5) Belleayre Ski Center, NY
The Catskills are getting a namesake improvement at the state-run Belleayre Ski Center near Poughkeepsie that will change the way the mountain get’s skied on a daily basis. Although the new gondola doesn’t access a consistently long vertical run, the new lift will greatly ease traffic on the Tomahawk Chair, which serves up the majority of expert terrain.
Improvement: Catskill Thunder Gondola
4) Burke Mountain, VT
Thank the lord. Burke Mountain is back to being Burke Mountain. No longer is the famed ski area known as “Q Resort,” named for its formerly fraudulent owner– Ariel Quiros. And with a vertical drop of 2,011′, what’s not to like? Long live BURKE!
Improvement: No longer “Q Resort”
3) Arizona Snowbowl, AZ
Two new quads and a six pack will change the way you think about skiing in Arizona, or at least that’s the hope of Arizona Snowbowl GM, J.R. Murray. After implementing the Grand Canyon Express (6-pack) last year, the Arizona ski area will follow up their success with a new quad to serve beginner skiers and riders. The new lifts will completely change the game in Arizona and as long as the snow is flying down south, Snowbowl is worth checking out.
Improvement: 3 New Lifts In 3 Years.
2) Eldora, CO
Eldora has a brand spanking new 6 person lift that will remedy super long lift lines that have plagued the Colorado gem since being discovered sometime in the past decade. While the crowds will likely get worse on the weekends, this 6-pack will become the go-to for all the weekday shredders who’ll now be able to lap serious vert in a single day.
Improvement: New 6-pack will change the front range ski scene. For weekday shredders…
1) Powder Mountain, UT
Instead of maximizing its profits, Powder Mountain recently decided to max out the powder per capita by lowering its cap on day ticket sales at the resort just outside of Eden, UT. The move will preserve their “unparalleled skier experience” and is just one of the many reasons to visit pow mow this upcoming season.
Improvement: Continues to keep the soul of skiing intact. Lowers day ticket cap.