Winter Wonderland at Ski Resorts
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The snowy season is here and what better way is there to enjoy it than skiing or snowboarding? Here are some of the local ski resorts all decked out to meet eager skiers.
Jisan Forest Resort
Jisan Forest Resort is a 40-minute drive from Seoul and is perfect to visit during the weekends without having to spend half a day in traffic. Equipped with seven main slopes and three minor ones, the resort can accommodate 50 families in condominiums located nearby.
This year, Jisan is presenting a new ``double width'' slope, which was made by combining two smaller slopes into one. With a width of 190 meters, the spacious slope will offer more space to skiers and snow boarders to move freely.
To get to the resort, visitors can ride the resort's shuttle bus, which is free of cost from stops that include Jamsil, Mokdong, Bundang and Ilsan. Check the stops and reserve the number of seats beforehand through www.jisanresort.co.kr.
Tickets costs from 29,000 won to 70,000 won depending on the time of day, ski rentals, lifts and lessons. Jisan Resort also offers a Happy Card, which costs 50,000 won, and offers a 30 percent discount on ski lifts and lessons, and a 50 percent discount on ski equipment rentals. Those who are interested must bring identification and one photo.
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park, located in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, plans to operate 21 slopes. The Panorama Course, the nation's only slope where even beginners can enjoy starting at the top, boasts a wide-range of slopes unparalleled at other resorts. This season, Phoenix Park will focus on freestyle, and work on separating the ski and snowboard slopes so that people can enjoy maximum thrill with maximum safety.
Garnering attention for housing Korea's very first snowboard park, the Extreme Park, Phoenix plans to upgrade its establishments to satisfy both beginners and experts. The park also offers the nation's best ski school, with its top-notch ski instructors and customized classes for all skill levels. For intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders wanting to perfect their skills, the resort offers the Demon Clinic, a program to gain know-how and exclusive training from top skiers.
Phoenix also has Ski Buses, which stop at various places in Seoul, including Sadang and Jamsil. For more specific stops and routes, visit www.phoenixpark.co.kr.
This season, the ticket system has become less expensive and more efficient, with the ski lift and gondola passes combined and offered at a lower price. The tickets range from 41,000 won to 62,000 won depending on hours and time of day. A special winter package including a round-trip bus ticket, ski lift and gondola weekend pass, ski insurance and 50% rental discount is offered for just 50,000 won.
Oak Valley Snowpark
Oak Valley Snowpark, located in Wonju, Gangwon Province, has nine slopes boasting various levels of difficulty ― two beginner, five intermediate and two expert. The condominiums also boast 960 European-styled rooms with high ceilings and an environmentally friendly interior. The resort's free shuttle bus has broadened its routes and services for the convenience of its customers, operating at various points in Seoul and the metropolitan area including Bucheon, Gwacheon, Bundang and Bupyeong. At the transfer centers, guests will be treated with free drinks and can also watch ski and snowboard videos during the ride. The resort will hold various educational and experiment programs as well. A doctor fish cafe will offer foot massages, herbal tea and boot drying service while an astronomy class, complete with professional lecturers and astronomy dome, will offer a memorable star-gazing experience.
Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 68,000 won depending on the time of day. Season pass buyers will receive a host of benefits, including a discount on ski lift passes and rentals, a 50 percent discount on locker fees and doctor fish cafes and a half-price discount on any remaining rooms during the weekdays. Visit www.oakvally.co.kr
Yongpyong Dragon Valley Resort
Yongpyong Resort opened its winter season with some added improvements ― nighttime operation of the Gold Slope, a newly designed park by a famous pro-snowboarder, and early opening of its international Rainbow Slope. The Gold Slope, famous for its beautiful landscape and fairly easy level, will now present a new nightlight beauty to its users. Dragon Park, the nation's first terrain park, is also gaining attention from enthusiasts as Korea's top snowboarder,Lee Duk-moon,designed it. Other recreational services include a water park, complete with spa, wave pool and sauna, to relax and warm up the body after a long day on the slopes, and a clubhouse with a barbecue and beer restaurant, where users can enjoy nearby dog-sleds and snowmobiles. Daytime ski lift passes cost 50,000 won, while combined passes (with gondola) cost 60,000 won. A set ticket for both ski lifts and the gondola is offered online at a 20 percent discount. Various season passes are also available. Visit www.yongpyong.co.kr.
High 1 Resort
High 1 Resort is the biggest resort here and has the longest course, stretching 21 kilometers. Located at Mt. Baekun, the ski resort opens earlier than any other and also continues its services through six o'clock. With newly widened slopes and additional ski lifts, visitors will be able to enjoy skiing and snowboarding without having to bump into others. Among the 18 slopes, the International Ski Federation (FIS) certified 11 of them after the resort was chosen to host the FIS general meeting in 2012. Not only does the resort offer long and spacious slopes, but also has special areas for the disabled. With patrol stations and more than 30 emergency kits and telephones situated along the slopes that will enable the injured to quickly contact medical services, High 1 strives to bring a family-oriented and safe ski vacation. This year, the resort has prepared an exclusive ski train that travels from Busan and Seoul, directly to Gohan Station, where the resort is located. Tickets cost from 23,000 won to 72,000 won depending on the time of day and schedule. The resort also offers various discounts and season passes. Visit www.high1.co.kr.
Hyundai Sungwoo Resort
Sungwoo Resort, located in Hoengseong, Gangwon Province, is perfect for extreme sports lovers. The resort, which will host the 2009 FIS Snowboard Championships, recently opened their specialized ski and snowboarding slopes, including the Fun Park, Bank Turn Course and Wave Course. The Fun Park offers various snowboarding paraphernalia including boxes, kickers, special rails and more. The Bank Turn Course and Wave Course offers slopes with fun twists and turns.
The resort has also prepared a snow theme park, where skiers and guests can walk or ride sleighs through the romantic snow park.
Tickets cost from 29,000 won to 79,000 won depending on the time of day and other additional facilities and equipment. For more information, visit www.hdsungwoo.co.kr.
