Retro ski weekend comes to Killington, March 23-24
By Sarah Calvin
Saturday, March 23—KILLINGTON—Sno-Search Ski & Snowboard Tours will host a weekend in the time warp as they bring 1986 back to Killington for the third year running. Hosted by the self-described “king of theme parties,” avid ‘80s fan Arik Colbath, weekend highlights include an ‘80s cover band rocking at the Pickle Barrel and a group run down Superstar resplendent with skiing onesies and dayglo.
The idea of an ‘80s ski weekend first came to fruition 12 years ago when Colbath and 20 friends decided to ski in dayglo at Stowe Mountain Resort. Encouraged by the positive feedback from the group, Colbath decided to promote the event on social media with the hopes of making an ‘80s ski weekend an annual gathering. He returned the following winter with a group of 100 skiers and continued to ski at Stowe until the proprietor of the Pickle Barrel reached out to Colbath with a question: could an ‘80s ski weekend come to Killington?
“Why isn’t Killington doing an ‘80s weekend?” Colbath asked. “This is the mountain that has the history and the culture to do this sort of retro-themed weekend. Let’s turn back time, get the music, and get all the staff dressed up. I know you have the old, straight skis. I know you have those onesies. Break ‘em out! Let’s see all that old stuff and celebrate the history of skiing in the most ostentatious decade ever.”
The Pickle Barrel will host ‘80s cover band M80 on Friday and Saturday nights of Colbath’s ‘80s weekend. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the fashion of the decade. On Saturday at noon, there will be a group picture taken in front of the K-1 Base Lodge. Immediately following, anyone who feels inspired is invited to meet Colbath at the top of Superstar for a filmed group run-in-dayglo, of course.
“I’m all for the locals to come hang out on the mountain,” said Colbath. “[Come] be part of the group run, the group picture, and let’s just celebrate this decade of dayglo.
Photos courtesy Sno-Search Ski & Snowboard Tours
Transport Killington back to 1986 on March 23. By night ’80s cover bands will rock the stage at the Pickle Barrel; by day join the group descending down Superstar clad in skiing onesies and Dayglow attire.
