Winter Sports Enthusiasts Welcome Recent Snowfall
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1/25/2008 - It seems as if winter has truly arrived in Western New York, and although many people are probably cursing the cold air and snow, others are finding a way to enjoy it.
All three of the area's ski resorts are open for business, offering options for skiers and snowboarders alike looking for an escape from the daily routine, and a chance to hit the mountain side.
Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa in Findley Lake reports that all 27 of its slopes are open and that the season has been ''great so far.''
''Conditions are the best they've been in years,'' said Chip Day, vice president of brand management. ''In the last three days we've had over two feet of natural snow, but we're still going to stockpile as a preventative measure.''
Day said the resort had a great Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and that the rest of the week has been the same.
''People are really excited about what we've done,'' Day said, ''and what we've got coming up.''
On Saturday, the resort will host its ''Shop Showdown,'' pitting riders representing the many winter sports shops in the area against each other in a winner-take-all competition in the terrain park. Day said the event should prove challenging for the performers and entertaining for the spectators.
''The show's going to be a great time,'' he said. ''We're looking forward to hosting an epic weekend here at the Peak.''
Kristen Widger, assistant director of marketing for Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, said the facility has 12 lifts and five mountain faces open, and officials are thankful for the blast of winter the area has seen recently.
''Once that lake effect snow machine kicks up, it's just great,'' Ms. Widger said. ''We also can produce enough snow to cover more than two and a half acres with a foot of snow in an hour.''
Either way, she said, Holiday Valley is covered.
Ms. Widger described the long Martin Luther King Day weekend as a ''great success,'' and said that although many people frequented the resort over the past week, there wasn't much congestion.
''We are very luck to have the variety of terrain we do,'' Ms. Widger said. ''With people dispersed around the mountains, it keeps the lines short.''
Ms. Widger said on Saturday Jan. 26, Holiday Valley will be hosting a unique event that is the first of its kind in the area.
''Starting at 11 a.m. on Foxfire (in the main-base area) we will be hosting the Red Bull Rhythm Sections,'' she said.
She described the event as a slope-style course which is modeled after the musical notation for the AC/DC song ''Back in Black.''
''Imagine looking at the sheet of music with all the peaks and valleys,'' Ms. Widger said. ''They are building the course to reflect that.''
Cockaigne Ski Area in Cherry Creek is also up to something this weekend. Beginning on Saturday, the ski area will kick off its annual ''Beach Party.''
''It's one of our biggest parties of the year. It gets people together once they're off the hill and with their friends, and it's a lot of fun.'' said Mike Keagy, director of skiing. ''We have different contests, a lot of door prizes and we give away a pair of skis and a snowboard every year.''
Keagy also said that the recent burst of snow has been appreciated in Cherry Creek.
''It's probably the biggest range of ski-ability we've had in years,'' he said. ''You have the soft snow, the packed powder and the groomed snow, all in one trail. It's good for everybody.''
Keagy said Cockaigne has learned to turn the fact that it is a smaller resort into a strength.
''We don't have huge lift lines, so it's more personal,'' He explained. ''If you ride the lift with someone, you have time to talk to them because there's no rush to get back in line and bomb the hills. When people come here they become like family.''
Overall, he said that a lot of people have been coming to Cockaigne to get away from the daily hustle of life in 21st century America.
''I think people today with work and the stresses of the economy need some relaxation. They need to get away and not even think about it,'' he said. ''And snowboarding, skiing and cross country skiing are some ways to get out and really enjoy yourself.''
All three of the area's ski resorts are open for business, offering options for skiers and snowboarders alike looking for an escape from the daily routine, and a chance to hit the mountain side.
Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa in Findley Lake reports that all 27 of its slopes are open and that the season has been ''great so far.''
''Conditions are the best they've been in years,'' said Chip Day, vice president of brand management. ''In the last three days we've had over two feet of natural snow, but we're still going to stockpile as a preventative measure.''
Day said the resort had a great Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and that the rest of the week has been the same.
''People are really excited about what we've done,'' Day said, ''and what we've got coming up.''
On Saturday, the resort will host its ''Shop Showdown,'' pitting riders representing the many winter sports shops in the area against each other in a winner-take-all competition in the terrain park. Day said the event should prove challenging for the performers and entertaining for the spectators.
''The show's going to be a great time,'' he said. ''We're looking forward to hosting an epic weekend here at the Peak.''
Kristen Widger, assistant director of marketing for Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, said the facility has 12 lifts and five mountain faces open, and officials are thankful for the blast of winter the area has seen recently.
''Once that lake effect snow machine kicks up, it's just great,'' Ms. Widger said. ''We also can produce enough snow to cover more than two and a half acres with a foot of snow in an hour.''
Either way, she said, Holiday Valley is covered.
Ms. Widger described the long Martin Luther King Day weekend as a ''great success,'' and said that although many people frequented the resort over the past week, there wasn't much congestion.
''We are very luck to have the variety of terrain we do,'' Ms. Widger said. ''With people dispersed around the mountains, it keeps the lines short.''
Ms. Widger said on Saturday Jan. 26, Holiday Valley will be hosting a unique event that is the first of its kind in the area.
''Starting at 11 a.m. on Foxfire (in the main-base area) we will be hosting the Red Bull Rhythm Sections,'' she said.
She described the event as a slope-style course which is modeled after the musical notation for the AC/DC song ''Back in Black.''
''Imagine looking at the sheet of music with all the peaks and valleys,'' Ms. Widger said. ''They are building the course to reflect that.''
Cockaigne Ski Area in Cherry Creek is also up to something this weekend. Beginning on Saturday, the ski area will kick off its annual ''Beach Party.''
''It's one of our biggest parties of the year. It gets people together once they're off the hill and with their friends, and it's a lot of fun.'' said Mike Keagy, director of skiing. ''We have different contests, a lot of door prizes and we give away a pair of skis and a snowboard every year.''
Keagy also said that the recent burst of snow has been appreciated in Cherry Creek.
''It's probably the biggest range of ski-ability we've had in years,'' he said. ''You have the soft snow, the packed powder and the groomed snow, all in one trail. It's good for everybody.''
Keagy said Cockaigne has learned to turn the fact that it is a smaller resort into a strength.
''We don't have huge lift lines, so it's more personal,'' He explained. ''If you ride the lift with someone, you have time to talk to them because there's no rush to get back in line and bomb the hills. When people come here they become like family.''
Overall, he said that a lot of people have been coming to Cockaigne to get away from the daily hustle of life in 21st century America.
''I think people today with work and the stresses of the economy need some relaxation. They need to get away and not even think about it,'' he said. ''And snowboarding, skiing and cross country skiing are some ways to get out and really enjoy yourself.''
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