Just looking to share and crowdsource thoughts on terrain parks/learning to ski park in our region.
Before Vail bought out many resorts in our area, you could get park-specific lessons from some great instructors at 7 Springs, just by calling and requesting it. My kids had some great experiences and we had two instructors (one of them simply went by The Shark) they did several lessons with. A couple years ago, Vail made that a lot more difficult. At one point, we were told they weren't doing park-specific lessons (don't know if that has changed in the past season or so). Not to mention, Vail has cranked up private lesson prices to ungodly sums.
For people with younger kids...are there any park-specific instructors that can be requested at any of the local hills?
I was just curious to read people's thoughts about resorts we haven't been and offer some comments on where we have been.
Whitetail has shut down the Jib Junction lift permanently, if reports are correct. That's unfortunate, as the lift provided a relief valve from the Whitetail Express for the rest of us and kids like mine would just lap that lift for hours. It also provided park-specific skiers an opportunity to get in a lot of reps. Pre-Vail, Whitetail used to have a great 2-day park skiing camp, and I think last year/this year they have resurrected it.
Liberty seems to be doing the same thing in recent years, keeping West Side Park upkept decently off the Alpine Quad mid-station.
Timberline already has a few features and jumps up on Snow Squall. Last year it took a few weeks to get the more advanced features on Thunder Snow up, which appears to be the case again (not complaining, just reporting).
In recent years, Snowshoe has had numerous features on Progression Park, but the few times we've been out there, the more advanced Evolution Park has been closed. The new Powderidge lift serves those runs, although it remains a slow lift both in terms of its speed and the fact that it also stops a lot as it services a lot of beginner runs (people falling getting on and off).
We were only able to get up to 7 Springs once last year, but generally, Lost Boy/The Alley area had great features. I'd love to know if the tow rope on Santa's Beard is still operational, as that, like the Jib lift at Whitetail provided a great opportunity for park skiers to just lap and get a ton of reps in. It wasn't running last time we were there.
I'd be interested in the park options at other local hills that I haven't been to in years: Bryce, Massanutten, Wintergreen, Silver Creek...
Any other advice people have for how to get kids into park skiing, lessons, camps, progressing are welcome. With our short ski season, I realize it's a difficult task for resorts to have park-specific instruction, but here's to hoping there's instructors/camps that I am unaware of.
ultragib wrote:
...
Whitetail has shut down the Jib Junction lift permanently, if reports are correct. That's unfortunate, as the lift provided a relief valve from the Whitetail Express for the rest of us and kids like mine would just lap that lift for hours. It also provided park-specific skiers an opportunity to get in a lot of reps. Pre-Vail, Whitetail used to have a great 2-day park skiing camp, and I think last year/this year they have resurrected it.
Just confirming the Jib Junction lift at Whitetail has been removed. (One of its chairs is actually in my garage!) I'm told at this time there are no plans to replace it.
Massanutten has had a Freeride team for quite a while. Too late to sign up for this season. Easy to see them practicing stuff on weekend mornings.
I know one of the older coaches a bit. He became PSIA Level 3 after moving from Wintergreen to Massanutten over 15 years ago. Always fun to see him out with his grandson.
Massanutten Team Sports & Racing
" . . .
Open to skiers and snowboarders ages 7-19 who can navigate safely on intermediate and advanced terrain. Coaches promote development of technical ski and snowboarding skills through a team-oriented approach and develop a life-long enjoyment for the sport of snowboarding/skiing. Additionally, as an athlete progresses, coaches provide an introduction to freestyle and race competition training and focus on athletes who would like to develop skills in GS and SL, and the terrain park. Additionally, coaches promote understanding and respect for safety factors inherent in the sport. Freeride Competition Team athletes must become members of USASA and compete in Appalachian Series events. Competition Team members strive to qualify for USASA Nationals held at Copper Mountain in April each year.
All athletes, regardless of team and their skills must be independent lift riders. This requires the ability to independently load and unload, raise and lower the bar, and to safely ride with team members. All athletes must wear a helmet at all practices and competitions.
Practice Schedule
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