Lose the Winter Blues With These Spring Flings
No matter where you are in snow country, the winter of 2022-23 has been something of a challenge: Too much snow out West, too little back East, and too much down time because of that.
So I say it’s high time we bid Old Man Winter adieu — for better or for worse — and welcome in spring with open arms.
Warm days, soft corn, cool tunes, lively apres — doesn’t that sound nice?
And though the vernal equinox is still a couple of weeks away, it isn’t too early to start making plans for a regenerating spring break. And to make that getaway better, how about hanging with like-minded skiers and snowboarders?
Well, you can easily fill that prescription to chase the winter blues away at one of the following resorts.
Cannon Mountain
Kids of all ages can have a day dedicated to their youth when the BodeFest Ski Challenge takes place March 18 at New Hampshire’s Cannon resort. Bode Miller, the most decorated American male Alpine ski racer, is playing host for day-long event, which offers an adventurous day of skiing and hanging out with the Olympic Gold medalist for up to 250 skiers of all ages and abilities. Proceeds benefit Bode’s nonprofit Turtle Ridge Foundation.
King Pine Ski Resort
The lifts shut down for the weekend of March 31-April 2 and human-powered skiing takes over at this New Hampshire resort for the return of the Wild Corn Back-Country Shindig. All things uphill travel will be on display and for purchase/demo at the annual benefit for Granite Backcountry Alliance
Mont Tremblant
The Caribou Cup helps usher spring to the Quebec resort with its celebrated pond skim (crazy costumes mandatory) at Le P’tit Caribou on April 1. Or perhaps attendees would like to try their hand a crossing the artificial — and tres icy — pond on foot via floating mats, eh?
Brundage Mountain Resort
The homey central Idaho resort is conducting a GaperFest Weekend on April 1-2, with patrons encouraged to put one their most outrageous ski apparel — jeans, onesies, hideous neon ensembles — to celebrate the occasion. Festivities include a beer relay and, of course, a costume contest.
Whistler Blackcomb
You’ll find a week’s worth of action both on and off the slopes at the return of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival to British Columbia’s biggest resort on April 10-16. Ski and snowboard competitions, live music shows, art and photography displays, a film festival and lively apres parties are all part of the package, which will culminate with the Saudan Couloir Race Extreme on April 15 and the Slush Cup on April 16.
Mt. Bachelor
RendezVan, a celebration of spring skiing and van-life culture, makes its return to this central Oregon resort on April 19-23. With the biggest tailgate party in ski country — Bachelor’s parking lot will be filled with RVs and cars and tents and what-not spending one or all the nights of the festival there — as the centerpiece, RendezVan will give celebrants a chance to spin laps in soft snow and groove to live music and DJs afterward.
Copper Mountain
This Colorado resort closes out its season with a three-day event (April 22-23) known as Sunsation. Stein-hoisting contests, free live concerts, mountains of swag and the Hella Hectic cross course/pond skim challenge are among the attractions.
