University in Virginia opens year-round ski slopes

by Katie Hammel on

It’s always been that, at their most basic, skiing and snowboarding require two things – some sort of skis or a board and of course, snow. And snow usually requires precipitation and a sufficiently cold temperature(this concludes today’s lesson in meteorological science). But as of August 29th, snow – and the weather conditions required to create it – will become unnecessary for American skiers.

That’s the date when the Liberty Mountain SnowFlex Center opens. And it’ll stay open, all year round. How? The complex, on the grounds of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, will be home to a ski slope that utilizes a synthetic material called SnowFlex. SnowFlex aims to be the closest replication of snow. It’s already in use at several European locations and has been used at Olympic training facilities, but this will be the first public ski area in the US to use it.

The Liberty Mountain Center will feature a beginner slope, freestyle rails, and a quarter pipe. Prices are pretty reasonable – actually when compared with the cost of most mountains, they’re downright cheap. Thursday through Sunday rates are $7 an hour. Monday through Wednesday the rate goes down to just $5 an hour.

For die-hard skiers and snowboarders, I doubt this faux snow could ever replace the real thing, but for those looking to get in some more practice time, it’s one cheap way to spend summer on the slopes.

Pricing is out for Telluride ski season

by Tom Johansmeyer on

It’s hard to think about the slopes right now. The sun is beating down, and sweat is a part of daily life. But, there are a few people out there whose minds still drift to mountain tops and a chill in the air. Well, we just got a step closer to ski season: Telluride Ski Resort has announced its season pass rates for the coming winter. And, they’ll look pretty familiar. The resort has decided not to raise rates this year. In fact, you could spend less this year, depending on how you buy.

Four adults can purchase their season passes together during the annual Pass Sale and get an extra year’s reprieve. An individual will spend $1,198 for the full season, but if four get together, they can pay the 2007 rate of $988 a person. The only catch is that you need to do it between August 3, 2009 and October 30, 2009.

The savings is stretched even further when you realize that you get more for your money this year. Gold Hill Chutes 2-5 are opening this year, terrain that skiers have been dying to access, with chutes dropping 1,600 vertical feet. To “control the terrain,” as they say, the resort has enlisted the help of two WWII howitzers.

Take THAT, terrain!

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The resort‘s CEO, Dave Riley, says, “Our goal is to create attractive pass options for our core customers.” Yeah, the savings pretty much drives that message home. He continues, “With new terrain opening this year, and Revelation Bowl and Palmyra Peak opening the last two seasons, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience what Telluride has to offer.”

Are these just words? Well, when you consider that an single adult pass represents a savings of 35 percent relative to regular season prices, and the deal for four will cut the price almost in half, Riley’s putting his money where his mouth is.

Now, if only winter would hurry up and get here!

Weird sign of the day – what does this mean?

by Scott Carmichael on

It’s already the end of the week, so time for some more “fun with signs”. I’m pretty sure I know what this sign means, but I’m also confident I know what it could mean.

Feel free to let your imagination go wild and post in the comments what you think this ski resort is asking its guests not to do.

Alaska’s only ski resort receives $25 million upgrade

by Neil Woodburn on

In a part of the world famous for its snow and magnificent mountains, I was quite surprised to learn that there is only one ski resort in all of Alaska.

There is more than one place to ski, of course, but the Alyeska Resort in south-central Alaska is the only place considered a proper resort –- you know, with rooms at the base of the ski lift and snow bunnies frolicking in the hot tubs.

The only problem is that few people outside of Alaska even know about its existence. But that’s all about to change according to a recent article in USA Today. That’s because the owners of the resort are investing $25 million to expand and improve facilities and to re-groom the 1,400 acres of trail to create more friendly slopes (currently 37% of the trails are black diamonds –- good news for hard core skiers but rather scary for amateurs such as myself).

Although the resort still remains “off the radar” in the lower 48, it’s only 40 miles south of Anchorage and therefore rather easy to get to. Perhaps not as easy as Whistler, for example, but it is still worth the journey before everyone else discovers it.

Non ski resorts: Gearing up for a future without snow

by Neil Woodburn on

This is slightly scary but not entirely unexpected.

According to a New York Times report, ski resorts in Europe are making the necessary adjustments to continue attracting people to the resorts after global warming has all but eliminated the possibility to ski.

Resorts are already investing in more snow making machines, but this alone won’t solve the problem. Instead, in places like the Swiss Alps, ski resorts are beefing up their “off-slope attractions” and adding spas, shopping, sun decks, pools, and funky architecture to attract non-skiers to snowless ski resorts.

It’s a scary world out there folks. Better get your skiing in before Dubai becomes the only place on this planet where you can do it.