- T.D. THORNTON
Best photo opportunities
Where’s the best place to snap a panoramic photo while on skis in the Granite State? Simply for its awe-inspiring enormity, the stunning view of Mount Washington on a sunny day from any of Wildcat Mountain’s upper trails is a difficult photo-op to trump. A close second is the vista of Lake Winnipesaukee as seen from the Flintlock trail atop Gunstock. This is a great shot in springtime when the lake is thawing but the rolling foothills are still buried in snow (this shot also includes Mount Washington, but it’s 50 miles away in the background).
- T.D. THORNTON
Best game on the slopes
Legendary Taos Ski Valley founder Ernie Blake was noted for hiding pitchers of martinis in the trees for his friends in the New Mexico ski resort. Ski patrollers at Ragged Mountain in Danbury hide something, too - a pink flamingo lawn ornament named Sweeps. The new tradition started as a lark last season among the rescue crew, who played an internal game of hide and seek. It has evolved into a daily game with the skiing and riding public. The first person to find Sweeps, stashed somewhere on the resort, gets a free lift ticket for another day of skiing (maximum of two per season).
- MARTY BASCH
Best horsepower on skis
Imagine a sport that combines speed and agility while skiing through a frozen obstacle course. Then - just to make things interesting - add the explosive power of a horse careening at 35 miles per hour, towing the skier on a rope. That’s the gist of equine skijoring, and while it sounds like a reckless winter rodeo, it’s actually an organized international activity headquartered in New Hampshire. Each team (horse, rider, and skier) must negotiate a 1,000-foot course that features slalom gates, “jousting rings’’ that the skier must grab, and ramps from 2-6 feet in height for the skier. The North American Ski Joring Association (www.nasja.com) has two sanctioned events in the Granite State, on the New London town common (Jan. 30-31) and at Parlin Field Airport in Newport (Feb. 13-14).
- T.D. THORNTON
Best Olympic connection
