Give the Gift of Skiing!

Do you ever struggle, as I do, with the perfect gift for that hard-buy-for person in your life? If you have more than one of these folks on your list, it can keep you awake at night at this time of year. Sure, the advent of the gift card at most of the major retail chains has made things a bit easier, but certainly a lot more impersonal.

Well this year, why not give the skier or boarder in your life, something they will really appreciate, the gift of a weekend or even a week on the slopes!

Yes, that Best Buy card will get them the latest Green Day , the Wicked soundtrack, or that " must have" accessory for their iPod. But, nothing will tell them how much you care more than a few days of breathing clean mountain air, making some fresh tracks under a bluebird sky, and swapping lies... I mean stories by a roaring fire. Now that, is a gift.


"But", you say. "I'm too busy getting ready for the Holidays to plan a trip." You may very well be, but with a gift certificate from Tours de Sport, your planning is done. Available in any amount from $100 an up, this welcome stocking stuffer will make you the Grand Poobah of Holiday Giving.

No need to decide on dates or destination if you don't want to. Gift certificates from Tours de Sport are valid for any of the almost 30 destinations we offer, and are valid for a year from the date of purchase. When you give a gift certificate the choices are limitless: an early season tune-up weekend at the Big K, an uncrowded January midweek at Loon, a week of immersion in all things Olympic at Lake Placid, or a Spring Fling at Sugarloaf? The choice is yours, well; really it's the givee not the giver that should choose. Right?

So what will it be this year? Another boring shirt or sweater? Membership in the "fruit of the month" club? Ron Popiel's latest gadget? No! No! No!

It' going to be the gift of fun. The gift of time spent together outdoors. The gift of memories. Give the gift of skiing!

Early season updates

Opening days are right around the corner! We’ve just received word that our largest resorts (Tremblant, Killington, Sugarbush, Stowe, Sunday River, Sugarloaf) are all set to open by Saturday, November 19th. All of our New England and Canadian resorts will be open by Friday, November 25th. If you’ve already made your plans for Thanksgiving, then why not try a pre-Christmas vacation weekend? It’s a fantastic way to avoid the big holiday crowds and save a ton of money. Availability is still wide open for condos and hotel rooms at all of our resorts for the weekends of Dec. 9 – 11 and Dec. 16 – 18. Lodging costs are usually 50% to 70% less than the rates offered during the holiday week, and lift tickets are also discounted. Although no resort is open to full capacity, most of the ski areas are doing their heaviest snowmaking in preparation for the busy holiday crowds. So, you can enjoy dozens of unblemished trails at every resort.

CHRISTMAS UPDATE: We are very pleased to announce that the Killington Village condos (Pinnacle, Whiffletree, Fall Line, Sunrise, Highridge, Trail Creek, Pico) have lifted their 6-night restriction for the Christmas week (Dec. 26 – Jan. 1). There is now just a 2 night minimum for that week, which is the lowest of ANY resort that we work with in New England or Canada. The only other restriction would be that there are no check-outs or check-ins on Saturday, December 31st. This space will go FAST, so call a sales rep today to book!

Return Of Colder Temps Has Resorts Targeting Next Weekend

Killington, VT (Friday, November 11, 2005) - Warm weather throughout early November has stymied eastern ski and snowboard resorts' attempts to open or reopen, but a return to colder temperatures has a number of ski areas firing up their snowmaking systems.

Following a late-October snowstorm that allowed Vermont's Killington Resort to open for two days, warm air has prevented the resort from sticking to its planned Nov. 11 opening. Resort officials are now shooting for next week. "We will open as soon as we can provide a quality top to bottom skiing and snowboarding experience," said Dave Rathbun, vice president of brand management for Killington. "Right now, looking at the current weather forecast, we're targeting next week to re-open the season."

Warm air has forced nearby Okemo Mountain Resort to twice reschedule its planned opening already. The current target date for Okemo's opening is Friday, Nov. 18. "The temperatures came in to where we like them at around 10 o'clock on Tuesday night," says Okemo Mountain Operations Director Barry Tucker. "We've had staff on call and equipment in position for several nights now, and it looks like the temperatures are holding fairly well for us."

Preliminary efforts are focusing on three trails on the upper mountain at Okemo but that will expand quickly, according to Tucker. "We're staffed to make snow," he said.

Across the border in northeastern New York, Whiteface Mountain ski and snowboard area near Lake Placid had 64 guns roaring from the top of Little Whiteface (Excelsior trail) to Upper Valley to mid station today, its first day of snowmaking.

And in Massachusetts, snowmaking crews were ready to fire Jiminy Peak's snowmaking system overnight at press time. Jiminy is planning to begin full-time snowmaking next week with the goal to be open for the weekend of Nov. 19th and 20th.

Ski season in New Hampshire

With the first snow falling in New England and Mt Washington recording 64 inches so far it’s time to put the clubs away and start thinking about your ski trips for the coming season. May I recommend Loon Mountain in Lincoln NH. Loon has grown from a small ski area outside an old mill village to one of the premier resorts in the Northern New England. Located just off Interstate 93 Loon is an easy drive from southern New England. For those of you outside of the region, a flight to Manchester NH and a 90 minute drive up the interstate gets you there.

Loon Mountain has something for everyone. From the steeps of East Basin to the wide open cruising of north peak to the gentler lower trails of west basin and the Seven Brothers area there is enough terrain to keep everyone from getting bored. Not to mention the great views of the White Mountains. Add to that the two full service base lodges and the Camp Three lodge at the bottom of North Peak and you will be well taken care of. On sunny days the Adirondack chairs on the south facing deck of Camp Three are the best place around to relax, get some sun and perhaps wet your whistle.

The towns of Lincoln and Woodstock offer a wide variety of shops and eating establishments for your après ski activities. For my money you can’t beat the Woodstock Inn Station & brewery. It has a good atmosphere, great burgers & free popcorn. Oh, and they make some pretty good beer too.

For the kids, there is day and night time tubing and snow toys (think bikes on snow) as well as a climbing wall. There is also a movie theater in town.

There are plenty of lodging options in town including the completely redone Inn Seasons Resort South Mountain, the family friendly Rivergreen Resort, and the convenient and well-appointed Comfort Inn Loon.

So dust off the equipment, start your stretching exercises and get going on your trip planning. We at Tours de Sport are the ski & snowboard vacation specialists. I work in the Tours de Sport New Hampshire office and would be happy to answer your questions & help design your trip to Loon or the resort of your liking. The snow is falling already & it promises to be another great ski season. Be sure to ask about our early season "Hot Deal" for weekends at Loon.

Pubs & Powder......

Ok, maybe not quite yet but as I watch the the inches to feet of snow fall on the New England Ski resorts in October my mind is already planning my annual year end ski trip. As the annual planner of my own personal "Ski Group"; there are only 2 factors that matter to a bunch of 30 year old ski bums. Cold beer and fresh tracks! So where do I set my attention? The annual trip to the Big K - yes Killington, VT.

This annual trek of ours made every March (great skiing and no crowds), is something I most look forward to during my busy months here at the Tours de Sport office. I would say it was the skiing but perhaps is the Après Ski that I enjoy most! Like all creatures of habits, my best friend and I have ours. After laying out our one happy hour at the condo for the weary skiers not yet home, we find ourselves darting off to either Casey's Caboose or the Snowshed base lodge for a nice ice cold beer! Ok, maybe 3 or 4 until the real skiers in the group are done. Freshly showered and famished from 8 hours of skiing it over to the Wobbly Barn for a big old steak dinner.

Upon this point we tend to loose 1/2 of the group back to our condo in the Killington Resort Village while the rest of us hit the downstairs to get our groove on and dance the night away. I can tell all of you looking for a great place to ski and find some nightlife as well, I would personally recommend this ski resort! Don't forget to save your farewell breakfast out of town for the Sugar Shack! The smell of fresh Vermont maple syrup being made in the basement and the best pancakes you've had since mom made 'em! Not to mention, a great place to pick up all those take home souvenirs your forgot to get while doing all that skiing and partying!

Wherever you travel this year, pack you family, friends and skis and enjoy!