Ski Sundown Set for Dec. 26 Opening

On Wednesday, Dec. 26, Ski Sundown plans to open for the 2012-2013 season from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with 6 out of a total of 15 trails, and terrain for all ability levels.

Until then, Ski Sundown’s Mountain Operations team will be working around the clock to take advantage of ideal snowmaking temperatures to add to an established base. 

“Mother Nature stepped up and is ushering in some cold weather," said Operations Manager Chris Sullivan. "Chairlifts will be spinning at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning with full coverage on 6 trails including a terrain park on Stinger.  As the week progresses, we will be opening more terrain, including Gunbarrel, Tom’s Treat, and the Sunnyside area.  None of us wanted to wait a second longer to open, and we’ll maximize the cold weather with the power of our 148 snow guns to launch with a quality product.”

On opening day, top to bottom skiing and snowboarding will be available on Canyon Run, Exhibition, Nor’easter, Temptor, Stinger and Little Joe. A park on Stinger will have a variety of rails and other terrain features for both skiers and snowboarders. 

“Skiers and riders won’t want to miss a second of the action and a killer start to the season," said Terrain Features Manager Jarrod Moss. "We have some fun surprises planned for Opening Day, and also have over 20 events lined up between now and the end of March – from rail jams, to NASTAR racing, to family events like our popular Winter Carnival and Wild West Day. We’re also scheduling plenty of on-mountain competitions including our “King of the Mountain” gates, bumps and jumps contest in January, and a major bump competition with cash prizes in March.”

Improvements at Ski Sundown for the 2012-2013 season include investment in additional energy-efficient snow guns, replacement of 1,800 feet of pipe used for snowmaking, improvements to the beginner area, and doubling the length of the conveyor (carpet) surface lift in the beginner learning area. 

“We’re very proud of our Snowsports School, with over 150 dedicated staff members," said Snowsports School Co-Director, Jon Chasson. "We are a member school of the American Association of Snowboard Instructors and The Professional Ski Instructors of America, which provide educational leadership and national certifications to our professional staff of instructors and coaches.  We focus on Safety, Fun, and Learning and ensure small class sizes to create the best possible environment and a successful experience. There’s no better way to enjoy winter than to embrace the outdoors and the thrill of skiing and riding, and we have a very talented team in place to teach children, youth and adults.” 

Ski Sundown is located at 126 Ratlum Road, off Routes 44 and 219, in New Hartford. For lift ticket and rental rates, lesson and event information, visit skisundown.com or call the Welcome Center at 860-379-SNOW. Readers can also follow the moutain on twitter or facebook. 

Submitted release