MOTHER Nature took it away and now she’s giving it back.
The nor’easter that was a bust in the city dumped anywhere from 4-10 inches from the Catskills to the Green Mountains, and along with it the cold weather that followed, putting the ski areas back on track.
The storm came at a crucial time for areas like Mount Snow and Hunter Mountain, as ski resorts recover from last week’s unseasonable warm spell and prepare for the busy Martin Luther King Jr. weekend coming up.
Snowmaking began yesterday at most areas and should continue right through the weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, hosted by Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, will be providing programs to a group of visually impaired athletes from across the country, all members of the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes.
This is the inaugural Winter Ski Festival, a program specifically designed to get both experienced and inexperienced skiers out on the snow. Participants have the opportunity to learn to alpine or nordic ski.
For more info about Vermont Adaptive, log on to http://www.vermontadaptive.org
At Mountain Creek South on Sunday, KROCK’s Kink of the Night party collides with the Red Bull One Hit Wonder rail jam to create the perfect storm, and the South chairlift will run until midnight.
Registration for the rail jam begins at 6 p.m. in the south rental shop for snowboarders ages 13-18, and the competition begins at 8 p.m. followed by a fireworks display at 10 p.m.
All riders are required to fill out a Mountain Creek waiver and a non-invert/photo release waiver. Competitors under the age of 18 must have a parent present to sign the waivers at registration if he/she did not have the opportunity to print out the waivers in the links above and sign at home.
Jan. 26-27 is Women’s Weekend at Mountain Creek, with a variety of events and special programs specifically geared toward members of the fairer sex who love the snow.
For more info on the New Jersey resort, go to http://www.mountaincreek.com
On Jan. 27, Okemo Mountain Resort will host the second event in this winter’s Okemo Powers Series. Proceeds raised from this half-pipe competition will benefit the Lindsey Baron Bubba Foundation. The competition series, named for Olympic gold medalist and Okemo snowboard ambassador Ross Powers, is open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages.
Registration is scheduled from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Okemo Clocktower Base Lodge mezzanine, and the registration fee is $20.
The competition will start at 11 a.m. in the SoBe Superpipe. Prizes and awards will be provided by the series sponsors and participants attending all three Powers Series events will be eligible for a $2,000 purse.
For more information about the Okemo Powers Series, or to learn more about Okemo Mountain Resort, call (802) 228-1600 or visit http://www.okemo.com. For more info about LBBF, Inc., visit http://www.bubbafoundation.com.