WHITEFACE TURNS 50 - Adirondack Sports & Fitness

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12 Adirondack Sports & Fitness WHITEFACE TURNS 50 CONT. FROM PG 1 after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. After World War II, work resumed on Marble Mountain (a shoulder of Whiteface), near the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, which attracted throngs of visitors in non-snow months to view one of America’s most spectacular panoramas from the summit. Once completed, the ski center had problems from the start. Its January 1949 opening was postponed due to lack of snow and canceled again by rain in December. The Marble Mountain ski center fi nally began full-time operation in 1951 with fi ve rope tows and a 3,350-foot T-bar lift. Transportation by Sno-Cat or truck cost $1.15 per ride, rope tow rides were $1.50 per day, and the T-bar was $4 for 20 rides. Due to the unchallenging terrain and primitive operations, Lake Placid remained an afterthought destination to skiers and Marble Mountain was eventually abandoned. In 1957, Gov. Harriman, an avid skier who had built Sun Valley in the 1930s, signed a law authorizing development of the present Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. It opened in 1958 with two chair lifts and a vertical drop of 3,216 feet, the longest in the East. “I patrolled at Marble Mountain,” remembers 70-year-old Jim Hoyt of Lake Placid. “I moved to the new Whiteface Mountain Ski Center weeks before it opened to help prepare for safe skiing and I have patrolled there ever since,” said Jim. He was named “King of Winter” and received a lifetime achievement award at the 50th anniversary celebration on January 25, 2008. A trail to be called “Hoyt’s High” will be named in his honor with Whiteface’s expansion onto Lookout Mountain for the 2008-09 season. By the time the 1980 Winter Olympic Games were held in Lake Placid, there PHOTOS COURTESY OF ORDA/WHITEFACE was a big mountain and downhill skiing was king. The 3,009-meter course for the men’s downhill races was considered one of the best in world-class skiing competition. “Since then, Whiteface has hosted a wide variety of state, national and international events including World Cup alpine and freestyle skiing and snowboarding,” said Sandy Caligiore, spokesman for the Olympic Regional Development Authority. “The people of Lake Placid and Wilmington and all the leaders who worked so long and hard to bring big mountain skiing to the region are justifi ably proud of Whiteface Mountain and being the winter sports capital of the world,” Sandy said. Discover Inlet, NY And all the beauty that surrounds us Free Cross-country Ski & Snow- shoe Trails. Free Ice Skating Rink If alpine skiing had been an Olympic sport, it is doubtful Lake Placid would have hosted the 1932 Games. And if not for Whiteface, Lake Placid would not have hosted the 1980 Games and the current sports scene would not be what it is today. Happy anniversary Whiteface! Who knows, there may be another celebration in 2009 to honor the 60th anniversary of Whiteface at Marble Mountain. Ron Farra (rfarra@nycap.rr.com) lives in Saratoga Springs and enjoys snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, biking and kayaking. He is the co-author of Winter Trails New York: The Cross-Country Ski & Snowshoe Trails with his wife, Johanna. with Warming Hut. Free Sledding Hill. Great Food, Cozy Accommodations, Groomed Snowmobile Trails, Fun for the Whole Family For maps & more: Inlet Area Information Office 1-866-GO INLET www.inletny.com
www.AdkSportsFitness.com February 2008 13 OAK MOUNTAIN SKI AREA NOW OPEN! THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY (9AM-4PM) Skiing, Snowboarding & Snow Tubing Lessons • Rentals • Night Tubing (Fri-Sun) • Quad Chair 14 Family-Friendly Trails • Free Rentals on Thursdays Affordable Full-Day & 4-Hour Anytime Rates! Adult: $24/$18 • Jr. (6-12) or Sr. (65-69): $18/$13 70-plus or 5-under: Free • Tubing: $10 (2-hr.) or $15 (4-hr.) Elm Lake Rd, Speculator 1-hr. 30-min. from Albany or 1-hr. 15-min. from Utica (518) 548-3606 • OakMountainSki.com PROFESSIONAL SKI BOOT FITTING AND BALANCING SKI SEASON IS IS COMING HERE Get your boots tuned up at STEINER’S! Home of Balance Orthotic Lab This shop is certified “America’s Best” by the Masterfit University Training Centers for bootfitting and custom footbeds Specializing in • Skier Biomechanic Assessment • Custom Orthotics and Footbeds • Stance Balancing (Canting) SKI, SNOWBOARD & TELEMARK BOOTS Ask about our professionals discount! • Boot Sole Modifications • Under Binding Lifts & Cants • Boot Sole Lifts All work performed by Garrick Dardani, Certified Pedorthist -Glenmont- 2.5 miles south of Thruway Exit 23 on Route 9W (518) 427-2406 • www.steinerssports.com A locally owned and operated specialty running and walking store with a commitment to fitness in our Capital Region community ✔ Highly trained and dedicated staff to help fit you with what’s right for your needs ✔ Complete gait analysis for footwear ✔ Sports bra fit process ✔ Diverse selection of running, walking and fitness apparel and accessories Join the Club! Visit FleetFeetAlbany.com to sign-up for our free club newsletter: and to see what’s new at Fleet Feet 155 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY 12205 (on Metro Park Rd, near Macaroni Grill) (518) 459-FEET (3338) • FleetFeetAlbany.com Mon-Fri 10-7 • Sat 10-6 • Sun 12-4
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