MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY, NH (Winter 2002/03) -- At 500 feet long with 15-to 17-foot walls, Attitash Bear Peak expects their new superpipe ­ the longest in New Hampshire ­ to be a crowd pleaser this winter.

So why is Attitash Bear Peak moving from the traditional halfpipe to a superpipe? "We have developed a reputation for having one of the best halfpipes and terrain parks in the region, and feel that a superpipe is a natural progression towards supporting freestyle skiing and riding at the mountain," said Greg Keeler freestyle terrain coordinator for Attitash Bear Peak. "We have seen the numbers of riders and skiers using the pipe increase each year. In the beginning it was primarily young riders that used it and now all ages and abilities are dropping in."

The superpipe is a super-sized version of the halfpipe. It has set a new standard for halfpipe competitions and was used in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Major advances have been made in the technology behind building a halfpipe and the equipment used inside it.

The halfpipe originates from skateboarding. As its name implies, it is shaped like a pipe sawed in half lengthwise. Skate Park halfpipes are made out of wooden ramps that skaters 'drop into' and skate back and forth.

Snowboarders and skiers 'drop into' a halfpipe made out of snow and perform many of the same tricks as skateboarders. The most basic trick is a 'grab', where a rider goes up into the air and grabs their snowboard.

Halfpipes have four primary physical characteristics; the 'wall' is the section of the pipe that slopes up from the flat bottom and propels the rider or skier into the air. The 'transition' is where the flat bottom of the pipe meets the vertical wall. Transitions are crucial to a rider's performance when moving from wall to wall. The 'lip' is the upper edge of the halfpipe where the wall ends and the 'deck' is the flat area on either side of the halfpipe where riders hike back up the pipe and people gather to watch.

A typical halfpipe has 11-foot-high walls; a superpipe has 15-to 17-foot-high walls. Extra height, vertical and wider transition areas all contribute to making it easier for skiers and riders to gain speed, perform and land more advanced tricks. Even though superpipes are bigger, most skiers and riders find them easier to ride.

Attitash Bear Peak's Superpipe is built into the ground to minimize the amount of snow needed to build and open the pipe. Building it into the ground with good drainage also adds the benefit of prolonging its life at the end of the season. Events will be scheduled throughout winter 2002/03, and the best place to get events listings and additional information is www.attitash.com.

Attitash Bear Peak is part of American Skiing Company (OTC: AESK), one of the largest four-season mountain resort operators in the United States. The resorts include The Canyons, UT; Killington and Mount Snow, VT; Steamboat, CO; and Sugarloaf/USA and Sunday River, ME. More information is available on the company's website, www.attitash.com.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Gear Editor