Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Dee Snider & Family at Okemo


I caught up with Dee Snider last Saturday at the Roundhouse at Jackson Gore. Dee was wrapping up his third visit to Okemo, this time with his family. I wanted to learn more about Okemo’s most recent celebrity fan. While best known as the lead singer of the acclaimed rock band Twisted Sister, Dee Snider is more than a musician. He is a radio personality, television host, author, voice-over artist, screenplay writer, actor, and most of all, he is a doting husband of 32 years and father of four children. From rock star to country crooner, Snider has just recently starred in CMT's Gone Country where he competed against other musicians in their quest to transition to and conquer country music.

Dee is very easy to like with his gregarious nature. Through our discussion I learned that Dee is not only a metal rock legend, but a very down-to-earth family man that really values his time with his wife and four children. The Snider clan reside in East Setauket on Long Island are like most families, each child has displayed some artistic talents. Jesse Blaze, the eldest at age 24 is an aspiring singer following in the footsteps of his dad. He is presently in Los Angeles preparing for a new reality series called Rock The Cradle that debuts on April 3 on MTV. The premise of the show with be American Idol format, with the contestants vying for a recording contract.
Shane, age 20 is a budding stand-up comic that has been landing gigs in top comedy clubs across the country. Shane’s comedic talents first surfaced in public when he wowed his dad (and guests) with an edgy roast at Dee’s 50th birthday party. Cody, age 17 is a promising filmmaker, and Cheyenne, age 11 is a 6th grader exploring punk and emo music styles.
Dee and Suzette have been together for 32 years. Their home life is so ‘normal’ that the producers of The Osbournes scrapped the notion of creating a series around them! In fact, they are so balanced that the team behind Gone Country, has signed Snider and his wife Suzette to a television production deal. The project is tentatively titled Dee Snider to the Rescue. Think: Dee Snider meets Nanny 911.

According to Dee, the Sniders have come to really enjoy Okemo and plan to return again and again because of the family-friendly and helpful staff. Now that Okemo will be open until Sunday, April 20, there's plenty of time & snow for Dee to return.

Ski Season Extended!


I knew it! After skiing for the better part of yesterday I just new we wouldn't be closing the resort as planned. To put it simply - there is simply too much snow to end all the fun now.

So don't pack away your gear just yet... we're officially staying open through April 20th. In fact, load the car and come have some fun this weekend. The weather outlook looks fantastic!

Check the snow report for up-to-the-minute conditions.

CU on the hill!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Early Board Gets the Worm


On a cloudless Easter morning, early-bird skiers and riders took to the snowy slopes of Okemo Mountain Resort where thousands of colorful plastic Easter eggs littered the trails like confetti. Inside the eggs were toys, mini Snickers bars and coupons for The Hatchery – Ludlow’s favorite breakfast spot. But it was the prized, oversized golden egg that the Easter Bunny hid behind a tree near the top of the Whistler trail that made 12-year-old Ian Huntress, of Swansea, Mass., shout, “I found it!” Ian traded in his golden egg for a brand new Atomic snowboard and a gift certificate for breakfast-for-five at The Hatchery.


This just in from Ian's mom ...


I just wanted to thank you for the Egg Hunt today. The winner was my youngest child, and he has been skiing and boarding at Okemo almost his entire life (we bought a unit in Winterplace when he was a year old.) The youngest of three, he has never had a new piece of equipment, EVER! He has always had hand-me-downs and never complained. He was SO thrilled to find that egg and just stunned when I bought him new boots and bindings (from the Okemo ski shop) to go with it! It's a little big, but at 12 years old, he's already over 5'7" and growing fast, so he'll grow into it! He got a chance to take one run on it before we had to head home. He really is so happy to have his own board. He's trying to get us to bring him up again before the season ends to use it again and to use his Hatchery coupon for a free breakfast! Thanks again for a fantastic day!