WILMINGTON, N.Y. – With 16-inches of fresh snowfall and more on its way at Whiteface in Wilmington, N.Y., all skiers and riders will be sure to have an unforgettable Holiday experience in the Whiteface/Lake Placid Region! “Our Mountains received a wonderful gift from Mother Nature overnight as a blanket of snow fell across the Adirondacks,” said New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) president/CEO Ted Blazer. “A winter wonderland is here for all of our guests to enjoy.”

Snowfall began late Wednesday evening, and expected to carry through to Friday, with estimated amounts of snowfall of over two feet for the Olympic mountain. With this new snowfall, more trails will be opening every day!

Families can find a variety of programs at the Kids Kampus to suit their needs, including the new Burton Riglet learn to ride program. Private lessons are also available at the Snowsports School for those adult first time skiers and riders.

If the thrill alpine skiing isn’t what you had in mind for the day, then be sure to stop by the Cross Olympic Sports Complex Country Ski Center at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, where you will find over 12 inches of snow on over 50 km of world-class trails, and grooming is currently in progress. The Cross Country Ski Center makes learning to ski and improving your skills easy, with lessons and rentals available for skiers of all ages and abilities.

If your skis and boots have been retired for the day, and you’re looking for a fun activity for the whole family, voted number-one for 20 consecutive years in off-hill activities by readers of Ski Magazine, the Whiteface/Lake Placid Region has plenty to offer! The Adirondacks is a winter wonderland, and it is time to go out and have some fun in the snow!

If you are feeling a little adventurous, head over to our Public Bobsled and Skeleton Experience where you can slide down the very track where elite athletes compete in World Cup and World Championship events – at speeds faster than you ever thought you would go!

Enjoy the intoxicating feeling of flying down the Snow Tubing hill as you catapult yourself down a 700-foot chute as your family and friends compete for bragging rights as champion at the bottom of the Ski Jumping Complex.

If you are feeling nostalgic, head over to the Olympic Speed Skating Oval where you and your family can skate on the same venue that five-time Olympic gold medalist Eric Heiden set Olympic history in Lake Placid, N.Y. As you glide along the ice, you can listen to the music playing lightly overhead and even warm up by the cozy fire pit.

Not only do we have plenty of activities available, but we also have a jam-packed winter event line-up that includes this weekend’s events.

Many of the United States’ top ski jumpers will be soaring into the New Year when they compete in the annual New Year’s Masters Ski Jump, Friday, Dec. 28. This event is the third and final competition in the chase for the prestigious Art Devlin Cup. The Art Devlin Cup measures excellence over the July 4, Columbus Day and New Year’s ski jumps. Centerplate, ORDA’s concessionaire, will serve hot beverages and seasonal snacks at the base of the chair lift.

On Sunday, Dec. 30, Olympic and world champion figure skaters will take to the Olympic Center’s ice and perform in the Stars on Ice figure skating show. This season’s tour makes history as skating icon Dorothy Hamill returns to the ice in what will be Kurt Browning’s final U.S. tour. These two legends will be joined by Olympic medalists Ekaterina Gordeeva, Ilia Kulik and Joannie Rochette, U.S. champion Ryan Bradley, British dance champions Sinead and John Kerr, Canadian silver medalist Shawn Sawyer and more.

Monday, Dec. 31, from 5-8 p.m., guests can slide into the New Year with a one-of-a-kind luge racing experience. Under the direction of 1998 Olympic doubles luge silver medalist Gordy Sheer, “racers” will get a first-hand experience of tackling Lake Placid’s famous track. All of this will occur against the backdrop of live, music provided by Larry Stone and the Harbingers, food and beverages. Prizes will also be awarded to the top three overall “competitors.” Sliders must be at least 12 years old.

Whiteface/Lake Placid is a winter paradise. Everywhere you look, there is beautiful snow-covered scenery all around. There is one thing that many people don’t realize, and that is they have access to some of the most thrilling, heart-pounding adventures, right in their own back yards. On the snow or on ice, you name it…we have it and it is here for you to experience!
For more information about skiing and riding at Whiteface and for more information about all of ORDA’s Olympic venues, log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.

— 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 speedskating 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.