Author: James Michaud

NY Ski Magazine: The Kitzbühel Alps

Posted on by James Michaud

Over the past few years, we’ve talked on and off about expanding NY Ski Magazine’s coverage beyond North America and after much foot-dragging (most of it mine), we’re finally making it happen.

Mittersill in the Kitbuhel Alps

To inaugurate the new “Europe” section of the Magazine, I thought that it would be fun to go back to my first winter trip across the pond: a March 2003 visit to Kitzbühel, Austria.

While the Kitzbühel Alps aren’t considered the top tier of the country’s ski regions — the Arlberg and Ischgl, to be covered in upcoming articles, are — it was a great introduction to the differences between skiing in North America and Europe. Due to insufficient disposable income, a brutal exchange rate, and job/family obligations, I’ve only made it back to Austria a few times since then, but until I find somewhere that enthralls me more, it’ll remain my favorite ski destination.

Please click through to read:
NY Ski Magazine
Austria’s Kitzbühel Alps

Tagged: Magazine

NY Ski Magazine: New Hampshire’s Whites

Posted on by James Michaud

I’m a variety freak — someone who loves to mix it up and visit as many ski areas as possible, sometimes in pretty out-of-the-way places.  Still I had only made it up to northern New Hampshire’s White Mountain’s two times over the past 12 years. It wasn’t due to a lack of desire, but more a question of geography.

view of NH White Mountains

If New Yorkers are going to cross the Hudson for anything, the obvious choice is to head to Vermont, particularly the Big 5 in the northern Green Mountains: Jay, Stowe, Smugglers Notch, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen. They get the most snow in the East and have what many would call the best terrain.

But after a whirlwind visit last March in which I hit all four ski areas in the Whites, there’s no question that the region deserves a closer look from Empire State skiers. Each of the mountains has a distinctive personality — Cannon is, as Harv called it, the quintessential “Man vs. Mountain” ski area; Attitash is a surprisingly interesting all-arounder; Wildcat offers truly classic New England terrain with value-added views of Mount Washington; and Bretton Woods is great for families.

Add to that cute New England towns, covered bridges, welcoming locals, stunning scenery, and fine food, and you have a destination region that’s worth an additional hour of drive time. Please read:

NY Ski Magazine’s
Wandering Skis: The White Mountains

Tagged: Magazine, NH

Gettin’ Schooled at Belleayre

Posted on by James Michaud

When Belleayre joined the Olympic Regional Development Authority several months ago, some ORDA stakeholders wondered aloud about the logic of adding a third ski area to the agency’s mission.

Belleayre-Lodge

Many of the thoughts were variations of: “Whiteface is known for the biggest lift-served vertical drop east of the Rockies and some of the most challenging in-bounds terrain in the Northeast, including The Slides. Gore is beloved for its extensive glades and cruising trails. What does Belleayre bring to the state-owned mix that those ski areas don’t already provide?”

An obvious answer is its proximity to the densely populated Tri-State Region: a huge, at best partially tapped market for Belleayre and the three privately-owned Catskills ski areas. Another is the potential for terrain expansion.

Continue reading →

Tagged: Belleayre, Catskills3 Comments