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International Snow News

(brought to you in association with Snow24 )

 

THIS WEEK:

--Killington Starts Snow Making, Plus Fresh snow in New Mexico

--New Zealand Season Gets Ever Longer Thanks to "Best Spring Conditions Ever."

--Four New Lifts For Heavenly and A Dedicated Beginner's Area

 

 

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US Big Guns Starts Snow Making, Plus Fresh Snow in New Mexico

 

As they have done for more than 40 years, Killington in Vermont's snowmakers have completed the early season test of the most extensive snowmaking system in North America. This time-honoured test is a traditional signal to consumers that the kick-off to the eastern US ski and snowboard season is just weeks away.

 

Over to the West Copper Mountain and Loveland in Colorado have both also started snowmaking.

 

At Killington temperatures dipped to the mid- to upper-20s Fahrenheit, a few degrees below freezing, during the early hours of last Friday morning, allowing snowmakers to make a ribbon of white snow on Cascade, an upper elevation trail on Killington Peak. While snowmakers did make snow last night, the resort will not yet be open for skiing and riding to the public.

 

Rich McGarry, Killington's general manager said, "We plan to offer top to bottom terrain on opening day for upper intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. We expect to have an early season mini-park as well as approximately three miles of terrain."

 

For 42 consecutive years, Killington has provided guests with the longest ski and snowboard season in eastern North America, typically opening in mid-October and closing late May or June.

 

Killington traditionally sets the pace for early season skiing and riding in the East of the US. By late November, Killington typically has two to three times more open terrain than the nearest competitor (typically an average of 80 trails and 13 lifts), and terrain is available for all abilities.

 

Killington opened Oct. 25th last season. Its earliest ever opening was Oct. 3, 1994. To monitor opening day status at Killington, skiers and snowboarders can visit killington.com, where they will find an "Opening Day Watch" page with the latest information.

 

Meanwhile Taos ski area in New Mexico has received several inches of fresh natural stuff. At least four inches has fallen on all the major peaks including Wheeler, Lake Fork, Kachina (Taos Ski Valley), Gold Hill, Fraiser and others. You can see snow from the Town of Taos as well. The aspens are beautiful right now. Snow level was about 10,500 feet.

 

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New Zealand Season Gets Ever Longer Thanks to "Best Spring Conditions Ever."

 

"These would have to be the best winter conditions that Coronet Peak has ever seen in spring." According to Queenstown's Coronet peak ski area manager Andy Chapman, who hjas decided to keep his resort open a further week on top of an already extended season.

 

Originally scheduled to close on October 5th, closing date was put back a week and now Coronet Peak will close on October 19.

 

"Conditions right now are just awesome, fantastic," said Mr Chapman. "These are probably the most memorable spring conditions Coronet Peak has ever seen, both in snow cover and the quality of the snow.

 

Coronet Peak has been receiving regular top ups of snow in the last couple of weeks, including a recent 15cm (six inches) on Sunday October 5th. It currently has a 55-75cm (22 - 30 inch) base on all main trails.

 

Meanwhile Canterbury's Mt Hutt ski area has similarly awesome conditions with a 1.8 metre base and is also on schedule to close on October 19, the same day as Coronet Peak.

 

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Four New Lifts For Heavenly and A Dedicated Beginner's Area

 

Over the summer Heavenly's lift maintenance crews have been busy installing four new lifts, including a new high-speed quad to replace Canyon and Ridge chairs. The new express lift will cut the ride-time nearly in half from what it was on the old Canyon Chair. The best part is that the new speeding bullet will provide high-speed access to the resort's advanced terrain park on the upper California side of the mountain.

 

Heavenly has secured all necessary permits for their new 15-acre beginner's park at the top of the gondola. It all starts at the new. The new state-of-the-art Ski School Sales and Adventure Center in the heart of the Heavenly Village provides one-stop shopping for adults and children purchasing ski school lessons with its fully computerized registration system and full line-up of ski and snowboard rental gear. The new sales center will offer adult and children's clinics for groups and privates.

 

Then beginners will be whisked from village to mountain via the new Gondola. Once at the top, guests will be escorted to the private learning area located in a secluded meadow near the gondola. The 15-acre parcel offers ideal learning terrain and three new lifts including a comfortable, slow-moving fixed-grip quad, a mitey mite and a magic carpet. The area is dedicated solely to beginners and will provide a true ski experience without other intimidating, more advanced riders whizzing by.

 

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The above news items were brought to you in association with Snow24. Visit their website at www.snow24.com .

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