The crazy vacation week crowds are in our rear mirror. Ahead of us: less busy days and plenty more runs to be had. It’s called March and at just about every mountain everywhere, it’s where the ski season really comes into its own.
The days are longer, which means less afternoon flat light. The snow still falls; sometimes it seems like March and early April now surpass December and early January when it comes to ski resort conditions.
The ski world as a whole celebrates it with all kinds of fun events. From (fingers crossed) apres outside to quirky long-time traditional party events, March Madness is a real thing in the ski world: We call it March Mountain Madness. What’s even better? March Mountain Madness is fun for everyone – skier or not.
Consider these events as we roll into the prime of our 2025 ski season.
Hawaiian Weekend, Pats Peak, Henniker, NH, March 8-9: What’s more fun than marrying our love of the warm sun spots with our love of skiing?
Hawaiian Weekend gives Pats that true aloha vibe from end to end. Employee departments dress the part and decorate their areas, competing for the votes of skiers and riders all weekend, hoping to reign as the 2025 champs.
Guests are encouraged to dress the part too. Even if you don’t, you can get in the spirit with Hawaiian food specials in the base lodge and all kinds of live music.
And speaking of that base and mountain: It’s a great spot for your non-skiing family member to join you. Have them dress the theme, hang in the lovely lodge or outside where they can watch all the action. https://www.patspeak.com/
Black Mountain Saturday Sunset Ski, Jackson, NH: Continuing in its successful quest to give guests a cool, retro yet modern semi-European ambiance on a relatively old-school hill, Black Mountain has debuted Saturday Sunset Ski.
It goes like this: Every Saturday, double chair hours are extended by 15 minutes, allowing guests to load by 4:15 and ride up to their fun Alpine Cabin where drinks and food are served until 5:30 p.m. Then, a freshly groomed trail greets you for a sunset run to the base. The weekend event is free if you hold a season pass or a pass that day. Should you want to head over just for Apres? You’re in for just $10. Can’t make it Saturday? Consider their Friday Night Lights weekly event as well. https://www.blackmt.com/
The LAST Red Parka Pub Challenge, Attitash Mountain Resort, Bartlett, NH: First, the bittersweet part: the RPP Challenge, a Mount Washington Valley staple for 50 years, takes its final stand March 13 and 14.
The dual giant slalom ski race was founded in 1973 by Dewey Mark, then owner of the Red Parka Pub and Tony Ferruolo who ran Tyrol Ski Area in Jackson. Since 1988, second generation Red Parka Pub owner Terry O’Brien has managed the race along with a committee of local volunteers.
The first race was called the Tuborg Classic and took place at Tyrol. There it stayed before a stint at Black Mountain in Jackson. Since 1983, its permanent home has been Attitash Mountain Resort in Bartlett.
Now the fun part: Everyone can “race” this year. Ghost racers can do all the things with all the perks racers do, with one difference: They don’t need to actually race.
“A ‘ghost racer’ will sign up the same as any other racer and pay the same fee,” said Committee Chairperson Laura Lemieux. “With that, they get all the racer perks, just no timed runs.”
Registration is $100 and each racer receives a race hat, two beer tickets, access to an exclusive racer-only raffle to be drawn midday on race day, and a full-day lift ticket to Attitash Mountain Resort.
“We think we’ll get a lot of ‘ghost racer’ sign-ups from old-timers and retired racers who want to pay homage to Terry and everything this race has meant to the local ski community,” Lemieux said. “And, as always, we expect to see a great field of racers from around the region on course to claim the last cup.”
You can also just show up and cheer like crazy for the last show of a great race. www.attitash.com, https://www.redparkapub.com/
Those are just a few examples of March Mountain Madness. And here’s a secret for later: April is a fun month too.
