Press Release: Gnargasm 6.0
February 16, 2009After an arduous search for great deals and great slopes, including some budget-minded approaches like Blue Mountain, Ontario, and even Boyne area resorts in Northern Michigan, the results are in:
- Win: Mont-Tremblant, QC
- Place: Killington, VT
- Show: Snowshoe Mountain, WV
This year’s rage-fest will be held at Mont-Tremblant, province of Quebec, Canada, from February 18 to February 22, 2009.
Snowshoe was the shortest drive of the three finalists, but the prices were IMO far too expensive for “Mid-Atlantic” skiing and boarding. Who even knew there was such a thing as “Mid-Atlantic” ski areas? We would’ve had to cram 5 rather large dudes in a single bedroom or possibly even a studio condominium for four nights, just to get a price comparable to the last minute deals offered at Killington or Tremblant, both of which areas are far nicer resorts.
In fairness, Killington had some excellent deals available as well, including an 8-bunk, dormitory-style cottage available for Thursday-Sunday for abuot $850. There were also some very cheap motor lodges/motels. Unfortunately, anything even approaching “slopeside” lodging in Vermont is prohibitively expensive, and since we like to enjoy the occasional “case-of-beer-in-a-hot-tub-for-3-hours-apres-ski”, motor lodges were out of the question. We also like fireplaces, so although it didn’t have a hot-tub, the cabin would’ve been a blast.
We had even considered doing a circuit-tour in Northern Michigan: stringing together both Boyne resorts (Mountain and Highlands), Nub’s Nob, and Crystal Mountain would’ve made for a nice 4- or 5-day ski trip. But we’d have had to stay at a Holiday Inn somewhere and commute 45 minutes each morning to (and back each evening from) the slopes.
In the end, Tremblant’s “Last Minute Deals” edged out Killington and Snowshoe. We were able to score a two bedroom condominium with fireplace, that should comfortably sleep 6 (there are only five of us) for the low low price of $189 CDN per night. The awesome looking forecast (snow Wednesday thru Sunday), coupled with the fact that Tremblant offered us the best and the cheapest lodging opportunities, it was a no brainer. Also a factor in the decision: I’ve been to both Mont Tremblant and Killington (I think both resorts in 1997) and although Killington was awesome, Tremblant had a more “vacationy” feel to it, with the little pedestrian village, plus all the francophones, etc.
Until we tried to logisticize: five of us will be filling a Ford F-150 pickup truck with all our gear in the bed, and all of us in the extended cab, for the 10+ hour trek.
Oh well, you’ve gotta cut corners somewhere.
[...] training to prep for 3,300 vertical feet, all day long, for a week (I did four days back-to-back at Tremblant last February and lost 8 pounds). We’ll have 5 full days on the slopes, and if we play our cards right, [...]
[...] training to prep for 3,300 vertical feet, all day long, for a week (I did four days back-to-back at Tremblant last February and lost 8 pounds). We’ll have 5 full days on the slopes, and if we play our cards right, [...]