Smugglers Notch in Vermont has the twin attributes of being one of the world’s best ski holiday destinations for families with children, and being located in the same state as Jake Burton, popularly regarded as the inventor of snowboarding and his company the worldwide driving force for the sport.
For winter 2011–12 the resort has brought these two assets together, and created a very special terrain park to help the littlest snowboarders get into boarding in their own learning and play park.
Smugglers has been working with Burton to develop the next generation of the Burton Riglet Park, an on-snow play area with fun terrain features, designed to introduce young children to snowboarding.
The park’s focal point is a “treehouse”, an elevated platform with ramps that children can ride down, a balance area inside the treehouse, and a lift chair that swings to help kids practice getting on and off the lift.
“Playing in the park on small rolling hills, miniature box-style rails, pyramids and a mini-half pipe allows children to gain the necessary balance and muscle memory to begin sliding and making turns on sloped terrain” said a statement from the resort.
The park is located at the resort’s Sir Henry’s Learning Area with conveyor lift access.