Lake Placid Loppet: The Forecast Called for Pain

I haven’t blogged much for NYSB this year. Skiing at Mt van Hoevenberg on 1 December, I crashed hard when Pumphouse Road turned from groomed powder into a rock garden. A torn acromioclavicular ligament put me outta commission. When I returned to skiing, it was decent early season conditions. No one wants to hear “It’s thin, but really good” when downhill writers are contributing stories with epic powder shots.

Lake Placid Loppet

Early on, the big storms were missing us in Saranac Lake. Gradually, conditions improved in the Tri-Lakes. Three inches here, three inches there, and pretty soon you’re skiing in good conditions. By the time the Lake Placid Loppet rolled around, we had serious midwinter conditions.

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A Great Season at Whiteface

Now that spring seems to have arrived, it is safe to say that this will be one of the best of my dozen years skiing Whiteface.

Going into the season it seemed like management had planned to open the summit as early as possible. As in recent years, the peak of the mountain was in play right away with Paron’s Run open from the top. This was several years in the making with snowmaking upgrades that were promised and now delivered.

Cloudspin opened early with good coverage
Cloudspin opened early with good coverage

Sure, there will always be mechanical issues at a ski area, but this year seemed different.

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SFM Rail Jam 2025 at Woods Valley

Across New York park jams have been firing. The venerated Scott Delforte jam at Bristol went off for the 20th year in a row. North of there at the Northampton Rope Tow Park the boys built a gnarly rail jam course with the Flower Skate Shop and hosted the Tell a Friend Tour. Out west the Boardroom hosted the 7th annual Boardroom Banked.

Grom Rail
Nose Press on the Grom Rail

Unfortunately, my season is over, a fractured foot. Still, I wasn’t content to miss out on all the action, especially not the 2nd Annual SFM Rail Jam at Woods Valley. The Stone Mercurio Foundation honors the legacy of a Rome native, by building a much needed city skatepark in his name.

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