Carinthia at Mount Snow to become 1 HUGE terrain park

[drjeff]

Check this out:

http://www.mountsnow.com/parksandpipes.html

I will admit to having some mixed feelings/reservations about this one

 

[Greg]

I don't ski Mont Snow that often, but I don't think I've ever skied the Carinthia trail pod so I say good move. Now, let's get some more bumps...

 

[riverc0il]

I have never skied Mount Snow but just looking at the layout, I think this could potentially be one of the smartest moves in the New England ski industry since... well, Peaks bought Mount Snow :lol: On a personal note, hopefully that will lighten up some of the traffic at mountains I frequent Curious to see how this will effect Whaleback as being a dedicated park and pipe mountain was their niche.

 

[Zand]

My only gripe is that Carinthia was a great place to park on busy days compared to the main base so the secret may be lost now. Otherwise, besides a couple trips through Claim Jumper (which will stay) and the existing parks, I barely skied it. Overall, it'll be a good move.

 

[drjeff]

I don't ski Mont Snow that often, but I don't think I've ever skied the Carinthia trail pod so I say good move. Now, let's get some more bumps...

Apparently Midde Exhibition and it's new fan guns are penciled in for some regularly seeded bumps and possibly Ego Alley too.

 

[Zand]

Apparently Midde Exhibition and it's new fan guns are penciled in for some regularly seeded bumps and possibly Ego Alley too.

IDK about Ego Alley during the season seeing as its the main race training trail, but those were nice in April. Maybe they'll seed some good bumps on Un Blanco Gulch as it really could be a longer version of Sel's Choice at Okemo.

 

[deadheadskier]

I wonder what mountain will follow suit next. Stratton?

I think this move makes a lot of sense.

 

[arik]

I am curious how this will affect lift lines and will have to wait and see to decide where I am going to park the car next year.

 

[Greg]

Apparently Midde Exhibition and it's new fan guns are penciled in for some regularly seeded bumps and possibly Ego Alley too.

Sounds good, but in both cases those trails are pretty flaaaat. Beggars can't be choosers though.

 

[drjeff]

IDK about Ego Alley during the season seeing as its the main race training trail, but those were nice in April. Maybe they'll seed some good bumps on Un Blanco Gulch as it really could be a longer version of Sel's Choice at Okemo.

Ego Alley as a regular bump runs was brought up by the Mount Snow admins and was said that it will be subject to race team issues - my guess is we'll see the training ropes up on plummet a bit more this coming year, especially since Stugger's Chute will now be unavailable for gate training.

 

[deadheadskier]

Why not seed something on the NF?

 

[Greg]

Why not seed something on the NF?

:idea:

A regularly seeded run on TNF would bring me to Mount Snow much more often. If/when it gets ugly, smash them down and reseed a different trail.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Check this out:

http://www.mountsnow.com/parksandpipes.html

I will admit to having some mixed feelings/reservations about this one

Well they're owned by Peaks resorts who also own Jack Frost/Big Boulder here in PA and Big Boulder is essentially a park only mountain. I think it's a good thing. Jibhonks down here typically go to Mount Snow as it is due to their superior terrain parks which leaves the better mountains in Northern Vermont less crowded..

 

[2knees]

:idea:

A regularly seeded run on TNF would bring me to Mount Snow much more often. If/when it gets ugly, smash them down and reseed a different trail.

In years past, and DrJeff would know more, but there isnt really a need to seed anything over there as they bump up pretty fast on their own. Challenger, Freefall, Jaws and Plummet used to be bumped up more often than not. I did read a few comments from people this year that the NF was groomed much more frequently but i was only there early season and not again till the end of the year. Seeing TNF totally groomed on that april day we were there was quite a shock though. not sure what that was all about.

 

[Greg]

In years past, and DrJeff would know more, but there isnt really a need to seed anything over there as they bump up pretty fast on their own. Challenger, Freefall, Jaws and Plummet used to be bumped up more often than not. I did read a few comments from people this year that the NF was groomed much more frequently but i was only there early season and not again till the end of the year. Seeing TNF totally groomed on that april day we were there was quite a shock though. not sure what that was all about.

Despite popular belief, I'm not an advocate for seeded bumps over natural bumps necessarily. My thought was that these days, runs that are left to "bump up" naturally usually results in broads sweeping push piles. Seeding encourage people to turn more. From Killington northward, it's not much of an issue since they get so much more natural which is condusive to better bumps too. A longer/steeper version of Sel's sounds great to me.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I agree it's a smart move. I think there is plenty of demand for this. Even families who have kids that would spend the day in a terrain park might be drawn to Mt Snow as a result of this. Many resorts have been upgrading their terrain parks but having the park separate from the main ski/ride hill is the best option.

Wonder if there will be a terrain park only lift tik, cheaper than an all mountain lift tik.

 

[powderman]

I was surprised to here this, but I have to agree with everyone here that's a good move. How will they make large jumps in a glade though?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

This is what I found...




To our season passholders,

Before we announce this to the public and the media, we wanted you to hear this exciting news first. Along with Peak Resorts, I am happy to announce that Mount Snow will dedicate the entire Carinthia mountain face to freestyle terrain parks when it opens for the 2008-09 season, transforming 95 acres of trails into a massive park system.

Carinthia is about to become Vermont’s only all-freestyle mountain face. A smörgåsbord's of rails, jumps and halfpipes will cover nearly five miles of terrain. A snowskate playground, hikable park, beginners’ learning park and a skate ramp will surround the base area, while the base lodge itself will be renovated and outfitted with lounge areas, an extended outdoor deck with ample seating, counter seating along the windows, free wireless internet, flat screen televisions, outdoor firepits and a new retail shop.

Skiers and riders can choose from a variety of approximately 125 freestyle features scattered around 12 full terrain parks. A tree-skiing area, a superpipe with 18-foot walls, a mini-pipe with 8-foot walls, an all-natural park absent of man made material and a big-air site will also be featured. The sweeping overhaul is the brainchild of Peak Resorts’ president, Tim Boyd, and his son Jesse, Peak’s Vice President of Operations & Freestyle Terrain. Jesse oversaw the modification of Big Boulder in Pennsylvania into an all-freestyle mountain and will work closely with us during the changeover.

Our Mountain Manager Elia Hamilton, as well as Parks and Pipes Manager Ken Gaitor, are both nationally recognized and respected freestyle terrain designers who will spearhead the project,scheduled for completion by the time the mountain opens for the 2008-09 season. On a recent visit to Mount Snow, Jesse Boyd explained that freestyle skiers and riders are the future of the ski industry. “They’re the fastest growing group,and it just makes sense to build the biggest and best parks that Mount Snow can offer,” he told me.

Carinthia will be perfect for spectators. Not only will mom and dad be able to hangout on the deck and watch the kids in one of our learning parks, but they can join in the fun themselves. This is for everyone, young and old, beginner and expert,skier and rider. Under the new plan, all freestyle terrain parks will be contained to Carinthia. This will improve the flow of skier traffic on Sunbrook, the North Face and the MainFace. Un Blanco Gulch will revert to a ski trail, while trails like lower Long John and Standard will be relieved of park traffic. Not into freestyle? Don’t worry, Carinthia is being designed to accommodate a wide range of skiers and riders, withan emphasis on providing a family-friendly environment.

A little background: Mount Snow opened Un Blanco Gulch, the first terrain park in the East, in 1992. The Inferno park, which was featured at the ESPN X-Games in 2000 and 2001, will return to its home turf on the former Stugger’s Chute trail at Carinthia. The tubing park, currently located on Ski Baba at Carinthia, will berelocated to Mixing Bowl on the Main Mountain.

This exciting transformation comes as Peak Resorts continues its commitment to offer a superior on-hill product and act as an innovative leader in the ski industry.Combine this summer’s addition of 150 fan guns with last summer’s 101, and MountSnow will have spent $8.5 million adding 251 new-technology fan guns, the most ofany resort in North America. Many of the trails on Carinthia will be flanked by the guns, including Mine Shaft, Nitro, Lower Titanium, Stugger’s Chute and Fairway.

The fan guns’ ability to produce high quality snow in marginal temperatures will allow our terrain parks to open earlier in the season and stay open later. I know this is a major change, so please do not hesitate to email with questions,concerns or loud shouts of “wahooo!” For an updated trail map of Carinthia, the new logo and related photos, please visit the Parks & Pipes page at www.mountsnow.com, or call 800-245-SNOW for more information. Sincerely, Kelly Pawlak, General Manager

 

[Dr Skimeister]

I'll be sad if "Narrow Gauge" is turned into any more of a terrain park than it's natural cover already allows for. This thin trail that runs parallel to the "Vermonster" terrain park can typically be counted on as a hidden jem on Carinthia.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Good move. I'll still park there and ski over to the Main Face.