The chill is on.

And here in the great state of West Virginia that means pointing the family sleigh east to the mountains where the Mountain State puts its wild and wonderful motto into full gear at one of four downhill ski resorts.

Here's a look at what's new at West Virginia's ski resorts and some early season specials for the 2007-2008 ski season.

Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Davis, W.Va.

OPENING DAY: Tentative date for the ski slopes is Dec. 22. Earlier weather permitting. The resort's multi-lane Tube Park opened on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22.

WHERE: in Davis, about 180 miles north and east of Charleston, and just north of Elkins. About 4 to 41/2 hours from Huntington.

WHAT'S NEW: Canaan Valley opened an Airboard Terrain Park last year. Developed in Europe, this super sledding sport of airboarding (or snow bodyboarding) first came to North America in 2003. This high-tech sledding lets you make sharp turns and do freestyle aerials. Check out more online at www.airboard.com.

SPECIALS: If you stay at the lodge, children 12 and under get to stay and ski for free.

Also, for the 2007-2008 season, Canaan Valley Resort and neighboring Timberline Four Seasons Resort and offer a two-day lift ticket and can be purchased at the lift ticket windows of both ski areas. Cost is: $40 for a two-day pass during Value Season (Opening - Dec. 24; Mar. 17-23); $65 for a two-day pass during weekdays in Prime Season (Jan. 1-Mar. 13); and, $95 for a two-day pass during weekends in Prime Season (Jan. 4-Mar. 16). The ticket will not be available during the Christmas (Dec. 25-Dec. 31), Presidents Day or Martin Luther King Day holidays. Go online at www.SkiTheValley.com.

Also, season ski passes for West Virginia residents are $275, if done so by Nov. 30.

A COOL EARLY SEASON WEEKEND: Make the holidays cool and old school with an Olde Time Country Christmas, a three-night stay special that runs Dec. 23-26. Rate is $220 per person and includes three nights lodging, 3 days breakfast, 3 day ski lift ticket, a holiday dinner, and Beech Club privileges.

CALL: Call (800) 622-4121.

ON THE WEB: www.canaanresort.com

Timberline Four Seasons, Resort, Davis, W.Va.

OPENING DAY: Tentative date is Dec. 6.

WHERE: In Davis, about 180 miles north and east of Charleston, and just north of Elkins. About 4 1/2 hours from Huntington.

WHAT'S NEW: The state's only family-owned ski resort has added 40 additional snow guns for its '07-'08 winter season. This recent acquisition is in addition to 60 units purchased last year. Also, built last year was Twister, a one-mile intermediate trail that gave Timberline a total of 37 trails. Also, "Men's Journal" magazine just named Davis one of the Top 10 Coolest Mountain Towns in North America.

SPECIALS: Every Thursday through the season, is College Days -- Dec. 6-25, Jan. 1-18, and March 3, through April 3, get $17 lift tickets and $12 rentals. Also special bunkhouse prices.

A COOL EARLY SEASON WEEKEND: Winterfest is Dec. 26 through 31, with almost round-the-clock celebrations on the slopes and in the lodge. Skiing from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, children's programs daily, on all holidays, and weekends. Dinner nightly at the Fireside Grille and nightly live music with Teacher's Pet and Macho Willie at Timber's Pub.

CALL: (304) 866-4801 or (800) SNOWING.

ON THE WEB: www.timberlineresort.com

Snowshoe Mountain in Snowshoe, W.Va.

OPENING DAY: Tentatively set to open Nov. 21; Silver Creek Ski Area is set to open mid-December.

WHERE: Located in Snowshoe in Pocahontas County. About 4 to 41/2 hours from Huntington.

WHAT'S NEW: Snowshoe unveils three new slopes for the 07-08 season, bringing the mountain total to 60 trails. The newest addition to the basin area is located on the southern side of the mountaintop, adjacent to the existing Widowmaker slope. All three slopes will be marked for expert skiers, and serviced by the year-old Soaring Eagle Express high-speed quad. The expansion marks the first time in 10 years Snowshoe has introduced new trails. The most recent addition to the mountain took place in 2004, when several trails were widened, increasing skiable acres, but not the trail count.

The 11 acres of new trails are Camp 99 (skier's left), Sawmill (skier's right) and Sawmill Glades (skier's far-right). A joint venture with Sawmill Village developers, who contributed about $1 million, the trails offer Snowshoe guests residing in the new South Mountain ski-in/ski-out access.

For beginners, a new Magic Carpet lift will open this season adjacent to Skidder Slope, aiding the mountain's most inexperienced visitors and servicing Snowshoe's ski school. The lift will increase the mountain's uphill capacity by 1,500 skiers per hour.

SPECIALS: Book three nights and get a fourth night free through Dec. 25. Must book your reservation by Nov. 21.

DID YOU KNOW? Snowshoe is a great place to take kids as it has the Split Rock Pools as well as Big Top, a 15,000 square-foot gaming space filled with arcade games, a rock climbing wall, Eurobungy and will host dance parties and movies.

A COOL WEEKEND: A Christmas getaway has some good deals with two nights lodging and two days of tickets starting at $105 per person. Also, Demo Days Weekend is set for Dec. 8-9, with free equipment demos from all the top ski and snowboard manufacturers. Packages start at $199 per person with two nights lodging and two days lift tickets.

CALL: (877) 441-4FUN.

ON THE WEB: www.snowshoemtn.com

Winterplace Resort, Flat Top, W.Va.

OPENING DAY: Tentative open date is Dec. 7.

WHERE: Winterplace is located two minutes south of Beckley off I-77, Exit 28, in Ghent/Flat Top, W.Va. About three hours from Huntington.

WHAT'S NEW: Winterplace, the closest ski resort to Huntington, has added additional top-of-the-line rental equipment. New Snowmaking guns along Nose Dive. Plus, beginners can check out the new teaching area which is eight times larger and with two new Super Carpet Lifts in the teaching area.

After two new quad lifts a season ago, the resort now has nine ski lifts and 27 trails. They've also added a new terrain park. The resort also has West Virginia's largest snowtubing park with 16 lanes and five lifts.

DID YOU KNOW? Winterplace has 14 hours of skiing per day (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) on weekends and holidays; and 13 hours on the weekdays (9 a.m. to 10 p.m.).

SPECIALS: Get a free lift ticket per room per night when you stay at nearby Glade Springs Resort. Also, special discounts for military personnel and college students. Weekday prices are $30.95 (lift) and $27.95 rental; twilight (3 to 10 p.m.) lift tickets are $28.95 (lift) and $24.95 (rental). Also, free night skiing with an all-day lift ticket.

A COOL WEEKEND: Holiday festivities planned for Christmas and New Year's.

CALL: (800) 607-SNOW.

ON THE WEB: www.winterplace.com.

Photo courtesy of Winterplace Ski Resort

Tubing is one of the popular activities at Winterplace Ski Resort. Winterplace is one of four West Virginia ski resorts gearing up for a new season.