It’s finally turning to winter here with close to a foot of snow since Thursday! The mountain is white and the weather pattern has hopefully changed for good. Besides the skiing, what makes Magic special is the community of skiers and riders here. And, that community got together to raise funds for the refurbishing of one of the great double chair lifts in the US–Magic’s Red Chair. This morning we had an opportunity to thank the over 178 people who “bought” a chair. It was a fun dedication, and there are special prizes all day for those riding chair #50 in honor of our 50 years of peak to bottom skiing. Check the video of the dedication on our youtube channel!
The snow is coming! The Red Chair is being celebrated Saturday at 8:30. The snowmaking crew will start heading west over the weekend. The Black Line Brew Pub will be rockin’ with music, NFL Playoffs, shotskis and a Bloody Bar. #50 chair riders get a little giveaway in honor of our 50-Years. The tube park stays open till 7pm on holidays for the kids (and wannabe kids). And, for many, it is a 3-day holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, jr. So why not bring a friend to see what Magic is all about? They’ll thank you. Especially if you buy them a 25% off ticket while they last at our online store!
There is no doubt that mother-nature is in a sour mood. But, that does not mean we have to be. At Magic, there could be plenty to moan about, but the community here tends to try to make the best of whatever obstacles are thown in the way. We may not have 200 guns and lots of trails open, but that did not stop our skiers from enjoying great runs all week long here at Magic and having fun together. We have a great mile of skiing–not “miles” like at other resorts–but everyone has said our mile is really skiing great compared to what else is out there. So here is a mile-long video of Magic’s “miracle” given what mother-nature has failed to provide. Hope you enjoy it on our YouTube Channel!
Check out the two latest stories from the Boston Herald and NY Post this week. Now, if we can just get some more snow up here to add even more headlines for our skiers! Think Snow! It’s gonna come….
Nothing like the first run of the season at Magic, even if it’s a week late. Squeezing into the boots, locking them into the skis, and enjoying that beautiful first ride up the newly painted and refurbished Red Chair. The crew did a great job laying down some nice cord on some fine man-made Magic snow mixed in with a bit of Mother Nature’s own. Upper Magic Carpet to Trick to Wand to Show Off is a fun East Side top to bottom run. It’s not for beginners, but intermediates will find it challenging while the advanced and expert skiers can let it rip (safely of course). Wish there was more, but we need a little cooperation from above. Until then, pretty darn good for the first run of the season! A tradition that started 50 years ago here in Londonderry Vermont.
It’s steep and the trails are narrow. It has an abundance of tree runs and cliffs to launch off of. It’s Magic Mountain, and it’s uniquely awesome. As an adult these features may be intimidating. To kids they are fun and exciting, a natural playground at its finest, which is most fun when skied properly and safely.
This year is the dawn of a new era of young skiers at Magic. This year we are proud to announce the creation of a freeskiing team. The three coaches: Matt Tabrys, Jake Kravitz and I have big goals and expectations for this team, our athletes and the future of Magic skiers. What exactly is a freeskiing team you ask? Well, it can be defined a few different ways depending on whom you ask and what mountain they train at. Well our freeskiing team isn’t about learning to grind rails and hit 40 foot jumps in the terrain park. Nope, our freeskiing team is about learning to ski real terrain on a real mountain. Terrain that is steep, rocky, full of cliffs, and terrain that is often the most fun…in the trees. Oh and we love powder! Our goal is to help young skiers learn the skills to ski this great terrain to the best of their ability under the guidance of three very skilled coaches. We are going to be competing in the Ski The East Freeride Tour at various times throughout the year (one stop being at Magic in March) and also compete in our homegrown event The Black Magic Extreme Challenge.
Magic is the type of mountain that should and will breed absolutely ripping little skiers. These young skiers grow up into adults that pass this legacy, this love and this passion onto their own children someday. We couldn’t be more pleased to be able to be a part of helping grow this next generation of Magic skiers.
Think snow!
-Danielle Lillard
Director of Magic Freeskiing Program
We have so many things for which to be thankful. A great ski season this past year, with ample snow and skiers. The unbelieveable resiliency of Vermonters after the destruction of Irene. The dedication and commitment of our workers and many volunteers to continue to make improvements to Magic each and every year. The many individuals and families who have personally invested in, and believe in, the future of this ski area. The distinctive physical resource of this great mountain which has provided so many memorable adventures and thrills over the last 50 years based on the initial vision of Hans Thorner. But, most importantly, we give thanks to the passionate and growing community of Magic “faithful” who really make this a fun and welcoming place to visit or call a “winter home”.
So, on behalf of our “faithful” family to yours, please enjoy a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. We’ll see you on the slopes soon!
The Boston Globe business section on 11/15 covers Magic’s “Second Life”. It’s really a story about the dedication of our community of workers and volunteers to see Magic get beyond survival and into the revival of an authentic Vermont ski mountain and culture. Check it out in our News Room
All this weekend, from Thursday to Sunday, Magic packs its gear into a pick-up and heads to the big city.
It’s hard to squeeze the Red Chair in there, so we left her behind. She was all dressed up and really looking forward to painting the town, er, yeah…red!
The event is the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo and it’s a chance for Magic to get in front of the industry and consumers and tell her story. We will try not to stay out too late. But after handing out hundreds of coupons and information on 3-Packs, College passes and White-Out passes, it’s important to get together for some Magic après ski show fun, too! Did we pack the shot-ski?
