Monthly Archives: December 2011

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort will light up the snow on Bull Run for the first of three Light the Night Events on Saturday, Jan. 7. Evening competitions in this series are scheduled to take place the first Saturday of the month in Jan., Feb. and March. Jan. 7 is a Rail Jam format. Feb. 4 will feature a Big Air competition on Okemo’s new AMP Energy Airbag, and  March 3 will be a Quarter Pipe competition under the lights provided by the Ludlow Fire Department. An after party will take place at The Killarney in Ludlow.  

Shredders, Groms and Park Rats of all ages are invited to throw down some tricks while Okemo throws some light on the rails on Bull Run, for a competition starting at 5 p.m on Jan. 7. Winners take a chunk of more than $1000 in cash plus tons of other prizes from RAMP, Swany, and more. Competitors earn series points for the opportunity to take home a cool $1500 as series champion. Registration will take place from 3-5 p.m. and the registration fee is $15, or $40 for all three events in the Light the Night Series. Helmets are required for all competitors and participants under 18 will need a parent’s or guardian’s signature. 

Spectators are welcome and The Sitting Bull will be open for refreshments.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

On Dec. 27, Okemo Mountain Resort hosted the “Killarney What I Learned This Summer Rail Jam,” presented by Okemo Valley’s premier Irish Pub. Thirty-nine skiers and riders showed off all the new maneuvers they learned over the summer. The course setup was a whales tale, double A-frame and battering ram rail. In addition to a $200 cash prize for the best trick, top competitors took home new skis, gear and cash.

Casey Savage, of Chester, Vt., won best trick with a gap 270 on the double A rail.

In the Men’s Ski division, First place went to Dan Jones, of North Sutton, N.H. Robin Holbt, of Barrington, R.I., too second place and rounding our the top three spots was Dan Ladd, of South Windsor, Conn.

In the Men’s Snowboard division, Eric Verillo, of Chester, Vt., took the top spot. Second place went to Casey Savage of Chester, Vt. Taylor Spaulding, of Chester, Vt., took the third spot.

Delia Whyte, of Bronxville, N.Y., commanded the top spot in the Women’s Ski division.

First place in the Juniors division went to Austin Hawkes, of Weare, N.H. Matt Mauser, of Mendhan, N.J., took second and Nick Deistler, of Westminster West, Vt. took the third spot on the podium.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort turns New Year’s Eve into a family celebration by moving midnight into a different time zone. On December 31, 2011, Okemo will share a world time zone with Montevideo, Uruguay, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – allowing families with young children to ring in the New Year at a reasonable hour. 

In the hours leading up to midnight in Brazil (5 to 9 p.m. local time), Okemo will offer a whole host of activities. Following early evening ice skating, wagon rides, cookie decorating, marshmallow roasting, groomer viewing, bounce-house bopping, bingo games and a trivia tournament, families can ring in the New Year early with a DJ-Dance-and-Pizza Party and fireworks show – and still get the kids to bed in time for a full day on the slopes the next day. Party games, balloons, noisemakers and a 9 p.m. fireworks display add to the New Year’s Eve celebration at Okemo’s Jackson Gore. 

“This is one of our most popular winter events,” says Okemo Events Manager Sarah Ebbott. “By limiting the number of Activity Wristbands we sell, it makes it a great experience for all attendees. Now in its fourth year, Okemo’s Family New Year’s Eve Party is sure to sell out again this year.” 

New Year’s Eve Activity Wristbands are $30 for access to all activities excluding the Pizza and Dance Party. Activity Wristbands that include the New Year’s Eve Pizza and Dance Party at Jackson Gore’s Roundhouse are priced at $35 for ages 2-6, and $45 for ages 7 and up. Access is complimentary for children under 2. Some events and activities will be offered on an a la carte basis: snowtubing, mountain coaster rides, two shows featuring the magical and comedic stylings of Tom Joyce. 

For more information visit the Family New Year’s Eve Party Page on Okemo’s website. Call (802) 228-1600 to purchase New Year’s Eve Activity Wristbands and Magic Show tickets. Snowtubing and mountain coaster tickets will be sold on-site.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

The superheroes of the ski and snowboard season this year are Okemo Mountain Resort’s snowmakers. Although the mountain typically receives 200 inches of natural snowfall annually, snowmaking plays a vital role in getting the mountain covered with snow at the start of the season. Okemo has spent 30 years building its reputation for superlative surface conditions through its arsenal of snowmaking guns and snow management practices. Okemo has the capability to cover 96 percent of its ski and snowboard terrain with snowmaking.  

“We’re doing our best to keep snowmaking at maximum production,” said Okemo VP of Operations Barry Tucker. “We’ve brought in generators to ensure we have enough electrical power to maximize our potential through the holidays.” 

Okemo covers more than 600 acres of terrain with snow-generating technology. HKD tower guns make up the majority of the 1,100 guns in Okemo’s cache. The Resort’s dedication to providing a quality snow surface is directly proportionate to the amount of water that can be stored and utilized for making snow. With the addition of Jackson Gore a decade ago, Okemo’s demand for water increased substantially. What was previously a 70 million gallon snowmaking pond is now a massive, 70-foot deep reservoir that holds 155 million gallons of water. In a typical year, Okemo pumps more than 450 million gallons of water through its snowmaking system. At maximum production, it takes two on-hill crews of 10-12 people working noon to midnight;  three people at the base pump; two people at the mid-mountain pump and four people at the compressor pad. The system can pump 9,200 gallons of water and 37,000 cubic feet of compressed air per minute – requiring about 6,000 kilowatts of electricity per hour. 180,000 gallons of water yields an acre-foot of snow and, depending on the type of gun, the temperature and humidity, a trail can be covered with enough snow to make it skiable in 24 hours. 

Okemo continues to win awards and accolades for its snowmaking prowess. In its most recent annual Reader Resort Survey, SKI Magazine ranked Okemo’s snow as one of the top five in the East, and second in Vermont. Okemo was ranked second in the East for Grooming – behind sister resort Mount Sunapee, in N.H., and Okemo made the top ten for overall satisfaction. 

This year, Okemo added 15 new HKD tower guns, and is testing another 30 high-efficiency guns that are designed with adjustable water flow levers, nozzle versatility and new valve technology. 

To help keep its most passionate skiers and snowboarders informed, Okemo maintains a blog called Wet Bulb and the Winch Cat. Okemo VP and General Manager Bruce Schmidt offers technical insight and tactical projections regarding snowmaking and grooming throughout the season.

The special four movie series sponsored jointly by Okemo and FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium) opens Thursday, Dec. 29 at 7 pm at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium with Mel Brooks' hilarious film, "Young Frankenstein".

The film stars Gene Wilder as the title character, a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The supporting cast includes Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, Richard Haydn and Gene Hackman. The screenplay was written by Brooks and Wilder.The film is an affectionate parody of the classical horror film genre, in particular the various film adaptations of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein produced by Universal in the 1930s. Most of the lab equipment used as props were created by Kenneth Strickfaden for the 1931 film Frankenstein. To further reflect the atmosphere of the earlier films, Brooks shot the picture entirely in black-and-white, a rarity in the 1970s, and employed 1930s-style opening credits and scene transitions such as iris outs, wipes, and fades to black.

 As a special added treat, FOLA will raffle-off all of the films it exhibited this past year as part of its '1st Thursday' program. These include DVDs and Blu-Rays of Mamma Mia, March of the Penguins, Secretariat, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chariots of Fire, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harvey, and North by Northwest. The Okemo-Fola series will continue with the following films: Jan. 12, "Some Like It Hot", Jan. 19, "True Grit", and Feb. 16, "The King's Speech".

In addition, FOLA will continue its first Thursday of the month series throughout 2012 starting with the all-time favorite, "Casablanca" on Jan. 5. All films are free; donations are appreciated.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort is celebrating the opening of “Edges,” a new equipment demo and sales center located beneath Okemo’s iconic clock tower, in the Resort’s original base area. Edges opened for business on Saturday, Dec. 17.  

Edges Demo and Sales Center offers the newest skiing and riding equipment for the enthusiast looking to test ride before making a purchase. Edges also serves the discerning skier or rider who is looking to demo the latest technology. Brands represented include Salomon, Atomic, Elan, Rossignol, Ramp, and Stockli. 

“This is the best way to buy equipment,” says Okemo Snowsports Shop Assistant Director Dave Martin. “Why would you purchase new skis and snowboards any other way?” 

Skiers and riders visiting Okemo can try all the new toys: fat skis, twin tips, carving skis, telemark skis, snowshoes and helmets, for a daily fee, or with the purchase of a new “Demo Pass" season pass package. Edges also demos lightweight, composite ski poles and top-of-the-line helmets. 

Edges Demo Center’s daily prices are $45 per day for one pair of skis/snowboard; $60 per day for three pairs of skis/snowboards; $80 per day for an unlimited number of products. Premium pole and helmet demos are $15 per day. Daily demo fees up to $135 can be applied toward the purchase of any ski/snowboard any time during the season. 

Edges offers a variety of special Demo Center season passes. The World Cup Pass is $299 and includes 10 demos to be used throughout the season. $135 can be applied toward purchase of new skis or a snowboard. The Defiance Pass is $399 and includes 16 demos. $150 can be applied toward a purchase. The Double Diamond Pass is $499 and includes 22 demos. $175 can be applied toward a purchase. The Chief Pass is $699 and includes 34 demos. $200 can be applied toward a  purchase. Demo Center season pass holders can use two products per day. 

For more information about Edges Demo and Sales Center, call (802) 228-1565. To learn more about Okemo Mountain Resort, please call (802) 228-1600 or visit www.okemo.com.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Barenaked Ladies and Guster will headline the second annual FestEVOL concert series. FestEVOL 2012 will kick off at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, in Colorado, on March 17 and 18. From there, the music and mountain lifestyle celebration moves east to Okemo Mountain Resort, in Vermont, on March 24 and 25, and Mount Sunapee Resort, in New Hampshire, on March 31 and April 1. FestEVOL 2012 will combine snowsports and live music at the nation’s premier mountain resorts.

“It is our goal to give our FestEVOL attendees a weekend escape where they can enjoy great music, awesome snow and delicious food with their friends and families,” said Andrew Jaffe, EVOL Foods vice president of marketing. “In its second year, FestEVOL is going to be better and more exciting with the music of Barenaked Ladies and Guster.”

The band Barenaked Ladies is coming off a break from their 2011 summer tour and the September release of their greatest hits album, Hits From Yesterday & the Day Before.

“We love to ski and board at all three of these resorts,” said Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies. “Being a part of FestEVOL allows us to share our passion for music and winter snowsports with all of our loyal fans.”

Guster, known for such hits as “Amsterdam,” “Satellite” and “Do You Love Me?”  has become well known for their music and for their nonprofit organization, Reverb, founded by band member Adam Gardner and his wife, Lauren, in 2004.  Reverb will be actively involved at each FestEVOL location in an effort to keep the event as green and sustainable as possible. The Reverb Eco Village highlights environmental nonprofit groups alongside alternative energy exhibits. It also includes food sampling from top natural food brands plus ski and snowboard equipment demos with Nordica, Ramp, and Burton Snowboards.

Additional musical artists playing at FestEVOL will be announced soon. Tickets and ticket packages are available for purchase at host-mountain-resort websites. For information, visit
www.festevol.com.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort is proud to be a sponsor of the Friends of Ludlow Auditorium Winter Film Series. FOLA will present four popular films, free of charge, in the newly restored Ludlow Auditorium. The first film of the series is Young Frankenstein on Dec. 29. Some Like It Hot will screen on Jan. 12. True Grit is the feature on Jan. 19 and rounding out the series on Feb. 16 is The King’s Speech. All films start at 7 p.m. and donations will be accepted at the door.

FOLA was incorporated in Vermont with the purpose of promoting the use of the newly-restored auditorium in Ludlow's Town Hall, located on Depot St. Its mission is to foster the use of the auditorium to benefit area residents. 

"We'd like to invite all area residents to join us in promoting the use of this great facility," said Ralph Pace, Chairman of the group. "FOLA needs the input of people in the Ludlow area to determine what kind of entertainment and programs they'd like to attend at the auditorium.". 

For more information about Okemo Mountain Resort, please call (802) 228-1600 or visit www.okemo.com.

Submitted by JoAnn Milza

The Friends of the Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow is very pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring our yearly winter film and book series again in January ,February and March 2012. We will discuss the book on the second Tuesday and view the movie on the fourth Tuesday of the month. For January 10 and 24, we will be reading and viewing "Julie & Julia" by Julie Powell. The author tries to cook all the Julia Child recipes in one year. On February 14 &28, we will doing "Chocolat" and on March 13 &27 "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes . When the snow falls and cabin fever  begins to set in, come to the library. The programs will be held at 12 noon. Bring a sandwich and the Friends will provide beverages and desserts. The books are available in the library.We guarantee a good afternoon.