by Joe Stevens
Hello Everyone.
This is my last Snow News Is Good News column of the year and it puts a period on a season that will be remembered as a little bit of everything, but namely a lack of natural snow throughout the region. It will be remembered for the strong visitation throughout the region, as skiers and snowboarders knew where to have some winter fun.
I will also remember the season for being able to get on the slopes with my son on skis for the first time in 25-years. With that aside, I have once again, come up with Joe’s seventeenth annual “SNOWY” awards or “SNOWIES” whichever one you like the best. True to form, the same three-person committee (me, myself and I) picked out ten categories and spent way too much time tabulating the results. That’s my story and I am sticking to it. So, drumroll please, here are the 2021/2022 season’s “SNOWIES.”
- Most Indecisive – Fair weather skiers and snowboarders. Not making the decision to head to the mountains until the last minute because their weather app didn’t give them the news they wanted to read TEN days out.
- Most Valuable – This again goes to the snowmakers because they took advantage of every second of snowmaking conditions this season since Mother Nature was a bit deficient in providing natural snow.
- Unsung Hero – Those front-line employees who did their best to stay healthy all season, made it to work every day, and pulled that second shift when their co-worker couldn’t make it in to work.
- Most Overrated – Weather people who are snow gooses and think a snow forecast of 2 – 10 inches is acceptable. Heck even I could be correct all the time giving that type of range. Come on, tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear. Thank goodness there are the Brads of the world out there.
- Go For It – Skiers and snowboarders who knew there was going to be snowmaking taking place while they were on the slopes, but understood for them to have fun that day and more, it was a necessity.
- Fighting To The Bitter End – Your friendly groomers who had to wait until the snow set up in the middle of the night so they could get the machines out on the slopes to make it nice for all of the skiers and snowboarders on any given, mild temperature day.
- Most Patience – To every employee who had to put up with verbal abuse while they were just trying to make it a safe visit for everyone.
- Going The Extra Mile – To that ski and snowboard instructor who did their best with first timers to make sure it wasn’t going to be their first and only day on the slopes.
- Cy Young (Best Pitch) – For every ski shop operator who resisted having an end of the season sale in February, but instead had a save for those final turns sale.
- Stepping Up To The Plate and Hitting It Out Of The Park – For every skier, snowboarder and snow tuber out there who enjoys having fun outdoors during winter. The industry appreciates each and every one of you.
That’s it for the 2021-2022 season – it’s been fun being with you again this year and watching my son continue to love the sport that makes his father smile.
Finally, remember to always be patient as whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! Time to get everything tuned up for the 2022/2023 season, my 38th in the industry. Check the calendar, we are only eight months away from making snow. I can’t wait.