What's New at Killington - 2004-2005, Vermont

What's New at Killington Vermont for Winter 2004-2005

Killington, Vt. – (Winter 2004-2005) Killington Resort has plenty to boast about heading into the 2004-2005 winter season. From a groundbreaking terrain park concept, to signs that are skier, rider and navigator friendly, to aesthetic upgrades and a salivating Snowshed Cafeteria, Killington is rolling out the red carpet to the skiing and riding public.

Parks and Superpipe Expansion at Bear Mountain – Bear’s 25th Anniversary
Due to the increased popularity of the freeski/freeride culture, Killington’s signature terrain park features will move from The Beach to Bear Mountain for the ’04-’05 season. Outgrowing The Beach indicated the need for a parks and pipe expansion, and this season skiers and riders will find one entire mountain with more acreage dedicated to terrain parks featuring more rails, tabletops and hits, giant pro-level jumps, and a new Superpipe, which will be maintained by the resort’s new pipe groomer.

Those looking for big air or to land a styled-out trick can hang in the parks, the pipe or take to the steeps of Outer Limits, the steepest mogul slope in the East and home to the 25th Annual Budweiser Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge. Bear Mountain’s hidden extreme gem is Devil’s Fiddle, a double black diamond trail with rocks, cliffs and its own natural terrain features, which will see increased snowmaking and operation of its own quad chair. In addition, new tree skiing will be added at Bear Mountain. Known by many locals, they will now be denoted as designated tree skiing areas on the trail map. The Timberline terrain park at Rams Head will also receive upgrades, tripling in length and a quarter-pipe will be added.

Killington’s commitment to the freeski/freeride culture will be on display at numerous events throughout the season including a NextXsnow super-qualifier that will send top competitors to Keystone, CO and the Forum Youngbloods series, which culminates at Sierra at Tahoe, CA. Other events include demonstration days sponsored by Salomon and Freeskier Magazine, the 3rd annual Loaded Turkey Rail Jam, 12th annual Spring Loaded and a full slate of Superpipe jams.

Snowmaking Upgrades
This summer Killington continued with its major on-mountain projects, including a $2 million dollar snowmaking system upgrade, which included 15,000 feet of snowmaking pipe. Areas that have seen improvement are specifically, South Ridge and the lower mountain surrounding Killington, Rams Head and Snowshed base areas. When complete, the upgrades will provide increased efficiency and effectiveness of the resort’s snowmaking system, the most extensive system in North America.

New Trail Signage for Better Mountain Navigation
This season skiers and snowboarders will notice this first phase in changes to signage throughout the resort as well as a refurbishment program for the resort’s lifts and base lodges. Over 500 on-mountain trail signs will feature an easier to interpret design that features black, blue and green backgrounds depending on trail difficulty. Navigation to and from base areas will also be easier because each will be represented by a specific color. Lift towers will also be on the receiving end of a new color, jet black.

Base Lodge Improvements
From door to door, Snowshed Base Lodge has been redesigned with guests in mind. Large-scale changes include a more spacious entryway with better signage and a renovated food court with a "scramble" system, which will offer a unique variety of items for any appetite.

In addition to the interior improvements, Killington and Snowshed Base Lodges will be freshly painted. Before guests reach Killington’s various base lodges, they will encounter a new fleet of plaza and parking lot signs that, and along with other improvements listed above, are all part of an ongoing brand identity refinement.