Atlanta Journal Constitution....

SOUTHERN SKI COUNTRY:

MUCH MORE THAN SKIING

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. With more runs, more facilities, and the addition of lots of non-skiing offerings, 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 state-of-the-art snowmaking, southern mountain resorts have become a viable alternative to catching a plane for New England, the Rockies, or the Alps.

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.

This 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 mountain visits are snowboarders." With this growth, southeast resorts have accommodated with more terrain, special parks for snowboarders, more rentals, and more lessons.

TUBULAR

Tubing is providing the other avalanche of visitors. 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.

The past few years 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 continued snowboarding and tubing expansion, there are now 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, a backcountry cabin, and even sleigh rides.

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, in the northeaster part of the state. At 3,500 feet, Sky Valley's temperatures are typically ideal for natural and manmade snow. For this season, they’ve upgraded their snowmaking, invested in new grooming equipment, added a new restaurant, expanded equipment rentals, and more.

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, Cataloochee has a new fixed grip quad this season to minimize lift line time (meaning more downhill diversions).

As the highest altitude ski area east of the Rockies, Ski Beech has been a popular choice since 1967. Nestled at the base of the slopes is an idyllic alpine village and its popular 7,000-square-foot ice skating rink. There’s a snowsports learning center and, new for this year, packages with lodging and free skiing for those seventy and over.

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, many great packages, and (perhaps most important for this season) the south’s only 280 Pisten Bully Park Winch-Cat to groom all of Sugar’s expert trails (as well as creating, carving, and refining an even better Sugar snowboard park).

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 indoor ice skating, a bungee tower, a new snowboard rental room, and lots of new rental equipment.

VIRGINIA

The Old Dominion offers lots of new wintertime possibilities. Bryce Resort (a $1 million renovation of the main building, widening of the expert slope, and new rental equipment and snow guns) and nearby Massanutten (more snowmaking and a recently remodeled lodge) continue to cater to families and multi-sport visitors, with the possibilities including skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and other winter activities. The Homestead had a multi-million revitalization of the 234-year-old National Historic Landmark, with wintertime skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, tubing, and a completely renovated spa.

Wintergreen Resort continues to expand on and off the slopes, with a variety of packages for skiers, snowboarders, and even golfers (their valley course is often open when the slopes are open). Other highlights include the upgraded and expanded Wintergarden spa, 50% more snowmaking on the Highlands trails, and award-winning children’s programs.

WEST VIRGINIA

Snowshoe Mountain is leading the way in the Mountain State, with more than $80 million in the last four years. If you want to see what southern winter resorts (with northern conditions) are all about, head to the new Snowshoe Mountain soon, with $10 million this summer leading to things like another new slopeside lodge (Highland House), new and expanded trails, more snowmaking, another batch of new rental equipment, Sunrise Backcountry Hut (a getaway cabin reached by snowmobile, hiking, or snowshoeing), and lots more

Canaan Valley Resort continues to focus on its successful role as a complete winter playland, with added amenities over the years including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, a year-round pool, tubing, an ice rink, evening activities, and children's programs. 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. In addition, Coolfont Resort in the Eastern Panhandle adds another unique West Virginia option to any tubing itinerary. After a day of tubing, guests can enjoy a host of Coolfont amenities, including varied accommodations options, dining, a spa, and much more.

Thus, on and off the slopes (and skis), southern winters are better than ever. More so than ever, this season brings much more than just skiing.

MAKE THE CALL (OR LINK)

TO THE BEST OF SOUTHERN WINTERS

Phone numbers and websites for all southern resorts covered:

GEORGIA:

Sky Valley Resort: (800) 437-2416; www.skyvalley.com

NORTH CAROLINA:

Appalachian Ski Mountain: (800) 322-2373; www.appskimtn.com

Cataloochee Ski Area: (800) 768-0285; www.cataloochee.com

Hawksnest Golf and Ski Resort: (888) 429-5763; www.hawksnest-resort.com

Ski Beech: (800) 438-2093; www.skibeech.com

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; www.bryceresort.com

The Homestead: (800) 838-1766; www.thehomestead.com

Massanutten: (800) 207 MASS; www.massresort.com

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

WEST VIRGINIA:

Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center: (800) 622-4121; www.canaanresort.com

Coolfont Resort: (800) 888-8768; www.coolfont.com

Snowshoe Mountain: (877) 441-4FUN; www.snowshoemtn.com

Timberline Four Seasons Resort: (800) SNOWING; www.timberlineresort.com

Winterplace: (800) 607-7669; www.winterplace.com