Rhode Island Ski Resort Gains Fame Through Viral Snowboarding Group

When many people think of skiing in New England, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont often come to mind, but what about Rhode Island? The southern coast of New England's smallest state, the Yawgoo Valley Area, is home to a respectable ski resort worth exploring.

Yawgoo Valley is small, with two double chairlifts, a couple of rope tows, and about 350 vertical feet of drop, yet it prioritizes learning and family involvement. This year, approximately 1,300 local kids are in the skiing teaching programs.

According to a Teton Gravity Research report, the resort offers scenic coastal views. The Proud Mary chair offers sightlines to Newport and the Atlantic Ocean on clear days, though its coastal location creates weather-driven snowmaking challenges.

The Yawgoons — a quartet of local snowboarders who started at Yawgoo and gained viral status for their cool tricks — have put the Yawgoo Valley Area on the national scene, including coverage in The New York Times.

Writing for Teton Gravity Research, Kim Brown caught up with Brian, one of the Yawgoons, who explained how the group's success boosted individual careers while Yawgoo remains a home base. He himself designed and operated a snowboard park at Vermont's Mt. Snow, but continues to visit Yawgoo regularly.

"Spin-off Yawgoon cults exist across the riding world, in Japan and Australia, all inspired by four riders from a tiny ski area in coastal Rhode Island," Brown commented.