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Carve Magazine

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A student-produced skiing and snowboarding magazine that highlights ski resorts near Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

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CONTENTS

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WATERVILLE VALLEYSki Package

PSU SKI TEAMQ&A With Head Coach, Andrew Gannon

PSU RAIL JAMA MAPS Event

LOON MOUNTAIN

RAGGED MOUNTAIN

CANNON MOUNTAIN

BRETTON WOODS

CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT

GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN

On behalf of the Graphic Design Club at Plymouth State University, we proudly present the first edition of CARVE Magazine! Our goal is to bring the ski and snowboard community closer together here at the University, as well as throughout the town of Plymouth. Skiing and snowboarding is more than just a hobby to some of us, it’s a lifestyle.

There are plenty of students, teachers and residents of Plymouth who all enjoy the nearby mountains in this beautiful state. CARVE highlights area mountains, provides facts about the mountains, features stunning photography, and engages readers through student-written reviews.

If you or your business/organization is interested in writing for or sponsoring CARVE Magazine, contact PSU’s Graphic Design Club at: [email protected]

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Photo courtesy Cole Martin

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Store Hours: Mon-Sun 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

ContactPhone: (603) 536-2338

Email: [email protected] Main Street. Plymouth, NH 03264

www.plymouthski.com

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WATERVILLE VALLEYSki Package / Ski Day 2015

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WATERVILLE VALLEY Ski Package / Ski Day 2015

Waterville Valley By Matt Thornton ‘14

If you’re looking for a great mountain, that’s not too far from Plymouth, then look no further. Waterville Valley, a 25-minute drive from Plymouth State University, tends to be a favorite among Plymouth students. Part of the “4 NH” college season pass, you can ride Waterville, Cannon, Bretton Woods, and Cranmore for $319 – for the whole season! Waterville was voted Plymouth’s ski mountain this year, meaning you can go for a whole day for only $7! With deals like this it’s hard to resist going at least once or twice a week. Since it’s so close, I try to go for an afternoon shred session after classes here and there. I have never been disappointed with Waterville; I hear the same from other students who love to ski and snowboard.

Although Waterville may not seem as big as some of the other mountains in the area, such as Loon and Bretton Woods, it’s a great mountain to ride with your friends all day and not lose them. It’s only crowded on some weekend days, but it’s not difficult to avoid certain lift lines. What I really appreciate about Waterville is that it’s rarely icy. It’s my favorite mountain to hit on a powder day because the snow stays on the surface so well. Not to mention that it’s easier to drive 25 minutes in a snowstorm than 45 minutes to an hour. I know that Plymouth students tend to live on the edge when it comes to their riding; I’ve driven through countless storms just to hit the fresh snow. Be careful driving, of course. Along with Waterville offering some great snow and snow making technology, they offer a wide variety of trails for everyone’s enjoyment.

If you’re a beginner, don’t be scared away by the trail map. Although it shows mostly blue squares and black diamonds (generally intermediate and advanced trails) some of the blue squares are comparable to green circles. Trails like Oblivion and Upper Valley Run are rideable for beginners, as they aren’t steep and are pretty wide open. From the main lift, White Peaks Express, you can hit just about any trail on the mountain, except for the Lower Meadows area. If you want to go up even higher, and take a longer run, take the High Country double lift. Although this lift doesn’t go up too much higher, it’s cool to make your run last longer. There are a few glades around the mountain; look for them around the middle of the mountain, between the Sunnyside Triple lift, White Peaks Express, and the Northside lift. Although I don’t ride glades too often, there’s an area called “Family Adventure Glade” which is perfect for someone who isn’t too experienced between the trees.

Photos courtesy Waterville Valley

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SKI PACKAGESKI DAY

Mountain Facts...

Summit Elevation: 4,004 ft.

Trails: 50 (14% Beginner, 64% Intermediate, 22% Advanced)

Lifts: 11

Terrain Parks: 6

*Distance from Plymouth: 25 minutes

Every year, Plymouth State students get to vote on a ski resort. It’s called “ski bid.” Basically, a ski resort will contact the University and offer a special deal for Plymouth students. This year, Waterville Valley offered us $7 a day passes for the season. It was a close competition between two other mountains, but Waterville won the bid. Not only do you get to enjoy an awesome mountain for $7 a day, but Waterville also offers transportation to and from the mountain for only $30 for the season. There are other great deals on tubing!

Along with these fantastic benefits, being our sponsored mountain for the season, Waterville will also host our Ski Day. For those of you who don’t know what Ski Day is, it’s a day that Plymouth State University closes down so we can go hit the slopes. Crazy, right!? Lift tickets during Ski Day are FREE for Plymouth State students, faculty, and staff. Not to mention, Waterville will also be offering special deals on rentals, lunches, and more. For people who have never been riding before, this is a great opportunity to try it out. Come see what this community is all about!

By Zach Nekoroski ‘15

Terrain Parks By Zach Nekoroski ‘15, courtesy of Waterville Valley

Waterville’s terrain parks are ranked number 4 on the East Coast by Transworld Snowboarding. That’s right. One of the largest snowboarding companies out there has recognized this great mountain, only 25 minutes away from Plymouth. They have four main terrain parks. The WV Progression Park is a great introduction to freestyle terrain with gentle landings and plenty of elbowroom to move about. The WV Progression Park provides a laid-back, non-intimidating environment for riders of all ages who want to develop terrain park skills. If you’re looking to jump to the next level you can start at the South Street Park. You’ll find small jumps and smaller ride-on jib features for skiers and riders looking to move up from the WVPP. If you’re an experienced park rider, Psyched Park is the place to be. Psyched Park has a mix of street style and gap-on rail and box features with a mix of hips, tabletop jumps, and step down jumps to get you going. The exhibition park is Waterville’s premier large park for skiers and riders. They’ve been named a Top 5 Park on the East Coast for five years running. This is where guys like Pat Moore and Colby West cut their teeth. With over 30 jibs, triple jump lines, and a park-dedicated lift, you can’t find a better training facility in New Hampshire.

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What type of skiers does the Plymouth program attract?PSU Skiing attracts athletes of all levels, both domestic and foreign. Over the years PSU has always had one of the most popular, and successful, collegiate ski racing programs in the country. There’s not one place you’ll go and ski and not bump into a Plymouth State alum. There are probably more professional ski coaches from Plymouth State in this country than from any other college/university. Plymouth State attracts real people, with real passion for the sport, and they just tend to stay with it for life, in some capacity. Currently, our athletes represent all parts of the USA (East, West, Rockies, Central), and Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, and Georgia. My goal as a coach at PSU is to continue to keep the philosophy alive that Kim Bownes, our current Associate Athletic Director and ski team coach of 25 years, had: be dedicated to the student-athlete and treat every athlete with respect and equality. The best individuals collectively will always make the best, most competitive team.

What does the Plymouth ski team do for training?Training for ski racing is a year-round thing. Fitness is king, and most importantly it’s the number one defense against injury. The main focus is to develop a solid, and well-rounded base of fitness, with weight lifting, running, and cross training. Because the sport demands everything from the athlete, skiers need to be able to sustain long bouts of cardiovascular exercise while executing maximal power movements. Recovery while in motion is very important, so lots of explosive plyometric exercise, while keeping the heart rate at a high level, is the general focus. Equally important are balance and body discipline. There is nothing you can do that is as dynamic as actually being on skis, but combining all types of training brings all aspects to the game.

Where does the team practice?Our primary daily training location is Waterville Valley. This is where we call home. When we’re able to secure space to train at other locations we will; Blackwater, Loon, and Cannon are great alternate locations. PSU has been working closely with the Waterville Valley Ski Area, and its Ski Academy, for well over 30 years. We’re fortunate to have such a great relationship with these great resources and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without this continued cooperation. Training space is very difficult to secure, with the most important consideration being safety. Having a safe training venue requires hours and hours of work to make sure the sides of the trail(s) are lined top to bottom with “B Net” and other safety precautions to protect against serious injury or worse. Training speeds in Giant Slalom can reach 60mph. Imagine flying into the woods with nothing but a helmet and some pads to protect you! We don’t train unless the safety is 100% in place and “working” properly.

A typical day of practice lasts about 2.5-3 hours with about 1.5 hours of actual practicing and the other hour or so dedicated to venue preparation and tear-down. Daily practice varies in content and is largely dependent on the group. Because we need to work around class schedules, I’ll have multiple training sessions a day, so I’m able to individualize each training session as needed. However, basic skill development is the backbone of training. Fundamentals are always “king of the hill,” and just like in baseball, volleyball, tennis, you name the sport – mastering the basics is key to being at the top of your sport. Skiers work extremely hard, battling not only the athletics of the sport, but the elements as well.

What schools/mountains do you compete at?Four years ago, we stepped up our game and moved into the most competitive collegiate league in the country which is comprised of NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. Regionally, as members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) we compete against Dartmouth, University of Vermont, University of New Hampshire, St. Michael’s, Bates, Colby College, Boston College, Harvard, Colby-Sawyer College, Williams College, and St. Lawrence University. On the National level, the schools that round out NCAA Skiing: are University of Colorado (Boulder), University of Utah, University of New Mexico, University of Alaska (Anchorage), Denver University, and Montana State University (Bozeman). Being in the hunt for the same NCAA Skiing Championships as the large full athletic scholarship granting NCAA Division I programs makes this a true challenge.

PSU SKI TEAMInterview with Andrew Gannon (Head Ski Coach)By Daniel Barez ‘15

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Office

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2015-2016 Apartment Listings

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A rail jam is a skiing and snowboard competition where skiers and riders

perform a variety of skills and tricks on rails and boxes. Competitors are judged on the degree of technicality, style, and overall impression. Most rail jams are sponsored and funded by companies within the ski and snowboard industry that, in return , set up tables and tents to promote their products. Plymouth’s first rail jam, “Jib Free Or Die,” was sponsored by Rome, Smith, Be Easy, Cannon Mountain, Plymouth Ski and Sport, Jabra, Eastern Boarder, Coca-Cola, Volcom, and two local radio stations. Cannon Mountain donated the rails for the competition and the local radio stations promoted the event. Other companies donated prizes for the competitors and the spectators. The rail jam was an idea that the Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS) was approached with during the year. Four different student organizations and event marketing classes had previously attempted to put on a rail jam on campus. MAPS is the first one to be successful in holding the event. Students from MAPS and other organizations were inspired to get involved and begin marketing this event which will be useful in attracting prospective students to Plymouth State University. Within the first forty-eight hours, the event had more than 150 attendees on Facebook. Overall “Jib Free or Die” was a sucess with more than 200 spectators and 50 competitors. In 2015, MAPS plans to have this event on an even larger scale!

A MAPS Event

amby Nick O’Hagan ‘15

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Stay Tuned for Rail Jam 2015

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Terrain Parks by Luke Giacopelli ‘16

Loon Mountain. No matter the day or the weather you’re guaranteed to find a pack of your good pals hot lapping the Gondola and having the time of their lives. Loon’s parks

are the absolute best. PSU alumnis and Terrain Park Manager Brian Norton ‘12 and the rest of the Loon park staff work hard every day to put out the most well-manicured and

progressive terrain parks on the East Coast day in and day out – with features that push the boundaries on creativity and rideability. Along with rails and jumps to make any boarder happy,

Loon also offers the only half pipe in New Hampshire.

The Loon Mountain Park is a great terrain park for advanced riders and intermediate riders who are ready to take their skills to the next level. This park is right in the middle of the mountain and

is easy to access through most of the trails from the gondola. The Springboard Park is the favorite among intermediate riders and beginners who want to try something new. There are also a couple of

small terrain parks along the bottom of the mountain that are great areas for beginners to practice their skills on smaller rails, jumps, and boxes.

Black Mountain By Cody Rabenius ‘15

For those of you who love glades and are looking for a backcountry thrill, I highly

recommend checking out Black Mountain, which you can access from the top of Loon’s

North Peak Express Quad. Take a left off the chairlift and a right into the woods (you’ll see a

sign). Only take the trip if you’re an expert rider or you’ll have a hard time getting down. For expert

riders, let me just say that the 15-20 minute flat hike is well worth it. After the hike along the ridgeline, you

get to experience at least a good half an hour of pure glades. At some points the trees might be a little thick, but

for the most part Black Mountain is pretty open. My friends and I did the Black Mountain trip on a good powder day and

it was amazing. The snow coverage was excellent and there were only a few people so it was easy to maneuver the trail at

your own pace. Don’t feel like you have to be the best of the best in there and go the quickest! Everybody is there to have fun and to

share a great experience. If you do see people in there, you know what they’ll be talking about for the rest of the day!

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Loon Mountain is my favorite mountain in the New Hampshire area, and was one

of the main reasons I checked out Plymouth State University in the first place. Loon is only a 30-minute drive from Plymouth up I-93, and is a winter wonderland for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. A Loon college season pass is $359 and also gets you access to Sunday River and Sugarloaf which are both great mountains up in Maine. Loon has spent more than 20 million dollars in their snow making efforts over the past couple of years, and you can definitely tell. Rarely have I been to Loon when there were icy conditions or not enough snow cover. They make a solid effort at keeping their trail conditions maintained and comfortable for riders. What is so awesome about Loon is the wide variety of trails. It’s difficult

to hit the same trails all day long. Choosing your run on the mountain is like planning a trip. You can start on one side of the mountain and be on the other side at the end of the run by taking different trails. What I really appreciate about this is that all of the trails don’t funnel out into the same base; there are four main bases you can end up at. These include the Octagon Lodge, which holds the Four-Passenger Gondola, as well as the Seven Brothers Triple Chairlift; the Governor’s Pavilion, which has the Kancamagus Express Quad as well as the bunny slope and beginner area; the North Peak Express Quad which takes you up to the highest point of the mountain; and the South Peak base, which has the unique Tote Road Quad that goes across the ridge line at the top of the mountain. Loon has a variety of trails and areas of the mountain, such as

Upper Walking Boss and Upper Northstar which are wide-open trails that are steep as well. You rarely find a time when the trails are crowded, so you’re usually able to go at whatever speed you’d like. Trails like Exodus, Grand Junction, and Bear Claw are great trails to enjoy from top to the and are usually fun for riders of all skill levels. If you’re looking for glades, Loon has a bunch of great ones! Upper Walking Boss and Lower Walking Boss have glades along the whole side of the trail. Just across the trail are the Bucksaw glades. The Undercut glades on South Peak are a bit easier, especially for people who haven’t experimented with glades. It’s less steep and a little more open! By Cody Rabenius ‘15

MOUNTAINFACTS

Summit Elevation: 3,050 ft

Trails: 61(20% Beginner, 60%

Intermediate, 20% Expert)

Total Trail Mileage:28 miles

Terrain Parks: 6

Lifts: 12

*Distance from Plymouth: 30 minutes

Photos courtesy Loon Mountain

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Let’s Get Ragged by Allison Wallace ‘15

Although I have been to Ragged Mountain only three or four times, I can say that I was very pleased each time. Ragged is located in Danbury, NH, and is about a half an hour drive from Plymouth. Along with the advantage of Ragged being close to campus, it’s also affordable and includes great terrain for all riders. With the college season pass priced at $220 for Ragged and Pats Peak, it’s the cheapest season pass of its kind in the area. Not to mention that with this season pass, you also get 50% off Jay Peak lift tickets. Ragged also makes a solid effort at offering affordable food and beverages.

You’ve heard about its affordable prices, now let me tell you more about the mountain. Ragged consists of two main peaks: Ragged Mountain and Spear Mountain. Eventually, they plan to expand the mountain to a third peak, Pinnacle Peak. Ragged Mountain and Spear Mountain funnel out into the same base, making it difficult to lose your friends. These two peaks are excellent and provide a great variety of trails for all skill levels. It is a little bit smaller than some of the other ski resorts in New Hampshire, but it’s well worth the trip! It’s a great mountain to learn on and also includes a number of difficult trails, including double black diamond glades for more experienced riders.

Ragged Mountain has the only high-speed six -person chairlift in New Hampshire. This chairlift gets you from the base to the Ragged Peak incredibly fast. From the top you have a number of options. For people who like to enjoy a nice and long, mellow ride down, you can take Upper Easy Winder to Easy Winder. This is a great run for beginners and intermediate riders. You can

access plenty of other easier trails from this chairlift, as well as a few steep black diamonds, such as Sweepstakes and Karen’s Dream, which is an excellent glade. You can also access two terrain parks – Wild Side and Wild Ride, which have a number of medium to large features.

The four-person Spear Mountain Quad will take you up to the other peak. For beginners, I’d recommend taking Cardigan all the way down. This is one of the easier trails on the mountain. All of the other trails you can access from this lift are pretty difficult. There are a number of glades you can ride from this lift, as well as some steep black diamonds like Showboat and Ragged Edge.

Ragged EventsRagged is very accommodating to the average skier and snowboarder; they pride themselves in being a “family oriented” mountain. This doesn’t mean that they only appeal to families, but that they create a family atmosphere for everyone who comes. You notice this because their ski patrol and other staff members around the mountain talk with you and try to make the mountain fun for everyone. They put on events such as 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s week and encourage people to dress up as crazy as they want to fit the theme. They have other cool events such as an “Animal House” toga party, Star Wars Day, Battle of the Jam Bands, and much more. They also offer special deals on select days, for opportunities to buy cheap lift tickets, and free tubing!

Mountain FactsSummit Elevation: 2,286 ft

Trails: 55 (30% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 30% Expert)

Terrain Parks: 3

Lifts: 7

*Distance from Plymouth: 30 minutes

AGGED OUNTAINR MN O T H I N G C L O S E C A N E V E N C O M E C L O S E Photos courtesy Ragged Mountain

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AGGED OUNTAINN O T H I N G C L O S E C A N E V E N C O M E C L O S E

At Plymouth State, your education will transform you. What sets PSU apart? An active, outgoing community; accessible professors; a supportive academic environment; and stunning location.

Explore, discover, and create an educational experience that will take you where you want go. With 55 majors and 65 minors, your educational options are wide open. Outside the classroom, PSU offers more than 100 clubs and organizations, from academic honor societies to recreational sports.

What do you want from your college experience?You’ll love PSU’s welcoming campus, spectacular White Mountains environment, dedicated faculty, and stellar academics. Schedule a visit and see for yourself!

Go to plymouth.edu/visit or call the Admissions Office at (603) 535-2237.

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F R A N C O N I A , N H

THE LIVINGLEGEND

Cannon Mountain, located in Franconia, NH, is an easy 35-minute drive from Plymouth, up I-93 North. Being a student at PSU for the past three ski and snowboard seasons, I’ve been very pleased with Cannon. Cannon offers a wide variety of trails, ranging from a bunny slope and a few mellow green circles for beginners to wild backcountry terrain for expert riders. What’s nice about Cannon is that although it’s big in elevation, a lot of the trails funnel out into the same areas at the bottom of the mountain, so it’s difficult to lose your group. There are 81 trails and 10 lifts which includes a 70-person aerial tramway!

Although the aerial tramway is only open on weekends, it’s a great way to escape the cold and is the easiest way to get to the top from the bottom. The tramway seems like it’s a long wait, but since it’s able to fit 70 people, the line goes quicker than you’d think. The lift my friends and I hit on most good days is the Peabody

Express. It’s the central lift on the mountain that takes you halfway up and offers a number of trails with different difficulty levels. Get off this lift and you have the option to take a short run down to the Cannonball Quad Chairlift. I’d recommend taking this chairlift only if you ride at an intermediate or expert level. If you do ride at this level, the extra chairlift ride is well worth it. You’ll get a great, long run from top to bottom.

Cannon typically has one medium/large terrain park and one small terrain park. The bigger terrain park seems to vary week by week, but it has a wide variety of features for intermediate and advanced riders. The park flows nicely, including lines of medium to large jumps and jibs from simple rails to rainbow boxes and “the pill.” The smaller terrain park, located in the Tuckerbrook Family area of the park, is a great place for beginners to learn or for people who haven’t experimented with tricks all too

often. This park includes a handful of small, easy features, such as a flat box, a flat rail, and a couple of small roller jumps that provide a perfect stepping stone for someone who wants to get better at tricks.

Cannon has great lodges at the top and bottom of the mountain. For those who easily get cold, these lodges are accessible and are never too crowded, so you’re able to sit and relax in between runs. Cannon offers great deals to those who are looking for an inexpensive day of riding!

Hello, Cannon by Dan Barez ‘15

Photo by Cannon Mountain

Photos courtesy Cannon Mountain

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Mittersill is Cannon’s awesome backcountry area for advanced riders. If the forecast says snow, this is the spot on the mountain you’ll want to be if you love powder, glades, and steep chutes. Mittersill includes 98 acres of riding and is only a short hike from the rest of the mountain. You can access this hike at the bottom of the Taft Slalom trail which you can take from the top of Cannon. Or you can park at the bottom of Mittersill if the chairlift is open.

Over the past few years, the Mittersill lift has usually been closed. But, I’ve been snowboarding in that area a few times on good powder days and it’s fantastic. Mittersill is easily the best set of back country runs in the East. It has a good balance of tree skiing, open faced trails, and narrow powder chutes for those who are a little more daring. It has the feel of backcountry Utah or Colorado, and is rarely crowded. I highly recommend trying it out if you’re looking for a thrill!

Mittersill by Dan Barez ‘15

Mountain Facts . . .Summit Elevation: 4,080 ft. Trails: 81, plus Mittersill Backcountry Area (91 Acres)(21% Beginner, 47% Intermediate, 32% Expert)

Total Trail Mileage: 24 Miles

Terrain Parks: 2

Lifts: 10 (Including 70-Person Aerial Tramway)

*Distance from Plymouth: 35 minutes

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- Mike Garcia

Photos courtesy Bretton Woods

Bretton Woods, about an hour drive from Plymouth, is an excellent getaway from your regular mountains.

Bretton Woods is part of the “4 NH” season pass, which is only $319 and includes Cannon, Waterville Valley, and Cranmore. Bretton Woods has three different peaks:

West Mountain, Mt. Rosebrook, and Mt. Stickney. It’s a great place for people who enjoy nice, long trails that aren’t too steep. Sure, it has its areas of expert terrain, but for the most part, it’s an easy going mountain in terms of steepness. Bretton Woods is also a great place for people who love glades. There are glades of all difficulties here, some that are dense with trees and some with few trees at all. This mountain prides itself upon the amount of terrain it has both on and off the regular trails. It’s hard to come across a ski resort in the East where you can find so many areas of glades. It’s similar to what you’d find in Colorado or Utah. Located across from Mount Washington, Bretton Woods offers great views from any spot. It’s not only a ski resort full of great skiing and other activities, but one that is beautiful, and is truly an escape.

Bretton Woods has ten lifts. West Mountain has one main chair lift, a high-speed quad. There are three lifts from the main base of Mt. Rosebrook, which bring you to three different spots on the mountain. In the middle of Mt. Rosebrook and Mt. Stickney, there are three lifts, including the Telegraph T-Bar which takes you to the top of the Mt. Stickney Glades. Each part of the mountain has beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails, so don’t worry about one part of the mountain being too hard for your skill level. At the top of Mt. Rosebrook, Panorama to Two Miles Home is a great trail for the mellow riders who want a nice loop around the mountain. This run is not steep and has a great scenic

view. Range View is a straight shot, green circle trail, which starts from the top of the Zephyr High Speed Quad, ends at the bottom. There are also three terrain parks on Mt. Rosebrook: a small, medium, and large terrain park so any rider can enjoy the freestyle riding options.

Since I’ve already hyped up your thoughts about glades, some of the marked areas include the Mount Stickney glades, which are my favorite. These glades are awesome because you can hit them over and over again by taking the Telegraph T-Bar. It’s hard to take the same path twice through the glades. There are

By Mike Garcia ‘14

BRETTON WOODSM O U N T W A S H I N G T O N R E S O R T

Your Neck of the Woods

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Summit Elevation: 3,100 ft.

Trails & Glades: 97

Lifts: 10

Terrain Parks: 4

Distance from Plymouth: 50 minutes

many awesome berms through the trees and drop offs over rocks that are more exciting each time you hit them. It’s also fairly simple to avoid these obstacles if you don’t feel inclined to do them. Some other areas include the Rosebrook glades, which are a little bit steeper and tougher, and West Mountain which hosts a variety of different glades and a small cliff. In this area, Maple Woods is a favorite among glade goers. There are also easier, blue square glades along the center of the mountain that aren’t too hard. For people who want to ride glades but haven’t done it before, you’ll probably get the best experience through trails like Rag’s Run and Black Forest Glade.

Recognized for the second year in a row for the BEST SNOW AND GROOMING IN THE EAST by readers of SKI magazine, Bretton Woods also remains the top choice for OVERALL SATISFACTION in New Hampshire and among the best in SERVICE, SCENERY, AND KID FRIENDLY offerings. Whether you prefer carving the perfect turn on wide open cruisers, exploring miles of signature tree-dotted glades, or finding secret powder stashes, Bretton Woods’ three peaks offer plenty of opportunities for everyone from beginners to the most seasoned skiers and riders.

From the Office ofBretton Woods MOUNTAIN

FACTS

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Cranmore is a little over an hour away from Plymouth, in North Conway, NH. What makes it so special is thatit‘s part of the “4 NH” season pass which includes Waterville Valley, Cannon, Bretton Woods, and Cranmore. The season pass

for college students is only $319 an amazing deal for ONE mountain! This pass gets you access to FOUR!

*Photos courtesy Cranmore Mountain Resort

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Cranmore is a little over an hour away from Plymouth, in North Conway, NH.

What makes it so special is that it is part of the “4 NH” season pass. My friends and I have been to Cranmore a few times, and it has always been a blast. Each time, there has always been great snow cover. They do an excellent job with snowmaking efforts and maintaining the conditions of the trails.

Cranmore has an excellent variety of beginner, intermediate, and expert trails. All of my favorite trails are right near each other, and they aren’t hard to find or require a difficult trail to access.

I’d consider myself an average rider. It’s nice to have all of the green circles and blue squares in the same area. Going up the main lift, the four-person Ski Mobile Express, you have access to all of these areas. You can hit any trail on the mountain from the top of this lift. Take a run all the way down to the bottom, or halfway down to the Schneider Triple Chair lift which accesses a bunch of blue squares that aren’t too difficult, a steep black diamond called Koessler, and a simple, yet fun, green circle called Easy Street.

Cranmore has 57 trails, and nine lifts. Out of these 57 trails there are a few glades and terrain parks. I don’t usually ride glades or terrain park, but my friends have some great things to say about Cranmore’s. I’ve been told that the Pipe Line Glades and the Black Forest Glades are very fun but are a little tough for someone who isn’t so good in the woods.

The Tree Meister Glades, which are directly below the other glades, are a little more open. What’s nice about the terrain parks at Cranmore is that they’re right next to each other. There are five different terrain parks that include small to large features. Each terrain park has a different difficulty level, but they are easily recognizable, showing transitions clearly – jump after jump, rail after box.

Just because Cranmore is a little ways away from Plymouth, don’t automatically forget about it and decide not to go. It’s a great resort and has much to offer a typical rider. You can experience everything from wide trails to narrow chutes. For all of you early birds, Cranmore has two nice lodges at the top and bottom of the mountain if you’re feeling tired and need a break.

On Saturdays they’re are open till 6 p.m. so you can enjoy the mountain a couple hours longer than most. Don’t forget to check out Cranmore this winter, you won’t be disappointed!

by Ally Bowden ‘15

Mountain Facts...Summit Elevation: 2,000 ft. Trails: 57 (28% Beginner, 44% Intermediate, 28% Expert)

Terrain Parks: 4

Lifts: 9

*Distance from Plymouth:1 hour & 15 minutes

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Located in Gilford, NH, just over 30 miles away from Plymouth, Gunstock Mountain is a laid back mountain with a wide variety

of difficulty levels for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy. Gunstock is a great mountain to play around on and test your skills, especially as a beginner. It has a few terrain parks with small to large features making the resort more enjoyable for freestyle riders, as well as those who like to cruise.

Pricing has always been a great advantage to Gunstock. Reasonable prices and flexible hours get you the best bang for your buck. One aspect that is different about this mountain is night skiing and ticket packages that come with it. Certain nights they hold special deals—one night there might be two tickets for the price of one or free rentals with your ticket purchase. This is especially great for beginners and people who want to switch it up and try something different. Gunstock also has half-day deals, which is awesome because sometimes I’m too exhausted to go all day long. I know there are other riders who feel the same way.

One thing I particularly love about Gunstock is the variety of difficulty in the trails. With the majority of the trails being intermediate, there are still quite a few expert and novice trails. The mountain offers 55 trails and 8 lifts, two being quads. During the night skiing hours, 24 trails are normally open along with six lifts. Normally there are around two or three terrain parks on the mountain; they tend to switch them up quite a bit each year. There’s always the difficult terrain park on the Pistol Triple chair lift which features jibs, such as rails, boxes, and barrels, and jumps of different sizes and difficulty. Conditions are good at Gunstock. I’ve had only one time where the conditions haven’t been so great during the peak of ski season. The trails are groomed nicely, with the corduroy texture lasting throughout the day.

The view at the top is always a plus, as it overlooks Lake Winnipesaukee. With a lodge at the summit and two at the base, there’s always a place to warm up after shredding in the bitter cold air. Though it’s not that big of a mountain, with an elevation of 2,267 ft. and an average annual snowfall of 120 inches, it gets just as cold as the bigger mountains, and can make for a great day on the slopes.

By Kelly Goodwin ‘14

MOUNTAINFACTS

Summit Elevation: 2,267 ft

Trails: 32(15% Beginner, 50%

Intermediate, 35% Expert)

Terrain Parks: 2-3

Lifts: 8

*Distance from Plymouth: 35 minutes

*Photos courtesy Gunstock Mountain Resort

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Page 24: Carve Magazine

See page 9

Magazine Design: Plymouth State Graphic Design Club

Contributors

Design

Abbey Bailey . Daniel BarezAshley Baylis . Sarah Bengtson

Kelly Goodwin . Ryan Smith . Jack Swymer

Reviews

Daniel Barez . Ally BowdenMike Garcia . Luke Giacopelli

Kelly Goodwin . Zach Nekoroski . Nick O’HaganCody Rabenius . Matt Thornton . Allison Wallace

Photography

Bretton Woods . Cannon MountainCole Martin . Cranmore Mountain . Gunstock Mountain

Loon Mountain . PSU Ski Team . Ragged Mountain

Other

Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS)PSU Ski Team . PSU Snowboard Club

PLYMOUTH STATE

Plymouth State University Graphic Design Club

PSU Graphic Design Club