Skiing: Sheer Downhill Delight
Visitors and locals alike can now enjoy hitting the slopes of Ober Gatlinburg! The Smoky Mountain ski resort opened last weekend with about 15 to 20 inches of fresh powder for skiers and snowboarders to fly down. Last weekend Castle Run, Cub Way and Ski School slopes were open, and the advanced slopes should be ready for this weekend.
With improved snow-making equipment, Ober expects to enhance the skiing experience this year with greater amounts of high-quality snow. Ober offers ski lessons for children and adults of all levels and the slopes are open to snowboarders as well. Adult lift tickets cost $28 during the week and $43 on weekends. From 6-10 p.m. during the week you can get a special $15 ski pass.
Ober offers some advise to beginning skiers who want to improve their craft this season:
-Get started now!
-Ski often!
-Skiing for 2 hours 3 times a week is better than skiing all day one day!
Upcoming Event at Ober:
On February 3, 2006, don’t miss the 5th Annual Southern Exposure Cardboard Sled Race! Compete for best race time and best sleigh design; there is even an award for the most sluggish contestant. Sleds must be made entirely of cardboard, gravity-propelled. Additional rules are listed on the entry form which is due by January 27, 2006. Entry fee is $500 for a corporate sled and $200 for a non-corporate. All proceeds benefit the Helen Ross McNabb Center in Knoxville, providing mental health services to the area. Call Kelly Hodges at 865-329-9119 for more details.