LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- The skiing and snowboarding season is here. Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington; and Gore Mountain, in North Creek; open for the 2019-’20 season tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 15. Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort, in Highmount; is expected to open for the season November 29. 

The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) began snowmaking at all three ski mountains and crews have been working around the clock preparing for opening day.  

The season will also start for Nordic skiers on Saturday on the Mt. Van Hoevenberg trail system as construction continues on the complex’s new base lodge.

New York State and ORDA have made significant investments this past year ranging from snowmaking and lodge expansions to a technologically advanced gate system allowing for direct-to-lift ski passes. 

"The State and ORDA have invested more money into the Olympic venues and ski resorts than at any other time,” said ORDA President/CEO Mike Pratt. “The team has been working very hard and we are all excited to begin the winter season."

New this year will be radio-frequency identification (RFID) “smart cards” allowing guests to go directly to the lift. The “Ski 3 Card” has a chip signaling the gate to open allowing entry and instant access. This technology will help reduce wait times and make getting on the mountain more efficient and fun. The Ski 3 card can be loaded from home and will be functional at Belleayre, Gore and Whiteface mountains.  

Other projects include:

Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort:

Belleayre Mountain has expanded Discovery Lodge and will be ready to welcome in the beginning of the 2019-’20 skiing and snowboarding season. The newly renovated base lodge will allow the ski resort to host a variety of events year-round with more space, greater seating capacity and a massive façade that opens up for breathtaking views of the mountain.  The Stone and Copper Restaurant and the covered deck have also been expanded accommodating for the increased popularity of Belleayre.

On the mountain, guests can expect even more snowmaking and newer lifts including “The Lighting Quad” taking guests to the beginner area while making it easier and more convenient to access the lower terrain.  

Gore Mountain: 

There’s a new cabin at the summit of Burnt Ridge Mountain where guests can briefly warm up between runs.  This was made possible in partnership with the New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF), and the support of the Town of Johnsburg.

Gore Mountain will be the host of the NorAm Cross Tour this February and has built a new competition-level freestyle cross course on the mountain. The course finish, which meets FIS standards, flows into The Arena Trail located near the base and offers spectators exciting views of the race.   

Gore Mountain continues in its industry leading sustainability efforts with their six new Chargepoint stations for electric car charging, locally sourced foods and a solar array power plant that is the largest of any dedicated to a ski resort in the United States.   

Whiteface Mountain:

As Whiteface prepares for the alpine events for the 2023 Winter World University Games, the Olympic mountain has expanded and widened many of its trails. Gondola improvements and electrical power-plant upgrades will allow for guests to access the summit and the entire resort faster and easier.   

A new solar array (located in Champlain, N.Y.) will help supply power for daily operations.  The 12-acre, 9,000 panel system is expected to generate up to 21-percent of the required energy needed to run Whiteface. 

Mt. Van Hoevenberg Nordic Center: 

Construction continues for the new Mt. Van Hoevenberg base lodge. The lodge will be open in the 2020-’21 season and once completed, the 30,000-square-foot, three-story building will be the centerpiece to an incredible guest experience. Visitors will find retail shops, a welcome center, mountain bike shop, food services and ticket offices. It will also house a state-of-the-art start training facility for the United States bobsled and skeleton teams.

Installation of the Mt. Van Hoevenberg mountain coaster has begun. The first-of-its-kind, $5.6 million “Cliffside Coaster” is expected to open in November 2020 and follows the twists and turns of the historic 1932 and 1980 Olympic bobsled track.

Similar to alpine slides, mountain coasters do not have a motor and are propelled by gravity, and riders are able to control their speed with a brake system. The coasters run on tubular rails designed so that riders cannot exceed speeds of 25 miles-per-hour. 

Trail Update: 

Gore will be opening various trails accessible from their gondola and conveyor lifts with plans to open trails such as Foxlair, Wild Air and Bear Cub Run. 

Whiteface will be in operation with Easy Street, Lower Valley and Fox trails serviced by the Facelift. Afterwards, stop into the Cloudspin Bar & Grill for food and drinks.

Trails and lifts are subject to change this weekend. Please visit www.goremountain.com, www.whiteface.com and www.mtvanhoevenberg.com for the latest conditions.

-- 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.