Whitetail resort turned its snow blowers on Tuesday, Nov. 18, and people are bubbling with excitement as they prepare for the winter sports season.
“We have stockpiled an incredible amount of snow and as soon as we have enough, we will announce opening day!” according to the Whitetail Resort Facebook page. The opening day was Friday, Nov. 28.
As people waited for the opening day, there was restlessness among boarders and skiers alike as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Nick Stenerson, who has been snowboarding for two years and will work at Whitetail this coming season, said, “I believe it’s an El Nino year, which is an indicator of winter with moderate to heavy snowfall on the East Coast. My hope would be that we’re buried all year in it, but as a wise man from the Rolling Stones once said, ‘You can’t always get what you want.’”
“The reason I love snowboarding is because I feel very centered on the mountain. There are very few places where my mind feels free like that. I always leave feeling much more peaceful, and I always feel like my mind works better as a result. Plus, it’s just so darn fun,” Stenerson added.
Stenerson also mentioned how he prepared for the season.
“Besides the usual waxing of boards and buying snowboard stuff after season when it’s on sale, I don’t do too much,” he said. “But I know people that do work on trampolines among other things to work on tricks.”
For people who are looking for the newest in snowboarding accessories, snowboarding and skiing shops such as Bikle’s Snow, Skate and Surf shop in Hagerstown, Md., were crowded with people over the weekend getting ready for the season.
Becky Smith, who has been snowboarding for 11 years, says she prepares for the season by getting her club card and usually a new pair of board pants. “Gear wise I just wax my board once before the first time I go, and I make sure my bindings are in good shape,” Smith added.
Smith said that she is especially excited for this year because she didn’t really go much last year, and she thinks it is going to be a good winter for snow accumulation without the bitter weather.
“It’s also just a blast to go with your friends and laugh when they bust their asses or when you do,” Smith said.
The employees at Whitetail are working around the clock to create the best season possible.
Nicole Henderson is a Whitetail employee who helps with building and refurbishing natural and composite snow park features as well as creating up-to-date documentation regarding the terrain park establishment.
Henderson said that she has been snowboarding for two years. “When I was younger, my dad took my brother and I skiing a few times, and I went to Whitetail twice on extracurricular field trips after school. I love snowboarding because of the adrenaline rush,” Henderson said.
Some people also physically train for the winter sport’s season.
Katie Lum, a yearly snowboarder, said, “Usually to prep for boarding I do a lot of different leg exercises as how snowboarding works weird muscles! Other than that, I just pray for snow.”
Stenerson said that he tries to be out in the cold as often as possible so that his body has a chance to adapt to the cold when he’s on the mountain.
Lexi Sexton, an avid snowboarder, said “Stretching is definitely a biggie! I tend to forget how much work it is until after my runs on the mountain, and I feel like I can’t walk anymore.”