Meet Jodi Taggart, our new Snow Sports Center director!

Jodi has a long and distinguished career in the ski industry and is an expert in snow sport instruction.

She and and her family moved from Hood River where she worked as an instructor at Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort. Before that Jodi spent eight years at Schweitzer as the assistant director of the snow sports school.

Jodi's husband Roger is also joining the Mission Ridge family as an assistant coach with the mission Ridge Ski Team this season. He's an FIS Level United States Ski Association Alpine Coach with over 25 years experience and together Jodi and Roger have a 2-year-old daughter named Nikole.

Oh, and they also have a a yellow lab named Avalanche!

We're stoked to welcome Jodi because she's super cool, super competent and a genuinely fun person with a ton of experience. As a 17-year member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America and a member of the Professional Ski Instructors-NW/American Association of Snowboard Instructors-NW she is the organization's Newsletter Editor and on the Board of Directors, as the Children's Committee Chair. Plus, as the Junior Education Team Coach Jodi helped developed a children's educator curriculum for ski and snowboard instructors.

We Asked Jodi A Few Questions About Her New Move:

What attracted you to Mission and what are you most excited about in taking the position as Snow Sports Center director?

The draw was a combination of the right jobs for both Roger and I as well as the mountain. Roger has skied here a lot because of ski racing and has always said that he would really like to work at Mission. So when the positions became available we threw ours names in the pot.

How's the community and what are you most looking forward to in your new position?

The staff is amazing! Dedicated, enthusiastic and more than willing to help in all respects. I am looking forward to being a part of such a great staff and getting to know the mountain and community better.

How has your experience been at Mission Ridge so far? 

The staff from all departments have been very friendly, inviting and helpful. The guests seem to really value this amazing playground in their backyard and have been very accommodating so the fact that I am new here and have a lot to learn.

Stop by the Snow Sports Center and welcome Jodi when you get the chance! You can also check out our Snow Sports Center Facebook page here.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Jodi!

There are so many reasons a Mission Ridge Gift Card or as we refer to it - Mountain Money could be just the ticket this holiday season. 

They can be used anywhere on the mountain for a variety of things including but not limited to childcare, lessons, lift ticket, season pass, gift items, food and beverages, rental gear or equipment tune ups and repairs.  That is not all, think about the gift of outdoor activity, winter sunshine, being in an environment that encourages an appreciation of the outdoors.  Sking and snowboarding are family sports that last a lifetime.  

Mountain Money can be purchased on line at missionridge.com or pre-loaded cards are available at Arlberg Sports in downtown Wenatchee.  Imagine the fun! 

The Snowmaking, Grooming

and Patrol staffs have been working their magic this week and we're proud to announce we'll be opening more terrain starting Friday, December 2nd. 

Along with Sunspot, Tumwater and Mimi, 3 additional trails covering 22 acres will be open for skiing and riding.

The new terrain will be accessible from the Liberator Express summit lift and include Tumwater 3, the B24 Park slope, the lift line between towers 14 & 13 and lower Toketie above Midway. This brings the early season terrain to 6 trails, 71 acres and 2,250 vertical feet.  The  Mini Mimi Terrain Park is set up for jibbing with a variety of boxes, rails, corrugated pipe and other features.

Lifts and the Mimi Park will operate from 9:00AM to 4:00PM, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  Lifts include: Chair #1, Liberator Express and Pika Peak Rope Tow.

By Jared Eygabroad – Mission Ridge Media Team

I began wondering what the day would bring as I drove my bald tires up the winding road to Mission Ridge before the season began. The lifts hadn't opened, but the Ski Patrollers were already gearing up. I thought this was the beginning stage of their preparation, but soon found out they had been gearing up since the end of last season.

The training day I had come to film soon turned interesting when the Medstar helicopter came to land while they brushed up on how to set up an LZ (landing zone). Dust covered the waiting crowd and training soon followed. CPR and splinting were two of countless training stations set up to get everyone working as one when faced with any emergency.

Lift evacuation came in many forms: patrollers rappelled alone with the ropes they always carry, they belayed stranded "guests" from stuck chairs, and one even belayed his avalanche dog from at least 50 feet in the air. The dog waited happily and safely on the ground while the patroller slid down right behind.

I only expected to film some basic medical training but found something much more. The patrollers were preparing for every scenario that can happen on a mountain, an endless task. Although endless, each looked more than happy and willing to train in the falling snow (snowblowers). At one point, two of the lift-stranded "guests" were covered completely in snow from these machines as they waited for others in chairs ahead of them to be "saved." When they finally made it to earth, they were drenched and cold, smiling and ready for more.

I came away from this experience with a great respect for the patrollers that are dedicated to the safety of those enjoying their mountain. It was impressive to see just a tiny slice of how they prepare and continually train. It was even more impressive to see the attitudes in which they did so, smiling with the opportunity to check their Gore-Tex against the elements (again, snowblowers). It's great to know they are there every day; ready, trained, and having a genuine passion for their endless job.

To see a photo album from the day's training check out our Flickr photostream. 

December 3 [Saturday] is the annual Revolution Demo Day! Ride some whips you've always dreamt about and work on that Christmas list for old Saint Nick!