Hitting the Slopes in the Old Dominion

The New Year Is Upon Us.  Resolve to SKI!

Story by Deborah Huso, Contributing Writer

If you�ve enjoyed the Blue Ridge Mountains or the Shenandoah Valley�s splendor in the fall but have never breathed in the crisp mountain air from the top of a snow-covered peak and swooshed your way down the mountain, then this may be the year to add �ski experience� to your 2015 New Year�s goals.

Far from intimidating, Virginia�s slopes are conveniently located, affordable, and friendly to both beginner and intermediate-level skiers.

Massanutten

With over 1,110 feet of vertical drop, Massanutten Resort is a great option for those trying to convince the whole gang to pack up and head out for a winter escape. Situated in the Shenandoah Valley just east of Harrisonburg, this popular winter resort features 14 fully lit trails with a higher vertical drop than any other resort in Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania.

It also offers snowboarding and a 900-foot tubing run. In addition, Massanutten gives freestylers a chance to hone their skills on a terrain park that it grooms daily and hand-shapes, providing exciting new challenges for snowboarders, skiers, and snowbladers.

The resort offers a wide range of winter sports lessons in every skill level from beginner to advanced, including classes designed specifically for women or skiers over 50. Guests without their own equipment can take advantage of a full gear-rental program.  

Visitors who need a warm-up from the cold can swap a ski jacket for a swimsuit and watch the snow fall from inside the indoor 84-degree Waterpark, open all year. Massanutten also offers outdoor ice skating at a 4,250-square-foot facility.

To make it a winter weekend, or longer, the resort has lodging options ranging from private homes to timeshare units, some of which are ski-in and ski-out.

Slope-use tickets start at $36 for a night pass and range up to $76 for a weekend/holiday extended pass. Limited season passes start at $219 while 2015 full-season adult passes are $450, with an optional waterpark upgrade for $150. Monday nights (4-9 p.m.) from January through March 2, 2015, offer slope-use tickets for $18, with an additional $18 for rentals and free lessons for new skiers. 

Reservations and more information available at www.massresort.com or by calling 1-540-289-9441.

Wintergreen Resort           

Drawing people to the Blue Ridge Mountains for over 30 years, Wintergreen Resort offers 24 slopes and trails ― on skis, on a board, or on a tube. If that�s not enough, freestylers can perfect their skills at the progressively designed terrain park with more than 40 features. Wintergreen also boasts a National Standard Race (NASTAR) qualifying course open to all ages.

Located south of Charlottesville, the resort sports the largest tubing park in Virginia. The vertical drop is as high as a 10-story building and longer than three football fields. Tubers reach downhill speeds of 30 mph. For the younger guest not interested in setting speed records, Wintergreen offers a fun park (ages 2 and up), where children can play in the snow and enjoy a less extreme tubing experience.

Wintergreen Resort, set on 11,000 acres bordering the Blue Ridge Parkway and equipped with 100 percent Techno Alpin computerized snow-making capabilities, tends to have a long season with relatively good conditions. To keep lines short, giving skiers more time on the runs and less time in line, the trails are served by five lifts, including two high-speed six-person lifts. 

Snowsports School offers instruction to all ages and levels, including special classes for women, family groups and college groups. Wintergreen also offers adapted skiing and snowboard lessons for guests with disabilities.

Visitors can expect to pay up to $85 for an adult weekend/holiday day pass, and $251 for a 3-day lift and rental non-holiday weekend package. Early/late season lift tickets are available at 30 percent off. Individual adult season passes valid for evenings, every day during early/late season and Sunday afternoons through Friday, are $299. Wintergreen hosts Appreciation Days for nearby residents, offering special deals on pre-determined days.  

Those wishing to make a weekend ski event can stay at one of the 230 villa-style condominiums and rental homes on site.

More information is available online at www.wintergreenresort.com or by calling 1-855-699-1858.

The Homestead

When thinking ski getaways, The Homestead in Hot Springs may not be the first place that comes to mind. But when the weather turns cold, the white-glove service for which the property is known bundles up and heads outside to attend to skiers, snowboarders, ice skaters, and snowmobilers, all enjoying winter in the Allegheny Mountains.

Conveniently located less than two hours north of Roanoke, and about four hours from Washington, D.C., The Homestead draws casual skiers or snowboarders seeking a luxurious getaway with full-service pampering, elegantly appointed accommodations, and flexible meal-plan options.

With 700 feet of vertical drop, there are nine well-groomed ski runs set on more than 45 acres. The more challenging trails at the top are wooded slopes, though novices can exit the chairlift halfway up and start their run on a less daunting portion of the trail. Though one may not make ski lodge small-talk here with Olympic ski hopefuls, The Homestead�s compact size and its uncongested slopes make it the ideal place to take the family, especially those who are experiencing the swoosh of skis for the first time. Unlike other larger ski resorts, the resort�s elevated ambience will not likely be disturbed by a gaggle of rowdy ski-club teens hot-dogging their way down the slope.

The Homestead caters to those learning to ski, focusing on children in the early part of the season. Parents with children enrolled in the ski school can watch from the picture window or relax by one of the many fires in the European-style ski lodge. Alternately, parents can enjoy the many other amenities at the resort, including the highly rated culinary options, an expansive spa, and the natural mineral waters of the two-acre all-season outdoor pool.

Those interested in starting a new family tradition may consider the Learn to Ski & Stay packages offered in early January, which will get a family of four on the slopes with lessons, lift tickets, a rental package, parking and accommodations. Packages start at $320. Lift tickets range from $29 to $59. 

Visit www.thehomestead.com, or call the reservations line at 1-866-747-6221.

Bryce Resort

Known as the quintessential beginners ski experience in Virginia, Bryce offers skiing, snowboarding, and an 800-foot snow-tubing hill. Located a little more than two hours from Washington, D.C., and 2 1⁄2 hours from Richmond, the conveniently located and relaxed family-friendly environment here make it an ideal destination for introducing the whole family to skiing.

Because Bryce caters to new skiers, the instructors are generally well-rated and all are certified Professional Ski Instructors of America. Class sizes tend to be smaller than other resorts. Bryce teaches ski and snowboard skills while focusing on safe practices for winter sports. 

Bryce has also created a niche for itself by catering to more advanced skiers. With eight trails and five lifts spread over 25 acres of skiable terrain in the Shenandoah Valley, Bryce has a thriving ski team, leading the Southern Region with the number of racers on its team. It also provides preparatory clinics for those not yet ready for team competition.

Beginner classes are offered in the morning with First Time Packages ranging from $64 to $83, which include ski rental, a lesson, and access to the beginner area with a carpet lift. Bryce has a full rental program with ski/boot/pole sets and snowboard/boot sets.

To start planning your ski experience, visit www.bryceresort.com or call 1-540-856-2121.

Dress the Part

More than just a fashion call � proper gear will go far in determining how much skiers and snowboarders enjoy their experience. Taking the temperature and wind conditions into consideration, it�s generally best to go for layers, starting with a minimum of a moisture-wicking base followed by an overlay of synthetic fleece.

The outer layer of gear should be waterproof (not just water-resistant), especially for Virginia skiers who often find themselves in wet conditions due to the high water content of the snow. Waterproof pants, coat, and gloves are essential. Many skiers will tell you that they won�t leave home without neck liners and mittens. Any skin that�s still exposed after all that bundling should be coated with a heavy layer of sunscreen and lip balm, even on cloudy days. 

And finally, to complete the look, the last must-have items are a helmet and goggles specifically designed for skiing and snowboarding. Goggles should be ventilated around the frame to avoid fogging. Chances are, you�ll find helmets available for rent at the on-site equipment rental facility. Don�t go without one.  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 7,000 head injuries occur in skiing accidents each year.