Charleston, WV – Officials with the West Virginia Ski Areas Association have announced opening dates for the 2011/2012 season at the state’s ski areas.  Snowshoe Mountain will be opening November 23, followed by Timberline Resort on December 8, Winterplace on December 9 (earlier if weather permits, Canaan Valley on December 10 and Oglebay Resort mid-December.

Snowmaking has started at Snowshoe Mountain and this weekend’s weather forecast for West Virginia mountains is calling for five to seven inches of snowfall at elevations of 1500′ and above. A great way to get things started for covering slopes in preperation of the opening days.

Make sure to “Like” the West Virginia Ski Areas Association Facebook page to stay up-to-date of what’s happening on the slopes in the Mountain State.

The final turns of this ski season occurred Sunday, March 27. The final weekend saw fresh snow in the mountains making for a perfect final weekend for Timberline and Snowshoe Resorts.

Now all of the resorts will start preparing for the 2011/2012 season that could begin as early as Thanksgiving, of course weather permitting. Many of the resorts will be announcing Season Pass sales for next season and if you purchase early you will save.  A season pass is a great way to enjoy skiing and riding at your favorite resort all season long.

Stay tuned to this site as we provide the latest information on what’s new happening at the resorts throughout the spring, summer and fall.

The Mountains of West Virginia will start off 2011 with snow everywhere! West Virginia Ski Resorts have received over six feet of natural snow this season since the beginning of December, including a record of 70 inches in Canaan Valley. The tons of natural snowfall stretches from Oglebay Resort in Ohio County in the north to Winterplace Ski Resort in Raleigh County in the south of the mountain state.

The continous cold temperatures have also been perfect for snowmaking operations. The temperatures at the higher elevations have allowed snowmakers at West Virginia ski areas to provide the most open terrain in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions with over 100 trails open, along with terrain parks and snow tubing hills.

The upcoming weather forecast calls for milder temperatures during the day and subfreezing during the night, perfect conditions for skiers, snowboarders and snowmakers.

The snowmakers at all of the resorts have been working whenever the temperaturs have allowed, covering the slopes, creating excellent holiday conditions. When snowmaking conditions are at their best this week (in the low teens), over 10,000 tons of snow is being produced in West Virginia per hour, enough snow to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour. That’s a manmade blizzard for skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers to enjoy in the mountains of West Virginia.

All of the mountain state’s alpine and nordic areas are open. “We are going into 2011 with some of the best conditions I have ever seen for this time of year,” says Terry Pfeiffer, President of Winterplace and the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. “Anyone looking to use those skis or snowboards they got for Christmas will find pleny of snow in West Virginia right now.”

The natural snowfall has also helped open the state’s Nordic areas, White Grass in Tucker County and Elk River in Pocahontas County. There is plenty of snow in the back country for cross-country skiers and snowshoers to have fun on.

The Mountains of West Virginia have received in some places almost five feet of natural snow this season, creating awesome conditions for the state’s ski resorts preparing for a busy holiday season. The natural snowfall stretched from Oglebay Resort in Ohio County in the north to Winterplace Ski Resort in Raleigh County in the south and more is on the way.

More importantly than the natural snow has been the cold temperatures that have accompanied the snowfall. The temperatures at the higher elevations have been perfect for snowmaking operations this week, allowing West Virginia ski areas to provide the most open terrain in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions. The snowmakers at all of the resorts have been working around the clock covering the slopes, allowing the industry’s unsung heroes to create excellent holiday conditions. When snowmaking conditions are at their best this week (in the low teens), over 10,000 tons of snow is being produced in West Virginia per hour, enough snow to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour. That’s a manmade blizzard for skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers to enjoy in the mountains of West Virginia.

All of the mountain state’s resorts are open for the season and there are over 100 trails, the most of any state in the region, available for skiers and snowboarders.  “We are off to a great start, with plenty of terrain open for the holiday visitors,” says Terry Pfeiffer, President of Winterplace and the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. “Anyone looking for a White Christmas can find it in the mountains of West Virginia.”

The natural snowfall has also helped open the state’s Nordic areas, White Grass in Tucker County and Elk River in Pocahontas County.  There is plenty of snow in the back country for cross-country skiers and snowshoers to have fun on.

It is snowing across the mountains of West Virginia this weekend with some areas expected to receive nearly a foot a natural snow.  The cold temperatures also means that the snow guns are running around the clock as the trails start getting covered.  The natural snow also means the nordic areas will have some terrain for people to have fun on this week.

Four of the  five of West Virginia’s ski resorts are preparing to open for the upcoming season this week including, Canaan Valley on December 11 and Timberline on December 9, Snowshoe on December 8 and Winterplace on December 11. Oglebay Resort is planning to open around December 22.

The colder temperatures are critical as the resorts get the slopes covered for the important upcoming holiday period. When the weather is favorable, West Virginia snowmakers can generate manmade blizzards at the resorts, producing 20,000 tons of snow per hour (when combining all five resort’s snowmaking efforts), that’s enough snow to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour.

Additional skiing and snowboarding terrain, plus snow tubing parks will be opening quickly at all of the resorts, weather permitting. “Temperatures have started to turn colder and that’s  what we have been waiting for,” says Terry Pfeiffer, President of Winterplace Ski Resort and the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. “Getting all of the resorts open for the season shows skiers, snowboarders and snowtubers that they can rely on West Virginia resorts to offer the best holiday season conditions.” The majority of the skiers and snowboarders visiting West Virginia slopes during the holiday season are from Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio.

The five-month long ski season in West Virginia has an estimated economic impact of over $250 million and 5,000 jobs at the resorts and other related companies.