If you haven’t been skiing or snowboarding yet this year, now is the time to go. While this January hasn’t brought a tremendous amount of snow for any resorts in the region, there have been enough moderate snows and freezing cold temperatures to let most ski resorts maintain their slopes.

The best times to go by far are the weekdays. Not only are the crowds thinned out considerably, but ticket prices are slashed.

I recently got away last weekend to hit the slopes for the first time this year. I took off to Ski Beech Resort in Banner Elk, North Carolina. From Middlesboro, the trip is a solid 3 hours if you head east through Jonesville, Va., continue through Kingsport, Tenn., and then down to Banner Elk, NC.

Ticket prices for a weekend run at Ski Beech will set you back $60 for an adult ticket, $40 for a junior or senior. It’s $45 for half-day tickets and Friday and Saturday nights go for $30.

Monday through Friday is considerably cheaper, running $38 for day or twilight tickets; $28 for half-day tickets; and $20 for Sunday—Thursday tickets.

Sugar Mountain, just a mile from Banner Elk, NC, is also a great place to spend a day on the slopes. It’s much more accessible than Ski Beech, which is located on Beech Mountain and can be quite treacherous to reach if there is fresh snow. Sugar, however, is a little more expensive. Full-day weekend rates run $64, while weekday rates are $39. Half-day weekend rates are $48 and half-day weekday rates are $29.

Both resorts give discounts to college students and teachers who are making the trip on a snow day.

WHEN DO YOU MAKE THE TRIP?

• Always check the snow base conditions before you go. A good base is at least 30 inches and ideal conditions should have at least a few inches of fresh powder. Every ski resort should have a website that tracks conditions and temperatures for the area. Many times I’ve not checked and then gone to ski resorts only to find a long sheet of ice covering the mountain with snow machines pounding your ski goggles with fake snow. Those are not the best conditions.

• Also check local school closings for the area. If schools in the area are in session that day, chances are the roads will be clear and the resort will be less crowded.

• Check for deals. Many ski resorts offer ladies’ or men’s nights or discounts for students who’ve missed for snow. Call the resort ahead of time to find out.

•Avoid weekends. If you like waiting in line, tripping over church and school groups down the mountain, and paying extraordinarily high lift tickets, then Saturday and Sunday are the days for you.

If you’re looking for a place to go to, there are many in the region. Unfortunately, many are over three hour trips. Ober Gatlinburg offers a fully-featured resort and they’ve recently opened a new inter-tubing section that will appeal to the whole family. Ski Beech is also a great place to go, but note that it is situated on top of a mountain and, in snowy weather, it can be hard to reach. Sugar Mountain is right next to Ski Beech in Banner Elk. It’s very accessible and has many good slopes. Winter Place in West Virginia is similarly easily accessible right off the interstate.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.