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Ski Country Sports Celebrates End of Season With Cookout, Demos and Staff Appreciation

Ski Country Sports staff attends the staff appreciation day to celebrate the end of the ski season. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Near the end of each winter season, Ski Country Sports closes shop for a day and invites the staff at its Asheville, Banner Elk, Boone and Charlotte stores to Sugar Mountain Resort for a staff appreciation day.

Ski Country Sports owner Bill Leonard said that he’s done this for about 20 years or so.

“The whole intent is to appreciate all the work the staff does,” Leonard said.

The end-of-season get together features a cookout and demo day. Leonard invites some of the ski and snowboard product reps, so everyone can try out the equipment for next winter.

The staff then is able to give advice on the equipment whenever they go back to their respective stores and also tell guests how great of a time they had on the slopes.

Leonard thanked Sugar Mountain Resort for the hospitality.

He also commend Sugar Mountain Resort and the other ski resorts, Appalachian Ski Mtn. and Beech Mountain Resort, for making the best of the weather and keeping the slopes in shape for skiing and snowboarding.

“The season has been a struggle for everybody. That’s been true for most of the East Coast. We’ve had a couple cold days and four or five warm days with rain. Seems like all winter has been like that,” Leonard said. “And now its winter next week. The coldest and snowiest time we’ve had all year.”

Leonard expects the ski season to end strong, especially considering the forecast during college spring break and the “pent up demand” for winter activity on the slopes.

“As soon as we get snow, we’ll be busy,” Leonard said.

Ski Country Sports owner Bill Leonard

Demo products for 17-18 season

The cookout