Who's Ready to Hit the Slopes?

Last winter my boys and I visited Winterplace the first time and we absolutely loved it. In fact, they've already been begging me to go back this year and the colder temps and snow in the forecast is music to our ski & snowboard-loving ears. If you've never been to Winterplace I encourage you to consider it this year. It is really the perfect mountain for beginners (yup, even if you've never stepped into ski or snowboard boots they will take great care of you) and for those with more experience it's nice to have something so close to the Roanoke area to get some runs in. With 27 trails there is something for all levels of experience. 

THE SNOW

Winterplace Ski Resort located just off I-77, Exit 28 between Beckley and Bluefield, West Virginia is one of the most accessible ski areas in the South East. The Resort boasts 27 Trails, 10 lifts, 2 Terrain Parks and WV’s Largest Snowtubing Park. During season Winterplace is open 7 days a week with skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing until 10:00 PM each night. With 100% snow making capacity Winterplace has one of the most sophisticated snow making systems in the country. In the early days snow making required teams of snowmakers out on the hill setting up and moving equipment. Today it still requires a team but instead of 10 to 15 there are now 3 to 4. With 119 permanently mounted snow making guns the Winterplace snow making system is computer controlled to bring the mix of water and air together when the temperatures are right to cover the trails with a winter blanket of snow. The on-site 50,000 million gallon snow making lake feeds the system that can draw up to 10,000 gallons of water per minute to send up the hill.  This translates to a ski area covered with snow as soon as the temperatures drop. Natural snow just becomes a bonus.  

LEARN TO SKI & SNOWBOARD

Winterplace is the Number One place to learn to Ski and Snowboard (voted so by Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine). As Members of the Professional Ski and Snow board Instructors of America, Lessons are offered for all levels of snow sports enthusiasts. Winterplace’s snow sports center is one of the few resorts in the country to offer “Terrain Based Learning” as part of their programs. Developed by “Snow Operating” this award winning approach to having fun while learning a new sport, shapes the snow with features like banked turns, or gentle rollers that allows those new to the sport to pick up the skills needed to negotiate the rest of the hill. Terrain based learning “Gets you to the Fun Faster”.  From the ski lift the Terrain Based learning (TBL) area looks like what you would see at a skate board park only with snow. Mini pipes, Banked turns, Rollers, and the Perfect slope are all names you will become familiar with by the end of a lesson. Winteplace’s all-inclusive packages that include lift tickets, rental equipment, and a lesson are priced so they don’t break the wallet and they’ll leave you looking forward to your next visit.  Rental equipment included with the complete slope package is top of the line Rossignol Skis, Boots, and Snowboard’s. Rossignol is one of the largest ski and snow board manufactures in the world with a reputation for quality equipment.

WHERE TO REFUEL AND WARM UP

A day on the slopes burns a lot of calories and slope users can feed these hungers at one of the four slope side restaurants.  Hearty servings, health alternatives and  adult beverages can be found at all four slope side restaurants, but it’s the Snow Drift lounge in the main resort where you’ll find daily drink specials, hot wings and sliders. New this year at “Mickey’s on the slope” you’ll find weekend specials of “Brat’s and Beer” with tap take overs’ planned by any one of the growing Craft Brewery’s from the area.

Winterplace has several lodging options and packages available. From the deluxe accommodations at nearby “Glade Spring’s Resort” where an hourly shuttle to and from the mountain is provided to a bare bones hotel room in near-by Beckley or Princeton.  Lodging option to meet your budget and comfort needs can be found on the Winterplace Web site under “Lodging Options”.  For a complete listing of all Winterplace activities visit the web at www.winterplace.com or contact the Winterplace Group sales department at 1(800) 607-SNOW (7669)

See you on the slopes!   

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