Ross Gives SoBe Superpipe a Thumbs Up!

Okemo's first Ride with Ross Day of the season is taking place today and the group of enthusiasts started their morning with a few runs through Okemo's SoBe Superpipe. Ross gave the pipe a thumbs up and said that it's in great shape. Okemo Freeride Team Member Ben Farrow said that the snow in the pipe is nice and soft. This is the kind of day to practice those tricks you've been working on.

Mark your calendar for the next Ride with Ross Day, Sat., Jan. 5. Meet up with Ross at the bottom of the SoBe Superpipe at 9 a.m. Depending on what the group wants to do, Ross will lead on a jibbing tour of the mountain or ride the halfpipe, demonstrating the steez that won him Olympic Gold.

The WAA WAA Sisterhood

Is alive and well at Okemo! Okay women, here is your chance to take your skiing or riding up a notch!

WAA stands for Women's Alpine Adventures ~ a women's only learning program here on the mountain. I've attended 2 years in a row, and am counting down the days until my first clinic this year, which runs over a 3-day weekend January 11-13. In fact, I'm signed up for two sessions this season!

If you're a great skier, an okay skier, or even a non-skier, this is the place for you! My first year I went from a non-skier (not able to complete a parallel turn) to skiing blues and blacks in just two days! Something about being taught by women, in a group of all women, gives you confidence you didn't know existed.

Skiing aside for a minute, the clinic offers so much more. Led by one of "America's Best Instructor's" (according to Skiing magazine), Maria Tomaselli leads morning strectches, fear and balance clinics and offers support in just about any facet of the sport. Add to that the delectable delights of a hot breakfast in the morning and lunch ready and waiting as you come off the hill, and it just can't get much better! (Okay, maybe a soak in the hot tub when the lifts stop turning!)

Anyway, if this sounds up your alley, definitely check it out.

Terrain Park Update

There are some cool new slideshows posted of all the features in our terrain parks, including the Dew Zone, Hot Dog Hill and the Nor'easter Super Park. Check them out.

And looking ahead to the weekend, don't miss our Ride with Ross Powers Day this Saturday ~ join two time Olympic Medalist Ross Powers at the bottom of the SoBe Superpipe and take a run with him!


Then, it's the Okemo Powers Series Slopestyle at 11 am. If you'd like to participate, registration begins at 8am in the base lodge mezzanine. And this year it's important to come to all three of the Okemo Series competitions as Okemo has put $2000 on the line for overall winners. Prizes for each competition will be handed out as well. Bring your board, bring your skis and go big on this slopestyle competition.



CU on the hill!

Merry Christmas!

Was Santa good to you? I certainly got what I asked for - a white Christmas with great skiing and riding! Of course the new digital camera, the sweater, the mittens and CDs I wanted weren't bad either. Thank you, Santa Claus.

I guess I should thank him in person, since he's here at Okemo right now. That fat dude is like the EverReady Bunny - he just keeps going. After a round-the-world-trip of delivering presents and sliding up and down chimneys all night, he made a point of coming back to Okemo this morning to take a few runs and to hand out some sweet treats to his friends on the slopes. He doesn't look any worse for wear and his "ho ho ho" is as sincere as these winter nights are long.

Okemo Videographer captured some footage of Santa during his pre-flight visit to Okemo Saturday night. Check out the video online and have a very merry Christmas. Cheers!

Definitely a White Christmas

The doom and gloom of yesterday's weather forecast was much worse than what actually happened. I heard one forecaster predict we would receive so much rain, it would turn all the snow into frozen cement that would last all winter long. In keeping with the theme of the season, I say bah humbug to that! Okemo survived the drizzle beautifully and the only real problem was the wind that affected lift service to upper elevations yesterday afternoon.

The latest forecast is for a dusting of snow later today and tonight. Won't that make it feel like a real Vermont Christmas? I can practically hear the sleigh bells now!

Santa Claus paid us a pre-Christmas visit on Saturday evening, to the delight of all the children visiting Okemo's Jackson Gore Inn. That jolly old elf arrived by snow groomer (rumor has it he was out taking a test-flight with the reindeer and parked his sleigh at the summit) to the cheers of hundreds. After a snack of milk and cookies and a session of last-minute gift requests, Santa headed for the Ice House, Okemo's new skating rink. What a treat it is to have that fully operational in time for the holidays this year. You may still catch a glimpse of Santa on ice at our photo-of-the-day page. After making a few pirouettes, he made a mad dash for the summit with a fist full of carrots for his patient team of reindeer. And I heard him exclaim as he dashed out of sight, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! Cheers.

Winter Winds Are Blowing

Into each life a little wind must blow. Okay, so that may not be exactly how the saying goes but that's the best description for what's going on at Okemo today. High winds at upper elevations have forced us to cease operations of our upper-mountain lifts this afternoon. We apologize for any inconvenience but your safety is our primary concern.

Besides, didn't you have some shopping you wanted to do for that special blogger in your life (hint hint)?

Cheers!