March 5, 2009 Issue
Ski Better for Less in March
Best Snow, Cheapest Rates of the Season This Month
It was a spring ski carnival atmosphere for local ski shop employees as they demoed next year’s skis and snowboards on Sugar Mountain’s Big Red slope last Wednesday. Bright sun, awesome snow, and great new gear made it easy to identify the ski pros as they carved it up. Photo by Randy JohnsonIf the one-foot of melting snow in the front yard teaches us anything, it’s that winter is still here, no matter how many times we click our heels and wish for warmer temperatures. But who needs warmer temperatures when the region’s ski slopes—our backyard—are blanketed with some of the best natural snow conditions of the season?
“The conditions will never be better than they are today,” said Brad Moretz, general manager of Appalachian Ski Mountain, on Tuesday. “The snow is just outstanding.”
For the last three years, the best snow conditions of the ski season have come during March, a time when many of us are thinking more about spring than cutting fresh tracks in corn powder. Happily, March is also when all four of the High Country’s snowsport resorts offer discounted rates—March Madness rates, if you will. This fortunate coincidence plays out nicely for local ski and snowboard enthusiasts, as well as for families trying to catch a ski vacation on the cheap.
Whether you are a skier, snowboarder or snow tuber, deals abound here this month at Appalachian Ski Mountain, Hawksnest Resort, Ski Beech and Sugar Mountain Resort.
Hawksnest Resort, now the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast, reduces session rates by $4 or more starting Friday, March 20. After March 20, tubing sessions at Hawksnest cost $18 on Fridays and $25 on Saturdays and Sundays. What’s more, after April 3, tubing sessions at Hawksnest drop even more to $15 on Fridays and $20 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Beginning Monday, March 9, Ski Beech offers $20 day and twilight lift tickets, and $10 half-day and night lift tickets, seven days a week until the end of the ski season. March 9 also marks the end to Ski Beech’s weekday specials on lift tickets, with the exception of free tickets for females on Thursdays.
Late season rates are offered from Monday, March 16, to Sunday, March 29, at Appalachian Ski Mountain. Skiers and snowboarders save anywhere from $6 to $10 on all types of lift tickets, and the offer is good for adults, students, juniors, seniors and military.
Sugar Mountain Resort offers March Madness rates from Monday, March 9 until the end of the ski season. During this period, lift ticket rates drop drastically at the resort, some more than $10 per session, so click to www.skisugar.com/rates for more info.
Helpful Info for Getting on the Slopes…
Appalachian Ski Mountain:
828-295-7828, www.appskimtn.com, www.appterrainpark.com
Ski Beech:
828-387-2011, www.skibeech.com
Hawksnest Resort:
828-963-6561, www.hawksnest-resort.com
Sugar Mountain Resort:
828-898-4521, www.skisugar.com
North Carolina Ski Areas Association:
www.goskinc.com
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