Shaping up to be a big year at Ski Denton

It's all downhill at Ski Denton, the central Potter County resort where favorable weather conditions and an expanded schedule of activities have combined for an outstanding winter season so far.

Starting on Dec. 19, about 150 students from ten different schools will converge at Denton Hill for the Allegheny Collegiate Skiing Conference (ACSC) Alpine competition. It's the second of five weekend competitions starting next weekend at Seven Springs Mountain resort near Somerset.

Ski Denton owners have been working on "Link," one of the resort's popular slopes, which has to be flattened and widened to meet race standards. A starting deck equipped with a timing system for racing was also constructed at the top of the slope.

"This is very exciting for us," said co-owner Celeste Schoonover. "This will be the first time that the ACSC has held their competition here and, hopefully, they will have it here regularly."

ACSC Director Bill Hetrick said the reputation of Ski Denton and the owners' eagerness to meet all of the organization's requirement made the selection easy.

"They operate a nice ski area and there's a good chance that we'll use Ski Denton for races in the future," Hetrick said.

He pointed out that the local economy will benefit, with participants and their families lodging in the Coudersport, Galeton and Wellsboro areas.

Collegiate racers will come from Bucknell, Carnegie- Mellon, Penn State, Penn, Villanova and West Chester. Other schools represented include West Virginia, West Virginia Wesleyan, Davis and Elkins and the University of Maryland.

All trails currently open at Ski Denton have bases of 12- 40 inches and machinegroomed, packed powder bases. With temperatures expected to remain in the teens and lower, conditions are optimum for winter sport enthusiasts.

Next weekend, high school skiing teams will travel to Ski Denton to compete in the Pa. Alpine Racing Association (PARA) Pa. Cup Race Finals.

Normal operating hours are 1-9 pm, Monday through Thursday, 9 to 9 Friday and Saturday and 9 to 5 on Sunday. On holidays, Ski Denton is open from 9 to 9.

January is PARA's Learn to Ski Month. Several discounts, events and other promotions will be taking place all throughout the month. For more information on these and other events at Ski Denton, please call 435-2115 or visit skidenton.com.