By: Hayden Hendricks 

     It is that time of year where many people are going outside and playing in the snow. From activities such as skiing and snowboarding to ice skating, the winter sports options are endless. Locally, there are some great options, such as resorts like Holiday Valley and Peek’n Peak, to enjoy the snow and winter weather.  

     When it comes to choosing between the two local choices, some prefer one over the other, whether it’s about money or convenience. The Squire ran a poll on The Squire’s Instagram, asking which ski resort people preferred to go to. Voters concluded that they liked Peek’n Peak more, with 60% choosing it as their top choice, with Holiday Valley behind at 40%.  

     When talking about prices for snowboarding, Holiday Valley is noticeably more expensive. They do have day passes ranging from 75 to 100 dollars per person, and a season classic daily pass for $1,191, as well as available family plans. While Peek’n Peak doesn’t have a family pass that we could find on their website, they do have many different options for season passes including junior, adult, and senior. Juniors cost $509, adults cost $699, and seniors cost $509. 

     Many Eisenhower students do involve themselves with snowboarding, one of which is Ollie Boozer, a junior at Eisenhower. The Squire asked Boozer where he liked to go snowboarding the most and he replied with, “My favorite place would probably be Holiday Valley.”  He went on to explain that if he had to pick his favorite slope at the resort, “I would have to say the Park.” So, Boozer likes to go to Holiday Valley over Peek’n Peak, unlike the poll results listed on The Squire. The Squire asked what else you can do at Holiday Valley other than snowboarding. Boozer explained, “You can tube, have dinner, and, in the summer, you can zip line.” These things are also all available at Peek’n Peak, according to an avid snowboarder, Easton Fitzgerald. Some other things to do at Peek’n Peak include swimming, going down the water slide, and running around in the activity center.  

     The Squire asked Boozer what the typical day at Holiday Valley looked like and he replied, “We usually get up there around 3:00pm and leave at around 9:00pm or until close, which is 10:00pm.” Boozer is an active snowboarder, and he must’ve taken a few falls here and there, which he explained, “I caught my backside edge last year going down a chute at Holiday Valley.” So snowboarding is a fun but dangerous sport, with great options to try it out locally. Whether you go to Peek’n Peak or Holiday Valley, stay safe and make sure you are geared up.