VT Ski + Ride, Jan. 2016

FREE WINTER 2016

Vermont’s Mountain Sports & Life

VERMONT’S BEST LOCAL CUISINE

YOUR WINTER FUN LIST DREAM SKI HOMES & POSH HOSTELS

100 GREAT COMPS, PARTIES & CLINICS

10

UNDER 25:

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VERMONT’S NEXT SUPERSTARS

BILL MCKIBBEN’S FORECAST

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CONTENTS / 01.03 FEATURES 10 UNDER 25: THE NEXT... ...FREESKIERS, p. 24

Seven young freeskiers, a converted bus and a powder safari are the ingredients for 21-year-old Brooks Curran’s next movie.

...NORDIC RACER, p. 32

With her first World Cup gold, Vermont’s Sophie Caldwell puts the Nordic racing world on notice.

...SKI MEISTER, p. 34

She jumps. She shoots. She races. Meet Tara Geraghty-Moats, the 25-year-old from Fairlee you will never, ever keep up with.

3 DREAM SKI HOMES, p. 38

A peek inside three amazing ski homes and the stories of the people behind them.

100 PARTIES, COMPS, CLINICS & MORE, p. 56 Our calendar of the best events around Vermont.

Tara Geraghty-Moats takes a break from her World Cup travels to revisit the place she learned to jump.

Photo by Oliver Parini

FIRST TRACKS

COLUMNS

TRENDS | GOING UPHILL, FAST, p. 4 Free your heel and join in skiing’s fastest growing trend: going uphill.

COMPETITION | TY WALKER GOES BIG, p. 47 The Stowe 18-year-old snowboard phenom prepares for Fenway’s Big Air.

WINTER FUN LIST | 6 WAYS TO PLAY LIKE A KID, p. 9 Fat biking, dog sledding, indoor surfing—these sports are not just for kids.

COACH | SO YOU’RE AN ACTION SPORTS PARENT? p. 49 Action sports and Olympic coach Bud Keene on the best ways to help your kids.

LODGES | VERMONT’S POSH HOSTELS, p. 11 Vermont’s hip hostels have great food, comfy beds and rocking bar scenes.

COACH | TIPS FOR SKIING TREES, p. 51 Ski film star John Egan gives his advice on staying safe and skiing fast in the woods.

APRES-SKI | GOING WHOLE-HOG LOCAL, p. 15 Many resort chefs are using ingredients grown or made right down the road.

RETRO VT | THE FIRST SKI RESORT TURNS 80, p. 53 Greg Morrill tells the great story of how Suicide Six came to be.

SKI TOWN | WHAT’S NEW IN THE DEERFIELD VALLEY, p. 19 Here’s why everyone is buzzing about southern Vermont’s hidden gem.

CHAIRLIFT Q/A | BILL MCKIBBEN’S FORECAST, p. 64 The climate change activist, Nordic skier and author on what’s in store for winter. vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 1

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VERMONT’S NEXT SUPERSTARS

PUBLISHER, Angelo Lynn Angelo@vtskiandride.com EDITORIAL Editor/Co-Publisher, Lisa Lynn Editor@vtskiandride.com Creative Director, David Pollard Assistant Editor, Evan Johnson Evan@vtskiandride.com IT Director, Eric Whittaker Contributing Editors: Biddle Duke, Bud Keene, Brian Mohr, Greg Morrill

O

k, I’m in awe of just about everyone in this issue.

Who wouldn’t want to trade places with Brooks Curran? At 21, he’s already a photographer and filmmaker to watch, if you judge from his cover shot and photo essay of “The Next Generation Freeskiers” (page 24) showing Noah Ranallo, Tim McClellan, Marcus Wadlington, Dylan Dipentima and Tami Razinger. And they are all under 23.

When I met World Cup ski jumper Tara Geraghty-Moats, a 22-year-old from Fairlee, Vt., I couldn’t help but wish I’d had the gumption that she had at age 9 to launch off a ski jump.

Watching Nordic racer Sophie Caldwell, 25, from Peru, Vt., win her first World Cup race in Januarywas equally inspring. And I can only imagine how much fun Stowe snowboard phenom Ty Walker, 18, will have as she takes center stage this February at Boston’s Big Air competition in Fenway Park.

Seeing what these Vermonters and others have accomplished makes you realize there is so much opportunity in this state to take on winter in many, many ways.

Yes, there’s alpine, snowboard or cross-country skiing. But there’s also dog sledding, fat biking, extreme sledding and even indoor surfing. With winter seeming all too short, we decided it was time for a “Winter Fun List” and to start ticking off what we can do.

My New Years resolution? Make the most of ever bit of winter—and live by climate change activist Bill McKibben’s mantra (as he says in our Chairlift Q/A on page 64): “Never take a snowstorm for granted.” —Lisa Lynn, Editor

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WATCH Check out some of the best footage of East Coast skiers and riders, including video footage from The Notion crew, Ty Walker, Sophie Caldwell and more.

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Photos courtesy Brooks Curran, David Pollard, Oliver Parini

VT SKI+RIDE is published four times a year by Addison Press Inc., 58 Maple Street, Middlebury, VT 05753 VT SKI+RIDE print subscriptions are available for $24 (U.S.) or $35 (Canada) per year. Digital subcriptions are free.

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At 21, Brooks Curran, the photographer behind “The Next Generation Freeskiers” and our cover, already has a number of film credits but this is his first major magazine article. Watch for the web video, “ The Notion,” the story of his bus trip west in search of powder, to be released by Ski the East.

Creative director David Pollard is the genius responsible for the design of Vermont Ski + Ride.

When he’s not snowboarding or working on this magazine, Pollard is at his day job as art director for Yachts International or painting Vermont landscapes.

On the last day of 2015, photographer Oliver Parini got lucky: it finally snowed during his shoot with ski jumper Tara Geraghty-Moats, (“The Next Generation Ski Meister”).

Parini, an avid snowboarder, also photographs for The New York Times,The Boston Globe, Wine Spetcator and other publications.

ON THE COVER: Pilot Noah Ranallo, 20, airs it out on a bluebird day at Stowe last November. Photo by Brooks Curran.

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 1

HEADED UPHILL, FAST

The next big thing in skiing and riding this winter isn’t the ride down— it’s going up.

BY EVAN JOHNSON

I

t’s dawn on a powder day and you have the entire mountain to yourself.

The journey started in darkness. You booted up in the parking lot, stretched climbing skins on your skis and set off uphill by headlamp. As your heels lifted with each step, your heart rate quickened and your legs assumed a slow, steady burn. With every rhythmic glide, the surrounding hillsides brightened from pink to dazzling white as the sun emerged over the ridge. Now, the trails lie blanketed in fresh, untouched snow. There isn’t another soul to be seen and work doesn’t start for another two hours.

Welcome to skinning.

This winter, when the chairlifts are stopped and the parking lots are empty, groups of skiers and split-boarders will be working their way towards the summit for dawn patrol turns before work or to get the very first tracks after the latest storm.

Over the past few years, uphill and backcountry skiing have seen dramatic growth, with skins

4 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

FIRSTTRACKS

Thursday mornings are dawn patrol days at Bolton Valley. Skin up with buddies for fresh tracks.

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 5

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Night skinning series are held at Stowe, Bolton Valley and several other resorts.

of Skier-Ownership

In an era when the ski industry is becoming increasingly consolidated and homogenized, America’s only skier-owned mountain bucks the trend by remaining independent and preserving a brand of skiing that exists nowhere else. The Mad River Glen Cooperative was started in 1996 and in the Co-op’s first two decades overcame many big challenges. The mortgage was paid off; the Co-op has proven its ability to manage the ski area; and nearly $5 million was invested in capital projects, including the historic restoration of the iconic Single Chair. Many skiers have commented that the ski area is in the best shape it has been in years, but our work is far from over.

Becoming an owner truly makes a difference in the effort to ensure the preservation and protection of Mad River Glen’s unique ski experience. All of us who have already committed ourselves to this goal invite you to join us in our mission.

Sincerely, The Skier-owners of Mad River Glen

www.madriverglen.com/coop

6 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

NO TICKET REQUIRED? It used to be that ski patrollers would wag a finger at those who chose not to use the lifts. Skiers and split boarders would duck into the woods and sneak their way up. No longer. At Sugarbush, if you already have a season pass, for the cost of signing a waiver you receive an uphill travel pass valid for the season. At Killington and Pico, if you are not a pass holder, there is a $20 charge. So as to not conflict with snowmaking and grooming, travelers are expected to follow designated uphill and downhill routes before or after regular mountain operations. Bolton Valley’s uphill policy, released last year, designates routes up two of its three peaks, routes that also access 100K of Nordic trails and backcountry terrain.

At Magic Mountain, every skier who climbs the 1,700 vertical feet to the summit is rewarded with a token valid for one ride up the Red Chair.

At Mad River Glen, skiers can earn their turns when the area is closed. At Smugglers’ Notch, uphill travel is allowed between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Mount Snow permits uphill travel from dawn to dusk for skiers and split boarders who purchase an uphill travel ticket (free for passholders). Some resorts still discourage all uphill travel so it’s best to check the policies before heading up.

JOINING THE CROWD If you’ve just had your first pair of AT bindings mounted or you’re a veteran, there’s a host of options for learning new skills, competing with friends or simply finding more people who enjoy the uphill journey as much as you do.

On four Saturdays in February, Sugarbush offers an introduction to alpine touring skills and equipment on black diamond terrain as part of its Essen-

Photos courtesy Greg Maino/Catamount Trail Association

Celebrating 20 Years

and alpine touring bindings flying off shelves and more people looking to explore off piste. Ski resorts have responded with uphill travel policies that allow ambitious skiers and riders to get the goods early, while not interfering with snowmaking and grooming operations.

And this winter, even more new events, races and clinics are bringing backcountry skills to the front side ski experience.

tials lesson series. The Catamount Trail Association holds a series of clinics at Bolton Valley as well as regular dawn patrol skins every second Thursday until April. If you can’t make Thursday mornings, sign up for one of the Wednesday Night Uphill Series, a friendly race series on two alternating routes up Vista Peak. Instead of a simple up-and-down race, the nighttime series requires skiers to transition from “hike” to “ski” mode as quickly as possible.

Stowe is also repeating its successful Saturday Night Lights program. Organized in cooperation with the CTA, Stowe opens the lights on the Gondolier trails on three Saturdays: Jan. 23, Feb. 6, and Feb. 27. The series culminates on March 26 with the Topsy Turvy Uphill Race, a nighttime race up the Gondolier trail under the lights.

RACE TO THE TOP With more people going uphill, the “rando” (randonnée) and “skimo” (ski mountaineering) competitions have grown fierce with many races combining skinning, downhill skiing and sometimes simply running or snowshoeing.

If you want to compete against the best in the East (or just watch), Magic Mountain hosts the one eastern event in the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Nationals (a weekend series with criteriums, vertical and sprint races) March 14.

One of the oldest and most challenging of ski mountaineering races in Vermont, the Mad River Valley Mountaineering Race has, historically, sent skiers up Mad River Glen and then across the Long Trail to Sugarbush’s Mt. Ellen. This year, Sugarbush is hosting the race on March 20 and running it from Lincoln Peak through the Slide Brook Wilderness to Mt. Ellen and down.

If that’s not tough enough for you, that same weekend Bolton Valley partners with outdoor adventure company Native Endurance to host New England’s first 24-hour backcountry race, March 19-20. Teams will attempt to log the most vertical feet possible as they test their legs and lungs on a course that is split: 12 hours in the backcountry and 12 hours on alpine ski trails.

Jonathan Schefftz, who has began organizing events for the New England Rando Race Series since 2009, has seen participation in his events rise, with races attracting not only die-hard skiers but also endurance athletes like marathoners and triathletes.

“Some people stop skiing because they spend all their time standing in lift lines or skiing crowded trails,” he says. “This is something different. It’s aerobic and athletic that can really get people interested.”

At the Mount Greylock rando race, participation increased by 53-percent last season with more than 100 skiers showing up to register the day of the race. This year, the NE Rando Series includes new races at Q Burke (Jan. 30) and Pico (March 27).

Schefftz says the momentum behind the uphill travel movement is just getting started. “Right now, the stars are aligned,” he says. “You have the gear manufacturers producing the gear, the resorts are on board with their uphill policies and the competitive aspect has gone from complete obscurity to strong. I think it’s only going to get bigger.”

For a list of uphill events, clinics and competitions see Calendar, pages 56-60. Head to vtskiandride.com for videos, an extended event calendar and lists of some of Vermont’s best new backcountry terrain. n

vtskiandride.com Holiday 2015 7

00 September 2015 vtskiandride.com

◆ The List THE WINTER FUN LIST

Here are 6 ways to break out of your usual winter routine and play with your inner kid (or your children).

Y

ou don’t have to be a kid to act like one. When your ski legs are shot (or if you just want to try something new), consider one of these six adventures. Details and links to each company’s website are at vtskiandride.com

For something different spend a day on a fat bike, surf, slip and slide at Jay Peak’s indoor water park or fly along trails behind a

1.SLED OR SKIJOR WITH THE DOGS In the last few years, the number of dog sledding and skijoring (you’re on cross country skis and two dogs pull you) operations has grown around the state. Guides drive the sled (or carts, if there is no snow), powered by powerful, playful and peoplefriendly huskies, while you curl up under blankets and watch the white trails whiz by. In Southern Vermont, look up the HuskyWorks Mushing Co. in Wardsboro or Burning Bush Adventures in Bennington. October Siberian Sled Dog Adventures operate out of Waterbury, and farther north, Peace Pup and Eden Dogsledding also host sled tours. Prices start at about $275 for two.

team of Huskies.

2. RIDE A FAT BIKE Remember riding a Big Wheels as a kid? That’s what riding a fat bike feels like.You can literally cruise over any terrain and the fat knobby tires grip like Spiderman on snow. There’s a place to rent bikes in most mountain towns. Near Killington and Woodstock, Fatbike Vermont has rentals from two hours ($30) to full-days ($65). You can also rent at the Catmount Outdoor Family Center in Williston, the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center in Grafton and more. In Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, look to the Darling Hill headquarters of Kingdom Trails—just five minutes away from Q Burke—for trail passes ($15) and rentals from East Burke Sports, the Village Sports Shop and the Village Bike Shop.

3. GO EXTREME SLEDDING Vermont’s parks, hills and closed roads make for some of the best sledding around. Grab a sled and head for downhill hotspots like the closed roads at Mount Philo in Charlotte or the Lincoln Gap Road between Lincoln and Warren. Both are steep, downhill treats that challenge cyclists in the summer and become sledding hotspots when the snow falls. For a guided high-speed experience, Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield hosts a thrilling, four-hour tour on a Vermont-designed Mad River Rocket sled ($95 for two people). Or if you’re in the Stowe area, sign up with Umiak to

ride down the closed road in Smugglers’ Notch on a Hammerhead Sled—also designed in Vermont ($79 per person).

4. FLY THROUGH THE TREES Experience Vermont from a new perspective – flying 40 feet above the ground. At Smugglers’ Notch, the ArborTrek Canopy Adventure runs year-round, sending visitors zipping through the snow-covered treetops.You’ll be outfitted with harnesses, helmet and heavy work gloves and receive instruction from a guide before flying down eight ziplines, crossing two suspension bridges and rappelling from trees. ($99.95 per person).

5. HORSE AROUND This winter, take an easy-going trek through the Mad River Valley on the back of an Icelandic Horse. The Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm in Waitsfield offers horseback treks through pastures and on dirt roads throughout the year.With a guide leading the way, you’ll learn about the area as well as the characteristics and history of these work animals. Rides range from one hour ($60) to a full day ($220, includes lunch).

6. SURF INDOORS Yes, you read correctly; you can surf in Vermont. Jay Peak’s Pump House Water Park has a standing wave and surfboards, a free-fall called La Chute and an indoor river. If the mountain’s got you beat, spend an afternoon or an entire day floating the river around the East’s largest indoor waterpark, zip down some scary-fun slides, or try the surf simulator. Or just head to the balcony bar and watch the kids ($39 for an adult day pass). ■

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 9

PHOTO SUSAN TEARE

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Lodges

VERMONT’S POSHTELS

With live music, game nights, gourmet meals and dorm rooms that start at $35 a night, these posh hostels are hard to beat.

Photos courtesy Homestyle Hostel

I Set in a classic Victorian in Ludlow, Homestyle Hostel has become as popular for craft cocktails, dinners and game nights as it has for its dorm rooms.

t’s a Tuesday night at the Homestyle Hostel in Ludlow, Vt. A few guests, back from a day on the slopes, are cooking up their dinner in the chef’s kitchen while kids are playing Twister in the reception area.

Behind the bar, owner/snowboarder/bartender Justin Hyjek stirs up a Good Ol’ Boy with hot brown butter bourbon, habanero liqueur, simple syrup and pear nectar—all made in-house. It’s one of the many concoctions that are gaining Hyjek a local following and recently earned him the title “the best bartender I’ve ever met,” by a reviewer on TripAdvisor.

It’s been a year since Vermont natives Hyjek, 28, and his partner, Eliza Green, 26, returned from traveling around South America and opened the 24-bed hostel in a 200-year-old renovatedVictorian in the heart of Ludlow. Already, the Homestyle Hostel (www.homestylehostel.com) is getting rave reviews for everything from its memoryfoam mattresses, to the homemade granola breakfasts, to the Thursday-through-Sunday dinners (open to the public as well).

While dinner is “cook your own” on Monday and Tuesday (and the kitchen is open to guests when the chef is not busy), the rest of the week something local is served up every night. In

January, Alyssa Prouty, the former sous-chef at The Downtown Grocery, joined the hostel as chef. The limited dinner menu changes often and includes special prix-fixe pop up dinners (about $40). Locals try not to miss Wednesday night: that’s sushi (or tapas) and game night, MC’ed by tuxedo-clad funmeister Steve Kelly (his day job is at the Surf the Earth shop in Killing-

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 11

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Fresh flowers and free breakfast (including homemade granola) greet guests in the morning at Homestyle Hostel.

ton), who might give away local brews as prizes.

After dinner and drinks, you can roll upstairs to crash in a clean, dorm-style bunkroom ($35 a night) that might sleep two to six or upgrade to a private queen (starting at $100) or book a family suite ($200)—all with shared bath.

“It’s not the college crowd we first expected,” says Green, who got the idea to open a hostel after the couple traveled around South America, staying and working in hostels. “The parking lot might have a beater car, but also the latest Mercedes.”

Homestyle is just one of several of Vermont’s

hip hostels, or “poshtels” as the World Travel Market has dubbed the trend.

If not the first, certainly one of the most notable of Vermont poshtels is Hotel Tevere, started by Giles Smith and Sarah Wright in 2009 in an 1860s farmhouse. “We’d traveled all over Italy and we love to cook and wanted to bring the European hostel idea here to Vermont,” says Wright, a former architect, as she balances her toddler on her hip.

Located just south of Sugarbush on Route 100, Hostel Tevere (www.hosteltevere.com) has a fresh contemporary flair with walls painted

WIN A HOMESTYLE HOSTEL/OKEMO WEEKEND To help celebrate Okemo’s 60th birthday Vermont Ski + Ride, the Homestyle Hostel and Okemo Mountain Resort are giving away four lift tickets to Okemo and an overnight at Homestyle Hostel’s private queen bedroom.

To enter, visit vtskiandride.com/contests/.

with bold colors and bright artwork. This season, the hostel has cut back its delicious dinners (think mushroom and leak lasagna or chicken and root vegetable pot pie) to just guests on Friday and Saturday nights (with Hostel Burgers every Thursday). But the hostel bar still rocks for the public on weekends with local craft brews on tap, mean dart games, a well-stocked bar and live music such as jazz/rock band Talking Doctor and local favorite, The Grift.

The dorm rooms are decked out with plump duvets and crisp sheets and bright, contemporary colors. Fresh flowers decorate the tables and produce from the garden shows up in the menu all season long.

“We have entire families that book our dorm rooms,” says Wright. Rates start at $40 a night for adults on weekends for a dorm room.

Of course, there are also a number of other classic hostels and old-style lodges such as Killington’s Turn of the River Lodge, the Warren Falls Inn and Hostel (with a communal kitchen) and the dorm rooms at The Round Hearth at Stowe.These all take large groups and offer some of the best values in the state when it comes to a bed and breakfast.

For a list of these and other hostels in Vermont, visit vtskiandride.com/hostels/. ■

Photo top courtesy Homestyle Hostel. Bottom, Jesse Lenz/Hostel Tevere.

Down the road from Sugarbush, Hostel Tevere’s hip rooms, fun dinners and live music have made Sarah Wright and Giles Smith some of the most popular hosts in town.

12 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

OTHERS ARE BEACHES

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Apres Ski

GOING WHOLE-HOG LOCAL AroundVermont, ski resort chefs are taking farm-to-table dining to a new level.

Photos courtesy Okemo Mountain Resort

S

Okemo Resort executive chef Scot Emerson (top right) focuses on using local ingredients—from whole sides of meats to his baked Lillé (top left.)

cot Emerson recently spent $8,000 on one steer. It’s not just any steer, but one of a small herd of Vermont Wagyu, carefully bred from a strain of Japanese beef cattle, grass-fed and raised on Springfield, Vt.’s 350acre Spring Rock Farm.

“It’s incredible meat,” Emerson says. “I now have 14 tenderloins, each about 3 inches thick, that I’m probably going to put on the menu for about $140 a plate at Coleman Brook Tavern.”

Really? $140 for a steak? “Yup,” says Emerson, “and I think they’ll go fast.” And under his new “whole animal” program, Emerson plans to use nearly every piece of the animals he buys across the resort’s 11 restaurants.

Oxtail might be used in broth for a delicate noodle soup, while ground beef from the steer might show up in burgers.

“Our goal is to let skiers have a wide variety of dining experiences across the resort,” he says.

As executive chef at Okemo Mountain Resort and a former chef at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virgina, Emerson knows where to find the best ingredients and what customers want. And he tries to keep it local and sustainable.

Emerson sources his lamb and honey from Smokeshire Hilltop Farm in Chester. The farm not only raises lamb, berries, turkeys and honey, but does so on a minimal footprint.

Coleman Brook Tavern’s Baked Lillé Scot Emerson’s recipe, a variation on baked brie is an easy and elegant local appetizer. Lillé is a thicker form of Brie produced locally in small batches by Vermont Farmstead Cheese. The sauce uses local Vermont ingredients and products.

INGREDIENTS: 7 oz. Vermont Farmstead Lillé cheese 2 oz. Vermont-made Fox Meadow Maple Pumpkin Butter 3 sheets of phyllo dough 2 oz. Cabot butter 2 graham crackers, crumbled SAUCE INGREDIENTS: 1 lb. of butternut squash 2 cups apple cider 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon cardamom

1. Preheat oven at 400 degrees and melt butter.

2. For the sauce, dice the butternut squash and put it in a pan with the cider, cinnamon and cardamom. Let simmer until squash is soft enough to puree in a blender. Set aside.

3. Lay one sheet of phyllo on a cutting board and brush with melted butter. Add a second sheet and brush with butter. Sprinkle with crumbled graham crackers. Add a third sheet of phyllo and brush with butter.

4. Cut Lillé in half, horizontally. Place in the middle of the phyllo with the cut side up and top with Fox Meadow Maple Pumpkin butter. Close the phyllo around the cheese.

5. Place in a baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. 6. Drizzle sauce on a serving plate, place the baked Lillé in the center. Garnish with arugula and serve with toast or crackers.

A video of how to make this dish is at vtskiandride.com

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 15

At the Trapp Family Lodge (above), Strafford and a few other XC ski centers, skiing and gathering maple sap for sugaring happen on the same trails.

Energy comes from solar, wind, biodiesel and wood. Draft horses are used for logging and plowing.

“I was an early member of the Vermont Fresh Network,” Emerson says of the non-profit that has been linking local chefs with farms for more than 20 years. “I really believe in the small farms we have in Vermont and what they can produce.”

The Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) not only links farms with chefs, but certifies restaurants that source a certain percentage of their food locally with the VFN logo. “A lot of people say they buy local,” says VFN executive director Meghan Sheridan. “We actually go out and audit restaurants and make sure they are practicing what we preach.”

Okemo’s Coleman Brook Tavern is one of an elite handful that have earned VFN’s “Gold Barn” status for purchasing more than 30 percent of its food from Vermont producers.

In the past year, Vermont Fresh Network chefs invested $25 million in local food. Sugarbush’s executive chef Gerry Noonan is one of them. This past fall Noonan put away more than 2,000 pounds of produce grown at the Mad River Valley’s Gaylord Farm, which raises certified organic vegetables and natural meats, to use at Sugarbush’s The Timbers and Allyn’s Lodge. “Last year, we had enough tomatoes to make local tomato soup all year and served it with a grilled cheese sandwich made with Cabot’s Legacy collection Alpine Cheddar.” Noonan will also get a Misty Knoll chicken from Addison County or a side of beef raised in Shelburne to roast

16 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

over the open fire at the special on-mountain dinners he puts on at Allyn’s Lodge. He uses Nitty Gritty Grain from Addison County for his woodfired pizzas.

Stowe’s mountaintop restaurant, the Cliff House, is also a Vermont Fresh Network member and has made a practice of hosting special farmto-table dinners through the season. While the restaurant at the top of the gondola serves locally-sourced dishes, such as grass-fed Vermont burger and cider-brined pork chops for lunch, its special farm-to-table dinners are worth signing up for months in advance and often pair local fare with local ciders, beers or wines.

“It’s obviously easier for smaller and specialty restaurants to buy and serve local food,” says VFN’s Sheridan, noting that at the large ski resorts, it’s usually just a few of the restaurants, not all of them, that have VFN status.

At cross-country resorts, though, the eateries are smaller and more intimate. VFN member Trapp Family Lodge, for instance, not only buys much of its food locally, it also raises it. Sheep and cattle help keep the grasses on the cross-country trails cut short in the summer and become part of the menu in the fall and winter. Trapp’s gardens supply berries and vegetables and the sugarhouse and new on-site brewery provide Vermont’s two best-known elixirs: maple syrup and craft beer.

At the Strafford Nordic Center, the base lodge and trail head are at Rockbottom Farm, which also happen to be headquarters for the Strafford Organic Creamery—makers of exceptional ice cream and other dairy products. Montpelier’s Morse Farm is not only a sweet place to cross-country ski, it’s an even sweeter place in the spring when the sugarhouse is running. Other resorts that are VFN members include Red Clover Inn, Blueberry Hill, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, the Mountain Top Inn and The Woodstock Inn. “Increasingly,” says Emerson, “all mountains are offering great skiing. Skiers are going to choose where they go based on who has good food. And Vermont is someplace they will find it. ” —Lisa Lynn To find a Vermont Fresh Network member restaurant, look for the VFN logo (at left) or visit www.vermontfresh.net

Photo courtesy Trapp Family Lodge

u

VSAC

Vermont students and families have access to low-cost education financing that others don’t have.

Take advantage of the rates and service of the state’s nonprofit Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC).

VSAC’s Vermont Advantage student loan for the 2015-2016 academic year offers: • a fixed interest rate as low as 5.50% APR • your choice of three repayment options • no or low origination fee, based on the cosigner’s credit rating • no penalty for prepayment • local Vermont service

Take advantage of your Vermont connection.

Any Vermont student can apply.

• Vermont residents attending college in the U.S. or abroad • Out-of-state students attending college in Vermont

To learn more and apply online: www.vsac.org/VTconnection

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 17

SAVE THEIR SNOW! (and some money)

GO SOLAR TODAY Protect skiing for our children and grandchildren. Visit our website to learn how to reduce your carbon footprint in your home or ski home. Join one of our community solar parks. Our land, your solar.

Sad, but True

ACT NOW for $6,750 in first-year savings • • • • •

5% stable, tax-free, inflation protected return possible Second homes are eligible for 30% federal solar tax credit Green Mountain Power is expected to reach solar “cap” in early 2016 Help Vermont lead the way towards clean energy with community solar parks Lock in Vermont’s solar incentive, expiring in 2016

1961–1990 2010–2039

2010–2039

2040–2069

2040–2069 2070–2090

2070–2090 Higher-Emissions Scenario Lower-Emissions Scenario

Vermont’s climate is moving south at an alarming rate.

Tomorrow’s ski seasons depend upon today’s sustainability actions.

Vermont is not alone; the Sierra had the lowest snowfall in 500 years (confirmed from tree ring analysis) in 2014-2015.

www.solaflect.com • (802)649-3700 10 Holiday 2015 vtskiandride.com

Participating in this project involves risk of loss that an investor should be prepared to bear. Please contact info@solaflect.com for the disclosure documents containing a full description of such risk.

◆ WHAT’S NEW IN THE

DEERFIELD VALLEY? ANSWER? PLENTY! WITH NEW RESTAURANTS, ONE OF THE SWANKIEST PRIVATE CLUBS IN SKI COUNTRY AND REVAMPED RESORTS, THE DEERFIELD VALLEY IS MAKING A COMEBACK.

BY EVAN JOHNSON Mount Snow lives up to its name with powderpacked cruisers. The resort’s Carinthia terrain park has also become a breeding ground for some of the best freeski-

Photo courtesy of Mount Snow

ers in the East.

W

hen people ask where I’m from, I frequently say southern Vermont. But to be more specific, I grew up in the Deerfield Valley, and when it comes to a classic Vermont skiing experience, it still one of my favorite places.

Set between the Connecticut River and the southern-most range of the Green Mountain National Forest, the Deerfield Valley is a shallow trough that stretches from the southern limit ofVermont’s Route 100 north toWilmington,West Dover andWardsboro. For years, the valley has been a starting point for skiers heading to Mount Snow or Haystack. It’s also home recently become home to one of the swankiest new private clubs in ski country. And it has a few of my favorite backcountry stashes. But more on that later.

While in many Vermont towns, things never change, the Deerfield Valley has seen some dramatic growth in the past few years. After the 2011 Tropical Storm Irene brought massive devastation, the valley has made a rebound. Here’s our local’s guide of what’s new and not-to-miss.

REVAMPED RESORTS Rising 3,586 feet, Mount Snow,Vermont’s southern-most ski area, was where I learned to ski. My father worked in the marketing department and after I mastered my driveway ski trail, I made my first turns on the mountain’s green circle trails.

A lot has changed since then, especially in the past two years. For one, Mount Snow now has one of the most expansive snowmaking systems in the country, not to mention New England’s only all-park mountain face, Carinthia. Olympic medalists, including snowboarder Kelly Clark and skier Devin Logan made their names here. Today, Carinthia’s park features giant gas tanks, suspended wrecking balls, staircases and a host of other imaginative features inspired by the Vermont landscape (think sap buckets, barns and fences). No wonder Transworld Snowboarding magazine readers recently named it the best park in the East.

For a very different experience and if you want a mountain all to yourself and your closest (wealthy) friends, the Hermitage Club, one of Vermont’s few private ski clubs, is the place for you. Located on neighboring 3,200-foot Haystack Mountain, the club offers 194 skiable acres and 45 trails, plus an impressive 80,000 square-foot post-and-beam clubhouse with restaurants, locker rooms, spa, retail shops and a recreation center for kids and teens – all members only. In addition to the mountain, the club has also purchased the Deerfield

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 19

u Cask & Kiln Kitchen (left) serves amuse bouches and nationally-acclaimed chef Terrance Brennan is consulting at the Hermitage Club’s Inn at Sawmill Farm, below.

Valley Airport. Starting in 2016, the club has partnered with Tradewind Aviation to provide shuttle service for members and guests between the Deerfield Valley and the Westchester County Airport for $321.13 each way.

All of this can be yours for the private ski club price tag that comes with it.

Initiation fee is $75,000 and is increasing to $85,000 after Feb. 15.

A little farther north, Stratton recently made elegant renovations to its historic base lodge and the Grizzly Bear Pub this winter. The resort also offers weekend bus service, new this season, from Manhattan via the Hampton Jitney.

SECRET TRAILS & BACKCOUNTRY STASHES For a morning showshoe or a headlamp-lit kick and glide, Wilmington and Dover have a number of connected trails. My favorite snowshoe trail is behind the Chimney Hill development just off of Route 9 in Wilmington. The trail leaves Upper Dam Road for a moderate 2.4-mile hike to the summit of Haystack Mountain, gaining some 1,200 feet and culminating with views across the Deerfield Valley to Mount Snow to the north and the Harriman Reservoir to the south.

The area also has plenty of Nordic skiing, thanks to the classic and skate trails at Timber Creek, across the road from Mount Snow’s north entrance. For a guided experience, Zoar Adventure Center, located in downtown Wilmington, offers a six-mile out-and-back snowshoe tour that follows a branch of the Deerfield River past the Searsburg Dam, as well as a cross country ski trip on the Hoot, Toot & Whistle Trail to the Harriman Reservoir.

For some sweet backcountry turns, head east on Route 9 to Hogback Mountain in neighboring Marlboro. This tiny ski area closed in the 1980s but group of locals has begun to reclaim some of the 14 original trails for backcountry skiing.

Meaning when the snow gets deep, you’ll be able to find some powder within hiking distance of your car.

(REALLY) FINE DINING For breakfast, the locals’ choice is Dots, right in the middle of Wilmington.

Since 1980, every Vermont governor has posed for a photo-op there and Gourmet magazine once described the pancakes as “a national treasure.” My father had breakfast there the day I was born and got his meal for free.

In the past couple of years, the Deerfield Valley has become one of the culinary hotspots in the state, with several new restaurants opening this year.

In August, Mangia e Beve opened in Wilmington with Italian fare including homemade breads, pasta and gelato. In May, Cask & Kiln Kitchen set up in the restored Parmalee & Howe Building at the intersection of Route 9 and Route

20 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

100, serving dishes-to-share downstairs like Maine mussels in beer butter. The upstairs area features a more relaxed lounge and bar area, serving winter squash pappardelle or venison stew. Another newcomer, the Village Roost specializes in non-GMO foods and serves up soups, sandwiches and burgers and doubles as a retail market.

The Hermitage Club’s latest contribution to the Valley dining experience was unveiled in December: Piacenza at the Inn at Sawmill Farm features seasonal Italian-inspired dishes designed by culinary consultant and Michelinstarred chef Terrance Brennan. And you don’t have to be a Hermitage member to get a table.

Located within walking distance from downtown Wilmington, Pizzapalooza serves hand-tossed pizza with local ingredients and more than 14 rotating taps pouring Vermont beers including Hermit Thrush from Brattleboro and brews from Bennington’s Madison Brewing Co. In June, the owners plan to open the Beer Naked Brewery, which will brew small batches for pouring right next door.

Up Route 100 in Dover, the Dover Forge offers fresh salads and house-smoked meats in a comfortable space. If you’re waiting for a table or not quite ready for the night to end, head next door to One More Time, a low-key spot for a game of pool and a pint.

CLASSIC LODGES The Valley’s lodging options range from refined bed and breakfasts to comfortable inns. In addition to a critically acclaimed restaurant, the Hermitage Inn offers 15 individually-decorated rooms ($229 - $492) with access to the nearby Hermitage Club’s alpine and Nordic trails, snowshoeing and horse-drawn sleigh rides (no need to be a club member to stay at this inn).

Wilmington’s Old Red Mill Inn, which dates to 1828 when the building served as a sawmill, has rooms for $65 - $110. You’ll find plenty of vintage décor in a clean and comfortable setting that’s not far from cross country or alpine skiing.The Nutmeg Inn, also close to the center of Wilmington, is a restored 1777 farmhouse with ten rooms and four suites, each individually appointed ($140 - $245).

While I get to travel and ski throughout much of the state, the Deerfield Valley remains one of my favorite places in Vermont. It still feels like home. n

D

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w e onder h t r e v o e Cham k c a L s i of pla in

CM

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BURLINGTON, VERMONT

ECHOVERMONT.ORG

877.324.6386

The

Red Clover Inn & RESTAURANT

“A feast for the senses in an idyllic setting” - Boston Globe

Restaurant open for dinner Thursday through Monday 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Stylish, secluded lodging.

Exquisite Vermont food.

Just minutes from Killington & Pico.

SLICES • CREATIVE ENTRÉES • GLUTEN-FREE MENU • HEALTHY KIDS MENU CRAFT BEERS • GAME ROOM • DELIVERY

ORDER ONLINE

1899 M O U NRTOAAI ND STOWE VT 05672 • 802.253.4411

PIECASSO.COM

7 Woodward Road, Mendon, Vermont 1/4 mile off Route 4 between Killington & Rutland 802.775.2290 • 800.752.0571 • www.redcloverinn.com

RC-VT Ski and Ride-Winter 2016.indd 1

1/12/16 2:37 PM

NORDIC centers of vermont

Trapp Family Lodge XC Center, Stowe

Bolton Valley, Bolton

Rikert Nordic Center, Ripton

NORTHERN VERMONT Ski Area

Total Terrain

Machine Skating Typical Season Tracked Terrain

Town

Phone

Website

Blueberry Lake

31 km

31 km

31 km

Dec-March

Warren

802-496-6687

blueberrylakeskivt.com

Bolton Valley XC

100 km

15 km

15 km

Dec-April

Bolton Valley

802-434-3444

boltonvalley.com

Catamount Family Center

35 km

35 km

35 km

Dec-March

Williston

802-879-6001

catamountoutdoor.com

Craftsbury Outdoor Center

105 km

105 km

105 km

Dec-March

Craftsbury Common

802-586-7767

craftsbury.com

Hazen’s Notch

65 km

60 km

60 km

Dec-April

Montgomery Center

802-326-4799

hazensnotch.org

Highland Lodge & XC Center

40 km

40 km

40 km

Dec-March

Greensboro

802-533-2647

highlandlodge.com

Jay Peak Nordic & Snowshoe Center

20 km

--

--

Nov-April

Jay

802-988-2611

jaypeakresort.com

Kingdom Trails

45 km

20 km

20 km

Dec-April

East Burke

802-626-0737

kingdomtrails.org

Memphremagog Ski Touring Foundation

35 km

35 km

35 km

Dec-March

Derby

802-334-1357

mstf.net

Morse Farm Ski Center

28 km

20 km

15 km

Dec-March

Montpelier

802-223-0560

skimorsefarm.com

Ole’s Cross Country Center

48 km

50 km

45 km

Nov-April

Warren

802-496-3430

olesxc.com

Rikert Nordic Center

55 km

50 km

40 km

Nov-April

Ripton

802-443-2744

rikertnordic.com

Sleepy Hollow Inn & Bike Center

35 km

30 km

25 km

Dec-March

Huntington

802-434-2283

skisleepyhollow.com

Stowe XC Ski Center

75 km

35 km

35 km

Dec-April

Stowe

802-253-3688

stowe.com

Stoweflake Resort

5 km

5 km

--

Dec-April

Stowe

802-253-2232

stoweflake.com

Trapp Family Lodge XC Center

160 km

55 km

55 km

Dec-April

Stowe

802-253-8511

trappfamily.com

The Nordic Center is the gateway to Bolton Valley’s legendary backcountry terrain. It offers guided tours, lessons and rental equipment to get you out to enjoy some of the best Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in New England.

Bolton has a 100 km Nordic trail system with 15 kilometers of groomed trails. www.boltonvalley.com • 802-434-3444 4302 Bolton Valley Access Rd • Bolton, VT

Trapp’s XC Center, one of the premier Nordic centers in the East, features 160 km, with 55 km of tracked and skating terrain.

Plus: • Full retail shop and rentals • Professional instruction Don't miss Slayton Pasture Cabin for a warm lunch and a roaring fire in the hearth. www.trapfamily.com • 802-253-8511 700 Trapp Hill Rd • Stowe, VT 05672

Rikert's 55 km of trails wind through old forests, farm fields and past Robert Frost's summer cabin. The Center offers a full service rental shop and ski school. Jump on early season skiing with 5 km of snowmaking. Open 7 days a week and home to the Middlebury College Panthers. www.rikertnordic.com • 802-443-2744 106 College Cross Road • Ripton VT

NORDIC centers of vermont

Mountain Top Inn & Resort, Chittenden

Timber Creek XC, West Dover

The Landgrove Inn, Landgrove

SOUTHERN VERMONT

Snowmaking

Ski Area

Total Terrain

Machine Tracked

Skating Typical Season Terrain

Town

Phone

Website

Blueberry Hill

60 km

--

--

Dec-March

Goshen

802-247-6735

blueberryhillinn.com

Brattleboro Outing Club

33 km

25 km

20 km

Dec-March

Brattleboro

802-254-8906

brattleborooutingclub.org

Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center

60 km

30 km

30 km

Dec-March

Grafton

802-843-2400

graftonponds.com

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

20 km

14 km

--

Dec-March

Manchester

802-362-1788

hildene.org

Landgrove Inn

15 km

15 km

15 km

Dec-March

Landgrove

802-824-6673

landgroveinn.com

Mountain Top Inn & Resort

60 km

40 km

40 km

Nov-April

Chittenden

802-483-2311

mountaintopinn.com

Okemo Valley Nordic Center

22 km

22 km

8 km

Dec-April

Ludlow

802-228-1396

okemo.com

Prospect Mountain XC

30 km

30 km

30 km

Nov-April

Woodford

802-442-2575

prospectmountain.com

Quechee Club

25 km

25 km

12 km

Dec-March

Quechee

802-295-9356

quecheeclub.com

Strafford Nordic Center

30 km

30 km

Dec-March

Strafford

802-765-4309

straffordnordicskiing.com

Stratton Mountain Nordic Center

12 km

12 km

12 km

Dec-March

Stratton Mountain

802-297-4567

stratton.com

Three Stallion Inn Touring Center

35 km

10 km

17 km

Dec-March

Randolph

802-728-3475

threestallioninn.com

Timber Creek XC

14 km

14 km

14 km

Dec-March

West Dover

802-464-0999

timbercreekxc.com

Viking Nordic Center

39 km

35 km

30 km

Dec-March

Londonderry

802-824-3933

vikingnordic.com

Wild Wing’s Ski Touring Center

25 km

25 km

--

Dec-March

Peru

802-824-6793

wildwingsski.com

Woodstock Inn Nordic Center

50 km

50 km

50 km

Dec-March

Woodstock

802-457-6674

woodstockinn.com

Ti m b e r Cr eek

verm nt Timber Creek XC is known for our thoughtfully groomed trail system, we have been called “one of the finest small XC ski areas in the country…bar none.”

TimberCreekXC.com • 802-464-0999 Mount Snow • Rt. 100 North • West Dover, VT

800-824-6673

802-824-6673 www.landgroveinn.com

• Located on 32 acres in a pristine valley • 19 uniquely decorated rooms • On-site restaurant open 5-7 nights/week • 15km of groomed and tracked nordic trails with skating

132 Landgrove Rd. • Landgrove, VT

The Mountain Top Inn & Resort offers 60 km of XC ski trails (40 km groomed, snowmaking on a 2km loop). With terrain of all types, onsite rentals, spectacular views, delicious food and luxury accommodations, the Mountain Top Inn & Resort is the perfect XC ski destination. A short drive to Killington.

Trails open 8am-4pm. www.mountaintopinn.com • 802-483-2311 195 Mountain Top Rd • Chittenden, VT

AT 21, PHOTOGRAPHER BROOKS CURRAN AND HIS MERRY BAND OF GREEN MOUNTAIN FREESKIERS ARE PUTTING THE SKI WORLD ON NOTICE. There is a flash of powder, a huck off an ice fall, then they vanish. They move quietly through the forest, often at dawn when the snow is fresh and the light is good.

They are a band of freeskiers who have taken their park tricks, big airs and ability to snake through the tightest of trees into the East Coast’s gnarliest backcountry lines.

This past December, they took off in a school bus they bought off Craigslist for $2,300. They painted it blue, named it “Notion,” and headed West in pursuit of powder.

University of Vermont Freeskiing Team members Brooks Curran, Tim McClellan and Dylan Dipentima (shown at right) and buddy Noah Ranallo cut their teeth at Mad River Glen chasing each other through the trees. Rounding out the crew are UVM student Marcus Wadlington, a backcountry guru from Smuggler’s Notch; Chris Stimpson, also a top-ranked freeskier from UVM; and Evan Booth.

Curran, himself a top skier, couldn’t ask for a better set of action models.

At age 11, Curran began filming, “mainly videos of friends sledding on Mad River Rockets,” he says. His parents, Dennis and Ellen Curran are photographers who work out of the Mad River Valley. It was only two years ago, after his mother was hit by a car while running and injured, that Brooks, then 19, picked up a still camera and began helping out with the family business, shooting weddings.

“A lot of us have never really skied the West so this is a discovery trip for us,” says Curran. “We’re also making a web video out of it called ‘Notion.’”

The Notion crew are following in the footsteps of the Jones brothers, Todd and Steve, who grew up skiing Stowe, and then headed to Jackson Hole and started Teton Gravity Research films. They are also picking up where Ryan Hawks and brothers Lars and Silas Chickering-Ayers left off: World Freeride Tour stars raised at Mad River Glen who went on to film and tour the West in a van they called “The General.”

Not long after that first trip in The General, Ryan Hawks, 25, back-flipped off a 50-foot cliff during a competition at Kirkwood. He landed on a hidden rock as his girlfriend, pro skier Angel Collinson, watched. He later died. As she accepted this year’s Powder Magazine award for Best Female Skier, Collinson dedicated her award to “our loved ones who are no longer here but have led by example.”

Set up in Hawks’ memory, the Flyin’ Ryan Foundation has provided scholarships to a number of the Notion crew and also helped fund the trip.

Unlike the skiers and filmmakers who went West before them, Curran and his friends plan to be back in Vermont by the end of January.

They have to be: they still need to graduate.

24 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Dylan Dipentima starts the season right, blasting trees at Stowe in November, 2015.

THE NEXT GENERATION

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BROOKS CURRAN

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 25

26 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Top: It was a snowless December when Brooks Curran (far left) and friends outfitted their 2003 GMC microbus Notion to hold 14 pairs of skis and sleep seven guys.

They packed it with blocks of cheese from sponsor, Cabot, and planned a route to hit the best powder. “With seven guys crammed in a bus for 6,000 miles it was bound to get a little stinky,” Curran observed.

Opposite page: Curran, (photographed skiing Mad River Glen last year by his father, Dennis Curran) got the goods here in Vermont last winter filming “Winter Storm Marcus.” In it, he has epic footage of buddies Marcus Wadlington and Noah Ranallo skiing waist-deep powder in the backcountry near Stowe.

Left: Tim McClellan, a long-time buddy of Curran’s from Mad River Glen and the captain of the UVM Freeski Team, had been going stir crazy last summer. The Shelburne, local persuaded Curran to go ski scree at the Hinesburg Sand & Gravel Pit, a place they dubbed Mt. Gnar. By December, McClellan was more than ready for the trip to find powder. On Jan. 2, during one of the Notion’s stops to ski and film in Wyoming’s Teton Pass, McClellan launched a cliff and hit a rock. “I caught my ski on the rock, then tomahawked for about 40 feet before stopping,” he wrote on his Facebook page. McClellan ended up with a compound fracture in his forearm and a broken hand . “While it sucks getting hurt, I’m considering myself lucky,” he wrote.

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 27

Opposite page: If you hike or ski Route 108 from Stowe to Smuggler’s Notch resort, look up into the cliffs. There, you might find Marcus Wadlington (opposite page and above) scouting new lines.

Top: Wadlington has skied Smuggler’s Notch Resort since he was one and a half and few people know the backcountry there like he does. A former ski racer, he’s gravitated toward big mountain skiing in the winter and river guiding in the summer. One of the Notion crew, Wadlington is also a Flyin’ Ryan Foundation scholarship winner and competes on the UVM Freeskiing Team.

Right: Lincoln’s Dylan Dipentima is just as comfortable airing it out on the trails at Sugarbush as he is launching waterfalls in the backcountry. Dipentima, also a member of the UVM Freeskiing Team, is currently ranked 35th on the World Freeride Tour. Along with Notion skier Noah Ranallo, Dipentima is probably one of the most photographed skiers on the East Coast with film credits in “Winter Storm Marcus,” the “Neo” series, and two of the latest in the Meathead Films series, “Spectral 6” and “Spectral 8.” If you want to see how to ski trees, watch Dipentima.

28 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 29

30 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Top: Tami Razinger, 22, can make skiing in Vermont (shown at top near Mt. Mansfield’s summit) look like it’s Alaska. Though she hadn’t been a part of the Notion’s traveling bus crew, the UVM grad and Smuggler’s Notch freeski coach flew out to meet the Notion gang in Jackson Hole. Razinger grew up ski racing in Stratton before falling in love with freeskiing. In 2014, she won the skiercross event at the Collegiate Nationals and won the Ski the East Freeride Tour, earning her a top 50 ranking in the World Freeride Tour.

Above: “A big part of getting great images is having great skiers,” says Curran, and proof of it is the shot he took of Noah Ranallo, 20, shooting through rime-covered trees in November 2015 at Stowe.

“We just set up a kicker on a groomed slope and Noah did his thing.” That ‘thing’ usually involves sending it. Ranallo, both a pilot and one of the other most-filmed freeskiers in the state, has no problem lifting off.

Opposite: In late February, the Notion crew will be back, making season edits and planning another spring trip to ski Mount Washington and Tuckerman’s Ravine (left).

See more of the Notion crew in action at vtskiandride. com

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 31

BY LISA LYNN

PHOTOS BY OLIVER PARINI

THE NEXT GENERATION

BY PEGGY SHINN

On Jan. 5, Caldwell (shown here at an earlier race) won her first World Cup race. Three days later teammate Jessie Diggins (opposite, at right of Caldwell) won as well.

00 September 2015 vtskiandride.com

Photos courtesy USSA

WITH A WORLD CUP WIN IN JANUARY AND A LONG LINEAGE OF CROSS-COUNTRY SKI STARS IN HER FAMILY, SOPHIE CALDWELL IS POISED TO PODIUM AGAIN.

ast June, Sophie Caldwell wrote down a goal, then posted a picture of herself holding that goal on Facebook.

It read: “Be on the World Cup podium.”

Mission accomplished.

On January 5 in Oberstdorf, Germany, Caldwell, 25, claimed her first World Cup win. The race was the fourth stage of the weeklong Tour de Ski, but each stage is considered its own World Cup race.

“I really surprised myself,” she said, explaining that her forte is freestyle (skate) sprints, not classic (traditional kick-and-glide). “But I’m thrilled.”

Others were not surprised, least of all Caldwell’s father Sverre, the Nordic program director at the Stratton Mountain School. “She has been skiing really well so [a podium finish] seemed likely, but a win was more than expected,” he wrote in an email from the U.S. national championships in Michigan, where he watched his daughter on NBC live stream (“We had five of us watching and screaming at the computer. It was great!”)

“You could see that she was gaining confidence with each race,” he continued, “and it all came together for this one.”

Since mid-December, Caldwell had finished in the top seven in three sprint races. However, Sverre knew the competition was daunting. “There have been two girls from Norway and one from Sweden who have been dominating,” he wrote, “so beating them all seemed like a really tall order.”

With fearless skiing on the sprint course’s treacherous downhills, Caldwell beat them all, becoming the third American woman ever to win a World Cup. (Alison Own Spencer won a race in Telemark, Wisconsin, in the World Cup’s early days, and Kikkan Randall has won 14 World Cup races.)

With Randall on maternity leave, Caldwell has taken over as top for the U.S. this season. But it’s not a stretch; she finished sixth in the classic sprint at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the best finish ever for an American female cross country skier at the Olympics. Then in March 2014, she earned her first World Cup podium.

Caldwell’s growing legacy has deep roots in Vermont.

Grandfather John Caldwell, from Putney, competed in the 1952 Olympics in Nordic combined, coached at four Olympic Winter Games, and literally wrote the book on cross-country skiing (The Cross Country Ski Book), while her uncle Tim, who now lives in Hanover, N.H., raced in four Olympics. Sophie’s sister Izzy runs the Frost Mountain Nordic Club’s Bill Koch program in central Vermont for kids in grades 1 through 8.

But perhaps more important than genetics, Caldwell grew up in Peru, Vermont, surrounded by friends and family who loved the outdoors. Thanks to Sverre, who helped develop grassroots cross-country ski programs, the entire area around Peru and Stratton was (and still is) a cross-country skiing incubator.

Caldwell became serious about racing in seventh grade when she attended Stratton Mountain School, then Dartmouth College, where she competed at NCAAs three times. After graduating in 2012, she considered becoming a teacher, but then decided to give pro skiing a try. She joined the SMS T2

team to train with three-time Olympian Andy Newell and other top skiers.

Six months later, in December 2012, Caldwell competed in her first World Cup races — a freestyle sprint and team sprint in Quebec City. In front of thousands, many dressed in Big Green colors and waving American flags, she finished a remarkable 14th in both races.

A year later, she was named to her first Olympic team and in Sochi, surprised everyone when she made the sprint final. Unfortunately, she tangled with another skier in the final and finished sixth.

Since then, Caldwell has rarely finished outside the top 30 in sprint races.

And a sprint is not just a three-minute race around a 1.2-kilometer course.

Skiers must first qualify—an all-out effort because only the top 30 move on to the quarterfinals. Then the quarterfinals, semis, and finals happen in quick succession. By the finals, the skiers have already sprinted 1.2 kilometers three times within a two-hour period. In comparison, a 15-kilometer race (classic or freestyle) lasts 30-35 minutes for the men, 35-40 minutes for the women. “[In a sprint race] you’re basically skiing the whole time because you’re warming up, then you’re warming down, then warming back up again,” Andy Newell explained—and sometimes vomiting between rounds. The trick, he added, is to maintain endurance and speed throughout the day.

Sverre has credited his daughter’s success not just to her strength and endurance, but to her level-headedness and happiness.

“She has a great training group, she likes her coaches, she has stayed quite healthy, and she is happy,” he emailed before the 2014 Olympics.

The team environment may be the real key.

“Everyone works so hard, and I think the cool thing about it all is that we wake up each day and know it could be any one of us battling for that podium,” Caldwell said after her victory. “Maybe today was my day, but tomorrow can be someone else’s. At the end of the day, we’re all going to be there supporting each other because it’s the team behind each one of us that gets us here.” n

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 33

Tara Geraghty-Moats’ first jump was off this one at Storrs Pond Recreation Area near her home in Fairlee, Vt. at age 9. Now she’s the leading American on the World Cup.

BY LISA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY B Y OLIVER PARINI

00 September 2015 vtskiandride.com

THE NEXT GENERATION

vtskiandride.com September 2015 00

sk Tara Geraghty-Moats what it’s like to climb 26 stories to the top of a ski jump—so high people on the ground become ants. Ask how she manages to clench her body into a tuck as she hurtles down a narrow 36-degree incline at 60 mph. Ask her what goes through her mind when she explodes off the edge into nothingness, flying the length of a football field.

Or how it feels to touch back down on earth.

Ask her any of those questions and her eyes light up like blue ice.

“There is nothing like ski jumping,” she says without hesitation. “It’s like putting your hand out the window when you are speeding down a highway: you feel the push of wind against you, holding you up, you’re floating on air,” says Tara. “I was hooked from the first time I jumped.”

That was at age 9, when she launched off the jump at Storrs Pond Recreation Area in Hanover, N.H., just down the road from her home in Fairlee, Vt. This past December, Tara, now 22, surprised everyone by going a distance of 92 meters on her first jump in the World Cup opener in Lillehammer, Norway. She finished 17th overall, becoming the leading American woman.

It was a surprise for her as well. Last season was Tara’s first time on the World Cup circuit. This past summer, she was suspended from the U.S. Ski Team for failing to make a final payment of her $7,000 contribution toward training and travel. “I’d paid off most of what I owed but didn’t get the last $1,000 or so in on time,” she says. “So I was suspended and couldn’t go to any of the training camps last summer.”

Instead of heading to Slovenia to train with the team, she stayed home in Vermont and worked on a farm, spending 10-hour days pulling organic vegetables and weeding the fields to earn the money. Her sponsors—Vermont’s Ibex, Darn Tough, and Mad River Glen—have helped, but the costs of competing are high.

For training, she improvised with her own program: setting up tires to jump over, running and mountain biking.

“Farming was tough work,” she says with a sigh. “But I loved it and in the end, I think it made me stronger.”

Strength is not something Tara is short on. Born with the

lung-busting meconian aspiration syndrome, she spent her first four weeks in the intensive care unit. During that time, scar tissue formed in her lungs, leaving her with asthma that’s plagued her all her life.

Her mother, Betsey Geraghty—a bike racer, bike mechanic and outdoor educator—didn’t let that stop her daughter. “I wanted to help her use her lungs as early as I could.” She put Tara on skis at age 2. By age 5, Tara was telemarking at Mad River Glen behind her mom and dad, Alan Moats, a software designer and a former member of the U.S. Telemark Team.

She grew up separately from her older half-sister, Charlotte Moats, who was, at the time, a burgeoning alpine star and Burke Mountain Academy grad. A decade older, Charlotte would go on to earn a gold medal in slalom at the Junior Olympics, win the 2002 World Endurance Ski Championships, log 11 first descents in Alaska and appear in multiple ski films.

At age 8, Tara was competing in Nordic races. At age 9, she did her first Vermont 50 mountain bike race on a tandem with her father. The next year, she did it on her own and has completed the grueling 50-mile cross-country trail race twice since.

36 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Both Tara’s mother and grandmother grew up spending summers at the Aloha Foundation’s camp on Lake Morey, which has been dedicated to helping girls discover “their most adventurous selves” for more than a century.

Betsey Geraghty went on to become a counselor there, taught outdoor education and got a job at Omer and Bob’s, the outdoor retailer in Lebanon, N.H. where she still works.

From third grade on, Geraghty home-schooled Tara. She grew up learning in the morning, going out for a ski or a bike then coming back home and picking up the books. “At night, we’d go jump under the lights at Storrs Pond. While I loved cross-country skiing and did well at it, for me that was like meat and potatoes. Ski jumping was dessert.”

Tara started with the small jumps then worked her way up to the 90K “normal hill” mark (so named because the par distance for that jump is 90 meters from the launch ramp) and the “large hill,” with its 120K mark.

By age 15, she was a multi-time medalist in the junior Nordic Nationals and was jumping well enough to be named to the USSA Visa Development Team. At 16, she had done well enough in her studies to enroll in online college classes at Community College of Vermont. “When she took the tests to get in, the people at CCV said they hadn’t seen scores that high in a long time,” says Betsey Geraghty.

Then life fell apart: her parents split up and, at 16, Tara had her first

Photo by Oliver Parini, left; Barbel Schulze, below

serious injury.

While competing at Lake Placid’s 90K jump she got caught by a gust of wind, flew past the sloped landing area to the flats and smacked down.

“I saw it happen. For a long time after I didn’t want to watch another ski jump,” Betsey Geraghty recalls.

Tara just remembers hearing a ‘crunch.’ “I never crashed but I landed hard, like when you jump off a high place and land with a thud.” She tore three ligaments, including her ACL and broke her tibia. The first surgery didn’t hold so after nearly six months of recovery she went back under the knife. “My doctor said I would never jump or run again,” she remembers.

Tara then did the one thing that seemed to make sense for an injured ski jumper and former cross country ski racer: she picked up a gun.

“Like a lot of Vermont kids, we had guns and I was on crutches when I first began to shoot,” she says. She shot at targets and at wild turkeys.

“The shooting taught me to steady my nerves.” As her knee recovered she started cross-country skiing again, this time with an eye toward competing in biathlon. In her third race, she qualified for the 2011 Biathlon Worlds in Czech Republic.

In 2012-13 Tara went to school in Sweden for a year and to train. “All my classes were in Swedish so I picked it up pretty quickly,” she says with a laugh. She also picked up a few things about biathlon: she entered and won the Swedish Nationals in the junior sprint category, beating the current junior world champion.

In April, 2014 Tara turned 21. She could no longer compete as a junior and she had choices to make. “I’ve never had a vision like ‘Oh, I want to be in the Olympics,” she says with quiet confidence, “I’ve just gone from race to race hoping I can do better and doing what I love.” The problem, as Tara

Tara, at left, “is just a Nordic combined athlete,” says her mom, Betsey Geraghty.

Below, Tara jumps in Lillehammer in December’s World Cup, leading the U.S. women.

is the first to admit, is that she loves skiing of all types. “My coaches keep telling me I have to focus on one sport,” she says Tara was training at Lake Placid for biathlon that fall when a friend dared her to enter the ski jumping nationals, which were being held there that same week. “I hadn’t been training since I injured my knee and had jumped maybe three days in the last four years. I told him he was crazy. He said, ‘the worst you can do is finish last.’”

Without telling her biathlon coaches what she was doing, Tara took the day off from her dry land workouts, got out her five-year-old skis, and entered the event cold. She finished fifth, behind world champion Lindsay Van, 10-time national champ Jessica Jerome, Alissa Johnson and Nina Lussi. “I felt good on the jump, but had no idea I’d do as well as I did.”

Tara was back.

In 2014, she went on to earn a bronze in the Normal Hill (90K jump) Nationals at Lake Placid and another bronze at the Long Hill (120K jump) at Park City, which earned her a spot on the 2014/15 World Cup. Her best finish there was a 9th at Rasnov, Romania.

Snow

is starting to fall. It is the last day of December and it frosts the trees around the Storrs Pond jump. Tara looks up at the platform. “When I first started jumping here as a kid, there were no Olympics for women ski jumpers, and not really much to aim for. My goal was to just keep trying to do better than the last time.”

It was a long struggle to even get women’s ski jumping into the 2014 Sochi Olympics, a battle that America’s top female ski jumpers had to fight on their own. At the time, they were the best in the world, led by the first women’s world champion, Lindsay Van (who, just prior to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver had the longest jump off the normal hill of any athlete, male or female—105.5 meters), and the tiny then-19-year-old Sara Hendrickson—the 2011/12 World Cup winner whom many consider the best woman ski jumper ever. Both Van and Hendrickson are sitting out this season with injuries.

Now, there is a move to establish the event that seems made for Tara Geraghty-Moats: women’s Nordic combined. Nordic combined competitions (where the ski jump earns you seconds off the next leg, the cross-country race) have been around since the 1800s, have an FIS World Cup and are an Olympic sport...but just for men. Until this season the FIS had not sanctioned a Women’s Nordic Combined race. Four events will be held this winter, but Tara’s jumping calendar precludes her from competing.

In late January, the team heads to Japan: Tara and two girls she’s been friends with since they were kids: Nita Englund (who has six top10 World Cup finishes and several medals) and Nina Lussi.

A week later, they compete in Germany, then Austria, then Kazakhstan, then Romania.

“We handle our own travel, lug all our gear, convince airlines that they can take 250 cm skis and pretty much help each other out,” says Tara.

“But that’s the way it is right now for women ski jumpers,” she says with a shrug, no sign of bitterness. “We just figure it out—we do it because we love to jump.” n

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 37

3

They came to ski, then these families stayed to build their dream homes.

Photo by Wendell Anderson

DREAM SKI HOMES

BY LISA LYNN

38 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Here’s an inside look at three exceptional homes in the Green Mountains and the stories behind them.

Always an art space but never a home, the Bundy stands high on a plateau facing Sugarbush Resort. The new owners have made it both their home and a museum.

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 39

ski towns in the country. Of the top 10, three were in Vermont. Based on their median home prices, Killington, West Dover and Ludlow all made the list. And many other Vermont mountain towns could have as well. “In Vermont, you can get some of the best value for your money compared with other ski towns in the U.S.,” says Rich Caplan, the principal broker with Hermitage Deerfield Valley Realtors in West Dover. “Out West, “ he continues, “you can’t touch anything for under $500,000. Here, we have some really nice inventory in that range.”

But what prices alone don’t take into account is just how sweet life is in our mountain towns or how living here can change a person.

“I wanted to be out in nature,” says Suzanna Derby, a Korean-American from Greenwich, Connecticut who built her dream home at Stratton. After living there for five years and hiking, skiing or snowshoeing the mountain, Derby, age 45 at the time, set out to climb Kilimanjaro.

By the time she was 50, she’d summited the highest peaks on every continent.

June Anderson grew up in Connecticut and spent weekends skiing at Okemo. After she married, she introduced her husband Wendell to snowboarding. The couple and their two children eventually bought a house near Sugarbush and moved up full time. “We had no idea the schools were so good here,” she says. “And in many ways I’m thankful we are 40 miles from the nearest TJ Maxx. It’s a better environment for children to grow up in.” The Andersons just bought their second Vermont home and are turning it into both their home and a stunning modern art museum, the Bundy Modern.

Joe and Jennifer Garrity met while at St. Michael’s College in Burlington and ended up building their dream ski home just 10 minutes from the slopes of Smuggler’s Notch on a 49-acre parcel of land they bought for $250,000. “Coming from Westchester County, N.Y., it was amazing to see a parcel of land like this that’s so affordable. We have views of Mount Mansfield, trails, meadows and stands of old growth pine. It’s really a three-season playground‚ the only time we are not here is mud season.”

Here’s a peek inside three family’s dream ski homes and the stories behind them.

A MOUNTAINEER’S RETREAT

Suzanna Derby’s timber-framed home off Stratton Mountain is like a luxurious, fivebedroom tree house. In the living room, a wall of glass rises nearly two stories and looks out at the treetops, the glass itself is inset with wood “branches.” The tree theme is picked up in intricate iron leaves that rim the doors of the two fireplaces and slabs of wood that form the headboards in the master bedroom.

When Derby’s sons feel like “camping out,” they can retreat to a glass-roofed, screenedin gazebo that houses a fire pit with a spiral stone chimney and a spit and grate for grilling over open flames. In the main house, there’s a “swimming hole,” a recirculating current lap pool.

“I wanted my children to grow up with nature: it gives you wholeness in your heart,” says Derby.

Her two boys, Spencer, now 25, and Simon, 16, were passionate about skiing, riding, swimming and anything outdoors. Stratton was an easy drive from Greenwich, Ct,, where they live full-time and that’s where she decided to build her dream home, 10 years ago.

The home sings Derby’s song. “I like timber frames and the fact that they are so organic, they don’t even use nails,” she explains. “We looked for natural, local stone for the fireplaces, too,” she adds. The fireplace rises two stories in the living room, facing a wall of windows. The chimney backs up to the kitchen where another smaller fireplace crackles brightly just in front of a bar facing the central work area.

The home was also the start of another dream. At age 45, Derby took a trip around the world with her two sons. As they flew over Mount Kilimanjaro, “the man next to me on the plane pointed the mountain out and said, ‘You know, people climb that,“ she recalls.

“I am athletic and I skied and snowshoed, but I never had any dream of climbing,” she continues. But something had struck a chord. When she got home, she Googled ‘climbing, Kilimanjaro.’’’

That year, she not only summited Kilimanjaro but set her sights on climbing the highest mountain on every other continent. Derby trained by running or snowshoeing up and down Stratton and taking avalanche and winter survival courses on Mt. Washington.

In five years she did indeed tick off every summit. “Everest was my 50th birthday present to myself,” she says.

That was four years ago. When she came back from Everest, though, she realized that she was ready for another phase of her life. Her marriage ended and the house, jointly owned, is now on the market, listed with Sotheby’s Four Seasons for $1,895,000.

Derby may look for another place in Vermont. “I have so many good memories from here—playing with boys at this secret swimming hole down by the river, going for Swiss fondue, and there are always festivals here, always something going on.”

40 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Photos courtesy Suzanna Derby/Sotheby’s Four Seasons

LAST DECEMBER, Realtor.com came out with its list of the most affordable

Derby built the house to fit into the side of Stratton Mountain. Five years later, she set out to climb all Seven Summits (here, atop Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson.) The post-and-beam house brings the outdoors inside: Slabs of tree trunks form a headboard and “branches” are inset in the windows. Opposite, left: The gazebo houses a fire pit where the family often grills.

vtskiandride.com September 2015 00

derson of the Waitsfield art space she and her husband Wendell turned into a home. By cutting a wall in a storage room, adding Ikea cabinets and fitting old shelves in a corner they made a kitchen (opposite top).

Light streams into great room (opposite, right and bottom) where the couple host exhibits open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, from 1 pm to 5 pm. The current Blake Larsen exhibit is on display through January 30. To learn more, visit www.bundymodern.com

42 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

THE BUNDY MODERN: LIVING IN A MUSEUM From its start on Route 100 just south of Waitsfield, Bundy Road is a long slog up through a stand of giant pines. At the top of it: a plateau, a few stands of birches, a reflecting pond and a stunning piece of modern architecture known simply as “The Bundy.”

“It kind of makes you gasp when you see it,” says June Anderson. Anderson, her husband Wendell and their two children had been living in another house just off the slopes of Sugarbush when the Bundy came up for sale. “People told us we were crazy to buy it but we knew exactly what we wanted to do,” says the former realtor whose husband, Wendell built high-end homes in Connecticut before the couple moved north full-time.

The 5,000-square-foot steel, brick and glass cube was built in 1962 by Harlow Carpenter, the wealthy Harvard-educated architect. At the time, it was tribute to a new design aesthetic being promoted at Harvard

by Le Corbusier (who designed Harvard’s Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts) and Walter Gropius.

Over the years, the building underwent multiple iterations as a gallery, theater, museum and residence.

And it saw neglect. The sculptures, which stood on podiums around the yard, were sold for a song.

“One person I know bought one for $100,” says June Anderson. “I don’t think people realized the value of what was here.”

The Andersons did. The couple bought the Bundy in 2014 and set about restoring it. “We loved the open space and the light and had an instant idea of what we wanted to do with it.”

A storage room was opened up with a window and, with the addition of some Ikea cabinets, turned into a kitchen. “We didn’t have a lot of money to put into this,” June says, “but we had a vision.” The great room with its 24-foot-tall brick walls and slate floors became a gallery where the couple host exhibits from noted Vermont artists and opens the house to the public on weekends. The current exhibit shows the vibrant nudes and abstract oil paintings on canvas of Blake Larsen (with price tags in the $20,000 range).

The back of the house is divided into living quarters. Everywhere there are views; a giant round skylight over the master bed opens to the stars. A floor-to-ceiling window facing the stairs gives a view of a waterfall that cascades off the flat roof when it rains. The living room looks across the reflecting pool toward stands of birch and the trails of Sugarbush.

The land around the house opens onto the trails of Ole’s Cross Country Center. “We may be the only skiin, ski-out modern museum in America,” jokes June.

Photos by Wendell Anderson; Portrait by Jeb Wallace-Broadeur

“We kept the exterior as it was—it has just terrific lines” says June An-

vtskiandride.com September 2015 00

For this year’s Super Bowl, Joe and Jennifer Garrity will do what they’ve done nearly every year for the past decade: get a group of college friends together, ski Smuggler’s Notch as hard as they can and then invite everyone back to the house to watch the game in the giant media room/home theater.

The house, known as Birchwood, is not just any house.

“We get 35 people watching the game,” Joe says. “And we’ve had probably as many as 50 people sleeping here, crammed in the bunkroom, four bedrooms and all over.”

When Joe and Jennifer Garrity started talking at a bar in Burlington in the late 1970s, the two St. Michael’s College students had no idea that nearly 30 years later they’d be building their dream home 10 minutes from the trails they skied as students.

The couple were living outside New York where Joe worked for Deloitte Touche when they got a call from a college friend. “He said there’s a piece of land up here you gotta see,” Joe remembers. The Cambridge,Vt. parcel was 49 acres of old pine forests, rolling meadows and three ponds, set high on a knoll with Mt. Mansfield as a backdrop.

“We fell in love with the land instantly,” Joe said. “We could envision trails running through the old growth pine, and views of Mt. Mansfield, and western sunsets.” And when it came time to build, they wanted a house that would feel a part of the landscape.

“Nearly everything about the house is local,” says Garrity, who worked with architect Sam Scofield of Stowe. The timber framing was done by Jeffersonville’s North Woods Joinery, which used fir and spruce that grew near the site for the posts and beams. Thirty-five tons of local fieldstone went into creating the massive Rumford fireplace and chimney. Reclaimed fir from the old Johnson high school gym—some, 150 years old—was used to make the treads on the stairs. Richly colored carpets were woven by Vermont artisans. A local potter threw the lamps in the living room.

Local craftsman Larz Allen molded the wrought-iron chandeliers in the living room and created a copper shade to drop down over the fireplace to prevent drafts.The design on the shade mimics the view of the mountains from the windows opposite. Kim Deetjen, with the Burlington firm Truex Collins, helped with the interior design. “She put us in touch with the best local talent,” says Garrity.

For years, the couple commuted from Westchester, N.Y. Two of their children went to college in Vermont and the house served as a crash pad for them and their friends as well.

“Now that the kids are grown and off on their own, we don’t come up much and we finally decided it was time to put the house on the market,” says Joe. This past December he listed the house with LandVest for $1,795,000. But the Garritys are not in any hurry to sell. “I think we may have a few more Super Bowl parties,” Joe says.

The Garritys built Birchwood to have views east toward the Green Mountains and to be able to watch sunsets across the open fields and pond to the west. Light streams into the living room where windows are set so that you can view Mt. Mansfield’s summit from within. The chandeliers were hand-crafted by a local artisan to look like they hold real beeswax candles. Every year the Garritys gather family and many of their St. Michael’s College friends for a massive Super Bowl party. Part of the ritual: before watching The Game they drive down the road to ski at Smuggler’s Notch.

44 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Photos by Susan Teare; group photo courtesy Joe Garrity

BIRCHWOOD: A TRIBUTE TO LOCAL CRAFTSMANSHIP

Local Vermont timber, stone and fabric are used throughout the home, from fir and spruce framing showcased in the cozy bedrooms to the dining table, custom made by Smuggler’s Notch Antiques.

The chef’s kitchen (with cherry cabinets made by a local, third-generation Vermont woodworker) opens into the dining area and living room. There, the chimney on the Rumford fireplace rises 27 feet to cathedral ceilings. The living room carpets were woven in Vermont and the side lamps thrown by a local potter.

vtskiandride.com September 2015 00

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COMPETITION

BY BIDDLE DUKE

TY WALKER GOES

BIG

This February, Stowe’s Ty Walker joins some of the biggest names in skiing and riding at a Big Air contest in Boston’s Fenway Park.

A

dele Walker used to walk into the offices of The Stowe Reporter with photos of her pre-teen daughter, Ty, and news of her results. “Check out my daughter,” she would say with enthusiasm, “she’s killing it out there.” Ty Walker was small, all smiles, and, as her mother predicted, going somewhere.

The family moved to Stowe in 2007 and that very winter Ty started turning heads. Four years later, at the age of 14, she joined the U.S. Snowboard Team and began a steady stream of podium appearances at comps across the globe. At 16, she was named to the Olympic team for Sochi, Russia (where a bruised heel held her back from competing at her highest level). Last season, she won the first-ever FIS World Cup Big Air competition in Istanbul.

Ty Walker, who turns 19 in March, is often held up as one of the brightest stars in a sport that’s searching for the next Kelley Clark or Shaun White. On February 11, Walker will be among the headliners competing for $150,000 in prize money at the “Beantown Throwdown,” a U.S. Grand Prix Big Air competition on a snow-covered ramp at Boston’s Fenway Park.

Phoots courtesy USSA

You had a great season last year, winning the World Big Air Cup in Istanbul. What was that like?

Istanbul was amazing. I love traveling and when I heard about the World Cup happening in Turkey I really jumped at the chance to go. The first day we were there, we went on an all-day tour to see historical sites in the city. Honestly, that was probably the highlight of the week.Winning the event was just the icing on the cake.

After Istanbul you went on to have a good season, but then you were injured. What happened?

I tore my ACL on the second day of training for the U.S. Open on March 2. It had snowed overnight before practice and the

course was really slow. You really needed to keep your speed in order to clear the first jump. I tried a new line through the rail section and I guess I just didn’t come out with the same speed as I’d had before. I crashed really hard and I just felt my knee “pop.”

It was disappointing because it was the last event of the season. I had a really busy contest season and was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and I was so excited for spring free riding before I got hurt.

Ty Walker worked out hard this past season to get back on her game this year after an injury.

The Brown Univerity freshman is now back on snow and ready to rip.

Where did you get the surgery done and how are you feeling?

One of orthopedic surgeons affiliated with the U.S. team, Dr. Brian Huber, is actually from Stowe. I had my surgery done at his clinic (Mansfield Orthopedics) in Morrisville, and Dr. Huber did an awesome job. I feel great going into this season!

You’ve been home in Stowe riding. How did that feel?

This fall was my first time on snow since I was injured. It was amazing! I actually couldn’t pick up my season’s pass the first day I was home, but I was so eager that I ended up hiking to get my first run. My knee felt good! Too good, almost. It was hard to keep both feet on the ground.

What do you love most about riding in Vermont?

When I’m in Breckenridge, I’m pretty much lapping the park for training. Vermont, and Stowe, specifically, is where I go to enjoy snowboarding as a fun activity or a hobby. I’ll go up to the mountain with my family and friends and explore the mountain.

I’m not a professional athlete anymore, just another person who loves snowboarding.

How do you balance an Ivy League education and training?

Freshman fall at Brown has been a whirlwind. It’s going to be

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 47

COMPETITION

One of the greatest freestyle skiers of all time, Gus Kenworthy, came out as gay in October. On your Facebook page you said: “You (Gus) have no idea how much this is going to help the skiing and snowboarding community.” What do you mean?

I think that a lot of times in the snowboarding and skiing world, there are very rigid lines that define what’s cool and what’s not.

People are encouraged to conform to this “ideal snowboarder/ skier” type. The sports are supposed to emphasize individuality, but there is a very specific type of “individual” that you’re supposed to be if you’re a “true” skier/snowboarder. Gus is one of the best freeskiers there is. His coming out shows people that you don’t necessarily need to follow convention or fit into that box in order to be a badass, incredible, true skier.

Walker’s huge airs helped her to win the World Big Air Cup in Istanbul made her a headliner for February’s Big Air contest in

tough balancing snowboarding with school, but I’ll be with my team for all of January and will be able to ride during my breaks and on the weekends. Going forward, I’m going to take two semesters off before the Olympics so I can train and compete again full-time.

Boston on Feb. 11. There, she’ll launch a jump with a 70-foot gap (below).

Switching gears a little: There’s been press in the past few years about the decline in the number of people snowboarding. Why is this happening?

It’s a combination of things. First off, people don’t need to start snowboarding in order to get in the park and do tricks now.

Most people start out skiing, and since freeskiing has gained popularity, those people who are interested in doing tricks can do that without having to learn a new sport.

Perhaps the sport could be doing much better if we had a governing body that provided better leadership. Right now, there’s a huge mess with FIS (Federation International Ski) and WST (World Snowboard Tour). There are overlapping events, events with different judging formats. It’s sloppy. It’s not an easy sport to follow.

Some say the decline is due partly to a lack of huge stars, like Shaun White. We’ve heard it said that you have the ideal qualities to be even more of an ambassador than you are now. Thoughts?

Thank you, I appreciate that. I’d like to think that I’m a good ambassador and a good role model for girls and kids in snowboarding. Going back to priorities though—I care about my education, my family, my friends, and doing what I love. I’m ambitious, and I work hard. There’s definitely a big “core” side of snowboarding with an image that I don’t really fit. I’m a little, blonde teenage girl. I’m an Ivy League student. I’m not exactly the ideal representative for the carefree, rambunctious, hardcore side of snowboarding. It’s sometimes tough to be a star ambassador for the sport when I don’t really represent that “core” aspect at all.

What would you like to see happen in women’s professional snowboarding?

I don’t think women get the respect and sponsorship attention they deserve. I know it’s not this black and white, but if a company’s goal is to sell product, then they should promote and support their female athletes (selling women’s product) just as much as they promote male athletes (promoting the men’s product), or at least at a ratio similar to what women spend in the market. Are we doing the same tricks as the guys? No. But we still “sell snowboarding,” take the risks, and devote our time and energy to exercising, competing and training.

What’s next? Can you balance an Ivy League education with your aims to compete in the next Olympics?

Where can we see you compete this winter?

The only event that I have big plans for, so far, is the Big Air Fenway event in February. It’s going to be awesome to compete on the East Coast again—especially at such a landmark spot. I can’t wait!

48 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Phoots courtesy USSA

That’s the plan. This year I’m taking it easy. I want to take a step back from competing to get stronger, progress, and focus on school.

After next fall, I’m going to take some time off from school so I can train and compete and go for the 2018 Olympics—which is perfect because I’ll get to postpone Organic Chemistry for a year or so.

`

COACH

BY BUD KEENE

SO YOU’RE AN ACTION SPORTS PARENT? How do you help your kid excel at a “dangerous” sport you simply don’t understand?

Here are a top coach’s tips.

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Photos courtesy Bud Keene

here you are at the dinner table with your spouse and two young children.You’ve just enjoyed a great meal, when out of the blue the unspeakable happens: “Mom, Dad. I want to ride the halfpipe.”

How could this have happened? Since day one you have surrounded your kids with the tools and toys of your beloved sports. Indeed, some of your best moments together were spent teaching them to throw, hit, shoot, pass, volley, schuss, kick, or cast. Heck, you even got them baseball, football, hockey, tennis, soccer, or lacrosse bed-sheets and pillowcases! What went wrong?

“Calm down”, you tell yourself, “This is just a fad”.

Fast-forward to today. You are not a hockey dad or a soccer mom: you are an action sports parent. All of a sudden you find yourself with a son or daughter who is absolutely determined to go upside down.

As a caring parent you want to help, but the truth is you don’t know anything about hitting a jump big, doing a 1080 in a half-pipe or hucking a cliff. And from what you can see, parents aren’t invited.

You’re not alone and now it’s time for you, the parent, to step up.

First of all, don’t freak out. Though action sports differ in some ways from mainstream sports, they actually share many more similarities that will make you feel better about the whole thing. To wit, here are a few things that your kid will learn:

Physical strength and coordination. Jumping up on obstacles in a park or launching out of half-pipe or over a jump is as challenging as any gym workout. Strength, coordination, flexibility, quickness are all required. Plus, anything that gets your kid up off of the coach and outside in the fresh air is a good thing.

Life lessons. Kids learn all of the same important life-lessons from action sports such as park riding or skateboarding that you had hoped

they would get from mainstream ones.Things like confidence, hard work and accomplishment, effort vs. reward, persistence, self-reliance, pride in a job well-done, practice-makes-perfect, accountability to a goal, you-get-out-of-it-what-you-put-into-it, tenacity, failure and disappointment and self-control.

They may even learn some of these lessons more sharply. One thing that is often overlooked by a parent when their child first gravitates toward action sports is that those kids are not afraid to take total responsibility for their success or failure. Rather than being able to hide away in a mainstream or team environment, they are actually putting themselves out there even more, so add confident individualism to the list.

Bud Keene (far right) works with snowboard legend Shaun White (at his left) and other riders.

He also works with their parents to help them help their kids.

Teamwork. This of course brings up a common misconception: that kids are not learning to function as a “team.” The truth is, these kids who hang out in a park actually are part of a team. Not an “us-against-them” team, but rather an “all-forone-and-one-for-all” team. They hold their sport, and all of its participants, in high regard. If you sit and watch a group of young freeskiers or snowboarders practicing in the same place, you quickly realize that what you assumed would be a bunch of individuals doing their own thing is actually a team working together toward a common goal. They support each other, they go to each other’s aid in case of mishaps, and they celebrate each other’s achievements with gusto.

It’s funny, because the philosophy of action sports participation truly embodies the maxim “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” That phrase gets a lot of lip service in many competitive pursuits, but in action sports it is truly lived.

Does it really get any better than that?

Okay you’ve seen the light and have decided to support your kid in the sport of their choice. But what do you do? Do you just stay out of it and let your kid figure it out on their own? Or do you get involved, even though there doesn’t seem to be any roadmap for parent participation? You don’t want to get in their way or embarrass them, but you want to help out—it’s your kid after all! The good news is that you can, just follow these rules of engagement:

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2015 49

COACH

Yup, one day your kids are going to go upside down. Just get them good helmets.

reasonably well maintained. Basically this is a money issue, and kids and teenagers don’t have a lot of it. Ask yourself the question: “If my kid were playing hockey, or football, or (insert mainstream sport here), how much would I be spending on their equipment?” Then spend a similar amount on the sport of their choice. I once had a parent who shopped at garage sales and even bought boots that were too big for his kid because “they were a good deal.” I’ve also seen parents spend thousands on gear that was way above their kid’s ability level. Neither approach was helping the kid’s chances of success. Get your kid gear that properly fits. Don’t cut corners, but don’t mortgage the house either.

2. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES. The nature of any sport is such that consistent

access to good facilities increases proficiency. Football players need a football field. Hockey players need ice time. Action sports athletes need an arena for doing their thing too, so help them gain access. Give them rides to good parks, pipes, jumps, etc. Organize trips with their friends to cool facilities that will push their progression.

I remember one parent who was so bummed that his kid chose an alternative sport that he said “Fine, if she wants to do that sport then she can figure it out on her own.” That is definitely not the way to be. It took several conversations with him, but I finally convinced that guy that he was taking a dangerous position: forcing his kid to catch rides in whatever car that she could, with whomever, and giving up the chance to help her make good judgments about her sport, her approach, her equipment and her social scene. He came around, and a few years later his daughter became a champion.

3. DON’T TRY TO BE COOL. More than once I have encountered parents who bought

a little too far into the culture of cool that action sports exude. I let it go at first, when they showed up dressed head-to-toe in X- Games garb. But when they started rocking studded belts, and sagging their pants halfway down their butt, I stepped in and counseled them that they may have been undermining their role as a parent and were probably embarrassing their kid. Action sports are well known for influencing modern clothing styles and speech. That’s great of

50 WINTER 2015 vtskiandride.com

course, but it’s for them—not for you. Respect the boundaries of youth and culture, and avoid looking silly by dressing and talking too young.

4. LEARN AND LISTEN. Also, I regularly encourage parents to educate themselves about the game that their kid is playing. They will usually be judged events, and an Internet search will clue you in to what is considered good and bad form by the freeski or freeride judges, and when you should be congratulating them for their performance. To further bone-up on it, read the magazines, watch a few videos, and try to think like a 15-year-old: you’ll quickly catch-on.

5. KEEP THEM SAFE. Skiing or riding or racing or jumping can be dangerous. Some recent high-profile accidents have received a lot of exposure and there is no question that falls can take place. However, a recent study found that in 75% of accidents involving action sports in which an injury occurred, no protective gear was being used. The answer to that is easy: provide kids with helmets and lots of padding, and make sure that they use it.

It’s clear that acrobatics play a role in our sports, and for all parents this creates a level of discomfort. The best thing that you can do is to provide your kid with as many opportunities to practice acrobatic movements in a safe situation, before performing them for real. Diving boards, trampolines, foam pits, and other training aids exist to build air-awareness and confidence.

Your kid may not turn into the next Shaun White or Kelley Clark. He or she may fall and break a bone or two. But isn’t that true for any sport? Remember, this is their chance to shine. Let them. n Coach columnist Bud Keene has been named national Coach of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Team and coaches a number of the top freestyle skiers and snowboarders in the world. He recently launched a free coaching app, BKPRO (available on ITunes) that allows anyone to send in a video to be analyzed by Keene and his coaching staff who then provide pointers.

Photo courtesy Bud Keene, USSA

1. GET THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. Make sure that your kid is on good gear that is

PRO TIPS FOR TREE SKIING If you’re headed into the woods, heed these tips from expert tree skier John Egan

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ccording to poet Robert Frost, the woods of New England are “lovely, dark and deep. He neglected to mention one important thing: In Vermont, they’re also a ton of fun to ski through—provided you know what you’re doing. John Egan, Vice President and Chief Recreation Officer at Sugarbush Resort, has been featured in over a dozen Warren Miller ski movies and has skied around the world Today, he calls the Mad River Valley his home, and logs about 100 ski days a year there. Here, are his best tips for tree-skiing (as told to Evan Johnson. )

1. FIND YOUR “FREAK-OUT POINT”

When Egan takes out a group, he never heads straight for the woods. “Sometimes we’ll take something with a narrow line, but it helps me tell if people are ready,” he says. Before you go in the woods, see what your own “freak-out point” is by skiing tight lines down trails you know. Duck off a trail to see what the conditions are like. Start with venturing into side country, somewhere you can easily get back onto a trail, before heading into the backcountry.

2. KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING

Nearly every ski area in Vermont has some hidden tree runs and if you want to explore beyond the boundaries, there’s an ever better chance of getting fresh tracks but you need to know where you’re headed. Dozens of skiers have gotten lost in Vermont, some for days, even after setting out from a well-known resort trail.

Spanning six peaks, Sugarbush has 97 acres of glades within its marked boundaries, plus the massive Slide Brook Basin to explore. Having skied these woods for 40 years, Egan is more than familiar with these woods. While you don’t need the expert savvy that he has, it helps to have an idea of what to expect before you venture in. Tip: a hike on the Long Trail between Mount Ellen and Lincoln Peak has views down many choice lines.

Never just follow the crowd or another set of tracks. Know the access and exit points, base depth and recent snowfall. Before you head in, assess the time of day, forecast and the snow conditions. A common rule of thumb is not to venture into the woods until there are at least 50 inches of natural snow at the summits. Remember, too, that every snowfall can eradicate old tracks and waypoints and once you’re in the woods, many features look the same.

John Egan, dodging the trees at Sugarbush, makes it look easy.

a tree or a rock, in the trees it also thwarts branches and pucker brush. When it comes to picking skis for the woods, Egan is a “quiver-of-one” kind of skier. He says his current setup, a pair of Dynastar Chams with a 107mm waist, is perfect for all kinds of snow conditions all over the mountain. Use a pair of wider skis you’re comfortable on. And take your ski pole straps off. As Egan says: “It’s easier to hike uphill for your pole than it is to hike back up for your arm 5. PICK YOUR LINE

Egan keeps it simple: Daunting as they may be, don’t look at the trees—look at the space between them as far down the hill as you can. A good base plus some fresh snowfall will bury many of the deadfall but you can’t count on that and wind can also cause snowpack to seem deeper in some areas than others. Ski the woods before they get tracked out—fresh, deeper snow will be slower than packed pow.

Always look forward and if your helmet and arms can fit through the space, your butt and skis will follow. The woods of Vermont are known for being tight, so before you drop in, get some perspective by standing close to the trees and looking at your surroundings. “When you’re not standing in the middle of the line, you’ll see the woods differently,” Egan says. “You’ll notice whatever space you have.”

6. KEEP MOVING

When skiing trees, Egan says it helps to just keep going: “If you were running through a crowd on a subway platform, if you stop, the crowd will run you over,” he says.When you keep moving, however, you feel comfortable through the trees and that’s when you’ll make it happen. Focusing on holding an edge or maintaining your best racing form with spruce trees coming at you will not. It’s a different style of skiing than what you might use out on the open slopes, one defined by tighter, faster movements in response to the obstacles in your way. You’ll find yourself dodging and weaving through your environment. Egan’s advice? “To scrub any excess speed, exaggerate your edge pressure in the middle of your turns. Keep a responsive, aggressive stance with your hands forward to brush away branches.”

3. BE PREPARED

When you and your buddies finally duck off the trail, make sure there are at least three of you; in the event of an accident, two can go for help while one stays with an injured person. Groups should also carry a first aid kit, matches, a whistle (to call for help) and a fully charged cell phone. A compass, topo maps or navigation tools are a good idea too. A helmet not only protects your head if you fall and hit

7. SMILE AND STAY LOOSE

“The body works better when it’s happy,” Egan says. “When you’re smiling you tend to be breathing.You can’t work out at the gym if you’re holding your breath.” There are trees, rocks, unpredictable snow depths and drops, but mile, and you’ll feel yourself start to ease up. n

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2015 51

Epic Genuine Unforgettable

Photo credit: ŠBrian Mohr/EmberPhoto

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RETRO VT

BY GREG MORRILL

THE FIRST SKI RESORT IN THE U.S. Here’s how 80 years ago Woodstock’s Suicide Six started lift-served skiing.

Photos courtesy the Woodsock Historical Society

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couple of years ago the company that ran the Park City ski area was a little late with a payment on the leased land that made up the majority of its skiing terrain. When it went to make the payment, it found that Vail Resorts had negotiated a new lease with the landowners. A legal feud ensued (no pun intended), but Vail prevailed (pun intended) and now owns what was the Park City ski area.

It turns out that a similar plot line 80 years ago eventually led to the founding of Suicide Six, the nation’s first ski resort.

In late 1933, Wallace “Bunny” Bertram was living in Woodstock, Vermont at the White Cupboard Inn owned by Robert and Elizabeth Royce. Winter business at the inn was primarily members of the Amateur Ski Club of New York who came to ski the nearby hills.There were no lifts so all the skiing had to be “earned” by hiking or skinning up those hills. Bunny Bertram was a ski instructor who helped coach the less experienced skiers.

As winter started, the Royces, some of their New York guests, and Bunny Bertram began discussing the possibility of some kind of lift that could pull skiers up the hill allowing more runs per day. They had heard about a rope tow powered by a car engine that had been built in Quebec the previous winter.

The Royces obtained plans for the rope tow from the Quebec group. The Royces also had a topological expert map out the hills around Woodstock that would be appropriate for such a lift.

The expert identified six hills and numbered them on the map from one to six. The Royces chose hill number two for their first ski lift on grazing land owned by dairy farmer Clint Gilbert.

The Royces paid Gilbert $5 to lease the pasture for the season and retained local mechanic Dave Dodd to put together the first ski lift in the United States. Bunny Bertram was heavily involved in building that first lift, a 900-foot long rope tow powered by a Model T engine.

The White Cupboard Skiway opened on January 18, 1934, charging

$1 a day for use of the tow or fifty cents for a half day.

After a successful first season the Royces were prepared to offer Gilbert $100 for the 1934-35 lease on his pasture. The story goes that they had wanted to present Gilbert with a crisp, new $100 bill, but by the time they obtained one, Bunny Bertram had already closed a lease-deal with Gilbert for $10 plus a percentage of the ski tow’s income. Bunny Bertram was in the ski business.

Bertram changed the name of the area to theWoodstock Ski Hill.

He also made some changes to the original rope tow.The ModelT was replaced with a more reliable electric motor provided by the Woodstock Electric Company—all Bertram had to do was pay for the electricity it used. To make the rope easier to ride, he also improved the pulley mechanism based on a Ferris wheel he had observed.

By the end of the 1934-35 season, the relationship between Bertram and Clint Gilbert had become strained. Worried that he wasn’t getting an accurate percentage of the ski business, Gilbert had attached Bertram’s bank account. Bertram decided to sever his relation with Gilbert and went looking for a new hill.

This led him to hill #6 on the topo map, only a short distance from Gilbert’s hill. His first target was the south facing side known as the Gully, but how to get access to the land? Enter the Fisk family and primarily Elizabeth “Muddy” Fisk whose husband, Harvey, was an influential New York banker. The Fisks bought the Gully land, paid to have the power line extended into the location, and let Bunny Bertram use the land rent-free.

Bunny’s Ski Tows opened for the 1935-36 season. By the way, the Fisk’s daughters became accomplished ski racers—probably with Bunny’s coaching. They formed the nucleus of the United States Women’s Ski Team for the 1936 Olympics.

Even though the Gully is now part of Suicide Six, it was a year before Bertram could purchase the rest of hill #6, the top of the hill and the land on the northeast side – the steep side.

Legend has it that when looking at the steep northeast face of

Bunny Bertram built the first ski lift in the U.S., a rope tow, using a pulley mechanism inspired by a Ferris wheel he’d seen.

Later it was upgraded to a Poma.

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 53

RETRO VT

(above, in 1983 at Suicide Six) was one of the early riders at Suicide Six. Laurance Rockefeller (on left in group) bought the ski area in 1961 and built the Woodstock Inn.

“When looking at the steep northeast face of hill #6, Bunny Bertram said ‘it would be suicide to ski straight down that face.’”

hill #6, Bertram said “it would be suicide to ski straight down that face.” Later, in thinking up a name for his new expanded area, he recalled his comment and from his high school English class, the power of alliteration: hence Suicide Six. Suicide Six opened on Christmas day, 1937. Bunny Bertram was the lift operator, ticket seller, maintenance man, marketing manager, slope groomer, and occasionally a ski instructor and ran Suicide Six for 25 years.

Under his leadership, Suicide Six played a key role in the development of competitive skiing in the United States. The slope that had inspired the area’s name was called “The Face” and its steepness challenged even top racers. The Dartmouth ski team, which Bertram coached, trained at Suicide Six. The Fisk Trophy Race started in 1937 and is the longest running alpine ski race in the United States. The 79th running will be at Suicide Six on February 7, 2016, and will draw top eastern racers.

Bertram also had regular races that anyone could enter and pioneered a NASTAR-like system where competitors would receive gold, silver, or bronze pins depending on their time versus the hill record. The 1936 Olympian Alex Bright had set the original record of 57.6 seconds. The record was eventually lowered to 27 seconds by Tom Corcoran, who would finish fourth in the 1960 Olympic Slalom in Squaw Valley and go on to found the Waterville Valley ski area.

Bertram and Suicide Six are also credited with starting the first youth racing program in the United States in 1956. The area today still has a strong youth racing program run by the Woodstock Ski Runners, one of the oldest ski clubs in the United States.

Bertram’s competitive spirit went beyond racing. After reading an article in a magazine about someone in Europe setting a record for vertical feet in a day, Bertram contacted a local young skier about trying to break that record. Wendell “Wendy” Cram, now in his 90s, still recalls that day. “We just shattered the European record by quite a bit. I did 130-something trips, and the vertical feet were 750 per trip.” That’s over 100,000 feet of vertical! He did go through four pairs of tow mitts.

In 1961 Bertram sold Suicide Six to Laurance Rockefeller who already owned the nearby Mt.Tom ski area. Rockefeller saw Suicide

54 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

Six as a tougher complement to the more laidback Mt. Tom. Eventually Rockefeller would purchase and rebuild the historic Woodstock Inn and make the ski areas part of the Inn’s offerings.

Rockefeller would make many enhancements to Suicide Six. Chairlifts replaced most of the old surface lifts; a new base lodge was constructed; snowmaking was added. One of the changes that drew some ire from the locals was to re-grade the upper portion of “The Face” to make it “easier.” A local reportedly quipped that it was like “painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa!”

And even with the changing face of winter sports, Suicide Six continued to make history. The first National Snowboarding Championships were held at Suicide Six in 1982. Suicide Six local Paul Graves, a champion Snurfer rider, organized the event which received national TV coverage on both the Today show and Good Morning America. In addition to Graves, some of the competitors were Jake Burton Carpenter and Tom Sims.

Suicide Six begins celebrating its 80th birthday this year.

If you visit the area today—and you should—you will get more than just an enjoyable day of skiing or riding. You will get a trip back in time to the beginning of lift-served skiing in the United States. ■ CELEBRATING 80 YEARS Suicide Six celebrates its 80th on Jan. 30 with a retro day featuring prizes for the best vintage wear and skis, a Tubb’s Snowshoes “Face Race” (up the Face then down a trail) and free snowshoe demos. This will be followed by '80’s music, dancing and an Austrian-themed buffet. Then, on March 13, the ski area closes out the season with pond skimming, live music and more. While you’re in Woodstock, stop by the exhibits at Woodstock Historical Society, pick up some great new or used gear at the Gear Traders (that is housed in the same building (the White Cupboard Inn) Go to where Bunny Bertram lived. And stay at vtskiandride.com the inn that Laurance Rockefeller revived: to watch “The the Woodstock Inn will be featuring 80th Drunk History of anniversary lodging and lift ticket packSkiing” and see ages all season. more retro photos.

Photo courtesy Burton; Woodstock Historical Society

Jake Burton Carpenter

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Backcountry Events Schedule

Feb 6 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont’s Snow Day. Free Nordic & Backcountry skiing and snowshoeing for Vermont residents from 11am - 3pm.

Photo by: Ryan Denning ryandenning.com

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Backcountry Events presented by the Catamount Trail Association Learn more at catamounttrail.org

Get Out & Backcountry Instructional Series Feb. 7, 14, 21 & 28

Bolton Valley Offers Over 1200 Acres of Backcountry Terrain.

Catamount Trail Express BC Ski Shuttle Shuttle from Nebraska Valley to Bolton. Ski back to your car. Feb. 6, 13, 20 Wednesday Night Uphill Race Series Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17 & 24, March 2 & 9

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Helping you achieve your fitness and racing goals.

Building a community of fun-loving fitnes freaks!

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Mar 5 Frigid Infliction 10 hour adventure race.

Mar 6 Vermont Land Trust Trail Tours. Ski and snowshoe tours followed by an après-ski gathering.

Mar 12 Splitfest featuring free splitboard demos and more.

Mar 19-Mar 20 24 Hours of Bolton. A 24 hour backcountry race presented

by Native Endurance.

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THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR RESORT HAPPENINGS

JANUARY

16 Let It Glow Laser Light Show & Fireworks Spectacular at Okemo Okemo hosts a laser show with digital graphics in front of The Sitting Bull restaurant. Fireworks serve as a grand finale. www.okemo.com 22–24 Smuggs Ice Bash The weekend kicks off with a climbing competition Friday night at Petra Cliffs’ Burlington gym and then heads to Smuggler’s Notch for ice climbing demos, clinics and talks by Nick Bullock and Nick Yardly. www.smuggsicebash.com

6-7 NENSA Eastern Cup Race Weekend #4 at Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe 5K/10K freestyle races and 10K/15K classic races on Sunday. www.nensa.net 13-14 Romance Half Marathon at Rikert The Rikert Nordic Center hosts a half marathon. www.rikertnordic.com 19 Family Fun Day at Rikert A day of family friendly Nordic tours, races and scavenger hunts, finished with a bonfire. www.rikertnordic.com 12 Cloud Nine Nuptials at Mount Snow Renew vows or get married at the top of Cloud Nine. www.mountsnow.com

23 Saturday Night Lights Uphill Event Stowe’s Gondolier trail will be lit with lights for the first of four Saturday evenings, allowing skiers and split boarders to earn their turns. www.stowe.com

13 February Festival Bromley hosts an annual celebration benefitting the Bromley Outing Club with fireworks, torchlight parade, silent auction and live music. www.bromley.com

30 Okemo’s 60th birthday Skiers and riders at Okemo are invited to sing “Happy Birthday” and enjoy a piece of cake as Okemo celebrates its 60th year. www.okemo.com

MARCH

30 Co-Op’s 20th Anniversary Grand Soirée at Mad River Glen MRG celebrates 20 years of co-op ownership. www.madriverglen.com.

30 20th Annual Heritage WinterFest at Smuggler’s Notch Start with the Cambridge Rotary pie breakfast, followed by a 5K-snowshoe race at Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Center. End with lasagna at the Cambridge Fire Department and sledding and a bonfire at Quarry Hill Farm. www.smuggs.com 31 Ski for Heat Bromley hosts a fundraiser for neighbors in need of heat. www.skiforheat.org

FEBRUARY

6 Saturday Night Lights Uphill Event The Gondolier trail will be lit with lights for the second session in a series of Saturday evenings dedicated to skinng. www.stowe.com 6 Inaugural Winter Fest & Rope Tow Dedication, Ascutney Ascutney Mountain marks its comeback with the dedication of a new rope tow, live music, ski, snowshoe and fat bike races, and s’mores . www.mountascutneyoutdoors.org 6-7 Boy Scout Weekend at Bromley Vermont scouts have the opportunity to work on their snow sports merit badge and a race for a ski 2016-2017 pass. www.scoutingvermont.org

Comfortable beds, fun bar, & local food in our new Ludlow boutique hostel.

Accommodations starting at $35/night

VThostel.com • 802-975-0030

56 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

12 Sugar Daze at Okemo Just when the sap starts to run, Okemo offers a free concert series in the base area courtyard, grilled food and a beer garden. www.okemo.com 12 Split and Surfest at Bolton Valley Bolton Valley offers a backcountry experience for snowboarders with demos, merchandise, food and free rentals. www.boltonvalley.com 19-20 24 Hours of Stratton Ski or ride from dawn until dusk to raise money for the Stratton Foundation.

Awards for vertical feet skied and most money raised. www.stratton.com 26 March-di Gras at Stratton Stratton celebrates Mardi Gras in a style all its own with a block party in the resort village with live music, Creole cuisine and an ice bar. www.stratton.com 26 Bud Light Sink or Skim at Mount Snow Mount Snow welcomes spring with its annual pond skim with prizes and plenty of laughs for spectators. www.mountsnow.com 26 Spring Fling at Bromley Come out to play at this annual festival. Enjoy barbeque fare and the annual pond skim. www.bromley.com 27 Bud Light Duct Tape Derby at Mount Snow Competitors construct crafts out of cardboard, zipties and duct tape before sending them downhill and on a skim across a pond. www.mountsnow.com

APRIL

2 Hops on Snow at Okemo Okemo welcomes spring with a beer festival and live music. www.okemo.com 2 Q Burke’s Annual Pond Skim Competition Q Burke’s pond skim rewards winners with a season’s pass. www.qburke.com 9-10 Spring Fling and Annual Pond Skim at Stratton Goggle tans, t-shirts and any wacky accessories of choice are welcome as Stratton celebrates the soft snow at its annual spring party. www.stratton.com 9 Pond Skimming at Jay Peak Jay Peak throws springtime a welcome party with an annual pond skim. Bring your Hawaiian shirt and get ready to get soaked. www.jaypeakresort.com 9 Slush Cup & Splash for Cash at Okemo Costume-clad competitors at Okemo skim across an 80-foot long pond and try not to fall in. Prizes will be awarded based on style, costume and craziest run, with additional prizes for best wipe out. www.okemo.com 23 Dazed and Defrosted at Killington As the spring heats up, Killington keeps on skiing with live music, equipment demos and beverages at the Umbrella bar. www.killington.com

COMPETITIONS: SKI, SNOWBOARD, CROSS COUNTRY

JANUARY

18 Mad River Glen Family Tournament Generations of Mad River Glen skiers go head-to-head in this popular tournament. Siblings, parents, grandparents and entire families compete with the goal of finding the overall family winner. www.madriverglen.com 23 Junior Unconventional Terrain Comp at Mad River Glen Skiers 14 and younger get a shot at freeskiing glory in this competition at Mad River Glen. Top finishers qualify for the Triple Crown Unconventional Challenge as well as Ski the East Freeride Tour events. www.madriverglen.com 23 Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Jay Peak Amateur skiers chase their dreams at this dual giant slalom course. Top finishers have a chance to advance to the national finals. www.jaypeakresort.com 23-24 USASA Skier and Boarder Cross at Stratton Skiers and riders race down the East Byrneside trail four at a time. The two fastest racers advance to the next round. www.stratton.com 24 Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Okemo Amateur skiers chase their racing dreams at this dual giant slalom course at Okemo. Top finishers advance to the national finals. www.okemo.com 24 Mansfield Nordic Duathlon at Craftsbury

2016 SKI AND SNOWBOARD DEMOS

Try new gear for free 1/23 RAMP Sports Demo Day at Killington 1/24 Rocky Mountain Underground Demo Day at Bolton Valley 1/26 RAMP Sports Demo Day at Mad River Glen 1/26 Clearwater Sports, G3 Telemark Demo at Mad River Glen 2/7 Uphill Demo at Bolton Valley 2/6 Smokin’ Snowboards Demo at Jay Peak 2/13 Powe. Snowboards Demo at Bolton Valley 3/19 Spring Demo Day at Okemo 3/26 Never Summer Snowboard Demo at Jay Peak

The Craftsbury Outdoor Center hosts a 12K duathlon skied half on classic skis and half on skate. Divisions for Masters, teens and kids. www.nensa.net 30 Q Burke Backcountry Adventure Bring your skins and your tele/AT set up to Q Burke for this rando style race all over the mountain. This race runs 7.5 miles and has 4,000 feet of elevation gain, plus seven transitions to negotiate. www.skimoeast.com 29-31 NASTAR Eastern Championships at Okemo Recreational racers compete to qualify for the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships at Snowmass, Co. www.okemo.com 30 35th Annual Craftsbury Nordic Marathon Skiers from all over the Northeast head to Craftsbury for this annual race with the option to ski 25K or 50K in a loop. www.craftsbury.com

FEBRUARY

6 Neffland Space Jam at Killington Killington’s Neffland terrain park lights up the night with a space-themed rail jam for skiers and riders. www.killington.com 6-7 USASA Skier and Boarder Cross at Stratton Skiers and riders race down the trail four at a time. The two fastest racers advance in this exciting USASA-sanctioned race. www.stratton.com 6-7 Stowe Parks Freeride Challenge Stowe’s challenging frontside Lift Line trail is the site of a freeskiing competition organized by UVM’s freeskiing team. www.stowe.com 15 Grommet Jam Finals at Mount Snow The final rail jam of the season for kids under 12. www.mountsnow.com 20 Winter Wild Uphill Race at Okemo Race to the summit of Okemo before then to the bottom. ww.okemo.com

vtskiandride.com WINTER 2016 57

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR 19-21 Canadian Ski Marathon in Buckingham, Quebec Novice and elite-level cross-country skiers head north to Quebec for three days. The marathon follows a point-to-point format as the tour skates, kicks and glides 160K towards Lachute, Quebec. www.csm-mcs.com/en 20-22 Triple Crown Unconventional Competition at Mad River Glen Competitions over three days help determine the king and queen of the mountain. Day 1: Skiers pick their best line under the famed single chair in the first leg of MRG’s Triple Crown Competition Series and the first stop of the Ski the East Freeride Tour. Day 2: bumps challenge competitors on the Chute and Lift Line Trail. Day 3: The final leg sees how many vertical feet competitors can ski in a day. www.madriverglen.com 20-21 Harris Hill Ski Jump Ski jumpers from around the world head to Brattleboro to compete on southern Vermont’s historic ski jump. www.harrishillskijump.com 27 Slash and Berm Banked Challenge at Killington A banked slalom snowboard race on Bear Mountain. www.killington.com

2016 SKI VERMONT SPECIALTY FOOD DAYS

Sample some of Vermont’s finest foods, like Cabot cheese and local maple syrup.

1/26 Roll Back the Clock Day at Mad River Glen 1/29 Farmer Appreciation Day at Jay Peak Resort 2/16 Smugglers’ Notch Resort 2/27 Winter Carnival at Middlebury College Snow Bowl 2/28 Sugarbush Resort 3/5 Pico Mountain 3/12 Killington Resort 3/13 Skier & Rider Appreciation Day at Bolton Valley 3/18 Sugarbush Resort 3/26 Stratton Mountain Resort 4/2 Okemo Mountain Resort

MARCH

27 Southern Vermont Freeskiing Challenge at Magic Mountain Freeskiers head to Magic Mountain to show off their best skills on the Red Line trail in the second stop on the Ski the East Freeride Tour. www.skitheeast.net

5 SkiMo Challenge at Jay Peak Two monster randonnée races challenge the advanced ski-mountaineer. The long course is 9 miles with 5,250 feet elevation gain. The second day of competition is across the border at Owl’s Head resort, Quebec. www.skimoeast.com

26-27 EISA Championships at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl The Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association’s championships and Winter Carnival are held on the classic Allen course. Down the road, Rikert Nordic Center hosts Nordic races. www.eisaskiing.blogspot.com

5 Red Bull All Snow at Mount Snow Inspired by skate parks, this series challenges competitors to throw down tricks on snow features focusing on flow and rhythm. www.mountsnow.com

27 Frigus at Bluberry Hill Outdoor Center in Goshen The Endurance Society holds a combination, snowshoe, cross-country ski and sled race at Blueberry Hill as well as a triathlon. www.endurancesociety.org 28 Strafford Nordic Center Relay The Strafford Nordic Center hosts a sprint relay race for teams of two. Skate race in the morning followed by classic races in the afternoon. Free Strafford Organic Creamery Ice Cream after the race. www.straffordnordicskiing.com 28 71st Edition of the Stowe Derby Over 900 cross country skiers race from the top of Stowe to the village center.

This historic race is open classic, skate skis and fat bikes. www.stowederby.com 28 Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Bolton Valley Bolton Valley hosts a popular eastern race series with a free, fun race open to all ages and abilities. www.boltonvalley.com

www. greenmountainsherpas.com greenmountainsherpas@gmail.com

58 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

5 Frigid Infliction at Bolton Valley This 10-hour obstacle race pits teams against each other. Challenges include snowshoeing, post-holing, skiing and navigating. www.boltonvalley.com 5 Castlerock Extreme Challenge at Sugarbush Skiers take on the daunting Lift Line trail under the Castlerock Double as the Ski The East Freeride Tour comes to Sugarbush. www.sugarbush.com 6 Smugglers’ Notch Extreme At Smugglers’ Notch, some of the best (or simply bravest) skiers take on some of the most challenging terrain: the Madonna headwall Competitors will be judged on line, control, fluidity, technique and style. www.smuggs.com 6 Jack Jump World Championships at Mount Snow Complete with speed, racing action and great crashes, the Jack Jump World Championships return to Mount Snow’s racecourse.

10-13 Vermont Open at Stratton Stratton pays homage to the pioneers of snowboarding and welcomes new generations of riders in this annual event. Pros and amateurs compete for a $20,000 cash purse in rail jam, slopestyle, halfpipe and banked slalom categories. www.stratton.com 11-12 Carinthia Freeski Open Mount Snow’s all-park mountain face, Carinthia, hosts its annual AFP-certified competition. with $7,000 up for grabs for the pros, and lots of gear and prizes in the amateur division. www.mountsnow.com 12 Ian Muller Rail Jam at Q Burke Skiers and riders show off their skills in this rail jam benefitting a scholarship for a Lyndon State College student veteran. www.qburke.com 12 Bread Loaf Citizens Race at Rikert The Rikert Nordic Center hosts its umpteenth running of the 5K cross-country race with the traditional loaf of bread for the winner, plus a lollipop race for the kids. Costumes are highly encouraged. www.rikertnordic.com 12 Relay For Life Nordic Style at Catamount Outdoor Center The Catamount Outdoor Family Center hosts eight hours of continuous Nordic skiing while raising funds for the American Cancer Society. Teams camp out on the snow and participate in fun activities while taking turns on Nordic skis and snowshoes around an oval course. www.relayforlife.org/nordicstylevt 13 Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Bromley Amateur racers take to a dual giant slalom course at Bromley for a chance to advance to the national competitions. www.bromley.com

19-20 24-Hour Backcountry Skimo and Splitboard Race at Bolton Valley Native Endurance and Bolton Valley host New England’s first-ever 24-hour backcountry ski and splitboard race. Racers compete for the most laps a daytime backcountry loop and a nighttime groomed route. www.boltonvalley.com 19-20 Ski The East Freeride Tour Championships at Jay Peak Skiers charge some of Jay Peak’s most difficult terrain in pursuit of the series championship. www.jaypeakresort.com 26 Topsy Turvy Derby at Stowe The Catamount Trail Association hosts a 1.5-mile race to the top of Mount Mansfield on skis, splitboard or snowshoes, gaining 2,000 feet. Some come to win, others just to beat the clock and their friends. www.catamounttrail.org 26 New England Rando Race Series at Bromley “Sun Mountain” gets in on the rando-race action with this annual ski mountaineering race with 4,793 vertical feet gain. www.nerandorace.blogspot.com 27 Pico Skimo Ski mountaineering action comes to Pico this winter with a new race organized by the Endurance Society, with three laps, gaining 2,000 feet up the mountain. www.endurancesociety.org 28 Bob’s Birthday Bash and Random Relay at Rikert The Rikert Nordic Center celebrates Robert Frost’s birthday with a day of races, a cake and a BBQ. Costumes are encouraged. www.rikertnordic.com

APRIL

12-14 USSMA National Series/N.E. Rando Race Series at Magic Mountain The only Eastern stop on the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association National Series: a weekend of racing up and down the mountain, a criterium and an uphill-only race. www.nerandorace.blogspot.com

2-3 Annual Sugar Slalom at Stowe Originating in 1940 and one of the oldest ongoing races in the country, the Mount Mansfield Ski Club’s annual Sugar Slalom celebrates spring with serious racing, serious fun, costumes and sugar on snow. www.teammmsc.org

19 The Carinthia Open Mega Plaza Carinthia Parks at Mount Snow hosts a snowboard competition with a plazastyle setup loaded with unique features. Pros will walk away with a cash prize, while amateurs compete for prizes and gear. www.mountsnow.com

3 Bud Light Glade-iator at Mount Snow Mount Snow’s springtime challenge is one not to be missed, as competitors take on the double black diamond Ripcord in hero snow. www.mountsnow.com

20 Sugarbush Mountaineering Race For backcountry skiers and split boarders, the Sugarbush Moutaineering Race heads from Lincoln Peak to Slide Brook and Mt. Ellen with courses for both aspiring amateurs and experts. www.sugarbush.com

The Hobble Inn — in the heart of Stowe

From $80 a night | www.hobbleinn.com | 802-734-0661

A Classic New England B&B

9 Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge at Killington Killington’s famous end-of-season bumps contest. See some of the best bump skiers go head to head. Stick around for the party. www.killington.com 30 Killington Triathlon Killington holds the kind of triathlon it knows best: ski, bike and run all over the mountain in this spring event. www.killington.com

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR CLINICS:

A Sunday morning group lesson focused on specific skills. Dates: 1/24, 1/29-31, 2/7 www.stratton.com

LESSONS AND TOURS

Start Fun, Start Free at Bromley Free clinics in the Terrain Based Learning area with a Learning Zone lift ticket, equipment and instruction. When you’re done with your lesson, take your new skills to the hill—your ticket is valid all day. Date: 3/13 www.bromley.com Essential Elements – Breakthrough, at Sugarbush A four-week series of clinics designed to take the novice or intermediate skier and rider to the next level. Dates: 1/23, 1/30 www.sugarbush.com All Terrain Ski Camp with Dan Egan at Killington Resident pro at Killington, Dan Egan leads skiers on a daylong clinic, teaching the skills to ski the entire mountain. Dates: 1/23, 2/20, 3/19 www.killington.com Photography Outback Snowshoe Tour at Sugarbush Snowshoers head to the backcountry of the Slide Brook Basin for a guided photography tour. Dates: 2/16, 3/19 www.sugarbush.com Women’s Ski Camp with Donna Weinbrecht at Killington Join Olympic gold medal mogul skier Donna Weinbrecht and top coaches for a day of skills development. Dates: 1/23, 2/20, 3/12, www.killington.com Women’s Only Telemark Ski Clinics at Mad River Glen Aspiring and experienced telemark skiers alike head to Mad River Glen for a day of free-heel clinics with the MRG staff. Dates: 2/13 www.madriverglen.com Girls’ Time Out Specialty Series at Stratton

Introducing online snowboard and freeski coaching from BKPRO!

Get personal coaching anywhere in the world from Bud Keene or one of his certified staff coaches right on your iPhone, iPad, or computer.” www.budkeene.com

00 September 2015 vtskiandride.com

Women’s Discovery Camp at Sugarbush A multi-day ski and ride camp with instruction, demos, video analysis, equipment discussion and more. Dates: 1/29-31 www.sugarbush.com Fresh Tracks Film Camp at Sugarbush Sugarbush offers teenage skiers and riders the opportunity to learn filmmaking on the mountain. Dates: 1/23-24, 2/6 www.sugarbush.com Kids Cooking Class at Sugarbush Kids get a turn in the kitchen with specialized cooking classes designed for kids ages 6-12. Dates: 2/6, 2/20 www.sugarbush.com Catamount Trail Association Backcountry Days at Bolton Valley A series of clinics for alpine touring and telemark skiing. Dates: 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22 www.boltonvalley.com Essential Elements – Ski Mountaineering at Sugarbush An introduction to alpine touring skills and equipment on black diamond terrain. Dates: 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27 www.sugarbush.com Nordic Touring with the Catamount Trail Association at Bolton Valley Intermediate and expert-level backcountry skiers explore the backcountry.

Topics include navigation, what to pack, efficient travel and skiing skills, including speed control and turning. Dates: 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28. www.catamounttrail.org

Vermont's Outdoor Adventure Center Ski Tours & More

UMIAK

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NORDIC SKI TOUR JANUARY - MARCH Wed & Sat 10:00am - 2:00pm

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BOLTON TO TRAPPS HIGH MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE 2/6/16 , 2/20/16 9:00am - 5:00pm

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AT & TELE BACKCOUNTRY SKINNING CLINIC 1/17/16 , 2/14/16 9:00am - 5:00pm

TOURS

Black Diamond, Fischer, Madshus, G3, Rossignol, Voile, Scott, Tubbs, TSL, Kahtoola, Outdoor Reasearch, Mammut, Sport Hill & MORE

Stowe

Burlington

849 S.Main St Stowe, VT (802) 253 2317

1203 Williston Rd S.Burlington, VT (802) 651 8760

DRINK

VERMONT

The Green Mountain State is home to some of the world’s best breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries. Many of them use the finest Vermont products including local apples, grapes and pure Vermont maple syrup to create their unique libations. For more information on each location check out www.vtskiandride.com.

This working farm is the northernmost brewery in Vermont. It has a greenhouse for food production, a Black Angus beef heard for spent grain and trub recycling, a geothermal cooling system and wood-fired hot water... we are Vermont Green.

610 US Route 7, Middlebury, VT 802-989-7414 www.dropinbrewing.com Steve Parkes and Christine McKeever, owners of Drop-In Brewing and the American Brewers Guild pride themselves on educating brewers and creating worldly beers with Vermont character. In a small but fun atmosphere tasting-room customers can try our 7 beers on tap and take home any of three different sized growlers. sponsored content

WhistlePig showcases the tremendous flavor potential of rye while maintaining a smooth and balanced profile, identifying it with the most acclaimed whiskeys in the world.

46 Log Yard Drive, Hardwick, VT (802) 472-8000 www.caledoniaspirits.com Warren, VT 802-272-8436 www.lawsonsfinest.com Lawson’s Finest is a small artisanal brewery located in Warren, VT, producing an array of hop-forward ales, specialty maple beers, and unique creations of the highest quality and freshness. Find our beer at lawsonsfinest.com.

Caledonia Spirits is a craft distillery in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Raw honey distinguishes our Barr Hill vodka, Barr Hill gin, and Tom Cat barrel aged gin by imparting a pure and soft botanical essence into each bottle. All of our spirits reflect our deep connection to the land and Vermont’s agricultural heritage.

Open daily 12-5 for free tours and tastings at the distillery.

150 Main Street, Newport, VT 802-334-1808 www.edenicecider.com Founded in 2007 on an abandoned farm in the Northeast Kingdom, Eden produces high quality ice ciders, aperitif ciders and naturally sparkling hard ciders from heirloom and true cider variety apples grown at our own and 5 other local orchards.

Slow Food Snail of Approval, Good Food Award Gold Seal, Great Lakes International Cider Competition Best in Show 2015.

1333 Luce Hill Rd. Stowe, VT 802-253-0900 www.vontrappbrewing.com von Trapp Brewing is dedicated to brewing the highest quality Austrian-inspired lagers with a Vermont twist. Experience “a little of Austria, a lot of Vermont,” in every glass.

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

353 Coburn Hill Road Newport, VT 802-334-7096 kingdombrewingvt.com

52 Seymour Street Middlebury, VT 802-897-7700 whistlepigwhiskey.com

632 Laporte Road, Route 100 Morrisville, VT 802-888-9400 www.rockartbrewery.com

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

Enjoy samples of our beers during your visit and have a growler filled to take home to enjoy later. We have the best selection of our bottled beers. You’ll also find great Rock Art swag, Vermont foods and wonderful items from local artisans.

4445 Main St, Isle La Motte, VT 802-928-3091 www.hallhomeplace.com We make the most distinctive Hard Cider, Ice Cider and Apple Wine in the world. Enjoy them around your meals or as wedding favors & toasts or sitting on your front porch watching a sunset.

3 Artisans Way, Windsor, VT 802-674-4220 www.silodistillery.com SILO Distillery, located in Windsor, Vermont, is a sustainable craft distillery that distills all of their small batch spirits completely in-house from local grains and ingredients.

They offer tours, free tastings, a full bar for craft cocktails, retail and free local music 3 times a month. www.silodistillery.com

201 Vt Route 112 Jacksonville, VT 802-368-2226

3597 VT-74, Shoreham, VT 802-897-2777 www.champlainorchards.com We offer guided tastings of our locallymade hard cider including our Original Hard Cider, Mac & Maple, Limited Edition Ginger Spice as well as our Pruner’s Pride and Honeycrisp Ice Cider. All our ciders are made on site with our ecologically grown apples. 100% of our electricity is generated from our solar orchards. 2015 Winner of Vermont Cider Classic.

Open daily 9-5. July-Nov. Please call ahead.

276 Main Street, Jeffersonville, VT Barrel House Tasting Room 2657 Waterbury Stowe Rd. Waterbury Center, VT 802-309-3077 www.smugglersnotchdistillery.com

A new artisan craft brewery in the heart of the 05342. We have 3 revolving brews on tap to taste along with selling Growlers and Crowlers. We also have Honora Winery wines and tastings available.

Drawing on the alchemy of a father/ son dream, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery creates Vermont inspired, small batch, and remarkably distinctive vodka, bourbonbarrel aged rum, hopped gin, 802 Blend gin, bourbon and wheat whiskey.

Open Wednesday -Sunday 11-7.

Open daily for tastings at both locations 11 to 5.

Did you miss the

622 Keyser Hill, St. Johnsbury, VT 802-745-9486 www.duncsmill.com At Dunc’s Mill, we know that true craft spirits take time, care and effort. That’s why we try to do everything the right way. We have one goal: to create from scratch the highest quality spirits that can be produced. We do every step of the process by hand, and it’s all done in house. Find our rums at over 50 locations around Vermont, or call and arrange a time to come visit.

716 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 802-497-0054 www.zerogravitybeer.com Zero Gravity Craft Brewery recently opened a 30-barrel brew house, full canning line, tasting room, retail shop and a sun-drenched beer garden on Pine Street in Burlington, in addition to the original location in American Flatbread Burlington Hearth. Beers brewed for food are our main focus; German and Czech-style lagers and a variety of Belgian styles are usually well represented. Our TLA IPA is a crowd favorite as is our medieval style Gruit ale, released twice a year on the summer and winter solstices.

LAST CALL? Call us today.

802-388-4944

Don’t miss the

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Email us today. ads@vtskiandride.com sponsored content

Prohibition Pig 23 South Main Street • Waterbury • VT 802-244-4120 www.prohibitionpig.com Two restaurants, one location.

Business in the front. Party in the back.

Brewery opens at 11:30 a.m. everyday for lunch + supper.

5 Bartlett Bay Rd South Burlington, VT 802-658-BREW MagicHat.Net Where ancient alchemy meets modern-day science to create the best tasting beer on the planet. Come watch our spores dance and play! Visit the Artifactory for FREE samples, FREE tours and the most unusual shopping experience!

316 Pine Street, Suite 114 Burlington, VT 802-497-1987 www.citizencider.com We are cider makers who love to take fresh local apples and ferment them into delicious, refreshing, dynamic, clean and fulfilling cider!

We use 100% locally sourced apples and cider for 100% of our products, 100% of the time. Never made from concentrate, ever! Our goal is bold, yet simple: Make cider for the people, by the people. Visit us on Pine Street in Burlington for tastings and a great meal.

NORTHERN VERMONT

Caledonia Spirits Spirits, Hardwick Dunc’s Mill, St. Johnsbury Elm Brook Farm, East Fairfield Eden Specialty Ciders, Newport Kingdom Brewing, Newport Rock Art Brewing, Brewing Morrisville von Trapp Brewery, Stowe

CENTRAL VERMONT

Champlain Orchards, Shoreham

4373 VT Route 12 Berlin, VT 802-233-1151 freshtracksfarm.com Sample estate-grown wines from our sustainable winery, just outside the capital city of Montpelier.

Drop-In Brewing, Middlebury Fresh Tracks Farm, Berlin Kingdom Brewing, Burlington Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Warren Magic Hat, South Burlington Prohibition Pig, Waterbury Smugglers’s Notch Distillery, Waterbury Zero Gravity, Burlington

SOUTHERN VERMONT

J’Ville Craft Brewery, Jacksonville

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VERMONT

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Silo Distillery, Windsor

East Fairfield, VT 802-782-5999 www.elmbrookfarm.com Premium Sipping Vodka and Barrel Aged Maple Spirits made from 100% pure Vermont maple. Our products are entirely fermented, distilled and bottled by hand on our Vermont farm!

FIND MAPS AND MORE INFO AT www.vtskiandride.com/drink-vermont

RAIL DOG

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

Hall Home Place, Place Isle La Motte

The Chairlift Q+A

BY LISA LYNN

BILL MCKIBBEN’S FORECAST No one wants more winter than Bill McKibben:The climate change activist and author skis 130 days a year.

Biil McKibben, January 3, 2016 at Rikert.

You’re an avid skier, but not really a chairlift type of guy. Where might we run into you skiing?

Whenever I’m home I try to ski, usually at Middlebury College’s Rikert Cross Country Center in Ripton. Since they put in snowmaking in 2013, Rikert has a 5K course you could host the Olympics on tomorrow; it may be the best race trail in America. Beyond that, you can ski from here to Lincoln or Goshen on a combination of groomed and backcountry trails like the Catamount Trail. The Goshen-Ripton-Lincoln plateau, the country between Stowe and Bolton, and Craftsbury,Vermont may be the three best nodes in the state—though of course there’s an awful lot of great Nordic skiing here.

How did training like an Olympian, as you wrote Long Distance, change you?

It was nice to take a year off from failing to save the planet to learn about my body and what real Nordic racers go through. I’ve always been disciplined, but I really learned how you have to tune your body to eat right and to train right. I’ve managed to pretty much stay in shape since then—never fast, always dogged.

Early winter was not good to Vermont. Another sign of climate change?

My mood is really dependent on the weather, not just locally, but globally. This past Christmas was the first year it was above freezing at the North Pole; there were floods in Mississippi and hurricanes in Iceland. Globally, 2015 looks to be the hottest year on record. El Nino made it worse for Vermont this year but we are already measuring the impacts of climate change here with shorter, milder

64 WINTER 2016 vtskiandride.com

winters. A good, objective gauge? The contests that have gone on for decades to see when ice melts on ponds and lakes around the state are noting the ice thaws much earlier each year.

Tell us about 350.org, the organization you and Middlebury College students founded that promotes bringing the planet’s C02 levels down from the current 400 parts per million to 350 ppm, the level many scientists believe is the limit for sustaining life as we know it.

The first real climate change protest started here in Vermont in 2006 with a march from Ripton to Burlington that I helped organize with friends, Middlebury College students and, by the way, Bernie Sanders. It drew a thousand people. In September 2014, more than 400,000 people turned out for the People’s Climate Change March in New York. So that’s good growth, I guess. Recently, we’ve been successful in helping block the Keystone XL pipeline and in 2015, we saw divestment in fossil fuels increase 50-fold to reach $3.6 trillion.This January, Governor Shumlin asked the Vermont legislature to divest the state’s stock in Exxon, which may be the next big front in this fight.

You wrote in The New York Times that the climate change talks in Paris last December fell short. Why?

Over this century, we’ve already warmed the planet by 1 degree C (or 1.8 degrees F) and that’s been enough to start polar ice caps melting. But in Paris, though the rhetoric was pretty good, the actual pledges that countries made would put us on on path for a 6- to 8-degree F warm-up. If that happens, we’re not going to be talking about just losing snow and skiing, we’ll be talking about a lot worse things happening: floods, tick and mosquito infestations, crop failures, drought and more.

Is there any good news for skiing and for Vermont?

Vermont ski areas have become very good at dealing with climate change: we have some of the best snowmaking in the country. As for natural snow, in the short term we are going to see some strange weather patterns, like a dip in the polar vortexes, that could bring more cold to the state. But overall, we’re going to see shorter and warmer winters. That’s why I never take a snowstorm for granted. If it snows, I’m out there. n

Photo by Lisa Lynn

I

n 1986, Bill McKibben, then 26, left his job as staff writer at The NewYorker and moved to the Adirondacks to write the seminal book on climate change, The End of Nature. At 37, he took a year to train as an Olympic Nordic skier might and wrote Long Distance: A Year of Living Strenuously, a book that Into the Wild author Jon Krakauer called “a wonderful paen to winter.”

McKibben has since written numerous books, including Deep Economy, Hundred Dollar Holiday, Maybe One and, most recently, Oil and Honey.

Now 55 and a scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College, McKibben is the founder of the climate change activism group 350.org and a world leader in raising awareness of the human impacts on climate change. He and his wife, author Sue Halpern, live in Ripton and teach at Middlebury College.

EDGEWATER GALLERY MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT

contempor ar y & traditional fine ar t | home design boutique | event space mo n t h ly e xh i bi ti o n s | established & emer ging ar tists from vt & beyond

edgewater galler y-vt.com | two locations six merchants row & one mill street

sugarbush.com

800.53.sugar

#sBdiSCoVer

Upcoming EvEnts $30 Thursday at MT. EllEn

Thursdays, non-holiday

BasE CaMp at MT. EllEn

Moonlit skin & snowshoe w/ pizza, bonfire & drinks Saturdays thru Mar 26

Tour dE Moon

Guided skin w/ dinner & night ski Jan 17 & Feb 14

Jr. CasTlEroCk ExTrEME ChallEngE Feb 6

TorChlIghT paradE & FIrEworks Jan 16 & Feb 13

lawson’s BEEr dInnEr at allyn’s lodgE Feb 20

CasTlEroCk ExTrEME ChallEngE Mar 5

woMEn’s dIsCovEry CaMp Jan 29 - 31; Mar 7 - 9

sugarBush MounTaInEErIng raCE Mar 20

sTEIn’s ChallEngE Apr 9

For more information on restaurants, activities and events call 800.53.sugar or 00 September 2015 vtskiandride.com visit sugarbush.com.

Community is Better at Sugarbush There’s something more to the Sugarbush experience than the legendary terrain variety, the meticulous snowmaking and grooming, the fabled history, and the authentic Vermont mountain setting.

Come discover what makes Sugarbush different.