Southern Skiing....

SOUTHERN SKI COUNTRY:

A WINTER SPORTS PLAYGROUND

Southern ski season and winter sports are better than ever, thanks to additions and improvements at many mountain resorts throughout the region. Winter sports in the southeast once meant skiing and more skiing, but the region now boasts a wide range of other activities to augment mountain pursuits for the snow set. Last year, the southern region was the only area in North America to experience growth in the number of visitors to winter sports resorts.

With more runs, more facilities, and the addition of offerings like snowboarding, tubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and much more, the south's mountain resorts have become full-fledged winter sports playgrounds. "Our resorts are now complete winter mountain activity centers," says Steve Showalter, president of the Southeast Ski Areas Association and mountain manager at Virginia’s Massanutten Resort.

Of course, skiing is still big business at the region's resorts. Thanks to the white stuff from Mother Nature and lots of state-of-the-art snowmaking, southern skiing has developed into a viable alternative to catching a plane for New England, the Rockies, or the Alps. New and state-of-the-art lifts, additional runs, more rental and purchase possibilities, expansion of lessons, and overall mountain amenities additions have made winter in the south positively sporty.  

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BOARD IN THE SOUTH

But a day, weekend, or weeklong southeast ski trip has developed into something much bigger and better. Following a national trend, the addition of snowboarding and tubing (as well as other activities), has more and more people heading to the mountains. Resorts have met the growing demand with more facilities for snowboarders, tubing parks, and a wide range of other mountain pursuits for skiers and non-skiers alike.

Snowboarding is by far the biggest boon for the region. "More than 4 million people went snowboarding last year and the south is one of the most popular regions," says Ali Zacaroli, spokesperson for SnowSports Industries America (SIA). "The general growth is huge, but the biggest news is that the demographics are evolving. There are now many snowboarders in the 30s and 40s and there are also lots more women." Ms. Zacaroli says that the uniqueness of snowboarding, along with simplicity of equipment and ease of learning, make it ideal for skiers and non-skiers.

This demographic shift has also changed winter vacationing in general. Snowboarding has reunited families on the mountain, as more parents try it with their kids. Of course, youngsters still love the 'rad'ical nature of the sport and the fashion statements they can make with special clothing, but snowboarding has definitely become more mainstream.

The national growth in snowboarding has been mirrored throughout the southeast. "Snowboarding continues to give the industry a much needed lift," Snowshoe Mountain’s communications manager, Joe Stevens, says. "We estimate that 25 percent of our 430,000 mountain visits are snowboarders." With this growth, southeast resorts have accommodated with more terrain, special parks for snowboarders, more rentals, and more lessons. Thanks to new ownership and more than $100 million in investment (see related sidebar), West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain has led the way in the way southern skiing has risen again.

TUBULAR

Tubing is providing the other avalanche of visitors. "There's one thing for sure about tubing," says Steve Drumheller, sales and marketing director at Canaan Valley in West Virginia. "It's bringing people to ski areas."

Tubing's simplicity is what draws many people to the mountain resorts--it's really only limited by age and size (which varies throughout the region). Tubing is like a modern version of the old days of sledding, except you don't have to trudge back up the hill or mountain. The resort supplies the huge tube and banked lanes and you just provide an interest in having fun. Handle-tows pull you back up the slopes for another fast-paced run down a banked lane. It's easy to learn how to ride, stop (banks slow you down), roll off the tube, and ride back up the lift.

Last year saw the serious emergence of tubing as a top pursuit at mountain resorts throughout the region. This year's tubing opportunities are even bigger and better than ever. New tubing parks, more lifts, more lanes, extended hours (some resorts sell by the number of runs and other sell for specific timeframes), and additional snowmaking are sure to make tubing a top pick again this season.

In addition to snowboarding and tubing, southeast ski resorts are adding many other non-skiing options. The possibilities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, spas and fitness centers, year-round pools, evening activities, children's programs, wilderness cabins and even sleigh riding. That's why skiers and non-skiers alike are heading to the south in record numbers every winter.

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GEORGIA

As the Peach State's only ski resort and just two hours from Atlanta, Sky Valley Resort also offers the region's most southerly skiing at the southern tip of the Great Smoky Mountains. At 3,500 feet, Sky Valley's temperatures are typically ideal for natural and manmade snow. Highlights include expanded ski rentals, more ski school programs, 'Ski Georgia First' group packages, new grooming equipment, and a popular range of lodge rooms, rental houses, and dining.

MARYLAND

Overlooking Deep Creek Lake, Wisp Four Seasons Resort is Maryland's winter wonderland. Set amidst the mountains of Garrett County, Maryland's largest freshwater lake is 12 miles long and features 65 miles of shoreline. The mountain offers more than 12 miles of trails, slopeside accommodations, and many mountain activities. There are also lakeside resorts, hotels, condominiums, and houses for rent.

NORTH CAROLINA

The Tar Heel State is all white in the winter, with smaller resorts like Appalachian Ski Mountain, Cataloochee Ski Area, Hawksnest Golf and Ski Resort, and Wolf Laurel Ski Resort among many excellent state choices. The options at these four friendly resorts vary, but you'll definitely find expanded skiing and more snowmaking, snowboarding parks, tubing, ice skating, and lots of lodging, dining, amenities, and lots of mountain resort charm, North Carolina-style. For example, Hawksnest slopes stay open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights, while Cataloochee offers some incredible family packages and programs.

As the highest altitude ski area east of the Rockies, Ski Beech is a popular with choice, with mid-week ski specials, a new group picnic and lounge area, shaped skis in the rental department, a new state-of-the-art grooming machine, ice skating, and a charming alpine village setting with a popular skating rink. Sugar Mountain Resort, open since 1969, is the state's largest ski area, with highlights including a 1 1/2-mile run, 1,200 feet in vertical drop, 18 slopes and trails, the state's two longest lifts, and many great packages.

TENNESSEE

As the Volunteer State's only ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg is a unique Great Smoky Mountains getaway, with the added attraction of the charming Tennessee town of Gatlinburg. Draws include eight slopes, with snowboarding a big draw on all trails, as well as 25% more snowmaking this year, additional shaped skis, and a popular bungee tower. Terrain for snowboarders is also on Ober Gatlinburg’s schedule.

VIRGINIA

The Old Dominion offers lots of new wintertime possibilities. Bryce Resort (which added 20% more snowmaking) and nearby Massanutten (more snowmaking, rentals, and an expanded tubing park) continue to cater to families and multi-sport visitors, with the possibilities including skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and other winter activities. The Homestead is definitely a unique winter getaway, with a multi-million revitalization of the 232-year-old grande dame, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, tubing, and a completely renovated spa (skiing and skating are included in the price of the room).

Finally, Wintergreen Resort, celebrating its 25th anniversary, continues to expand on and off the slopes, with a variety of packages for skiers ($99 mid-week season passes this year), snowboarders, and even golfers (their valley course is often open when the slopes are open). Wintergreen opened two new slopes and a new quad lift, adding to a long list of amenities on and off the trails.

WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia winters just keep getting better. Of course, Snowshoe Mountain is leading the way, with more than $100 million in improvements since 1995 (see feature below). If you want to see what southern skiing is all about head to the new Snowshoe Mountain soon.

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Canaan Valley Resort continues to focus on its successful role as a complete winter playland, with added amenities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, a year-round pool, tubing, an ice rink, evening activities, children's programs, and even sleigh riding. Nearby, Timberline tops the list for skiers in search of something a bit different, with highlights like Salamander--one of the region's longest runs--and the resort's ten miles of mapped and marked backcountry trails.

Winterplace is winding up many years of enhancements, a period when they expanded every off-season. Winterplace is a winter wonderland for skiers in search of a full-service and all-inclusive ski resort. This year brings even more snowmaking to one of the most convenient resorts in the southeast. In addition, Coolfont Resort adds another unique West Virginia option to any tubing itinerary. This legendary eastern panhandle resort opened a tubing park to rave reviews in 1997 and this season promises even more fun. After a day of tubing, guests can enjoy a host of Coolfont amenities, including varied accommodations options, dining, a spa, and much more.

SIDEBAR

WEST VIRGINIA’S SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN:

BIG BUCKS MAKE IT BIGGER

AND BETTER THAN EVER

If you haven’t been to West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain lately, then you’re not qualified to crack any jokes about the Mountain State or the state of southern skiing. A blizzard of big bucks dumped on this well-known resort has made Snowshoe bigger and better than ever.

Those who have visions of locals wearing garbage bags for parkas can check their misconceptions at the state line. In the last decade, West Virginia has turned into a true four-season outdoors mecca for those in the know. With world-class whitewater, rock climbing that draws lots of Europeans, monster mountain biking, and a plethora of winter sports, West Virginia is now packed with visitors and residents sporting modern clothes, gear, and very non-southern accents. Save your Hefty bag for carrying those smelly ski clothes home.

With more than $100 million spent since 1995, Snowshoe Mountain has drawn serious attention to the southern winter sports world. This summer's capital improvements are again the largest for any resort in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions. Snowshoe's dramatic growth and improvement led to a #17 ranking from SKI Magazine for the eastern U.S., a first for a Mid-Atlantic or Southeast winter resort. Highlights of the projects have ranged from the opening of Rimfire Lodge (the beginning of the new mountaintop Village of Snowshoe) to expansion of the Western Territory trail system. The region's newest high-speed detachable quad lift services this trail system, making Cupp Run and the new Shay’s Revenge trails a huge hit last year.

Other changes included: the new Kids World at Ruckus Ridge Adventure Park, a 2,200-square-foot full-service facility for children and their parents; a new Magic Carpet surface lift for kids; and the addition of even more new rental equipment, adding to the exclusive inventory of shaped skis and step-in bindings for snowboards. But the cornerstone of Snowshoe's future is the Village of Snowshoe, which, when completed, will include more than 400 mountaintop homes and 100,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and speciality shop space. The opening of Rimfire Lodge (and, next, Highland House), as well as the accompanying dining and shopping options, are the first steps in the development of the new mountaintop village, a formula which Intrawest (owner of famed resorts like Blackcomb, Stratton, and Copper Mountain) has used successfully in the past.  Snowshoe visitors this winter will be the first to enjoy the Village of Snowshoe, with highlights including: an array of new accommodations options in Rimfire Lodge; dining at Eli's Tavern (with food prepared by the former Greenbrier Executive Chef); and a wide variety of new shopping possibilities centered around a village-like atmosphere. Nearby, new options include horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, guided snowmobile tours, and the already-popular Sunrise Backcountry Hut.

SIDEBAR

MAKE THE CALL

FOR THE BEST OF SOUTHERN SKIING

Phone numbers and websites (where available) for all southern resorts covered:

GEORGIA:

Sky Valley Resort: (800) 437-2416

NORTH CAROLINA:

Appalachian Ski Mountain: (800) 322-2373

Cataloochee Ski Area: (800) 768-0285

Hawksnest Golf and Ski Resort: (888) 429-5763

Ski Beech: (800) 438-2093

Sugar Mountain Ski Area: (800) SUGAR MT, www.skisugar.com

Wolf Laurel Ski Resort: (800) 817-4111, www.skiwolflaurel.com

TENNESSEE:

Ober Gatlinburg: (800) 251-9202, www.obergatlinburg.com

VIRGINIA:

Bryce Resort: (800) 821-1444

The Homestead: (800) 838-1766

Massanutten: (800) 207 MASS

Wintergreen Resort: (800) 266-2444, www.wintergreenresort.com

WEST VIRGINIA:

Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center: (304) 866-4121, www.canaanresort.com

Snowshoe Mountain: (304) 572-1000, www.snowshoemtn.com

Timberline Four Seasons Resort: (304) 866-4801

Winterplace: (304) 787-3221