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Pocono Powder

By Carol Reed

The holiday rush is over. New clothes have been worn—toys and video games have been worn out. We're bored. But take heart, you can beat those winter blues. Gather the kids, pack their long-johns and snowsuits, and set off for a weekend of winter thrills at Pocono Mountains.

Forget your memories of the sleepy old Split Rock Lodge. No longer are visitors restricted to small slopes and soft slumbers before a quiet fireplace. Be prepared to learn what your children already know: Snowboarding has made the Poconos an exciting vacation spot.

Nearly every Pocono ski area provides the heart-pounding action of snowboarding—a combination of surfing and skiing and skateboarding. You can watch snowboarders skillfully glide over snow-covered hills, or get involved in this sensational sport yourself. Whether a first-time rider or an expert, you’ll enjoy the exhilaration of updated Pocono trails.

Snowboard Flurry

Jack Frost and Big Boulder (Lake Harmony, PA,) offer reciprocal deals where families can ski and board on two mountains for the price of one. Big Boulder has a 600-foot vertical ski drop and 55 acres of terrain with 100 percent snowmaking. Snowboarding is allowed on all slopes—as well as the 400-foot half-pipe and terrain park called the Bonk Yard.

An all new layout, including rainbow rails and 30-foot double barrels, provide plenty of snowboarding fun for children and parents. A beginner's park is perfect for novice snowboarders. Small rails and jumps will prepare you for the big time.

Prepare for another popular boarding slope at Camelback (Tannersville, PA), where you’ll find a terrain park and an Ultra Cross park with sound system. Camelback has 33 night-riding trails.

All Camelback ski areas offer snowboard lessons and have boards and safety equipment for enthusiasts to rent or buy. And you can reserve equipment online so it’s waiting for you when you arrive.

Snow-Tube Thrills

Snow tubing is another fast-growing recreation. It can be enjoyed in an individual, kid-sized or family-sized tube that looks like an old-fashioned inner tube. It’s similar to river tubing—albeit a bit colder and much slicker. The tubing chutes at Big Boulder and Jack Frost have increased their capacity to allow hundreds of families to enjoy the experience.

Ski Sensation

Traditional skiers still populate the Pocono slopes. The majority of Pocono resorts have state-of-the art snow-making and grooming equipment to supplement nature's own white stuff. Jack Frost and Big Boulder announced they have tripled their yearly investments in upgrading of winter amenities.

Jack Frost features a new, 100-foot Ski Carpet, with Big Boulder providing a 300-foot version. Ski Carpets carry children and beginning skiers up the hill on a flat escalator.

Special programs exist for even the youngest of children. Snow Tigers, aged 3 and 4, are given fully supervised lessons that familiarize children with ski equipment and basic skills. Beginner and advanced lessons are available for older kids and adults.

Whether young or old, the best way to learn skiing or snowboarding is to get immersed in the action. Explore the Poconos’ many multi-day family vacation packages and money-saving deals that include lift tickets, equipment and lessons.

Fun-Packed Pocono Peaks

Big Boulder - PO Box 707, Blakeslee, PA 18610 www.jackfrostbigboulder.com 800-468-2442

Blue Mountain - PO Box 216, Palmerton, PA 18071 www.skibluemt.com 610-826-7700

Camelback - Camelback Road, PO Box 168, Tannersville, PA www.skicamelback.com 570-629-1661

Jack Frost - PO Box 707, Blakslee, PA 18610 www.jackfrostbigboulder.com 800-468-2442

Shawnee Mountain - PO Box 339, Hollow Rd, Shawnee on Delaware, PA 18356 www.shawneemt.com 570-421-7231

Nearby Ski Spots

New Jersey

Campgaw Mountain Mahwah
www.skicampgaw.com, 201-327-7800

Hidden Valley, Vernon
www.hiddenvalley.com, 973-764-4200

Mountain Creek, Vernon
www.mountaincreek.com, 973-827-2000

New York

Windham
www.skiwindham.com, 800-754-9463

Greek Peak
www.greekpeak.net, 800-955-2754

Hunter Mountain
www.huntermtn.com, 888-HunterMtn

Ski Plattekill
www.plattekill.com, 607-326-3500

Vermont

Killington
www.vacation.killington.com, 800-621-MTNS

Smugglers Notch
www.smuggs.com, 800-992-9386

Jay Peak
www.jaypeakresort.com, 800-451-4449

Stowe
www.stowe.com, 802-253-3500

Slope Safety

The Aspen Skiing Company will require this season’s 12-and-under skiers to wear helmets. Aspen’s mandatory helmet policy has spurred much debate: Should children be required to wear helmets?

At present, East Coast resorts aren’t imposing these requirements. And while the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and the National Ski Patrol also oppose mandatory helmet legislation, they still value helmet safety. Consequently, they’ve launched the Lids on Kids campaign to encourage helmet use.

Some helmet safety suggestions include:

• Make sure the helmet fits correctly. A ski helmet is not an item for a child to grow into.
• Educate children about the benefits and limitations of the helmet. Wearing a helmet doesn’t give permission to ski or snowboard fast or recklessly.
• Other sports helmets are not designed to provide adequate protection.

The Lids on Kids website (www.lidsonkids.org) is the newest addition to NASA’s already established Heads Up national ski and snowboard safety awareness campaign.

Here are the campaign’s seven safety rules of the slopes:

1. Always stay in control.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way.
3. Stop in a safe place for you and others.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield.
5. Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
6. Observe signs and warnings and keep off closed trails.
7. Know how to use the lifts safely.