ACSC Alpine competiton coming to Ski Denton

Conditions have been providing a challenge for owners of Potter County's Ski Denton. But when the weather has cooperated the slopes have been busy. This photo was taken over the holiday break when the slopes were busy with skiers and snow tubers.

A recent warming trend and heavy rains have made conditions at Ski Denton less than favorable, but cold temperatures and snowfall is forecast all next week. If the snow comes, it'll be just in time. Next weekend, 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.

To find out more about Ski Denton, call 435-2115 or visit skidenton.com.