Vermont Ski + Ride 2021 Holidays Issue

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SKI + RIDE

Vermont’s Mountain Sports and Life

Locals’

Favorites 6 Hills We Love

VERMONT’S OLYMPIC HOPEFULS

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HOLIDAYS 2021

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CONTENTS

FEATURES LAUNCHING... p. 26

Some kids are born to slide on snow. Others are raised that way. Here’s how three local kids started turning heads.

A BARN RAISING p. 32

They salvaged and scavenged and dreamed. Then these two skiers turned a centuries-old barn into a sustainable Net-Zero home.

LOCALS’ FAVORITES p. 40

Shorter lines, lower prices, fresh snow, community spirit—those are just some of the reasons we love these 6 indy mountains.

FIRST TRACKS

COLUMNS

NEWS | VERMONT’S OLYMPIC HOPEFULS,

See who Vermont will be sending to compete in Beijing.

p. 12

NEWS | HOW TO GET FIRST TRACKS, p. 21

These new passes will let you get the powder first. Plus, the best names for a snowplow and ski towns’ new fast-food.

NEWS | GET AVY SAVVY, DIGITALLY, p. 23

Online avy courses bring powder smarts to the people.

NEWS | TAKE THE VT MICROBREW QUIZ,

How well do you know Vermont’s microbrews? . ,

p. 24

FROM THE TOP | THE LOCALS’ HILLS

p. 10

There’s a reason locals are heading to smalller hills.

GEAR | MADE IN VERMONT,

p . 52

These Vermont brands make cool gear that gives back.

RETRO | STRATTON’S FORMATIVE YEARS,

p. 57

Sixty years ago, a few friends decided to make a new ski hill. .

CALENDAR | GREEN MOUNTAIN EVENTS , CHAIRLIFT Q/A | THE UNLIKELY RIDERS ,

p. 59

p. 64

A new group is uniting BIPOC skiers and riders in the Greens.

COVER: Ryan Lee captures Owen Warren exploring Stratton. THIS PAGE: X Games gold medallist Zeb Powell sends it at Suicide Six. Photo by Brian Nevins/Red Bull vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 7

EDITORIAL Publisher, Angelo Lynn angelo@vtskiandride.com Editor/Co-Publisher, Lisa Lynn editor@vtskiandride.com Creative Director, David Pollard Editorial Intern, Vivian Date Contributors: Brooks Curran, Dan Egan, David Goodman, Ali Kaukas, Bud Keene, Brian Mohr, Lindsay Selin, Doug Stewart, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

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In the years before I worked for this magazine, I had one season pass. Back then, it cost about twice what an Epic or Ikon pass does now. It meant I skied the same mountain for most of the season. That wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it meant you saw your same friends, weekend after weekend and it felt like a local’s mountain.

That ski area has since been swallowed up by one of the two megaconglomerates. It’s so crowded now that it is hard to find a parking space on weekends, much less your friends—many of whom don’t ski there any more.

Like some of them, I’ve gone in search of a new “local’s” mountain. I’ve found it at places like the Middlebury Snow Bowl where on a weekend powder day you can still make first tracks in the woods at 11:00 a.m. I’ve also driven two hours south on a sunny day to ski and, truth be told, just take in the scene, at Magic. For a ‘vacation’ I’ll head to Burke (shown here) just to get away from the crowds..

It’s places like these where you can rack up the days that will make you a better skier without waiting in long lines. As any of the kids we profile in “Launching...”

—kids who rack up 100 days a year or more—will tell you, it’s not how big a hill you ski, but how many days you slide on snow.

Tell us on our social meda, what is your local favorite? —Lisa Lynn, Editor

CONTRIBUTORS If Rutland resident Brooke Geery says Lil Homie can shred, he can. Geery has covered snowboarding for over 20 years at YoBeat and now at Blower Media. In this issue, she rides with Harley Ruffle, age 4, a.k.a Lil Homie for the story about grom phenoms, ‘Launching.”

The closest VT SKI +RIDE co-publisher Angelo Lynn may come to winning a medal is at Middlebury Snow Bowl’s ski bum races, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t live vicariously through Vermont’s Olympic hopefuls whom he covers in this issue.

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Ryan Lee, who lives in Lexington, Mass., likes to mix his two favorite passions, photography and skiing. He captured our cover shot of Warren Owen exploring the woods at Stratton.

Photo by Jeb Wallace-Broaderu

LOCALS’ FAVORITE HILLS

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FIRSTTRACKS VERMONT’S OLYMPIC HOPEFULS

Photo courtesy of USSA

Soon, a large contingent of Vermont skiers and riders will be Beijing-bound for the 2022 Olympics.

Here are the athletes we are watching. By Angelo Lynn

12 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

T

une in to watch the 2022 Olympics in Beijing this February and you’re likely to see a number of Vermont-trained athletes. Sure, there will be the expected standouts —Ryan Cochran-Siegle of Burlington, Jessie Diggins of Stratton, Susan Dunklee of St. Johnsbury.

But you may also see some new faces and surprises, such as aerialist Megan Nick of Shelburne, freeskier Mac Forehand of Winhall, or three members of the Vermont National Guard, all competing in biathlon.

While many still have to officially qualify, here’s who we are watching. To see the Games live, tune in to NBC’s streaming services.

For a list of events and their live broadcast times, see Calendar, p. 60.

ALPINE RACING

“Ryan Air prepares for takeoff” is how Vermonter Ryan Cochran-Siegle captioned this shot of himself speed training at Copper Mountain last fall.

While most of the Northeast spent Thanksgiving weekend cheering as Mikaela Shiffrin finished first and Paula Moltzan finished 7th at the Homelight Killington World Cup,Vermonter Ryan Cochran-Siegle quietly climbed another rung on what has been a long, steep ladder to the top of the U.S. Men’s Ski Team.

On Nov. 27, Cochran-Siegle sped into 10th place in the World Cup downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, the top American to finish in the speed event. “It’s a good start, especially in a downhill for me,” said the 29-year-old whose mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, won a gold in slalom in the 1972 Olympics. “This is my best start of the season in downhill, but we all know we’re capable of more,” he added. A week later he was 6th at the downhill in Beaver Creek.

For much of his career, Cochran-Siegle has been fighting his way back from an injury. The former Junior World Champion destroyed his knee in 2013, sat out for a long time but then worked his way back.

At the end of the Covid-shortened 2020/21 season, Cochran-Siegle was ranked 10th in the World Cup standings for super G and 14th for downhill. Earlier in 2021, he became the first American man to win a World Cup super G in 14 years. In January 2021, he had the best time in the training run for the famed Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbuhel, Austria. In the actual race, he crashed hard and was airlifted out with a season-ending fractured vertebrae.

Last spring, RCS, as friends call him, was still wearing a neck-brace as he helped his cousin Tim Kelley boil sap at UnTapped’s sugarhouse at the base of Cochran’s Ski Area. “It’s the first time I’ve been here in the spring in a long time,” Cochran-Siegle said. But after rehab, he is back and switched to Head boots and skis. Cochran-Siegle may be the men’s alpine team’s best chance of earning a medal in Beijing.

On the women’s side, Burke Mountain Academy grad Mikaela Shiffrin, 26, is, of course, back and fresh off her fifth consecutive slalom win at Killington, her 46th overall, tying Ingemar Stenmark’s record for a single discipline. She too has been building back since taking time off after her father’s death and nursing a back injury. In early November, Shiffrin was at the U.S. Ski Team’s speed training camp at Copper Mountain, Colo. In 2017 she surprised even herself by winning both a World Cup downhill and, later, a super G in Lake Louise.

In 2018 in PyeongChang, Shiffrin withdrew from the downhill and

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 13

super G after bad weather caused a change in schedule. She came away with a gold in giant slalom and a silver in the super combined. Those two medals tied her with Andrea Mead Lawrence and Ted Ligety in terms of the record number of Olympic medals won by an American alpine skier.

This year gives her a chance to break that record.

Next to Shiffrin, University of Vermont’s Paula Moltzan, 26, (see our feature in the last issue, at vtskiandride.com) is now the second best American female in tech skiing and we expect to see her continue to rise in slalom and giant slalom. Since the start of the 2020/21 season, Moltzan has finished top 10 in the World Cup 8 times, with one podium and, in Killington, a 7th place. This year saw her take a break from her studies to focus on her skiing, but she and her fiancé are already house hunting in Vermont and she plans to finish her degree at UVM.

FREESKIING

Mount Snow native and former overall World Cup winner Devin Logan, 28, helped southern Vermont earn a reputation for turning out the top freeskiing talent in the world and she’s still on the U.S. Ski Team’s Halfpipe A team. Now, Logan’s former coach, Jesse Mallis, has turned out two Stratton Mountain School freeskiers to watch: Mac Forehand and Caroline Claire.

This magazine first wrote about Mac Forehand when he was just 1/20/21 PMinPage 1 Vermont. andSki+Ride starting 2021.qxp_Layout to win events near1his family’s2:04 home southern 13Vt

Mac Forehand’s family moved to Stratton so he could focus on skiing. It paid off. At 17, he won the overall Word Cup for big air.

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At 17, Forehand, then a Stratton Mountain School junior, made history by winning the overall World Cup for big air in 2019. In 2021 he placed fourth in the World Championships for big air in Aspen and so far this season has earned an 8th. Now 20, Forehand is also currently ranked 3rd in the world for slopestyle.

Manchester native Caroline Claire, 21, was just ahead of Forehand at Stratton Mountain School. She was a discretionary pick to go the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018 where she finished 23rd in slopestyle.

She’s currently on the U.S. Freeskiing’s A Team but an ACL injury at last spring’s X Games, and then a tumble this past fall, have kept her from bringing her A game.

In moguls, Killington-trained Hannah Soar, 22, has been killing it. Growing up, Soar and her family drove from Connecticut to spend weekends at Killington bashing bumps on Bear Mountain before she enrolled in Killington Mountain School as a junior. During the height of the pandemic, Soar made Vermont home and part of her summer training was hiking as many as 18 peaks in one day. Soar skied consistently well in 2020/21, earned two World Cup podiums and was ranked third in the world.

Soar has been training with another KMS student and close friend, Alex Lewis, 22. Lewis joined the KMS Freestyle Program when he was seven. He’s currently on the U.S. Ski Team’s A Team but ranked fifth so may not earn a berth in Beijing.

Hannah Soar perfected her winning mogul style bashing bumps at Killington’s Bear Mountain. In 2021, she ranked third in the world for mogul skiing.

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SNOWBOARDING

When she was 13, Jules Marino of Westport, Ct., got serious about snowboarding. She and her father started heading up to Stratton and she eventually enrolled in Stratton Mountain School. She made the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics where she placed 10th in big air and 11th in slopestyle. Since then, Marino, 24, hasn’t placed lower than 10th in any FIS event in the last two years.With a sponsorship from fashion line Prada, she’s going to be a figure to watch in Beijing.

At 36, Stratton Mountain School grad Lindsey Jacobellis has won five World Championships in snowboardcross, 31 World Cups 10

individual X Games, and a silver medal at the Torino Games in 2006 (where a method grab at the end cost her gold.) The one thing that’s eluded her is Olympic gold. This may be the year that the all-around athlete (who also skateboards and surfs near her home in southern California) may get her chance. With two podiums in the 2020/21 World Cup, she’s going into the season ranked 7th in the world.

Growing up in Roxbury, Ct., Jacobellis and her family would head to Stratton on weekends. That’s where she learned to ride and enrolled in Stratton Mountain School, where another snowboardcross teammate, Alex Diebold, 36, also trained. Diebold, a Manchester, Vt. native, won a bronze in Sochi. Last season, his best event was a 6th in the team event but he’s already been to China once this season (finishing 24th in a World Cup), and is expected to return.

Another former SMS student from Connecticut who transferred to Okemo Mountain School, Joey Okesson could be another name to add to the Olympians list – though it may not be in 2022. At 18, Okesson is in his first year on U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s snowboarding A Team.Though he finished 13th at the World Cup in Aspen last season and 11th in another World Cup halfpipe event in Laax, Switzerland, he has some stiff competition. To get to Beijing, the 5’6”, 145lb rider would have to outperform Olympic great Shaun White and a halfdozen other American riders who are ahead in the rankings. Can Okesson do it? If not in 2022, then 2026.

These trails have trained national champions and generations of family skiers.

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Middlebury’s Snow Bowl

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Photo courtesy USSA

One Vermonter to watch closely in Beijing is Shelburne native Megan Nick, 25. In 2021, the former gymnast who competes in aerials captured her first World Cup win.Two weeks later, she repeated her winning full double full and won another World Cup in Belarus.

The first time Nick tried aerials, she was a student at Champlain Valley Union High School and doing gymnastics at Green Mountain Training Center in Williston. As part of a senior project, she began researching freestyle skiing and went to a training camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. Soon, she was on the U.S. Ski Team. Since leaving CVU, Nick has gone on to earn a degree in economics from the University of Utah and is working on a master’s degree in environmental studies—all while training for the Olympics.

In 2021, Stratton resident Jessie Diggins won the sport’s highest honor, the overall World Cup.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

In PyeongChang, Stratton resident Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall made history as the first U.S. Nordic skiers ever to win gold. Back then, the women’s Nordic A Team was piled high with Vermonters – Andy Newell, Simi Hamilton, Sophie Caldwell, Ida Sargent, Liz Stephens among them.

While those folks have retired from racing, Diggins, 30, has only gotten better. In 2020/21 she set another record, becoming the first American to win the grueling series of races known as the Tour de Ski, then placed 4th in the World Championships and earned the giant crystal globe as the season’s overall World Cup winner, also winning the distance title. Diggins has already started off the 2022 season strong with a silver in the Lillehammer, Norway, World Cup sprint.

Diggins has a new round of A Team skiers (many from Alaska) to push her. There’s also Katherine Ogden, 24, and her brother Ben Ogden, 21, from nearby Landgrove, Vt. While neither are likely to make it to Beijing, both are on the U.S. Team and improving.

BIATHLON

Here’s an impressive statistic: Seven of the 8 members of the 2021/22 U.S. Biathlon World Cup team live and train in Vermont.

Even more impressive? Three are soldiers with the Vermont Army

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For biathlon superstar Susan Dunklee, this will be her last Olympics.

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National Guard, stationed in Jericho, Vt. Leif Nordgren, 32, of Hinesburg, Vt., Sean Doherty, 26, (originally from Center Conway, N.H.) and Deedra Irwin, 29, (formerly of Pulaski, Wisc.) are all based at the Vermont National Guard’s Camp Ethan Allen, which has one of the oldest biathlon training sites in the U.S. Nordgren already has two Olympics to his name, with his best finish a 6th in the relay in PyeongChang. He shared that with Doherty, also a two-time Olympian. For Deedra Irwin, this would be her first Olympics: in 2021 her top World Cup finish was 38th in a sprint.

Vermont native Susan Dunklee, 35, and Clare Egan, 34, have both already qualified for the Olympics by earning multiple top-12 World Cup or World Championship finishes last season.

For Dunklee, the most successful U.S. biathlete ever, this will be her third (and final, she says) Olympics. Her best Olympic finish so far is 11th but she has earned World Championship silver medals twice. Dunklee grew up in St. Johnsbury and graduated from Dartmouth.

Dunklee has been training at Craftsbury Outdoor Center with her Craftsbury Green Racing Project teammate, Clare Egan, originally from Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Egan, who has a master’s degree in linguistics and speaks five languages, also raced in the 2018 Olympics. The eight member of the team and a member of the Green Racing Project that trains at Craftsbury is Jake Brown, 29, of St. Paul, Minn.

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How to Get First Tracks

There are two ways to make sure you get first tracks: skin up or pay up.

POWDR Corp., which owns Killington and Pico, caused a stir last fall when it announced its Fast Tracks pass. For an additional $49 a day (lift ticket not included), the pass allows a limited number of skiers access to a priority liftline. At Alterra-owned Stratton, anyone with a Stratton Summit Season Pass ($,1399) can access lifts at 7:45 am (versus 9:00 am) on weekends and holidays. In addition, Ikon and other pass holders can buy a First Tracks upgrade ($399) to do the same. All Ikon passholders also get one day a month when they can ski or ride early.

At Sugarbush, the Premium Plus Season Pass ($1,349) or a regular pass with the Early-Ups add on ($499) guarantees early access. All Ikon passholders at Alterra-owned Sugarbush also get three early days.

The best way to assure first tracks is to book Sugarbush’s Sunrise First Tracks and ride the Cabin Cat ($90/2 hours) before lifts open.

NAME THAT SNOWPLOW

This past fall, schools around Vermont were issued the challenge of coming up with names for snowplows and on Nov. 17 “Snow Plow Day,” each school got a visit from their newly adopted plow. Of the 160 plows that were named, these are our favorites. Watch for them.

Photo top by Brian Morh/EmberPhoto; middle courtesty Jay Peak Resort;

1..Snowbegone Kenobi (Bishop Marshall, Morristown) 2. Yo Bro, No Snow (Berlin Elementary, Berlin) 3.Jennifer Snowpez (Bakersfield Elementary, Bakersfield) 4. Captain Snowmerica (Braintree Elementary, Braintree) 5. Plowy McPlowface (Bridge School, Middlebury 6. Darth Blader (Mid-Vermont Christian School, Hartford) 7. Plow Cow (Tinmouth Mountain School, Tinmouth) 8. Snowflake Dentley (St. Johnsbury School, St. Johnsbury 9. William Scrape-speare (Homeschooling students, Ripton) 10.Slip Sliding Safety Service (Windham)

VT’S (SKI) FAST FOOD Vermont is the only state in the nation that doesn’t have a McDonalds in its capital and chain fast food is be hard to find in any Green Mountain ski town. Instead, you will find locally home-grown chains like The Skinny Pancake. What brothers Jonny and Benjy Adler started as a food truck at Middlebury College now has a half-dozen outlets around Vermont, including in Stowe, Quechee and at the Burlington airport. Each serves local farm-fresh ingredients (such as Champlain Orchards apples, Cabot cheddar and local bacon), sweet and savory, wrapped in a thin pancake or crepe. Another eatery that is expanding is Jordan Antonucci and Momoko Munenaka’s Miso Hungry. What started as a take-out ramen place located in an abandoned ski tram at Jay Peak is now serving up piping hot bowls of Munenaka’s authentic miso broth and ramen noodles from shacks at Bolton Valley, Spruce Peak at Stowe, and Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush. Nomad Coffee, which has been a fixture at Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak base the past few years returns and now has locations in Burlington and Essex.

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 21

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GET AVY SAVVY, DIGITALLY

We Are Melting “The year 2050 could be the last year the ski industry will be viable in Vermont,” says the sobering Vermont Climate Assessment report released by the University of Vermont in Nov. 2021. “The Vermont ski season will be shortened by one month (under a high emissions scenario) or by two weeks (under a low emissions scenario) by 2080,” the report states.

The study, the first of its kind since 2014, notes that Vermont’s average annual temperature has already risen 2 degrees Fahrneheit since 1900, with a 21% rise in precipitation— which has often driven severe flooding. While Vermont’s electric grid has the lowest carbon intensity in the country, transportation and heating remain the state’s two highest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Last February, Ian Forgays, a highly experienced backcountry skier from Lincoln, Vt. set off to ski Mt. Washington by himself. Two days later, his body was discovered under avalanche debris. With more and more people exploring the backcountry, avalanche safety courses have been selling out. That’s where Mountain Sense (mtnsense.com) comes in. Mark Smiley, an IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide out of Jackson Hole has developed a series of online courses to teach everything from Smartphone Navigation ($19) to The Ultimate Guide to Backcountry Skiing & Ski Mountaineering ($245).

The online courses should not be a substitute for the in-person learning that American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Level I and Level II certification offer—and don’t let them give you a false sense of security. But they can help you prepare to travel in the backcountry.

One of the most useful elements of Smiley’s program is his “ninja” skill level chart (below)—an objective measure of experience designed to help you choose backcountry partners accordingly.

That’s what it will cost you to park on weekends this season in the preferred lots at Mount Snow Resort. When the resort announced last spring that it was instituting a parking fee ($15 on weekdays/$30 weekends) at its premium Lot A and a $15 fee at half of the rest of its lots, it caused a minor uproar.

For Vail Resorts, paid parking may be the norm. In Vail Village you can park for free if either a) you only plan to stay for 2 hours or b) you arrive between 3 pm and 3 am. You may also buy a season parking pass which starts at $350 and goes up to $3,300 for guaranteed parking at one of the two slopeside parking garages. The other option is a shuttle bus from one of the free lots on the outskirts of town.

When Vail Resorts opted to institute paid parking at California’s Northstar-at-Tahoe resort in 2019, skiers sued the company claiming they had already bought passes and that the paid parking constituted an undisclosed fee.

In 2018, when Colorado’s Eldora Mountain announced it would charge $20 for parking, the backlash was so fierce the ski area rescinded the fee. But this year, Eldora must meet Boulder County regulations which require all single-occupancy vehicles to pay $10 to park on holidays and weekends.

Paid parking is something ski areas around the country are struggling with and Vermont is no exception. Employee parking has been gradually moved farther and farther away from the slopes. Carpooling and public transportation are encouraged as a solution to both the parking and traffic problem and as a way to reduce carbon footprints.

Still, most mountains are not on board. Magic Mountain responded to Mount Snow’s announcement with this: “Announcing New Premiere Parking in Lot A. It will be a parking experience of a lifetime for our valued guests. The price is a bit steep: it will cost you sleep. Get your ass out of bed early to grab one of these premium spots, baby. That’s all.” vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 23

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“WINTER IS NOT A SEASON, IT’S A CELEBRATION.” Anamika Mishra

Photo © Stephen Shelesky

Madison Rose Ostergren

LEKI, CELEBRATING WINTER SINCE 1948.

At 15, Luke Miele is the top-ranked freeskier in his age group, carrying on a Mad River Glen tradition. Miele has been with the MRG Freeski Team since he was 10. Last spring, another MRG freeskier, photographer Brooks Curran, caught Miele doing backflips at Killington on a spring day.

Some kids are born to slide on snow. Others are raised

26 Holidays vtskiandride.com

Credit

that way. Here’s how three kids started turning heads.

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 27

know Mikaela Shiffrin’s story by now: How her father, Jeff Shiffrin, a former collegiate ski racer, had her skip the snowplow and go right to carving turns, skis parallel and on edge. Her mom, Eileen, another college ski racer, bought her a unicycle so she could work on balance.That was just the start.

And you may have heard of Kai Jones who was featured in the 2018 Teton Gravity Research film “Far Out” when he was just 11. Now, 15, Kai hucks some big air in the latest TGR release, “Stoke the Fire.” It didn’t hurt that Kai’s father, pro skier Todd Jones (who grew up skiing in Stowe,Vt.), is one of TGR’s founders and his backyard stomping ground is Jackson Hole,Wyo. But that’s not always the trajectory, especially if your parents are not big skiers or you don’t go to a ski academy.

Take freeride phenom Luke Miele, 15: he’s been a weekend skier, commuting to Mad River Glen from Wellesley, Mass. He happens to be friends with Kai Jones, whom he’s been competing against for 5 years, and beating.

Or 7-year-old ski racer Cambria McCarthy: Her parents only started learning to ski in Pennsylvania four years ago, when she did. She’s only finished second once in a race.

Or snowboarder Harley “Lil Homie” Ruffle, age 4. His parents don’t snowboard but he’s already getting shout-outs from pros such as OIympic gold medalist Red Gerard and X Games gold medalist Zeb Powell on Instagram. Yes, this 4-year-old already has an Instagram page with more than 2,500 followers and sponsors.

What sets these three apart from the thousands of other kids who show talent? Well, maybe nothing except the level of passion and dedication they bring to their sports. It’s inspiring.

[For video of these three in action see vtskiandride.com/launching-kids/]

Freeskier Luke Miele, Age 15

Miele now skis for Teton Gravity Research’s Grom Squad, earns free gear and has his sites set on the IFSA Junior World Championships.

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In early February 2020, just before the pandemic put competitions on hold, Luke Miele stood near the top of Grand Targhee, Wyo., ready to take his first run in the International Freeriders & Snowboarders Association (IFSA) Grand Targhee Nationals.The 37 other competitors in the 12- to 14-year-old age group were all from the West, specifically such playgrounds of knife-edge ridgelines and pillow-covered boulders as Alta, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, and Alyeska.

Miele, at the time a 14-year-old from Wellesley, Mass., was representing his home mountain, Mad River Glen, in the freeskiing competition. On his first run, he dropped a 20-foot cliff, arced down the fall line, cut left into some tight trees, then burst out of them to drop another cliff. Then, he dropped into a straight line, funneling through a narrow chute between more trees. His run edged out Zenin Quinn from the Palisades Tahoe and Kai Jones to earn the highest score. On Luke’s second run, he placed second but the combined scores earned him the national championship title for his age group.

Luke’s proudest moment was at another IFSA event at Snowbird, Utah. “What I like most is skiing a line that others don’t and getting really creative. In Snowbird I was looking at this line at Silver Fox and thinking where I could get some airs,” he said. Using skills he learned negotiating rocks and trees in Vermont, Luke won that event and, in fact, has won every one of the eight IFSA events he’s entered the last two years. In 2020, his season-long video edit also took first place in TGR’s Grom Comp.

If you ask Luke how he got so good he’ll tell you it was just from following his friends and parents around Mad River Glen.When he was 6, his family started renting a house in Moretown and then, five years ago, bought their ski house in Fayston. During Covid, Luke was home schooled and the family spent most of the winter there. “I got to ski every single day from December to March and then in 2021 I did that again,” he says. At the Fayston house, Luke and his friends built a kicker so they could perfect their jumps and strung up lights. “I’d ski all day at Mad River Glen and then come home and we’d practice jumps there at night,” he says. He did his first backflip behind the house at age 11.

Luke was never formally in “ski school” but when he was 10 he was finally old enough to join the Mad River Glen Freeski Team where he worked with coaches such as José Darius and Hans von Briesen. That program has turned out an impressive legacy of talent, such as pro skiers

Ryan Hawks, Lars and Silas Chickering-Ayers, Brooks Curran, Dylan Dipentima,Tim McClellan and others.

“The goal of our program is to train future coaches who can then teach and inspire the next generation,” says RyYoung who has grown the Mad River Freeski Team from 8 to nearly 80 over two decades. “What makes these kids so good is they ski with, learn from and follow the kids who went before them,” he says.

In 2011, Mad River Glen skiers Lars and Silas Chickering-Ayers took gold and silver at the World Extreme Championships in Crested Butte, Colo. and both brothers have coached Luke. “He’s a really strong, consistent skier,” says Silas who was with Luke in Grand Targhee for the 2020 championships. “And he’s not someone who gets super competitive.

He’s just a really nice kid,” he says.

“Mad River Glen may not have a terrain park, which seems to be how so many kids train these days, but kids there learn how to do tricks off the natural terrain or build kickers themselves.There’s just a lot of energy and excitement and enthusiasm in that program,” says Silas.

In the past two years, Mad River Glen skier Natalie Slade has placed fourth in the IFSA World Junior Championships and Sophia Bisbee placed fifth at the 2021 Freeride Junior World Championship in Verbier.

Luke counts fellow IFSA World Tour competitor and MRG skiers Owen Deale among his posse and when he heads out to Jackson Hole, he’s often skiing with Kai Jones and his dad,Todd.

“A lot of skiers out West ski well in the big wide-open bowls but growing up skiing the ice and tight trees makes me a stronger skier,” Luke says. “My goal this season is to qualify for World Championships in Austria.

I’m finally old enough but I have to be the top-ranked skier in the East.”

His other goal? Help his parents improve. “All my friends whom I ski with, we’re trying to get our dads to do 360s. My dad says he has done a few when I’m not skiing with him, but I don’t know if I believe him. But our parents are pretty good: they keep trying.” —L.L.

Opposite, Brooks Curram. This page, courtsey Alisha Becker

Ski Racer Cambria McCarthy, Age 7

Meeting Mikaela Shiffrin made such an impression on Cambria McCarthy that she and her family moved to Killington from Pennsylvania.

When Killian McCarthy posted a video of his daughter Cambria, “Cammie,” age 5, laying her skis on edge and carving slalom turns, he had no idea it would go viral. “Two years later, it’s gotten like a million views,” says Cammie’s mother, Alisha Becker, shaking her head. “I’m not much of a skier so I didn’t really know how good she was,” she said.

In fact, neither parent skied; Killian snowboarded and Alisha was learning to ski. “We just thought skiing would be a fun thing to do outdoors as a family,” Alisha remembers. Blue Mountain was near their home in Pennsylvania. So, on a February day in 2017 when Cammie was 3 and a half, they rented gear from the local Army & Navy store and put Cammie in a lesson.

“It was fun. I really liked my instructor, Sharon,” says Cammie, flashing what is now her trademark smile.

The next stop was a family trip to Vermont and Okemo Mountain Resort. Okemo’s ski program Snow Stars allowed Cammie in early because she could already stop and turn. “After that week, she was making parallel turns and starting to edge her skis a little and actually trying to angulate.We were blown away. At that time, I was still skiing in a pizza wedge and crying,” Alisha says with a laugh. “She did not learn it from us.”

At age 4, Cammie got her first pair of Lange RSJ50 ski boots. She was now getting her skis on both edges. She started

LAUNCHING A ... FREESKIER

Twenty years ago Mad River Glen started its freeski program raising a generation of kids who can ski just about any natural terrain with flair. Now, Sugarbush, Smuggler’s Notch and Jay Peak all boast strong freeski teams too. All take kids 10 to 18 (Sugarbush starts off at age 8) with options for programs that run one day or two days a week. In Stowe, the Green Mountain Academy has freeski and snowboard options. For those who are serious about competing, several ski academies offer strong programs for freeskiers. The Stratton Mountain School Freeski program is run by Jesse Mallis, who has coached the likes of World Cup freeskiers Devin Logan, Caroline Claire and Mac Forehand. Practice often takes place at Carinthia, Mount Snow’s huge terrain park. Okemo Mountain School and Killington Mountain School also offer freeski/freeride programs and have sizable parks and airbags where training takes place.

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LAUNCHING A ... SKI

RACER

Vermont has turned out some of the top ski racers in the country, thanks to its icy terrain and competitive programs. Cochran’s Ski Area in Richmond has been a breeding ground for generations of ski racers (most recently, World Cup racer and Olympian Ryan Cochran-Siegle). Today, its programs focus as much on kids having fun as learning the right techniques. Most ski areas in the state have racing programs but if your kid wants to go to the next level, a ski academy may be the next step. Stratton Mountain School, Killington Mountain School, Okemo Mountain School, Green Mountain Valley School, Mt. Mansfield Academy and Burke Mountain Academy are some of the best in the state. Current U.S. Ski Teamers Mikaela Shiffrin, Nina O’Brien and Zoe Zimmerman all went to Burke.

participating in the local race program a year early and ended up winning her first race against kids who were older.

Cammie also started watching race videos. “She had the TV clicker one day and was browsing through channels and saw a ski race going on. After that, she became obsessed with watching ski racing,” Alisha remembers. When the kids in her ski program started making race bibs one day, Cammie wanted a replica of Mikaela Shiffrin’s Olympic race bib. Her mom helped her make it and it read “Salt Lake City, 2030.” “I was so surprised because all of the other kids wanted unicorns and flowers,” says Alisha.

That Thanksgiving, the family headed to Killington so Cammie could watch Shiffrin and the world’s top technical racers race the Homelight World Cup. “It was really exciting to see them all racing down Superstar,” says Cammie, who can now ski that expert trail top to bottom, non-stop. After the race, she stood around for more than two hours in the cold and eventually got a chance to meet Shiffrin. “It was amazing,” says Cammie.

That meeting decided two things for the family: they were going to move to Vermont and enroll Cammie in a ski academy.

After looking at Green Mountain Valley School and a few other places, they decided on Killington Mountain School and found a house in Rutland. “People kept saying we should live in Killington, but we loved Rutland – it has all the things our town in Pennsylvania had,” says Alisha.

The couple own a beauty products line and a business doing hair and makeup for weddings and events. “Most of our business is in the summer, so we had the flexibility to be up here,” says Alisha. Cammie’s older brother Robbie is also at KMS now and her baby sister Willa may be on skis soon.

“I think one thing that helped Cammie is we had her doing gymnastics from a really early age,” says Killian. “That built up her core strength and taught her balance.” While her parents were not skiers, Killian had played football in college (and his father played for the NewYork Giants) and Alisha was a cheerleader.

“The main thing is we haven’t pushed her: she just loves it,” says Alisha.

Cammie skied 164 days in 2020. “She went to Mt. Hood, Ore., last summer for three weeks for a ski camp and she only called home three times,” says Alisha. As for her results? Ask Cammie what race she’s most proud of and she says this: “It’s the time I came in second, because I was racing against girls who were much older.”

That was the only time she’s not finished in first. —L.L.

Harley Ruffle, a.k.a, “Lil Homie” was already dropping into halfpipes and riding Killington’s parks at age 4.

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Early season riding at Killington is not easy. Negotiating the two trails of mostly man-made snow on Rime and Reason, takes real skill, especially after they have been punished both by the weather and hundreds of hard core skiers and snowboarders. Beginners are wise to wait for more terrain to open. But for Harley Ruffle, age 4, known on social media as @lilhomie802, it’s the chance he’s been waiting for to get back on his board and he’s out there as soon as the snow flies.

“I like getting huge air and I like all my homies,” Harley says when asked what his favorite thing is about snowboarding. In a video his mom uploaded to Instagram on Nov. 3, Harley quips: “The mountain opens on Friday. Get your shred on.”

“Kid’s nuts,” Harley’s mom Jill Ruffle says with a laugh and a shrug. “Last year, I told him the park was just for big kids, but this year there was no stopping him.”

Photo by Brooke Geery

Snowboarder Harley Ruffle, Age 4

The Ruffles live in Killington, spreading out between a condo and a specially equipped shred van they worked on all summer. Gary Ruffle, a skier and skateboarder, grew up splitting his time between Long Island, N.Y. and Middletown Springs, Vt., while Jill, whose first love is surfing, called the New Jersey shore home. These days, Gary works as a chef and Jill, who was formerly in public relations, focuses on Harley and her two other kids, with a side gig working with a local football league.

For the past three winters, they’ve been committed to staying as close to the mountain as possible, hoping to keep Harley occupied. During the 2019/20 season Lil Homie made the 100 day club, riding 100 days that season at Killington.

It’s a good thing, because when he can’t snowboard, Harley is literally bouncing off the walls. During the summer, the Ruffles spend a lot of time at places such as the trampolines at Elevate Movement Collective in Stowe and the Darkside skatepark in Killington.That helps, but it’s only when Harley is strapped into his tiny Rome snowboard that it seems he’s truly happy.

Harley is big for 4, but he still needs help getting on and off the North Ridge quad, which is not detachable and can catch even full-sized riders off guard. Jill and Gary take turns shuttling Harley up to the snow depending on the day and rely on a cast of “big homies” to help keep Harley safe and moving. He has no trouble when momentum is on his side, but on the flats, sometimes he needs a push. As of press time, Harley weighed in at 42 pounds.

Standing 3’3” tall, Harley can be easily spotted thanks to his long blond locks and bright green alien helmet with two antennae sticking up. From afar, he looks like he could easily be 8 years old, but up close his round cheeks and bright blue eyes make it slightly easier to guess his real age.

The locals at Killington all know him well and shouts of “Lil Homie!” can be heard repeatedly from the chairlift as the tiny shredder not just successfully, but skillfully, navigates the challenging terrain. He also stops to wave at people and “sightsee,” as Jill calls it, some of the adorable moments that remind you just how young he is. When he does open his mouth, he spouts out snowboard jargon learned from riders more than four times his age. “You’re a Jerry!” is one of Harley’s favorite sayings.

There’s no sense getting offended though, and seeing him snowboard in person is even more impressive than watching the videos on Instagram. Harley has real board control and his own unique style. He often turns quickly, spotting a mogul and catching air, as his personal film crew (mostly just his mom and friends holding iPhones) captures footage for his rabid social media fans. He’s also not scared of park features, even after an altercation with a box last season required emergency dental surgery. Harley was back to lapping the Killington Peace Park the same day.

On Instagram, @lilhomie802 has already amassed over 2,500 followers since the very first post on Aug. 13, 2019, which is a photo of him as a short-haired toddler, rocking Vans and standing on his brand-new skateboard at Darkside Snowboard shop. Now, on any given day his DM’s are filled with shout-outs from pro snowboarders such as Red Gerard, Zeb Powell and Joey Okesson, who send him video messages from wherever they happen to be riding that day. “You rule, homie!” is a common refrain. “I am amazed how big he sends it!” says Powell.

Harley has been invited to ride out west by “basically everyone,” Jill says, and he recently picked up a clothing sponsor, Shred Dog, which sends him boxes of gear that most pros would envy.

Harley’s skills improve by the day, and this year, he’s on track to log his third 100-plus-day season. “It’s been pretty incredible watching Harley progress. I have some photos of it, but I still remember the first day we put him on a board and sent him down the little snow there was in the Dark Park. I think he was two at the time,” Darkside general manager Tucker Zink says.

“The following winter, Gary and Jill begged us to ‘give him lessons’ because neither of them snowboarded,” Zink continues.

“He wasn’t talking at the time, so I had a hard time picturing him taking instruction. I’ll give his parents all the credit — they brought him to the mountain. Every. Single. Day.” Harley is the youngest of Jill’s four kids, and she fondly refers to herself as an “aggressive sports mom.” All her children are very athletic and highly accomplished in their sports of choice — namely soccer, lacrosse and horseback riding — but Harley is her first winter sports kid. Her permissive and encouraging style, along with her background in surfing, have definitely helped his skills. But as Zink points out, the number one factor to his success is simply how much time he spends on snow.

“Even if it was just to putt around in the start park, he was on his board constantly. And that’s why he rips! He started young, built the muscle memory, and got to watch all his homies rip around him. Monkey see, monkey do,” Zink laughs. “He also has no fear, and maybe that’s just a lack of experience, but he does just go for it most of the time!”

This season, Harley said he has one specific goal. “I like the parks because I do crazy tricks and I want to do a flip this season!” he says. —Brooke Geery

The locals at Killington all know him and shouts of “Lil Homie!” can be heard from the chairlift as the tiny shredder skillfully navigates challenging terrain.

LAUNCHING A ... SNOWBOARDER

With Burton Snowboards based in Burlington and places like Killington’s six terrain parks and Mount Snow’s Carinthia as huge playgrounds, it’s no wonder Vermont has turned out such snowboard talent as Olympians Ross Powers and Lindsey Jacobellis, freerider Jake Blauvelt and X Games medalist Zeb Powell.

Most mountains have good snowboard programs but if they are ready to take it up a level, consider enrolling your kid in one of the academies. Stratton Mountain School, Okemo Mountain School and Killington Mountain School all offer strong snowboard programs and have turned out top-level competitors.

Green Mountain Academy in Stowe focuses on snowboarding and freeriding. vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 31

Dream Home

Raising A Barn

Two skiers found two old barns (left and center) and added a new garage to create this home that sits high above the Mad River Valley. Thanks to efficient insulation and solar panels, the house is net zero and uses no fossil fuels.

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THEY SALVAGED AND SCAVENGED AND DREAMED. HERE’S HOW TWO SKIERS REBUILT A CENTURIES-OLD BARN INTO A RECLAIMED, NET ZERO HOME.

BY LISA LYNN PHOTOS BY LINDSAY SELIN

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 33

M

y husband Chach has been in love with barns—the joinery, the history, the feel of the wood—ever since I met him some 30 years ago,” says Kari Dolan. We are standing in the barn she and Chach Curtis, recently rebuilt. Sitting high above the Mad River Valley, it is an awe-inspiring, cathedral-like space.

The open living room soars more than 40 feet. Massive, centuries-old beams lunge across the space. Weathered barnboard clads the ceiling and walls. Giant glass doors stand where wagons filled with hay once entered, perfectly framing the stark profile of Camel’s Hump to the west.

Everywhere are signs of a bygone life: hatchet marks on hand-hewn posts, a beam cribbed by horses, a tin can that a farmer bent and nailed to a post to keep the horses from further chewing it apart.You can almost hear the soft grunts of ghost workhorses as they gnaw away. “One of the things that we loved is that our builder, Birdseye, celebrated these little details, rather than hide them,” says Kari as she points to a worn rail.

“I am obsessed with barns,” Chach admits. “Growing up, my family had an English barn in Weston, Vt. “My brother, cousins and I built forts on either side of the haylofts and threw cow patties at each other,” he says.

Some 50 years later Chach and Kari were living in an old farmhouse A kTi to blandit quaspe pro consequ aerrum que porenditatia eos audis aut modicia et optiandam qui num quasper aectem iderum fugiaspeles dolupta ernatento que ne exceri quid evelit, quis estiis ma sim voluptatem quiandi tempore ictempos dolupti odita aut omnimil endellabo. Ut hiliti nos et poribusdae lam autaerae pe iducidebit milicto tatatissit facero dolor

in Waitsfield when the search for “the dream barn” began in earnest. Their youngest daughter, Ellie, was graduating from Green Mountain Valley School and joining Dartmouth’s alpine team.Their older daughter, Lainey, a GMVS grad and ski racer as well, was at Colby College.

In 2015, the couple bought 20 acres of pasture and forest high above the Mad River Valley. There was already a pond there and with some clearing, views opened up to Camel’s Hump to the west and even as far as Mt. Mansfield to the north. Next, it was time to find a barn they could rebuild as a new home.

The barn Chach envisioned would be an English one, like the one from his childhood. “English barns have big doors on the lateral side and are open in the center so a horse and wagon could drive in and you could unload and stack the hay on either side,” Chach says. His reasoning was more than nostalgic: “I wanted that big open span in the middle of the barn and to be able to put big windows or doors where the doorways once were.”

Finding that barn was not so easy. English barns, popular with the earliest settlers, soon fell out of favor. “It didn’t take long for farmers to realize that with the snows we get in the Northeast having doors on the gabled ends of the barn made more sense,” he says. They turned to Don Polaski of Antique Barns in Orford, N.H. for help. “It’s a labor of love for Don. He’s spent much of his life driving around in a pickup truck looking for falling-down barns to save and rebuild,” Chach says.

The main barn Polaski found was in Amsterdam, N.Y., halfway between Albany and Syracuse. It dated to the late 1700s and was filled to the rafters with hay when the couple saw it.

“It was rotted and falling apart but we loved the hand-hewn gunstock frame and massive beams that span the 32-foot width of the barn,” says Kari.

“The farmer’s sons weren’t interested in continuing to farm. They were happy that we were going to save the barn and give it a new life in the north country,” she says. Polaski also found them a second smaller barn in Sharon,Vt. that they attached as an office and guest wing.

Then the search began to find the additional boards and posts to fill in the gaps. “We went to salvage yards, and we searched everywhere,” Kari recalls. “When I found a big batch of barnboard on Craigslist it felt like I hit the jackpot,” she says.

The roof had a sway, and the beams needed some big posts for structural support.

“I was at Planet Hardwood in St. George, Vt., complaining how hard it was to find these and one of the guys there says ‘Hey, I have some The frame of the 1700s-era English barn and its bays define the open living area, right. It is lit with a custom fixture made from old windmill blades. At left, the grandfather clock Chach made in high school stands next to the stairs where Judson Yagggy of Birdseye straightened silo hoops for rails.

26 Fall 2021 vtskiandride.com

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 35

36 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

old posts that have been sitting out back for 15 years that might work,” she recalls. They did. “Pretty much everything in here was reused and recycled.”

The blades of a windmill form one chandelier; the metal tines of an antique hay rake were welded together to create another. On the basement level, the freezer door from an old meat locker opens into the utility room.

The slate tiles used on the floors in the master bathroom were discarded roof slates from the old library in Waterbury. Those used in the kitchen were from a house in Milton.

Using salvaged materials helped maintain the old barn aesthetic, it also fed into the couple’s deep commitment to sustainability. When they first met, Chach had been working in finance in the Bay Area of San Francisco and Kari was earning two Masters’ degrees at Berkeley in science and public policy, with a focus on energy and resources.

They moved east so Chach could get his MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, (he had skied at Dartmouth as an undergrad). “We figured we would go back to California after I finished but then thought, ‘What are we doing?’ It’s expensive out there and crowded. Let’s just stay in Vermont,’” Chach says.

He went to work for Mad River Canoe then jumped to a job as CFO at Northern Power Systems, a renewable energy company based inWaitsfield at the time. “Renewable energy seemed like a really exciting growth field, and I had learned a lot about it from Kari,” Chach says. Today, he serves as the CFO of SunCommon, which recently merged with another Vermont solar-energy company, iSun. Kari manages the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Ecosystem Restoration Program.

Building a house that would have limited impact on the environment and be independent of fossil fuels was critical to the couple, but also presented an added challenge: Barns are notoriously drafty. A solar array from SunCommon was set up in the field at the beginning of the driveway and more solar panels installed on the east side of the roof.The floors were designed to take geothermal radiant heat and heat pumps were installed.

Chach and Kari took the best of old and new and made the house net zero, thanks to

credit

SunCommon solar arrays erected in the field below the house and on the roof. Birdseye made the guest bed from spalted maple cut on the land. The couple found antique fixtures to use in the master bathroom (top) and kitchen and reclaimed slate for the floors in both those areas.

The oven is a new AGA electric model the couple prize for its vintage look and energy savings.

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 37

An open mezzanine leads from the master suite across the upper level of the main barn, down a few steps to the guest bedroom in the small barn, top. In the entry, a barn-style sliding door hides a stairway to a walkout basement where a large playroom doubles as a third bedroom. With the basement and attached garage with the gym above it, the house measures close to 5,562 sq. ft. but, as Low notes, “the volume is large compared to the square footage of floor space.”

“We generate about 36,000 kw in electricity and use about 34,000,” says Chach. “And that powers the whole house, our two electric cars, our electric lawn mower and everything else.”

The timber frame and barnboard shell were wrapped with structural insulated panels. The exterior was then clad in pine and hemlock, which helped visually marry the new two-car garage with the two old barns.

“Chach and Kari originally wanted to use old barn siding,” says Waitsfield architect Karyn Scherer, who signed on for the project. “But it’s hard to find and it’s old so it won’t weather well. Instead, we chose vertical board that would weather and build a patina.”

One of the architectural challenges the barn presented was creating enclosed private spaces. Scherer solved this problem with an enclosed ‘tower’ of sorts to contain the stairs and closets and, on the upper level, the master bathroom. They wrapped it all in horizontal whitewashed boards.

“We didn’t want the interior to be too dark, so the idea was to make the whitewashed horizontal boards be reminiscent of a horse stall,” she says.

The couple opted to have their master bedroom be an open loft on the second floor with a mezzanine walkway leading to the guest bedroom in the adjacent small barn.

Jon Low of Birdseye oversaw the construction. Low had worked on other barn restoration projects before. Other than the engineering challenges, one of the things he liked about this one was both finding and repurposing materials. “Some of the materials we could find online but in other cases it meant visiting a guy who only had a dial-up phone so if you wanted to see what he had, you had to drive over and meet him.”

Birdseye crafted the day beds from left-over barnboard. Spalted maple from the property was kiln dried and turned into the guest bed. “That was teetering on the edge of form and function,” Low says, with a laugh. “But with a little epoxy and finish it came out beautifully. You can make a bed out of new maple any day, but it won’t have all the character that the fungus imparts to spalted wood.”

Judson Yaggy of Birdseye did the metal work throughout the house, including the door handles and straightened out silo hoops to use as railings on the stairs.

For Low, one of the most impressive things about the house is the way the barns have held up for centuries. “It amazes me to see what the materials they used back then were capable of. If you looked at a computer design today – which is all linear—it might tell you this wouldn’t work but it clearly does because that barn was still standing,” he says.

When he talks about the frame of the barn he does so with near reverence. “It would be hard to find timbers like those 32-inch long by 22-inch deep center beams today—– big elm and chestnut are rare today.

We counted 200 to 300 rings on some of the timber with no sign of the tree’s exterior. Those trees were felled in the 1700s so they might have been standing when Columbus got here.”

More than anything, the house is a tribute to craftsmanship, both past and present. n

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Just 30 minutes from Burlington but a long way from civilisation, Bolton Valley’s extensive backcountry and big snow draw powderhounds from around New England.

LOCALS’

FAVOR

Shorter lines, lower prices, fresh snow, a community vibe—those are just

BY LISA LYNN

40 Holidays vtskiandride.com

RITES some of the reasons Vermonters head to these hills. Here are the others.

Ryan Denning photo

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vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 41

BOLTON VALLEY: ADVENTURE GATEWAY It may post just 300 skiable acres and 1,704 feet of vertical, but Bolton Valley punches well above its weight. That’s thanks to vast backcountry and Nordic terrain, two huts you can skin to for a remote overnight and an Adventure Center that rents backcountry gear and has lessons and clinics that teach skiers and riders how to use it.

Yes, Bolton draws expert skiers and a serious backcountry crowd, but this is still a family-run resort that caters to, you guessed it, families.

Bolton Valley has long been Burlington’s after-school playground.

Literally. Founder Ralph DesLauriers made it his mission to get every kid who wanted to ski on snow and put tens of thousands of kids through the Bolton ski programs. When Ralph and his children (Lindsay and Adam now run the place) bought the ski area back in 2017, they refocused on the community aspect of skiing and making Bolton Valley a Ground Zero for backcountry adventures. With 300 inches of natural snow a year and the highest base elevation in the Northeast (2,100 feet) there’s usually plenty of powder.

There’s also always some kind of party going on here, and something for everyone to do. On days when the weather is blustery and only the diehards want to ski, parents can drop their kids off to skateboard or bike in the indoor park at the Adventure Center while they do laps up Vista Peak. On bluebird days, ski until the night lights come on and catch the sun casting a warm alpenglow as it glistens on Lake Champlain before it sinks behind the Adirondacks.

On Tuesday through Saturday nights, a new crowd comes in for skiing until 10 p.m. Thursday nights the Corporate Race Series (a.k.a. Beer League) draws teams that often include former World Cup or NCAA ski racers, as well as intermediates just out to have a good time.

This winter, the Blauvelt Banked Slalom returns, a competition set up by pro rider and Waterbury local Jake Blauvelt on, yes, a banked course. The Catamount Trail Association also holds guided tours on the Catamount Trail which runs from Bolton along the spine of the Greens over to Stowe’s Trapp Family Lodge.

Because it is in Burlington’s backyard, Bolton can get more crowded on weekends than some of the other areas mentioned here. But when that happens, head to Timberline, a lodge and base area off on its own with some black diamond trails off the summit or explore the glades and backcountry.

For a getaway, book a room at The Inn at Bolton Valley which got a 42 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

refreshing makeover this past year. Rooms start at just $159 a night. For dinner, go for a Fireside Pizza at the base lodge or take out ramen from the Miso Toh Kome shack – an offshoot of Jay Peak’s Miso Hungry tram stand. Nightlife at Bolton is limited but Richmond has plenty of options, Burlington is just a half hour away and Waterbury’s many restaurants and brew pubs are even closer.

STATS: 1,704 vertical feet, 300 acres, 6 lifts, 71 trails, 300 inches avg. annual snowfall. Après: Grab a beer and a Fireside Pizza and settle in at the James Moore Tavern on the mountain. Stay: Slopeside, at the Inn at Bolton Valley or one of the many on-mountain condos. Local Brew: Stone Corral’s many microbrews, all made at the Richmond brewpub. Don’t-Miss Events: Blauvelt’s Banked Slalom on March 12. Best Ticket Deals: Sign up by Dec. 15 for a Powder Pass —$300 for five tickets, good any day. Also, adults ski for just $39 on non-holiday Mondays.

BURKE MOUNTAIN: LAST LITTLE CORNER OF VT

For the past decade, Burke has sat in the proverbial shadow of Jay Peak, its corporate sister. Burke didn’t get Jay’s water park, skating rink or the Jay Cloud snows. But under the ill-fated former Stenger/Quiros ownership it did build a stunning base lodge and slopeside hotel. Then, as the former owners’ EB-5 fraud scandal unfolded, development stopped before oodles could be spent on marketing. Now, the two resorts which have been under receivership, are decoupling as Jay Peak prepares for new owners.

For locals, there has been a silver lining to all of this.

“There’s that sort of old cliché about quiet mountains that you can Even days after a snowstorm you can still find powder stashes in the glades off Burke’s East Bowl.

Phootos both pages by Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

V

ermont has some of the biggest, gnarliest and best mountains in the East.You can’t argue with a day exploring the 73 miles of trails at Killington, pounding moguls on Sugarbush’s Stein’s, negotiating Stowe’s Front Four or the glades at Smuggler’s Notch. Or, after carving down Stratton’s velvety groomers, enjoying a stroll through the Austrian-themed base village. But with the advent of ever-lower-priced multi-mountain passes like Epic and Ikon, some places are getting increasingly busy on holidays and weekends.

That’s one reason why so many savvy locals head for the smaller hills. Another is that day tickets at most of these areas are at least half of what they are at the bigger resorts. Another option, a $329 Indy Pass is good for two days each at Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Magic and Suicide Six. Perhaps the best reason of all to seek out these smaller independent mountains is they are neighborhoods unto themselves; places where community is strong, kids are free-range, and folks stick around for après ski to share stories and raise a glass to the day.

Mad River Glen doesn’t have a terrain park. It doesn’t need one. The natural terrain makes for plenty of places to huck and challenges skiers, both intermediate and experts.

still find fresh powder days after a snowstorm.That’s true at Burke. Even though they don’t get a ton of snow you can almost always find powder stashes in bounds in East Bowl,” says photographer Jeb Wallace-Brodeur.

He lives just north of Montpelier and skis at Mad River Glen, Sugarbush and Stowe but makes regular pilgrimages to Burke. “There’s lots of interesting natural terrain, great glades, and secret woods runs, all in bounds.”

The trails on Burke Mountain were some of the earliest in the state, first cut in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and then expanded by loggers.There’s a good mix of old-school, winding trails and straightline cruisers. There’s really just one chairlift that most people ski – the Mid Burke Express – a high speed quad. “When that went in it was a game changer,” says Wallace-Brodeur. From there, you can carve big turns on long, wide cruisers like Willoughby and Big Dipper.

Burke is also where you will come across some of the best skiers in the country. U.S. Ski Team’s top skiers —Mikaela Shiffrin, Nina O’Brien, Zoe Zimmerman — all trained at Burke Mountain Academy as did 135 other national team-level skiers. You can see the next race stars training in gates on the Academy’s practice slopes.

The Kingdom Trails network and Burke’s summer mountain bike park have also lured top mountain bikers to relocate. Catch many of them airing it out on skis or boards in Burke’s winter terrain parks.

The mix of world-class skiers and mountain bikers means that the tiny village of East Burke still has that gritty, before-the-boutiquesmoved-in appeal of a true sports town where people live to ski and ride.

Figuring out how to make a living often takes second place to getting first tracks. Locals fatbike here all winter, or skin up the backcountry glades off Mt. Hor or ice climb the cliffs that rise dramatically above Lake Willoughby.

East Burke is a town that knows how to eat well at reasonable prices: you can start the day with a cappuccino at Cafe Lotti and a melt-in-your

mouth croissant from Auntie Dee Dees bakery and end it with a local beef burger on a brioche bun with all the fixings for $14 at Burke Publick House. Book a slopeside hotel room or treat yourself to what is easily the most luxurious new hotel in Vermont, Burklyn, set in an opulent 1900s mansion atop Darling Hill.

This part of the Northeast Kingdom looks and feels a world apart—a largely rural and agricultural area that is classic Vermont. But Burke is closer than you think: just 78 miles (largely on I-91) from White River Junction. Stowe, by comparison, is 75 miles.

STATS: 2,011 ft. vertical drop; 53 trails; 2 high speed quads, 2 surface lifts; 178 skiable acres, 70% snowmaking coverage, 217 inches annual snowfall.

Après: Take a fat bike or cross-country ski tour on Kingdom Trails’ 23 miles of groomed trails, or have a beer slopeside at The View Pub. Stay: Slopeside, at the Burke Mountain Resort hotel or go luxe and check into Burklyn, a beautifully restored 1900s mansion. Local Brew: A First Flakes IPA, brewed by Dirt Church­—based in the old East Haven chapel (a 10-minute drive north).

Don’t Miss Events: WinterBike, March 5, a rolling party with fatbike demos and vendors at nearby Kingdom Trails. Best Ticket Deals: If you have a pass at another mountain, a day ticket is just $65 any day of the season. On Wicked Wednesdays (non-holidays) get three adult lift tickets for $85.

MAD RIVER GLEN: A CULT CLASSIC

To call Mad River Glen a “locals’ mountain” is an understatement: It’s more like a family or, some say, a cult. Stand in line for the Single Chair (and yes, the lines can be long), and you get the sense that everyone here knows each other, no matter if they live 5 miles away or drive here from Boston each weekend. At the Single Chair’s mid-mountain station, liftie Brian Ault broadcasts an eclectic and popular playlist and greets regulars by name.

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 43

STATS: 2,027 vertical feet, 5 lifts, 53 trails, 115 acres of trails/800 acres of tree skiing, 15% snowmaking, 228 inches annual snowfall. Après: General Stark’s Pub or American Flatbread at Lareau Farm, just down Route 100.

Stay: At one of the classic ski lodges on Route 17. Just down the road, the Mad River Barn was once owned by longtime Mad River Glen owner Betsy Pratt and renovated recently. The Hyde Away and Tucker Hill Inn are other historic ski lodges. Local Brew: Head to Lawson’s Finest Liquid’s Waitsfield brewery to find limited releases such as the Still Single IPA as well as their award-winning Sip of Sunshine. Don’t-Miss Events: The Triple Crown events (the Mogul Challenge, Unconventional Terrain Challenge and Vertical Challenge, Mar. 26-28) are where you will see the best young skiers on the mountain. Best Ticket Deals: Season passes sell out before the season starts (although if you become a shareholder you can still get one.) A day ticket is $97 but for the best deal, sneak out early from work and you can ski from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. midweek, non-holidays for $39—a good choice during afternoon snowstorms.

MAGIC MOUNTAIN: RETRO AND ROWDY

As ski areas were gobbled up by corporate parents (see Vail Resorts, Alterra Mountain Company) Magic thumbed its nose at the mergers and acquisition trend and went the other direction. After a few rocky years, a

44 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

At Magic Mountain, the woods are lovely, dark and deep—and yes there are plenty of steeps.

Old school trails keep skiers and riders coming back for more.

consortium of regulars bought Magic in 2016 and with Geoff Hatheway at the helm, set out to make Magic the mountain they wanted to ski.

That meant limiting season pass and day ticket sales to avoid overcrowding and closing the parking lot when it filled up. It meant hosting wild and crazy events like NewYear’s Eve’s Tuck It – a radar-gun monitored speed race;The Road to Ruin, a free-for-all mass downhill; or Master of the Mountain, a timed combo GS ski race/freeride contest— all with cash prizes. It meant bringing some of Vermont’s best bands to play each weekend (often in free concerts) at the slopeside Black Line Tavern and come spring, having the party spill out onto the south-facing deck and the slopes beyond.

It also meant not messing with some of the steepest and most interesting terrain in southern Vermont. Runs like Witch and glades such as Coniff and the Twilight Zone have earned Magic the reputation of the Mad River Glen of southern Vermont. But the mountain has also built out its beginner terrain with a new handle tow and snowmaking on two new trails, as well a conveyor lift for little ones.

Magic has also tried to keep skiing affordable with a variety of pass options including aVermont resident season pass, unlimited, for $489, or $389 if you are a parent of a student or a teacher. As a result, passholders who are Vermont residents now make up 45 percent of its pass sales.

Photo courtesy Magic Mountain

None of this is surprising given the mountain is a co-op owned by skiers. Mad River Glen skiers (and it is still skiers only) have been coming here for generations. Take marketing director Ry Young; he’s a third generation MRG skier who started the renowned Freeski Team which has launched some of the best freeskiers in the nation.

One of the reasons Mad River has turned out so many good skiers is the terrain lives up to the bumper sticker adage “Ski It If You Can.” The trails are old-school, unsanitized, bumpy and twisty: they force you to pay attention, use your legs and turn often. In short, they are a ton of fun.

As former pro skier Silas Chickering-Ayers, who grew up in Montpelier, puts it, “Mad River doesn’t have a terrain park, but it doesn’t need it: the whole area is a natural terrain park.” In his annual pre-season talk, general manager Matt Lillard addressed a movement behind the “Stop the Brutal Grooming” bumper stickers. “We will never be a ‘groomed mountain’,” Lillard said emphatically.

Unlike other areas that have cut wide open swaths, MRG has intentionally left trees in the middle of trails to help hold the snow and provide shade so it doesn’t melt to ice. Granite cliffs and boulders that other ski mountains might have blasted reign quietly here waiting for new generations to go bigger each time they send it.

But you don’t need to be an expert skier or wait in line all weekend at the single chair to enjoy MRG. “Some of the best tree skiing is in the more open hardwoods off the Sunnyside double chair,” Jeb Wallace-Brodeur, a local skier and photographer notes.The mountain also still carries a natural, rugged beauty. It has its own mid-mountain nature center and hosts guided interpretative snowshoe hikes. For many years, naturalist Sean Lawson, the brewer behind Lawson’s Finest, led full-moon hikes.

Recently, the Basebox, Mad River Glen’s well-loved base lodge saw a major renovation, but most things haven’t changed: the Wall of Fame still features decades of photos of folks with their Ski it if You Can stickers, you can still get a Lawson’s Finest and a great burger at General Stark’s Pub and Friday night fish fries are back.

One caveat: Don’t count on skiing MRG on busy weekends or holidays as the mountain will be limiting day ticket sales this season. .

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STATS: 1,500 ft. vertical drop; 39 trails; 3 chairlifts, 3 surface lifts; 50% snowmaking coverage. 145 inches avg. annual snowfall. Après: Black Line Tavern has live bands and a pub menu where the most expensive item, a teriyaki salmon entrée with all the sides, is still just $18. For a more upscale meal, the acclaimed Solo Farm & Table in South Londonderry does private dinners and Sunday take-out meals. Stay: Just across the road the Snowden Chalet is a retro motel with rooms that start at $125 a night. Don’t-Miss Events: Magic’s own Triple Crown of events, kicking off with Tuck It on Dec. 31; the Road to Ruin on Feb. 20 and Master the Mountain, March 19. The Local Brew: Harpoon, in Windsor may be the closest brewery and brewpub. For a huge selection of both local and exotic microbrews to buy and bring home check out Meulemans Craft Beers in Bondville. Best Ticket Deals: Buy online ahead of time and you will have a guaranteed spot. Day lift tickets start at around $65 (pricing is variable). Or get a Vermont resident’s season pass for $489 or use your Indy Pass.

MIDDLEBURY SNOW BOWL: FAMILY FAVORITE

On holiday weekends when lift lines at larger resorts can snake like bloated boa constrictors, there is rarely more than a 5-minute wait at the Middlebury Snow Bowl. Nestled on the western side of the Green Mountains and owned and operated by Middlebury College, it’s a hidden gem that locals treasure.

Unless it’s a race weekend, you can usually find a parking spot just a few feet from the sprawling classic, chalet-style lodge. Boot up in front of the huge stone fireplace, then ski onto one of the three chairlifts. The triple will take you to the summit on Worth Mountain, and from there, ski down the Allen trail, where Middlebury College’s Div. 1 ski team trains.The pitch on one section of it is among the steepest you will find.

Or snake off into the glades off the Ross or ski down the backside to the Bailey’s Falls chair. While the ski area is not large, there’s plenty of playful terrain, small cliffs, and fresh snow to be had, even at 11 am on a powder morning. And if you want to skin, locals might be persuaded to show you some even sweeter spots just out of bounds.

On Friday afternoons, the Snow Bowl plays host to a ski bum league where you might find former or current Middlebury College 46 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

ski racers or see a stray Olympian joining a team. But alongside them will be skiers of all levels: teleskiers, snowboarders and grandparents who just want to get some fresh air and run the gates. Everyone heads to the Friday after party, often held at Two Brothers Tavern, or one of Middlebury’s other restaurants.

Olympian and current NBC commentator Doug Lewis grew up in Middlebury and learned to ski at the Snow Bowl. “Skiing in everchanging conditions and in the woods honed my skills,” he wrote in an article for VT Ski + Ride in 2019. “I learned to look ahead, read terrain and make quick decisions. Those mental skills translated into being able to carve, hop, slide, jump and sometimes stop at a moment’s notice.”

For adults wanting to improve, you can do a 10-pack of two-hour clinics on Wednesdays for just $225, lift ticket included.

Like many kids, Lewis was turned loose with his friends at the Snow Bowl, his parents knowing it was a small enough place that they’d end up at the base lodge and that there were always neighbors and friends nearby. If real help is needed, the ski patrol, run by Middlebury College students who pass the National Ski Patrol certification, are on hand.

There’s also a ski shop with tuning facilities and rental gear onsite.

Dry for a long time, the base lodge recently started offering beer Teleskier Christy Lynn finds her patch of Zen at the Middlebury Snow Bowl (top) while ski bum league members celebrate the end of the season on the south-facing sunny baselodge deck.

Photos by Angelo Lynn

Like Mad River Glen, Magic isn’t a place of high-speed chairs. The Red Chair to the top is a 12-minute ride. In 2018 Magic bought a fixed grip quad from Stratton to replace its Black Chair instead of installing a faster detachable lift. That lift has faced some technical difficulties, but Hatheway hopes to get it online and running by mid-season. Besides, aren’t long rides a chance to save the legs and keep the slopes from getting crowded and snow from getting skied off too quickly?

The other thing that saves the snow is that the mountain is closed mid-week (Monday through Wednesday), except on powder days. For $6,500 you and 100 friends can rent the mountain on those days.

Part of the beauty of Magic is that it doesn’t look or feel much different than it did in the 1960s when Swiss instructor Hans Thorner opened the ski area and installed a cadre of top instructors from the Alps.

Wood picnic tables and rough-hewn posts give the base lodge cafeteria a rustic, barn-like feel. Here, you can still get—remarkably—$7 burgers.

Around the base, there’s a small village of Swiss-themed chalets whose owners all seem to know each other. A room at the nearest lodge, the Snowden Chalet motel, starts at $125.

Perhaps Magic’s best trick is nurturing a retro ski area vibe that harkens back to skiing’s heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, but with a healthy dose of 1980s zaniness and a fresh take for 2022.

and wine and its cafeteria serves up dishes developed and catered by Hancock General Store. For many locals, a weekend means skiing the Bowl in the morning, grabbing a chili and cornbread in the lodge and then driving a mile down the road to work it off on the 55 kilometers of cross-country trails at Rikert Nordic Center, also owned by the college.

STATS: 1,000 ft. vertical, 3 chairlifts, 17 trails, 600 acres, 200 inches annual snowfall. Après: Go for a cross-country ski or fatbike ride at Rikert Nordic Center. Then head to town and grab a beer at Two Brothers Tavern, run by ski racing brothers Holmes and Beal Jacobs. Stay: On the Goshen-Ripton Road, charming classic Blueberry Hill Inn opens onto 70 miles of ungroomed trails for backcountry touring. The Waybury Inn just down Route 125 was the set for the classic Vermont inn featured in the 1970s TV sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show. Don’t-Miss Events: Middlebury College’s Winter Carnival (Feb. 1819) draws the best NCAA racers in the East. Local Brew: Middlebury is home to two top brewers: Drop In and Otter Creek, both with tasting rooms downtown. Best Ticket Deals: Adult ticket prices are $60 weekends ($40 weekdays) but new this year, if you buy a season’s pass ($529) you get a punch card good for five free tickets for friends.

SUICIDE SIX: OUTDOORS FOR ALL

Photo courtesy Suicide Six

Suicide Six is the old money of Vermont ski areas, but not in a lockjaw, raccoon-fur-coat kind of way. It’s ‘old’ because it had the first uphill lift in the country, a rope tow that was cobbled together using a Model T

engine in 1934. In 1936, Bunny Bertram, a Dartmouth College coach, moved the improvised tow from Clinton Gilbert’s nearby farm to land he purchase for $3 an acre on Hill #6 in Woodstock. The hill was so steep one writer claimed it would be “suicide” to ski it. The name stuck and the wide-open face of the mountain still offers some great places to straightline it, if you dare.

The “money” part comes in because Bertram sold the ski area to Laurence Rockefeller in 1961. Seven years later, Rockefeller set up The Woodstock Foundation, which still owns Suicide Six and his former mansion, now the elegant Woodstock Inn.The Foundation also owns the Billings Farm and Museum and is a partner in the MarshBillings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont’s only national park. It’s hard to think of another Vermont ski area that has changed hands fewer times.

While the ski area benefits from the genteel oversight of the folks at the upscale Woodstock Inn, Suicide Six remains a true locals’ mountain and it is far from stuffy. It recently changed its name from “ski area” to “recreation area” in recognition that the hill is home to a lot more than just skiing.

In 1982, the ski area hosted the first national Snow Surfing Championship and this February, founder Paul Graves is paying tribute by bringing back a 40th anniversary event honoring the pioneers of the sport. Last March it hosted the Red Bull Slide In Tour, drawing stars such as Vermont X Games gold medalist Zeb Powell. It’s also played host to the longest running ski race in

These trails have trained national champions and generations of family skiers.

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North America: the Fisk Trophy ran for 83 straight years until in 2021 the pandemic put it on hiatus. In December 2021, the area hosted Krampuslauf – a series of runs up and around the mountain ranging from 5K to 50K. One of the gems of Suicide Six is its classic base lodge where Perley’s Pourhouse is named for the former lodge-keeper, a character with a long white beard and hand-carved pipe. Stop in.

STATS: 650 ft. vertical drop, 3 lifts, 24 trails, 100 acres, 50% snowmaking, 110 inches annual snowfall. Après: The Woodstock area has any number of great places to eat, drink ranging from burgers at the Worthy Kitchen to upscale farm-fresh fare served with a view of the river at Simon Pearce’s flagship store in Quechee. Stay: The Woodstock Inn which owns Suicide Six is one of the most luxurious inns in New England and was recently updated. The Inn offers several lodging packages that include skiing, dining and even spa treatments. The All-Sports package includes rentals and lift tickets for alpine skiing or boarding, Nordic and fat biking. Don’tMiss Events: On Feb. 12, the OG Invitational celebrates the early days of snowboarding with a competition, vendors, tunes and a Red Bull after party and rail jam under the lights. Local Brew: Long Trail’s brewery and brewpub is just down Route 4 in Bridegwater and has a rotating beer menu with specialty brews. Best Ticket Deals: A day pass is $79 ($89 on holidays but just $49 on weekdays.) Kids under 18 enrolled in Vermont or New Hampshire schools or certified home-school programs get a season pass for $99. n

48 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

KEEP THE SHRED ALIVE Ski The East was created for you: the passionate and dedicated Eastern Skier. Out here, we’re a breed apart. The tight trees, variable conditions, and brutal weather have helped to produce some of the toughest and most talented skiers in the world.

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We share a common identity and a common way of looking at the mountains. East Coast skiers think positively: a 4 inch storm is a powder day, -10F is mild for January, and ice is simply referred to as “frozen granular.”

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Brattleboro

802-254-8906

brattleborooutingclub.org

30 km

30 km

30 km

Grafton

802-843-2400

graftontrails.com

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

20 km

14 km

--

Manchester

802-362-1788

hildene.org

Landgrove Inn

15 km

15 km

15 km

Landgrove

802-824-6673

landgroveinn.com

Mountain Top Resort

60 km

40 km

40 km

Chittenden

802-483-2311

mountaintopresort.com

Okemo Valley Nordic Center

22 km

22 km

8 km

Ludlow

802-228-1396

okemo.com

Prospect Mountain XC

30 km

30 km

30 km

Woodford

802-442-2575

prospectmountain.com

Quechee Club

25 km

25 km

12 km

Quechee

802-295-9356

skiquechee.com

Rikert Nordic Center

55 km

50 km

40 km

Ripton

802-443-2744

rikertnordic.com

Stratton Mountain Nordic Center

12 km

12 km

12 km

Stratton Mountain

800-787-2886

stratton.com

Timber Creek XC

14 km

14 km

14 km

West Dover

802-464-0999

timbercreekxc.com

Viking Nordic Center

39 km

35 km

35 km

Londonderry

802-824-3933

vikingnordic.com

Wild Wing’s Ski Touring Center

25 km

25 km

10 km

Peru

802-824-6793

wildwingsski.com

Woodstock Inn Nordic Center

50 km

50 km

50 km

Woodstock

802-457-6674

woodstockinn.com

Our Nordic Center has been enriched with professional grooming equipment, great additions to our rental fleet, private instruction and a retail offering with some essential gear and Edson Hill logo-wear available. After a day on the hill, relax in elegant comfort in one of our rooms, and enjoy a meal by Chef Jason Bissell.

With an extensive network of winter trails throughout Mt. Peg and Mt. Tom, the Nordic Center offers more than 45 km of groomed trails for skate and classic crosscountry skiing. Snowshoers & fat bike riders may utilize the groomed ski trail areas in addition to a series of ungroomed trails for a more invigorating hike.

The BHOC trail system offers over 45km of well-marked and maintained ungroomed trails within the Moosalamoo Recreation Area for year-round outdoor adventures.

No trail fees, BHOC operates on a donation basis and is a non-profit 501(c)3 company dedicated to recreational access.

edsonhill.com • 802-253-7371

woodstockinn.com • 802-457-6674

blueberryhilltrails.com • 802-247-6735

1500 Edson Hill Rd • Stowe, VT

14 The Green • Woodstock, VT

1245 Goshen Ripton Rd • Goshen, VT

GEAR

SPONSORED CONTENT

MADE IN VERMONT Vermont’s outdoor businesses like to give back. They not only help support the Vermont outdoor industry, but many also help support outdoor recreation with projects such as Gordini’s Giving Season (which gives back to equip Vermont youth) or Ursa Major’s donations to the National Parks Conservation Association. With brands like these based right here in Vermont, it’s easy to shop locally this ski season.

RENOUN EARHART 88 SKI

US SHERPA YETI MITTEN, DOLPA HAT, SHERPA SOCK The Dolpa Hat, Yeti Mitten and Sherpa Socks are made with 100% sheep wool and lined with Sherpa fleece for maximum comfort and warmth. They are part of Vermont-based US Sherpa’s extensive line of functional, natural fiber products handcrafted in Nepal. US Sherpa founder and owner Ongyel Sherpa works with over 300 knitters, primarily in the Kathmandu region, providing sustainable jobs in an economically challenged area. US Sherpa and the Sherpa family also provide trekking opportunities in Nepal. Dolpa Hat and Yeti Mitten retail at $28.50, Sherpa Socks at $37.50, available at local outdoor shops and online at ussherpa.com

52 Holidays vtskiandride.com

Designed, prototyped and tested by women, Burlington-based Renoun kept the men out of the room for this one. With best-in-class edge hold, smooth turn initiation and a playful personality, the Earhart 88 ($899) is a crowdpleaser. It commands stability over our Vermont ice thanks to 8 inlays of Renoun’s patented non-Newtonian VibeStop™ polymer which soaks up vibrations so your knees don’t have to. Some call it genius, we just call it a great all-mountain ski. renoun.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

SKI THE EAST WILDWOD BASELAYERS

GORDINI CACHE GAUNTLET Based in Essex Junction, Vermont, Gordini specializes in cold weather gear with the same mission since its founding 65 years ago: to keep your hands warm and dry so you can stay outside longer. Prepare for winter with the ruggedly built Cache Gauntlet ($89.99).

A dependable choice for unpredictable alpine weather. Warm, waterproof, breathable, and responsibly made, the Cache Gauntlet belongs on mountain. Featuring a powder cuff and leash, and designed with Durable Synthetic Leather, this animal-free standout outperforms and outlasts any crowd. In the spirit of the Giving Season, every purchase made on Gordini.com through the end of the year will be matched by a direct donation to equip Vermont’s youth with the right outdoor gear to play, learn and explore more. This season your holiday shopping can go hand in hand with giving back to our local community. Find out more about Gordini’s “Little Glove Project” and shop the full line of gloves on gordini.com.

Snow, please!

We dare you to find another baselayer with a more comfortable micro-brushed inner and perfect mid-weight warmth. Back from the vault, this mid-weight, moisture-wicking, wicked badass thermal is perfect for the active winter lifestyle.

Ski The East baselayers feature ShredTec™ technology that pulls away sweat while keeping you insulated and warm. With a micro-brushed interior and flatlock stitching throughout, this is one of the softest and most comfortable thermals on the market. It’s a midweight, regular fit baselayer made with 6 oz., 92% Polyester / 8% Spandex and a micro-brushed interior for superior comfort — like seriously, superior softness. It also uses ShredTec™ Moisture Wicking Technology and flatlock stitching throughout, which means no chaffing. Ski The East was created for you: the passionate and dedicated Eastern Skier. Out here, we’re a breed apart. The tight trees, variable conditions and brutal weather have helped to produce some of the toughest and most talented skiers in the world. Eastern skiers think positively: a 4 inch storm is a powder day, -10F is mild for January, and ice is simply referred to as “frozen granular.” Shirt and pants $68 each. Skitheeast.net

BIVO WATER BOTTLES Bivo is a new Vermont brand based out of Richmond that has created the first stainless steel bottle designed to replace plastic cycling water bottles. Why stainless steel? No plastic chemicals, no mold, and pure tasting water every time. They’re ideal for working out, hiking, biking, or having close at hand at work and feature the same pull-todrink-push-to-close valve functionality you’re used to. Plus, their incredible flow rate allows the contents to be poured out even faster than you can squeeze a traditional plastic bottle. Available in a grippy silicone exterior ($39) or brushed steel finish ($29) at drinkbivo.com

vtskiandride.com Summer 2021 vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 53

GEAR

SPONSORED CONTENT

DARN TOUGH SOLSTICE SOCK When it comes to vintage vibes, fashion lives on at Darn Tough’s knitting factory in Northfield. The retrospiked Solstice women’s ski sock ($27) is a spirited nod to a classic era of resort skiing. Don’t worry, we made sure to bid a ceremonious adieu to the itchy, bulky wool of yesteryear. Knit with smooth, low-profile Merino wool, this midweight sock has cushion to keep feet warm and comfy, and its unconditional lifetime guarantee will transcend all trends. darntough.com

TURTLE FUR COMFORT SHELL™ QUATTROCLAVA Fresh from Morrisville’s Turtle Fur: a new, revolutionary balaclava built upon the wildly successful Totally Tubular™ ($44.95), with a vented face and nose area, and featuring an ondemand, flip-up Storm Flap™ for maximum face protection. Add a hood, flip-up Storm Flap™, and meshed nose and mouth covering to our beloved Totally Tubular™ and you have the revolutionary quattroClava™ With Storm Flap™. This balaclava/ tube combination provides both performance and comfort through both the design and our Comfort Shell™ active performance fabric.

With a brushed interior, it feels insanely soft against your skin, and remains breathable even during your most strenuous activities. Goggles fit perfectly in the contoured eye area, eliminating drafts and protecting against frostbite. The flipup Storm Flap™ can provide an extra layer at the neck (when folded down) or can be worn flipped up to cover the meshed nose and mouth area, giving you greater protection on your chin, nose, and cheeks from the cold. turtlefur.com

54 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

OVEREASY HOODE The Mountain HoodE ($65) from Middleburybased OverEasy is a unisex, helmet-compatible hood with a built-in face panel that is great for, but not limited to, on-the-mountain use. The hood features two drawcords - one adjusts the size of the hood while the other adjusts the face panel. Slip this hood seamlessly over your helmet on a windy day or enjoy it down around your neck. Whether you’re on or off the slopes, you won’t want to take your Mountain HoodE off! overeasy.co

SPONSORED CONTENT MALOJA’S ULTIMATE PARKA The GORE-TEX Infinium Windstopper jacket is windproof, breathable and highly water-repellent. With Primaloft Silver Thermaplume insulation, it is lightweight and has the excellent thermal performance of a thick down jacket.

A perfect combination of insulation, protection, comfort and breathability made for winter’s toughest conditions. Constructed with water-repellent zippers, taped seams and adjustable helmet-compatible hood. Other features include zip-out powder skirt, inside goggle pocket and a hidden sleeve zippered card pocket. It comes in both women’s and men’s versions. The women’s Waldkauz Jacket comes color blocked as shown or in solid navy or solid black. $499.

For men, the Steinadler Jacket, comes in solid navy or solid black. $529. Both available at Mountain Road Outfitters / Maloja Flagship Store, 409 Mountain Road in Stowe. 802.760.6605. mountainroadoutfitters.com

DION SNOWSHOES Dion Snowshoes, based in southern Vermont, has been making snowshoes here for 20 years. They make the most competitive racing snowshoe available and the only modular snowshoe where bindings, cleats and frames can be chosen independently. Whether you are an experienced racer or just starting out, Bob Dion can help you choose what combination of components to use. Feel free to call, 802-753-1174, or email Bob at bob@ dionsnowshoes.com. Fully assembled, the price on our most popular racing model, 120LT, is $275. Other models are available for backcountry hiking. dionsnowshoes.com

URSA MAJOR PARKS PROJECT SOAPS Bring the outside in with this set of three sublime bar soaps ($40 for three) inspired by America’s most iconic national parks: Acadia, Zion, and Redwood. Waterbury’s Ursa Major Skin Care made these soaps in collaboration with Parks Project, in celebration of a shared love for the outdoors and with a common goal to create a more sustainable future. Plus, 5% of every purchase from this collection supports the great work being done by the National Parks Conservation Association. ursamajorvt.com vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 55

Home of

Red Bench Speaker Series “Topics Relevant to Todayʼs Skiers & Riders”

ʻ21/ʼ22 Season Presented Virtually September - April Learn More & Register: www.vtssm.org/redbench

56 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

RETRO VT STRATTON’S FORMATIVE YEARS Here’s how 60 years ago a new ski area came to southern Vermont.

The rest is Stratton history.

Photo courtesy Stratton Mountain Resort/Hubert Schriebl

O

ne of Suzanne Snyder Johnson’s earliest memories is of piling into the car in Greenwich, Ct. and driving north every weekend to Stratton. “My dad had been a Stowe skier when he met my mom, who also skied there,” she recalls. “After they were married, he wanted to find a ski area that was a little closer to Connecticut but wasn’t south-facing, like Bromley.”

Her father was Frank Snyder, a lawyer and chemical company executive. “He felt strongly that southern Vermont gets a nice band of snow and wasn’t as windy as the northern part of the state,” she remembers. Her father set out to hike prospective mountains. “One day he dragged my mother along with him. They got started around 3:30 p.m. and bushwhacked up. It was dark when they reached the summit, and my mom was ticked because they didn’t have any headlamps. But when they got there, he said ‘This is it! This is the mountain!”

Snyder was not the only one exploring 3,936-foot Stratton Mountain—the highest in southern Vermont. He shared his vision with Brattleboro lawyer and 1960 Vermont gubernatorial candidate Luke Crispe and his son Lawrin, who had also been bushwhacking up there and skiing the tight trees. Snyder also pulled in Vermont Senator Edward Janeway, golfer Tink Smith and a buddy, ski racer and veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, Robert “Rainbow” Wright.They set up the Stratton Corporation, bought a 50year lease from the paper company that owned the land, gathered investors, and mapped out a plan for trails and lifts.

On Dec. 29, 1961 —the same year daughter Suzanne was born—Stratton Mountain opened with three lifts, eight trails and a three-story base lodge.

Snyder had skied in Austria and his vision was to bring a little bit of the Tyrolean Alps to the Green Mountains. In 1961, Snyder recruited Austrian Emo Henrich. Henrich was a painter, a climber, a ski racer, and a singer. “My dad had sung Off-Broadway and he loved music,” Johnson says.

Henrich opened a lodge, the Birkenhaus, at the base

of Stratton. One of his workers at the lodge was a young Jake Burton Carpenter, who began making snowboards in his spare time. Carpenter persuaded Stratton’s operations manager to allow snowboarding, the first ski area to do so.

The Burton U.S. Open debuted there in 1985.

Many of the Austrians who came to Stratton were musicians, among them Stefan Schernathaner, a former member of the Austrian ski team who went on to win the 1972 National Freestyle Champion and lead the Tyrolean band The Stratton Mountain Boys. Another was a noted young mountaineer named Hubert Schriebl. Schriebl had climbed some of the highest peaks in the Himalaya and was adept with a camera. Schriebl came to Stratton for what he thought would be one season but fell in love and stayed.

Schriebl became one of skiing’s top photographers. To this day, he documents the daily life at Stratton.

That daily life ranged from the music, yodeling and good times shared by the Tyrolean transplants to the high society guests who came to the ski area each weekend.They were socialites (Jaqueline Onassis among them), sports stars (Arnold Palmer founded the golf school), politicians (Gerald Ford) and ski racers. In 1972 the World Cup came to Stratton. That same year, Stratton Mountain School was formed. It has since turned out some of the top skiing and snowboarding talent in the world.

When Snyder passed away in 2006, the ski area renamed North American, Frank’s Fall Line. On Dec. 21, let out a yodel to salute the man who started it all, 60 years ago. n

Stratton Mountain opened with a three-story base lodge, eight trails and three lifts on Dec. 21, 1961. That Christmas week, it snowed nearly two feet.

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 57

00 Fall 2021 vtskiandride.com

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR DECEMBER 2-4 | Warren Miller “Winter Starts Now” Film, Middlebury & Burlington This year’s Warren Miller film features UVM’s Vasu Sojitra descending Denali and plenty of other live action. At the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury, Dec. 2, followed by a show at the Flynn in Burlington n Dec. 4. warrenmiller.com 9 | Earn-Your-Turns Roundtable, Sugarbush Sugarbush and the Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition present the third annual Earn Your Turns Roundtable Discussion, bringing together skiers and riders interested in uphill travel alongside land managers, ski area operators and the US Forest Service.

Learn about uphill travel, proper etiquette and a panel discussion. sugarbush.com 10 | Annual Brewfest, Smuggler’s Notch Vermont has the highest number of breweries per capita and BrewFest highlights some of our state’s excellent breweries plus regional favorites and craft ciders. A DJ spins tunes and the Mountain Grille puts on a tasty appetizer buffet. smuggs.com

31 | New Year’s Eve Hike, Stratton The hike starts promptly at 7:30pm from the Courtyard, as the fireworks are planned to hit the sky at 8:30pm. After, descend the mountain and finish with a fire and hot chocolate. A spectacular way to take in fireworks from a new perspective. stratton.com

JANUARY 8 | Winter Wild Skimo Race, Whaleback, N.H. Kick off the Winter Wild Skimo series with a skin Up Ivory, Down Spout- Up Scrimshaw to Whales tail, Down Spout - 1,200 ft climb 3 miles. teamampactive.org 9 | Mini Shred Madness, Killington Grom skiers and riders, 13 years and under will get a feel for park riding and experience the rules and navigation of the Red’s Backyard. Mini Shred Madness is all about having fun in a competition setting. Not to mention, there will be all sorts of free giveaways being handed out at the event to competitors..Killington.com

11 | Corenation Rail Jam, Killington First stop of the 3 stop snowboarding Rail Jam Tour. The goal of C.O.R.E. Snowboarding is to raise money and awareness for local non-profits across the U.S. Killington.com

12-16 | The Flurry: Vermont Snow Sculpture Competition, Suicide Six Watch as snow sculptures comes to life while you ski by or take a break on the deck.

Vote on your favorite sculpture. The winning team may go to the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition. suicide6.com

11 | Wall of Fame Ceremony, Sugarbush Sugarbush inducts the 2021 class into the Wall of Fame in a fantastic evening of camaraderie and celebrations. sugarbush.com

9 | Silver Fox Trot & Citizens Race, Rikert Nordic Center, Ripton Join Nordic ski racers of all ages for the cross-country ski race on the trails of the RIkert Nordic Center, part of the Zak series. nensa.net

1 2 | Krampuslauf 5K, 10K, 50K, Suicide Six Dress up as Krampus, (the half goat, half demon monster that punishes misbehaving children during Christmas time in European cultures) and run the trails of the ski area to benefit Vermont Adaptive. suicide6.com .

17 | SugarBash 63rd Birthday Celebration, Sugarbush Celebrate Sugarbush’s 63rd birthday, 6-9 pm in the Castlerock Pub. sugarbush.com

16 | Mad River Glen Triple Crown Family Tournament, Mad River Glen The original Father-Son race dates back to 1942 when it was held on Mount Mansfield (Stowe). Now open to anyone who wants to participate. Racers complete a familyfriendly GS course where a racer’s best time from two runs is counted. The time is then added with other family members (by blood). madriverglen.com

19 | Santa Sunday, Bolton Valley Dress head-to-toe in a full Santa Claus get-up and get a free lift ticket for the day.

Must be costumed head-to-toe. boltonvalley.com 21 | Winter Solstice Celebration, Smuggler’s Notch Join Goodtime Charlie on the Green for a bonfire with glow sticks. Afterwards, Jeh Kulu Drum Theatre provides beats to the rhythm of the sunset for the Cirque de Feugo fire performers followed by fireworks. Start winter with a bang! smuggs.com 24 | Vermont Reindeer Visit , Smuggler’s Notch The Vermont Reindeer Farm brings Cupid and Dasher to Smuggs. The reindeer live on the Broe Family Farm in West Charleston, Vermont. smuggs.com 29 | Stratton’s 60th Birthday, Stratton Celebrate Stratton’s 60 years with music, food and fun. stratton.com 31 | TUCK IT! Fastest Skier & Rider in the East, Magic Mountain Skiers bomb the 1,500-foot top to-bottom of the ski area and are ranked by the speed as they fly past the radar gun. There is a $1,000 cash prize. magicmtn.com

DEMO DAYS

Want to try a new pair of skis out on snow? This winter Sugarbush Resort is working with brands to offer a series of demo days. Dates are: Jan. 15: Parlor; Jan. 22, Stockli.

Jan. 29: Burton; Feb. 5: Never Summer; Feb. 12: Black Crows. Details at sugarbush.com

19-23 | Winter Rendezvous, Stowe Celebrating 38 years, join hundreds of LGBTQ winter enthusiasts for 5 days of worldclass skiing and boarding at Stowe Mountain Resort. This fun-filled event offers a host of outdoor activities, parties, and entertainment winterrendezvous.com 20-23 | Stowe Winter Carnival, Stowe The town of Stowe shines with over 20 major activities for both young and old, from zany sports events, the Ice Carving Competitions, ski movies, Kids Carnival Kaos and the infamous Snowgolf and Snowvolleyball tournaments. gostowe.com 23 | NENSA Women’s XC Ski Day, Rikert Nordic Center, Ripton A day of fun learn-to-ski clinics with women instructors; the emphasis being on relaxed, fun learning in a supportive and encouraging environment. All ability, skill, and experience levels are welcome, open to women and non-binary. nensa.net 23 |Prospect Mountain XC Sprints, Woodford Join Nordic ski racers of all ages for the cross-country ski race on the trails of Prospect Mountain. Part of the Zak series. nensa.net 28 | Onion River Outdoors Snowshoe Romp, Montpelier Gather at the Hubbard Park Old Shelter for ORO’s annual Snowshoe Romp. Enjoy a candlelit trail through the woods, hot chocolate, ice cream and a bonfire. Bring a headlamp and come demo snowshoes from MSR, Tubbs, and Atlas! 6-8pm. onionrver.com 29 | Winter Wild Skimo Race, Mt. Ascutney Start at 5 pm and bring a headlamp. The race is 3.1 miles long with 800 vertical feet of climbing. this course will challenge ALL your trails skills. teamampactive.org 29-30 | Craftsbury Nordic Marathon, Craftsbury Race the Classic races on Saturday and freestyle on Sunday. The 50k will be Saturday, with the Sunday race coming in around 30k. craftsbury.com

vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 59

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CALENDAR FEBRUARY 5 | Winter Wild Skimo Race, Pat’s Peak, N.H. The Winter Wild Skimo is 5 miles, start at 7:00 am. you will do two laps of the following course. Course is counter clockwise up Puff (Green) to Twister (Black) and down Breeze - Zepher - Blast (All Green) . teamampactive.org 12 | The OG Invitational, Suicide Six Forty years ago, Paul Graves made history with the original 1982 National Snow Surfing Championship. It was a first of its kind – a foundational springboard for the sport. Paul and the crew at Suicide Six in Woodstock, Vermont will once again host the best in the industry alongside the OG’s that started it all. suicide6.com 13 | Frozen Onion, Montpelier A fun race with free fat bike demos for newcomers. Race starts/ends at North Branch Nature Center and uses the groomed trails of North Branch River Park. Multiple distance options available, and a kids’ race, too! onionriver.com 13 | 75th Stowe Derby, Stowe Ski from near the top of Mt. Mansfield’s Toll Hous trail all the way to town or wherever the 20 km course runs. Also a 6K short course and 16K fat bike division. mmsc.org 18-19 | Middlebury Winter Carnival, Middlebury Snow Bowl The northeast’s best Div. 1 NCAA racers compete as teams in alpine and Nordic events at the Snow Bowl and Rikert Nordic Center. middleburysnowbowl.com 19-20 | 100th Anniversary Harris Hilll Ski Jump, Brattleboro More than 40 of the world’s top male and female ski jumpers compete on a 90-meter jump, and soar more than 300 feet at speeds of nearly 60 mph. The event has a festive atmosphere for the whole family with food, music, and a beer tent. harrishillskijump.com 20 | Road To Ruin Race, Magic Mountain A throwback to the classic 80’s ski movie Hot Dog with a flat-out mass-start freeski/ ride race top-to-bottom on Black Line. Nothing fancy, just first across the finish line wins. There are no style points. $1500 in prize money. magicmtn.com

OLYMPIC SKIING/RIDING EVENTS

Many events will be broadcast live on NBC’s Peacock and other streaming platforms beginning Feb. 5. Live event times are EST. Listed are finals and first runs.

ALPINE 2/ 5: Men’s Downhill - 10:00 pm 2/ 6: Women’s GS – 9:15 pm 2/ 7: Men’s Super G – 10:00 pm 2/ 8: Women’s Slalom – 9:15 pm 2/ 9: Men’s Combined ¬— 9:30 pm 2/ 10: Women’s Super G — 10:00 pm 2/ 12: Men’s GS — 9:15 pm 2/ 14: Women’s Downhill — 10:00 pm 2/ 15: Men’s Slalom — 9:15 pm 2/ 16: Women’s Combined DH — 9:30 am 2/ 17: Women’s Combined SL — 1:00 am 2/ 18: Alpine Team Event — 10:00 pm FREESKIING & FREESTYLE 2/ 5: Men’s Moguls — 6:30 am 2/ 6: Women’s Moguls — 6:30 am 2/ 7: Women’s Big Air — 9:00 pm 2/ 8: Men’s Big Air — 10:00 pm 2/ 10: Mixed Team Aerials — 6:00 am 2/ 13: Women’s Slopestyle — 8:30 pm 2/ 14: Women’s Aerials — 6:00 am 2/ 14: Men’s Slopestyle — 8:30 pm 2/ 16: Men’s Aerials — 6:00 am 2/ 17: Women’s SkiCross — 1:00 am 2/ 17: Women’s Halfpipe — 8:30 pm 2/ 18: Men’s SkiCross — 1:00 am 2/ 18: Men’s Halfpipe — 8:30 pm

SNOWBOARD 2/ 5: Women’s Slopestyle — 8:30 pm 2/ 6: Men’s Slopestyle — 11:00 pm 2/ 8: Paralell GS Finals — 1:30 am 2/ 9: Women’s Snowboardcross — 1:30 am 2/ 9: Women’s Halfpipe — 8:30 pm 2/ 11: Mixed Snowboardcross — 9:00 pm 2/ 14: Women’s Big Air — 8:30 pm 2/ 15: Men’s Big Air — 12:00 am CROSSCOUNTRY SKIING 2/ 5: Women’s Skiathlon — 2:45 am 2/ 6: Men’s Skiathlon — 2:00 am 2/ 10: Women’s 10K Classical — 2:00 am 2/ 11: Men’s 15K Classical — 2:00 am 2/ 12: Women’s 4x5K Relay C/F — 2:30 am 2/ 13: Men’s 4x10K Relay C/F — 2:00 am 2/ 16: M/W Team Sprint Classical — 4:00 am 2/ 19: Men’s 50K Freestyle — 1:00 am 2/ 20: Women’s 30K Freestyle — 1:30 am BIATHLON 2/ 5: Mixed Relay 4x6K — 4:00 am 2/ 7: Women’s 15K — 4:00 am 2/ 8: Men’s 20K — 3:30 am 2/ 11: Women’s Sprint 7.5K — 4:00 am 2/ 12: Men’s Sprint 10K — 4:00 am 2/ 13: W/M Pursuits — 4:00 am 2/ 15: Men’s Relay 4x7.5K — 4:00 am 2/ 16: Women’s Relay — 2:45 am 2/ 18: Men’s Mass Start 15K — 4:00 am

25-27 Extreme Challenge, Smuggler’s Notch The Smugglers’ Notch Ski and Snowboard Club hosts this exciting event - an opportunity for junior and adult freeskiers and riders to show their big mountain skiing on the most difficult terrain the East has to offer. smuggs.com 26 | Mini Shred Madness, Pico Grom skiers and riders, 13 years and under get a feel for park riding and experience the rules and navigation. Mini Shred Madness is all about having fun in a competition setting. Plud free giveaways being handed out at the event to competitors. Killington.com 26-27 | Lake Mempremagog Winter Swim Festival, Newport A weekend of outdoor swimming races in the only 25-meter, two lane pool cut in the ice in all of the Americas. kingdomgames.com

MARCH 5 | WinterBike, East Burke A fatbike festival with demos, vendors, bonfires and guided rides of the 23 miles of groomed trails at Kingdom Trails. mbtvt.com 6 | High Fives Fat Skiathon, Sugarbush Ski laps and raise money for the High Fives Foundation. sugarbush.com 12 | Blauvelt Banks, Bolton Valley Pro riding legend Jake Blauvelt creates a banked slalom course for this wild snowboard event, which makes for great spectating. boltonvalley.com 60 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

13 | Endurance Society Skimo Race, Pico, Mendon Race a single 2,000 ft. climb to the summit or three different climbs (6,000 ft.) The LeMans mass start is at 8 am for AT, telemark and splitboard. endurancesociety.com 12 | Winter Wild Skimo Race, Magic Mountain Course distance is ~3 miles & 1,450 vertical feet. Up Hocus Pocus to Wand to Trick to Upper Magic Carpet to Summit, then down. Mass start is at 7:00 am. magicmtn.com 12 | Master of the Mountain, Magic Mountain The final extreme comp to crown the East’s best overall skier/rider! A one-run race, a top-to-bottom of Black Line timed event with up to 9 seconds reduced on your overall time by how well you do in the freeride comp before swinging right into the Giant Slalom gates. $1500 purse on the line for the top 3 finishers. magicmtn.com ANSWERS TO THE BREW QUIZ (p.23) A. Catamount Brewery, Windsor; B. Drop In, Middlebury; C. Von Trapp Brewing, Stowe; D. Lawson’s Finest, Waitsfield E. Beer Naked, Hogback Mtn. Wilmington.

F. 14th Star, St. Albans G. The Alchemist, Stowe, H. Snow Republic, West Dover

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DRINK VT

The Green Mountain State is home to some of the best breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries in the world. Call ahead for a reservation or to order take-out brews and drinks. For more information, links and maps to each location check out www. vtskiandride.com.

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

133 North Main St, St. Albans, VT 802-528-5988 | 14thstarbrewing.com 14th Star Brewing Co. is veteran-owned Vermont craft brewery on a mission to brew world-class beer while enriching the communities we serve. Using the freshest local ingredients, we impart military precision and creativity into every batch of 14th Star beer.

Reserve ahead and find your favorite 14th Star brews in our Brewery Taproom. Our beer is also available on tap and in cans statewide and Brewed With A Mission™ to give back to various charitable and veteran organizations.

316 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 802-497-1987 | citizencider.com Come visit our Cider Pub, where we bring together locally crafted cider and food and drinks to go. We work with local growers and makers to bring good food and cider to the people. A community of folks who believe that cider loves food. Try some cider or try a bite and celebrate local community at it’s best.

Cider for the people, made by the people.

116 Gin Lane, Montpelier, VT 802-472-8000 | www.barrhill.com Open daily, 2-8 p.m;

We’re now offering cocktails to go and a free bar snack with every order at our distillery overlooking the Winooski River in downtown Montpelier. We use raw northern honey to capture the countless botanicals foraged by honeybees in our award-winning Barr Hill Gin, barrel-aged Tom Cat Gin, and Barr Hill Vodka.

3597 VT-74, Shoreham, VT 802-897-2777 | champlainorchards.com Visit us at our Shoreham Farm Market or find us at your favorite craft retailer to try our award winning, orchard-made ciders. All our ciders are made onsite with our ecologically grown apples and our orchard is solar powered.

FIND MAPS AND MORE AT

vtskiandride.com/drink-vermont

Rt 100 Waterbury Center, VT 802-244-8771 | coldhollow.com Open seven days a week.

Taste real, modern day hard ciders…made from our own real sweet cider made in a real Vermont barn. Taste the difference. We’re Vermont to the core.

610 Route 7, Middlebury, VT 802-989-7414 | dropinbrewing.com Drop-In Brewing is Middlebury’s small, independent, locally-owned brewery, and is home to The American Brewers Guild Brewing School. Our tap room is open Tues.

- Sat. noon to 5 p.m. serving beer to go.

You can find our beer on draft in restaurants and bars across Vermont, and our cans in retailers that carry craft beers. For more information, check out www.dropinbrewing. com, or call us at (802) 989-7414.

1859 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 802-253-4765 | idletymebrewing.com

155 Carroll Rd, Waitsfield, VT 802-496-HOPS | lawsonsfinest.com

Our beer line-up represents a traditional take on classic European brewing with a healthy dose of the Vermont hop culture. Whether your preference is a brown or pale ale, Helles Lager or our famous Idletyme Double IPA, we have a beer you’ll love! And it’s brewed right here at our pub and restaurant.

Visit our family-owned award-winning brewery, timber frame taproom, and retail store located in the picturesque Mad River Valley. We produce an array of hop forward ales, specialty maple beers, and unique brews of the highest quality and freshness, and offer light fare. Open daily.

Did you miss the

LAST CALL? 8814 Route 30, Rawsonville, VT Junction VT Rt 30N and VT Rt 100N 802-297-9333 | craftdraughts.com An intimate shop with over 300 craft beers plus ciders, meads and two rotating Vermont taps for growler fills. A muststop for craft beer lovers traveling through southern Vermont.

Don’t miss the

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6308 Shelburne Rd, (Rte. 7)Shelburne, VT 802-985-8222 | shelburnevineyard.com Open Thurs.-Mon. 12-7, by reservation.

Taste and enjoy our award-winning wines as we welcome you and share our adventure growing grapes and making wine in VT’s northern climate. Located in charming Shelburne, just south of Burlington.

1333 Luce Hill Rd., Stowe, VT 802-253-0900 | vontrappbrewing.com Von Trapp Brewing is dedicated to brewing the highest quality Austrianinspired lagers with a Vermont twist.

Experience “a little of Austria, a lot of Vermont,” in every glass.

Come visit our bierhall and restaurant at the brewery!

17 Town Farm Lane, Stowe 802-253-2065 | stowecider.com Fresh-pressed hard cider crafted in Vermont.

Ciders range from super dry and preservativefree to others containing local fruits, hops, and unique barrel-aged offerings. Visit our tasting room at 17 Town Farm Lane across from the Rusty Nail, in Stowe.

1321 Exchange St, Middlebury, VT 802385-3656 | woodchuck.com As America’s original hard cider, we have always done things our own way, forging a tradition of quality and craftsmanship with every cider batch we craft. At Woodchuck, our cider makers meticulously oversee the details of every cider before any bottle or keg leaves our cidery. It’s this attention and passion for cider that ensures we always deliver a premium hard cider that is true to our roots. Enjoy the brand that started the American cider revolution.

VERMONT BEER, WINE, CIDER + SPIRITS

Find out more: 802-760-8550.

The Chairlift Q+A

THE UNLIKELY RIDERS Here’s how a new organization, Unlikely Riders, is uniting BIPOC skiers and riders in the Green Mountains.

V

ermont is 94% white and, according to the National Ski Areas Association’s 2020 data, 88.2% of visitors to ski areas are white. Now, a new local group is working hard to change that. We caught up with Abby Crisostomo, a co-founder of Unlikely Riders, to hear more about their mission. An experienced splitboarder, telemark and alpine skier (and ambassador for Voile and SDR Clothing Co.) Crisostomo identifies as biracial and queer.

She hopes Unlikely Riders can welcome more people to snowsports.

How do you define ‘Unlikely Riders’?

Unlikely Riders is a ‘vermont’ BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) non-profit mobilizing our community to find healing in the mountains while claiming space in the snow sports industry and culture.

We are not only working to reduce or eliminate barriers to skiing, snowboarding and other winter activities, but also building a supportive community for any BIPOC ‘vermonter’ interested in snowsports.

Who are some of your members?

Our community currently includes more than 130 BIPOC snowsports enthusiasts throughout ‘vermont.’ We’re composed of people with varying abilities and experience levels, from those who have never skied or snowboarded to sponsored athletes, former ski racers, and industry professionals.We welcome all BIPOC people, whether they have lived in ‘vermont’ their entire lives or moved here recently.

What other projects have you done?

We just had our first two gear drives of the season (hosted by The Alchemist and Outdoor Gear Exchange), followed by our season kickoff event at Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington in early November.

This event was a BIPOC affinity space where the Unlikely Riders gear closet was accessible to community members to choose from at no cost. Over 300 pieces of gear, including full ski, snowboard, and crosscountry ski setups were connected with community members. We had a layering workshop led by Bettina, an introductory ski/snowboard waxing workshop, one-on-one boot fittings, and binding mounting and adjustments by OGE staff throughout the evening, again at no cost to community members. It was an incredible event!

How is Unlikely Riders helping the BIPOC community?

We’re feeling more grounded and connected with our community. As one of our members, Jessica Laporte, who works in Stowe, said: “I grew up skiing, seeing my sister as the only other person of color on the slopes. As I focused on affinity spaces and connecting with other Blacks and people of color, I moved away from snowsports­— too expensive and too many white people. Last season with Unlikely Riders I got to experience both BIPOC community and snowsports in one.”

How can you join Unlikely Riders or contribute?

We have membership and donation information at unlikelyriders.org.

How did Unlikely Riders come about?

We started this project in October 2020 when Amanda Moran, who works here in the snowboard industry, reached out to me, snowboard coach Bettina Guevara, and Hana Saydek, a former ski racer and alpine race coach, about getting more BIPOC ‘vermonters’ on snow. We were so excited to join in and get to work. In our first season, we held monthly Zoom gatherings and offered workshops and webinars where we connected our community during the pandemic. We taught 22 members how to ski, snowboard and enjoy the backcountry. Our members have visited 13 ski areas, and we connected over 100 pieces of gear to our community!

64 Holidays 2021 vtskiandride.com

Members of Unlikely Riders enjoy a day of skiing and snowboarding at Bolton Valley.

Phoots courtesy Abby Crisostomo and Unlikely Riders.

You call it ‘vermont.’ Why? Writing ‘vermont’ in quotation marks is another way of acknowledging that this land we occupy and recreate on was stolen from the Abenaki, Mohican, and Pennacook tribes by white people and colonized.

Expertise that’s Escape to wherever you are Vermont for you and wherever the holidays. want to be.

NOTHING COMPARES.

NOTHING COMPARES.

STRATTON 802.297.8000 | MOUNT SNOW 802.464.1200 | MANCHESTER 802.362.4551 | OKEMO 802.228.4537 | KILLINGTON 802.746.4203 | STOWE 802.253.7267 | FourSeasonsSIR.com

133 EAST MOUNTAIN | KILLINGTON | 802.746.4203 EACH OFFICE ISROAD INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED. FourSeasonsSIR.com EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED.

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802.552.4007

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be here

It’s said that people come here because they want to be here. Maybe it’s the incredible snow or the legendary terrain or the pure majesty of our Mad River Valley setting. All good reasons to call Sugarbush home, but in the end, it’s the camaraderie of our people that makes everyone feel so welcome here.

Come to Sugarbush. You belong here.