MER

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Former Hunter Mountain Freestyle Team athlete is a star on the US Ski Team.

SUM

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Skiing and riding are lifelong sports with lifelong benefits.

FO R

06

Traveling from New York City? Hop on a bus for an experience like no other.

Winter 2015–2016

FLIP

The Official Magazine of Hunter Mountain

WINTER 2015–16 Welcome By Gerry Tschinkel, VP of Sales, Marketing & Sponsorships.

Flashback Remembering Denise McCluggage, an early ambassador for Hunter Mountain.

POP OF THE

PEAK

How We Roll A first-person account of the ease, convenience and fun of traveling from NYC by bus.

Facts & Figures: Lessons at Hunter Reap lifelong benefits learning on Hunter Mountain’s unparalleled beginner terrain.

The Other Side Tips from a pro on how to stay dry while pond skimming.

The Many Faces of Hunter Meet some of the awesome people who make Hunter real.

Q&A With Bettis the Safety Dog Find out how Bettis, a Newfoundland, helps keep Hunter safe.

Meet Thomas Rowley Former Hunter Freestyle Team standout named US Ski Team Rookie of the Year.

Sustainable Slopes Hunter Mountain is participating in the NSAA’s 2015 Climate Challenge.

HUNTER MOUNTAIN

PEPSI, the Pepsi Globe, LIVE FOR NOW and FOR THE THRILL OF THE GAME are trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc.

FLIP FOR SUMMER!

PROUD PARTNER OF

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

WINTER 2015–16 |

1

HUNTER LIFE MAGAZINE is published annually by Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl, Inc. PUBLISHER

A New Season Begins!

Hunter Mountain Gerry Tschinkel

A

Katie O’Connor

s another great summer season comes to an end, I can barely contain my excitement for the winter ahead! But before I talk about winter, I’d like to reflect on all the shining moments of summer, starting with the TAP℠ New York Craft Beer and Food Festival in April. A record 95 New York State breweries attended the festival, which is expected to be even bigger next year. Two other growing festivals, Mountain Jam in the first weekend of June followed by Taste of Country Music Festival the following week, brought record attendance— which is unsurprising considering their lineups. Mountain Jam’s headliners included The Black Keys, Robert Plant, Alabama Shakes, moe., and 40+ bands across three stages. Taste of Country Music Festival’s line-up was stacked, with headliners Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Toby Keith, plus many other top names in country music. For a deeper look into both festivals, check out the story on page 2 of the summer side.

Marketing & Communications Manager

CREATIVE DIRECTION & DESIGN trampolinedesign.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

John Coleman

Jamie Kiley

Justin Foy

Cody Transue

Eileen Garvey

Nick Ward

Thomas Rowley

6067 Main Street Tannersville, NY

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Local, grass-fed, black angus burgers Housemade onion rings & fries Salads, vegetarian options

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PRINTER

CONNECT

Printed in USA by Cayuga Press of Cortland cayugapress.com

facebook.com/huntermtn twitter.com/huntermtn

Shakes, malts, local ice cream

huntermountain

And much, much more!

youtube.com/huntermtn

Eat in/take out

itunes.apple.com

INFORMATION

HunterMtn.com

Want to place an ad in next year’s magazine? Contact Katie O’Connor at [email protected]

[email protected]

800.486.8376 or 518.263.4223 P.O. Box 295 Hunter, NY 12442 Copyright ©2015-16 by Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl, Inc. All rights reserved. The content of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express consent of the publisher. To advertise in Hunter Life Magazine, please call the Marketing Department at 518.263.4223. HunterMtn.com. Hunter Mountain assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content, nor do we warranty the accuracy of any of the information. Hunter Mountain reserves the right to make changes, corrections, and/or improvements to the information without notice.

www.iloveny.com

www.greatnortherncatskills.com

Call us when you’re leaving the mountain and we’ll have your food ready and waiting!

MamasBoyCatskills.com and on Facebook

| WINTER 2015–16

As summer moved on, we enjoyed a six-day-aweek Skyride schedule, night zipping, fighting off zombies, fly fishing, witnessing true love at summit weddings, hiking to the Hunter Fire Tower, and playing a few games of disc golf. We rounded off August with the German Alps Festival and the International Celtic Festival, followed by four Oktoberfest weekends in September/October featuring Haunted Zipline, Zombie Hunter Wars (see the story on page 12 of the summer side), EuroCar and Motorcycle rallies, Freestyle Motocross (FMX) show, wine tastings, farmers’ markets, and of course the fall foliage brought out all the leaf peepers. We’re keeping the snowball rolling into the 2015-16 season with continuous mountain improvements including several trail changes and snowmaking upgrades! Keep a lookout for changes across the mountain: Lower Broadway has been transformed into an events venue for races, opening up Madison Avenue to the pub-

518-589-MOMS

2

$1.2 Million invested in snowmaking in 2014

By Gerry Tschinkel, VP of Sales, Marketing & Sponsorships

Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Sponsorships

EDITOR

WHAT’S NEW

WELCOME

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

T “Skyride is always better with friends.”

lic, thereby providing intermediate skiers and riders with another intermediate trail. Speaking of intermediate trails, Way Out has been widened and re-graded to a slope that’s suitable for experienced intermediates. Other improvements on Way Out include widening toward the bottom of the trail to create a smoother merge into Clair’s Way. So, intermediate skiers and riders, welcome to the West Side! On to snowmaking: Automatic snowmaking was installed on Upper Hellgate through Fifth Avenue to ensure conditions remain ideal on the popular trails. Upgrades to snowmaking equipment on East Side Drive and Upper Belt Parkway add to the list of improvements, as well as a new compressor for snowmaking, making the overall snowmaking process operate more efficiently. On behalf of Hunter Mountain, I’d like to welcome you to the 2015-16 season. Whether you’re an avid skier or snowboarder – or just beginning – you can count on Hunter Mountain for an unforgettable winter experience!

his summer, Hunter Mountain invested $1.2 million in snowmaking. While the mountain already has 1,100+ snow guns, additional guns were installed this summer, 17 of which are on Hellgate alone. Other trails on the mountain that will see improved snowmaking include Belt Parkway, our most popular intermediate trail, East Side Drive, and Fifth Avenue through Kennedy. The growing snow gun arsenal is also Full Story continuously made on page 16! more efficient. This year, half a million dollars was invested in a new, state-of-the-art compressor. The new compressor, combined with tower-mounted fan guns which use less compressed air, makes for a more efficient process. Speaking of efficiency, the snow guns that were installed this summer are automated, meaning that the click of a button can control a line of snow guns as opposed to just one-at-a-time. Early meteorologist forecasts predict a winter similar to last year, which means ideal conditions for snowmaking! Hunter Mountain, a new member of NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes Initiative, is committed to improving the mountain in a sustainable manner. For more information on Hunter Mountain’s sustainability efforts, turn to page 16. WINTER 2015–16 |

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HUNTER TIMELINE

Orville and Izzy Slutzky, and Karl Plattner, with the help of Denise McCluggage and Broadway show-biz people, founded the Hunter Development Corporation.

Hunter Mountain opens for skiing with the original “B” lift in operation. The original “A” lift was completed in 1962, opening skiing to the summit for the first time.

Denise McCluggage, a former sports reporter for Times Herald Tribune, helped put Hunter Mountain on the map and garner funding from New York City actors and celebrities.

Hunter’s Original Ambassador By Katie O’Connor The past two years we’ve featured flashback stories in Hunter Life. In 2013, the flashback was a tribute to Orville Slutzky, who had passed right after the end of the 2012-13 season. Last year, the flashback story featured Johnny Carson and Kitty Falger, a Hunter Mountain ski instructor. This year, we pay tribute to a woman who helped Hunter Mountain find investors to get the ball rolling. Denise McCluggage, a former sports reporter for the Times Herald Tribune, passed away this past May. She is credited as the “midwife” of Hunter Mountain by the Skiing Heritage Journal because she played a pivotal role in helping to find capital for the mountain. Before Hunter Mountain was a ski resort, property owners Izzy and Orville Slutzky were desperate to get Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl started, but they needed the funds to do so. First they placed an ad in the New York Times inviting investors to claim the mountain. When that failed, they reached out to McCluggage. Denise placed the ad in

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

the Times Herald Tribune, a New York City publication, and it attracted the attention of Jimmy Hammerstein, son of famed actor Oscar Hammerstein. Jimmy and his father were both avid skiers, and they jumped on the opportunity with a few other Broadway stars. The investors started with two Poma chairlifts, snowmaking equipment, and updated a crumbling hotel at the base into a lodge. They named trails after New York City landmarks: Fifth Avenue, The Battery, Park Avenue, and Lower Broadway. After a few obstacles got in their way the Slutzky brothers took over the ski area, despite negative opinions from engineers who claimed the mountain was too rocky to create trails. The brothers knew what they were doing and they knew they had a good thing. But it might not have happened without the help of Denise McCluggage, whose article grabbed the attention of Hunter Mountain’s first investor. Thank you, Denise, for your contribution to Hunter Mountain.

First-ever German Alps Fest held at Hunter Mountain. It continues strong today, with the addition of the Doxie Derby in 2014. Flip to page 10 of the summer side of this issue to read the story.

Hunter became the first ski area in the world to feature snowmaking on 100% of its trails.

SnowLite Express Quad replaced with the six person Kaatskill Flyer chair, whisking passengers to the summit in just 12 minutes.

Improvements to trails and snowmaking continue to make Hunter a favorite destination for skiers and snowboarders.

Founder Orville Slutsky passes away at age 96.

WINTER 2015–16 |

5

flowing, the sun rises high in the sky and it’s time to hit the lodge for lunch. Everyone seems so happy greeting each other and talking about their favorite runs and what they did through the amazing terrain park. After a beer and some food it’s time to get back out on the mountain. The OvR crew is more than willing to take you under their wing to show you the numerous lookout points on the mountain and show you their favorite features. If you are riding with the OvR crew, they will wait at the bottom with high fives and ask if you are ready for another run.

Escape The City Live In NYC? No Car? No worries.

BY THE NUMBERS Story by Jamie Kiley | Photos provided by OvRride and SourcedAdventures

E

very winter season, numerous tour bus operators drive from New York City to Hunter Mountain so you don’t have to. What’s better than grabbing a few friends (you may even make a few new ones on the bus), taking a ride Upstate, and not having to worry about parking your car when you get to the mountain? Just hop off the bus and get your skiing and riding on! And when you take a bus, it’s not only about the destination, it’s about the experience. Still not convinced? Take a look at a beginning-to-end experience from a frequent guest on OvRride’s tour, plus a few quotes from guests of another tour operator, SourcedAdventures.

O

ne of the best things about Hunter Mountain is that it is close to the city. If you wake up when its still dark outside and make your way to the OvRride bus you will see the beautiful sunrise as you pop out of the Lincoln Tunnel. Making that turn and looking back at Manhattan with the buildings silhouetted behind a bright orange sky starts your morning. By that time,

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| WINTER 2015–16

the OvRride crew is handing out breakfast and water with smiles on their faces. A snowboard or ski video is playing to get you stoked for the day as you cruise an hour-and-a-half to Hunter (plenty of time for a little nap). Making our way through Route 23 the sightseeing begins. Large icicles hang off rocks and get bigger and bigger as you make the incline. Ice climbers make their way up the glacier wall on the west side of the road and the water blasts through Kaaterskill Falls. Colorful houses and B&Bs line the main route and then Hunter pops out at you covered in snow. The bus starts to stir with anticipation. The OvR crew relay the weather conditions and answer your questions as the bus pulls into the lot — from trail conditions to where to get rentals. Whether it’s a weekday or weekend Hunter’s amazing staff members will greet you and describe promotions or special events and give you the inside scoop on which trails will be the best first runs. As you make your way to the lodge to get dressed and stretch, the fire is blazing and everyone is in great spirits. It’s been a full morning before you have clicked into your bindings and hopped on the lift.

126.3

Miles from New York City to Hunter Mountain

2.5

The New York City skyline from across the Hudson. It never gets old.

By the end of the day everyone is worn out and excited to take off their boots and relax. As you head back to the bus, ice cold water and beer are waiting for you in a cooler. The OvR crew is always there waiting for you and asking about your favorite run and if you’re having a good time. The answer is always “yes” at Hunter! As you get settled on the bus for your journey home you hydrate, watch a movie or take a nap. Upon reaching your destination, the OvR crew helps unload your bags and wishes you a good night. “Until next time,” they say and, yes, there will always be a next time with OvRride.

lent. ``Learning to ski was excelexcel Hunter Mountain was lent!

Many tour operators service Hunter Mountain. To find a tour operator that suits your needs, your lifestyle and your level of fun, visit HunterMtn.com/plan/getting-here.

Hours by bus (plenty of time for a beverage ... or two)

$139

Starting price, includes roundtrip travel, lift ticket, rental, and hot beverage voucher Plan your bus trip to Hunter at: huntermtn.com/plan/getting-here/ bus-lines-to-hunter

think of is for the bus ``The only improvementad Iofcould We'll be back! p.m. 4 inste 4:30 at to leave Catching some air at the Empire Terrain Park.

``Incredible experience.

Hunter is an amazing mountain with many natural features. With the most snowmaking in the east, the landscape at the mountain changes daily. With each run you find something that you want to jump off or ride onto, and by the time you are at the bottom, you have your next run all planned out. As you run laps and get the blood

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

WINTER 2015–16 |

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y p p a H y a t S , Stay Healtnehfitsyof skiing and snowboarding. g be

Discover the lifelon

Benefits of Skiing &

Riding

IMPROVES CARDIO HEALTH Skiing and riding strengthen your heart, lower blood pressure, maintain healthy body weight, and lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. STRENGTHENS BONES & MUSCLES Forget the gym. Skiing and snowboarding strengthen bones and tone muscles, providing a great upper and lower body workout.

T

here are lots of good reasons to ski and snowboard. Of course it’s fun, but studies show that skiing and riding are some of the best activities for staying healthy and beating the winter blues. Need improving or a fresh beginning? Take a lesson that suits your needs — from beginner packages to skiing the bumps in a private lesson. Visit HunterMtn.com to learn more about packages and rates.

By the Numbers

4-6

3,000

Calories the average adult burns in 6 hours of skiing or riding

Miles you’d have to run to equal one 2-hour lesson

SOURCES: skiandsnowboardmonth.org and urmc.rochester.edu

onialsare saying about our lessons! Testioum t what people

Check

re super helpful “The instructors we yself afterwards and I felt proud of m finish all of the even though I didn’t warding.” zones. It was very re — Francine

8

| WINTER 2015–16

Download the app and track the calories you burn on the mountain!

BURNS CALORIES Hitting the slopes is arguably the best calorie-burning exercise because you are using all your muscles over a sustained period of time. HEIGHTENS MOOD Don’t hibernate. Skiing and riding trigger endorphins while you take in crucial Vitamin D from sunlight.

250

Calories a child burns in a 1-hour lesson Equivalent to a small ice cream cone!

“I enjoyed the fa ct that we received individual attention within the group and w ere allowed to move at our ow n pace.” — Jamie

“The TEACHER! He was sincerely the best. I was able to actually snowboard down the slope by the end of my lesson. Definitely requesting him for my next lesson.” — Michelle

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

WINTER 2015–16 |

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EACH SPRING, HUNTER MOUNTAIN HOSTS A POND SKIMMING COMPETITION. THIS IS MY STORY OF SURVIVAL. By Cody Transue

Cody Transue demonstrates proper pond skimming technique during last year’s Pond Skimming competition at Hunter.

tanding at the top you can’t see if the person makes it across.  With a push and a shuffle they sink from view to where both the pond and crowd wait in equal anticipation. It’s the crowd that lets you know if they’ve made it across. Cacophonous applause and collective exhalations travel up the trail to deliver the news whether friends and strangers succeeded before you. Slowly the crowd of participants that’s amassed in the terrain park dwindles down one-by-one as they sink or skim across the pond. Gumby waddles across the flats to a crescendo of cheers that bursts and momentarily subsides into synchronized groans that flatten out and rise again into a swelling wave of applause that carries him from the pond. A daisy duke wearing cowboy is off with a gallop, thighs reflecting snow’s glare as he gains speed and effortlessly glides across the top only to stall out sinking into the water. Applauses continue to signal the outcome of ensuing efforts with the loudest applause reserved for excellence in success and failure alike.  It’s my turn. Underneath the ebb and flow of the waves of sound that travel uphill there is a steady rhythm.  Slow and steady at first it

10 | WINTER 2015–16

goes unnoticed, innocuous. Despite numerous pondskims, both prepared and impromptu from snowmelt, my heart quickens its pace, stealing strength from my legs and leaving my brain unable to relay its grand plan of crossing the pond to body parts needed to do so. Relying on muscle memory I push off, tapping into my inner Nordic skier and pretend that I didn’t practice a sport that allowed gravity and chairlifts to do the heavy lifting. Race instincts take over as I contort into a tuck that I hope doesn’t foreshadow a potential perfect

didn’t think they could get across.  And that’s what brings us to my first tip: Pond skimming is more than an excuse to dress up and party at the end of the year; pond skimming is a way of life. It’s a declaration that you relish whatever the mountain can put in your way, because you’ve undoubtedly faced stranger conditions from Mother Nature in the East before.  After spending a year at Hunter you’re used to some of the steepest terrain in the region and a pool of water pales in com-

er watch the Olympics and think the guy slow off the block stands a chance of winning. Just make sure you toss them before you start heading downhill into the crowd (don’t follow my example in the photos). Nobody likes the person that drains the pond by poking a hole in it and they definitely don’t appreciate a Norwegian-style ski-drive-by as you nearly spear them with your poles.  If you’re a snowboarder, find two friends, or strangers if nobody wants to admit to being friends with a snowboarder, and have them slingshot you by your arms across the flats. Frenetic skating/shuffling motions over with, grab your bullet (tuck) as soon as possible. Don’t know what that is? Picture what racers do during the Olympics when they hit speeds in the 90s.  Remember, the average water skiing speed is around 20mph. Now also remember that you don’t have a boat pulling you so you are going to have to build up your speed before hitting the water if you want to skim across with all the grace of a flat rock.  Third Tip: Lean back and relax.  If you’ve ever skied wet powder or run into a patch of wet

snow you know these are some of the few times when it’s a bad idea to be in the front of your boots. Unsurprisingly, if you eliminate the snowy aspect of cement-like powder and damp patches of snow, what remains is even damper, slower, and less firm; you know, like water. So lean back on your heels … or bring a snorkel as you drop in because you’ll be entered into the swimming and diving portion of the event before you know it if you lean forward. As for the second part of that equation, be sure to relax and evenly distribute pressure on both feet when crossing the water. Too much weight on one foot will not only cause you to sink deeper into the water slowing you down but it will also take your balance back to a level last experienced on Hunter One.  If all goes well you should now be working on your winning-era Tiger Woods fist pump as you hop on out of the pond to the resentment of friends that couldn’t handle it.  To experience that — good music, good friends and awesome snow — it’s worth risking a little water any day of the week. 

POND SKIMMING TIPS Relax! You’ve undoubtedly skied worse terrain on the East coast, so don’t sweat it!

Speed is your friend! You’ll need to get up to a good cruising speed if you want to stay dry.

Lean back and relax. A shoulder-length stance and wide, lightweight skis will help you glide across the water with the ease of a mallard.

“Pond Skimming is more than an excuse to dress up and party at the end of the year. Pond Skimming is a way of life.” score from the judges on account of my flawless cannonball technique.  Popping out of it to extend the landing gear and touch down onto the water, I find myself on the other side, blood pumping and mind forgetting details of the previous 20 seconds.   Talking to people afterward there was a common sentiment. Many people wanted to know more about how to get across the pond. They were either inexperienced in the art of skimming or had never partaken because they

parison to ripping down 44. You’re a skier, and regardless if you’ve been doing it for one or 51 years, you enjoy more challenge than deciding which channel to watch for the rest of the day. Second Tip: Speed is your friend. I know many of you, for better or worse, already adopted this mantra long ago as you hurled yourself down Racer’s, but whatever your top speed is on whichever app you use means nothing if you don’t get across that pond. If you’re a skier, take your poles to the start because you nev-

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

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l e n n o s r e P t e G s ’ t Le l shop: t office to the renta

Faces

Q&A

From the fron eep Hunter real. k o h w le p o e p e m weso Meet some of the a

Get to Know Bettis The Safety Dog

B

ettis, known around Hunter as “The Safety Dog,” joined the Hunter Mountain Ski Patrol Team in 2014. He is a Newfoundland and represents safety at Hunter Mountain.

We caught up with Bettis between naps for a few questions about what makes him a valued member of our Ski Patrol team.

John Iannelli

VP, Finance When he’s not busy crunching the numbers here –John is a professional photographer whose wedding bookings keep him busy all summer long — don’t even get him started talking about drone photography.

Bruce Transue

“Snowmaking Man” When not making snow Bruce is an avid fisherman and a proud owner of two gorgeous Newfoundland dogs.

Q: What is your goal for the 2015-16 Season, Bettis? A: I want to help Hunter Mountain educate our skiers and riders on all aspects of safety through our new program, Passport to Ski/Snowboard Safety and Education. Q: Where can our guests go to get this information? A: A Safety Awareness & Education tent will be set up during the season and during NSAA National Skier Safety Week. Q: What types of topics will you address this season? A: While all aspects of skier/snowboarder safety are important, I’ll be focusing on Park Awareness and Signage, Ski Lift Safety, Collision Responsibility, and Helmet Awareness.

“I always get first tracks.” – Bettis

Help Us Make 2015–16 A Great, Safe Season

Eric Johnson

Rentals Manager A BBQ enthusiast, Eric is also a judge in several major BBQ competitions. He also delights the staff with his annual BBQ lunch.

Jennifer Campbell

GM, Kaatskill Mountain Club Jennifer once managed a small resort in the Bahamas and has sailed to most of the Caribbean islands.

Irwin Mallory

Retail Shop Manager, NYS-Certified Fly Fishing Guide Irwin has run a marathon on all 7 continents. Whew Irwin! Thank goodness you had Debbie there cheering you on!

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| WINTER 2015–16

H

unter Mountain is committed to ensuring the safety of our guests. While we do our best to inform skiers and riders of safety precautions, it is up to YOU to ensure that AR you are being “PARK SM T” THE CODE” “KNOW RNERS as safe as possible. Check out the safety posters below and see if you can spot them around S 4 CO ER TS RN ME TS 4 CO 18” X 24” GROM 18” X 24” GROMME the Base Lodge this season – keeping yourself informed and alert is the best way to stay safe!

BE SMART

Danny Pickett

Operations Manager, Hunter Mountain Danny has a passion for antiques and collectibles. The hobby has turned into a thriving antiques store he owns and runs with his wife, Kim.

L STAY IN CONTRO S AP USE SAFETY ST ACE PL FE STOP IN A SA AILS TR ED OS KEEP OFF CL R.O.W. VE HA D EA PEOPLE AH IMPAIRED DON’T SKI OR RIDE FORE YOU GO LOOK UP HILL BE

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

Build your skills. Work your way up.

Grab a Passport at the Safety Tent T” RK “PAit and complete toSM beAR entered into CORNERS 4 TS ME OM 24” GR 18” X drawing! a prize

BE SMART Build your skills. Work your way up.

ry time. Every feature. Eve

ry time. Every feature. Eve

Before you drop.

Before you drop.

other users. The features and

other users. The features and

. Land on your feet Know your limits.

. Land on your feet Know your limits.

WINTER 2015–16 |

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HEAVY MEDAL

Thomas Rowley gets his flow on at the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Kreischberg, Austria.

Hunter Mountain Prepped Me for Success

Last year’s issue of Hunter Mountain Life featured an article on Jackie Hernandez, a current US World Cup Team Member who spent years in Seasonal Program at Hunter Mountain. This year, we caught up with Thomas Rowley, a Hunter Competition Team member and 2014 World Cup “Rookie of the Year.” Here are some of Thomas’ impressive accolades as a an FIS World Cup athlete: 2015 Gold: Dual Moguls, ips nsh pio am Ch National

By Thomas Rowley Hello, my name is Thomas Rowley and I am a member of the US Freestyle Ski Team. I grew up in Long Beach, New York, a three hour drive from the closest ski resort in New York. While growing up, I loved going to the beach and riding the waves during the summer, but during the winter, I would spend my weekends skiing at Hunter Mountain, which I loved even more. Luckily, my parents were avid skiers so we would spend every weekend at the mountain. I started skiing when I was three years old. I always loved skiing in the bumps and jumping off anything I could.  When I was nine years old, I joined the Hunter Mountain Freestyle Team.  

everywhere and we spent many long hours together in the car.  Although I missed my friends from home, this was a great experience for me.   I  spent one year at Killington Mountain School and after graduation I moved to Telluride, Colorado to continue my training. 

I spent two years competing for the Telluride Freestyle Club on the Noram Tour (US & Canada).  I enjoyed many successes along the way.  In March 2014, I won a gold medal at the Junior World Championships (19 and under) in Italy. Winning this gold medal was a dream come true for me and I earned  a learn more! spot on the US Freestyle When I was on the Freestyle Interested in Hunter Mountain’s Ski Team. During my rookie Competition Programs? Visit Team at Hunter, my coachHunterMtn.com for more info! season with the US Freestyle es were Brook and Ray. I Team, I had the opportunity learned a lot from them during my time on the team. They always kept to join my teammates in Ruka, Finland for the things fun and exciting and were very good at start of the World Cup season.  I earned a fourth keeping me calm and relaxed. They always had place finish and was competing against the best a good joke or something to laugh at in the mogul skiers in the world.  From that moment on, start gate, which I think has been an incredi- I never looked back.   ble help as I have moved on to more intense, I remained on the World Cup tour for my entire higher-level competition. rookie season. Competing at the World Cup level Throughout my teenage years, I spent every and  representing the United States against the weekend training and  traveling to mountains best in the world this past season was a trementhroughout the Northeast,  competing with the dous honor and thrill. I now live and train in Park Hunter Freestyle Team.  I loved competing, trav- City, Utah where we have great facilities includeling and visiting different mountains and meet- ing the Center of Excellence and Utah Olympic ing other skiers my age.  Winning competitions Park.  My dream and goal is to be part of the 2018 along the way was so thrilling. My dad drove me Olympic Freestyle Team.

14 | WINTER 2015–16

d ate Morgan Schil Rowley and teamm okie of the Ro p Cu rld Wo earned FIS ing their perforYear honors follow 15 World Cup Tour. 1420 the mance on

big airs have Thomas Rowley’s y on tour. iet tor no earned him

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

WINTER 2015–16 |

17

Hunter Takes Part in NSAA Climate Challenge

H

unter Mountain is proud to announce it is the only New York State Ski Resort participating in the NSAA’s 2015 Climate Challenge! The Climate Challenge, a program started by the National Ski Area’s Association (NSAA) is a voluntary program aimed at creating an industry-wide impact on climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through participating ski resorts. What has Hunter Mountain done so far?

SNOWMAKING As you may know, Hunter Mountain is committed to making mountain-wide improvements each season. This past summer, we invested $1.2 million in snowmaking alone. $500,000 of that was spent on a new air compressor, which plays a great role in the overall efficiency of the snowmaking process. The state-of-the-art compressor, which replaced multiple 60+ yearold compressors, requires less compressed air which is pumped to our tower-mounted snow guns. This process is much more environmentally resourceful. Another key component of our snowmaking improvements is the automation of our snow guns. Automated snowmaking allows our snowmaking team to turn the snow guns on

$1.2 M IN SNOWMAKING IMPROVEMENTS

LIGHT FIXTURES REPLACED

40.1%

(or)

76,972

KILOWATT HOURS SAVED

$500,000

The new automated snow guns seen on Broadway.

NEW AIR COMPRESSOR CARS OFF THE ROAD (11,298 lbs. of CO2 ) ANNUALLY

223,570 kWh SAVED SINCE 2O03

AUTOMATION CONTROLS

SKI & STAY

(equal to)

WATER SAVINGS

and off with the click of a button. Additionally, automation allows for the snow guns to be fired up at precisely the right time, when temperatures are most ideal. Again, this makes for a more efficient process using less energy and less resources such as water.

ENOUGH TO POWER 459 HOMES

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS While many might not think of it, lighting improvements can have huge impacts on energy savings. For the past several years, Hunter Mountain has made continuous improvements to its lighting fixtures in and around the Main

Lodge, Lift Shacks, Snowmaking Shop, and Learning Center. The new lighting fixtures, which are eco-friendly and energy efficient electronic “normal power” ballasts and universal LEDs, replaced 117 fluorescent fixtures, which saves 40.1% or an estimated 76,972 kWh to light our facilities (this is equivalent to 116,997.44 lbs. of CO2 ). This savings, according to Lime Energy, is equivalent to:

• 2 homes (25,463 lbs. worth of CO2 annually)

• 10.34 cars off the road annually (cars produce an average of 11,298 lbs. of CO2 annually)

You might be wondering what happened to those fluorescent lights that we removed? All disposed lighting fixtures, lamps, and ballasts were removed by the energy company and were disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner or were scrapped and repurposed.

• 4.59 homes (the average single-family home in the US generates 25,463 lbs. worth of CO2 annually) In the drop-off area of our parking lot, we’ve replaced 20 metal halide pole lighting fixtures with LEDs, which has a yearly projected savings of 34,813 kWh of energy (52,915.76 lbs. of CO2 ). According to Lime Energy, this is equivalent to: • 4.68 cars off of the road annually (11,298 lbs. of CO2 annually)

These improvements took place in 2013, which means that to-date, Hunter Mountain has saved a total of 223,570 kWh of energy solely from lighting, equivalent to: • 169,913.2 lbs. of CO2

from

PACKAGES

$20

8

per night for tw

o guests

• 41.36 cars (or 45,192 lbs. of CO2 off the road and 13.34 homes (or 101,852 lbs. of CO2)

The Climate Challenge is a year-long project. With continuous improvements boosting energy efficiency, Hunter Mountain aims to successfully complete the Climate Challenge within one year. Stay up to date with current initiatives by visiting HunterMtn.com.

Route 296 Windham, NY 12496 [email protected]

A closer look at the new snow guns.

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| WINTER 2015–16

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

The new air compressor.

TheHotelVienna.com 518.734.5300 WINTER 2015–16 |

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new york’s

Over 50 Years Experience!

largest tubing park! OPEN DAY & NIGHT DURING WINTER Located in front of Kaatskill Mtn. Club

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The Hunter Mountain Empire Parks staff trusts only one outerwear to not only keep them warm and dry every single day of the winter. But what about when they get dirty? Grooming takeoffs, moving rails and everything else a Park Staff puts their gear through takes its toll. Luckily all 686 technical apparel and infiDRY® waterproof fabric is 100% washable, giving them the ability to revitalize jacket and pants, time and time again. Don’t get left in yesterday’s dirty laundry. Be sure to get your washable 686 jackets and pants and start cleaning up your act today!

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| WINTER 2015–16

HUNTER MOUNTAIN LIFE

@ 686

The Goods,The People,The Passion,

The Advantages.

Just a few reasons Ski Barn gives you an advantage.

At Ski Barn, we don’t just want you as a customer for the ski season, we want you to be a customer for life. Our staff is trained to be problem solvers, and we’re ready to help you get the best experience possible on the slopes.

WINTER FASHIONS YOU WON’T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE. OFFERING ONLY THE BEST BRANDS IN SKI & SNOWBOARD GEAR ALL TUNING PERFORMED ON STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS AVAILABLE FOR “WHILE-YOU-WAIT” INSTALLATION SERVICE AMERICA’S BEST BOOT FITTERS, TRAINED BY MASTERFIT UNIVERSITY The area’s only Strolz dealer

FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Offering the industry’s only completely customized ski boots!

Our Performance Guarantee: If you’re not completely satisfied with your new skis, we will exchange them for another pair. We guarantee the fit on all boots purchased from us and will provide re-fit services at no charge.

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