ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 9, 1996 TAG: 9612100058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
BRYCE RESORT
Basye 22810, P.O. Box 3, 540 856-2121; ski report 800 821-1444, Web site address, www.bryceresort.com. Thirty-first year in operation; Manfred Locher, general and marketing manager.
FACILITIES: Six slopes, equally divided by skier ability, plus one teaching and two beginner areas. Total length, 10,700 feet. Longest run, 3,000-foot intermediate. A 500-foot vertical rise, 1,750-foot peak, 25 acres of skiing. Two double chairs, three rope tows. A 2,500-skier-per-hour uphill capacity. One hundred percent snow making.
Hours: Day, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; half-day noon-4:30 p.m.; twilight Tuesday-Saturday noon-9:30 p.m. starting Dec. 25; night skiing Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday if following Monday is a holiday, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $37 weekend, $23 weekday and twilight, $15 night, $15 half-day week. Junior (12 and under) or senior (65-plus), $30 weekend, $22 weekdays, $15 nights, $15 half-day.
RENTALS: Eight-hundred sets Elan, Kastle and Head skis, Salomon step-in bindings, rear-entry boots, $15; Snowboards, $25 day, $20 half-day.
SKI SCHOOL: Class $16, private $39 per hour, $20 for additional skier.
GROUPS: Twenty or more: Weekday, $18 lift, $12 lessons, $12 rentals. Half-day and night, $13 lift, $12 lesson, $12 rentals; weekend, $27 lift, $12 lesson, $13 rentals. Reserve 10 days in advance.
PACKAGES: First-Time Skiers lift, rentals and lesson weekdays, $42, weekends, $51. Half-days and nights, $30
KIDS: SkiWee, ages 4-8, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., day, $49, with rentals, $59; half-day $29, with rentals, $37. Advanced reservations required, call 540-856-2121, extension 29,
RACING: NASTAR racing weekends and holidays, U.S. Ski Association competitive racing, 12 special race events; write for complete list in ski brochure.
SNOWBOARDING: Allowed on all slopes and lifts.
LODGING: Privately owned studio condominiums, town houses and chalets at resort, motels in Mount Jackson and Woodstock, general information from 800 296-2121.
DINING: Bryce Lodge at bottom of ski runs houses the Copper Kettle Lounge and Hearthside Restaurant, which offers full-menu dining and Sunday breakfast buffets.
WHAT'S NEW: Ski facility building for ski school, rentals, ticket sales and first aid.
THE HOMESTEAD SKI AREA
Hot Springs 24445, resort, 540 839-1766; ski lodge, 540-839-7721; Thirty-sixth year; Sepp Kober, ski director.
FACILITIES: Nine trails covering 40 acres equally divided for novice/beginner, intermediate and advanced. Longest run, 4,200 feet, advanced top, intermediate lower. A 700-foot vertical and 4,200 peak. One double chair, one T-bar, one J-bar, two rope tows. A 2,500-skier-per-hour uphill capacity. Night skiing Friday and Saturday. Snowboard park. One hundred percent snow making.
HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends and holidays; 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.
LIFT TICKETS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 1 to 5 p.m., $34 weekend daily skiers, $27 hotel guests, $15 children 12 and under; weekday, $25 daily skier, $15 hotel guest and $10 children; half-day, $21 weekend daily skier, $15 hotel guest; night weekend or weekday, $15 weekend for daily skiers, $14 hotel guests, $10 children.
RENTALS: $16 weekends, $11 weekdays, night $10, snowboards $12.
SKI SCHOOL: $15 per hour, children $13. Private, $40 per hour, $70 half-day, $120 full day.
GROUPS: Call for details.
PACKAGES: Lift, group lesson and rentals, $55 weekends for daily visitor, $50 for hotel guests, children $32 daily guests, $30 children hotel guests. Weekdays, $37 daily visitors, $35 hotel guests, $25 children daily guests, $24 children hotel guests. Check for other packages that combine lodging, meals and skiing.
KIDS: Emphasis on youth instruction, free or discount lodging in hotel for children in parent's room, KidsClub Bunny School includes rentals, lift tickets, lesson and fun activities, ages 5 to 11, $60 a day, $40 half day.
RACING: NASTAR weekends.
LODGING: Elegant, old-world resort hotel with a capacity of 1,100 guests. Motel rooms and bed and breakfast inns available
DINING: Base lodge cafeteria offers Bavarian setting. Hotel guests enjoy an orchestra-accompanied, multiple-course dinner in the grand dining room. Other fine restaurants in the area.
WHAT'S NEW: Increased snowmaking capacity and improvement to the flow of traffic in the upstairs ski lodge.
MASSANUTTEN VILLAGE
Harrisonburg 22801, P.O. Box 1227, 540-289-4954; ski information and snow report, 800-207-MASS, Web site address, www.massresort.com. Twenty-fifth year, Steve Showalter, ski manager.
FACILITIES: Fourteen slopes, 31 percent beginner, 29 percent intermediate, 40 percent advanced. One slope for snowboards only. A 1,110-foot vertical rise on 2,923-foot peak. Sixty-eight acres of skiing. Longest run, 4,000-foot advanced. Lifts, three doubles, one quad, one J-bar. Uphill capacity, 6,350 per hour; 100 percent snow making.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $40 weekend, $28 weekday, $18 nights, $36 extended weekday, $48 extended weekend. Junior (5-12), seniors (62+), military, $32 weekend, $23 weekday, $13 night, $30 extended weekday, $40 extended weekend. Children 5 and under free with paying adult.
RENTALS: Atomic and Elan skis, Salomon boots and step-in bindings. Adult, $22 weekend, $18 weekday, $13 night, $25 extended weekday, $30 extended weekend. Junior, senior, $18 weekend, $14 weekday, $11 night, $20 extended weekday, $25 extended weekend.
SKI SCHOOL: Classes $18 per hour, 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m., 7 p.m. and 3 p.m. weekends. Private, $30 per hour, $20 additional skier.
GROUPS: Prices apply for groups of 15 or more. Weekends: lifts $31, rentals $17, lessons $12; weekdays: lifts $18, rentals $12, lessons $12; nights: lifts $13, rentals $10, lessons $12. With each 15 tickets purchased, group receives one free lift ticket. Make reservations at least one week in advance.
PACKAGES: Ski and Stay packages available on mountain and off.
KIDS: SkiWee ages 4-12 and Minirider for snowboarders ages 7-14, lift, lesson, rental, lunch and snack, $50 weekdays, $55 weekends, register 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., dismissal 2 p.m., reservations suggested.
RACING: NASTAR, snowboarding, plus special events. Call for a list.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarding park served by J-bar, rentals, lessons, packages for first-time and improvement, retention straps and metal edges required.
LODGING: Hotel, private chalets and condos, time shares. Major motels in Harrisonburg.
DINING: Ski Lodge Cafeteria, lounge, live entertainment weekends.
WHAT'S NEW: New ticket building, retail store expanded rental shop, ski school doubled in size with expansion of SkiWee program, new Minirider program for snowboarders ages 7-14, improved snow making, expanded 800 ski information line, 800-207 MASS.
WINTERGREEN RESORT
Wintergreen, Va. 22958, 804-325-2200, 800-325-2200 for reservations; ski report 804-325-2100, Web site address, http:www.wintergreenresort.com. Twenty second year, John Kirchner, ski area manager.
FACILITIES: Seventeen slopes, 20 percent beginner, 42 percent intermediate, 21 percent advanced, 17 percent expert. A 3,550-foot peak with a 1,003-foot vertical rise. Total length, 25,160 feet. Longest run, from top Big Acorn, 1.4 miles. Eighty-six acres of skiing, 100 percent snow making, 10 lighted slopes. Four triple lifts, one double for beginners, an 8,200 skiers per hour uphill capacity, snowboard park.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday-Thursday nights, 5-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights, 6-11 p.m., twilight 12:30-to closing.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $40 Saturdays, $38 Sundays, $32 weekdays and twilight; $17 weekday night, $20 weekend night, $22 weekday half-day. Youth, $32 weekend, $26 weekday and twilight, $18 weekend night, $14 weekday night, $19 midweek half day.
RENTALS: Olin, Head, K2 skis Adults, $26 weekend, $22 weekday and twilight, $15 night, $15 weekday half-day. Youth $19 weekend, $15 weekday and twilight, $12 night, $12 weekday half day. Children, $15 weekend, $8 weekday and twilight, $8 night, $8 weekday half day.
SKI SCHOOL: Free lesson on all levels when you rent skis from Wintergreen. Also classes 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m., $16 per 11/2 hour. Private lessons $45 per hour, $30 additional skier. Racing and snowboarding available.
GROUP: Discounts on lodging, ski rates, equipment rentals and lessons for 20 or more, call 1-800-325-2200 and press 2.
PACKAGES: Two-day, one night lodging package starting at $88.
KIDS: Specially designed children's center with programs that feature playground and convenient accessibility to children's slope where lessons are available. Children 5 and under ski free when accompanied by an adult, also kid's eat free options.
RACING: NASTAR racing, clinics, classes and workshops.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboard park, rentals, free lessons with lift ticket purchase.
LODGING: Lodging for up to 1,300 overnight guests in luxurious condominiums and homes.
DINING: Cooper's Vantage, casual, Copper Mine, continental cuisine, Garden Terrace, casual, Wimmydiddles Cafeteria, Rodes Farm Inn, family style, Verandah, fine dining, Blue Ridge Terrace Gill, outdoor slope side lunch on weekends, lounges in Cooper's Vantage, Garden Terrace and Copper Mine.
WHAT'S NEW: Friday night hours, 6 to 11 p.m.; super sidecut skis and free specialized lesson when you rent them; expanded snowboard park; increased snow making; exchange benefits for Frequent Skier Cards.
CANAAN VALLEY RESORT PARK
Davis, W.Va. 26260, Route 1, Box 330, 304-866-4121; 800-622-4121; Web site address, http://wvweb.com/www/cvresort. Twenty-fifth year.
FACILITIES: Thirty-four slopes and trails, 30 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent advanced. An 850-foot vertical off a 4,280-foot peak. Longest run, 11/4 mile Timber Run. One quad, two triple chairs, one Poma. Uphill capacity of 6,000 skiers per hour. Sixty-eight acres. Cross-country ski center.
HOURS: Hours 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 4:30 to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday nights beginning Dec. 27.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $36 weekend and twilight, $27 weekday and weekday twilight; $27 weekend half-day, $22 weekday half-day; $23 weekend night, $17 weekday night, $36 all day (9 a.m.-10 p.m.); junior, $28 weekend and twilight, $22 weekend half-day, $18 weekend night, $12 weekday night, $28 all-day weekend, $28 all-day weekday, $22 half-day weekend, $14 half-day weekday.
RENTALS: Adult, $16, juniors, $13.
SKI SCHOOL: Class $15 for 11/2 hour lesson; private, $39.
PACKAGES: Get-Away includes three nights lodging, three breakfasts, lift tickets, shuttle, spa and health club, $158.
KIDS: Ski Wee, ages 4-12, $53 to $63.
RACING: Governor's Cub Ski Race, March 1-2, call for details on other events.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarders can use slopes and lifts, rentals available.
LODGING: Some 250 motel-style lodge rooms within a one-mile shuttle ride from the ski slopes, 23 cabins in the park, large variety of condos, realty companies and motels within three miles in the Canaan Valley and eight miles away in Davis.
DINING: Aspen Room in the main lodge serves three meals daily. Meals are also available in the Snackbar, Laurel Lounge and other eateries within three miles in the Canaan Valley.
WHAT'S NEW: Additional snow making, new groomer, more ski and snowboard rentals, snowshoe rentals.
SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN-SILVER CREEK RESORT
Snowshoe, W.Va. 26209, P.O. Box 10, 304-572-1000 for Snowshoe area, 304-572-4000 for Silver Creek area; 304-572-5252 central reservations; 304-572-4636 for ski report, Web site address, wvweb.con/snowshoe. Twenty-fourth year.
FACILITIES: Fifty-three slopes and trails off 4,848-foot Cheat Mountain, 41 percent novice, 41 percent intermediate, 18 percent advanced to expert. Vertical, 1,500 feet. Some 200 acres of skiing terrain; longest trail is 11/2-mile Cupp Run rated advanced to expert. Two quad, eight triple chairs, one double, 18,100-skier-per-hour uphill capacity. Ninety-nine percent snow making.
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $40 weekend, $30 half-day weekend, $33 weekday, $22 half-day weekday. Junior (7-12), $25 weekend, $21 weekday, $18 half-day weekend, $14 half-day weekday. Kids 6 and under ski free. Students and seniors, $40 weekends, $28 half-day weekends, $25 weekdays, $17 half-day.
RENTALS: Adult, $18. Junior, $15.
SKI SCHOOL: Class, $18, two-lesson book, $34, three-lesson book, $48. New skier three-lesson special, $36. Private lessons, $40 for one hour, multi-rates available.
GROUP: Call for details.
PACKAGES: Special early season-late season rates; midweek and holiday packages.
KIDS: Child care, ranging from $15 for a half-day to $105 for book of three all-day vouchers, children's ski schools, Brr Rabbit for ages 4 to 6, Mogul Busters ages 7 to 12, half-day $20, multi-rates available.
RACING: NASTAR and a number of championships and challenges. Call for details.
LODGING: Room for 7,500 guests at a choice of styles and price ranges.
SNOWBOARDING: The most terrain in the mid-Atlantic area, lessons available, including kids.
DINING: Twelve restaurants, from fast foods to elegant Red Fox; 10 pubs and clubs.
WHAT'S NEW: Terrain parks at Snowshoe and Silver Creek for skiers and snowboarders, upgraded snow making, building renovations, landscaping.
TIMBERLINE FOUR-SEASONS RESORT
Davis, W.Va. 26260, Box 488; skiing, 1-800-SNOWING, group sales, 1-800-392-0152, lodging, 1-800-633-6682, ski report, 304-866-4828, Web site address, wvweb.com/www/Timberline.html. Eleventh year; Fred Herz, general manager.
FACILITIES: Skiing on 35 slopes and trails. A 1,000-vertical foot off 4,268-foot Herz Mountain, 911/2 acres. Longest run, two-plus miles. One triple chair, two double chairs, a 4,000-skier-per-hour uphill capacity, 94 percent snow making.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., night skiing until 9 Thursday through Sunday and holiday Mondays.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $36 weekend, $28 weekday, $20 weekend night. Junior, $25 weekend, $22 weekday.
RENTALS: Adults, $17 weekend, $14 weekday; juniors, $15 weekend, $12 weekday. Snowboards.
SKI SCHOOL: Class $20; private $35 hour.
GROUP: Twenty or more.
KIDS: Licensed day care, and SkiWee program ages 5 to 7; Mountain Safari, ages 8 to 12.
RACING: NASTAR, Woman's pro ski tour, Wendy's Timberline Pro Classic, Jan. 3-5.
SNOWBOARDING: Permitted on all runs; rentals and lessons.
LODGING: Homes, town houses, cabins, cottages, condos, 800-633-6682.
DINING: Tim Haus cafeteria, Timbers Pub.
WHAT'S NEW: Redesigned snowboard freestyle area with new hits, half-pipe and terrain features. New series of Boarder Cross competitions in freestyle zone.
WINTERPLACE SKI RESORT
Flat Top, W. Va. 25841, P.O. Box 1, 304-787-3221; information, 800-607-SNOW, ski report 1-800-258-3127, Web site, http://wvweb.com/www/winterplace.html. Twelfth year, Terry Pfeiffer, president.
FACILITIES: Twenty-six trails, 11 beginner, 11 intermediate, four expert-advanced off 3,600-foot Flat Top Mountain, 603-foot vertical, snowboard park, 100 percent snow making, night skiing
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. weekend, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays.
LIFT TICKETS: Adults $39 weekend, $27 weekday,; junior (6-12) $28 weekend, $19 weekday, age 5 and under free.
RENTALS: Adults, $18, juniors, $14, shaped skis, $28, snowboards, $30.
SKI SCHOOL: Class, $14, private, $30 per hour plus $15 for each extra up to three..
GROUPS: Rates for 15 or more.
PACKAGES: "Learn to Ski or Snowboard" lift, rentals, lessons, $19.97 weekday, $34.95 weekends, snowboards $29.97 and $48.97.
KIDS: SkiWee
RACING: NASTAR
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboard park.
LODGING: Glade Springs Resort, eight miles from Winterplace. Slopeside condos at WinterHaven condos. Appalachian Resort Inn adjacent to Winterplace. Additional lodging within 20 miles in Beckley and Princeton. Group arrangements available.
DINING: Mountain Momma's Gourmet Food, Snowdrift Lounge , The Deck at Winterplace, Penguins, the Mountain House.
WHAT'S NEW: Two quad chairlifts, four trails, 10,000-square foot The Mountain House offers full selection of meals.
SKI BEECH
Banner Elk, N.C. 28604, 704-387-2011; information and snow report, 800 438-2093, Web site address, www.skibeech.com. Twenty-eighth year, Wayne Hoilman, vice president and general manager.
FACILITIES: Fourteen slopes and trials, 20 percent beginner, 50 intermediate, 30 percent advanced. A 5,506-foot peak with an 830-foot vertical drop, 100 acres. Longest run, one-mile intermediate. One-hundred percent night skiing. One high-speed detachable quad, six double chair lifts, one J-bar, one rope tow.
HOURS: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; half day, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m.; twilight, 12:30-4:30; night, 6-10 p.m. seven nights a week.
LIFT TICKETS: Weekend, $41 day or twilight, $34 half day, $21 night; weekdays, $25 day or twilight, $20 half-day, $17 night. Junior-senior weekend, $32 day or twilight, $26 half-day, $18 night, weekdays, $19 day or twilight, $14 half-day, $13 night.
RENTAL: Weekends, $16 day or twilight, $13 half-day; $12 night; weekdays, $12 day or twilight, $10 half day or night.
SKI SCHOOL: Class, $15 per hour; private, $40 hour, $70 two hours, $90 three hours, $180 all day.
GROUPS: Discounted rates for 15 or more. Transportation available from Banner Elk.
PACKAGES: Learn to Ski, includes lift ticket, rentals, one hour lesson, $40. Monday through Friday only.
KIDS: BEECH Boarders Snowboarding Program, ages 8-14, $75 all day, includes equipment, lesson and hot lunch. Mountain masters, 9-14, SkiWee, 4-8, and PeeWee for 3-year-olds, $58 per day, $46 half day. Nursery 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 6 months to 3 years, $50 a day, $7 per hour.
RACING: Daily races on Robins Run. Winterfest Jan. 3-5; Michelob Light Cup Pro-Am, Jan. 10; USSA GS Jan., 12; USSA SL, Jan. 26; Edge of the World Snowboard Series, Feb. 2; Jimmie Heuga Ski Express, Feb. 22 and 23; First Annual White Lightning Slalom, Feb. 28; Spring Fling, March 15 and 16.
SNOWBOARDING: Half-pipe area. Equipment rentals, sales, lessons, adult and children programs.
LODGING: Ski Beech sleeps more than 7,000 people within a short drive of the base lifts. There are 1,100 condos and chalets through independent rental agents. Call 800-462-3324.
DINING: In Beech Tree Village, at the base of the ski slopes, several restaurant choices available. Also at nearby Banner Elk and Boone.
WHAT'S NEW: Tube run, features 475-foot slope and a dedicated chairlift for tubers only, new lights to provide 100 percent lighting, Red Baron Snowboard Room with full service snowboard shop, more snowboard rentals and demos, extensive repair shop with Wintersteiger snowboard belt and ski edger machine, van service for groups, Web site address.
SUGAR MOUNTAIN RESORT
Banner Elk, N.C. 28604, 704-898-4521; 800-SUGAR MT (800-784-2768), Web site address, httpi//www.aminews.com/sugarmt. Twenty-seventh year; Gunther Jochl general manager.
FACILITIES: Eighteen slopes, seven novice, nine intermediate, two expert. A 5,300-foot peak with a 1,200-foot vertical drop, 115 skiable acres. Longest run: 11/2-mile intermediate combination. One triple, four double chairs, one rope tow, one T-bar, one Platter pull, uphill capacity 8,800-skier-per-hour. Night skiing, 100 percent snow making.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., night 6-10 p.m.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $43 weekend, $28 weekday, $21 weekday half-day, $18 night. Junior (under 12), $32 weekend, $22 weekday, $15 half-day, $18 weekend night, $14 weekday night. Kids 4 and under ski free.
RENTALS: Some 2,700 sets of skis, including high performance Kneissl and Dachstein. Adult, $15 weekend, $12 weekday, $10 night and half day. Junior, $12 weekend, $8 weekdays $6 night and half day.
SKI SCHOOL: Class $15, private $40, additional skier $15.
GROUPS: Rates for 15 or more.
KIDS: Sugar Bear Ski School, ages 5-10, lift, rental, lessons, lunch, register 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., supervision 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Day care.
RACING: NASTAR Saturday and Sunday at noon, ask for list of other events.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarding permitted on all slopes. Dead End Snowboard Park (snow permitting), lessons, rentals, $25 day, $16 night.
LODGING: Sugar Mountain Resort Accommodations offer lodging ranging from the 32-room Slopeside Lodge to condos and homes. Reservations, 800-438-4555. Additional lodging in Boone, Banner Elk Blowing Rock.
DINING: A 350-seat cafeteria serving three meals daily, 250-seat ``Top Floor'' cafeteria open when needed, outdoor grill on deck (weather permitting).
WHAT'S NEW: Improvements to the race slope and lodge, Ski Karussell machine teaching aid for children's program.
LENGTH: Long : 372 linesby CNB