Mad River Glen - 1/03/10

[KingM]

Date Skied: 1/3/10
Resort or Ski Area: Mad River
Conditions: Powder, packed powder, wind-blown

I took my kids to Mad River yesterday and found a little bit of everything. First of all, it was cold and windy. Not so much on the trails, but my ten year-old twins were cold and whiny by the time every time we got to the top of the lift. I took them inside a couple of times to warm up and this helped.

I have to give props to Mad River for keeping the lifts running. Sugarbush was on wind hold most of the day. I understand that this is a factor out of the control of the resorts, but still, it was nice to have that solid backup in the Valley for SB skiers. The Single was on hold for a bit of the morning, but it was running in the afternoon.

Conditions were about what you'd expect given the combination of fresh snow + wind. There were some great spots and some windblown spots. I didn't see anything that wasn't at least edgeable, though. Pretty darn good for early season at a resort with no snow making.

My biggest frustration, which has nothing to do with this particular trip is that I think my daughter is burned out on skiing. She's only ten and just starting to get to be a decent skier, but she's reached the point where she never looks forward to skiing anymore.

 

[Angus]

Date Skied: 1/3/10
Resort or Ski Area: Mad River
Conditions: Powder, packed powder, wind-blown

I have to give props to Mad River for keeping the lifts running. Sugarbush was on wind hold most of the day.

weird how weather works...we considered driving up to VT Saturday night to avoid windholds at Cannon on Sunday. Actually, almost called to check on availability but then decided I was too tired to drive that distance. Wind was not an issue Sunday at Cannon per ski reports.

 

[WWF-VT]

Lincoln Peak at Sugarbush had Gatehouse, North Lynx and Castlerock chairs running by 9:30. Valley House around 10 and Super Bravo by 11:30. I don't think Heaven's Gate chair ever ran. I think the GMX at Mt Ellen was delayed and sporadic. I picked up my son at Mt Ellen at 3:30 and the wind was howling while near calm at the base of Lincoln Peak at that time. Skiing was OK but you had to look for snow as there was a lot of windblown trails.

 

[KingM]

Lincoln Peak at Sugarbush had Gatehouse, North Lynx and Castlerock chairs running by 9:30. Valley House around 10 and Super Bravo by 11:30. I don't think Heaven's Gate chair ever ran. I think the GMX at Mt Ellen was delayed and sporadic. I picked up my son at Mt Ellen at 3:30 and the wind was howling while near calm at the base of Lincoln Peak at that time. Skiing was OK but you had to look for snow as there was a lot of windblown trails.

That's good. Since I was out skiing, the only word I had about wind hold was from other skiers/lifties at MRG, who have an obvious bias about pumping MRG at the neighbor's expense.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Date Skied: 1/3/10
Resort or Ski Area: Mad River
Conditions: Powder, packed powder, wind-blown

I took my kids to Mad River yesterday and found a little bit of everything. First of all, it was cold and windy. Not so much on the trails, but my ten year-old twins were cold and whiny by the time every time we got to the top of the lift. I took them inside a couple of times to warm up and this helped.

I have to give props to Mad River for keeping the lifts running. Sugarbush was on wind hold most of the day. I understand that this is a factor out of the control of the resorts, but still, it was nice to have that solid backup in the Valley for SB skiers. The Single was on hold for a bit of the morning, but it was running in the afternoon.

Conditions were about what you'd expect given the combination of fresh snow + wind. There were some great spots and some windblown spots. I didn't see anything that wasn't at least edgeable, though. Pretty darn good for early season at a resort with no snow making.

My biggest frustration, which has nothing to do with this particular trip is that I think my daughter is burned out on skiing. She's only ten and just starting to get to be a decent skier, but she's reached the point where she never looks forward to skiing anymore.

It was very cold and windy yesterday. No one enjoys skiing if they are cold and uncomfortable, child or adult. I would check out their socks, gloves, boots etc. All the kids I talked to yesterday that were having a great time are warm, including wearing face protection(mask,neck gaiter or clava) and use toe and/or toe, hand or foot warmers. On cold days we sell hundreds of those. If the boots are too tight chances are their feet will be cold.

She is probably not burned out on skiing just burned out on being cold and uncomfortable.

 

[madriverjack]

I was at Mad River yesterday also and it was pretty good in the woods off the double. I only wish I would have jumped on the single at 11:30 instead of waiting till 1:30, because chute and beaver were great.

 

[KingM]

It was very cold and windy yesterday. No one enjoys skiing if they are cold and uncomfortable, child or adult. I would check out their socks, gloves, boots etc. All the kids I talked to yesterday that were having a great time are warm, including wearing face protection(mask,neck gaiter or clava) and use toe and/or toe, hand or foot warmers. On cold days we sell hundreds of those. If the boots are too tight chances are their feet will be cold.

She is probably not burned out on skiing just burned out on being cold and uncomfortable.

I usually have her wear a t-shirt and a long-sleeve shirt over that and then she's got a decent coat, but I'm wondering if I should get her some thermals for the under layer instead. She had glove warmers, but I'm thinking the cold probably radiates out from the core. Anyway, I'm going to try to get her warmer if it kills me. If that doesn't work, it might be time for an earlier retirement.

 

[tarponhead]

My biggest frustration, which has nothing to do with this particular trip is that I think my daughter is burned out on skiing. She's only ten and just starting to get to be a decent skier, but she's reached the point where she never looks forward to skiing anymore.

Maybe try riding?

 

[gmcunni]

My biggest frustration, which has nothing to do with this particular trip is that I think my daughter is burned out on skiing. She's only ten and just starting to get to be a decent skier, but she's reached the point where she never looks forward to skiing anymore.

My 11YO daughter is probably nowhere near as good as yours but i found a similar lack of excitment in her this year. She's not motivated to ski. She'll tell me she likes skiing and wants to go but "just not today" or "maybe next weekend".

When she gets there she's fine, getting her there is the tough part.

 

[WWF-VT]

I usually have her wear a t-shirt and a long-sleeve shirt over that and then she's got a decent coat, but I'm wondering if I should get her some thermals for the under layer instead. She had glove warmers, but I'm thinking the cold probably radiates out from the core. Anyway, I'm going to try to get her warmer if it kills me. If that doesn't work, it might be time for an earlier retirement.

I suggest you try a thermal base layer and maybe a fleece layer under her coat. My son is 11 and this year switched from gloves to Hestra mittens and and we eliminated cold hands.