The Holimont Blog

I’d already called it. The skis were tuned and tucked away, boots dried in the mudroom. After returning from an April ski trip out west, I assumed my season was over. Every ski area in a 2 hour radius of home was closed. I was mentally ready to move onto the next season. Then I saw that HoliMont in Ellicottville would have 16 trails open, with a forecast of 50° and sunny. My season was not done… yet.

Our season started in WNY with a magical lake effect snow cycle the first weekend of December, that brought a 5 day total of 40” before any mountains began their season operations.

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Western New York has a strong contingent of telemark skiers. Like the rest of the northeast, each of our ski areas has a passionate group of locals dedicated to making the telemark turn. There is enough of a critical mass to host two telemark festivals, each with their own style and culture.

Every year, Holiday Valley hosts Telestock, organized and operated by The City Garage, the Friday after Presidents day. Telestock is a classic celebration of the telemark culture complete with grilling sausages, beer, free telemark ski and boot demos, and free group instruction for a range of ability levels from first timers to experts.

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