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Winter Sport Enthusiasts Enjoying Great Holiday Weekend, Resorts Elated With Turnout, Weather

Appalachian Ski Mountain on Sunday was packed with winter sport enthusiasts. Photo by Ken Ketchie
App Ski Mtn on Sunday was packed with winter sport enthusiasts. Photo by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Jan. 20, 2014. Talia Freeman, spokesperson for Beech Mountain Resort, had many adjectives to describe the skiing and snowboarding conditions on Monday. Two of them were “awesome” and “amazing.”

“Man, it’s one of the best days of the year. I wish I was outside right now,” Freeman said.

The weekend of the Martin Luther King Day is one of the four busiest days for the skiing and snowboarding industry in the High Country, and Freeman said this is one of the busiest MLK weekends she has witnessed in years. Not only that, but Freeman said the restaurants and new brewery had record-breaking sales, too.

In the past few days, the resort has received 10 inches of natural snow, Freeman mentioned.

“We have a lot of happy customers right now,” she said.

Before the weekend began, Kim Jochl of Sugar Mountain Resort and Drew Stanley of App Ski Mtn. in Blowing Rock mentioned that each resort was looking forward to a holiday weekend where the weather was forecasted for peak conditions after having rainy weekends as of late. 

On Monday afternoon, clear skies and moderate temperatures are the norm, perfect for hitting the slopes and enjoying fresh powder in the sun. 

Jochl, on Monday, had a blitz of positive adjectives, too. She mentioned an excellent MLK weekend where the weather has cooperated. 

“There are some places with so much snow, it’s incredible,” Jochl said. “Perfect winter conditions. It’s beautiful.”

Along with its ice skating rink, Jochl added that Sugar Mountain has eight lanes in the tubing park open, which is the most it’s ever had open at one time. Appalachian Mountain has its three terrain parks and ice skating rink open, too. Beech Mountain also has its ice skating rink open. 

App Ski Mtn. - Photo by Ken Ketchie
App Ski Mtn. – Photo by Ken Ketchie

 

App Ski Mtn. - Photo by Ken Ketchie
App Ski Mtn. – Photo by Ken Ketchie

 

App Ski Mtn. - Photo by Ken Ketchie
App Ski Mtn. – Photo by Ken Ketchie

 

App Ski Mtn. - Photo by Ken Ketchie
App Ski Mtn. – Photo by Ken Ketchie

 

Beech Mountain Resort on MLK weekend. Photo by Kristian Jackson
Beech Mountain Resort on MLK weekend. Photo by Kristian Jackson

 

Beech Mountain Resort on MLK weekend. Photo by Kristian Jackson
Beech Mountain Resort on MLK weekend. Photo by Kristian Jackson

 

The view from the bar atop Beech Mountain Resort. Photo by Kristian Jackson
The view from the bar atop Beech Mountain Resort. Photo by Kristian Jackson