K-Town's Freeski/Freeride Committment

[JMO]

Killington's planning to put some of Bear Mountain's previously o.b. glades on the map this year, as well as adding a new park at Bear.

-press release-

Due to the increased popularity of the freeski/freeride culture, Killington’s signature terrain park features will
move from The Beach to Bear Mountain for the ’04-’05 season. Outgrowing The Beach indicated the need for
a parks and pipe expansion, and this season skiers and riders will find one entire mountain with more acreage
dedicated to terrain parks featuring more rails, tabletops and hits, giant pro-level jumps, and a new Superpipe,
which will be maintained by the resort’s new pipe groomer. Those looking for big air or to land a styled-out trick
can hang in the parks, the pipe or take to the steeps of Outer Limits, the steepest mogul slope in the East and
home to the 25th Annual Budweiser Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge. Bear Mountain’s hidden extreme gem is
Devil’s Fiddle, a double black diamond trail with rocks, cliffs and its own natural terrain features, which will see
increased snowmaking and operation of its own quad chair. In addition, new tree skiing will be added at Bear
Mountain, known by many locals, they will now be denoted as designated tree skiing areas on the trail map.
The Timberline terrain park at Rams Head will also receive upgrades, tripling in length and a quarter-pipe will
be added.

Killington’s commitment to the freeski/freeride culture will be on display at numerous events throughout the
season including a NextXsnow super-qualifier that will send top competitors to Keystone, CO and the Forum
Youngbloods series, which culminates at Sierra at Tahoe, CA. Other events include demonstration days
sponsored by Salomon and Freeskier Magazine, the 3rd annual Loaded Turkey Rail Jam, 12th annual Spring
Loaded and a full slate of Superpipe jams.

[schuss]

mmmmm, fiddle. Hopefully it won't be supercrust like during the mini. Nothing beats unpredictable crusty snow. Just ask crashburn'd (I think), he saw my incredible flatland forward half flip with a nosebone.

[Dexter Rutecki]

I don't know why they don't note that they're merely returning the park to Bear Mountain, where it used to be. My first ACL was blown on a Bear Mountain feature. The Beach was a brilliant marketing device that resulted in the most dangerous terrain park on the EC, or maybe anywhere. Flat (it's actually the learning 'bunny' hill with snow pushed around on it) with families snowplowing through it. Nothing like clearing the lip on a 30 foot table to see several small children lying down on the landing (fortunately I only landed on a kid's pole, but still).

[snowsprite]

Also, I think the Beach encourages some "too much too soon" kind of activity with folks who should still be working out the kinks at the little Timberline park.

I have seen some terrifying wipe-outs by middle aged dudes who prolly had a beer or two and thought "Hey, I think I can clear that one no prob!"



Sprite

[Darkside]

Sweet, the Beach park sucked so hard, hopefully they'll do it right this year.

Devil's Fiddle, woo hoo. I think it was open for about 5 days last year.

[kush1]

Sounds cool, but wouldn't increased snowmaking fill in all the "double black diamond trails rocks and fun features"?

[snowsprite]

lol...Not when on average you're skiing on like a 1/2 inch of hard-pack!

Sprite

[Aldo]

lol...Not when on average you're skiing on like a 1/2 inch of hard-pack!

Sprite

Within the month! Bring on 1/2 inch of hardpack!

[BigJay]

mmmmm, fiddle. Hopefully it won't be supercrust like during the mini. Nothing beats unpredictable crusty snow. Just ask crashburn'd (I think), he saw my incredible flatland forward half flip with a nosebone.

I was there...it was siiiiiick. That trail will be fun to ski when they get the snowmaking going and it turns to a sheet of ice in january and you can't ski it after that because the snow will just blow right off it. That trail does have some knarly shit on it though....

[Benny Profane]

I have seen some terrifying wipe-outs by middle aged dudes who prolly had a beer or two and thought "Hey, I think I can clear that one no prob!"



Sprite

Yeah, that one really hurt. Had to kill it with a few more.

[m1e448]

See you at kmart