Snowboarding
in Massanuten, Virginia?
Riding Photos by Darin Back
All others by Cynthia Connolly
Southeastern
Edge Part 1
by Darin Back
I moved to Virginia from Vail, Colorado because of lack of snow
and the whole skier vibe was pissing me off. I know it sounds
stupid but I made the best of my situation and found a little
ole mountain called Massanuten. You’re probably thinking,
“Big frig, who cares about Virginia?” Well let me
clue you into some valuable info for you east coasters or those
who dare to venture east of the Mississippi. This mountain packs
a whopping …ve runs and a sick ass snowboard park. Yep, that’s
right …ve runs but you’re not there for gay ice turns,
you’re there to sample some of the east coasts perfectly
shaped table tops, re-entery hits, Šat thirty foot man made
hand rails, fun boxes and quarter pipe fun sessions. Yes, this
sounds like every other park but no, there is blood, sweat and
tears on these here mountains. That’s my whole point, Massanuten
opened it’s humble beginnings back in 1993 with the valuable
experience of guys like Aaron Hawkins, who got the ball rolling,
Justin Britton and Day Franzen, the current head honcho. From
‘97 till present it’s been snowboarder run with no
interference from corporate yahoos. That’s why this park
has the biggest jumps and has been rated as the best park in
the southeast region. No, I’m not saying that on the whole
east coast all you are doubters. I’m saying go southeast,
come see the park and the full time crew of locals who support
and ride a park they can …nally call their own.
Many thanks to June Brinkman, Steve Showalter, and Day Franzen,
he’s the man. Here’s a small list of guys who without
their invaluable time and effort, some of Massanuten wouldn’t
be there: Jeremy Cline, Greg Pelletier, John S., Lauren Mudget
aka “Loc Dog”, Josh Parisher, Sean Batzer and David
Smith. Oops, maintenance, you guys rule, thanks for the handrail
hook up, and the local lillies who are so chill about the park,
and all snowmakers because we couldn’t survive without
you guys. Locally, much thanks to One Step Beyond Snowboards
and all the bros at Hardgoods in Virginia Beach.
Southeastern
Edge Part 2
By Cynthia Connelly
My friend Lely and I get up really early in the morning, and
she picks me up and we drive all over the state of Virginia
on small roads just checking things out. We go to antique stores,
diners, restaurants, junk yards, furniture makers, and thrift
stores. We take our cameras and we drive around with a vague
plan in mind, but our plans change when signs point us in different
directions. We spend the day taking photos and visiting old
friends from past road trips. We were actually supposed to go
on a road trip just a couple weeks ago, but something happened
and one of us couldn’t go. Then, Sonny then called me and
asked me to drive south into the heart of Virginia and take
photos of a place called Massanuůen. It was a simple drive.
Interstate 66 east to Interstate 81 south to Route 33 east.
It was here on Route 33 that I realized that I had been here
before. Right near James Madison University, I tried tuning
in the radio, WXJM, one of the few good radio stations in Virginia.
John Coltrane played as Sasha, Erik, my trip mates, and I drove
along 33, passing white clapboard churches, old gas stations
and buildings that looked like they had been shops at one time,
when the road was narrower. It was here that I remembered driving
on a previous road trip, trying to …nd a town along a river,
nearly a ghost town. I remember, on the other side of the river
was a rail road track still in use, but the train never stopped
in the town anymore. I mailed a postcard to my friend in DC
from the local post office. There wasn’t anyone in the
post office. It took two weeks for the postcard to travel the
100 miles to DC. I never found that town again, but I spent
time driving on Route 33 looking for it to shoot photos.
And so, today, I came to realize that if I turn left on a road
and drive for another …ve minutes that I would be nestled next
to the Blue Ridge Mountains in a place that offered skiing and
snowboarding, all Virginia style. I can’t really explain
what Virginia style is. It’s vague to me, but it’s
not what I see when I’m in California and it’s not
what I see when I’m in Washington State.
It’s told that the snow can rarely be as good as in the
west, but in trade you get friendly people who can share a good
laugh. People left their skiis and boards leaning on walls,
they left bags full of their lunches on tables. They hung out
for hours inside in the dining room, next to the …re place and
in the bar and watched the people outside. The food was in the
old greasy spoon style that even though I’m a vegetarian,
I …nd endearing. There’s a warm sense of home away from
home that’s safe and friendly that I found that day. Now,
when I take a road trip in Virginia, I know that there is one
more nook and cranny found and that I can add to the places
I visit in Virginia.
If you’re in the southeast area, Virginia, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina or anywhere in the vicinity call 1-800-207-MASS
for info about the park.
Southeastern
Edge Part 1
Southeastern
Edge Part 2