It's All Downhill: A good ski day ruined

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill] Friday, March 17 [Follow Matt Pepin]( [Crash, then burn](#) In the last five years, I've been hit by another person while skiing three times. Two happened this season, and that got me thinking about how many similarities there were. -- All three happened at the same ski area. -- All three involved other people on skis. -- All three involved younger skiers, ranging in age from 10-ish to maybe 16. -- In all three instances, I was hit from behind. I did not see any of them coming. -- Just before all three happened, the last thing I heard was "Watch out!" The last one is the one that irks me the most. The tone of the last-second warnings implied I was in some way at fault. When I told the people who hit me the opposite was true, there were varying levels of surprise to what I was saying to them. All three clearly did not fully understand that they were responsible for avoiding skiers and boarders ahead of them. Fortunately there were no serious injuries. We all got up and skied away a bit shaken and upset. I had some bruises, but nothing major. The worst part was the incidents tended to linger in my thoughts and ruined otherwise fun days, and led to a slow burn that still resurfaces when I think of them. I won't get all preachy here because I think this audience knows the drill. And I think ski areas do a pretty good job of posting responsibility codes, although they tend to fade into the landscape and just look like all the other boilerplate on signs and the back of lift tickets. It just never hurts to remind ourselves and those we ski with to always be able to avoid others. Especially children, as I now have my doubts about how many of them are told about the responsibility code. So there you go, maybe just mention it to someone next time to spread the word. Now, I'll put the soapbox away. [ross_stratton] LIKE FATHER LIKE DAUGHTER: Stratton Mountain School snowboard director and Olympian Ross Powers (above photo, courtesy of Hubert Schriebl and Stratton Mountain) and his daughter Victoria (below) were among the many to compete in the Vermont Open on March 10 at Stratton. [Full results are on Stratton's website](. [ross_daughter] TRIUMPHANT RETURN: The new World Pro Ski Tour, featuring side-by-side racing, held its first event at Sunday River with a pretty solid lineup of competitors. The event brought back to life a format that was popular in the 1980s and 90s. The Portland Press Herald [had a detailed look at the inaugural event]( and where organizers hope to go from here. The [tour's website has plenty more]( including photos from the event (the one below is courtesy of Lisa Mutz-Nelson and the World Pro Ski Tour) and a great first-person video tour of the race course itself. [sundayriverprotour] LODGES REVISITED: Thanks to all who shared some feedback on last week's piece on base lodges. Many of you mentioned a good follow-up might be to focus on mid- or summit lodges, and that's a great idea that I'll try to work on, although to be honest I don't stop at a lot of them because my ski days really are like 95% skiing. Among my favorite responses were the tales my dentist, Phillip Bleak, told me as I sat in his chair this week at Carver Smiles, since some good ski talk certainly made that experience a bit more enjoyable and go by a bit quicker. Forgive me for not reprinting his stories about lodges in Arizona and Utah - I couldn't exactly take notes at the time. Here are some other lodge responses: From Laura Schwartz: I totally agree about the vibe of the main Mansfield lodge at Stowe being great - it's pretty cozy and retro. I do want to register my main complaint about almost all base lodges I've ever been in, though: the restrooms are almost never on the main floor! "Restrooms down/upstairs" is my least favorite base lodge sign. When you just need to run in for a quick pit stop between runs... and then you have to clomp up and down flights of stairs in ski boots... that is the literal worst. Any base lodge that doesn't make you do that (there are very few that I've been in!) is a winner in my book. From Kevin McNamara: I just can't get by the frenzy of finding table space, locating your ski party, storing your gear, and all to truly appreciate a base lodge. I would have much preferred a review of mid/top of the mountain places to eat and socialize. Totally different ambiance. Everyone has already skied a bit, scenery is usually much better. Access to outside seating/dining is a must. I would rather spend time at Camp III than the Octagon Lodge [at Loon]. Who wouldn't rather lunch at Bullwinkle's than the mayhem at the bottom of the hill? From Kathy Cullen: We are longtime skiers but now that our kids are branching out we just recently discovered Pat's Peak and we love the well-worn and homey lodge, partly for their policy that no one can leave stuff on or under a table (thus always plenty of space!!!), and partly because of the second floor bar, sitting out on the balcony, with a beer on a sunny warm day. 'Nuf said. From John Zimmer: I would add to that list the simplicity of the mid-mountain lodge at Burke Mountain. Rustic building w/old wooden tables and benches for seating add some old school charm. Can't beat the Bear Den Lounge that shares the building. The best however is the lodge at the top of Sutton mountain in Sutton QC. Lots of ancient charm with great views, a huge open circular fireplace in the middle of the lodge and French influenced cuisine served by a chef in a chef's hat... not your typical lodge food. Even the composting restrooms just outside lend some charm?! From Gregory Dennis: Allyn's Lodge at Sugarbush mid-mountain is a little gem. It's old(ish), small and cozy, has a fireplace, friendly staff behind the counter serving drinks and a few eats, and even ecologically preferable waterless rest rooms. And did I mention the fireplace? As someone who lives in the Middlebury, Vt., area, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the lodge at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl. It's rarely crowded, has a library and kids area, and serves good soup from the college kitchens down the mountain. Plus for us locals, we can always count on running into friends in the lodge between runs. From Benjamin Gardner: Pico, with its historic ambiance and large fireplaces is great for families ... and, at the other end of the newness spectrum, Killington's peak restaurant is like the restaurant at the top of a tall city skyscraper with large windows enjoying superb views. FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE: The latest Mountain Report [takes us to Le Massif de Charlevoix in Quebec](. Halley O'Brien's Snow Report brings us the latest moose sightings on the slopes [before exploring cowbell etiquette while at this week's World Cup finals in Aspen](. SILLY SEASON: Loon is holding its annual cardboard box race on Sunday. [Full details here]( if you are headed that way this weekend. FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD: All those New England ski areas that decided to take the risk of making snow in early March to rebound from that February warmup were rewarded this week by a big storm you may have heard about. But Wachusett Mountain likely would have still been going strong because of the massive upgrades made to its system last summer and fall. Boston.com's Hayden Bird [got a firsthand look recently]( at Wachusett's impressive snowmaking operations, and reports the Princeton, Mass., ski area is aiming to stay open into April. [Like It's All Downhill? Tell a friend to subscribe](. 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