We Are the Champions...
There is nothing quite like being deemed the very best at something. Today’s children may get trophy’s for participation, but in my youth the only trophies displayed in the glass case outside the Principal's office were the ones that said your team were Victors! There was an honor that came from fellow students when you walked down the hallways with a “State Champion” patch on your letterman’s jacket. Unfortunately, the glory of high school is not to be repeated for most of us. Only a select few have the skills and natural born talent to rise through the collegiate and professional ranks. Alas, the joy of being able to flaunt that your school, or perhaps even you, are better than everyone else often stays behind with your letterman’s jacket and your SAT scores as you continue on in your “grown up” life.
Once in a while, however, the gods shine down upon us grown-ups, and we are able to relive the glory usually constrained to spirit assemblies, pregame pep rallies and tailgates. For the people of Jackson, both young and old, that time is now. Our Mountain, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR,) has been deemed the “Number One Overall Ski Resort in North America for 2014” by Ski Magazine. From the top of our lungs, at the top of the tram we channel our inner State Champion Swimmer and shout: “WE’RE NUMBER ONE! WE’RE NUMBER ONE!”
In 26 years that Ski Magazine has been conducting their annual survey JHMR has surprisingly only been in the top ten once before, last year 2013, when they were ranked #6 overall resort. What makes this award even more impressive is who it comes from. This is not a bunch of people in an office who can be wooed with gifts of free gear or ski vacations for their families by the ski resorts, in order to be “voted” number one. This is an annual READER’S choice award. Tens of thousands of individuals rank the resorts in 20 different categories from snow to service, terrain to grooming, challenge to character (these last two, the most important in my mind, JHMR ranked #1.) Locally we knew it was just a matter of time before the rest of the winter sports community discovered just how incredible our mountain truly is.
A quote from one of the voting readers captures JHMR and the Town of Jackson quite well, “There's no place quite like JH: there's a rowdy, go for it vibe here that I have experienced nowhere else and people dedicated to the mountain lifestyle and all that that means.” In Jackson, the mountains are our church, the weather is our god, and we never, ever work on an epic powder day. What better way for JHMR to show its love and appreciation to such a culture then by skiing together. November 29th, 2013 has been deemed FREE SKI DAY by JHMR. Lettermen jackets make way for ski jackets as we all head to the mountain we love this season. Jerry Blann, the president of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers his thanks to the loyal visitors who have enjoyed the mountain over the years, and guarantees that the award is loved; it will not change the approach of the mountain. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort was and will continue to be “independent, spirited, friendly and always customer focused.” With direct flights from 12 cities, we hope to see you out on the mountain this year, then you to will understand why we are so proud to say…
“We are the champions.
We are the champions.
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions”
