NEW HARTFORD, Connecticut ??” On Sunday, February 5, from 1pm to 3pm parents are encouraged to join their kids in Ski Sundown’s terrain park for a fun and educational look at the latest evolution to the sport of skiing and snowboarding??В¦freestyle. Slopestyle, Family Style, sponsored by Eastern Mountain Sports is not a slopestyle competition. It’s an opportunity for parents to be introduced to the elements of freestyle terrain and learn about the “Smart Style” message??В¦the education and awareness about the proper use of terrain parks.

Freestyle terrain may contain jumps, hits, ramps, banks, fun boxes, jibs, rails, half pipes, quarter pipes, snowcross, bump terrain and other constructed or natural terrain features. Freestyle terrain features may are usually, but not always, contained in designated areas called terrain parks. Ski Sundown offers two terrain parks. “We’re trying to design terrain parks that offer something for everyone that is interested, from novice to the professional athlete that skis or rides 100+ days a season”, said Jarrod Moss, Ski Sundown’s Terrain Feature Manager. A progressive or beginner terrain park is situated at the Sunnyside Learning Area with small features ranging from a 12 ft rail to a 24 ft “flat-down” box. It is at this location that Ski Sundown instructors, provide training on the rails, in the air or ground tricks for skiers and snowboarders ages 7 and older with at least an advanced skill level. The terrain park on Stinger with bigger elements has features such as a 32 ft. long by 1 ft. wide “A-box”, a 40 ft. un-bow rail, and 36 ft. by 4 ft. high “trapezoid” rail, only to name a few.

Freestyle skills require maintaining control on the ground, and in the air and an integral part of the training is to convey the elements of the “Smart Style” message, “Look before you leap.”-Scope around the jumps first, not over them. Know landings are clear and clear yourself out of the landing area; “Easy style it.”-Start small and work your way up; and, “Respect gets respect”-From the lift line through the park.

Terrain parks have become so popular that several events, including weekly Friday night “jam” sessions and several Saturday slopestyle competitions are scheduled this winter at Ski Sundown. “Freestyle terrain has revitalized the sport. Terrain parks are bringing and keeping people in the sport for now and probably will for several years to come, until the next evolution, then the focus will change to another new thing,” said Dotty Craig, Ski Sundown’s Marketing Director. Due to the popularity of its terrain parks, Ski Sundown will soon launch a unique “Terrain Park” page at www.skisundown.com/terrain with photos, videos, competition results, and a forum where “locals” can chat about park happenings.

Slope style, Family Style is a free event, however, Ski Sundown is accepting food donations to “Gifts of Love”, a neighbor helping neighbor program located in Avon, CT. Lift tickets are required to enter the park, however every one who signs up for the “park tour” and demo will be entered into a drawing for Eastern Mountain Sports gift certificates.

Ski Sundown is located at 126 Radium Road, New Hartford, Connecticut and is open for skiing and snowboarding 7 day and 7 nights from 9am until 10pm.