Snow Business: Stratton In March Is A Tradition That Endures

STRATTON, VT — What was once a rite of passage on the winter sports calendar has been rediscovered.

That is, Stratton in March.

Oh, the memories of the 1980s into the 1990s and early 2000s — trying to ski the whole mountain (yes ... even World Cup and Upper Downeaster), the gondola, expansion into Kidderbrook, partying to old-school Austrian music by the Stratton Mountain Boys, testing Line twin tips, paying homage to Jake Burton, riding the lift with hometown neighbor Tricia Byrnes and handing a champagne-drenched Shaun White a towel at the U.S. Open, a night at the Stratton Mountain Club goofing in front of celebrity parking spaces, touring the Long House penthouse and ultimately curing the munchies at Rick's Tavern on Route 30 when heading home.

Alas, between demands of the annual Eastern Ski Writers tour and kids coming, the routine took a bit of a hiatus. But for the past two seasons, despite being older and a bit slower, the March schedule includes Stratton again.

One huge reason is atmosphere. As conglomerate ownership has taken over the industry, it seems we can so nothing about soaring prices and consumers essentially being forced to purchase mega-passes. With it has come a corporate feel at many snow sports resorts. So a less-than-triumphant return was expected last year on a March visit to Stratton.

Well, that wasn't the case. Stratton still has that traditional feel to it while keeping up with industry trends and demands and that carried over to last Saturday. Maybe it's the classic feel of the base lodge and maybe it's familiarity with the trail system. Maybe it's that spring skiing party atmosphere at the Sun Bowl.

With any reasoning, it just feels right and the whole mountain seemed devoid of consumer consternation.

"It's continuity," Stratton Senior Marketing Director Myra Foster said. She should know with a three-decade tenure there.

"So much has changed (in the industry) and what endures is Stratton's people and the community," she added.

Foster used Byrnes as an example. She competed at Stratton on a world stage, but now comes back with her family.

"That's what it is," Foster said. "Everyone seems to come back to Stratton."

This year's March excursion brought the vehicle to the Sun Bowl. For those unfamiliar with that part of Stratton, it's at the far end of the resort, way to the left when looking at the map. It's a bit off the beaten path, but that's the point — and it offers something for everyone.

It was the right choice. Though all 99 trails were open with deep bases, the Sun Bowl is made for March. The staff left the trails un-groomed with a coating of fresh snow. Customers brought their dogs. Lunch involved tailgating. It felt exactly like skiing and snowboarding should feel. The green and blue cruisers were smooth and the black trails were fun.

That's not to say the main mountain wasn't an option, particularly Mike's Way to West Meadow to what was stellar glade skiing.

And the conversations on the gondola were downright hysterical.

But that's Stratton, which should be open to at least the second week in April and possibly Easter weekend.

Right before lunch, my daughter was asking what trail to take from the main mountain back to the Sun Bowl.

"What's your favorite?" she asked.

"Black Bear," I responded.

As we came off Black Bear, which is actually a blue trail with a variety of terrain, she turned and said, "I think those were the best turns I ever made." I thought about that for a moment and things kind of came full circle.

It definitely was the continuity of Stratton in full effect.

And Stratton now has a new fan to go with this old dinosaur.

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Chris Dehnel is a Patch editor who has been writing about skiing and snowboarding since 1999. He is a past-president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association and has contributed to several books and magazines about snow sports. His Snow Business column appears periodically during the season.