Still More Winter Fun to Be Had
Still More Winter Fun to Be Had
Spring Skiing Brings Family-Friendly Parties to Round Out the Month of March
If you thought Mardi Gras and Winter Carnival were as crazy as it gets, you’re in for a wild ride over the next few weeks. Last weekend’s costume wearing, bead slinging celebration was only the beginning of what’s to come for our ski town’s “season ending”. And with winter making yet another comeback, snow conditions leading up to the final days of the 2022-23 snow sliding season should be epic!
This is probably my most favorite part of ski season - spring skiing and all the events that come with it. Mother Nature may have her own agenda for March, but warm, sunny days are destined to make their way to the lift lines. Goggle tans and patio parties will be at the top of my list. How about you? Let’s break it down…
INTENSE MILK RAIL JAM
Saturday, March 18
@ Holiday Valley
Holiday Valley has partnered with Intense Milk over the last several years to bring a fun park series to the slopes. Typically held in the evenings in the Rail Fun Park at the bottom of Mardi Gras, the final park session transitions to a daytime slot at the base of Yodeler. HV’s park builders take the snow used for Winter Carnival’s Snobar and transform it into a sweet, flowy set-up featuring boxes and rails with a mini-quarterpipe at the end. Fun to participate in, and just as fun to spectate from the Yodeler deck. The jam-style format will award the best overall male and female riders as well as best trick.
“The Intense Milk partnership is a fantastic one because everyone benefits from it,” said Dash Hegeman, marketing director at Holiday Valley. “Our Monday and Tuesday night buy-one, get-one free lift ticket offer is set up so that anyone who brings an Intense Milk bottle to the ticket booth can purchase two night lift tickets for the price of one. So that helps our guests save money, gets more people out on the slopes and helps to sell Intense Milk locally. The Intense Milk Rail Jam series has been really well attended this year. The third and final event this Saturday offers a $500 cash prize to the winner so we're expecting to see quite the show being put on.”
The Intense Milk Series takes place from noon-2:00pm and is open to skiers and snowboarders; helmet, waiver and parent signature for those under 18 is required. (Download the waiver at holidayvalley.com.)
RAIL RIDER JAMBOREE
Saturday, March 18
@ Holiday Valley
This is the concert you've been waiting for! Organizers of the Rail Rider Jamboree Music Festival are excited to return to Holiday Valley for Year Two of the all-day music festival, headlined by Dark Star Orchestra. Multiple bands, a vendor village, plenty of food and beverages… all paired with a feel-good, laid-back vibe from 2:00-10:00pm.
“We are so excited to return to Holiday Valley for our second year of the Jamboree,” said festival promoter Jennifer Brazill. “The lineup is filled with incredible talent, with music for all ages. We really try to curate this event for everyone, to fit with the vibe of the mountain, which is good times and great music.”
One exciting change to the festival is that the venue will be moving locations from the SnowPine Lot on Route 219 to the main parking area located adjacent to the Resort Center at the Base Area Parking Lot. “Not only will this new location allow for the Rail Rider concertgoers to have a more immersive Holiday Valley experience, but it’ll create a really fun vibe for Holiday Valley guests who are out on the slopes,” said Hegeman. “There will be great music playing throughout the day that people will be able to hear from the Mardi Gras lift, which should only increase interest for Year Three of the event. Plus, by putting the venue in an area that is covered in blacktop (which the SnowPine lot is not), it will make for a better overall concert experience for everyone involved.”
ellicottvilleNOW had a chance to catch up with one of the bands on the bill; flip over to page 07 to read our conversation with Mike Gantzer, guitarist and vocalist of Aqueous. For a complete lineup of bands or to purchase your last-minute tickets, head over to railriderjam.com. Doors to the concert open at 1:00pm; kids 10 and under are free with a parent/guardian.
CHAMBER SKI DAY
Thursday, March 23
@ HoliMont
“The season may be winding down, but winter isn’t over yet!” exclaimed Jessica Wallace, business development manager of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce. “Get your gear and bring an appetite and take part in a fun day of aprés skiing, food catered by Dina’s at The Mont, beer, wine, prizes and live music by Party Squad.”
Indeed, a tradition for local businesses and their staff, Chamber Ski Day brings the party to the ski slopes and outdoor patio (fingers crossed for sunshine) for a day of networking and fun. Any excuse to get out of the office and onto the snow midweek, right?
Participants are being offered two different ticketing options: take advantage of a day of spring skiing (lift ticket included) with lunch and aprés party for only $55, or just come to the aprés party from 4:30-6:30pm for only $20. Pre-registration is required and should be completed before March 22. To register, head to ellicottvilleny.com.
POND SKIMMING
Saturday, March 25
@ Holiday Valley
I’m pretty sure an introduction to Pond Skimming is not needed, but for those unaware, there are quite a number of snowsports enthusiasts who find it invigorating to don a costume, strap on their skis or snowboard, and barrel down the lower part of Yodeler slope towards an ice water-filled trench, where they’ll try their luck (they’ll need quite a bit of skill, also) to skim across its entirety, without sinking or crashing.
“Pond Skimming is always a fan favorite because not only is it entertaining to watch, but it's equally, if not more, entertaining to take part in,” said Hegeman. “There's always a huge crowd at the base of Yodeler to cheer on participants, which creates an incredible end of the season party atmosphere. The music is great, the vibes are high and the participants, whether they make it across the pond or not, never fail to get the crowd pumped up."
Registration will take place outside Holiday Valley’s Yodeler Lodge on the day of the event starting at 11:00am, with a maximum of 50 skimmers accepted. Kids under 18 must have a parent signature; minimum age is 8 years old. Skimming will commence at 1:00pm with prizes awarded in various categories, including Best Skimmer, Best Costume, Best Kid and Best Splash.
DITCH DAZE
Saturday, March 25
@ HoliMont
If you attended last year’s inaugural Ditch Daze event, you experienced the high energy fun of a hand-dug mini-halfpipe, viewable from Expo lift and showcasing a non-stop flow of snowboarders in a jam style format all day long. The HoliMont Park Crew has teamed up with LOUD Performance again this year to set the stage for an all-out super fun snow sesh, with a little different layout.
“We’re switching it up this year,” said Chris Perks, HoliMont Parks Manager. “Our crew is planning to put together a Holy Boly style set-up with lots of snow features including snowcanos, mini quarters, wall rides, plus some rail features. It’ll be a good mix of everything and a fun day of shredding for sure!”
Happening on a Saturday (typically a day only open to HoliMont members and their guests), Ditch Daze invites the public to come play! Bring your style and all your friends. Sponsors will have plenty of product to go around, LOUD Performance, Earth II Humans and other local vendors will be set up, and Jamestown Skate Products owner Pete Schiera will be on the mic as the day’s special guest emcee. For additional details including registration and lift ticket pricing, keep an eye on HoliMont’s social pages.
Whew! The second half of March is proving to be a busy one, but will no doubt be a blast! Don’t wear yourself out; we still have April to look forward to. See you on the snow!
