For some, last year was all downhill

By Aidan Dusenbury-Dalto | Manor Ink

I’ve always loved snow and the mountains. My parents introduced me to skiing when I was four years old and I continued until I turned eight when I decided to give snowboarding a try. After that I started snowboarding and never stopped, traveling to many different mountains and competitions. Therefore I have lots of experience in the skiing/snowboarding world. I feel that snowboarding is a great sport because almost everyone can give it a try, and maybe have a good laugh at their friends falling down.

So, in my opinion, here are the top five ski resorts in our area over the past year.

No. 5: Ski Big Bear is a family-focused mountain offering 18 trails, lots of amenities and a cozy atmosphere.

No. 4: Windham Mountain is one of the most popular ski resorts in the area and a great choice; it has lots of terrain for all ages. Since Windham is so popular, and a solid choice for many metropolitan riders, each time I went it was a bit too crowded for my liking (even on weekdays). I still had a great time and would recommend it as a lively scene.

No. 3: Plattekill Mountain is a lesser known, family-run slope closer to Belleayre. It still has lots of trails for all age-skill ranges, many beginner friendly green runs up to some surprisingly steep double black diamonds for the most daring of the group. Many locals have brought their families here to ski for multiple generations.

No. 2: Hunter Mountain is the biggest mountain on this list, with 67 trails and 320 skiable acres. It has some good terrain for beginners while also having lots of advanced trails and freestyle parks for the more adventurous riders. Hunter offers many other activities beside skiing and snowboarding, such as tubing.

No. 1: Belleayre Mountain is the closest large mountain to Livingston Manor on this list and my personal favorite local place to ski. It offers 63 trails on 175 skiable acres, and has great options for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders, as well as some nice parks for jumps and glades for dodging trees (when we eventually get enough natural snow, usually late in the season). Belleayre is one of the oldest resorts on my list – construction began in 1949, and its premier winter season featured five trails, an electrically powered rope tow, New York’s first chairlift, a summit lodge, a temporary base lodge with a cafeteria and dirt floors, and parking for 300. Belleayre was immediately popular among local residents and became a center for winter sports in the region and an economic catalyst for surrounding communities. The furthest south of the three ORDA (New York’s Olympic Regional Development Authority) ski resorts, Belleayre is what I consider to be my home mountain, and I know I’ll always enjoy my times there.

Honorable mention: Villa Roma is a small hill in Jeffersonville with three shorter runs – it’s the best option for true beginners, young kids and families that want a fun day on the snow at a value price. More skilled riders may want a little more, but they can still manage to have a fun time with friends. Villa Roma Resort offers other activities such as tubing, bowling, and many more.