Culinary Cupid

Do you have someone that loves to cook on your list this Valentine's Day? Here is a very unique idea that they will absolutely love:

ePIC, Okemo's newest culinary masterpiece offers "Dinner with Class", an evening of friends, great food and fun! Join Chef Craig Cornell as he showcases his cooking skills and teaches you how to prepare a restaurant-style entree that you can take the recipe card and prepare at home! The class runs 2- hours from 4-6 pm, followed by a 4-course dinner of your efforts. Family and friends can also join you for dinner for a nominal charge.

But hurry, class size is VERY limited for this Thursday, February 14th. Can't make that one? You have one more opportunity on March 13, 2008.

Call and reserve your spot today! (8022) 228-1600.

The "Okemo Difference" Defined

The marketing types around here talk about "The Okemo Difference" all the time, but what, exactly, is "The Okemo Difference?" Those very marketing types sent their ace snow report squad out and about to ask real skiers and riders why they continue to choose Okemo over other resorts. I must say, for completely off-the-cuff, spontaneous interviews, the responses are 110% on point! The fact that they tracked down DEE SNIDER (the lead singer of Twisted Sister - if you have to ask, it's too loud!) and managed to get him to give up the goods on this "Okemo Difference" definitely doesn't hurt! Check out all the responses, as well as some footage of skiers and riders having a blast at Okemo over the past few weeks, here: The Okemo Difference

President's Week is less than seven days away, and the entire Northeast is experiencing ePic conditions. The question is, why choose Okemo over other resorts? The answer? Superior grooming, attention to detail (Without that attention to detail, Dee wouldn't take it!), employees that are generally happy to help, one of the best ski schools in the industry, and much, much more! If you need more convincing, check out Okemo's YouTube Channel Here, and remember: We wanna rock, but we don't want to Feel the Noise past a reasonable hour...that's what downtown is for!

snow, glorious snow

There's an adage that goes, "you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time."

Snowy days call for cocoa (or as we say around here - cocokemo), so I took a stroll to Base 68 for a steaming cup of chocolate goodness. As I was headed toward the door, a co-worker came up behind me and whispered in my ear, "now I've heard it all," he said. "I just overheard someone complaining that there's too much snow out there!"

So, for those of you who might happen to agree with that sentiment, I apologize. I'm sorry our snowmaking team has turned nearly half a million gallons of water into a substantial base of snow, covering more than 600 acres. I'm sorry for the 20 inches of fresh powder we've received this month (and we're only a week into February). I regret that our groomer operators aren't plowing the snow off the trails and grading the packed powder down to the soil surface to make you feel more at home - you know, like it is at the mountain where you normally ski. I know you're longing for those low trail counts of early last winter, and waxing nostalgic over those hard-earned core shots you got got out West last April. You're right - there's a ton of snow out there right now. Fresh powder on corduroy is a real hardship. It's deep and soft - not the sort of thing you're used to. Cheer up, and better luck next year.

Powder Pirates Plunder Ludlow

The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce put together a great Winter Carnival last weekend. People in the community really got into the theme - Pirates of Powder. The parade on Saturday night was so fun. I suspected the event would be a little hokey, but it was just good ol' American hometown fun. Okay the string of town plow trucks and bucket loaders in the parade may have been a bit much, but the floats were over the top! Okemo was the first pirate ship to roll past spectators. The wood shop guys did a great job building the vessel for the "safety Pirates" of Ski Patrol who tossed fistfulls of Snickers to spectators. The pirate music was an especially nice touch.

Kevin Barnes won the snow sculpture contest with his massive snow skull pirate embracing the OKEMO name. Steps going up the side of the sculpture lead to a slide for kids who prefer not to walk the plank. Kevin spent 15 hours building the bony-fingered behemoth.

How much does a pirate pay to have his ears pierced? A buck and ear ... get it? ... a buccaneer?
Arghhhhhhhh!

V-day gift for your sweetie

Okay guys and gals - Valentine's Day is a short 11 days away. If you're looking for a unique gift that will steal their heart, how about a romantic ski getaway for two?

Our special romance package includes:
~two nights lodging at the Jackson Gore Inn or Solitude Village
~daily lift tickets for two
~two one-hour massages
~a 3-course dinner for two
~a special Vermont welcome basket
~full access to our fitness center, pools and hot tubs

Make it a holiday you'll remember for years. Call 1-800-78-OKEMO and book this romantic escape today!

Okemo Blog Contest - Win Tickets!

(Photo caption: Yukon Kornelius = L to R: Eric Fawcett, Jason Biggs, Stefan Lessard, Adam Gardner and Ed Robertson)

Last month, Okemo sponsored a benefit concert to raise awareness and money for the Vermont and New Hampshire Food Banks. The band Yukon Kornelius was formed by Stefan Lessard, bass player for the Dave Matthews Band and was comprised of Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, Adam Gardner of Guster, actor & emcee Jason Biggs (on cowbell!) and Eric Fawcett of N.E.R.D. and Spymob. The band was joined on stage for two encores by Dee Snider of Twisted Sister (autograph on set list pictured).

If you can correctly identify each and every song from the abbreviated/nicknamed set list below, Okemo will award you with 2 FREE weekday, non-holiday lift tickets good until Closing Day in April, 2008. Email your answer to info@okemo.com and use ‘Yukon Kornelius Set List’ in the Subject line. Contest Rules: All entries must be made via email, from a valid email address and must contain your complete name and mailing address to qualify. You must be 18 or over to enter. One entry per person. Only complete entries attempting all 15 song titles will be counted. Winners will be notified by email. No on-site entry permitted. Okemo staff are not eligible to win. Contest limited to first 20 correct entries. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM on February 29, 2008.

Here’s the set list from the raucous Yukon Kornelius show on January 9.
Good luck, and keep on rockin’ Okemo.

FEAR
RIDE
SFTD
KILLER
WHIMPER
ROOM
COA
ME
LOST
SUPER
D&B
ROCK
NINTENDO DS
QR

_________
H TO H

Anticipation

The clock is ticking and it's only a matter of hours until the big game gets underway! I convinced a co-worker (with a big-screen TV and a girlfriend who is an exceptional talent in the kitchen) to host a Super Bowl party. It's such a comforting feeling to know that, even as I type, the wings are marinating and a variety of dips are in various stages of formation. I'm trying out a new recipe for crab dip. I hope it's a success, but then again, what's not to love with butter, cheese, sour cream and crabmeat?

I must officially go on record as saying that I completely underestimated the commitment of New England and New York winter enthusiasts. I really thought that skiing and snowboarding would take a back seat to the anticipation and preparation for the big game between the two rivaling regions. I expected that the slopes would be empty - that it would be slower than a midweek day in May ... and that no amount of advertising or p.r. messaging could convince skiers and riders to come to Okemo on Super Bowl Sunday. I even went on the record with that prediction. Clearly, it's not going to be as busy as it was on MLK weekend, but the weekend that we, in the marketing and sales departments, have affectionately referred to as a "sucking-sound" weekend, has turned out to be surprisingly good. Eastern skiers and snowboarders, I salute you. Now pass that plate of nachos, would you? Cheers!