To The Editor:
As lifelong Mad River Glen skiers and the children and parents of Mad River skiers, we read Neil Ryan's letter to the editor with great interest. Our family shared his enjoyment of the outstanding spring skiing this year and wished that we could have been there on the relatively empty days he mentioned. Unfortunately, for the younger generation, school and work get in the way of weekday skiing.
Given that Mr. Ryan is a regular patron of the mountain, we were surprised he hasn't noticed the incredible momentum the younger generation continues to gain at Mad River Glen. Our kids have been part of all the youth programs, starting with the warm and loving Cricket Club, the preschool "Rockin' Robins" and into the free ski and race teams. The free ski program has over 100 participants who represent Mad River Glen at competitions (with exceptional results) all over New England. The race program is a consistent feeder to Green Mountain Valley School. Mad River Glen "alumni" are current members of the U.S. Ski Team and the freeride world tour. Nobody appreciates and gracefully navigates the "sidecountry" of Mad River Glen better than the scores of children who have grown up with those woods as their playground. The free passes available to kids 12 and under are a real draw for many of us.
As mostly weekend Mad River Glen skiers, we don't often enjoy an empty Single Chair, but we do get to spend many memorable hours with dear family and friends, passing on traditions and participating in a sport that three generations love together. We meet new families daily, who come great distances, in order to make Mad River Glen memories with their own kids. The only thing that would make it better is a little more snow than Mother Nature sometimes bestows – some additional snowmaking would give us just that.
Alison Hobart and Michael Riddell
Fayston
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