The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast

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The Storm's 2022 Year in Review

www.stormskiing.com

The Storm's 2022 Year in Review

Counting back the top stories and podcasts of 2022.

Stuart Winchester
Dec 30, 2022
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The Storm's 2022 Year in Review

www.stormskiing.com

To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscribers receive thousands of extra words of content each month, plus all podcasts three days before free subscribers.

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This was a big year for The Storm. I published 140 articles – 44 of which were podcasts. In February, after two years and four months of working for free, I activated a partial paywall. It was the right decision. A large percentage of readers – far larger than the Substack average, I’m told – upgraded their subscriptions right away, and more do so every day.

That skiers will pay for content they value is both humbling and encouraging, and I will continue to create more value for them in 2023 – at least partly by tucking more content behind the paywall. Thanks to these readers and to my advertising partners – a stable that this year included Mountain Gazette, Aspenware, OpenSnow, Spot Insurance, and Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy – The Storm is now a sustainable operation, which I will continue indefinitely.

I have so much planned for 2023, including an absolutely stacked podcast guest list, a content expansion into Canada, and enhancements to the chat feature, which I hope will create a true Storm Nation. As we rev up for all of that, here’s a look at The Storm’s most popular posts and podcasts of 2022:

Top 10 Storm Skiing Journal articles for 2022 (by number of views)

10. The annual Epic Pass release story

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
2022-23 Epic Pass Prices Tick up Slightly as Vail Doubles-Down on Discount Pass Strategy
To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Organizations can email skiing@substack.com or reply to this email to add multiple users on one account at a per-subscriber enterprise rate. Vail released details of its…
Read more
10 months ago · 11 likes · 1 comment · Stuart Winchester

9. Jay Peak goes to auction

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Jay Peak Auction Set for Wednesday, Sept. 7 – At Least 3 Bidders Will Participate
To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscribers receive thousands of extra words of content each month, plus all podcasts three days before free subscribers. An auction for Jay Peak Resort in Vermont will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 7…
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5 months ago · 9 likes · Stuart Winchester

8. The Storm goes nutso

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
This Chart Itemizes Every Lift Ticket Coalition in America
To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Organizations can email skiing@substack.com to add multiple users on one account at a per-subscriber enterprise rate. Back when there was no such thing as the internet or my kids, I used to daydream about hitting every ski area in America in a single winter. It wou…
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9 months ago · 14 likes · 12 comments · Stuart Winchester

7. Come on, Dudes, this is like Taco Bell fucking up a taco

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Idle Lifts, Bare Slopes, Stunted Operating Hours: Vail Must Do Better
I’ll start here: Hunter Mountain, last Wednesday. Thirty-one trails live, all the main lifts spinning but Westway. The Flyer six-pack going, the redundant summit slowpokes going, Northern Express going, all the beginner lifts on. A warm day, swarmed with holiday skiers. Liftlines long but orderly, fast-moving. Mr. Pass-Scanner dinging Epic Passes five s…
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a year ago · 11 likes · 27 comments · Stuart Winchester

6. Some guesswork before 2022-23 season pass sales start

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
2022-23 Season Pass Sales Begin – Here’s What I’m Watching
We’ve hit bedrock here, Sarge If you’ve ever been to Venice Beach or the touristy parts of Hollywood, you’ve seen them: salesy characters, sporty and slick, California cool in their wraparound shades, sign hoisted aloft. “Be part of a TV audience – it’s free…
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a year ago · 7 likes · 12 comments · Stuart Winchester

5. The Storm goes nutso, part II

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
The Storm Is Tracking Every 2022-23 U.S. Ski Season Pass With This Chart
To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Organizations can email skiing@substack.com to add multiple users on one account at a per-subscriber enterprise rate. Last summer, in preparation for taking The Storm…
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a year ago · 6 likes · 11 comments · Stuart Winchester

4. Jay Peak’s six-year drama is over

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Pacific Group Resorts Wins Auction for Jay Peak with $76 Million Bid
To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscribers receive thousands of extra words of content each month, plus all podcasts three days before free subscribers. Pacific Group Resorts (PGRI), the owner of five North American ski areas, yesterday beat out two unknown bidders to win the long-awaited a…
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5 months ago · 10 likes · Stuart Winchester

3. Ikon swipes Snowbasin and Sun Valley from Epic

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Ikon Pass Adds Snowbasin, Sun Valley, Chamonix for 2022-23 Season, Drops Crystal from Unlimited Tier on Full Ikon Pass, Alta and Deer Valley Leave Base Pass for Base Plus
To support independent ski journalism and receive new articles and podcasts the moment they’re live, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber (paid subscription prices increase & the partial paywall begins March 14). The Ikon Pass released its 2022-23 pass suite today, raising the price of an Ikon Pass from $999 to $1,079 ($979 with a renewal d…
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a year ago · 10 likes · 13 comments · Stuart Winchester

2. A couple of nincompoops in New Hampshire want to try running a ski area for $25 per day

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Band of Nitwits Highjacks Gunstock, Ski Area’s Future Uncertain
To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscribers receive thousands of extra words of content each month, plus all podcasts three days before free subscribers. This coming Tuesday, two major megapass additions are dropping, and The Storm will have full breakdowns the instant those are live…
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6 months ago · 19 likes · 18 comments · Stuart Winchester

1. It’s a joke, Guys, but the comments suggest that not everyone got it

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Alta, Deer Valley, Mad River Glen Must Allow Snowboarding, Court Rules
To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Organizations can email skiing@substack.com or reply to this email to add multiple users on one account. A federal court yesterday ruled that the three remaining U.S. ski areas that ban snowboarding must allow the activity immediately. Calling the bans “silly” and …
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10 months ago · 29 likes · 58 comments · Stuart Winchester

Top 10 Storm Skiing Podcasts for 2022 (by number of downloads)

10. Tamarack, Idaho - Feb. 7, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #73: Tamarack, Idaho President Scott Turlington
Listen now (85 min) | The Storm Skiing Podcast is sponsored by Spot and Mountain Gazette - Listen to the podcast for discount codes on subscriptions and merch…
Listen now
a year ago · 7 likes · 8 comments · Stuart Winchester

9. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado - April 14, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #82: Arapahoe Basin Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth
Listen now | To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrading to a paid subscription is the only way to guarantee access to 100% of The Storm’s content. Who Alan Henceroth, Chief Operating Officer of Arapahoe Basin…
Listen now
10 months ago · 15 likes · 4 comments · Stuart Winchester

8. Boyne Resorts - Nov. 21, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #106: Boyne Resorts President and CEO Stephen Kircher
Listen now (116 min) | To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This podcast hit paid subscribers’ inboxes on Nov. 21. It dropped for free subscribers on Nov. 24. To receive future pods as soon as they’re live, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription…
Listen now
2 months ago · 10 likes · 2 comments · Stuart Winchester

7. Mount Bohemia, Michigan - Oct. 26, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #102: Mount Bohemia Owner, Founder, & President Lonie Glieberman
Listen now (104 min) | To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This podcast hit paid subscribers’ inboxes on Oct. 26. It dropped for free subscribers on Oct. 29. To receive future pods as soon as they’re live, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription…
Listen now
3 months ago · 23 likes · 6 comments · Stuart Winchester

6. Timberline Lodge, Oregon - Jan. 21, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #70: Timberline Lodge, Oregon President and Area Operator Jeff Kohnstamm
Listen now (87 min) | The Storm Skiing Podcast is sponsored by Spot and Mountain Gazette - Listen to the podcast for discount codes on subscriptions and merch. Who Jeff Kohnstamm, President and Area Operator of Timberline Lodge, Oregon Recorded on January 11, 2022 Why I interviewed him…
Listen now
a year ago · 7 likes · 8 comments · Stuart Winchester

5. Snow Partners, owners of Mountain Creek and Big Snow American Dream - June 19, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #91: Snow Partners (Big Snow, Mountain Creek) CEO Joe Hession
Listen now | To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscribers receive thousands of extra words of content each month, plus all podcasts three days before free subscribers. Who Joe Hession, CEO of Snow Partners, owners of…
Listen now
7 months ago · 13 likes · 8 comments · Stuart Winchester

4. Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington - April 20, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #83: The Summit at Snoqualmie President and General Manager Guy Lawrence
Listen now (96 min) | To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrading to a paid subscription is the only way to guarantee access to 100% of The Storm’s content. NOTE: a few minutes ago, I published a comprehensive breakdown of Summit at Snoqualmie’s 2030 plan, which we discuss at length in this podcast. Click…
Listen now
9 months ago · 8 likes · 3 comments · Stuart Winchester

3. Alterra Mountain Company - June 25, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #92: Alterra Mountain Company CEO Rusty Gregory
Listen now (92 min) | To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This podcast hit paid subscribers’ inboxes on June 25. Free subscribers got it on June 28. To receive future pods as soon as they’re live, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription…
Listen now
7 months ago · 18 likes · 4 comments · Stuart Winchester

2. Big Sky, Montana - April 6, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #81: Big Sky President and Chief Operating Officer Taylor Middleton
Listen now (97 min) | To support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Organizations can email skiing@substack.com to add multiple users on one account at a per-subscriber enterprise rate. Who Taylor Middleton, President and Chief Operating Officer of…
Listen now
10 months ago · 13 likes · 8 comments · Stuart Winchester

1. Vail Resorts - Jan. 25, 2022

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast
Podcast #71: Vail Resorts Executive Chairperson of the Board Rob Katz
Listen now (97 min) | The Storm Skiing Podcast is sponsored by Spot and Mountain Gazette - Listen to the podcast for discount codes on subscriptions and merch. Support The Storm by shopping at our partners: Patagonia | Helly Hansen | Rossignol | Salomon | Utah Skis | Berg’s Ski and Snowboard Shop…
Listen now
a year ago · 10 likes · 53 comments · Stuart Winchester

Elsewhere

Passes: Skaneateles, a 350-vertical-foot T-bar bump in Central New York, joins Freedom Pass (I’ll provide a more thorough write-up in the new year). No Boundaries Pass price increases to $109 and will go off sale Jan. 15. Indy Pass prices will increase Jan. 1.

Business: The National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame launches an endowment, with $200,000 in initial funding from Fairbank Group Chair Brian Fairbank and skiing heritage enthusiast Dave Holli (I am a member of the hall’s selection committee).

Expansions: An non-update update on the proposed expansion of Kendall Mountain. Cuchara, lacking state certification for Lift 4, will not re-open this year. An overview of Waterville Valley’s planned expansion.

Lifts: An update on North American lift projects as of Dec. 27. Snowbasin will build a new six-pack called DeMoisy Express, which will run parallel to the Strawberry Gondola and terminate at mid-mountain. Eek:

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
A data point to show how much the price of chairlifts has risen in the past several years: In 2018, @windhammountain installed a new, 1,700 vertical-foot high-speed six-pack for $6M. In 2022, the same ski area spent $5M on a 300-vertical-foot high-speed quad.
2:42 AM ∙ Dec 22, 2022

We’re live with the nation’s most ambitious new lift, in California:

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
Meanwhile in California, the nation’s most ambitious lift project opens at last: the Base-to-Base Gondola @palisadestahoe! Photos courtesy of Palisades Tahoe; lift operated in two sections today, and will close this week to finalize the full ride between Palisades and Alpine.
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10:13 PM ∙ Dec 17, 2022
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Trailmaps: Official new map showing Lookout Pass’ expansion:

Safety: Court rules against person suing Hoodoo for a slip-and-fall because they hadn’t bought a lift ticket yet. Blevins explores the automatic emergency calls inadvertently set off by skiers carrying iPhones.

Stoke: An ode to chairlift conversations. Sutner in Vail. Ranking Utah’s major ski areas. Belleayre was the first chairlift-served, outdoor ski area in the Northeast to hit 100 percent open, as far as I could tell. Five Colorado resorts celebrate 60. New York Ski Blog visits Magic and Plattekill on their respective opening days, plus Gore. A Bachelor exploration. Basecamp podcast talks to Sugarloaf.

This week in skiing

Camelback

It was dumping up north but I headed west, instead, to rainy Camelback for their opening day. Any other year I may have skipped it, but planted lodge-side stood the ski area’s spectacular new six-pack, a smooth D-Line bomber named Black Bear. It replaces the Sullivan high-speed quad but leaves Camelback’s fleet of old fixed-grips in place. It’s a wonderful machine:

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
Mountain Ops VP Tim Whiton tells me that the new Black Bear 6 D-Line sixer @camelback PA cost “more than $10 million, but less than $15.” Energy is HIGH here on opening day, even with drizzle mucking up our view.
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1:08 PM ∙ Dec 16, 2022
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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
A look at the interior of the Black Bear 6 @skicamelback - extra-wide seats (not heated), and a bubble to assist on this rainy day.
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2:30 PM ∙ Dec 16, 2022
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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
And here’s the first loaded chair going up on the new Black Bear 6 @skicamelback’s opening day!
1:55 PM ∙ Dec 16, 2022
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I lapped it a dozen times. Soft snow. Black diamonds for the first time all season. Then a double-black. Poconos double-blacks so short but the pitch is there and after whirly-birding greens throughout the early season it felt good to drop in. I didn’t let them run just yet. Short-radius turns all the way down. Legs screaming. Can’t risk the speed. Not yet.

Montage

A bit after noon I ambled back to my van and scattered my wet things beneath heating vents and ate lunch with the fans on full blast. It was snowing now, thick and heavy, and I drove west and north an hour to Montage. Also opening day. Snowing hard. Busy. Kids had a snow day. Teenagers everywhere. I skied with a patroller. Beautiful skiing. Long fall lines at Montage. More than you’re expecting, always.

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
I’ll wrap the day at snowy, foggy @MontageMtnPA, which also opened for the season today.
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8:47 PM ∙ Dec 16, 2022
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Windham – day 1

In the snowy evening I drove back to New York and repacked the van and drove north two and a half hours to Windham. Roads clear by then. Twenty inches fresh when we woke in the morning. I was there for this:

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
New Whiteway high-speed quad is live @windhammountain!
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2:49 PM ∙ Dec 17, 2022
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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
New Whiteway HSQ @windhammountain absolutely hauls ass. All of 300 vertical feet - a pretty short ride.
3:46 PM ∙ Dec 17, 2022
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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
Each new Doppelmayr lift comes with a ceremonial cowbell that’s presented at launch. I’m the absence of a lift company rep, @windhammountain President Chip Seamans presented the bell to his team today.
7:00 PM ∙ Dec 17, 2022
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 Afterward, turns with my son:

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
The best part. @windhammountain @patriwinchester
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9:20 PM ∙ Dec 17, 2022
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Then I skied all over. To the top of the sixer. Long winders to the bottom. The snow buttery. Sharp turns still. The best snow off Wonderama. The ungroomed beneath the lift. Easy turns in choppy soft. Toward day’s end, Windfall, narrow and icy. Treacherous. I skied the edge, as I’m wont to do, where the snow piles and I can make short, sharp turns in piled fluff.

Windham – day 2

First, this:

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
.@windhammountain President Chip Seamans presents a check for $7,000 to Windham Hose, the local volunteer fire department - now the hundred Santas are going to do a group ski off the new Whiteway quad. https://t.co/oqM5JxINRf
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3:13 PM ∙ Dec 18, 2022
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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
Herd of Santas charging down What’s Next @windhammountain:
3:24 PM ∙ Dec 18, 2022
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Then, skiing with my son, 6 years old and fresh from Saturday ski school, all day long. Endless laps on K lift. On the carpets. Covered and otherwise. Back to K.

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
Quite the mighty long carpet @windhammountain @iskiny
5:40 PM ∙ Dec 18, 2022
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Finally at 3:00 mom took him and I did fast-laps on Westside Six and Wonderama. Skiing small bumps. Carefully. Deliberately. The mountain emptied out. Everyone headed back to wherever they headed. Chairs to myself. The empty, dark mountain. And home.

Oh yeah and there’s this so shut up and leave me alone:

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The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast @StormSkiJournal
Just out here getting my snow tires put on, like I do every single year (shut up, jerks. You won).
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8:33 PM ∙ Dec 20, 2022

The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 140/100 in 2022, and number 386 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Want to send feedback? Reply to this email and I will answer (unless you sound insane or, more likely, I just get busy). You can also email skiing@substack.com.

The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing all year round. Join us.

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The Storm's 2022 Year in Review

www.stormskiing.com
2 Comments
Matthew Barr
Writes Looking Sideways: 10 Things
Dec 30, 2022Liked by Stuart Winchester

Hey Stuart, just wanted to leave a note saying I’m a huge admirer of what you do and how you’ve created this niche for yourself. I’ve been working in surf, skate and snow media for almost three decades now, and I really recognise the picture you paint about how media in these fields can be guilty of serving industry rather than consumers. It’s one reason I do what I do. But I agree with a comment elsewhere, the voice you’ve created here is really original and special. Have just subscribed to support 🙏

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