It's All Downhill: Random thoughts while riding a chairlift [Presented by BSSC]

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill. The latest from the slopes of New England and beyone by Matt Pepin] Friday, January 19 | [Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter]( SO FAR, SO GOOD Ski season got off to a late start for me, but I'm starting to make up for lost time and have many trips planned over the next two and a half months. In the trips I have taken, a few things stood out. Here's a short list. • I've seen three displays of good customer service at ski areas recently that impressed me: 1.) Even though it was not a lift line attendant's fault that I had to leave the line (I was first, too!!) to go get my pass activated, when I returned he felt bad and gave me a voucher for a free coffee. It's not a huge thing, but the fact the resort supplied people in positions to interact with customers with small ways to show appreciation and understanding is good foresight on the area's part. 2.) On one of the most bitter days of the winter, a ticket window attendant's advice during a brief conversation was really spot-on (loosen your boots on the way up, and ski a certain part of the area in the morning when it would be in full sun). Often, lift window transactions can be pretty vanilla. Taking the time to really interact with a guest shows they care. 3.) A mountain ambassador told our group of a really good spot for the type of skiing we liked to do, and then when we got off the lift offered to guide us there. • A conundrum: I've realized that while I generally don't care for old stadiums, I really like older ski areas that have that "throwback to the good old days" vibe. • That said, it's pretty hard to beat places with high-speed quad chairlifts on a weekday. The potential number of runs you can cram in is pretty high. • I've never really given tree wells -- the hollows that can form near a tree trunk as snow builds up around it -- much thought until a recent venture into some trees close to the summit of one ski area and I realized the snow I was standing on might have been closer to the top of the tree than the bottom. Now I've given it plenty of thought, and also resolved to not skip the men's room on the way out after lunch. • I recently skied with a guy I hadn't skied with in more than 20 years. As cliche as it sounds, it really was just like old times. Way back when we were out for fun and thrills on the mountain. Nothing's changed at middle age when it came to hitting the slopes. • Pole tap: Apparently Stöckli Laser skis are pretty hard to come by, and I applaud my colleague who went to great lengths to find a pair for her husband. ON THe Calendar JIMMY FUND SNOW CHALLENGE: The annual fundraiser will be held at Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford, Mass., on Feb. 10 -- a great event for a great cause. You can register as a team ($240) or an individual ($60) to participate in friendly racing competitions throughout the day. [Details are available on the event's website](. TELEMARK CUP: The International Ski Federation's Telemark Cup will be held at Suicide Six in South Pomfret, Vt., Saturday through Monday. Races start at 11 a.m. each day and there is no admission fee. [The Valley News has a detailed story about the event](. MOM'S DAY OUT: A $25 donation and proof of motherhood in the form of a digital or actual photo of your kids gets ski moms a lift ticket at Bromley on Saturday as part of its annual fundraiser for the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center. [More info is on Bromley's website](. SKI NH WEEKEND: There are deals and activities galore at ski areas across New Hampshire the weekend of Jan. 27-28. Fortunately, SkiNH has [compiled a handy list of everything that's happening](. CLICKWORTHY "HIGHLIGHTS" FROM THE COWBOY DOWNHILL: The 44th annual Cowboy Downhill was held Monday at Steamboat in Colorado, and [a "highlights" video posted by Wrangler Network on Twitter]( is sure to amuse you. EYE CANDY: Kevin Friend's The Mountain Report checks in this week with [a special cut for It's All Downhill from Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire](. RINGING ENDORSEMENT: Two people I know skied Catamount on the Massachusetts/New York border recently, and both had really good things to say about it. I haven't been there in some time, but their reports made me want to revisit it. Iseult Devlin of NorthJersey.com [published an excellent first-person report on her trip](. SHE SHOULD KNOW: Megan Harrod is the US Ski Team's press officer, but she also writes for SkiRacing.com, and [her latest is a really smart look at Kitzbuehel, Austria]( where the men's World Cup circuit is this week for the traditional Hahnenkamm downhill. It brings you an insider look from the perspective of a ski coach, a ski racer, and a fan, written by someone who's been there a few times. TOUGH LUCK: It'll be hard not to wince when [you watch this video]( headlined on TheInertia.com as "This guy experienced the worst heli-skiing run possible." It's probably not really the worst one ever, but it's close. SNOWBOARDING'S RISE: The remarkable rise of snowboarding from a rebel sport banned in some locations to one that will be among the most popular at next month's Olympics is [expertly covered in a recent episode of NBC's The Podium podcast](. That was the first episode of this podcast that I've listened to, but it sure has a lot of promise as the games Feb. 9-25 approach. [Subscribe to BostonGlobe.com]( SKI AREA AHEAD Care to guess which ski area is on the horizon in this photo? Don't scroll too quick -- the answer is below. That's Okemo in Vermont. Photo was taken as you approach from the south. [Like It's All Downhill? Tell a friend to subscribe.]( [Sign up for more Boston Globe newsletters.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( About This Email You received this message because you signed up for the It's All Downhill newsletter. To automatically unsubscribe, [please click here.]( Please note: this will unsubscribe you from the newsletter only. If you wish to cancel your BostonGlobe.com subscription, please call 1-888-MY-GLOBE (1-888-694-5623). [Manage Your Account]( | [Terms of Service]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Help Center]( | [Advertise](mailto:mbentley@globe.com?subject=Advertising in BostonGlobe.com) Address: The Boston Globe 1 Exchange Place Suite 201 Boston, MA 02109-2132 ©Copyright 2018 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC