My friends and I are planning a weekend trip to either Killington, Jay Peak or Whiteface. Only problem is, none of us have ever been to either resort. We are driving from Toronto, Ontario so each resort is about a 9 hour drive.
We don't ride park, just mainly all mountain/freestyle riding. We like the long cruiser type runs and only have two day's of riding to get it all in.
So my question to all you good folks is where would you recommend my friends and I to go?
Also, we are planning on going riding on Dec/18-19 and coming home on the 19th. Is that too early for the resorts to be open? I sure hope not.. lol
i love killington! (though i'm partial to it because i learned to ski and board there). I've heard great things about jay peak - plan on making a trip there in Jan. I think you'll have less crowds at Jay Peak. Killington can get very busy.
I have only been to Whiteface. Problem with Whiteface, as stated many times on this forum, is that if you catch it at the wrong time you might as well have a pair of ice skates on. Two years ago when I went, it was icy and windy and they had everything closed except for one lift and run. It was a crowded shit show. Luckily they gave us a refund because we hadn't been out there for an hour yet. Best part of that trip ended up being the make shift kite boarding we came up with at my friends camp. Nothing like a tarp, some rope, a frozen lake and a bunch of beer to make for some awesome kite boarding.
I would say Jay because of all the hype about it in the East Coast meet thread. I am sure they chose that mountain for a reason and listening to people rave about it and seeing some pictures has got me signed up for this years meet!
i have never been to whiteface before, but i have been to both jay peak and killington many of times, and out of those 2 i highly recomend jay peak.. killington is to confusing to get around the mountain, i felt that i was boarding across the mountain more than i was boarding down it. jay peak has some great runs, and its not as crowded!
I havent been to whiteface before, or Jay Peak for that matter lol. But Killington is my main mountain. Killington is really nice. It does have a few good long runs, especially Great Eastern. Thats the longest run on the mountain. So make sure you hit that up a few times if you do decide to go to Killington. The only thing, its pretty crowded. But its definitely not that bad. If you know how to manuever yourself around really good, I mean turn and stop real quick, you won't have a problem. I look at it more like an obstacle course when its a crowded day lol. And I never found that it was hard to get around. If anything, I would say its a mountain where you can do a lot of exploring. Its pretty big actually.
I hear nothing but really good things about Jay Peak though...I plan on making a trip there this season.
But, if you do stick with Killington you won't be dissappointed. There are a lof of wall rides there also which I really like.
Thanks for all the great info from everyone. It was exactly what I was looking for.
I think we might end up at Jay Peak as it seems to be the more low key hill to ride. Regardless when we go though it will be christmas holiday's, so I think any resort we go to will be busy.
Can we (hope) expect Jay Peak to be open that early in the season? I would imagine so, but I guess you never know.
Jay is getting a later start than last year. Last year I was hiking for turns by now. This year they are just starting up the guns full time today. They will be open then just maybe not necessarily 100% but that early nowhere is. Jay usually gets about 100" in Dec. so chances of powder is usually pretty good but the glades arent always completely filled in. It might be best to bring a beater board for the trees.
If you do pick Jay then give me a PM and I'll show you around. Im there from first to last chair on sat and sun every week.
I would also be tempted to take monday off instead of friday if you can. Everyone else shares your idea so Friday and saturdays are usually more crowded than sundays and mondays. Sunday from noon-close is usually deserted.
I would rather go Saturday and Sunday but two of the guy's coming with us have to be back for work on Monday so unfortunatly that's the only day's we can go.
Does Jay have long cruiser type runs that we can ride around and sink a nice edge? We do actually enjoy glade runs, but if it's still to early in the season I won't bother with them. I don't want to ruin my new NS borad just yet. lol
Also, I'll be sure to let you know before we go and if you aren't busy maybe we can meet up and ride together.
Let me know right before you go and I'll give you the heads up on where there is good coverage and where there isnt. I'll be in the woods on opening day as lont as things are mostly coverd.
Jay has lots of nice long cruiser runs like the Vermonter, Northway, Ullers (make sure you hit kokimo at the bottom or you might wind up doing the hoppy dance in the flat area at the bottom)
I just found this forum while searching for info on Jay Peak. I'm looking to take my girlfriend for her first snowboard trip this Christmas and I was thinking about Jay Peak. Looks like a decent spot, and from the sounds of it a good locals mountain too.
Stratton is the mountain I spend most time at, and that can be hit-or-miss for snowfall in December. Is Christmas period generally OK in Jay Peak?
Christmas is usually very good. Crouds arent usually too bad and I think they have some specials running now to stay in the now hotel that is just opening for christmas. Snow coverage is usually great but with the late start we are having its hard to predict.
i wish i lived closer but i kinda like how i'm at a mid point...you ever been up to Mont Tremblant? I'm thinking about taking a swing up there after the holidays.
Things should be opening up pretty good by then if the snow keeps falling like it has been. Unfortuanately with this late start its hard to say exactly what will be open but there will be some of everything open by then. Its just a matter of what.
Early December is always a gamble! This year is even more of one. Having only 6 runs open, I surely wouldn't make the 9 hour drive, yet....but that is just me. Jay will be your best bet for the most snow coverage. Unless we get a killer dump in the next 10 days (One came through last year around the 20th of Dec), there will be slim pickins.
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