Here is shot of Aspen and me taken by Doug Becker at last year’s US Ski Team selection event, at Winter Park Co.
Some people may know John Witt, 48, as a former seven-time World Cup winner (he won for combined freestyle in moguls, ballet and aerials). Or as the current top-ranking mogul skier over 40. Or as the award-winning builder of more than 200 luxury homes in the Albany/Saratoga Springs region.
But around Stratton, people know him mainly as “Coach� and “Aspen’s Dad.�
Witt has been coaching the Stratton freestyle team for more than a decade and his daughter, Aspen, now 15, is vying for a place on the U.S. Ski Team and ranked among the top 20 in the country.
Here’s his inside line on Stratton:
MONTPELIER, VT. — Deals aside, skiing and riding are life-defining sports valued for their diverse benefits to individuals and families alike. The sport opens doors to winter fun – bringing people together for family adventures, individual thrills or friends whooping it up. The common denominator is a universal feeling of joy – often revealed as a rosy-cheeked smile at 4:00 p.m. slope-side.
Of course, it’s nice to save a buck too, and Vermont’s ski resorts offer plenty of bargains for the frugal shopper. Here’s a list of what each ski area throughout the state has listed as their best values, but don’t stop there — more can be often be found on their Web sites.
Ascutney Mountain Resort
LUDLOW, Vt. – Parents magazine today revealed the exclusive findings from its first-ever 10 Best Snow Resorts For Families survey and Okemo Mountain Resort’s Jackson Gore Inn tops the list.
As holiday breaks inch closer and families start looking for affordable vacation spots, snow covered getaways are proving to be more family-friendly than beach vacations. Parents worked with tourism boards in states where snow is plentiful to research inns, lodges and resorts that not only welcome families with open arms, but cater to their needs.
From more than 100 contenders, Parents narrowed the field by evaluating the family activities on site and at nearby ski areas, the quality of ski lessons for young children, the standard room size and amenities, child care services, kids’ clubs or supervised play areas, and the price tag.
According to the Parents survey, the 10 Best Snow Resorts for Families are:
1. Jackson Gore Inn in Ludlow, Vt.
MORRISVILLE, Vt. – Concept2, the leading manufacturer of racing oars and rowing machines, offers Nordic skiers a new way to train without snow: the Concept2 SkiErg.
Similar to the Concept2 Indoor Rower, the Concept2 SkiErg helps athletes build strength and endurance in a sport-specific motion. The Concept2 Indoor Rower revolutionized the world of rowing when it was introduced in 1981, quickly becoming the world’s best-selling rowing machine.
The Vermont-based company is better known for rowing, but the founders, brothers Peter and Dick Dreissigacker, have also been competing in Nordic skiing since they started Concept2 in an abandoned dairy barn over 30 years ago.
“We first played with the idea of making ski training equipment in 1982, using parts from the Model A Indoor Rower,� explains Founder Dick Dreissigacker. “We have fine-tuned our designs for skiing, and are excited to bring this technology to skiers.�
