For most skiers and riders, November is a month of anticipation and optimism. As the majority of those participating in snow sports don’t hit the slopes until around the December holidays, Vermont and New Hampshire ski resorts put forth a series of events designed to stoke the cravings of those who schuss the early, white, man-made carpets and those who wait until next month.
One way is to steer you to gear.
The annual Okemo Ski and Snowboard Swap is in a new location, the Jackson Gore Roundhouse in Ludlow, Vt. Slated for Nov. 22-24, the swap is an Okemo Mountain School benefit. For additional information, call (802) 228-1514.
Great Glen Trails at the base of Mount Washington in Pinkham Notch, N.H., is holding an open house on Nov. 22 from 4-8 p.m. to showcase new equipment and clothing. They’ll have free fatbike demos from 3-6 p.m.
Rail jams also rule November, reasons to hit the ski areas.
The Big Kicker is a grassroots rail jam put on by Sugarbush and Mad River Glen. This season it’s at Sugarbush’s Mount Ellen on Nov. 23 from 5-10 p.m. A family-oriented event, donations at the door benefit Vermont Adaptive as the Sugarbush crew lays out a rail garden setup.
Jib under the lights at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, N.H., during its 14th Cease and Desist Rail Jam on Nov. 30. There’s a cash purse and the first chance to see the new features the park crew put together.
The Abenaki Cash or Cans Jib Jam at Wildcat in Pinkham Notch is a Nov. 30 rail jam at the Cat’s base. Either bring three cans of food for a local food pantry or $3 (not valid for a lift ticket) as an entry fee into the event.
It’s not a pond skim, but the seventh Cold Turkey Plunge could have costumed entrants doing belly flops into Corcoran Pond at Waterville Valley, N.H., on Nov. 30. The idea is to raise money for the Waterville Valley Adaptive Sports Program. Not willing to test the frigid waters? Become a VP (Virtual Plunger): Join team Virtual Plunger, make a donation of $50 or more and send a goofy picture of yourself to info@watervilleadaptive.com.
To get the adrenalin going for its 46th season — and get everyone ready for the debut of the eight-person gondolas — Bretton Woods is holding a homecoming weekend on Nov. 29-30 that will include the screening of the latest Warren Miller film, Timeless, on Nov. 29 and a brewfest on Nov. 30.
Another craving that comes with November is turkey. Ski areas are venues for those festive Turkey Trots designed to get people outside before or after the high-calorie holiday and perhaps run free of the family-related stress. What goes up, must come down during the annual Killington 5K Turkey Trot on Nov. 28 that has runners on Killington Mountain Road, Dean Hill Road, Roaring Brook Road and High Ridge Road before returning the same way. Sign up at killingtonturkeytrot.com.
Okemo Mountain School also hosts the Trot It Off 5K run/walk on Nov. 29. The community-focused event leaves from Jackson Gore, too.
Although not at a ski area, the 13th Zack’s Place Turkey Trot on Nov. 28 leaves from and ends at Woodstock Elementary School and benefits those with special needs. Walk it. Run it. Do it. Sign up at zackplacevt.org.
The Nov. 28 Norwich Turkey Trot to benefit the Upper Valley Haven leaves from the gazebo on the green at 9 a.m.
The 13th Lake Sunapee Turkey Trot on Nov. 28, a 5K run around Sunapee Harbor, includes a 1K race for kids. Register at sunapeeturkeytrot.com.
And then there’s the Homelight Killington Cup on Nov. 29-Dec. 1. Last year saw the largest World Cup crowd for women. The giant slalom is set for Nov. 30, and the slalom is on Dec. 1. There’s free viewing at the base of Superstar and various other ticket options, including VIP and grandstand viewing. Free concerts include New Hampshire’s Recycled Percussion on Nov. 29 and Vermont acts Grace Potter on Nov. 30 and Twiddle on Dec. 1. A ski team autograph session is scheduled for Nov. 29 from 2-3 p.m. in the K-1 base lodge.
So bring those cowbells to rock the house.
Marty Basch can be reached at marty.basch@gmail.com.