Snow will be on the rails at Whitetail Resort

January 03, 2008|By JULIE E. GREENE

MERCERSBURG, Pa. -Boarders will be hoping to get some serious air and major spins ? or as snowboarder Chris Danzberger puts it, "sick tricks" ? Saturday at Whitetail Resort's Rail Jam.

The rail jam is the first of the season for the ski resort north of Clear Spring, said Matt See, marketing coordinator.

Skiers and snowboarders will use a variety of rails to perform tricks such as front slides, in which the participant actually slides across the rail backward; or air-to-board slides, where a person slides up a snowy slope to a rail, jumping and landing on the rail where the participant's skis or board slide across.

Or they could try more difficult moves such as a 270-degree spin.

Participants will be scored on the best two of their three runs, Danzberger said.

How the age divisions are set will be determined once organizers know how many participants they have. If enough people register, the groupings could be for ages 12 and younger, 13 to 17, and 18 and older. There will be divisions for males and females, and for skiers and snowboarders.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place, See said.

Danzberger, who works for Whitetail's marketing department, will set the course up on Stalker, an intermediate slope. He expects to use three rails, which could include a 5-inch wide flat rail and a new box Whitetail got that resembles a picnic table form in that there is a flat rail with a lower flat rail on each side.

Saturday also will be a Demo Day, in which Whitetail customers can test-drive the latest in ski and snowboard equipment.

See said Whitetail will be holding some other competitive rail jams, including one Feb. 9, and will have noncompetitive open rail jams, with no extra fee, Wednesday nights starting Jan. 16.

Other events this season include slopestyle, a course with rails and jumps, also known as hits, on Jan. 26, See said.

College days and nights start Jan. 16. College students who show college ID or their current college course schedule can get on the mountain for $29. That could include a beginner's package with a lesson or a lift ticket with rental for skis or a snowboard, See said.

If you go ...

WHAT: Rail Jam

WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5

WHERE: Whitetail Resort, in Franklin County, Pa., 13805 Blairs Valley Road, north of Clear Spring and southwest of Mercersburg, Pa.

COST: Registration to participate in Rail Jam is $10, and discounted lift tickets will be available for participants. Spectators are welcome but will need to sign a release stating Whitetail is not liable if they get hurt hiking up to the rail jam site. People can watch for free, but they will need a lift ticket if they want to ski.

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 70 west to exit 18 for Clear Spring. At the end of the exit ramp, bear right. Go straight through the traffic light in Clear Spring. Turn right on Broadfording Road. Follow Broadfording Road 1/2 mile. Turn left onto Blairs Valley Road. Continue five miles on Blairs Valley Road to Whitetail Resort, which will be on the left past Whitetail's resort town-house community.

MORE: For more information, call Whitetail Resort at 717-328-9400 or go to www.skiwhitetail.com.

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