‘Weekly Columns’ Archives
Changing Surface Conditions
Changing Surface Conditions Spring Skiing often brings changing weather conditions. This time of year is filled with winter and spring weather surprises. Some days it’s 25 degrees and overcast while other days it is 45 and sunny. You just never know what you’re going to get. However, that doesn’t mean that there are bad skiing days and [...]
Marriage – apparently we’re not too keen on it
The institution of marriage is in serious trouble. Larry King is dating again. Seriously and according to the latest dwindling numbers, that venerable institution that legally allows two people to come together for the purpose of living under one roof and procreating and okay, playing naked charades while watching The Lawrence Welk Show, that [...]
Guns ‘n Hoses – Snowmakers’ Ski Race
By Chad Neal Behind the scenes of any show is the unseen backbone that keeps it running. Keeping the show in Ellicottville at Holiday Valley and HoliMont going from the first cold snap until the spring thaw are the special forces of the hill. These are the commandos with the snow guns, specialists on snowmobiles, running water from Spruce Lake [...]
Ellicottville Entertainment Mardi Gras Week
Checking Out The Tunes & Other Stuff in Ellicottville By Robby & Sherman Wilkens, Festival number two of 2011's 10 festivals, Mardi Gras & Winter Carnival Weekend are here. March is about half over and yet the skiing at both Holiday Valley and HoliMont is still pretty darn good. This will be another of the really FUN weekends [...]
The people/pets look alike contest
“It’s an old, old story: I had a friend and we shared everything, and then she died and so we shared that, too.” What kind of a book begins with a sentence like that? A terrific true story about best friends, love, loss, grief and the goodness of dogs. Let’s Take The Long Way Home by Boston writer Gail Coldwell is an exquisitely [...]
HoliMont’s First Nor-Am Cup Experience a Success!
February 22nd-24th was a momentous time for the HoliMont Racing Program. For the first time ever HoliMont played host to an FIS Nor-Am Cup Snowboard race. In fact, it was the first time that such an event has ever been held in Western New York. Alpine racers from all over the world traveled to Ellicottville to take part in the event and when [...]
New York State Ski Racing J4 Championships at Holiday Valley
(February 28, 2011, Ellicottville, NY...) One hundred forty of New York’s top 11 and 12 year old ski racers representing 20 different New York ski resorts, will be racing at Holiday Valley this weekend, March 5 and 6, in the NYSSRA J4 State Championships. Seventy-two boys and sixty-eight girls will compete in both slalom and giant slalom races. [...]
Mardi Gras Parade and HV Winter Carnival Highlight of Weekend
By Chad Neal The culmination of the winter season in Ellicottville is so bittersweet. The memories created make a longing to relive it over again, perhaps just to watch for that certain peak of emotion. The conclusive climax to winter is represented by Ellicottville's Mardi Gras celebration, recreating the recreations in New Orleans where [...]
Ellicottville Entertainment – Checking Out The Tunes & Other Stuff in Ellicottville
As we enter March and are a week away from Winter Carnival and Mardi Gras weekend, another of the FUN weekends we get to enjoy here in Ellicottville. Many of us are starting to look forward to our springtime outdoor activities. With the wonderful winter we've had, let’s take advantage of the super skiing still available at both Holiday Valley [...]
Those Who Can Cant – HoliMont Snowsports School
By Dan Balkin A trick title? Hardly. Skiers ignore cants at their peril. Not the peril of injury, but the peril of mediocrity. And what are cants? Simply stated, cants are devices that allow you to properly align your legs so that you can ski more efficiently and fluidly. By now, you are probably saying, “Every weekend this guy [...]
