Magic Mountain seems like our kind of place: an underdog known for its tree skiing that is getting by on natural snow, great terrain, and the dedication of an extremely loyal following.
We caught up with the man who could be its most dedicated fan to find out what makes Magic special. What follows is our interview with Matt Cote, Magic’s man of steel.
When did you start skiing?
I grew up just outside Springfield, MA. On a trip to Berkshire East, my guide put me on rental snowlerbladez (I think in hindsight they wanted me dead). It was icy, really icy.
Let’s face it: at best, nordic combined — where athletes race cross-country after jumping — is not on most Americans’ radar. When Johnny Spillane won the U.S.’s first World Championship gold in 2003, it didn’t elicit a yawn outside the nordic ski community. But when the U.S. broke through for four nordic combined medals in the 2010 Winter Olympics, it got people’s attention.
