ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 11, 1995 TAG: 9512110102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
BRYCE RESORT
P.O. Box 3, Basye, 22810; 540-856-2121; ski report (800) 821-1444. Thirtieth year of operation; Manfred Locher, general and marketing manager. O{REST} 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-skiers-per-hour uphill capacity. One hundred percent snow making. HOURS: Day, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; half-day, 12:30-4:30 p.m.; twilight, Tuesday-Saturday 12:30-9:30 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, $35 weekend, $22 weekday and twilight, $15 night, $15 half-day week; junior (12 and younger) or senior (65-plus), $30 weekend, $22 weekdays, $15 nights, $15 half-day.
RENTALS: Seven-hundred sets Elan, Kastle and Head skis, Salomon step-in bindings, rear-entry boots, $15.
SKI SCHOOL: Class, $16 per hour; private, $38 and $20 for additional skier.
GROUPS: Twenty or more, weekdays only - lift $18, rental $10, lesson $12; half-day and night, lift $13; rental $10; lesson $12. Reserve 10 days in advance.
PACKAGES: First-Time Skiers - lift, rentals and lesson weekdays $39, weekends $49; half-days and nights $30
KIDS: SkiWee program, ages 41/2-8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $48, with rentals $58; half-day $28, with rentals $36. Advanced reservations required, call 540-856-2121, extension 29.
RACING: NASTAR racing weekends and holidays, U.S. Ski Association competitive racing, 14 special race events, write for complete list in ski brochure.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarding allowed on all trails and lifts. Limited number of snowboard rentals available, $15 half-day or night, $25 day, twilight or extended day.
LODGING: Privately owned studio condominiums, townhouses and chalets at resort, motels in Mount Jackson and Rootstock, 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. The restaurant and adjacent lounge open onto a sun deck facing the slopes.
WHAT'S NEW: ``Locher Bowl'' slope, additional snow making and rental equipment.
THE HOMESTEAD SKI AREA
Hot Springs, 24445; ski area and snow report, (703) 839-7721; hotel, (703) 839-5500 or (800) 336-5771. Thirty-fifth year; Sepp Kober, ski director.
FACILITIES: Nine trails covering 40 acres equally divided among 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-skiers-per-hour uphill capacity. Night skiing. 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. Wednesday through Saturday nights.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult day skier, $32 weekends and holidays or $25 if a Homestead overnight guest. Weekdays, $22 for day skiers, $15 for guests. Night skiing, 6 to 10 p.m., $15 day guest, $14 Homestead guest, half-day, $21 weekends and holidays and $13 weekdays for day guests, $15 weekends and $12 weekdays for guests. Twilight, 1 to 5 p.m., $32 weekends and $22 weekdays for day guests, $25 weekends and $15 weekdays for hotel guests. Children, 12 and younger, $15 weekends and holidays, $10 weekdays and nights for day guests, $10 day or night for hotel guests.
RENTALS: Skis, $16 weekends and $11 weekdays; ski poles, $4; boots. $7. Children, skis, $6; boots, $5.
SKI SCHOOL: $15 per hour, children $13. Private, $35 per hour, $65 two hours, $110 four hours.
GROUPS: Call for details.
PACKAGES: Just Ski, includes resort accommodations, breakfast and dinner, unlimited lift tickets, Sunday through Thursday, $109 per person, Friday and Saturday, $144 per person. Ski Getaway, resort accommodations, breakfast and dinner, unlimited lift tickets, one-hour group skiing lessons, rentals, Sunday through Thursday, $133 per person, Friday and Saturday, $168 per person.
KIDS: Emphasis on youth instruction. Children 12 and younger stay free in room with parents; age 13 and above $25 extra. Bunny School for children 12 and younger, $55 a day, $35 half-day.
RACING: NASTAR on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Racing clinic daily.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboard park and half-pipe served by a T-bar, snowboard rentals and lessons.
LODGING: Elegant, old-world resort hotel with a capacity of 1,100 guests. Motels and bed and breakfasts in area.
DINING: Base lodge cafeteria offers Bavarian setting. Hotel guests enjoy an orchestra-accompanied, multicourse dinner in the grand dining room. Other fine restaurants in the area.
WHAT'S NEW: Increased snow making.
MASSANUTTEN VILLAGE
P.O. Box 1227, Harrisonburg, 22801; 540-289-4954; snow report, 800-207-MASS. Twenty-fourth 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, $38 weekend, $25 weekday, $16 nights, $35 extended weekday, $45 extended weekend. Junior (ages 5-12), seniors (62+), military, $30 weekend, $18 weekday, $13 night, $30 extended weekday, $40 extended weekend. Children 5 and younger 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, military, $18 weekend, $14 weekday, $11 night, $20 extended weekday, $25 extended weekend.
SKI SCHOOL: Classes, $16 per hour, 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m., 7 p.m. Private, $30 per hour, $20 additional skier.
GROUPS: Fifteen or more. Lift, $29 Saturday or Sunday, $16 weekday, $12 night. Rental $17 Saturday and Sunday, $11 weekday and night. Lesson, $12. One free lift ticket with each 15 sold.
PACKAGES: Level I and Level II for those who have never skied, includes restricted lift, beginner class lesson and rentals; $45 Monday through Friday , $65 weekends, $30 nights. Variety of lodging packages available including major motels in Harrisonburg.
KIDS: SkiWee ages 4-12, lift, lesson, rental, lunch and snack, $50 weekdays, $55 weekends, register 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., dismissal 2 p.m., first-come, first-served.
RACING: NASTAR, plus special events. Call for a list.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboard park served by J-bar, rentals, lessons, retention straps and metal edges required.
LODGING: Private chalets and condos, time shares. Major motels in Harrisonburg.
DINING: Ski Lodge Cafeteria, lounge.
WHAT'S NEW: More tower-mounted snowguns, additional private lessons, expanded 800 ski information line (800-207-MASS), new Bombardier groomer.
WINTERGREEN RESORT
Wintergreen, 22958; 804-325-2200, 800-325-2200 for reservations; ski report 804-325-2100. Twenty-first 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 of 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-Friday nights 5-10 p.m., Saturday night, 6-11 p.m., twilight 12:30-10 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $40 Saturdays, $37 Sundays, $31 weekday and twilight, $16 weekday night, $20 weekend night, $21 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, $21 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 90 minutes. Private lessons, $45 per hour, $30 additional skier. Racing lessons 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 $89, Sunday through Wednesday non-holiday. Wintergreen Ski or Ride Free package, offers free lift tickets.
KIDS: Specially designed children's center built in 1993 houses award-winning children's program that features playground and convenient accessibility to children's slope, where lessons are available. Children 5 and younger ski free, also children'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: Twenty-percent increase in snow making, snowboard park, quadrupled snowboard rentals, frequent-skier card can save weekday skiers 50 percent, Ski or Ride Free package.
CANAAN VALLEY RESORT PARK
HC-70, Box 330, Davis, W.Va., 26260; 304-866-4121; 800-622-4121. Twenty-third year.
FACILITIES: Twenty-two 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. Uphill capacity of 6,000 skiers per hour. Sixty-eight acres. Cross-country ski center.
HOURS: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 4:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday nights beginning Dec.26.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $33 weekend and twilight, $27 weekday and weekday twilight, $27 weekend half-day, $22 weekday half-day, $21 weekend night, $17 weekday night, $33 all day (9 a.m.-10 p.m.) Junior, $26 weekend and twilight, $22 weekend half-day, $16 weekend night, $14 weekday night, $28 all-day weekend, $27 all-day weekday, $20 half-day weekend, $15 half-day weekday.
RENTALS: Adult, $15, $13 half-day; juniors, $12, $10 half-day.
SKI SCHOOL: Class, $15 for 90-minute lesson; private, $35.
PACKAGES: Canaan Midweek Ski Package, lift tickets, three nights' lodging, shuttle service, spa and health club, $149; Get-Away, three nights' lodging, three breakfasts, lift tickets, shuttle, spa and health club, $175.
KIDS: Ski Wee, ages 4-12, $49 to $59.
RACING: Governor's Cub Ski Race, March 2-3. Call for details on other events.
SNOWBOARDING: Rentals, Mid-Atlantic Snowboard Series Race, Jan.27.
LODGING: Some 250 motel-style lodge rooms a mile shuttle ride from the slopes, 23 cabins in the park, large variety of condominiums, realty company housing 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, the Snackbar, Laurel Lounge additional variety within three miles in the Canaan Valley.
WHAT'S NEW: New snow-making equipment, additional ski and snowboard rentals.
SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN-SILVER CREEK RESORT
P.O. Box 10, Snowshoe, W.Va. 26209; 304-572-1000 for Snowshoe area, 304-572-4000 for Silver Creek area; 304-572-5252 central reservations; 304-572-4636 for central ski report. Twenty-second year; Danny Seme, general manager.
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-skiers-per-hour uphill capacity. Ninety-nine percent snow making.
HOURS: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $39 weekend, $27 half-day weekend, $32 weekday, $21 half-day weekday. Junior (ages 7-12), $24 weekend, $20 weekday, $17 half-day weekend, $13 half-day weekday. Children 6 and younger ski free. Students and seniors, $39 weekends, $27 half-day weekends, $24 weekdays, $16 half-day.
RENTALS: Adult, $19. Junior, $16.
SKI SCHOOL: Class, $18, two-lesson book, $34, three-lesson book, $48. New skier three-lesson special, $36. Private lessons, $40 for one hour, multiple 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, multiple rates available.
RACING: NASTAR and a number of championships and challenges. Call for details.
SNOWBOARDING: The most snowboarding terrain in the mid-Atlantic area.
LODGING: Room for 7,500 guests in a choice of styles and price ranges.
DINING: Eleven restaurants, from fast food to elegant Red Fox; 10 pubs.
WHAT'S NEW: New Canadian owner called Intrawest, upgraded snowmaking system, building renovations, landscaping,
TIMBERLINE FOUR-SEASONS RESORT
P.O. Box 488, Davis, W.Va., 26260; skiing, 1-800-SNOWING, group sales, 1-800-392-0152, lodging, 1-800-633-6682, ski report, 304-866-4828. Twelfth 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-skiers-per-hour uphill capacity. One hundred percent snow making.
HOURS: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., night skiing until 9 Thursday through Sunday.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $33 weekend, $23 weekday, $20 weekend night. Junior, $23 weekend, $20 weekday.
RENTALS: Adults, $17 weekend, $14 weekday; juniors, $15 weekend, $12 weekday. Snowboards.
SKI SCHOOL: Class $15; private $45 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.7-8.
SNOWBOARDING: Permitted on all runs, rentals and lessons.
LODGING: Homes, townhouses, cabins, cottages, condominiums, 800-633-6682.
DINING: Tim Haus cafeteria, Timbers Pub.
WHAT'S NEW: A new children's program called Mountain Safari for youngsters 8 to 12, day skiing extended from 4 to 4:30 p.m., more snowmaking.
WINTERPLACE SKI RESORT
P.O. Box 1, Flat Top, W.Va., 25841; 304-787-3221; ski report 1-800-258-3127. Twelfth season, Terry Pfeiffer, president.
FACILITIES: Twenty-four trails, six beginner, 14 more difficult, four most difficult off 3,600-foot Flat Top Mountain, 603-foot vertical, 80 ski acres. Longest run, 11/4 miles. One double, three triple chair lifts, two surface lift, uphill capacity 7,300 skiers per hour, 100 percent snow making. Snowboard park. Night skiing on 90 percent of runs.
HOURS: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. weekend, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 5-10 p.m. nights
LIFT TICKETS: Adults, $37.50 weekend, $26 weekend night, $26 weekday, $19 weekday night. Juniors, $27.50 weekend, $20 weekend night, $18 weekday, $13 weekday night.
RENTALS: Adults, $17.50, junior, $13.50. Snowboards, $28.
SKI SCHOOL: Class, $14 for 90 minutes. Private, $29 per hour.
GROUPS: Rates for 15 or more.
PACKAGES: Available at Glade Springs Resort and other local lodging facilities.
KIDS: SkiWee program.
Snowboarding: Snowboard park, rentals.
LODGING: Glade Springs Resort, eight miles from Winterplace. Slope-side condominiums at WinterHaven. 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 , Almost Heaven Deck and Dilly Dally's Deli.
WHAT'S NEW: Snowboard park, expanded resort center and rental facility, 1,300 new Rossignol and Elan skis, more snow-making equipment.
SKI BEECH
Banner Elk, N.C., 28604; 704-387-2011; ski report, 800 438-2093. Twenty-seventh year, Wayne Hoilman, general manager.
FACILITIES: Fourteen slopes and trials, 30 percent beginner, 40 intermediate, 30 percent advanced. A 5,506-foot peak with an 830-foot vertical drop, 100 acres. Longest run, mile intermediate. Sixty percent open for night skiing. One high-speed detachable quad, six double chair lifts, one J-bar.
HOURS: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; half-day, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; twilight, 12:30-4:30 and 6-10 p.m.; night, 6-10 p.m. seven nights a week.
LIFT TICKETS: Weekend, $37 day or twilight, $30 half-day, $20 night; weekdays, $25 day or twilight, $20 half-day, $15 night. Junior-senior weekend, $28 day or twilight, $22 half-day, $18 night, weekdays, $17 day or twilight, $13 half-day, $12 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, $60 two hours, $90 three hours, $180 all day.
GROUPS: Discounted rates for 15 or more skiers. Passenger vans available for groups who need transportation to Beech from Banner Elk.
PACKAGES: Learn to Ski, includes lift ticket, rentals, hour lesson, $40, Monday through Friday only.
KIDS: Mountain Masters, ages 9 to 14. SKIwee, ages 4 to 8 and PeeWees, age 3, $58 a day, $45 half-day. Nursery, 6 months to 3 years, $50 per day or $5 per hour.
RACING: NASTAR, college, USSA, USHA and Junior High Country Series. Pro-am, Jan.12; Jimmie Heuga Toyota Ski Express, Feb.25. Weekly races on Robins Run.
SNOWBOARDING: Rentals, lessons, children's program.
LODGING: Ski Beech sleeps more than 7,000 within a short drive of the base lifts. There are 1,100 condominiums and chalets through independent rental agents. Call 1-800-GO BEECH.
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: The Red Baron Room in the Village, full-service snowboard shop with five brands of clothing and more than 100 snowboard rentals, Wintersteiger snowboard-turning machine, van service for groups, snowboard programs in Children Learning Center and adult ski school.
SUGAR MOUNTAIN RESORT
Banner Elk, N.C., 28604; 704-898-4521; 800-SUGAR MT (800-784-2768). Twenty-sixth 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 skiers per hour. Night skiing, 100 percent snow making.
HOURS: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., night 6-10 p.m.
LIFT TICKETS: Adult, $39 weekend, $25 weekday, $20 weekday half-day, $17 weekday nights, $21 weekend holiday nights. Junior (under 12), $28 weekend, $18 weekday, $14 half-day weekday, $17 weekend and holiday nights, $13 Sunday through Thursday nights. Children 4 and younger ski free.
RENTALS: Some 2,700 sets of skis, including high-performance Kneissl skis and Dachstein boots. 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 $30, additional skier $15. Book of five, $60.
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 on Saturday and Sunday at noon, plus special events.
SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarding permitted on all slopes, new Dead End Snowboard park (snow permitting), lessons, rentals, $25 day, $16 night.
LODGING: Sugar Mountain Resort Accommodations offer lodging ranging from the 32-room Slope side Lodge to condominiums and homes. Reservations, 800-438-4555. Additional lodging in Boone, Banner Elk and 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: Grooming equipment, increased snowmaking, lighted Dead End Snowboard Park, more rental snowboards and boots.
LENGTH: Long : 372 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: File. Snow and cold temperatures have helped skiby CNBresports in the Southeasy open runs at a brisk pace this season.
Snowshoe expects to have its 53 runs open by Christmas.