By Chad Neal
Winter is peering around the corner, the season for which Ellicottville is most famous. Holiday Valley is gearing up with some improvements and new additions for the 2011-2012 ski season.
Pat Morgan, terrain park manager and “chancellor of fun” at Holiday Valley, and Jane Eshbaugh, director of marketing at Holiday Valley, provided insight on the new changes and improvements for the upcoming ski season.
Two new PistenBully groomers were purchased, bringing the newest technology in grooming to Holiday Valley’s slopes and trails, which almost makes the entire grooming fleet PistenBully now. Groomers resurface the slopes each night using hydraulic tillers to grind the top layer of snow and laying it down again as a soft corduroy surface.
Also erected this summer was the Mountain Coaster, which is also open during the winter season (weekends and holidays) as well. The coaster is controlled by the rider on a “sled” that takes one or two riders up and down the hill on tracks that zigzag through the woods by Spruce slope near Tannenbaum lodge.
The mountain crew also took on another construction project this summer. They replaced the double chairlift at SnowPine with the old Morningstar quad chairlift. A new beginner lift called Bear Cub was built for the 2010-11 season and has been extended for easier access to the SnowPine lift. This winter, with the purchase of a lift ticket, you can add a one-ride ticket for only $6.
An automated snowmaking system was installed on the mile-long Mardi Gras slope. Weather stations on the upper and lower slope will monitor temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, and direct a computer to turn the snow guns on or off, or increase or decrease the air and water flow. The goal of automation is to increase efficiency and energy savings while providing the best possible manmade snow, “meaning essentially no more snowmaking during hours of operation on that slope,” said Morgan.
Morgan also provided a sneak peek into the 42/78 Terrain Park for the upcoming season.
He said, “We’ll be focusing on improving our existing product. One of our main focuses is expanding our beginners’ area to provide even more introductory-level freestyle terrain, which will be complemented by even more freestyle-specific snow sports lessons.”
The target opening day for Holiday Valley is Nov. 25, weather permitting. This is two weeks after the annual Beer and Wine Festival taking place at Holiday Valley on Nov. 12.
On Dec. 17, snow enthusiasts can take advantage of the Free Demo Day, when all major ski and snowboard brands will be available.
Only 10 days later, Christmas Camps begin on Dec. 27 for race, free ride, snowboarding and masters, followed by the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Main Chalet with the torchlight parade, live music and fireworks.
January is National Learn a Snows Sport month, where Holiday Valley offers 20 percent off learn-to-ski or snowboard packages.
All of the usual events and more are scheduled for this year, including the yearend Retro Spring Party, when participants dress in ‘70s and ‘80s styles, like the one-piece snowsuits, and celebrate the end of the season.
Holiday Valley is excited to get the season going. The gang from Holiday Valley is up north at Lake Placid for the SANY (Ski Areas of New York) convention getting more ideas and information to aid the resort in accommodating all of the visitors, old and new, that come each year.
For more information and updates on scheduled events, go to Holidayvalley.com.
