Looking for recommendation for ski resort near NYC

[woof75]

I really like Bellayre. It's great for intermediates, I'm a transplant in NYC from the UK, being so close to good skiing is a great thing about being here rather than London, though it isn't the Alps. This is my first post and I just have to try this flame thrower dude out.:flame:

 

[BeanoNYC]

If your prepared to fly and want to stay on the east coast I would head up to stowe. Jetblue flies directly from JFK into Burlington. As an expat, you'll find many people on holiday from the U.K. there. ....oh, and Ye olde England Inn has a great selection of beer.

 

[ski9]

I'd definitely experience Vermont before flying west...and, after all, don't a lot of European skiers and boarder have a greater appreciation of freshly groomed carving runs as opposed to deep powder? I'd agree that Okemo is a great choice from the description of your group...here's a link to all the VT resorts that some friends of mine found helpful:

http://www.skivermont.com/alpine/

 

[ski9]

I really like Bellayre. It's great for intermediates, I'm a transplant in NYC from the UK, being so close to good skiing is a great thing about being here rather than London, though it isn't the Alps. This is my first post and I just have to try this flame thrower dude out.:flame:

Even though they've addressed the problem, Belleayre is still tough on families and groups that have different abilities. When GSS and I go there to pick up chubby Portuguese chicks, its hard to ski a diamond then find them mid-mountain.

 

[OppositeGeorge]

I've skied Belleayre a few times the past couple years, mostly doing ASIA clinics and I like it for what it is. They've really done a great job for the clinic groups, and it's great for day trips. Management of late has seemed serious about making the most of the place, IMO more-so than their local competition of Windham and Hunter (Plattekill caters to a different market.)

Still as much as I like it, I'm not so sure how suitable it may be for a long weekend trip. Here are the pluses and minuses I've found to help you judge:

Pros:

Cross-country: check, but not a lot. I'm pretty sure the x/c trails are free, but not sure how much they're maintained or if they make snow on 'em.

Intermediate runs: yes, solid intermediate mountain off the top, with a few good tricky, steep blacks. Dot Nebel might be the best cruiser in the Catskills. Mid-way the mountain turns into a solid green, so no long blue or black runs compared to the competition.

Pretty reliable snow and snow-making for that close to NYC, or at least it has been in the past. There is some question about how hard this year's NYS budget squeeze will hit the mountain. Grooming has been very good the past couple years and it's greatly improved over the resort's dark days of the 1990's.

Very affordable, yet it feels less crowded than Huntah or Windham.

If you're there on your birthday, they let you ski for free (at least they have in previous seasons.)

If you have a car, it's really close to the City -- about 90 miles up the Thruway, then maybe another 45 minutes west of that (less than that if you drive like me, but watch out for speed traps on 28.)

Good mix of terrain, what there is of it. They always keep a few challenging (but short) bump runs, as well as good groomers. Even trees and quasi-backcountry if there's sufficient snow, though I've never been there when there was enough snow to make these worthwhile.

Now the Cons:

Limited local accommodations, even less nightlife. You really need a car to get around.

It feels like skiing at a State Park, i.e., limited on-mountain services apart from cafeteria-style dining, bar service and basic ski shop/rentals -- that's a plus for me but if your group wants boutique shopping and other, fancier diversions there's nada there. Stratton it ain't. Hell, Hunter it ain't.

Even for intermediates, it's not a big mountain and you might get tired of the place after a couple days if you like exploring trails.

Mixed plus and minus:

Thanks to topography, the mountain is functionally two areas: expert/intermediate off the top to about 1/2-2/3 way down, solid green lower section.* Different chairs serve the two sections. This means intermediates and experts are well-separated from the novices and the place is less of an obstacle course than the competition. But it also means that if you're skiing with a group of varying abilities, it's more likely you won't see each other all day. And it also means that the mountain skis significantly shorter than its stated vertical (b/c you're going to be spending most, if not all your time doing laps on either the upper or lower section.)

Hope this helps. Ask back if you've got any questions about the Belle.


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*Okay, technically the HS Quad runs more than 2/3ds of the way down the mountain, but the lower approach to that is basically runout. Tomahawk lift gives the longest sustained intermediate terrain at about 900' vertical out of 1400' total.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Even though they've addressed the problem, Belleayre is still tough on families and groups that have different abilities. When GSS and I go there to pick up chubby Portuguese chicks, its hard to ski a diamond then find them mid-mountain.

She was from Brazil..and yeah the Dot Nebal headwall was too much for her..

 

[ski9]

She was from Brazil..and yeah the Dot Nebal headwall was too much for her..

I think you misunderstood her Portuguese...she said she had a Brazilian trim, not that she was from Brazil. How are you ever going to make it at a gigolo if you don't pay attention to the details?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

If your prepared to fly and want to stay on the east coast I would head up to stowe. Jetblue flies directly from JFK into Burlington. As an expat, you'll find many people on holiday from the U.K. there. ....oh, and Ye olde England Inn has a great selection of beer.

Mr. Pitwiks is great..awesome bangers and mash..