EAST BURKE, Vermont ??” Following a weekend that brought this winter’s biggest snowstorm and best skiing conditions, Burke Mountain Ski Area is gearing up for its annual Big Burke Day celebration. Presented in conjunction with Vermont Broadcast Associates, Big Burke Day will be held this Saturday, March 11th, and marks the return of a number of popular events, as well as deeply discounted lift tickets for visitors who pick up coupons at participating local businesses.

The featured event is the Burke Rail Jam, organized by the Daggers Snowboard Club of Lyndon State College. Freestyle skiers and snowboarders will test their rail riding skills on the upper mountain’s Open Slope Trail, pitting trick against trick in a battle for trophies and bragging rights as king of the terrain park. The competition is open to all skiers and riders, and registration will be held in the Mid-Burke Lodge the morning of the event. Afterward, the Bear Den Lounge at Mid-Burke will host the Corona Parrot Head Beach Apr??s-Ski Party. Also on Saturday, in the Sherburne Base Lodge, there will be a Vermont Specialty Food Sampling Day, where local munchies will be available for tasting by those visitors who are curious, or just plain hungry.

The Rail Jam follows on the heels of last weekend’s debut of the Dashney Mile Style youth freestyle competition, which attracted over 30 talented young daredevils between the ages of 6 and 14. Held in the brand new Dashney Mile Terrain Park, the event was a huge hit on its own, but also gave the young participants in Burke’s freestyle program something to focus their training toward, which, according to terrain park supervisor Steve Mahon, led to remarkable improvement among all the kids. “Hopefully,” he added, “this weekend’s Rail Jam will provide even more inspiration.”

For more information on Big Burke Day, and locations for the Burke Day coupons, go to www.skiburke.com, or contact Hannah Collins at 802-626-7395.