A Lake Placid Winter Trip With ORDA

I went to Lake Placid with the Olympic Regional Development Authority, or ORDA, for a trip that took us from the ski jumps to the slopes at Whiteface.

I love a place where you can see more than one side of mountain sport in the same visit. Lake Placid gave us exactly that: a chance to look at the jumps up close, get out on a snowboard, and sit down to dinner at Whiteface Lodge.

Start at the ski jumps

We visited the ski jumps before heading to Whiteface. They are a reminder that every sport has its own way of reading a mountain.

On a snowboard, I think about where my next turn will go. At the jumps, the line is much more direct. Seeing the venue in person made me pause and think about the practice it takes to make something so demanding look effortless.

If you're planning a Lake Placid trip, leave room for more than your own sport. A visit to a different venue can change the way you see the mountains around you.

A day on the snowboard at Whiteface

Then it was time to ride at Whiteface. After taking in the jumps, getting onto the snow myself felt like the right next chapter.

My favorite way to approach a mountain day is to give it room to unfold. Check the conditions, choose terrain that fits how you feel, and take the time to enjoy being out there. You don't need to turn every run into a test.

Whiteface was the part of the trip where I got to trade watching for doing, and that's always a good feeling.

Skate the lake if it's frozen

If the lake is frozen over when you visit, go skating. Gliding across the ice with the mountains all around is one of those simple winter moments that stays with you.

Check local ice conditions first and skate where it's marked safe. Then take your time and enjoy it.

Dinner at Whiteface Lodge

We finished with dinner at Whiteface Lodge. After a day spent moving between venues and riding, it was a welcome chance to slow down and take it all in.

That's what stays with me about this visit: so many ways to experience Lake Placid in one trip. The jumps made me curious, Whiteface got me moving, and dinner gave the day a place to land.

Thanks to ORDA for inviting me to experience it.