For release at will
Winter 2007/2008
Contact: Bonnie MacPherson, director of public relations
Okemo Mountain Resort | 77 Okemo Ridge Road | Ludlow, VT 05149
802-228-1947 | bmacpherson@okemo.com
THE OKEMO “WHAT’S NEW” REVIEW FOR WINTER 2007/2008
LUDLOW, Vt. – It is said that success is a journey, not a destination; so it is no surprise that improvements slated for this winter at Okemo Mountain Resort continue to focus on the snow and ways for resort guests to enjoy it.
Snowmaking
With 97 percent of its terrain equipped with snowmaking capabilities, Okemo’s emphasis this year is on making snow more efficiently and exploring viable ways to make snow at closer-to-freezing temperatures, allowing the resort to open more lower-elevation terrain earlier in the season. Thirty new HKD tower guns, designed to project snow with pinpoint accuracy will be installed in areas like narrow slopes and real estate access trails requiring focused, directional throw. Okemo will also be testing a variety of new snowmaking guns on its Open Slope, just above the Clock Tower base area. Skiers and snowboarders will be able to sample the snow from guns produced by Snow Economics, with four different configurations. Featuring adjustable water flow levers, nozzle versatility and new valving technology, 15 of the HKD’s premiere snowguns will be added to the arsenal as demos so that Okemo’s top-rated snowmaking team will have a chance to thoroughly test the newest technology, providing feedback to further develop this specialized snowmaking equipment.
Grooming
Okemo's reputation for grooming excellence continues this winter with the introduction of another new grooming machine. Last year, four new Prinoth B350 grooming machines, one outfitted with a Sherpa overhead winch, were introduced to upgrade the fleet of nine machines. This year’s upgrade will ensure that the mountain is groomed out with those wide ribbons of corduroy for skiers and riders who love to make tracks on the near-seamless carpets of snow Okemo is so famous for.
Terrain Variety
This winter, Okemo’s operations team will be devising ways to create more terrain variety on alpine trails. “A lot of the excitement of skiing is terrain change,” says Vice President of Mountain Operations Barry Tucker. “We’re planning to build more character into some of our trails.” In addition to allowing a few of Okemo’s more difficult trails to take on more natural characteristics by grooming less often, some trails will receive some extra grooming attention to create gradual swales with subtle fluctuations that will make the snow surface more interesting. On the Lower Tomahawk trail, a “FamilyCross” park will offer intermediate skiers and riders a chance to enjoy a playful assortment of big bank turns, rollers and snow mounds as they wind their way down the trail. For more adventurous snow sliders, Okemo features six terrain parks, ranging in difficulty from the introductory Hot Dog Hill to competition-worthy Nor’easter and the Dew Zone, as well as Okemo’s SoBe Superpipe, the longest superpipe in the east with 18-foot high walls.
Ross Powers Snowboard Ambassador
Okemo Mountain Resort is pleased to announce that one of snowboarding’s legends has accepted the appointment of Okemo Snowboard Ambassador. Owner of more halfpipe titles than any other rider in history, including a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Powers now has his sights set on making the U.S. snowboardcross team and competing in the 2010 Games. In addition to making numerous personal appearances at Okemo throughout the season, Powers will be running snowboard camps and attending events at the resort, to benefit the Ross Powers Foundation, a non-profit foundation for athletes with financial need. Okemo’s sister resorts, Mount Sunapee Resort, in N.H., and Crested Butte Mountain Resort, in Colo., will also host Ross Powers Snowboard Camps. “Okemo is a good family resort with good terrain parks,” said Powers. “It’s a place where I can train and raise my family.” Powers has a 4 year-old daughter, Victoria. He and his wife, Marisa, are celebrating the recent arrival of their second daughter, Meredith.
Surface Lift
A new 400-foot surface lift will offer additional access to the newly extended and re-graded Bright Star Basin beginner trail at Jackson Gore. In addition to serving as an access lift for owners and guests of Jackson Gore’s new Adams House and Bixby House, the new magic-carpet style lift will open up more teaching terrain for beginner skiers and snowboarders at Jackson Gore. A long and wide trail, with a 10 percent grade, that is serviced by two novice-friendly surface lifts, creates an optimal learning environment.
Slopeside Lodging
Okemo Mountain Resort was one of the first ski areas to develop ski in/ski out slopeside lodging in 1961. An American Indian name, Okemo means “all come home,” and with the completion of the Bixby House, 28 families will have a new, slopeside vacation residence to come home to this winter. The Bixby House, slated for occupancy starting in December 2007, is the first of two whole-ownership buildings that are part of Jackson Gore’s Phase II development plan. The building’s 84,000 square-foot layout will include 28 elegantly appointed residences, heated underground parking and owner locker rooms. In spring 2006, plans for the Bixby House and Coolidge House were debuted in a successful real estate selection event that witnessed a commitment of $32 million at pre-construction prices, in just over four hours. Residences varying in size from studios to three-bedrooms sold for $378,000 to $2.181 million.
Base Lodge Retro Revisited
Forty years after it was built, Okemo’s base lodge is receiving a retro re-do. What’s old will be new again as Okemo Mountain Resort’s circa 1968 base lodge gets outfitted with some fresh, stylin’ colors, new carpeting, and Formica countertops. Okemo owner Diane Mueller is the mastermind behind the base lodge retrograding. Skiers and snowboarders who thought they’d never live to see avocado green again are in for a hip trip down Memory Lane.
Snow Tubing
Although Okemo started offering snow tubing with a soft launch during the middle of the season last winter, this year marks the official introduction of inflatable, snow-sliding fun at Okemo’s Jackson Gore base area. Three contoured lanes of totally tubular delight are accessed by the 400-foot long Stargazer Carpet surface lift. Snow tubing is available starting at 3 p.m. on weekends and during holiday periods. Inflatable snow tubes are available for rent at the Jackson Gore Mountain Services Center.
Learn to Ski or Snowboard for FREE!
First-time or beginner skiers and snowboarders visiting Okemo Mountain Resort early in the season are welcome to take part in a complimentary beginner program to learn to ski or snowboard absolutely free. This unique offer is designed to generate excitement for snow sports and encourage beginners to broaden their experience at the start of the winter season. Okemo’s beginner package includes a combination lower-mountain lift ticket, a level 1 or 2 beginner group lesson at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. and introductory level rental equipment (skis, boots, poles, or boots and snowboard). This program is available for ages 7 and up at no charge every day, Monday, Nov. 26 through Friday, Dec. 21, 2007. Beginners should arrive at the Okemo Express Rental Shop located in the Okemo Clock Tower base area about an hour before lesson time to register and be fitted for equipment. As an added bonus, participants also qualify for a free First Tracks Plus card entitling them to continued discounts and benefits all season long on group lessons, lift tickets and rental equipment.
For more information, please call (802) 228-1600, or visit www.okemo.com.
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