Our passion for skiing and riding never changes, but each season tends to bring something new to the table. Gear up for the best winter yet by checking out the latest and greatest trends in the world of snowsports.
DREAMING OF A WHITE WINTER
Snow is in! We’re always dreaming of a snowy winter and this season looks particularly promising. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) predicts La Niña weather patterns to sweep across the nation this year, which typically bring cooler temps and more snow to the Northeast. While early season forecasts are rarely guaranteed, here’s to hoping for plenty of fresh pow days in 2024-25!
SNOWMAD CULTURE
This lifestyle trend really took off during the pandemic and has only continued to thrive. Through the introduction of hybrid and remote schedules, the American workplace is more flexible than ever, and skiers and riders are taking advantage.
Instead of going on one ski holiday a year, these digital “snowmads” are spending as much time on the mountain as possible. Many are living or taking extended trips to their favorite ski towns and purchasing season passes to nearby resorts. This way, lunch hours consist of zipping over to the slopes, doing a few runs and still getting back to your desk in time for that 2 o’clock meeting.
STYLE ON AND OFF THE SLOPES
Brands like Patagonia have become popular due to, not only its designs, but its mission to achieve greater levels of sustainability. Another brand gaining traction for the same reasons is One Tree at a Time, a company that repairs damaged garments, giving them a new life. The company Bollé is also joining the movement, through pieces like their new MIPS helmets, which are completely made of recycled materials.
Closer to home, Ragged Mountain is the perfect place to go for your base layers this winter. This local business manufactures everything in-house and sources raw materials from American companies to reduce their carbon footprint. Cranmore also has a Sport Thoma outlet onsite, offering state-of-the-art gear that has earned these popular New England ski shops six Gold Medal awards.
Another North Conway staple is Stan & Dan’s Sports (soon to be Mountain Sports Lab), which offers a variety of winter apparel, including the Dale of Norway brand. These authentic Norwegian sweaters are the epitome of cozy après attire.
We’re also expecting to see pops of bright hues dotting the slopes this winter. According to skibasics.com, yellow is the color of 2024, bringing a sense of warmth and vibrancy to the mountains. In the same vein as this color trend, 80s nostalgia is a staple of ski culture and this year is no exception, with bold prints and patterns making their way onto the scene.
If you’re in the market for new winter wear or equipment—but don’t want to break the bank—swing by North Conway’s annual ski swap. The Eastern Ski Slope Club (ESSC) will be hosting the event at the North Conway Community Center from Nov. 7–9.
UPHILL SKINNING
Uphill skinning—the process of climbing a mountain on skis, boots and poles before skiing back down—has also grown in popularity. Uphillers proudly say this is how you “earn your turns”. If you want to really take in the mountain scenery, soak up the fresh air and feel an even deeper sense of accomplishment as you’re carving up the slopes, this might be just the thing for you.
For snowboarders who don’t want to be left out of the fun, local shops in the area like White Mountain Ski Co. carry splitboards. As the name implies, these boards can be split in half to be used as two skis for climbing uphill, then reassembled to snowboard back down.
This year, Cranmore is included in Uphill New England’s multi-mountain skinning pass. Learn more about our uphill routes and this new pass here.
