Labatt Blue Vermont Pond Hockey Regionals at Okemo

The temperatures were right today for the Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Regionals. Okemo's Ice House at Jackson Gore saw lots of action and some games that even went into overtime. The competition was fierce.

Enjoy a few shots:

Ross Powers Superpipe is open for the season

It's a pretty big accomplishment ro get a 450-foot superpipe open this early in the season - especially when you consider how much effort has been going into snowmaking and grooming on the other 118 trails at this time of year. It certainly shows Okemo's commitment to terrain variety.

Of course we had a little encouragement from Okemo's number one halfpipe enthusiast - Ross Powers. The winner of Olympic bronze and gold in halfpipe, Ross has his sights set on something a little different this year. He's now competing in snowboardcross and trying to claim a spot on the U.S.A.'s Olympic SBX team. He did really well at the World Cup Finals in Telluride and now he's headed to Europe and then Canada for three more weekends of qualifying oppportunities. He made the podium in Telluride (third), so let's hope he can do it again in the weeks ahead.

In the meantime, 18-foot walls and decks spaced 50 feet apart are calling. As an added bonus - and at Ross' recommendation - Okemo's ops team increased the pitch on the big pipe. With a 16 percent grade, it means "it's faster and riders will get bigger air," says Ross. He adds, "the pipe is showing some potential."

Okemo soon to be Hockey Town USA for a day

Labatt USA, importer of Labatt Blue beer, already announced that the third-annual Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament sold out in 24 hours. But teams of all skill levels still hoping to play in the two-day, regional event can do so by competing in the exclusive Vermont Pond Hockey Regionals on Jan. 9, 2010 at the Okemo Mountain Resort.


The first Vermont Pond Hockey Regional Tournament promises a four-on-four tournament with a minimum of two games. Divisional winners get an automatic bid to play on the icy surface of Lake Erie at the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo on Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 at the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament.

To enter a team in the Labatt Blue Vermont Pond Hockey Regionals, and for a list of rules, please go to www.okemo.com/hockey. Registration has been extended until Jan. 5, 2010. There is a registration fee of $150 and players must present proof of age.

Okemo makes a Christmas wish assist

When Okemo Mountain Resort’s Ski + Ride School Assistant Director Rob Bevier learned about a young boy’s Christmas dream to snowboard at Okemo with his Iraq-deployed dad, Bevier leaped into action to make it happen.

On Christmas Eve, masslive.com posted this story about an 8-year-old Palmer, Mass., boy whose only wish for Christmas was that his dad, Army National Guard Spec. Michael J. Hawk, make it home from Iraq for the holidays.

Although the plan was for the elder Hawk to surprise his son at school a couple of days before Christmas, a delayed flight moved the surprise to young Devan’s swim team holiday party – where Michael arrived, still in military uniform.

In the masslive.com article, Reporter Lori Stabile wrote, “The happiness on Devan's face was still evident two days after his father returned home, as they talked about their plans for the next two weeks, which include a trip to Toys R Us and snowboarding, possibly at Okemo in Vermont.”

That was all Rob Bevier needed to know to put the wheels in motion. A few days later, Devan and his dad were learning to snowboard together courtesy of Okemo Mountain Resort. Okemo’s Tyler Longland and Gordon Robbins, a living legend in the world of snowboard instruction, had Devan and his dad sliding, stopping and making turns in no time. When asked how he liked snowboarding, Devan replied, “I love it!”

twilight falls on the final day of the decade

So, the burning question on everyone's mind is, will it be twenty-ten or two-thousand ten? Okay, so maybe that's not exactly the burning question. Around Okemo Valley, the talk is all about the "New Year's" blizzard that probably isn't actually going to happen. It's shaping up to be ongoing snow showers with an inch or two here and there throughout the weekend. Sounds like it will be just enough to keep the trails nice with a new coating of pow on top of all the Okemo corduroy.

What's that, you're into natural terrain? Have you found Broken Arrow yet? It's so new, I don't think the sign is even up yet. It's an all-natural terrain park in the trees that's built entirely out of found timber. No live trees were sacrificed for this thrill-seekers folly. Let us know what you think of it when (and if) you find it this weekend.

Well, gotta go over to the Gore to help out with the festivities. Here's wishing you a happy and healthy new year!

spring into winter

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday's conditions were an advance taste of spring with lots of soft snow. As sweet as that was, we're not even close to being ready for spring skiing yet. Then, just a few nightime hours later, we went from a foggy winter bummerland to a snowy winter wonderland. The snow started early this morning and has been snowglobing steadily all morning.

There's pow on that there corduroy!

Fortunately, the clouds cleared in the afternoon, making it a great night for Okemo's torchlight parade and fireworks show.

This week is jam-packed with events and activities, so come pay us a visit and have some family fun.




Special thanks to Donald Dill for sharing his photos from last night's festivities.

into each life ...

... a little you-know-what must fall. We try hard not to use the "R" word around these parts - it is afterall, a four-letter word.

The rewards for skiers and riders who ventured out and braved the elements today were springlike conditions - not a bad little treat as we're about to embark on another plunge into seasonably winter-like temperatures. And now, in the final hour of the ski day, the rain has stopped and blue sky prevails. Monday is shaping up to be a splendid day. Check out the Okemo snow report.

Visitors to the Okemo Valley for this holiday period will notice a couple of changes to the Ludlow dining landscape. They happen to be very good changes.

The Cool Moose Cafe has taken over the spot where Archie's used to be. Inside and out, things don't look much different but this family-friendly dining option is certain to be a hit. Try the wings and ask about the secret hot powder they kep in the freezer for real hot-stuff afficianados.

The other most notable addition to the dining scene is a total re-do of the building across the street from the shopping plaza where Cool Moose resides. Outback Pizza (yes, the same Outback Pizza of Killington Access Road fame) has opened a new restaurant at the bottom ok Okemo's access road. I hear good things - especially from Okemo workers who get a sizeable discount on pie - thanks, Casey!