Over the last couple of seasons our region has had two resorts in the finals for a Ski Area Management award for snowmaking prowess. In 2014 it was Massanutten Resort in Virginia. This season Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, North Carolina is up for the award along with Stowe and Okemo resorts in Vermont; Sunday River in Maine; Copper Mountain in Colorado and Whistler Blackcomp in Canada.
Does anything stand out among those finalist?
Let me help you – ONLY ONE OF THOSE RESORTS IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTH, where without snow-making we would not ski more than a handful of days each season. If there is ANY fairness in the SAM Award for Snowmaking, then this is a no-brainer!
Your Honor, allow me to submit the following into evidence:
Of the FIVE candidates, here are the snowfall totals this season.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Colombia, Canada – 252″
Copper Mountain, Colorado has seen 214″ of snow this season!
Stowe Resort, Vermont has seen 99″.
Sunday River, Vermont has seen 40″.
Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley, NC has seen just 29″ of snow.
Only Okemo Resort in Vermont has seen less snow (15″ on the season) but let’s examine more evidence.
These are the number of days/night that the temperatures would ALLOW for snowmaking Since January 1st.
Okemo – Jan: 31, Feb: 24; Mar: 11 – a TOTAL of 66 days or nights that snowmaking was possible.
Cataloochee: Jan: 26, Feb: 16, Mar: 5 – a TOTAL of 47 days or nights that snowmaking was possible.
Okemo has had 19 more days and nights of snowmaking chances and as if that isn’t enough, let’s take a look at the temperatures RIGHT NOW as I am posting this mountain blog.
It is 26° at Okemo. WHERE IS THE SNOWMAKING!!!??? By the way it is 58° at Cataloochee Ski Area.
Your Honor, I rest my case. If there is ANY JUSTICE WHATSOEVER, Cataloochee’s Snowmaking Ops should win by an avalanche!
If You Are READING THIS, Go Vote for Cataloochee NOW!
There are only a few days left to vote. Here is a good snowmaking video from the Cat team and below the video is a bit more information (as if you needed it).
Here is the link to GO VOTE: VOTE FOR CATALOOCHEE!
In Cat’s Own Words…
“Greetings, we make snow at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. If our snowmaking crew was a professional sports team, our mascot would be a Wildcat. We have 267, yes…two hundred and sixty seven YEARS of combined snowmaking experience on our team. Our ideal long-range weather forecast at our mountain is MARGINAL.
We work three shifts with 5 people on day crew, 2 on swing shift and 6 on night crew.”
When asked what they are proudest of, the team responded with, “Here in the South, where it does not snow…we make it snow.”
Here is the link to GO VOTE: VOTE FOR CATALOOCHEE!
Until next time…
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