Friday, February 3, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
By Marty Basch
Skiing must be in the their blood.
Jen Bailey's parents met at Black Mountain in Jackson, N.H. in the early 1970s. Mom Jodie Emery was a ski school instructor and father Jay Kopanski was on ski patrol. Plus, Jen's a North Conway native comfortable on both skis and snowboard.
Though husband Chris learned to ski at age 2 1/2 at upstate New York's Gore Mountain, his family moved to Jackson in 1977 after purchasing Tyrol, the ski area that reigned from 1963-1981.
The two married in the summer of 2000 and after exchanging vows at the gazebo in Jackson, held the reception—complete with buffet created by the Kennett High School culinary program—at Black Mountain.
Today, their three sons ski at Black about a mile from the family's Jackson home situated along a wavy Jackson Ski Touring Foundation cross-country ski trail.
All In The Family
"To me skiing is just about getting outdoors and enjoying the sport and the environment in which we live," Chris explained. " I love looking around the valley as I ride the chair lifts to the top. I am so thankful that I was raised here and that now Jen and I are able to raise our boys here it is just very rewarding."
The Baileys are teachers. Chris teaches social studies at Kennett. Jen is a special education teacher for SAU 9. Chris is also the boys' tennis coach.
Their sons Braeden, 10, and Camden, 8, are on the Black Mountain ski team. Young Deven is 5 and a half, his skiing at the point where he is able to nearly ski just about anything on his own, according to Dad.
On weekends, the family can be found making turns at Black, or sometimes tossing the football outside the base area as Chris also helps out with Eagles football.
"Sports have always played a very important part of my life," Chris commented. "As long as I can remember I have enjoyed sports. I have an older brother so I was always trying to keep up with what he was doing. Whether that was skiing, football or whatever. My wife and I try not to push our sons too much into certain sports. Our philosophy is that as long as they are active and doing something than that is what is important."
At Kennett, Chris lettered three times in tennis, twice in basketball and twice in football. He graduated in the class of 1988 and is a KHS Hall of Fame member who was a ball boy during the glory days of the Volvo Tennis Tournament.
Old Ski Area
Tyrol also had its heyday. According to the New England Lost Ski Area Project, the mountain had 13 trails at its apex with about 1,000 feet of vertical. Weekend ticket prices in 1973 were $7 for adults and $6 for juniors. Lifts included a Poma, t-bar and double chair. There was was no snowmaking. Skiers plied the bumps on Jackson Falls, navigated a right angle on Frostee and skied under the chair on Upper and Lower Double Header.
"We had two good winters (1977-1979) and then unfortunately we had two snowless winters (1979-1981)," Chris recalled. "At the end of the second snowless winter my father and my uncle Tim decided to close permanently rather than risking losing everything. We were forced to sell of equipment, including the lifts and eventually sold the entire mountain as well."
His parents, Peter and Ginger, still live near the mountain's base.
Eldest son Braeden used the family connection to Tyrol for a school project. He turned in a history of the ski area for the fourth grade Earn Your Turns program sponsored by Ski New Hampshire. Students research an historical aspect of Granite State skiing and upon completion receive a lift ticket and trail pass to all Ski NH areas and resorts.
Location is one reason the Baileys ski at Black, but also value. Chris had kind words for the Fichera family, Black owners, for "keeping skiing affordable for the hardworking families here in the valley."
"This has allowed us to pass on our love of skiing to our sons," explained Chris. "And on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon it is nice to sit in the lounge and listen to some great music with friends and family. It reminds me of my childhood. I just hope our sons will appreciate it as much as I have."