By Lisa Perosi

White fluffy snow is not all you will find at Thunder Ridge Mountain. The snow will of course be white, fluffy and soft -- because Thunder Ridge this season has improved its snow making.

With 70 new Top Gun snow makers, Thunder Ridge Ski Area, in Patterson, N.Y., has soft snow to rival the natural snow fall covering the entire mountain for all winter sports needs. Thunder Ridge is in a “non-snow zone,” meaning that its mountain is not in an area where snow tends to fall; but with the new upgraded snow makers, Thunder Ridge feels as if it would be in a snow zone.

The Top Gun snow makers cover more than 100 acres of land. The snow grooming team disperses the snow over the mountain and keeps it at a soft powder.

Thunder Ridge is first and foremost a family ski and snow sport area. The comfortable mountain trails are wide and easy to navigate, which helps parents and ski instructors keep their eyes on the little ones and which makes skiers feel safe on the mountain.

Thunder Ridge’s main goal is to cater to families of all sizes, from the youngest skier to senior skiers. It offers ski lessons to skiers from ages two and up.

Thunder Ridge Mountain offers great activities that families and generations can come together and bond over.

“What we offer most is a family ski area,” says Mary F. Conklin, Thunder Ridge’s operations manager.

“We’re so close you won’t hear one ‘Are we there yet?’” is the tag line for Thunder Ridge, 75- minute ride from New Your City, 20 minutes from Danbury, Conn., 35 minutes from White Plains, 40 minutes from Norwalk, Conn., and 45 minuets from Greenwich, Conn. Thunder Ridge also has a shuttle service that will pick you up right from the train station and bring you straight to the slopes to start up your skiing.

Thunder Ridge Mountain’s slopes are divided into 40% beginner slopes, 40% intermediate slopes and 20% advanced slopes. Thunder Ridge’s accessibility and accommodations makes it an ideal winter vacation spot for any level skier.

It has made an easy and fun getaway for city dwellers, with their signature “snow sports” school to Liberty paintball. Paintball makes for good team building. Often, companies will come to use the paint ball area to build better relationships with their employees because not only does it make for good team building, it is exciting, active and a good alternative to skiing.

The Paintball Park is open year round for an alternative to skiing.

“It will turn women into Rambo” said Ms. Conklin about paintball.

Mrs. Conklin and her husband have been in charge of Thunder Ridge since 1995; this year they celebrate their 11th season with the mountain. The Conklins are active skiers and they love to ski.

Mr. and Mrs. Conklin are not the only snow sport enthusiasts in their family. Their daughter is an active snowboarder and their two sons are well practiced in skiing.

Thunder Ridge is open Monday to Friday 10 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm for maximum skiing hours. Night skiing is Monday to Saturday until 9 pm.
Thunder Ridge is open for Christmas Eve skiing from 9am-5pm and is closed for Christmas. The mountain is also open for New Years Eve skiing from 9am to 5pm and New Year’s Day from12noon-5pm.

The ski lodge is open in the off season to host weddings and sweet 16 parties along with any other special events. Thunder Ridge also offers a ski shop with gifts and other mountain supplies.

The mountain also offers a place for skiers and snowboarders to practice their sport. Thunder Ridge is the proud host of racing teams for young skiers ages 6 to 19.

The season ski passes are affordable and businesses around the mountain gives discounts to season pass holders. Also Thunder Ridge offers discounts to students and has discounted skiing and snowboarding for college students in the evenings. What’s better then having class all morning and then relaxing on the slopes?

Thunder Ridge operates a family mountain. It accommodates skiers and snowboarders of all ages and all skill levels -- and it has been doing so since 1995.

Lisa Perosi is a snowboarder and Wagner College student. She participates this season in the Eastern Ski Writers Association internship program.