We are just a day away from the SkiSoutheast Summit at Massanutten.
Many of you may be starting the drive to the resort today. Some of you might ski or snowboard while listening to music. Some of you might need a playlist to blast at 7 a.m. while you cook the family breakfast and try to shuffle everyone out the door in time for first chair.
Well I’m here to tell you that I’ve got a playlist for you.
I went straight to the source, and asked professional snowboarders, SkiSoutheast staff, and my own father what music they listen to prepare for a day on the slopes. I threw in a few of my personal favorites, and compiled a playlist for you. Here are the answers:
Josh Sullivan – SkiSoutheast FirsTrax reporter
How Will I Know by Whitney Houston
It’s undeniably a bop.
Ambitionz Az A Ridah by 2Pac
I have plenty of ambitions as a rider of my snowboard. Are they relatable to Tupac Shakur’s? Not particularly. But for a six minute chairlift ride, I don’t have to acknowledge the difference.
Been To The Mountain by Margo Price
Steady bass riff, psychedelic build up, heavy guitar solo. This song has a little bit of everything.
Fire On The Mountain By Grateful Dead
I love the Dead. This one is the most obvious listen for shredding. Sometimes I’ll play the Dead & Company version live from TD Garden in Boston just to hear John Mayer shred on the guitar. Don’t tell any of the old Deadheads I said that though.
Outro by M83
This song is featured in the Travis Rice snowboard project “The Art Of Flight.” That’s really the first film that brought my relationship with snowboarding from hobby to obsession.
Freedom by Beyonce featuring Kendrick Lamar
Beyonce’s entire Lemonade album could be listened to in its entirety. Marching band-style drumming gets me hyped.
Here’s what some other skiers and snowboarders throughout the southeast (and beyond) have on their playlists:
Brantley Mullins – Pro snowboarder, X Games Street Style Competitor, Beech Mountain local
Lights and Sounds by Yellowcard
My Delirium by Ladyhawke
Cramps by Slow Pump
“Yellowcard is superior.”
Madison Blackley – 2021 Queen of Corbet’s Couloir, 2024 X Games Street Style competitor
Uprising By Muse
Woman Is A God by Tommy Genius
Lay All Your Love On ME by ABBA
“Very Eclectic.”
Mike Doble – SkiSoutheast Editor and founder
“It’s funny, I used to listen to a couple of songs by Snow Patrol like “Run” and “Cars.” I should get back to that…I remembered loving to ski to “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith.
Kenny Griffin – SkiSoutheast staff
Wolf Like Me by TV On The Radio
My Delirium by Ladyhawke
“They both remind me of my early 20s when I was really getting into snowboarding.”
Matt Laws – SkiSoutheast staff
“I don’t know if I really have a go-to song, as it really depends on the mood I am in. I asked (son) Trevor, and he says “The Boys Are Back” by The Drokpick Murphys. He’s made that our motto lately.”
Mike Walsh – Sports Editor at The Berkshire Eagle in Massachusetts
Hey Ma by Cam’ron
It’s just slick, and you can groove to it while carving. Lyrically, it’s just about having outrageous levels of confidence in your game, which is how I feel when I’m shredding, because I’m never a cooler person than when I’m snowboarding.
Tell Me I’m a Wreck by Every Avenue
A lot of possibilities for an angsty track, but this one always finds its way into my earbud at some point. Has the mellow start into some screaming about how “you never knew me at all.” Some real telling-your-mom-you’re-not-doing-your-homework-because-you-got-to-hit-a-pow-day vibes.
Bill Nabers – Ski patroller at Bryce Resort
Back In The USSR by The Beatles
Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes
”Both are upbeat but still rhythmic to get me going.”
Luke Berger – Appalachian Ski Mountain photographer and videographer
Ms. Jackson by Outkast
Meet Me at the Creek by Billy Strings
Loving is Easy by Rex Orange County
Poppin’ My Collar by Three 6 Mafia
(Luke sent me an entire playlist. These are just some of my personal favorites from it.)
Cooper Hett – Friend who once drove with me all the way to Utah and back from Boston
Pish by Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Wizard by Black Sabbath
“I feel like I’m in a ski film apparently? I don’t even listen to music when I ride, but it’s on the playlist for the ride up.”
Brian Dix – SkiSoutheast Staff
Aneurysm by Nirvana
Aenima by Tool
“I always play them with the volume up.”
Zack Griffiths – Friend
The Thrill – Porter Robinson Remix by NERO
“It gets the people going. Typing this on the Kank8 (chairlift at Loon Mountain Resort in New Hampshire) as we speak.
Sam Huston – Friend and college roommate
War Pigs by Black Sabbath
Blinded By The Light
Santos Lara – Friend
Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden
“As a play on ‘running to the mountains.'”
Steve Sullivan – My dad
Mammoth by Mammoth WVH
Mammoth is on there because I like the message that anything is possible and you’re not alone. I really like the guitar riffs and the tempo.
Porch by Pearl Jam
Porch is on there because it reminds me of when Pearl Jam first burst onto the scene with Ten, and it’s great for shredding pow.
Here’s what else you need to know for skiing and riding in the southeast today:
Massanutten
The slopes will close to the public today at 5 p.m. for the Locals Cup. Season pass holders should come out and enjoy!
The resort is 100% open, with seven chairlifts spinning. Lower Nutten-To-It Park will be open today.
Bryce Resort
Snowmaking is coming back at Bryce. The soft snow and the sun is warm, making it a good day for anyone who’s getting out there. Here’s ski patroller Bill Nabers.
Bryce had another very good skiing day. So similar to yesterday that I did not take any more photos after yesterday. It was about 5 degrees cooler today. The crew is planning to make snow tonight.”
Snowshoe
The ‘Shoe is still 100% open! From the snow report:
More sunny slopes ahead on this Thursday morning! Despite the warm weather, the conditions are great for some slope action. We’re rolling into the weekend with access to a full trail map and some really fun parks. So throw on the shades, soak up some vitamin D, and let’s hit the slopes.”
Timberline
Those two trails that were closed for an infrastructure project are back open today. Snowmaking weather is still about a week away, but the snow reporting team says there’s plenty of snow left.
“When the optimal weather conditions roll in, we’ll be refreshing conditions and expanding coverage,” the report says. “In the meantime, our groomers are working their magic to maintain our base and bring you some excellent conditions throughout the week. Conditions today are machine groomed with a grippy surface near the summit, and a faster surface near the base of the mountain.”
Canaan Valley Resort
Mountain operations is just waiting for the temperature to drop so it can take “full advantage of cold temps” to continue to build up the base.
Saturday is the Aprés-Ski retro party. That starts at 5 p.m. and features Jamie Smith as DJ JLS. Prizes will be award for the best retro outfit.
Sunday is the Meet Me In The Holler: Rail Jam. The freestyle competition kicks off at 2 p.m.
Wintergreen
Reader Dave Perault was at the ‘Green yesterday.
“They finally turned off the guns this morning around 11 after some around the clock snowmaking” he said. “All open slopes have received a very nice refresh.”
The Rest
Massanutten and SkiSoutheast will team up to host our summit tomorrow through Sunday. It’s a great way to meet like-minded, snow-loving people, and possibly make some lifelong friends in the process.
Thanks to everyone that has already joined us on Discord.
Think snow!
Think cold!
Click here to join us on our new SkiSoutheast Discord channel. It is a great way to meet new snow loving friends and shares experiences, ask questions, and more!
And as always, email me at [email protected] with your thoughts and photos.