While you may not want to commit to the full ski bum lifestyle, plan your course schedule correctly and the student life can still accommodate plenty of slope time, especially if there’s a mountain resort nearby. While some just want to head to the mountains for spring break, living within easy reach of a resort means you can take full advantage of the many college-age season passes out there.
If you're looking for the best deal on New Hampshire season passes, now is the time to buy. Many ski areas are offering additional incentives when you purchase before this season ends.
Lookout Pass has popular Learn to Ski & Ride and Bring a Friend programs that run all season long. (Bob Legasa Freeride Media)
There’s never been a better time to find ski/snowboarding discounts, freebies, and deals.
New Hampshire ski areas wrapping up a successful season. (Ski NH)
There’s still time to ski or ride at New Hampshire’s ski areas, but you should head out soon. The state’s downhill and Nordic ski areas will wrap up the season in April and are offering spring ski deals and hosting events during these final days.
New skiers and riders will be all smiles at Ragged.(Ragged Mountain)
For many people out there, the reality of the expense of becoming a skier or ‘boarder is an obstacle in the path of finding their way to the mountain lifestyle. New Hampshire’s Ragged Mountain is on a mission to change that. Ragged has committed this year to making skiing and snowboarding something that everybody can get into again.
The apparel trend is bold bright colors with contrasting zips and pipings, along with the continuation of plaids and prints as seen in Obermeyer apparel at the Boston Expo. (Karen Lorentz)
Skiing and snowboarding are all about experiences and memories. To make yours excitingly awesome this winter, check out these tips and trends.
Be part of something really big
Killington is hosting the Audi FIS World Cup Women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom races Nov. 26-27 and anyone can attend the events for free. Spectator standing areas can accommodate 7,500 visitors daily at the base of the Superstar trail; jumbo screens will provide enhanced viewing of upper course. Free parking, shuttle service.
Learn more about all the events over the holiday, or if stuck at home, watch the second runs on NBC TV Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
Snow discovery benefits
New Hampshire's Ragged Mountain is offering three free lessons with free lifts and Rossignol rental equipment included so as to make “learning to ski affordable,” says Ragged’s Ben Hall of the new learn-to ski or ride program for ages 7 and up.
Ragged’s new program joins innovative learn-to programs from Elan, Rossignol, and Burton at participating areas nationwide. The three- or four-day programs (lifts, lessons, and rental equipment) reward first-timers with free equipment or season passes upon completion.
Pat’s Peak Passport Plus program rewards with Elan skis and a free season pass for the first 100 customers ages 18 and up.
Loon’s intensive first-timer weekend program rewards with a free pair of Head skis, boots and bindings .
Tips on trends, products
“Skis that carve are trending,” says Kelly Davis, SnowSports Industries America (SIA) research director who notes a “backing away from 120-mm wide waists on groomers.” There’s a widening variety of snowboard shapes, and lighter skis and boots are trending along with a return to wool for base layers and socks, Davis said.
New, easier “lens-switch systems” and a heat feature to cure the fogging problem are among goggle trends. But the hottest trend is smart goggles with Davis predicting everyone will soon be wearing them.
Smart goggles incorporate a small display within the goggle that allows users to access all kinds of info, from who’s calling on their cell phone to their own ski data (speed, mileage, vert) to GPS apps and resort maps. Smart goggles like Oakley’s Airwave models use a powerful wearable computer with sensors and networking capabilities.
The Therma-Phone Protector was officially launched at the Boston Ski and Snowboard Expo. It’s a soft, compact, flexible phone case with many layers designed to keep your phone operating in cold or hot temperatures — comes with heat packets to insert for extreme cold. James Hermanowski said cell phones are designed to operate in certain temperature ranges and fail when they exceed those limits — the protector solves that problem.
Hopefully there’s going to be some new ski gear waiting for you under the tree this year, and if you are lucky enough to be able to celebrate Christmas on the slopes this year, you’ll find some great deals and fun activities as well a some quieter runs before the vacation week starts.
Ragged Mountain Resort is offering $25 lift tickets for all skiers and riders Friday, Dec. 5. It;s Benefit Day and all proceeds go to Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, also known as CHaD.
Winter Storm Hercules hit the east coast with all the strength of the mythological Greek figure, and eastern resorts are enjoying the wallop.
Timing is everything, and if you have considered a New Hampshire ski and ride vacation this month, your timing is corduroy perfect. Ski New Hampshire is offering substantial ticket savings that can be used during the Presidents’ Week holiday and beyond.
The most intriguing piece of the “greenlighted” Ragged Mountain expansion will be access to Pinnacle Peak, the ski area’s third mountain. That means adding more than 30 percent to the skiable terrain.
