LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- What better way to burn off all that Thanksgiving turkey than hitting the ski trails to get some early season skiing and snowboarding in.  The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) managed ski resorts are cranking up their snowmaking and grooming machines and opening new terrain to lure skiers and snowboarders for the holiday weekend.

Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, is planning on opening as many as 24 trails for the Thanksgiving weekend for skiers and riders of all abilities.

The mountain’s professional instructors will be on hand for lessons and guide guests through their first experience skiing and snowboarding. Parents can also leave their children at Cub Camp, a friendly and fun drop-off facility for young, non-skiing children to play, relax and make friends.

While giving your legs a much needed mid-day break, take-in lunch at the J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Café & Wine Bar to enjoy a true farm-to-table dining experience. Afterwards, head over to the re-designed Cloudspin Bar & Grill for delicious après ski fare, along with a selection of cold brews and beverages.

Gore Mountain, in North Creek, is expected to open up to 23 trails, with options for all abilities.  Terrain will offer choices of groomed trails, with manmade snow, as well as ungroomed and natural conditions for experts. Gore’s Snow Sports School will be open for lessons for all abilities and childcare services are also available.  

Guests can also enjoy terrific early season savings when they donate a non-perishable food item to the resort’s annual drive.   

Be sure to visit Gore Mountain’s Base Lodge, Straightbrook Lodge and Saddle Lodge for food and snacks, while drinks are also available at the newly renovated Tannery Bar.

The Catskill Thunder gondola will roll skiers and riders to Deer Run, Deer Run Extension and the Seneca trails, at Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort, in Highmount. The Iroquois and Running Bear trails, two of the resort’s beginner trails, are also slated to open. The Iroquois Trails is serviced Lift One while the Magic Carpet will carry guests to the Running Bear Trail.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg, in Lake Placid, has set track on 47-kilometers of trails and on Friday, at 11 a.m., the Nordic center will host its first citizen’s series race of the winter season, the Turkey Stride. Free to season pass holders and just $5 with a day pass, Nordic skiers of all levels and abilities are invited to participate in either a one-kilometer, three-kilometer or six-kilometer event. Lessons are also available.

Meanwhile, Gore Mountain’s historic North Creek Ski Bowl will be open with two-kilometers of trails for cross-country skiing and even more terrain for snowshoeing.

Before heading out to your favorite resort for Alpine or Nordic skiing, visit their web site for the most up-to-date reporting as trails, lifts and conditions may change.

For more information about all of the events and activities at ORDA’s ski resorts and Lake Placid’s Olympic venues, visit www.orda.org.

Media planning on visiting any of the ski resorts to produce photos, stories or articles from the Thanksgiving weekend, contact Jon Lundin,  ORDA’s director of communications, Email: JLundin@orda.org, Tel: 518-523-1655.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.