Wildcat

If you're looking to make some turns this month in New Hampshire, head to Wildcat. Chances are folks will be skiing there into May. Spring conditions on this north facing slope aren't softening up yet. And with a parking lot at an elevation higher than nearby Attitash and Cranmore, I've been told most skiers vote Wildcat their spring favorite.

Go figure.
Get there on 16N. It's 20 minutes from North Conway traveling north through Jackson past Pinkham Notch.
If you like cruiser runs powered with honking GS turns, get in line--if there is one. That's another bonus about the 47 trails on this 225 acre resort. And it's packed with history too.

Wildcat was the first ski area established in the White Mountain National Forest back in 1933 when CCC's cleared a trail. At that time the Wildcat Trail was considered the first ski racing trail in the U.S., and you can still clock some respectable speeds cranking through the "S" turns dropping from the 4,062 foot summit. Even better, you can get back up for the next run in a hurry. 6 minutes up 2112 vertical feet on the Express Quad is hardly enough time to catch your breath.
The area's been lift fed for over 50 years and in 1958 boasted New England's first gondola. Since then the original has been replaced and every summer the operations team swaps out the high-speed chairs for a 4-person gondola to get sight-seers to the summit.
Without a doubt, this is the place you can pack in the runs and in early March they have a 100K day where skiers try to loop the "Lynx" 50 times for 100,000 vertical feet. That's a thigh burner.
When I sailed off the lift at the top I felt like I was flying over the border into Maine. The view is spectacular. Then I made the 180 swing for an eye-level shot at the famed Tuckerman's Ravine, Mt. Washington's most famous back country playground. Don't forget your camera.

"The Cat's about the view," admits Brian Chamberlain, Wildcat's "Sales Guy." Ya think? What a wide angle shot into Tux, and then a chance to map out Lunch Rocks, Hillman's, the East Snowfield and Mt. Washington's access road to the weather observatory. There's no easier place to study New Hampshire's highest peak.
Brian took a few years off from the ski business to sell houses, but he's back and says, "It's so much more fun to sell skiing." Got that right, especially at Wildcat.
I liked the family-feel and friendly folks in the day lodge too. "We get a lot of school groups from the UK this time of year," says Brian. You can tell they are attracted by more than just exchange rate.
In fact, Wildcat is the kind of place where you can rack up major smile factor on beginner runs. They feel so good. "Polecat" is 2 3/4 miles of rolling dips and curves that remind your feet how much fun it is to play with the edges on shaped skis.

Don't expect a terrain park though. I didn't even see any jumps on the trail edge, although you can catch air over some of the toboggan turn drops.
I'll be back, and maybe in the summer to ride the ZipRider™. Last July the resort opened a Zip line, (actually two cables, so two people can ride side-by-side). You hook a harness into the cable suspended 70 feet in the air (gulp) and then drop 2100 feet--at 45 miles per hour--from the Cheetah Race Trail down to the Peabody River. No, you don't land in the water; you land on a platform on the far side of the parking lot, but STILL. Imagine flying that high that fast? My kids would be first in line.
If you are in New Hamster, head to Wildcat. You may even see extreme skier Dan Egan in the glades. We missed him but I hear he's a regular and teaches all-terrain seminars throughout the season. If a powder champ of the steep and deep picks Wildcat, you won't be disappointed.

Ron Thorley (MI), Brian Chamberlain (NH) and Mike Terrell (MI) are all smiles after a day at Wildcat.

Welcome to New Hampshire

I have long believed the most precious places on this planet you must ski to see. Okay, okay, you can snowboard many of them too, but I'm still an independent leg action kind of "Type A" woman. . .A for Adventure.

And our New Hampshire Ski Adventure began Monday, March 24, when we landed in Manchester and met Brian Chamberlain from Wildcat Mountain. He drove us up to his neighborhood just outside of the famed Nordic ski mecca of Jackson.

On the 3 hour drive we stopped in Concord, the capitol city, for lunch at the Barley House. The restaurant is right across the street from the gold-domed capital building.

In a short time we were done with the interstate and Brian took us the scenic route, motoring the winding two lanes to Jackson for an overnight at a quaint New England Inn. You enter this town through a covered bridge and the lodging is just as classic. Lucy has owned the Wildcat Inn & Tavern on Main Street for a little over 2 years. The elbow grease is still drying on this century old inn.

Travel light because hauling a heavy duffel is not in the cards if you want a room on the 3rd floor, a hike up two flights of steep narrow stairs. As we followed Lucy up to our room she reminded us, "This is an old inn with hot water radiator heat so if you hear the pipes clanging, it's not a ghost." As soundly as we slept, I did wake up twice to her heating system symphony. You can choose to eat in the tavern or the restaurant. We dined with fellow members of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. We were a rowdy bunch since we haven't seen each other in months but skiers and stories are welcome in this restaurant. In fact, I can tell lots of skiers have had reunions sitting in those high backed Windsor chairs in the barnwood paneled dining room. Every Thursday Lucy offers a free pasta feed for any ski shop and ski area employee. Not bad for a Lifty or a rental shop tech to have a free meal. The Wildcat Inn is also where the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation started on June 23, 1972. I'm not close to my ski history book here, but I believe that to be the Bill Koch era.

Ski history is close to the surface in this section of the White Mountains and I hope to share some of those chapters over the next week as we visit Wildcat, Bretton Woods, Mt. Washington Hotel, the New England Ski Museum and on Friday, hike up to the famed Tuckerman's Ravine.

Humpy wins another $10,000

Happy Easter!

Snow is swirling in big fat flakes off Lake Superior this morning. It's a snowglobe scene for the Easter Bunny. No tracks yet in the back yard.

But Tim Humphreys has surely left a mark in Stratton, Vermont.

Ian called on his way to the Albany, New York airport today to report Humpy took first last night at the Big Air comp at the US Open. The win put another $10,000 in his pocket. He missed the new Volvo, that went to Halfpipe winner Shaun White, who also took top podium in Slopestyle Friday.

What an amazing shot Martin Griff got for the Trenton Times of New Jersey's most famous (and now richest) snowboarder.

We've know Tim since he was a Waterville Valley Snowboard Academy rider with Ian. And the look on his face, another caught by Martin Griff after the Slopestyle on Friday, is the happiest I've ever seen Tim. No wonder. He's an amazing rider.

But even more than his talent, snowboarder like Tim and Ian speak to this new breed of athlete. There's big money in this sport. Tim just took home $20,000 from this weekend. But these guys go to the starting ramp with a whole different attitude than alpine ski racers. They play games. In his qualifying run on Thursday, Humpy rode alongside Ian waving a sword, for heaven's sake. They remind us that it's all about the passion and pleasure of the sport, not just the payoff.

I'm taking their lessons to heart. But right now, I'm heading to watch NBC coverage of the US Open. It runs from 1:30-3 and then the Chevy Grand Prix is on VERSUS at 4.

Big day of TV.

Frida

Ian snags 11th

What a day.
I have a load of work and appointments before we leave Monday morning for New Hamster, but I couldn't tear myself away from my laptop watching the live feed from Stratton, Vermont. The US Open Slopestyle competition was enough to make me bite my nails. . .and they are fake to begin with!
Before lunch, Ian slipped under the wire to make the top 16 that advanced to the finals.
I missed his first Finals run, but his second was solid. He moved from 16th to 7th. Then on his 3rd run he fell ending up 11th for $250.00.
Humpy had the top spot until the legendary "Flying Tomato" Shaun White took over the course.Shaun won and is now $20,000 richer. He's still in the running for the halfpipe comp and $100 grand plus a Volvo.
Still, our favorite New Jersey boy was only 8 points off the Olympic gold medalist and wound up 2nd for $10,000.00. I guess he's buying the sushi tonight.
The Waterville Valley Air Force was flying in fine form today and I know Coach Bill Enos is smiling like a chessy cat. Humpy 2nd. Sam Hulbert 8th, Chas Guldemond 9th, and Ian 11th.
Something to be said for that "Yoda" of snowboarding and his guidance.
I'm so proud of those boys. If there were closer it would be banana cream pie for dessert and a Dutch Baby for breakfast.
I don't think any of us understand the will they have when standing at that starting gate looking at 4 jumps, measuring 50 feet, 55 feet, 55 feet and 45 feet. . .not to mention the rails. . . and they choose not to just power down the course for big air, but to take that flying time and spin circles upside down.
Hats off my heroes!
Your Michigan Mom!

Ian still in the running

Visiting Martin Griff's blog today from the US Open I got tickled.
http://blog.nj.com/skiing/2008/03/ian_thorley_tough_as_a_2_dolla.html#more

He opens with a shot of Ian upside down and then the next shot is Humpy with a sword. I told you those two are like two bear cubs on the mountain and even though this is high stakes in the snowboard world--Don't tell these boys $20,000is on the line--they're still out there having fun. Actually the play was probably a de-stresser for Ian who reported, "These are the worst conditions I've ever snowboarded in."
Freezing rain last night turned the mountain to concrete and then today it softened up enought to punch through to corn snow. "Between the jumps it was like a mogul field," said Ian when I talked with him at 3:45. "You couldn't get up speed."
Still, he is in the running. Finals are tomorrow.
You can view them live on www.go211.com.\
Broadcast of last weekend's Chevy Grand Prix at Killington is set for this Sunday, March 23 at 4 p.m. on Versus, channel 68 in the Marquette area.

Pre qualifier

Just spoke with Ian. He made it throught the first round. Now on to the semi-finals tomorrow and the finals on Friday.

His buddy Humpy doesn't have to compete until Friday. He's taking it easy so his ribs will be in good shape.

Ian reported the Chevy Grand Prix from Killington will be televised on Easter Sunday, March 23 at 4 p.m. on Versus.

US Open Pre Qualifier

Thanks Martin Griff for catching Ian in the air.
Over the weekend our son Ian Thorley was in Killington, Vermont competing at the Chevy Grand Prix. Last year at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, Ian won the slopestyle event and took home the biggest paycheck of his life. This year he ended up 4th. His roommate Brandon Reis, another Waterville Valley alum took second, but the American lads were inched out by a pair of Finns, third place Peetu Piiroinen and winner Janne Korpi. When I asked Ian why the Finns are so good he said, "They train on icy mountains with rope tows so they can loop the park a 100 times a day."
Ron and I have also had a good dose of that Finnish SISU from our cross country trek from Kuusamo to Tornio last week. It seems no matter what snowsport our family takes part in, we come up against the strength and stamina of the remarkable Suomalainens.
Ian is now in Stratton, Vermont, working on his run in the pre-qualifying rounds of the 26th annual US Open. Martin Griff, reporter/photographer/blogger for Everything New Jersey, is also an award winning journalist at the Trenton Times in New Jersey. We're also both members in the North American Snowsports Journalists Association, NASJA, and Martin caught up with Ian today.
Martin has a good grip on the scope of this snowboard comp and you can tap in to where he's at and what he's seeing at http://blog.nj.com/skiing/
For those trying to get a handle on how you can make a living flying through the air, upside down and spinnign 2 and a half times around, the US Open ranks the Olympics of freestyle snowboarding. First place in slopestyle earns $20,000. For a 21year old, that's a healthy paycheck for three days of fun. . .er, I mean, work.
After 2 years on the Atomic Team, I think Ian is now riding for Forum snowboard--Moms are the last to know. I do know he's nailing some big tricks and the Waterville air force has been doing coach Bill Enos proud.
Ian's good buddy and fellow Waterville rider, Tim Humphreys, is also at Stratton. Like two bear cubs these boys create some excitement wherever they ride.
"Humpy" declined competing at the Grand Prix because of sore ribs. He wanted to get strong for the Open. No wonder, Humpy rides both halfpipe and slopestyle so the possible paycheck for this 20 year old--who has traveled the globe with his snowboard--could run into 6 digits. Overall riders (those who do HP & SS)qualify for $100,000 and a Volvo C30.
Martin has been following Humpy, a NJ boy, for a few years so you can count on him to be close to the action.
Thanks Martin. Keep an eye on our boys.
What a gift,
Frida