Traveling through an ice storm to go skiing isn't exactly my idea of much fun. But getting through the worst of it in New Hampshire, and arriving at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, things changed for the best.

There was plenty of snow as we headed up the mountain from the Jackson Gore Inn for first tracks early Saturday morning, and although a brisk wind with chilling temps, had some of the chairs swinging, the snow conditions were fantastic.

Bring on the bus!
Sunday brought out a sight I never thought I would see on a ski trail. The unveiling of Okemo's new SoBe terrain park and an old school bus, called the 'Amp Bus' that was gutted out, retrofitted, braced, with metal grid work, painted, and covered up with clear plexi-glass.

The ribbon cutting was done by a local rider, Benji Farrow, as he rode his snowboard down the slope, towards the bus with a pair of wooden scissors to the tune from the sound system playing 'Start Me Up,' by the Rolling Stones. Olympic snowboard Gold Medalist Ross Powers, was supposed to do the cutting, but another commitment prevented him from doing so. He was on hand at an evening social event Saturday night signing autographs.

It didn't take long before snowboarders and skiers took turns trying to 'jump' over the hunk of metal with snow piled high around it. It was so cool to be able to actually get inside the hollowed out structure and watch boarders and skiers cruise down the slope and attempt to go up and over the side! Oh, to be young again! No, this 'dude' did not try it … driving the kiddies to school is all I can stand.

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet.