East and West have reaped abundant snowfall so this spring is a great time to enjoy the best of snow and ski culture.

The season pass landscape has erupted with options. Chief among them for access to worldwide areas are Ikon and Epic passes.

As the years pass by, mountain visits can blur or even fade from memory. To make a trip stand out, try one of these memorable activities for après time, a day off, or a unique experience.

Kids with a competitive spirit regularly join ski-area competition programs. Those with extraordinary drive and dreams go on to attend ski academies for secondary educations. Student athletes committed to succeed in academics and winter sports are best suited to the rigorous schedule of a ski academy.

“Going with the club is great because we ride on a luxury bus with Wifi. You can sleep, use a bathroom, snack or just relax the whole ride.  On the way home, we watch a movie, eat cookies and stop for dinner.  You get to ski a lot of different mountains, and we see people we know sometimes during the day of skiing,” 15-year old Ryan Dvorak, who typically skis with a parent on weekends through trips with the Norwich Ski Club (NSC), told SnoCountry.com.

“Wow, that’s inspiring but I don’t think my knees will last that long!” exclaimed a thirty-something dude on the chairlift.

I had shared that I had just photographed members of the 70+ Ski Club racing, including some in their eighties and nineties.

When John Myers’ soon-to-be married daughter said the three-bedroom condo at Vermont's Okemo wasn’t going to be big enough, he purchased a five- bedroom slopeside townhouse where the extended family of 18 enjoys time together. Every week 30,000 baby boomers become grandparents so it’s not too surprising that there are multiple generations enjoying vacation homes at the country’s ski resorts. 

It’s October and time to get in shape for skiing and riding.

“Getting fit will increase the fun factor for ski season by helping to prevent fatigue and lessen the chance of injury. It will also allow you to ski longer periods of time more safely because accidents do happen due to fatigue,” notes Maureen Gibeault, Physical Therapist and director of Vermont Sports Medicine Centers.

When visiting a ski resort for the first time, most people check out the trail map to plan their day. But whereas 30 years ago it was a paper map, today it is likely to be on a smartphone or computer. 

Willy Booker, head of Burke Mountain Academy which hones some of America’s finest ski racers, bemoans that kids are less active and athletic today and don’t get outdoors enough. 

One way to remedy that is to have fun at a mountain resort this summer.

The Marmot Slingshot down jacket will keep you warm on the coldest day as will an Arc’teryx Sentinel shell with a down midlayer under it. (Karen Lorentz)

The fashions are colorful, the gear rocks, and both are more high-tech than ever — reasons they’ll make you more comfortable and happier on the slopes.

The South Ridge Quad chair will return access to more blue and green terrain. (Karen Lorentz/Killington)

Killington has announced $16 million in resort upgrades that will vastly improve the ski experience while providing creature comforts that make riding and skiing easier for families. It’s the largest investment in upgrades at the resort in 20 years.

Apres-ski singing was popular with folk tunes joining ski songs in 1950s and 1960s. (Dick Smith/State of NH)

Early ski trips were largely couple- and singles-oriented affairs, with 1930s’ snow trains popularizing the social connections and good times that became associated with the sport. Many joined ski trips just for the fun of the après-ski life — skiing was optional if looking for a mate.

Jessie Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen leap onto the podium after finishing third in the team sprint at the 2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. (Andrew Shinn)

Scandinavian countries, Germany, Italy, and Russia dominated women’s cross-country competitions for 60 years, but that began to change in 2012 with the breakout of the U.S. Women’s Cross-Country Team.

Keeping it fun at Shawnee Peak. (Shawnee Peak/Facebook)

As a skier who taught two sons to ski and then had the youngest son and a grandson take their first lessons in children’s programs, I know there is no one best way or age for all children to learn a snowsport.

With both indoor and outdoor hot tubs, everyone can relax and unwind after a hard day on the slopes. (Airbnb) 

A perusal of Airbnb shows the concept of direct online rentals has caught on in ski towns nationwide. Airbnb rentals are popular for the savings and convenience they can afford and in some places supplement limited mountain or town accommodations.

Lookout Pass has popular Learn to Ski & Ride and Bring a Friend programs that run all season long. (Bob Legasa Freeride Media)

There’s never been a better time to find ski/snowboarding discounts, freebies, and deals.