Retro 80s Weekend at Beech Mtn Resort

Back at Beech, my favorite event every winter season was the 80s Retro Weekend! What's better than to have an amazing throwback weekend with fun clothes, music, and everything else 80s! Although I don't remember the 80s (I only experienced 5 years of it), I do love 80s music and those oh-so-awesome retro bright clothes. Anyways, I'll quit my jabbering... here's the press release from Beech!

Photo Credit: Amy Morrison

Go Retro for Beech Mtn's Totally 80s Weekend, Feb 22-24BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. - Dig out those parachute pants or leg warmers, and don't forget that favorite bandana. Beech is going back in time again this February.

The second annual Totally 80's Retro Ski Weekend takes place Feb. 22-24 in the Town of Beech Mountain. Relive the "new wave" era while enjoying 80's bands, old school
DJs, a retro apparel contest and 80's-themed promotions.

Live music begins Friday evening with an all-80's show from rockers Buick MacKane of Morganton at 9 p.m. at Jackalope's View restaurant. On Saturday evening, retro band 80'z Enuff of Greensboro rocks Beech Mountain Resort with a 7 p.m. show at the Beech Tree Lodge.

The ski resort also hosts a "big hair and big air" freestyle jump competition - complete with 80's DJ - at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Meanwhile, there will be mechanical bull rides and an 80's apparel contest later that evening in the Beech Tree.

All weekend long, skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to wear their most awesome 80's ski gear on the slopes.

"Last year 80's weekend was really successful - definitely one of the most fun weekends we've had at the resort," said marketing director Talia Freeman. "A lot of customers dressed in their 80's ski clothes, as did a majority of our employees, so it literally felt like you were in the 80's. The turnout was great and I anticipate it being bigger this year."

Reaganomics will be in effect as town businesses offer retro deals. For example, lodging is available at $80.80 per night, with restaurants providing $19.80 dinner specials. There will also be ski rental specials in town, and one store even has three bandanas for $8.80.

"Flip up your collar and head to Beech Mountain the last weekend in February," said Amy Morrison, coordinator of the Beech Tourism Development Authority. "It's one totally tubular experience."

For complete info and details on the retro weekend, go to: www.BeechMtn.com, or call (800) 468-5506.

Get Muddy & Stuff...

Well it's that time of year again... time to get muddy on the downhill trails of Beech Mountain Resort. USA Cycling Gravity Nationals is back for the 2nd year and the course is even better than last year. The Pro line is insane, with crazy drops, jumps, berms, and a gnarly rock garden (that got the best of a few riders last year). The Am line is a lot more chill... still technical enough to put your skills to the test, but tamed down a lot more the Pro line. The Dual Slalom course is just as amazing as last year. Pretty much the same course as last year, just shaped and packed to perfection. I'm impressed at the number of girls in this event compared to last year. Yesterday I saw at least double from what I saw last year. Girls are better anyways :)

The main event is Saturday with the Downhill finals and the Brews & Views, which is an all you can drink beer tasting from over 20 vendors for only $20. The beer fest will be going on in the Village. Sunday is the Dual Slalom finals. Both days are going to be a BLAST! And better yet, my lovely friend Katie is coming to spend the day with me Saturday at the beer fest. Dustin and I are working the event Saturday morning, and I think we'll be selling beer which is fine with me because hopefully I'll make some tips! 

Anyways, I'm hoping my Master Cleanse items will come by Monday since that's the day I had planned to start it. It's not gonna be easy, but I'm totally stoked on how the outcome will be (hopefully). I think I can go 10 days without solid food, but beer and wine? That's gonna be the tough one, especially working in food service because every night is so stressful that all I want to do is drink a beer  and relax afterwards. I can do it though, I have faith in myself. :) I'll also be blogging daily when I start the cleanse. 

The Bach's Rescue Remedy pet calming aid I mentioned in my last post came today. I tested it out on Winter and it seems to work quite well. I gave her the recommended 4 drops in her mouth, and about 30 minutes later gave her the vacuum cleaner test. Normally, she runs and hides every time I vacuum the house, but this time she just stayed in her lazy stretched out position on the bed while I ran the vacuum cleaner around. She seemed a bit nervous, but didn't run and hide, which is a first for her. I'm guessing she'll be just fine on the trip to AK. 

Everyone come out to the races this weekend if you can! Beech Mountain Resort is doin' it BIG this summer and there are tons of bike, clothing, and food vendors in the Village. It's FREE to watch and will be a blast! 

Peace <3

80s Weekend

While the West Coast is getting pounded with lots of fresh pow, unfortunately those of us who live in the Southeast are watching our precious snow melt away. I guess that's what we get for having ski resorts in the south. We are expected to get about 3 inches... yes, 3 whole inches by Monday. I sure hope it happens! I'm so tired of seeing muddy snow. 

On the bright side, when the snow is melting, that just means we are closer to SPRING PARK! Oh yeah. That's a whole months worth of fun and progression right there. After the season I tend to get a bit more ballsy because I have some healing time if I get hurt learning new tricks. So pumped!

Last weekend was a blast. It was 80's weekend here at Beech Mountain Resort, and there were plenty of retro outfits to be seen. Here are a few pics of the fun...

group ski school shot

my attire

rocking it old school

our PSIA Level 3 skier killin' the spread eagle

i froze my ass off in that outfit

Beech Update

The past couple weeks have been fun but depressing. Last year by this time, we had the entire mountain open with a hell of a base. Now, we have technically 5 runs open, but it's really just one run from top to bottom. Bare spots. Grass. Mud. Rocks. NOT FUN. But the past couple days of cold weather have allowed us to make some decent snow. We'll be lucky to have another run open by Christmas. The weather forecast calls for rain by Tuesday night. There goes all the snow we're currently making. It's 20 degrees and sunny right now, just wish it would stay like that all winter! Well, in addition to a few good snowstorms :)

My riding has definitely improved since I got my new Smokin' board. It seems so much easier to ollie and pop off of nothing. I feel more stable on rails and boxes, and even landing small jumps feels much more stable than my old board.

Currently I'm sitting on the couch guzzling hot tea and taking Zicam. Thanks to whoever exposed me to the big bad cold that I now have. Didn't work yesterday and I'm taking today off to just rest and try to get better. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice, so hopefully I can get out and teach some lessons and ride tomorrow without feeling like I'm dying.

Here's some pics from the past couple weeks of riding.

^ LOVE this one!

^ locking down my frontsides

^ this waterpipe rail is fun!

^ an inspiration on my palm

Beech Mountain Resort Re-opening

Tomorrow, Beech Mountain Resort will re-open for the season! Don't miss out on the fun!

Video Throwback!

Hey Beech Mountain fans... check this video out :)

Roots Rideshop Skate Session

Incase you didn't know, Roots Rideshop at Beech Mountain Resort built a 5 foot half-pipe over the summer. And incase you haven't seen it, it's pretty freakin' awesome. I'd never been on a mini ramp, half-pipe, anything like that until this one. I still suck at it and bust my ass quite often just doing simple stuff, but I'm slowly getting better. I'm hoping that being able to skate in the summer now will help me with my snowboarding in the winter.

Anyways, Saturday was our staff meeting for ski school, and after the meeting a few people went to skate. The video below is our friend John skating with my GoPro. Check it.

Beech Mountain to Host Snowshoe Championships!

Into snowshoeing? Ever tried it? I haven't, but this 5k and 10k race sounds fun! Here's the article from the Mountain Times:

Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department announces that the U.S. Snowshoe Association has chosen Beech Mountain as the host location for the North Carolina State Snowshoe Championships.

Endurance athletes from across the Middle Atlantic states are invited to North Carolina’s first snowshoe race in the terrain that Beech Mountain has to offer. This event will serve as a qualifier race so that USSSA members can earn the right to compete at the 2012 U.S. National Snowshoe Championships in Frisco, Colo., Feb. 24 through Feb. 26.

The North Carolina State Snowshoe Championships events will take place as part of the Beech Mountain Resort Winterfest weekend. Events will include a 5K race with recreational and competitive categories, a 10K competitive state championship race and a kid’s snowshoe scramble. Previous experience is not necessary to participate and free snowshoe loaners will be available.

For more information regarding the USSSA, contact Mark Elmore, the USSSA sports director at (518) 420-6961 or via email at (usssasnowshoeguy@gmail.com)

You can also contact Brie Powell, program coordinator for the Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department, at (828) 387-3003 or via email at (bpowell@townofbeechmountain.com) for information regarding the weekend’s events.