January 31, 2012
We recently gave a away an all-inclusive trip for two on St. John’s radio station HITS FM. The lucky winners were Lori & Jamie Letto and when she got home, Lori sent us this note.

Just wanted to send along a HUGE thank you again for this awesome prize. Jamie and I had such a fun weekend out there with 2 beautiful days of weather and we got in lots of snowboarding. This weekend away is just what this “new Mommy & Daddy” needed ….. even though we were pretty sore and our bodies were hating us on the return home. haha

Everyone was so accommodating and we could not ask for better customer service during our stay.

Thanks again you really out did yourselves

Lori Letto

By Erika Bailey
Erika Bailey is a self-described 38 year old snowboarder … or more like a woman on a snowboard, really. She’s visiting from Toronto and is excited it is snowing!

Five years ago I started snowboarding. I was 34. And I learned here at Marble Mountain.

At the time it seemed like the perfect suicide mission. I was petrified. But it matched my criteria: face fears of heights and speed. My friends thought I was nuts. They said things like “Oh, I’m way too old for that” and “Isn’t it really, really cold?” and “If only I had learned that when I was younger”. Others just looked at me with incredulity, disbelief, confusion and admiration. Jealousy, even. Perhaps I am nuts, but I loved it.

Since then, I return at least twice a year to play at Marble. This year one of my Toronto friends asked why Newfoundland? Why snowboarding?

I was thinking about this last week. Outside the lodge, two girls dressed in turquoise, yellow, purple and orange, played in the snow after last run. They laughed breathlessly, entirely absorbed in the moment, testing their strength against one another. They reminded me of… well, of me. When I was that age. And then I realized they reminded me of me at my current age too, stomping into the lodge in my snow-dusted jacket, face warm from the smack of cool air and fabulous snow, ready for a cup of tea.

See, snowboarding helps me reconnect with my 10-year-old self. I take risks, I push my physical limits, I face my fears. I reconnect with nature; coming from flat-as-a-pancake Ontario, the views will always take my breath away. Mostly, I reunite with my deep-in-the-soul sense of fun.

Five years later, I have faced my fear of heights. I am not entirely certain I can call my measured descent ‘speedy’, but I love the rush of riding all the same. Most of all, I am grateful for my visits to Marble and this beautiful province to reconnect with my playful side.

By Justin Whittle of NL Freeride

Marble opened Boxing Day as planned, and I was lucky enough to be there!  Since the first NL Freeride ski film premieres dropped in mid-September, I’ve been waiting  for Marble and day dreaming about snowstorms!

We loaded our 1st chair at 9:15AM. I was skiing with a friend who recently moved  to the area and was skiing Marble for the first time. He was also riding all new  gear and was psyched for the day….new gear new mountain! We unloaded, tweaked  our boots for the down, and off we went.

That first run of the season is always one of the best. It didn’t matter that we didn’t quite have our ski legs just yet, as we were stoked on finally getting  some turns in! We were ahead of the sleepy Christmas crowd and cranked out a  solid morning before the majority of folks boarded the lifts.

Kudos to Marble for getting the base laid and making piles of snow. The runs  were fast and made for a full day of high speed fun, with the stoke meter rising  higher and higher with each passing run!

Thanks Marble for a mach 10 opening….amp’d for deeper days to come in the 2012  season!

Humans have wished for the power of flight since the time we turned our eyes to the sky and watched the birds soar. Today, we can experience it in a plane or helicopter of course, but without the wind rushing past your ears and the exhilaration of free fall it’s just not the same thing.

Enter zip lining. It’s about as close to self-powered flight as you’ll ever come. All the freedom and excitement you’re after, yet safe as houses. Located at Marble Mountain Gorge directly above Steady Brook Falls, Marble Zip Tours has got what you need to try this awesome activity. You’ll zigzag from platform to platform along zip lines up to 1000 feet long and 300 feet high, at speeds up to 80 km/hr!

Plus, there’s even awesome scenery to boot as MZT’s location offers a breathtaking peek into the Gorge’s 200-foot waterfall and so much more. We’re sold.

And as if that wasn’t enough, now Marble Zip Tours is expanding!

Starting sometime in June, a ninth zipline will bring you right to the base of Marble Mountain. And as of May 15, Marble Zip Tour’s new office is located in the beautiful Marble Mountain Lodge.

What are you waiting for? Book your Zip & Stay Package for $299 + hst by calling 1.800.636.2725 or email stay@skimarble.com.

Check out Marble Villa at skimarble.com.

Get more on Marble Zip Tours at marbleziptours.com.

Looking for a challenging and rewarding career?  Marble Mountain Resort – a world renowned ski resort offering the best skiing in eastern Canada – is currently recruiting for the position of General Manager.

Leading a team of professionals, the General Manager will be accountable for the successful management, administration, and daily operations of the resort.  The successful incumbent will be responsible for achieving targeted results in areas of financial sustainability, client satisfaction, revenue/sales performance, and human resources management.  The General Manager, reporting to the Board of Directors of the Marble Mountain Development Corporation, will be expected to liaise with industry and external stakeholders in a collaborative approach in developing the resort as a preferred multi-season destination.

You are a leader who is results-oriented and committed to quality service.  You possess a university degree and/or college program supplemented by leadership and operational experience, preferably in the hospitality/tourism industry. You have demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills and experience in dealing with public/media relations.  Knowledge of the ski and snowboard industry would be a definite asset.

Salary and benefits commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Please forward your resume, with references, by May 7, 2010 to:

Marble Mountain Development Corporation

Recruitment Committee

P.O. Box 947

Corner Brook, NL

A2H 6J2

E-mail: joann@skimarble.com

Living in Newfoundland means that we’ve all seen lots of snow. But not everyone has had the opportunity to visit the slopes. And being a beginner – especially an adult beginner – can be a challenge. We thought we’d help out with a few tips on what you need to get started (other than a positive attitude!).

If it’s your very first time on the hill, it may be better to borrow what you can when it comes to clothing. A $400 ski jacket is a poor investment if it turns out that you don’t like skiing. If you do purchase, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Build a base layer
To stay warm without being so bulky that you can’t lower your arms, think underwear – of the long sort. Today’s “long johns” are built to wick moisture from your skin to the material’s outer surface where it can evaporate. Even if you never ski/board again, these make great cold-weather basics, and even comfy PJs!

Optimize your outer layer
Cold-weather clothing and ski clothing are not created equal. General use outdoor jackets and pants are designed to keep you warm and dry. Ski clothing considers those two things, but also allows for ease of movement. From a bells and whistles standpoint, there are no hard and fast rules for what features you need. Just try and think classic when it comes to colour and style – your gear will stay “in style” a lot longer if you do.

Socks
Having comfortable, warm feet is important. You may want to look for socks made with moisture wicking fabric. One pair of socks is usually enough if your boots fit properly, but it’s a good idea to bring an extra pair to change into part way through your day.

Gloves or Mitts
Here’s one place that spending a few extra bucks can make or break your day on the slopes. Regular mittens are a serious no-no. Go for specially designed gloves or mitts with multiple layers to wick moisture and allow your skin to breathe. Be sure you can move your fingers easily, and grip a pole. If you’re especially prone to cold hands, grab a pair with a built-in pocket for a heat pack.

Goggles
You can make do with regular sunglasses, it’s true. But goggles are ever so much better. They won’t fall off, they have vents to prevent fogging, they help keep your face from getting cold and most provide lots of UV protection. Look for a second-hand or lower-priced pair if you really don’t want to invest too much when you’re new to the sport.

Gear
If you’re a beginner, we recommend renting all the needed hardware. Just come into the rental shop and our experienced staff will hook you up with all you need: boots; board; skis; helmet; poles; you name it.

Odds and sods
A few other things you never want to be without on the slopes? Sunscreen, lip balm, energy bars, water, and heat packs.

Marble Mountain has always been supporting athletes and has been host to numerous freestyle skiers from the four corners of the globe.

We’ve been having a blast watching the Olympic skiing and snowboarding events and wish all of the competitors good luck in Vancouver!

Check out the 2010 Olympic athletes who competed at the 2003 FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships at Marble Mountain Resort:

These 2010 Olympic athletes competed at the 2002 Canadian Freestyle Ski Championships at Marble Mountain Resort:

Veronica Brenner also competed at Marble Mountain during the 2002 Canadian Freestyle Ski Championships and before retiring she won Silver at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. She will be providing commentary for CTV for freestyle skiing competitions at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Tony Abbott, Marble Mountain’s outside operations manager, takes us for a ride in the groomer and explains what’s happening with snowmaking.

Planning a vacation for the whole family is never easy. Pleasing a five-year-old princess, an eight-year-old bookworm, a twelve-year-old skater and a worn-out, stressed-out husband can seem nigh impossible. And of course Mom wants to have SOME fun, too.

Marble Mountain is just the ticket.

You see, around here, we’re kid-friendly, whether your kid likes snow or says no-go. Our Children’s Centre is a fun, safe place for kids of any age. Trained childcare professionals are on hand to keep a watchful eye, and we’re well stocked with entertaining and educational toys and activities. We even offer one-on-one care for infants, or if you feel your child needs a little extra attention. For older kids, age-appropriate outdoor activities are available, and of course there’s beginners ski lessons if they’re up to giving the hill a whirl.

So, go ahead. Arrange for childcare, and ski off guilt-free knowing your child is having just as much fun as you are. Later, when everyone’s all tuckered out and tucked in, cozy up in the lodge with a big glass of red and remember why you married hubby in the first place: that amazing foot rub he gives.

It has been called the best skiing in Eastern Canada and anyone who has been skiing or snowboarding at Marble Mountain knows why!

The resort lies in a snow belt that gets an average snowfall of 16 feet a year and an average daytime winter temperature of -5 degrees Celsius. Marble Mountain is part of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain Range, which stretches right up from Georgia in the Southern United States. The summit of Marble Mountain is 1,700 feet above the Humber River, which cuts a winding path through the majestic Humber Valley to the Bay of Islands on Newfoundland’s west coast.