March Madness best time for skiiing, riding

VERNON — March Madness is not just for basketball fans.
March brings “spring skiing” and those who are die-hard skiers know that this is the best time for skiing at Mountain Creek. The snow and grooming are premium, St Patrick’s Day is celebrated, the weather is warm and the parties celebrating the season bring ski and snowboarding buddies together to celebrate another great ski season. Real skiers and riders show up to enjoy the great skiing conditions and March Madness on the slopes.
Skiing has been outstanding for the entire ski season at Mountain Creek beginning with the 1st day on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. With the weather being unpredictable with temperatures getting as low as -3 in January and as high as 60 degrees in early March, the Mountain Creek snow making and grooming departments have provided outstanding skiing conditions which are now scheduled the ski season to April Fool’s Day which should make it possible for two die-hard skiers, Buffy and John Whiting and their die hard snowboarding buddy Ryan Mastrianni to break the old 104 days on the slopes record at Mountain Creek. This will also extend the season for the outstanding Mountain Creek support staff to continue to provide excellent customer service to those who know that the best time to ski and ride is during spring skiing.
Some would argue that the end of the ski season parties are as much fun as the runs on the ski slopes. These parties have historically been hosted by popular local chef Ryan Mastrianni, a snowboarder who welcomes fellow die-hard skiers and riders and members of the Mountain Creek mountain staff to a barbeque in the Mountain Creek South Parking lot as the ski season nears an end. Friends contribute a variety of delicacies and adult beverages to the celebration which focuses on exchanging stories of some of the favorite days of the ski season.
Hugh Reynolds, VP of Marketing at the Mountain Creek Resort has announced “Our plan is to keep the lifts turning through and including Monday April 1 and that the entire mountain will be open as we may choose to ratchet down to just one base area as visits/snow dwindle.” For more information skiers and riders should monitor the Mountain Creek website for specifics on trails open, lifts running and conditions. The end of a great ski season will be celebrated with the lifts open at South and a “Rail Jam” on Monday, April Fool’s Day at 4 p.m.
— Story and photos courtesy John Whiting