New York Gears Up for Big Week

The nation has been hearing about the record snow assaulting Upstate New York this week after an unusually balmy first half of winter. While all that snow may be a bummer to those who have to shovel off their roof, it's a blessing to ski area operators and snowboarders and skiers. The snow comes in the nick of time. The school break week is one of three major money-breaks to ski area operators during the season (the others are Christmas-to-New-Year's and Martin Luther King Day weekend). The Christmas break was lost, MLK wasn't a whole lot better, but the Presidents Day weekend and week is looking like, well, money on the slopes. The riding has been excellent from late last week, through the weekend and into this week. New York's ski areas are relishing the powder and many are letting the riders rough it in piles of powder before serious grooming kicks in. Whiteface launches the big week with a Presidents Day rail jam on Sunday. Windham starts Saturday by igniting Family Jamboree Week with a day of activities. On Sunday, check out the SwitchWindham.com half pipe event, followed on Wednesday by the SwitchWindham.com rail jam. Peek'n Peak on Sunday hosts the Ski Chalet Presidents Weekend race, featuring $3,000 in prizes. Ski Cockaigne on Monday has a big air event at noon. On Friday at Plattekill Mountain, it's carload day, with discounted lift tickets getting even more, er, discounty the more people you stuff in your car.