Snowshoe Mountain has announced the installation of innovative, low-energy snowmaking equipment on the legendary Cupp Run, in hopes of opening the slope earlier than ever before. The resort hopes this improvement, paired with expanded freestyle and gladed terrain, new season-long instructional programs, and an action-packed schedule of events, will make Snowshoe the destination of choice for families this winter. The new snowmaking equipment will cover the Western Territory’s 1.5 mile-long Cupp Run from top to bottom, and use a fraction of the energy required of traditional snowmaking equipment. Patented by Snow Logic, Inc. the dual-vector snow guns should make an early opening of the Western Territory possible, without taking any resources away from the Basin or Silver Creek areas. The previous snowmaking machinery from Cupp Run will be deployed in various other locations around the mountain, particularly on the double-black diamond Shay’s Revenge which runs parallel to Cupp Run, in hopes of opening it early as well. If typically cool temperatures lend a hand in November and December, the Western Territory will potentially be open earlier than ever before. As always, Snowshoe will extend their Snow Guarantee, promising more skiable terrain open than any other Southeastern ski area from Dec. 18, 2015 through Mar. 13, 2016, or your next day of skiing is free. The all-new Evolution Park will increase the total freestyle acreage, and will be located on the Basin slope formerly known as Yew Pine, serving as a medium progression park designed to help riders and skiers transition from small-to-medium features to the larger ones found in the Silver Creek area’s Mountaineer Park. Sunset Glades, a 5-acre section of woods between Shay’s Revenge and Cupp Run will be developed for expert-only glade skiing, also known as “tree-skiing.” Snowshoe has also added a season-long program to their ski school offerings, enabling kids ages 4 to 18 to improve their skills from week-to-week in a non-competitive environment. The classes are available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers and riders, and are designed to enrich the kids’ lives on the mountain and grow their confidence. The classes will run every Saturday and Sunday from Dec. 19, 2015, through March 13, 2016, as well as other select dates during peak periods. More information about the program is available at www.snowshoemtn.com. Other slope changes include a new cut of trail designed to ease skier traffic in the Whistlepunk area of the Basin, and the return of the Choker slope to black diamond status via the removal of freestyle features.
