Big Tupper Ski Reporter: Mike Ranellone

Mike Ranellone is joining NYSkiBlog as one of our two new Big Tupper ski reporters. Mike is a 19-year-old English major at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. He grew up in Saratoga Springs and has been skiing since age five. He learned at Maple Ski Ridge in Rotterdam, NY which was a smaller, local alternative to West Mountain.

Within a few years, his family became regulars at Jiminy Peak. Now, he’s a proud passholder at Gore Mountain in North Creek. He managed to ski exactly 40 days last season “without flunking out of school,” with his Gore pass covering 30 of those days. “I love Gore’s laid back atmosphere and surprisingly great terrain.”

Mike raced with the Saratoga Springs High School team for four years, but now trees and bumps are the name of the game. Of his four pairs of skis, he relies on 181 Icelantic Nomads the most. “I used to click into them only on the deepest days, but I’ve found them to be useful in most conditions, with the exception of ripping slalom turns down a freshly-groomed Lies.”

In addition to skiing New York, he’s hit most of the major ski areas in Vermont, favoring low-key mountains like Mad River Glen. He’s after fresh tracks, good food that doesn’t break the bank, and the company of back-to-basics skiers.

“Big Tupper feels like a community mountain to me and I look forward to bringing what happens there on the slopes to your computer screen. Thanks to Big Tupper and NYSkiBlog for the opportunity.”