Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
March 27, 2008 issue
Winter’s Endgame
Meltdown Games at Appalachian Ski Mountain Saturday and Sunday
Story by Sam Calhoun
Please sir, may I have another?
Winter snowsports enthusiasts may have felt like Oliver Twist this March, begging and pleading for one last snowfall, one last run down the slopes. And Mother Nature heard their cries and bestowed cold temperatures and even some natural snowfall on the region this week, giving Appalachian Ski Mountain the opportunity to blow snow on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
“We only had the chance to blow snow on four nights in March and three of those came this week—the last week of skiing!” said Brad Moretz, co-owner of Appalachian Ski Mountain. “Now we’ve got a good base, all 10 of our slopes are open, both terrain parks are open and ice skating is open.”
The great late-season conditions come just in time for Appalachian Ski Mountain’s annual Meltdown Games, scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. The games regularly attract more than 900 people to the slopes on Appalachian’s closing weekend every year, and all the events are free with the purchase of a lift ticket. Lift tickets at Appalachian for the last weekend of skiing cost $41 for adults and $30 for juniors and seniors.
“It’s a weekend of free fun, aside from the lift ticket,” said Moretz.
The Meltdown Games kick off on Saturday with the High Ollie Contest at 10:30 a.m. Described by Moretz as “the opposite of the limbo,” the High Ollie Contest pits snowboarders and skiers against each other as they try to ollie over a bar that is raised higher after each round. The person who can ollie over the highest bar wins, gaining bragging rights and a host of prizes.
The day continues with the Cardboard Box Derby at 11:30 a.m. A chance for locals to get creative with cardboard design, the derby annually attracts unique sleds that—hopefully—carry passengers to glory at the finish line.
At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Ski and Snowboard Big Air Competition starts up at both of Appalachian’s terrain parks, followed at 4:00 p.m. by the Trash Bag Downhill Race—a race similar to a Chinese downhill. Just think trash bags as sleds and a mass start from the top of the ski mountain.
On Sunday, the day gets started with the inaugural 80-Foot Rail Contest at 10:30 a.m. No doubt the brainchild and handiwork of Appalachian’s in-house terrain park welder, the 80-Foot Rail Contest is “like a terrain park version of the Pond Skimming Contest,” said Moretz. The snowboarder who can make it the farthest on the rail—while also adding the most embellishment, of course—wins the contest.
And then at 1:00 p.m. it’s time for the Pond Skimming Contest, annually the event that attracts the most spectators. Taking advantage of the melting snow, Appalachian Ski Mountain collects the runoff at the base of the mountain in a pond that skiers and snowboarders have to navigate to win. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes during the contest.
“The fun part of watching the Pond Skimming Contest is not the people who do make it across—it’s the people who don’t make it across,” said Moretz.
The day ends with the Chinese Downhill, where all the skiers and snowboarders who can fit at the top of Appalachian Ski Mountain race to the bottom to claim victory.
At 4:30 p.m. after the Chinese Downhill is completed, Appalachian will end the 2007-08 season—a record-breaking season in terms of number of days open. Prior to this year, the most days that Appalachian Ski Mountain stayed open in a season was 124. On Tuesday, the mountain hit that number. By Sunday, the count—and new record—will be 130 days.
“It’s a personal best for Appalachian Ski Mountain,” said Moretz. “We made snow 550 hours this year, and we even bypassed some days when we could have blown [snow] because of the drought.”
Sugar Mountain Resort stayed open for the majority of March but closed on Tuesday for the 2007-08 season, exactly 140 days after it began on November 7, 2007.
Attendees at the Meltdown Games will win hundreds of prizes donated by local and national sponsors, including skis, snowboards, snowskates, helmets, goggles, glasses, jackets, gloves and backpacks.
“It’s a day of unique fun,” added Moretz. “You can’t see these things on any other day of the year.”
Board Paradise, Red Bull, Burton, Forum, K2, Smith Optics, Planet Earth, Salomon, Spyder, Nordica, Volcom, Dragon, 4frnt, Mental, Dakine, 686, Rossignol, Bern, Screamer, EuroSock, Turtlefur, POW Gloves, Wigwam, Head, Atomic and Chaos are sponsors of the Meltdown Games.
Although Appalachian Ski Mountain is now closed for night skiing, ice skating is available at night until Saturday.
For more information, call 828-295-7828 or click to www.appskimtn.com.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days
Location: Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock
Cost: Free with purchase of lift ticket
2008 Meltdown Games Schedule
Get ready for some spring snowsport fun! All the events listed are free to enter with the purchase of a lift ticket.
Saturday, March 29
10:30 a.m.—High Ollie Contest
11:30 a.m.—Cardboard Box Derby
1:30 p.m.—Ski and Snowboard Big Air Contest
4:00 p.m.—Trash Bag Downhill Race
Sunday, March 30
10:30 a.m.—80-Foot Rail Contest
1:00 p.m.—Pond Skim and Costume Contest
4:00 p.m.—Chinese Downhill