With colder weather arriving back in New England, it wasn't a surprise that Killington was the first ski resort in the Northeast to open for the season on Nov. 8. The season pass-holders got the first runs of the season, with the general public getting their chance the following day.
What was more surprising is that Mount Snow and Okemo also joined the early bird club, opening for skiing on Nov. 11.
Temperatures got down into the 20s during the first full week of November, which gave Killington, Mount Snow, and Okemo a chance to turn on the snowguns and put down as much snow as possible to provide a good base for the start of the season.
For Mount Snow in West Dover, which spent $30 million on upgrading its snowmaking system, it meant one of the earliest opening days on record with more skiable terrain than anyone in the Northeast.
With the completion of the West Lake Project in Wilmington, the West Dover resort has increased its water storage for snowmaking by 600 percent, and doubled pumping capacity to get the water from the new West Lake reservoir to the mountain.
They bought 220 new snowguns, bringing the mountain's total arsenal to 948. All have what the resort calls “low-e” technology, meaning they use less power to make more snow.
Killington has extra incentive to make as much snow as possible. Once again, they will host a Women's World Cup ski race this Saturday and Sunday, and they are making sure that this year's event will be as successful as last year's.
Their “Superstar” trail, which will be the venue for the World Cup races, has gotten extra attention. The work paid off as, last week, the course preparation passed muster with FIS (the International Ski Federation, the governing body for the World Cup).
The Women's World Cup event is a big deal for Killington. Nearly 90 athletes, representing 20 countries, are slated to race in the slalom and giant slalom competitions. More than 12,000 people will be on the mountain to watch the races, and the action will be broadcast to an audience of 2.1 million people in 60 countries. It's about the best advertising that Vermont can get for its skiing and snowboarding scene.
Ski deals to watch for
• A day on the mountain is rarely cheap, but there are some bargains to be had at our local ski areas.
Mount Snow will have its annual $12 Founders Day celebration on Dec. 12. They'll also will be offering two lift tickets for $59 on Valentine's Day, and $17 lift tickets on St. Patrick's Day. Skiers ages 17 and under pay only $17 on Jan. 7 and March 26.
Magic Mountain in Londonderry will have “Throwback Thursdays” again this winter, with lift tickets only $29. Unfortunately, that discount will not be applicable on “powder days” when the ski area receives at least 6 inches of new snow.
Brattleboro Mobil and Canal Street Mobil in Brattleboro will be part of a program where you can earn 2-for-1 lift tickets for every three fill-ups of 8 gallons or more. Participating mountains include Berkshire East in Charlemont, Mass., and Burke Mountain, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Middlebury Snow Bowl, Pico, and Smugglers Notch in Vermont. Visit www.skiridefree.com/gas_ski_gas.html for more information.
If you want to ski and ride for a cause, the Ride and Ski Card (www.rideandskine.com) helps raise money for Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) while offering discounts and 2-for-1 deals at resorts across New England, including Magic Mountain and Killington.
And, of course, there is the best skiing and riding deal in Vermont - the $5 lift ticket at the Living Memorial Park ski tow in Brattleboro. For giving youngsters a taste of snow sports, and for older skiers and riders looking to shake off the cobwebs before taking on the big mountains, you can't beat it. Visit www.vtsnowsports.org to find out how you can donate your time and money to keep this nonprofit operation going.
North tops South in annual all-star football game
• The North defeated the South, 57-41, in the 17th annual North-South All-Star Football Game at Middlebury College on Nov. 18.
The victory is the fourth in a row for the North in this showcase for the top Vermont seniors. The North leads the all-time series, 10-7.
Standouts for the North on defense included Missisquoi's Hunter Tardy, who had a game-high 13 tackles, and South Burlington's Andrew Cunningham, who had two interceptions.
BFA-St. Albans running back Nate Parady, who ran for 120 yards and three touchdowns plus returned a punt for another touchdown, keyed the North's offense. St. Johnsbury receivers Jasper Rankin and Shane Alercio had 87 and 47 receiving yards, respectively, and each scored a touchdown.
Bellows Falls running back Shane Clark led the South with 112 yards of rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Burr & Burton quarterback Jay McCoy ran for 105 yards on 20 carries and Springfield's Matt LaChapelle had 83 yards on four carries.
BF's Logan Cota, playing at halfback, threw a 51-yard touchdown to Mount Anthony's Will Fischer. Rutland's Brendan Crossman had a team-high seven tackles for the South.
Other local players on the South roster included Jared Zobkiw of Bellows Falls and Durin Hoyer and Isaiah Gilbeau of Brattleboro.
MVL All-Star teams announced
• The Marble Valley League recently announced their all-star teams for boys' and girls' soccer and cross-country, and there is plenty of representation from our local schools.
Twin Valley dominated the C Division boys' soccer all-star teams, with eight selections. Logan Park (15 goals), Jack McHale (13 goals, 11 assists), James McGovern (7 goals, 9 assists) and Dylan Howe all made the first team, while Colin McHale (12 goals, 10 assists), Izaak Park, Gunnar Nilsen and goalkeeper Josh Carpenter-O'Hearn were named to the second team. These were the players that led the Wildcats to the MVL C Division title and the Division III semifinals.
Leland & Gray put three players - Pat McDonald, Grayson VanHendrick, and Nathan Clauson - on the B Division first team, while Riley Barton and Matt Emerson were second-team selections. The Rebels made it to the Division III quarterfinals this season.
Brattleboro's Jack Price made the A Division boys' soccer first team, and no Bellows Falls players were selected for the B Division teams.
• Leland & Gray led the C Division girls' soccer selections. Forward Arin Bates (16 goals, 8 assists) and scrappy midfielder Maris Linder made the first-team, while Bay Holmes, goalkeeper Kelsi Bostrom, Sierra Fillion, and Erin Cutts all made the second team.
Tatyanna Bowman of Twin Valley was also a C Division first-team selection, while teammate Callie Dix made the second team. Hannah Harlow of Bellows Falls also made the first team in the C Division.
Brattleboro midfielders Megyn Ayotte and Kai Boyd were first-team selections in the A Division.
• Brattleboro's top male runners Isaac Freitas-Eagan, Colin Costa-Walsh, and Trevor Kipp led the all-MVL boys' cross-country team. They were joined by Ian Wallace, Tim Salter-Roy, and Nicolas Potter of Bellows Falls.
Sarah Gallagher and Annie Takacs, Brattleboro top female runners, led the all-MVL girls' team. Lia Clark of Bellows Falls was also selected.
Local runners do well in New England meet
• Freitas-Eagan and Gallagher finished up the cross-country season on Nov. 11 in Belfast, Maine, as they ran in the New England High School Cross Country Championships.
In the boys' race, Freitas-Eagan took 68th overall in 16 minutes, 42 seconds and was the eighth Vermont finisher, while Gallagher was 121st in 20:07 and was the 20th Vermonter to finish the girls' race.
The top Vermont finisher in the event, which drew a total of 258 runners, was Delaney Bullock of The Putney School. She placed 20th overall in the girls' race in 18:43 and was the first Vermonter to cross the line.
Senior bowling roundup
• After Week 11 of the fall season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League, Team 5 (36-19) remained in first place, with Team 3 (33-22) moving into second place, a game ahead of Team 1, which is now in third (32-23). Team 7 (30-25) is fourth, followed by Team 2 (29-26), Team 8 (28.5-26.5), Team 9 (26-29), Team 10 (24-31), Team 6 (21-34), and Team 4 (15.5-39.5).
Arlene Blum had the women's high handicap game (238), while Jean Collins (636) had the high handicap series. Robert Rigby had the men's high handicap game (279), while Peter Cross had the high handicap series (718). Team 2 had the high team handicap game (919) and series (2,498).
Three bowlers rolled a 600-plus series. Robert Rigby (669) had his third straight with a pair of 200-plus games (278, 223). Warren Corriveau Sr. and Fred Ashworth each rolled a 608-series; Ashworth had a 238 game, while Corriveau rolled a 252.
Josie Rigby (521) had her third 500-plus series. She was joined by Cross (524) and Marty Adams (557). Cross (225, 211) had a pair of 200-plus games in his series, while Adams (200) had just one.