Magic Mountain always has been the place where extreme skiers flocked, and not just because of its steeps and deeps.
Long known for its extreme skiing competitions held annually on some of the East’s most challenging terrain, Magic Mountain in Vermont has expanded its Alpine Training Center to include youth freeskiing training and competitions, in addition to alpine race training. The Magic Freeskiing Team will take its place alongside the Magic Alpine Race Team and provide kids with season-long training and competitive opportunities to enhance their technical skill and love for the sport of skiing.
Both the Magic Freeskiing and Racing Team programs can begin as early as ages 5-8 years old with the Alpine Training Center’s development program teaching kids the fundamental techniques for better skiing on varied terrain and courses.
Once the kids progress and are of age, they will have the opportunity to choose between pursuing the racing program, part of the Vermont Alpine Racing Association or the new freeskiing program which will be associated with the Ski The East Freeride Tour (STEFT). Magic is one of four founding mountains, along with Mad River Glen, Jay Peak and Sugarbush, for hosting STEFT events.
Athletes 14 years and older can compete at all STEFT events, with those under 14 having to qualify. Magic will play host to a qualifying event on Feb. 25, the Black Magic Extreme Challenge and then will play host to an official Ski The East Freeride Tour event on March 3, the Southern Vermont Freeskiing Challenge.
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Okemo Mountain Resort turns New Year’s Eve into a family celebration by moving midnight into a different time zone. On Saturday, Okemo will share a world time zone with Montevideo, Uruguay, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — allowing families with young children to ring in the New Year at a reasonable hour. In the hours leading up to midnight in Brazil (5 to 9 p.m. local time), Okemo will offer a whole host of activities.
Following early evening ice skating, wagon rides, cookie decorating, marshmallow roasting, groomer viewing, bounce-house bopping, bingo games and a trivia tournament, families can ring in the New Year early with a DJ-dance-and-pizza Party and fireworks show — and still get the kids to bed in time for a full day on the slopes the next day. Party games, balloons, noisemakers and a 9 p.m. fireworks display add to the New Year’s Eve celebration at Okemo’s Jackson Gore.