Cityview Magazine voted #1 glossy publication in East Tennessee

In Knoxville, we love our seasons—hiking and biking in the spring, boating in the summer, football and Dollywood in the fall. But what about winter? Some say there’s not much to do in this fair city when the temps drop below freezing, but Knoxvillians in the know would beg to differ. There are a bevy of cold-weather activities to be enjoyed close to home, which is good news considering forecasters predict a longer and colder winter season this year than in years’ past, thanks to La Nina. So strap on your ski boots and mittens, and get ready for a ride...


Pretend for a moment that forecasters are right and our winter situation becomes so severe that T-Dot trucks have to be replaced with Siberian Huskies. OK, OK, that probably won’t happen, but a colder winter could amp up the current level of enthusiam for winter sports, which isn’t as low as you might think. Even though we get less than a foot of annual snowfall a year, we still have enough local ski bums and snow enthusiasts to support four specialty shops as well as two regional and two college ski clubs. These folks are finding snow as close as Ober Gatlinburg, and some have even gone so far as to turn their backyards into terrain parks; covering grass with ice shavings and polymer turfs, turning air compressors and pressure washers into snowmakers. If the winter of ‘98 ever returns so would the great moral dilemma – use the winches to pull your car out of a ditch or use the winches to pull us around the UT campus? The lack of pow-pow (snow, to you newbies)in our area is no measure to the amount of love our residents have for the sport.

Why Make The Effort?
When the days get shorter and the air is colder some of us sink into a dark mental and physical hole of hibernation. When the threat of winter weather cancels school and you have all the neighborhood kids in your living room, the television never looks better and the thought of bundling up for a hike around Lakeshore remains only a thought. Soon the holidays roll around, you eat too much, your lack of Vitamin D has hit a new low. Seasonal affective disorder is real. The most natural cure is to associate winter with something positive. How about something involving travel and culture; something the entire family can participate in?

Where To Start
Before you think about dusting off the old 190 Evolutions, talk to the folks in your local shop. Many ski manufacturers have declared bindings over 10 years old indemnifiable so having them adjusted to fit your boot will definitely be a problem you will not want to deal with on the mountain. Be sure to get your equipment checked out at your local shop before you go. The information shop kids can give you will save you hours on the Internet and money in the long run. There is nothing better than hooking up with other locals who love the sport. Becoming a member in the Knoxville Ski Club or the Smokey Mountain Ski Club will associate you with other local ski bums and gain you some discounts on gear and lift tickets as well.

For Bunnyhill Beginners
Renting gear is a smart decision for first timers. Renting from your local ski shop has three main advantages over renting at the mountain.
1. Better Equipment. More than half of all learning challenges are due to misfit or faulty gear. The wear and tear resort equipment experiences is twice that of a city shop. Be sure to check out new technologies like parabolic shapes that allow the skis to be shorter and easier to ride.
2. Better Prices. Several weekends of rentals will add up to the price of a beginner level set up, so save where you can. Nobody will be more grateful for your commitment to progress than your local shop. Many times a familiar face can be just a valuable as that coupon in your school coupon book.
3. Time. Most city shops give drive time with their rentals. Picking up the night before and dropping off the day after will mean less stress and more time to shred.
With all that extra money saved in renting at home, investing in a car roof top rack should be a priority. Yakima and Thule make rack systems to fit every vehicle on the market. Such an accessory is something any outdoor enthusiast dares not to live without. It keeps the interior of your car dry and makes room for more friends.

For Experienced Shredders
Congratulations, you’re hooked. Pretty soon you’ll obtain the sensual power of smelling snow in the air mid-September. Winter vacations will have an entirely different agenda. And you will never lose the thought of quitting your real job, moving to Colorado and being a lifty (just one season!). First things first — get your own gear. Think about how much money you want to spend, and spend the most on boots.

Step 1: Boots
The fastest way to progression in becoming a better skier is having equipment that fits you. Internet storefronts may have an appealing price but be wary; they are designed to sell, not to fit. You must try boots on to see what fits the shape of your foot. Your foot has many dimensions that have to be taken into account when trying them on, including length, width, height, and overall shape. Ski shop employees are trained to fit people into ski boots. To stress its importance many shop employees are required to complete Masterfit University, a custom ski boot fitting clinic. The side-to-side motion of skiing can take a toll on your knees, hips and back if your foot is not positioned properly in the boot. A good boot fitter will never ask you your shoe size because shoe size has nothing to do with fit. If he is not asking you about your skiing or inquiring about your possible past injuries to you may not be getting the proper fit. He/she needs to know what type of skiing you will be doing to effectively recommend a boot. If you do get a good boot fitter try your best to purchase your boots from him. The service he just gave is priceless to your skiing experience.

Step 2: Skis, snowboards and bindings
Consider buying shorter than the manufacturers recommendations, as long as you’re within the weight limit. The southern slopes are narrow and shorter than all others. Having longer equipment will allow you to slide faster but the trick to enjoying snow sports in the southeast is maximizing your time on the hill. Shorter equipment will allow you to maneuver from one edge of the trail to the other, ollie easier over bumps and hills and rotate faster in the air and on the snow. After several days of snowmaking, the side of Cataloochee’s trails form into an awesome quarter pipe to ride up and down. Find the kid in you and PLAY!

Step 3: Clothing and accessories
Like boots, staying warm in your britches has a lot to do with fit. A snug first layer that wicks away moisture will keep you warm and dry and a waterproof jacket and pants are usually necessities around here. Snowboarders tend to be on their bottoms more than skiers, so make sure your pants are at least 5,000mm waterproof before plopping down in the snow. Another key accessory gaining in popularity around the globe is the helmet. Currently the resorts in the southeast do not require children to wear helmets but they could be moving in that direction. Even if you are an advanced level skier, it’s other people who are out of control that you should be worried about. A helmet should fit snugly or could otherwise shift on impact and cause a harmful rotation to the neck. Now audio kits are available built in the ear pads. Make a play list; plug in your iPod and go!




Know before you go…
Tips about our regional resorts Knoxville skiers can’t live without.

Ober Gatlinburg : : Gatlinburg, TN
Distance from K-Town (Knoxville): 28 miles
www.skiobergatlinburg.com * 800.251.9202
Don’t miss: The Gatlinburg bypass to avoid the tourist traffic.

This is a great place to get a weekday/night quick fix for your skiing jones and you’re in luck if the rest of the fam loves to ice skate or snow tube! Get there quickly by taking back roads between Chapman Highway and Wears Valley. Word on the street for this season is to expect some terrain park features at Ober. Many folks from our area will drive up and only expect an hour of skiing but beware; the ticket office closes early. If you’re snowboarding, make sure you always have a leash on your snowboard or will not be allowed on the lift. Season passes are available at the local ski shops and are less than $200 before November.


Cataloochee : : Maggie Valley, NC
Distance from K-Town: 95 miles
www.cataloochee.com * 800.768.3588
Don’t miss: At the beginning of March, the Cat offers season passes for the next year at a very low rate.

Cataloochee Ski Area is always the first in the Southeast to open and the last resort in the Southeast to close. It is positively the favorite of the Knoxville ski crowd because of its uncrowded slopes and short driving distance from the city. If you can get there for first tracks, the early birds enjoy the slope side parking. There is a great enclosed deck area for the viewing pleasure of your loved ones as well as draft beverages available for purchase. Fast-food franchises are limited so be sure to pack some snacks or fuel up on food before the Newport exit. DO NOT use online map websites or GPS devices for directions. These services can direct you to roads that are impassable. Print directions out from their website.


Sugar Mountain : : Banner Elk, NC
Distance from K-town: 156 miles
www.skisugar.com * 800.SUGARMT
Don’t Miss: On days they are making snow, Big Red definitely has the most powder and is a local favorite.

It has been said that with age comes experience and lordy lordy, look who’s forty. Sugar Mountain celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2009 and she is aging quite well. Whether its years of experience or good management, the pride Sugar takes in creating a pleasant snow-adventuring atmosphere certainly shows. If it’s below 38 degrees expect the snow guns at Sugar Mountain to be fired up. When it comes to snow making they never miss a beat. In turn, Sugar’s deep base keeps them running even on the sunniest days in the spring. When natural snow hits the area advanced skiers flock to Tom Terrific. On busy days the fastest way to get to the top is the gray lift parallel to the yellow one. The way Sugar separates the beginner trails from the advanced trails really makes a difference when you’re first getting your feet wet on the snow. Check out Raysweather.com for the most up to date weather conditions for the Banner Elk and Boone area.

Beech Mountain Resort : : Beech Mountain, NC
Distance from K-town: 157 miles
www.skibeech.com * 800.438.2093
Don’t miss: Weekly lift ticket specials and FREE sledding for the kiddos at Fred’s General Store.

If you like fast chair lifts, Beech has the only high-speed quad in the southeast and a total of 10 lifts to get you to the top of 95 skiable acres and two terrain parks. If you like resort-style accommodations, the town of Beech Mountain will steal your heart. Located at 4,675 feet elevation, Beech Mountain is not kidding when they use their slogan “Get High” but once you’re up there is no need to come back down because Beech Mountain defines Après style better than any ski resort in the Southeast. They have a great selection of dining and entertainment within walking distance of the resort so you don’t have to go far to enjoy a Hot Toddy by a warm fire. Don’t forget to pack your favorite Norwegian Fair Isle printed sweater and your UGG boots to keep you warm.


Appalachian Ski Mountain : : Blowing Rock, NC
Distance from K-Town: 127 miles
www.appskimtn.com * 828-295-7828
Don’t Miss: The unique character of the Boone and Blowing Rock Area by doing some shopping and dining at one the 40 locally owned restaurants.

Did somebody say recess? Regardless of your age, you’re bound to feel like a kid again at this mountain. Appalachian Mountain is the home of App Terrain Park (ATP), a freestyle skier and snowboarder’s playground. If you are interested in learning how to hit boxes, rails and ollie over jumps of all sizes, this is the mountain for you. The mountain is well-lit making their night sessions popular for everyone in the family. The trails are always groomed and the staff is very entertaining as they host weekly clinics and contests. For the 09/10 season, they are staying open until midnight on Saturdays for more bang for your buck. ATP is also North Carolina’s first Burton Progression Park. This means roped off areas for entry-level skiers and snowboarders with freestyle features just inches off the ground. There is signage in each zone providing the rider with trick tips and safety precautions.


Snowshoe Mountain Resort : : Snowshoe, WV
Distance from K-Town: 364 miles
www.snowshoemtn.com * 877.441.4FUN
Don’t Miss: This great detour— the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank, West Virginia.

Pack your bags, jump in the car and take a mini winter vacation to Snowshoe, West Virginia. You will find the largest area of skiable terrain closest to us with 60 trails on two mountains and 180 inches of annual snowfall a year. Acquired by Intrawest Resorts, who own and manage vacation destination resorts across the US and Canada, Snowshoe Mountain has a luxurious resort feel and top of the line accommodations in a small town atmosphere. Take full advantage of their indoor water park, snowmobile and snow cat adventures, indoor climbing wall, eurobungy and arcade to keep the whole family entertained at night. Since most lodging and lift ticket packages come with a free lift ticket the day of arrival here is a good time and money saving strategy for Knoxvillians. Begin departure after a workday and arrive in Lewisburg, West Virginia by midnight. By grabbing a hotel room in Lewisburg and finishing the last two hours of the drive in the morning you’ll avoid pricey resort lodging and have an extra day of skiing. One warning: being nestled in the heart of West Virginia Mountains, the cell phone towers at Snowshoe are limited but don’t fret, you can bring along all your social networks because wireless internet connections are readily available.


Wintergreen Resort : : Wintergreen,VA
Distance from K-Town: 335 miles
www.wintergreenresort.com * 800.266.2444
Don’t Miss: At certain times and temperatures there is a possibility that you can play golf and ski in the same day. Check their website for more details.

Wintergreen resort is a great place to take a trip with your ski pals if you’re up for a challenge. Don’t let this mountain’s size fool you; its bark is not as fierce as its bite. Having the largest percentage of advanced terrain than any other mountain within our range, Wintergreen will be worth the trip for the advanced and the non-skiers as well. Check out their website for lessons and clinics that they offer all season long. If you’re thinking about going more than once, you may want to look into getting a season pass of a 4-pack pass (good for four days of lift tickets and skiing). As an incentive, season pass holders also get 50 percent off midweek lift tickets at other local ski resorts. Want to feel like a kid again? The Plunge is Wintergreen’s snow tubing park, with chutes 900 feet long, boasting a 100 foot vertical. After a day full of wintersports, you may want to hit up the spa, situated with a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Having just undergone a $4 million expansion, the Wintergreen spa offers a cardiovascular and strength studio, heated indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas, as well as body treatments and wraps, massages, facials and other pampering indulgences.

Photo by Phillip Duncan : : Courtesy of Snowshoe Mountain Resort