It's All Downhill: New England's ski season is still going

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill. The latest from the slopes of New England and beyone by Matt Pepin] Friday, May 4 | [Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter]( the longtail effect As the National Weather Service noted on Thursday, the temperature at Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport hit 94 degrees just after 1 p.m. Less than 150 miles to the north, the Killington Ski Resort was open for business. It’s a stark New England example of the seasonal overlap. Even as Bostonians begin to ponder installing their air conditioner units amid the first summer-like temperatures of 2018, a few will still sneak north for more skiing. Approaching the weekend, four New England resorts plan to be open (with New York’s Whiteface joining the list of eastern resorts still going). Vermont’s Jay Peak, Killington, and Sugarbush will be open for business on May 5 and 6. Maine’s Sugarloaf, which will also be open, had more than 100 skiable trails last weekend. How is this even possible? [Hayden Bird has the answers in his excellent look at the lingering 2017-18 ski season on Boston.com.]( CLICKWORTHY RIP: One of the most influential figures in American skiing, Bob Beattie, died in April at age 85. Born in Manchester N.H., Beattie was one of the founders of the World Cup and a key force behind the US ski team. He also coached Middlebury College's ski team after he graduated from Middlebury. Tom Kelly, the vice president for communications for US Ski and Snowboard, [wrote an excellent obituary posted on the organization's website.]( Beattie was also famous for his sports announcing gigs, which went beyond just skiing, although his ski shows were what he was best-known for. [Check out this bootleg copy of Beattie doing one of his "Ski World" shows]( from Mad River Glen in Vermont to see what he was all about. SPRING DEBATE: New England Ski Journal's Brion O'Connor [wrote about his five favorite spring skiing destinations]( and it's a solid list. Like anything, it's up for debate. You could certainly make the case for Stowe or Sugarbush on this list, but then who do you remove? NOT SKIING BUT WOW: I can't resist sharing [this video posted by Teton Gravity Research]( about surfing off the coast of Portugal. The waves of Nazare are legendary, and one look at this will leave you stunned at the sheer size and bravery of the surfer. All I could think of was imagine the winter equivalent of this — skiing or snowboarding as the snow moved beneath you, as in an avalanche. I can't imagine doing it. YOU KNEW THIS WAS COMING: Technology's steady march of progress brings new hope for skiers and snowboarders in search of performance enhancement. ROAM Robotics has developed a mechanical knee support to assist skiers by reducing leg strain. It is being pitched for racers who want to train longer, as well as older skiers/riders and those returning from injuries. The price tag is more than $2,000. [Read more and watch a demo on CNBC's website.]( TAKE A LOOK: Here's [a great gallery of photos]( from Jay Peak's Ski The East Freeride Tour extreme competition held at Jay's Face Chutes. [Subscribe to BostonGlobe.com]( PROGRAMMING NOTE We've switched It's All Downhill to monthly mode for the offseason, starting with this edition. Look for one a month in June, July, August, and September before we resume a once-a-week schedule in October. [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