Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Game Podcast

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 41 - The Race to Place to Face Killington (November 1, 2022)

Inspired by the Midwest’s Race to Open Mayhem, a similar first ski area to open game debuts - The Race to [Second] Place to Face Killington. With ski areas having opened in the Midwest and out West, all eyes turn back East, to a region that has yet to offer lift-served skiing. But with temperatures finally (well, sort of) dipping in the northeast latitudes, the race is on! The Race to Place to Face Killington features a bracket of 16 northeast ski areas, all of which opened in November 2021 (i.e., early for northeast standards). They are seeded in the order in which they opened last year, along with a handful of wildcard ski areas that either also opened in November 2021 or have posted opening dates for November 2022. The intrigue is real. It’s a showdown to see who is the likeliest ski area to swoop-in and steal Killington’s perennial East Region opening crown. The Tips Up segment features SkiMag’s Top 20 of East Resorts, TGR and Indy’s new short film, In Pursuit of Soul 2: Midwest Independence and The Storm’s recent podcast with Jason Blevins, Colorado Sun. If you’re up for a little fun, find a piece of paper and pencil, draw a 16-team bracket and plug-in your picks as we go. “Just some good wholesome fun.” – Matt Z

Segments:

2:45: Tips Up

9:09: Race to Open

11:35: Midwest Wins

16:37: West Gets Second; East DNF-y

19:00: Game Overview

28:40: Bracket Picks

Other Resources: https://www.midwestskiers.com

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 40 - 2022-2023 Northeast Ski Season Preview (October 14, 2022)

The 3rd Annual Northeast Ski Season Preview episode covers opening dates, new lifts, terrain expansion, weather predictions, ski swaps, entertainment, and season pass info & discount lift ticket promotions to reset the stoke. Also, not just one, not two, but at least three northeast ski areas are set to re-open this winter! The trivia questions review northeast ski area stats, shift to seasonal fun and end with fall sports, threading the needle between helpful information and utterly ridiculous. Essentially, ski trivia at its finest, friends.

5:41: Weather Predictions: The Almanacs

10:20: Entertainment & Gear

13:30: Season Passes 

27:18: Frequency Passes 

35:02: Promotional Lift Ticket Deals 

37:22: Lift, Base Area and Terrain Expansions

50:10: Opening Dates

59:02: Trivia Questions

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 39 - While We Were on Summer Break (September 24, 2022)

I spent the last 9 weeks in "Endless Summer mode" – waves, sunshine and sand in some surprising places. With hints of fall in the air, I’ve emerged from the salty deep by slogging through way too many unread, ski-related emails, newsletters and press releases. This episode represents my best guess at the more noteworthy ski-news-of-the-summer-weeks-ish stories and related trivia questions. Topics covered include new season pass partners, a record setting day lift ticket price, a new ski area name, capital projects, terrain expansions, and lost (but found!) ski areas. If you haven’t kept up with ski country news and updates over the summer, this episode will help fill you in. Probably. At the very least, happy puffy vest season!

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 38 - Saskadena Six Debuts (August 1, 2022)

A gem of a ski area in central Vermont changed its name. Formerly Suicide 6, the ski area is now called Saskadena Six, though the nickname S6, still works. I had a memorable day on those slopes back in January, 2022, so what better time to get to know the ski area better than now. The history of S6 is the history of early American, life-served skiing, so history buffs will delight in the twelve decades of coverage…in just SIX minutes (well, plus 24)! As expected, lots of “sixes” scattered throughout the episode. Tips Up suggests learning the impressive facts about the Tour de France, the future of Yellowstone & the National Park System and of course, why the name Saskadena Six (here’s a hint – The [a] Connection.) Six trivia questions (of course that amount, right?!) with a mix of historical, prestigious and ridiculously-themed questions await listeners. Enjoy Pow hounds!

Tips Up: 3:30

History of S6: 8:40

Trivia Game: 19:00

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 37 - The California Double (July 2, 2022)

Bathing suit season has officially arrived and with it, the pursuit of the ultimate summer activity, surfing. For the lucky few in LA, the pursuit of surfing and snowboarding (or skiing) - in the same day - is a thing, it’s doable, it’s called the California Double. While none of my ski family located on the West Coast has yet to attempt the feat, the strangers who have – and who wrote about it – captured my imagination. Now sure, southern California is a unique geography with waves perfect for surfing and mountain tops high enough for snow within a short drive. But the so-called California Double CAN be done on the East Coast. It just won’t be a leisurely morning dip, but a windy, gray and frigid experience (borderline terrifying). Six surf and ski-related trivia questions await. Tips Up covers a Mountain Gazette subscriber’s comically yet instructive article entitled, the Etiquette of Nachos Hill (read), HBO’s topical 100-Foot Wave documentary (watch) and Bill Simmon’s Rewatchables podcast (listen). California Heaven by Jakhoy and Schoolboy Q set the vibe for this just chillin’ on the beach listen. Most importantly, cheers to the one and only, California Double!

 

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 36 - 2022 Season Reflections & Maybe Skip a Season Pass Next Winter (June 10, 2022)

The 2021-2022 winter season has come to a close. At least in the East, with the Beast (Killington) having ceased winter operations. (Corny rhyme intended.) While skiing for most is over until late fall, I'm already back at it, talking up ripping turns by offering a different approach to maximize your mountain experience next season. The approach: don't buy a season pass (megapass). Blasphemy to some, sure, but not buying one enhanced my past ski season in countless ways. So, while you are floating care-free in the salty ocean or fresh water lakes or ponds this summer, mull the non-season pass approach. Also in the episode, Tips Up features a staying in [ski] shape article running like Tom Cruise in Top Gun – Maverick & ShowTime, James Cordon, a great summer road trip from Alaska to Argentina podcast by Armchair Explorer, and a video of skiing on a power plant rooftop in Copenhagen. And NSAA unknowingly provides the industry statistics for the trivia questions and answers. All the best this off-season, Powder Hounds!

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 35 - Jamie Schectman & Supporting Small Ski Areas (May 2, 2022)

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, we pull back the curtain on what it takes to run a small, community or nonprofit ski area in the face of large mountain, corporate competition. My guest and long-time ski industry veteran, Jamie Schectman, takes a break from ripping turns in the Italian Alps to talk about an endangered specifies - small ski areas. The good news, financial models that exist to keep them sustainable – nonprofits, general improvement districts (Diamond Peak, NV), co-ops (Mad River Glen, VT), B-Corps (Taos, NM) historic preservation licenses (Old Hickory, NY) and even ski clubs. There are also operational models, such as NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes and Stoke Certification (Mount Ashland, OR) to help ski areas achieve the Triple Bottom Line - that their business is good on Profits, for People and for the Planet. For struggling ski areas, Jamie begs them to think outside the box, and for users to become the owners (a few movers and shakers and big donors will help). Storm clouds have been brewing around small ski areas for a while now, but Jamie will tell you there are lots of options to save a ski area – and even bring a few back to life (Saddleback, ME)! Keep an ear out for the Caddyshack and Hot Dog The Movie references!

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 34 - Peter Landsman Visits [All] 480+ U.S. Ski Areas! (April 8, 2022)

This guest episode will surely make you want to catch first chair. You will hear from THE authority on lift-served skiing in North America – Peter Landsman. Peter is the Founder & Editor of Liftblog, the go-to resource for news and information about chair lifts, gondolas and trams at ski areas in North America. Peter is also a lift supervisor at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming. We talk about his remarkable quest – of visiting all 480+ lift-served ski areas in the U.S. as well as riding, documenting and photographing every chair lift! All 2,382 of them as of today (sorry Colorado Sun, but you missed one!). Peter gets peppered with rapid-fire questions about his lift passion, skiing past, 22-year epiK and iConic journey, the state of skiing, logistics and current lift installation and replacement projects. And of course, Peter gets a custom-crafted lift-related set of trivia questions he will probably ace. Find out all of that and more, in this "heavy lift" [chair lift pun intended] episode!

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 33 - 2nd Annual March Mogul Madness - Vermont! (March 22, 2022)

The 2nd Annual March Mogul Madness episode takes place in the Green Mountain State of Vermont. My OG, original ski partner in crime, Erik Lundquist, of Good in the Woods Productions, joins me for a long overdue conversation on the greatness that is skiing in Vermont. We wax poetic about our early ski days, college hoops, questionable 90s-era ski gear and awful attire, as we attempt to make inside jokes play well on the podcast (they don't/won't). The 8 ski areas in the year’s bracket are Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Mount Snow, Okemo, Stratton, Stowe, and Sugarbush. The trivia games include Vermont Spring Skiing Traditions, and five mostly obscure questions about each ski area. I promise, you will learn a thing or two about Vermont skiing. A Final “Jeff-Pardy” Question awaits Erik as he positions himself for a run at the all-time March Mogul Madness Trivia Points Leader! But first, Erik gets worked a bit; and I definitely owe him a Single Chair or Tram Ale. Which will it be? Find out in this Mogul Madness episode!

Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast Episode 32 - Magic of McCauley Mountain, NY (February 17, 2022)

This episode features McCauley Mountain, a medium-sized ski area in the Adirondacks that gets pummeled with Lake effect snow. The Tips Up segment features a SkiMag article about lift tickets under $50 (including McCauley!), a conversation about the resurrection of another New York ski are (Hickory) via the Storm Ski Journal and the big announcement from Big Sky..2025-the Final Chapter. McCauley is a must-stop for powder hounds of all abilities, but the glade and bump crowd will be especially happy. Be sure to chat up the lifties, they are super friendly and seem to love their jobs. Like, if there is an award for best lifties, McCauley’s crew should get a nomination. Of course, this episode features 9 custom crafted McCauley-specific ski trivia questions for your gaming pleasure. Finally, McCauley is a four-season mountain with a scenic chairlift and mountain biking and hiking trails, some with humorous names. Enjoy!