I encountered a problem that was pretty unusual for a hot, August day: My ski pants didn't quite fit.
I had expected I had at least five more months to get back into shape. But snow was accumulating, right now, in New Jersey. I'd received an invitation to check out Big Snow, the country's first indoor ski slope, and the fun of a midsummer ski trip was just too much to resist.
So one evening, my daughter and I loaded skis, coats and helmets into our trunk, tried to avoid the bemused stares of our neighbors and drove off to the mall.
Big Snow is a key part of American Dream, which has risen up about 20 minutes from New York, reachable from midtown Manhattan via NJ Transit bus and rideshare (Lyft is an official partner of American Dream).
"We like to call ourselves the snow dome," said Big Snow marketing manager Trish McLeod.
"Big Snow is the coolest attraction."
Big Snow said it would remain closed as it cleans, repairs and inspects fire-damaged areas and would refund prepaid tickets through Oct. 31. Advisors and guests can check reopening info here.
But Big Snow doesn't see itself as a novelty. A goal is to make new skiers and riders enthusiasts by giving them a relatively inexpensive, hassle-free and fun taste of the sport, thereby setting them up to chase powder in the great outdoors. McLeod said that Big Snow hopes that 10% of beginners who try its facility will turn into snow sports enthusiasts.
McLeod also said that Big Snow attracts a more diverse crowd than outdoor ski areas; 42% of its skiers and riders are non-white, she said.
Big Snow's pandemic adjustments
Big Snow had to make some pandemic-era adjustments, but it had an online reservations system in place at launch, which it leaned into in order to keep to a lower occupancy. Each guest gets a two-hour slot on the snow in rolling start times. All the gear is cleaned and sanitized prior to use. Masks are "highly recommended" for the unvaccinated.
With a water park, Nickelodeon Universe theme park, shopping and more, American Dream is a destination experience, but it was dealt a setback when all indoor dining and shopping closed because of Covid. It's still in the process of opening attractions, but Big Snow, has been open since last fall.
Big Snow doesn't pay commission right now, although McLeod said that as American Dream becomes more of a tourist attraction "we're having conversations with getting those relationships up and running."
However, a few hours in the "snow dome" could be a suggestion for clients in the New York metro area looking for a unique experience.
And as far as unique experiences go, there's not quite anything like taking a full complement of ski gear up the escalator in a shopping mall and passing people in bathing suits on their way down.
A midsummer-night's ski
We brought our own gear, but Big Snow sells ski-and-rental packages that include pants, jackets and helmets in addition to skis, snowboards and boots. I guess I didn't have to struggle into my own pants, after all.
But struggle I did in Big Snow's locker area. As I entered the snow dome I took a big, bracing gulp of 28-degree air and felt the snow crunch under my boots.
Photo Credit: Yari Ghidone/Shutterstock.com
So much about the ski experience changed as operators scrambled to adapt to Covid-19 protocols. How much will stick? More than you might think.
The snow is made by introducing molecules of water into the cold air from specialized units in the center's ceiling. Big Snow keeps the snowpack to 2 feet, with older snow melted out through floor drainage and recirculated.
The dome is actually oblong shaped, sloped up about 16 stories and 1,000 feet long, and a quad lift takes skiers and riders to the top of the run. At the top, guests can veer left to ski down the slope, blue at the top (its steepest pitch is 26%), green at the bottom. Or they can veer to the right for access to the terrain park.
During our visit there were plenty of snowboarders, and they tended to gravitate to the park and went down in pairs, one to attempt the features and the other to record the run on a smartphone.
McLeod said that in the summer, Big Snow generally caters to skiers and riders who miss the winter experience. In the winter, however, it skews more to newbies who are inspired by the colder, outside weather conditions. A learning slope and roving instructors cater to the beginner crowd.
When we were there Big Snow was working on a new sledding feature, which will carry an extra fee.
One aspect of the experience that was missing that, admittedly, Big Snow doesn't control: apres ski. A window into a Yard House restaurant and craft-beer bar overlooked the base, but it hadn't yet opened.
The slope isn't long or particularly complex, but the fun of skiing inside in summer couldn't be denied; my daughter and I did lap after lap. And the snowpack was surprisingly light. Since the temperature is consistent and wind nonexistent, the slope doesn't ice over the way real snow can (Northeast skiers, take note).
Big Snow makes new snow four or five nights a week and grooms daily, and McLeod said the first time slot of the day is always sold out. First tracks is apparently a thing indoors as well as out.