Top Five Fridays: October 18, 2024
Tom Wallisch? On a snowboard? Yep. We’ll tell you why in highlight #2. Image: Line Skis on Facebook
#1: Snow, Everywhere:
The view of our home mountain on Wednesday morning of this week. Image: Stowe Resort on Facebook
Hello, and welcome to Top Five Fridays, the October 18, 2024 edition! In light of last week’s absence, due to multiple staff members not feeling well, we’re going to do a two week recap this week, with our first two highlights coming from this past week, and the second two coming from what would’ve gone to press a week ago. Additionally, we’re going to include a “further reading” section at the end of this week’s highlight reel, as there are a handful of other stories that we think should be on your radar. There’s a chance we’ll bring you updates to some of these down the road, but for now, we’ll simply share the story so you can stay in the loop. If you like this approach, let us know, and we’ll do our best to include a “further reading” section in future editions. And with that, let’s get on with this week’s news!
If you’re a New Englander, then you already know the story that’s topping this week’s headlines: snowliage season is in full effect. Earlier this week, from late Tuesday through Thursday morning, a storm system rolled through northern Vermont, blessing us with the first snowfall of the year. Making things even more exciting was the fact that the snowfall didn’t amount to just a meager dusting, but became a full on powder day with depths of over 12” being measured here at Mount Mansfield. As you might expect, the result was a select number of passionate Vermont skiers breaking out their rock skis in order to earn the first turns of the season. For proof of this claim, look no further than the Ski The East Instagram.
Of course it wasn’t just our own backyard that received snow this week. Just to our west, our neighbors in New York’s Adirondack Mountains saw similar totals, with Whiteface reporting 14” of fresh snow. To our North, New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington also measured its first significant snowfall of the year, while Saddleback and Sugarloaf also received dustings in Maine. Curious to know what other regions of the U.S. received snow this week, our research also revealed that Tennessee's Smoky Mountains also got hit with a storm this week, with one location receiving about 4”.
As skiers and snowboarders, we all know how exciting new snow is. This week though, the excitement extends well beyond the accumulations themselves, as the 12” we received here in Vermont was more than just a simple snowfall. Rather, it’s a sure sign that winter is coming, and being the earliest snowfall of 12 or more inches in the past 14 years, it gives hope that this winter might be the one we’ve been waiting for.
Speaking of such things, before we write the last sentence for this highlight, we want to share the news that a big storm is heading towards Utah and Colorado this weekend, with totals expected to range from 12” - 22” depending on where you are. With a foot of snow here, and a foot of snow there, it feels safe to say that winter is very much on its way. If you’ve been holding off on a pass purchase, or putting off purchasing that new ski equipment you know you need, let this be your warning: time is running out, ski season is just ahead.
#2: Line… Snowboards?
Moving right along, in other significant news this week, Line Skis made a huge announcement this week - one that might have been more expected on April 1st rather than October 18th. This week, after 29 years of business in the ski industry, Line Skis has just released their first snowboard. While that headline is sure to raise eyebrows, when you dig into the announcement, it pretty quickly becomes “not that weird.” Or, as Line Skis puts it, “...between skiing, skating, and snowboarding, our team has been showing us that as long as you’re out there for the fun of it, it doesn’t matter what you’re riding.”
Those words ring true. Skateboarding in particular has always been in the background of freeskiing, as plenty of skiers also spend time on skateboards in the off season. Plus, plenty of skiers have made their passion for snowboarding known in recent years. Potentially most notably is Parker White, whose 2022 short film “Something” was essentially a 50/50 split between skiing and backcountry snurfing. Not only that, but both sports have athletes with immense capabilities in the other sport. Snowboarding’s Markus Kleveland has released impressive ski edits over the years, while one of the best competitive freeskiers in the world, Birk Rudd, has also released clips that suggest he could be a top snowboarder as well. So while the concept of the first independent brand in freeskiing adding snowboards to its lineup might seem a bit weird, it’s really not.
As for the board itself? Dubbed “The Lateral”, Line’s first board is being marketed as a beginner to intermediate level board with a “jib friendly” personality. For its first foray into the sport, it makes sense. While we hope and expect Line to bring more advanced boards into their lineup in subsequent years, starting with a board of this type gives the board the widest audience possible and therefore the best chances of success in its first year. Plus, it could be the perfect option for freeskiers who consider themselves snowboard-curious. Whether or not you’re interested in the board itself, it’s surely notable news, and a story that’s going to receive plenty of conversation from both sides of the aisle. To learn more about the latest, check out Line’s official website.
#3: Indy Pass Announces Acquisition of Black Mountain, New Hampshire, With Plans to Transition to Co-Op:
Community members packed the lodge at Black Mountain on October 5th, eager to hear updates regarding the future of their beloved ski area. Image: Black Mountain on Facebook
Alright, with the latest news recapped, let’s talk about a couple of stories that made headlines over a week ago, but we think are important enough to warrant coverage regardless. First up on that list is news coming to us from Black Mountain, New Hampshire, where a ski area that once faced a bleak future suddenly has a lot to be excited about.
One year ago to the week, we shared the news that Black Mountain in New Hampshire, who had just announced that it would not open for the 2023-2024 season, was being rescued by the Indy Pass. At that time, the owners of the Indy Pass, whom Black Mountain is a member of, announced that they would “dedicate the resources necessary to help Black Mountain operate for the 2023-2024 season, while putting in the effort to find a new owner for the resort for the 2024-2025 season.” In the announcement, it was made clear that the Indy Pass had no intentions of purchasing the resort, but rather hoped to help it operate until a new owner could be found - recognizing its importance to the community.
Fast forward to the beginning of this month, when it was teased that new updates regarding the future of Black Mountain would be announced at a community meeting at the ski area on October 5th. Now, a couple of weeks removed from that meeting, we’re excited to share the news that the Indy Pass actually will be acquiring Black Mountain, although with plans to transition ownership to a co-op model for the 2025-2026 season. In other words, the plan is for the Indy Pass to operate the resort this year, providing the financial assistance needed to ensure it operates smoothly, while working with locals to set up a co-op that will purchase the resort ahead of next season. When that transition is made, the resort will truly belong to the community as those who buy shares in the co-op will be in charge of decision making at the highest level.
While we’d be remiss not to acknowledge the Indy Pass’s generosity in this story, what we love most is that it builds on this budding narrative of ski resorts finding strength in independence. Now, to be sure, this story is very different from that of Killington, who just regained its independence, or Mt. Bachelor who is currently seeking its own. Never having belonged to a conglomerate, Black Mountain isn’t exactly “returning” to independence, but the fact that it’s being setup to become a co-op still speaks to a growing trend in communities taking control of their ski areas. As a model that’s been proven here in Vermont at Mad River Glen, the co-op structure presents itself as an intriguing option for ski resorts of all sizes wishing to achieve autonomy. While those who call Black Mountain home have a little longer to wait before that’s a reality, it must be exciting news to know what lies ahead for a ski area that announced its closing just over a year ago. For more on this, check out the coverage from Ski Area Management.
#4: Ted Ligety Joins DPS as Head of Product Performance:
Finally, we’re rounding things out this week by sharing the news that U.S. Ski Team legend Ted Ligety has joined the DPS team as the new Head of Product Performance. As a longtime HEAD skier, Ligety’s race career spanned 18 seasons and included two Olympic gold medals, as well as five World Championship gold medals. We’ll refrain from going through his lengthy list of FIS World Cup results. You get the point: Ted Ligety was an absolute menace in the world of ski racing and absolutely belongs in any conversation regarding the best U.S. Ski Racers in recent history.
DPS on the other hand, has historically focused on the other side of the sport: powder skiing. Started in 2005 and deriving its name from “Drake PowderworkS,” an ode to one of the founders, DPS has always been a powder-forward brand. By mixing plentiful rocker, carbon-fiber cores, and oversized shovels, DPS’s approach to skiing has always been about producing skis with superior float capabilities. That is, until recent years, when skis like the Kaizen and Wailer 90 have slowly inched the brand further into “all mountain” territory. Still, with the Wailer 90 being the brand’s narrowest ski by 10mm, they have yet to truly break into frontside or even narrow-all mountain territory. We suspect that’s where Ligety comes in.
While it’s not explicitly stated that new skis are on the way, the press release from DPS alludes to it pretty significantly, with multiple mentions of how Ligety’s involvement will improve DPS’s fronside capability, such as, “His expertise will be instrumental in creating high-performance skis that deliver exceptional carving and all-mountain capabilities for skiers seeking excitement and versatility on frontside terrain.” Again, noting the lack of a true frontside ski in DPS’s lineup, our suspicion is that while this is technically an announcement of Ligety joining the DPS team, it’s also a bit of a shadow announcement indicating that more frontside and all mountain skis are on the way from DPS. Of course it’s too soon to say this with certainty, but as soon as that news breaks, you can bet we’ll be here to tell you all about it. For now, check out the full report from DPS.
Further Reading:
- Cody Townsend Announces “The FIFTY+”, the Sequel to His “FIFTY” Project
- Will Lindsey Vonn Utilize the New FIS Wildcard Rule to Emerge From Retirement?
- Local Effort to Purchase Mt. Bachelor Continues To Gain Momentum
- After Failed Attempt to Become Semi-Private, Califtornia’s Homewood Mountain Announces That it Will Not Open This Season
- Have High Cholesterol? It’s Not Your Fault, it’s Your Outdated Ski Wax: