Industry News
Freedom tastes like corn. Come springtime across the Mountain West, lingering snow that fell throughout the winter starts undergoing a melt-freeze cycle where the high sun angle and accompanying warm temperatures soften snow that froze the night before, creating a smooth-as-a-pool-table sensation that is known to skiers and snowboarders as ‘corn snow’. It feels like you’re riding on glass. Because of Mammoth Mountain’s high elevation and its unique geographic location along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Range which sits on the edge of the 10th biggest desert in the world, its snow consistently reaches a temperature that allows it to freeze at night late into the spring but still thaw during the day because of the mild temperatures and plentiful sunshine that California is known for. It works like clockwork at Mammoth. This reliability of favorable snow conditions is what makes it one of the premiere spring-skiing destinations in North America.
Mammoth is open for one last weekend of skiing and riding this season, with its closing day set for Memorial Day, May 27. Historically, it’s an early closing; the 3,500-acre ski area often runs daily lift operations into June and July, with last year’s record season keeping its chairs spinning until August. However, Mammoth’s decision to shut down at the end of May this year is only the beginning of a set of major improvements the resort has slated for the summer, including a plan to upgrade Chair 1 with a high-speed six-pack that will significantly increase uphill carrying capacity by the time next winter rolls around, according to Mammoth’s Public Relations Manager Emily van Greuning. So to go forth into its busy summer project schedule, Mammoth is having one last hoorah to finish off the season properly with live music, promotional deals, and its third annual and preposterously entertaining Mammoth Yacht Club races. It’s all a ridiculously good time.
“I would say for Closing Weekend my favorite part is the excitement that the guests bring,” van Greuning told me. “When you have a bunch of guests that consider Mammoth their home mountain and they know it’s Closing Weekend, everyone comes and they leave it all out on the snow. From drink specials to events and boat races, there’s something to do every day and you can tell by how excited all the guests are.”
Mammoth Yacht Club
Started three years ago and what has now become an instant classic is a ‘boat race’ where teams of four race down the snow in a boat they constructed using only cardboard, tape, and paint (Flags are also allowed) to see who can take the fastest time. Contestants build intricate, creative boats that they hurl down the mountain at full steam while wearing fun and stylish costumes, because why not? The yachtsmen are also required to carry their boats up to the starting line, keeping weight in mind. There is both a kids and adults division and three lucky winners will be awarded prizes for:
1.) Fastest time
2.) Best costume/boat decoration.
With brave boatmen and women dressed up in outlandish costumes and sailing down a frozen mountain at inhuman speeds in their homemade ships, there aren’t many other resorts in the country that take it to this level of Closing Weekend fun. Mammoth knows how to party.
Bike Park
This year, mountain bikers will be able to enjoy Mammoth’s trails starting on Friday, May 24, having the option to ski and bike in the same day during Closing Weekend. The Mammoth Bike Park will be open May 24-27 and then daily starting May 31. Surf and turf, anyone?
Live Music
Five live music shows will be held over Closing Weekend at Mammoth, with something for guests to see each day. Don’t sleep on the drink specials at the Tusks Bar.
Ski, Bike, and Golf in One Day
Imagine carving through soft, spring corn snow in the morning, hitting the challenging trails of Mammoth’s renowned bike park in the afternoon, and then teeing off after 3:00 p.m. for a relaxing 9-hole at the scenic Sierra Star Golf Course. All in one incredible day, valid only from May 24 to 27. You can have your cake and eat it too.
Closing Weekend Deals
Guests can enjoy 20% off all Smith products and receive a free tote with purchase at Mammoth Sports and McCoy’s in The Village from May 24-27, while supplies last. Free is always in the budget.
What Memorial Day Weekend Lift Operations Will Look Like
- Canyon Lodge will open this weekend, Saturday 5/25 – Monday 5/27, for parking, limited services (tickets & rentals), and access to skiing and riding via Canyon Express (16). The Village Gondola will also run Saturday – Monday 7:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Skiing & riding will continue out of Main Lodge and The Mill with the addition of Roller Coaster (4) Friday, May 24 – Monday, May 27. Operating hours are daily from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. through Closing Day.
- Expected Lifts Sat 5/25 – Mon 5/27: Stump Alley (2), Face Lift (3), Roller Coaster (4), High Five (5), Unbound (6), Gold Rush (10), Discovery (11), Canyon (16), Chair 23, the Panorama Gondola and The Village Gondola.
Mammoth clarified in a social media post that it’s wrapping up the season earlier than usual to ensure its summer construction projects are “completed smoothly for an even better experience on the slopes next season.” It is confirmed that a brand new six-pack will be replacing Chair 1 for next winter and the resort also teased that it will shed light on some more improvements it’s working on later this summer. Change is imminent at Mammoth and to celebrate the passing of one meaningful season and the coming of another, the resort will host a live DJ at the summit with music from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Closing Day before everyone is then encouraged to gather for one final group shred down the mountain.
Only one thing’s for sure:
That is going to be one hell of a ride down.
