they have an AVERAGE of 34" MORE inches than Cataloochee, 46" more than Hawksnest and an AVERAGE of 56" MORE snow base than Wolf Laurel…all of which are similar sized resorts. In fact Appalachian is reporting 34" more snow than ANY other resort in the Southeast, including several similar sized resorts in COLDER climates. The truth is THEY probably DO have more snow than all or most…but they do not have an AVERAGE MAXIMUM BASE DEPTH OF 92". Therefore…we are not reporting it so that those kinds of figures cannot inappropriately influence newbie ski visitors to choose their mountain based on "seeing more snow" – in fact an AVERAGE of 7 1/2 FEET of snow.
The SKINC.com / SKISOUTHEAST.COM Challenge – Anybody up for a little challenge of OUR reporting? If you are a resort that we are covering and we are NOT reporting your maximum base depth figure…we are open to a little challenge if you are. Invite us out and we’ll go on all of your slopes and take minimum and maximum base depth measurements with you and if you are correct we’ll take photos and post them of us bowing down and kissing your ski boots…AND we’ll post the story on the front of SkiNC.com and SkiSoutheast.com and allow it to run for the rest of the season. If WE are correct then we get to do an interview with you and ask any TWO questions that we want …and you have to answer us honestly — and we’ll post that interview on the websites. ANY TAKERS?
Feel free to write me at: [email protected]
Don’t forget to visit: https://www.skisoutheast.com
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