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MARCH 12, 2009 ISSUE

Lift Ticket

A Column About Skiing and Snowboarding in the High Country

by Sam Calhoun

March Madness rates are now in effect at Sugar Mountain Resort and Ski Beech, and discounted rates are coming in the next week to Appalachian Ski Mountain and Hawksnest Resort.

From now until the end of the season, Sugar Mountain Resort’s lift tickets are discounted by $10 or more per session. What’s more, Ski Beech is now offering $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.

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.

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.

If you have been watching your pocketbook all season, now is the time to enjoy the slopes while saving some money.

Go play in the snow.

Around the Slopes…

--This Sunday, March 15, Ski Beech is hosting Beech Mountain Town Appreciation Day. On Sunday, all town employees and immediate family members are invited to ski Beech Mountain for free. Tickets will be available at the front desk of the administration building.

--Due to the warm weather this week, Hawksnest Resort closed to preserve its base. The snow tubing resort will open this Friday, Saturday and Sunday on a regular schedule, taking advantage of the colder temperatures forecast for this weekend.

--For the 2009-10 ski season, Appalachian Ski Mountain and Cataloochee Ski Area, located in Maggie Valley, will offer reciprocal passholder discounts. Appalachian members will receive $10 off Cataloochee lift tickets any day or night with a $10 minimum ticket rate.

--Representing another reciprocal discount, Appalachian Ski Mountain members will receive the student rate for the Banff Mountain Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28. Tickets for members will be $7—subject to availability—and can be picked up at the Farthing Auditorium box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 828-262-4046. The event typically sells out, so members are urged to get their tickets early.

--This Saturday, March 14, Boss Hawg plays live at Sugar Mountain Resort from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free with the purchase of a lift ticket.

Go play in the snow.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Email sam@highcountrypress.com.

Cyber Slope Info…

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