Hitting the Slopes
The top spots around Ohio to go ski crazy
By Steve Croyle |
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The first time I went skiing, my brother hooked me up with a pair of racing skis that were about 15 years old. He insisted the boots that came with them were size 12, and that the excruciating pain I felt when I put them on was normal. He also said I didn't need poles. He was wrong. I skied exactly one run.
"It's an easy one," he said. It didn't look easy and after falling six times, I popped off my skis, walked the remaining two-thirds of the hill and spent the rest of the evening in the lodge trying to stop the blood from pouring out of a three inch gash in my left knee.
For some reason I tried it again. This time I rented skis, properly sized boots, and poles. It took me three hours to figure out how to turn. At the bottom of the hill. Only to the right. Every time I tried to turn left, I fell. Every time I tried to turn on the slope, I fell. It took about six trips up to the now defunct Clearfork resort in Butler, Ohio, before I could comfortably ski in traffic on the intermediate hills.
Now I'm a damned good skier. I charge right down the same black diamond runs I thought I'd never, ever ski down. I love it. And when somebody asks me about skiing, I always say the same thing: Take a lesson.
"When I started they taught the snow plow," noted local ski enthusiast Don Harper as he watched his young daughter, Kylie, learn to stop during a group lesson. "Now they have them learning parallel turns from the word 'go.'"
Of course, you won't learn any cool tricks in a lesson.
"I probably shouldn't say this," a snowboard instructor from one nearby resort confided, "but I'll give people a few pointers if they seem cool and I think they're catching on."
What's his advice to a seasoned rider or skier who wants to foray into a little hucking?
"Motrin."
The one absolute in snow sports is that you will fall. This is especially true if you venture toward the terrain parks to catch a little air.
"The biggest mistake people make," my instructor friend advised, "is not getting enough air. They slow down as they approach a kicker and end up catching their skis on the flat top. You have to land on the down slope or you'll bounce."
Some terrain features include gaps that require you to clear successfully if, you know, you like walking.
Ohio's resorts feature some impressive terrain parks, which help make up for the paucity of vertical drop. Both Snow Trails (Mansfield) and Mad River Mountain (Bellefontaine) top out at about 300 feet of vertical, which doesn't make for many turns, but they pride themselves on making the most of it. Snow Trails' SoBe terrain park is expertly designed and features sick jumps and nasty rails. Fortunately, there's a slope nearby with less intimidating features, as well as a smallish half pipe new tricksters can cut their teeth on.
Mad River features two terrain parks as well, and offers varying degrees of difficulty, but you really need to have the basics down pat before you test yourself and understanding basic etiquette is key. Make sure the landing area is clear before you leave the ground.
If you're new or lacking experience, there's no need to look further than MRM or Snow Trails. Both resorts offer rentals, reliable lift service, informative lessons, and well-appointed lodges. If you're experienced, you won't be impressed with the terrain but you'll give them an 'A' for effort and you'll appreciate not having to drive six or seven hours to get a quick fix when you're craving the white stuff.
Mad River Mountain
1000 Snow Valley Rd., Zanesfield
www.skimadriver.com
23 Trails, 6 chair lifts, and 300 feet of vertical with 100% snow-making coverage.
Less than an hour northwest of Columbus on Route 33.
Snow Trails Winter Resort
3100 Possum Run Rd., Mansfield
www.snowtrails.com
15 trails, 6 chair lifts, and 300 feet of vertical with 100% snow-making coverage.
About an hour and 15 minutes up I-71.
Ohio also has additional resorts near Cleveland. Boston Mills/Brandywine is a dual resort just off of I-271. It's probably not worth driving past Snow Trails but if you're stuck in Cleveland and want to ski for a few hours it's not bad. It does tend to get rather crowded on the weekends, however.
Alpine Valley is situated east of Cleveland in the heart of the dreaded Snow Belt just off of Route 322. It's a smaller resort with only two chair lifts and eight trails. Again, great if you're in the area and want to get out, not so much if you're making a special trip. In fact, people from Northeastern Ohio tend to head further east to either Peek-n-Peak (where I was rudely introduced to skiing) in New York, just past Erie, PA, or Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, New York. PnP offers about 400 feet of vertical and 27 trails, while Holiday Valley tops 700 feet of skiable vertical and provides a network of more than 50 trails along with three lodges and high speed lift chairs. You're looking at a five-hour drive for the Peak, and six for Holiday Valley.
Advanced skiers in Columbus tend to head east to Seven Springs and Hidden Valley, both south of Pittsburgh just off of I-70. Hidden Valley features a 600-foot drop, 25 trails and six chair lifts, while Seven Springs has an extra 150 feet of vertical, 31 trails, and 10 chair lifts.
If you're willing to drive a little farther for some extra vertical, a trip to Snowshoe in West Virginia might be in order. You can ski all 1500 feet of vertical drop over the course of two thigh-scorching trails that run a mile in length. Hit these runs early, because the snow gets pushed into moguls pretty quick and the surface tends to get icy, thanks to those balmy Mid-Atlantic winters. Fifty-five more trails await you on the other side of the mountain where the conditions tend to hold up throughout the day.
A great resource for scouting out potential destinations is www.goski.com. They feature all of the critical stats, detailed reviews and links to the resorts, as well as nearby lodging.
Happy trails!
Originally Published: February 1, 2010
