All Aboard the SoBe Bus

The snowboarders on the bus jib all around the roof, all around the roof, all around the roof…


That may not be the same old tune you sang back in kindergarten, but this isn’t the same old bus either. Okemo’s park and pipe crew took it up a notch with this one. We gave them an old SoBe school bus, and they turned it into a fun house. This behemoth will park itself at the bottom of the SoBe Superpark (formerly the Nor’Easter terrain park). Not only is it a playground for skiers and snowboarders, but it’s going to be packed with a stereo system that’ll trigger avalanches in Argentina. The park guys are working hard to get it ready for our anticipated opening on November 15 so no one “misses the bus” when it comes time to shred the roof off.

Let’s not forget to give the Okemo Mountain park and pipes crew big props for helping Okemo take top spots in this year’s Transworld Snowboarding East Coast Resort Poll. Okemo placed in the top five in all three categories: overall resorts, top pipes, and top parks.

I wonder what song they’ll play out of the SoBe bus first? How about Kriss Kross’s “I missed the bus?”

Hello everyone, and welcome to winter here at Okemo! That's right, it's Wednesday morning and the snow has fallen, covering the top of our mountain with a good 1-2 inches of fresh white powder, and we at Okemo couldn't be more excited!! Like my fellow blogger below, I am one of the new snow reporters for the mountain, and I couldn't be happier spending the winter up in Vermont getting to do what I love! So, even though my apartment's heater is currently still broken (forcing me to wear winter gear inside) and the snowy conditions probably don't help my apartment temperature, it certainly put a smile on my face when I woke up this morning to snowflakes flurrying outside my window. I'm sure back in Massachusetts (I'm from Northampton) it's just cold and rainy, but here, here it is beautiful and white! And I Love it!

This morning I climbed to the top of the mountain with our Okemobile to take some photos of the freshly fallen snow and couldn't believe the amount my boots sunk into it when I stepped out of the truck. This is exciting news folks and even more exciting is the fact that we will be on the mountain before you know it. This can only mean one thing - it's time for me to get my board waxed and tuned up because we will be cruising down the slopes of this wonderful mountain come November 15, our anticipated opening day. So, if you didn't believe it before, believe it now, because winter has arrived and it's going to be an awesome season! Can't wait to see you all out on the slopes!

Checking In

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the Okemo community and as a Philadelphia transplant, make nice with all the Red Sox fans out there. But perhaps not as nice as I would have had to make if the Red Sox made it into the World Series. Don’t get down on yourselves though guys, because we’ll be out on the mountain before we know it and the Red Sox’s shortcomings will be a distant memory. In the meantime, I’ll be watching my Phillies in the World Series. Alright, maybe I got off on the wrong foot.

Originally from the sandy shores of southern New Jersey (I was neither raised at an oil refinery or in a casino, it was a under a boardwalk actually), I’ve come to Okemo for the winter to bring you daily snow reports and answer all your snow conditions curiosities. Having recently done a two-year stint in Philadelphia, I am thrilled to be here in Vermont where I can take refuge from Philadelphia’s notoriously harsh winters. Trust me, they get ugly – as in not nearly as picturesque and outdoor-sport inducing as Vermont’s. In fact, it has always been a goal of mine to spend at least one winter in the mountains and now I’m doing it. So, here’s to a good season and a snowy one. It’s an honor to be a part of the Okemo community and I look forwarded to seeing you all out on the slopes. And in case you’re still mad at me for having a team in the World Series, as penance I’ll be forced to watch Patriots games instead of my beloved Eagles for the remainder of the season.

Private fly-by of our ski hill

This post is a bit delayed due to a busy schedule, but I wanted to share a fun picture with you. On Saturday, October 4th, I got to take a plane ride with my cousin, who had flown in for a regional "fly-in" breakfast at the Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport. We enjoyed a great breakfast of homemade blueberry pancakes with Vermont maple syrup, then we hopped in my cousin's plane and flew around the central Vermont countryside.

The most exciting part for me was flying over my house....very cool indeed. Since I live on the side of a very woody mountain and you can't see my house from far away, it was great to get up in a plane to see my home.

Anyway...The photo in this post shows the magnificent colors on Okemo that morning. Although some of the colors have peaked, many of the oranges and yellows are still very strong.

less than 30 days until our projected opening day. See you on the snow!

Make Way for Loading & Unloading Carpets

The site work is finished. The concrete has set up nicely, the earth is graded and seeded. Now we just have to wait to take delivery of the new loading and unloading carpets and install them on the South Ridge Quad B. It's all about innovation at Okemo this year. The loading carpet at the base is the first of its kind in the eastern U.S. And the unloading carpet at the top is making its national debut here at Okemo.

Here's wishing you a fantastic holiday weekend. Don't forget the Parrotthead Party on Saturday. Admission is free and the bands start playing at 1 p.m. at Jackson Gore. Cheers!

PHAT - Protect Your Head at All Times

Last week I attended the PHAT Conference in Burlington and wanted to pass on the cliff notes.

The conference was a unique collaborative effort designed to make Vermont Skiing And Riding not only the "BEST" in the nation but also the "SAFEST"
It was sponsored by the Vermont Snow Sports Research Team, home of the PHAT program. The PHAT initiative (Protect you Head at All Times, Protect your Head on All Terrain) is a program designed to voluntarily improve ski helmet use throughout our state and the entire nation. The program delivers a positive, noncoercive message stressing the benefits of both skiing and snowboarding as well as responsible helmet use.
The PHAT program was originally developed as an academic/industry collaboration between The University of Vermont and Smugglers Notch Resort. Over the past six years the team has refined the program and documented it’s success in over 70,000 observations of skier behavior.

Items discussed:

- The science behind the role of helmets in skiing and snowboarding.
- A neurosurgeon’s perspective on ski helmets and head injuries
- Public Health implications of injury prevention programs
- Making the culture of a resort helmet friendly
- Spreading PHAT in Vermont and Beyond

Currently, Okemo, Smuggs, Bolton, Jay, Bromley, Sugarbush, Ascutney are the 7 resorts that support the PHAT effort.

We have the PHAT people booked to kick off National Safety Week here at Okemo on
January 18th and a return visit on PHAT Tuesday, February 24th.

Interesting facts per recent studies:

- 135,000 – 5-18yr olds incur head injuries each year in the U.S. (all sports)
- Snowboarders are 3 to 4 times more likely to sustain a head injury than skiers
- Impact damage to helmets can be invisible to the human eye
- Adult male snowboarders are the most likely to wear helmets
- Nationwide helmet use is around 30%
- Females are still less likely to wear a helmet (possible hair effect)
- Tourists are less invested in safety
- 2005 – present there has been a 40-62% reduction in head injuries due to increased helmet use

Helmet usage is very important to me. I’ve had my share of concussions – 2 were severe and one had me in the hospital for days suffering from amnesia.
My wife suffered an equestrian accident a few years ago, besides the 30 stitches to her face, the brim of her helmet saved her nose and cheek bones from being crushed.
Last year there were over 46,000 Equestrian accidents with over 20% being head and neck injuries.

I look forward to Okemo's continued support of the PHAT initiative. More PHAT information can be found at www.skihelmetsafety.org.

Be safe out there!
GravityHound

Columbus Day Weekend Events @ Okemo

It's the last party of the summer and the first of winter (and the foliage is absolutely beautiful)! In true summer style, Okemo has two great bands lined up to play this weekend at Jackson Gore. 'J-San and the Analogues' will kick off the afternoon and will be followed by the Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band 'Changes in Latitudes'. Throw in a BBQ complete with margaritas and Corona, beach balls and leis, and its a party!

Plus, families can join the fun with pumpkin carving, a VINS presentation, a night hike and marshmallow roasting, and the showing of a Warren Miller film.

Schedule of Events:

Saturday:
Noon- 4: Hayrides leaving the drop off circle all afternoon
1-2:45: J-San and the Analogues on stage
3:30-5:30: Changes in Latitudes on stage
6:30-7:30: Night hike and marshmallow roasting at the Fire Pit
8: Warren Miller movie in the Cornerstone Room

Sunday:
Guided foliage hikes at 9 am, 1 pm and 2:30 pm leaving from the Fire Pit
10-11: Pumpkin carving and decorating at the Fire Pit
11-12:30: "Raptor Encounter" presentation by VINS

Hope to see you on the mountain this weekend!