Each year in late November, I make sure not to miss the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo. It’s just one of many such events in larger cities scattered across the country where resorts come together with a handful of event sponsors, equipment manufacturers and retailers to show what they’ve got for the upcoming season. There’s usually thousands of participants, hundreds of resorts, a handful of “celebrity” appearances, and it’s generally a good time – this year was no exception.

Something I’ve noticed each year at this event is the heavy competition between destinations. Who opened new facilities or terrain over the summer months? Who averaged more snowfall last season? And most importantly, who is already open? And every year, it seems that there’s one resort that really pushes the envelope, opening weeks before everyone else. In New England, that resort is Jay Peak. Read More…