Winterplace Ski Resort Ghent, WV “Where Winter is Fun for Everyone” 800-607-SNOW (7669) Press Kit

Winterplace Ski Resort Introduction

Winterplace Ski Resort – The Most Accessible and Affordable Ski Resort in the Southeast! Just 5 minutes off I-77, Exit 28 between Beckley and Bluefield, . Winterplace Ski Resort boasts 27 Trails, 9 Lifts, 2 Terrain Parks and WV’s Largest Snowtubing Park. Can’t Ski or Snowboard? No Problem! Winterplace Ski Resort has the Largest Teaching area in the Southeast and was voted the #1 Resort to Learn to Ski/Snowboard at by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. Where WINTER is FUN for EVERYONE!

One Call Does It All…800-607-SNOW (7669)! We can take care of all your needs from Lift Tickets, Rental Equipment, Lessons, Lodging and More!

Winterplace Offers: Learn to Ski and Snowboard Packages, Stay and Ski Free Packages, Free Night Skiing with All Day Tickets and Group Rates!

Discount Season: Early Season and Late Season – Hours and Rates Do Apply

Winterplace Ski Resort – Mountain Facts

 Location: Five minutes off I-77, Exit 28, Flat Top, WV – Halfway between Bluefield & Beckley, WV  Slope Hours: Weekdays: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Weekends/Holiday Periods: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.  # of Slopes & Trails: 27 Trails & 2 Terrain Parks  # of Lifts: 11 Lifts – 2 Quads, 2 Doubles, 3 Triples, 4 Super Carpet Lifts  Night Skiing: Seven nights per week on 26 Trails and Terrain Parks (Turkey Chute Closed) FREE night skiing with purchase of an all day lift ticket  Snowtubing: Largest Snowtubing Park in WV – 14 Lanes & 2 Super Carpet Lifts – 800 ft long  Base Elevation: 2,997 Feet  Top Elevation: 3,600 Feet  Vertical Drop: 603 Feet  Skiable Terrain: 90 + Acres  Longest Run: 1 ¼ Mile (Intermediate Run)  Slope Difficulty: Beginner – 41%; Intermediate – 44%; Advanced – 15%  Terrain Parks: Open 7 days a week (weather dependent) Features Include: Flat Rails Flat Down Rail A Frame Rail Battleship Rail Flat Fun Box C Box Flat Down Fun Box Rainbow Fun Box  Lift Capacity: 13,400 skier per hour  Snowmaking: 100% Snowmaking Coverage 50 Million+ gallon reservoir for snowmaking water supply Capable of pumping 7,000 gallons of water per minute  Rental Shop: Top of the Line Shaped Ski Rental Equipment Rossignol Snowboards with Step-In & Strap-In Bindings Helmet & Ski Bib Rental Children’s Skis, Boots, Ski Bibs and Helmets  Rental Sizes: Smallest Ski Boot – Child Size 8 Smallest Snowboard Boot – Child Size 1 Smallest Ski Bib – Youth Size 6 Smallest Ski – 67 Smallest Snowboard – 100 Largest Ski – 184 Largest Snowboard – 163 Largest Ski Boot – Adult Size 16 (limited quantity) Largest Snowboard Boot – Adult Size 15 (limited quantity) Largest Ski Bib – Adult Size 6X (limited quantity)

A credit card or cash deposit is REQUIRED for all rental equipment. If under age of 18, adult signature is REQUIRED.  Demo Center: Rossignol Skis & Boots & Atomic Skis (gender specific) reservations required. See Winterplace website www.winterplace.com for more information & deposit requirements)  SkiWee Program: Children agaes 4-11 & Frostie’s Kinder Care for Children 6 mo & up Reservations Required  Ski Patrol Members of the National Ski Patrol System  Racing: Head to Head Racing available during March Madness. Hours Vary  Ski School: Members of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Group Lesson Hours: 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. Group Lessons are 90 minutes Private Lessons are 60 minutes – available every hour based on instructor availability. Private Lessons require Reservations.

Winterplace Ski Resort 100 Old Flat Top Mountain Road Ghent, WV 25843

We are easy to reach – Exit 28 off All times are approximate

Alabama Kentucky Birmingham 486 miles; 8 hours Bowling Green 402 miles; 7 hours Huntsville 475 miles; 8 hours Lexington 247 miles; 4.5 hours Mobile 748 miles; 12 hours Louisville 325 miles; 5.5 hours Montgomery 595 miles; 9 hours Mississippi Asheboro 200 miles; 3 hours Gulfport 818 miles; 13 hours Asheville 220 miles; 3.5 hours Jackson 733 miles; 11 hours Charlotte 189 miles; 3 hours Durham 225 miles; 4 hours Florida Elizabeth City 407 miles; 6.5 hours Jacksonville 588 miles; 10 hours Fayetteville 268 miles; 5 hours Orlando 742 miles; 12 hours Goldsboro 303 miles; 5 hours Tallahassee 745 miles; 12.5 hours Greensboro 171 miles; 3 hours Tampa 773 miles; 13 hours Hickory 182 miles; 3 hours Mount Airy 112 miles; 2 hours Georgia Raleigh 250 miles; 5 hours Albany 612 miles; 10.5 hours Winston Salem 130 miles; 2 hours Athens 389 miles; 6.5 hours Atlanta 450 miles; 7.5 hours Ohio Augusta 358 miles; 6 hours Cincinnati 271 miles; 5 hours Brunswick 516 miles; 8.5 hours Cleveland 312 miles; 5.5 hours Columbus 542 miles; 9 hours Columbus 280 miles; 4.5 hours Macon 514 miles; 8.5 hours Savannah 485 miles; 8 hours Virginia Blacksburg 70 miles; 1.5 hours Charlottesville 200 miles; 3 hours Aiken 339 miles; 5.5 hours Richmond 277 miles; 5 hours Columbia 285 miles; 5 hours Roanoke 110 miles; 2 hours Florence 316 miles; 6 hours Virginia Beach 387 miles; 7 hours Greenville 292 miles; 5 hours Myrtle Beach 439 miles; 7.5 hours West Virginia Spartanburg 263 miles; 4.5 hours Charleston 73 miles; 1.5 hours Huntington 123 miles; 2 hours Tennessee Bristol 134 miles; 2 hours Other Chattanooga 351 miles; 5.5 hours Pittsburgh, PA 258 miles; 4.5 hours Knoxville 237 miles; 4 hours Indianapolis, IN 385 miles; 6.5 hours Memphis 618 miles; 10.5 hours Washington DC 333 miles; 5.5 hours Nashville 412 miles; 7 hours

Previous Media Articles

Article Name: Winterplace Official Keeps the Slopes Safe Author: Marcus Constantino Media Outlet: Charleston Daily Mail Originial Press Date: 01/08/2014 Story Link: http://www.charlestondailymail.com/foodandliving/201401070200

Article Name: Winterplace Enjoys Earliest Opening Ever Author: Staff Reports Media Outlet: Charleston Daily Mail Originial Press Date: 11/23/2013 Story Link: http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/201311270127

Article Name: Resort Has Skiers, Mountain Covered Author: Zach Harold Media Outlet: Charleston Daily Mail Original Press Date: 02/24/2012 Story Link: http://www.charlestondailymail.com/foodandliving/201202230233

Winterplace Official Keeps The Slopes Safe Marcus Constantino

GHENT, WV — When record-breaking cold temperatures closed schools and kept some workers home Tuesday, some took to the slopes of area ski resorts to enjoy the day off. For Tom Wagner, a ski patrol supervisor at Winterplace Ski Resort, cold weather is just part of another day on the job. "When you think about it, is it really that cold?" Wagner laughed as he prepared to walk out to the mountain at Winterplace Tuesday afternoon, when the temperature in Ghent hovered around zero. "Anytime I'm out skiing, it's a great day," Wagner said. "This is my 26th year as a professional ski patroller, and to be honest with you, I can't imagine a winter not doing this." Wagner started his day on patrol Tuesday morning before sunrise in temperatures as low as minus 7 by making sure trails were marked clearly and safety paddings were in place. Once guests arrived, Wagner's five-person ski patrol team mobilized on the trails, making sure guests were staying warm and protected from the Arctic air. "The fact is, it's just a little bit colder, so we're keeping an eye on our guests a little bit more, and if it looks like someone's getting cold, we'll tell them to go inside for a little bit," Wagner said. The cold weather did keep some away from the slopes, and Joe Stevens, spokesman for the West Virginia Ski Areas Association, said temperatures below negative 20 degrees even forced Canaan Valley in Tucker County to close its slopes for safety. Despite the cold weather, Wagner said those who love the sports of skiing and snowboarding will still come out, regardless of the conditions. "When the snow is here and the cold weather is here, if you're a skier, you're coming, and that's the pretty-historical trends that take place," Wagner said. "If it snows and it's cold, the skiers show up." Winterplace receives many out-of-state guests because of its close proximity to Interstate 77. Some have never skied or snowboarded before, and Wagner said Ski Patrol stays alert for guests who may not be used to the weather conditions. "Because Winterplace is ranked the number one learn-to-ski place in the Southeast and a lot of our groups come from the South, for many people, this is the first time they've ever seen snow," Wagner said. "It's one of those things where if you've never gone to the beach before, what do you expect in the ocean? It's very similar for some of those people who come here for the snow. They're not sure what to expect, so they'll sometimes not be dressed properly or it'll be pretty obvious they're outside their element." The cold weather didn't dampen the spirits of Shelvie Rogers, Ramsey Wynne and Kalie Burnett, who traveled with a campus organization at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., to ski and snowboard the slopes of Winterplace. Speaking through their face masks, the trio unanimously agreed they were having fun on the mountain, but admitted the weather wasn't what they are used to. "It's dang cold!" Burnett exclaimed at the summit of Winterplace mountain, which at 3,600 feet above sea level, experiences colder temperatures and wind chills than lower-lying areas. "We're from south Georgia. This is freezing," Burnett said. Wagner said "frostnip," the first stage of frostbite, can set in after three to five minutes of direct skin exposure. He said taking frequent warm-up breaks, wearing multiple layers and covering the ears, hands and nose are essential on very cold days. As for his ski patrol team, Wagner said it is always prepared for whatever Mother Nature hands it. "One of the things is it's a physical job, so I would say that everyone starts trying to stay fit for this position; you don't want to come out here and put yourself at risk," Wagner said. "The other thing is we all dress accordingly for the cold weather so we're all layered up. I have four layers on today. I know I had to dress for the weather; I have two layers on my gloves. "The other thing we'll do is we'll go inside and warm up often," Wagner said. "We don't generally stay out all day skiing. If you have a 28-degree day and it's fresh powder, you'll see the ski patrol out skiing a lot more than you do today." The three students from Georgia said if any advantage can be taken from the bone-chilling weather, the mountain was much less crowded than normal. "We haven't waited in line for a lift yet," Wynne added. As long as people like Rogers, Wynne and Burnett are willing to brave the elements and enjoy a day on the slopes, Wagner said he and all 28,000 ski patrollers across America will be there to make sure they are safe. "The Ski Patrol is a group of dedicated professionals that are here to ensure the skiing public is taken care of in the event it needs it," Wagner said. "It doesn't make any difference; as long as there's snow, we're going to be here." Contact writer Marcus Constantino at [email protected] or 304-348-1796.

Winterplace Enjoys Earliest Opening Ever From staff reports

GHENT, W.Va. -- A Raleigh County ski resort is celebrating one of its earliest openings for ski season. Winterplace Ski Resort recently announced it would open Friday with at least five out of 27 trails and three out of nine lifts. The snowtubing park will open later, however. This is a little earlier than officials previously thought. The resort's president Terry Pfeiffer originally thought the resort would be ready to open Dec. 14. According to a news release, the resort will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The resort is closed Dec. 2-5 but will reopen Dec. 6. "This is the earliest Winterplace has ever opened," Pfeiffer stated. "Watching skiers and snowboarders enjoying themselves on opening day is one of the highlights of the season." Pfeiffer said the resort has increased snowmaking capacity and has purchased new rental equipment. "It looks like bookings are tracking ahead of last year," Pfeiffer said in a Daily Mail article published earlier this week. "We're optimistic about the upcoming ski season."

Resort Has Skiers, Mountain Covered Zack Harold

GHENT, W.Va. - Although West Virginia is seeing its mildest winter in years, the slopes at Winterplace Ski Resort are as white as ever thanks to a high-tech snowmaking system. "We've had good skiing all season long," president Terry Pfeiffer said. After purchasing its first automated snowmakers just four years ago, Winterplace now has one of the largest computerized snow production systems in the nation. The first automated snow guns were mounted on the steepest slopes, which were difficult to reach with manual snow machines. "We were quite impressed with it. We saw how well they did and put it on a bunch of other trails," Pfeiffer said. Over the next couple of years, the resort soon purchased several more snowmakers. Three-quarters of the resort's snowmaking machines are now automated. There are 119 towermounted snow guns at Winterplace, and 88 are now operated remotely. "It's our insurance," Pfeiffer said. "It lets us take advantage of very small windows of cold weather. We love it when it snows, but it doesn't have to snow as long as we have good cold temperatures. "We call it the Winterplace blizzard." Warren Smith, director of snow services, said the new system is a big improvement from the way the resort used to make snow. "Somebody had to go out, hook a hose up, turn the machine on, and turn the valve on. We used to have eight- to 12-man shifts out here. Now we're running three-man crews, and we're getting better-quality snow," he said. Smith can control the entire operation from his desk chair. Every snow machine on the mountain is displayed on a large flat-screen monitor. By clicking on one of the machines, he can alter any setting: from the "wetness" of the snow to the temperature at which the guns will kick on. At the beginning of the ski season, Smith said he lays down a lot of really wet, heavy snow. It's not very good for skiers but creates a rock-hard base layer for the powder that will follow. Smith makes the snow a bit drier once he's created the base layer by altering the machines' air-to-water mixture. "I can make the snow so dry it's like you're walking through fog," Smith said. The machines can't start making snow until the air reaches a "wet bulb" temperature of 28 degrees, a ratio of temperature and humidity. Each gun is equipped with a weather station that monitors temperature and humidity. Once it's cold and humid enough, Smith can activate the guns to start making snow. He also can defrost the machines while sitting in his office. Each snow gun has a built-in warmer. In the old days, workers defrosted machines with propane torches. It took three or four hours to get the whole system running at full capacity. Smith can have the automated system running at full capacity in a half hour. "If it takes you three to four hours to get to full capacity, we're now making snow in that time," Pfeiffer said. The system also allows Smith to control snowmaking from anywhere. He can log on to the system from any computer with an Internet connection. He said he sometimes logs into the system right before he goes to bed to prepare the snowmakers for nighttime snowmaking. "I can be on vacation in Cozumel and make snow up here. It's a pretty amazing system." Contact writer Zack Harold at 3044-348-7939 or [email protected].

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