Stratton Vermont 08/09 Upgrades

10/07/2008 - Crow’s feet, memory loss, stiff joints, hair loss in desired places, hair growth in unwanted places. Getting older is not always pretty for humankind. But like a fine wine or Brady Bunch re-run, Stratton Mountain seems to get better with age. After experiencing one of the snowiest winters in recent history, the resort couldn’t be more excited for the 2008-2009 ski season. In preparation, a number of changes, additions, and overall improvements to the terrain, equipment and events calendar will have the place looking and feeling better than ever when the first skiers and snowboarders arrive in November. Terrain New Trails: Two new (yet to be named) intermediate trails in the Sunbowl area of the mountain, located off skiers right off of Sunriser Supertrail. The trails will be treated as glades this season with no snowmaking. Glades: The largest off season glade project has been the creation of natural terrain features (ie: jumps, rails, banks, rollers etc) in the Emerald Forest glade. This process, originally used in the Test Pilot glade, utilizes logs, felled trees, rocks and other naturally occurring obstacles to create organic counterparts to features normally found in terrain parks. Stratton’s longest and most innovative glade, Test Pilot, is also receiving some attention this off season as some of the more densely treed areas are being thinned out to create better lines and more space to rip. All of the harvested timber will then be used to create features within the glade. A New Way Down: Easy Street will be a newly launched, three mile long, family friendly trail that starts at the summit and winds down to the base through Mike’s Way, West Meadow, Drifter Link and Old Log Road. Mountain Patrol will be stationed along the route as a reminder that this trail is designed for an easy-does-it style of skiing and riding. The route delivers big time views of the surrounding area and will cater to families, beginners and everyone looking to take it easy. Retooled and Revamped Parks and Pipes: * Suntanner trail will no longer host a terrain park but will instead have a Boarder-X course on its lower reaches * Tyrolienne will be the beginner/ intermediate park and will play host to a Saturday night, under the lights, series of events * East Byrneside and Old Smoothie will be the intermediate/advanced parks and will be updated with newer features for 08’/09’. * An 18 foot Superpipe will be built on Sunriser Supertrail (in the Sunbowl area) by MLK day or before if conditions permit. * Betwixt/Beeline will be a rail/jib park with multiple lines designed for all abilities of park riders. Equipment New and Improved Machines: The grooming fleet is enhanced with a new Prinoth Sherpa Winch Cat (for grooming steep pitches) and a Prinoth BR350 terrain park cat with more horsepower and range of motion for better functionality when creating terrain park features. Better Efficiency and Lower Enviromental Impact: Stratton is investing half a million dollars in snowmaking energy efficiency programs including… * 40 new low E tower guns which increase snow particle size leaving flakes less susceptible to wind, reducing air consumption and saving energy dollars, increases snow output, and reduces small snow particle fog. * The installation of a more efficient VFD pump which provides up to 30% energy savings with an Efficiency VT rebate attached to it. * A New 1700 cfm air compressor which creates 20 – 30% more energy efficient and better overall output. Events Under The Lights: New this year to the events calendar is a series of amateur snowboard and freeskiing events that will be held on Saturday nights, under the lights on the Tyrolienne Slopestyle course. Events are open to all and are currently scheduled for December 27, January 17, and February 7. Details to come! Being one year older and one year wiser, it should be obvious that time is best spent at Stratton Mountain Resort; A blend of traditional with cutting edge and a place of mixed generations where both Generation Y’ers and Octogenarians can co-mingle amongst terrain park features and boutiques in the Stratton Village. Where terrain expansion does not come at the expense of the natural environment and mountain advancements complement the traditional features that have made Stratton great for many years.