New & Noteworthy in the West

California
North Star Resort in Truckee will host the Nordic SuperTour event, a premier cross-country race series, on March 18. This spectator-friendly race is open to all ages and will begin and end in the Village of North Star, convenient to the resort’s 35 unique shops and restaurants and the 9,000- square foot ice skating rink. Making a scorching debut this winter is All Fired Up! pottery-making studio, one of many quaint village shops. Visitors enjoy the resort’s 93 ski trails and award-winning alpine terrain, perfect for snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. (800-466-6784, northstarattahoe.com)

Squaw Valley USA now has improved lighting on Rivera Terrain Park and half-pipe so that winter sports enthusiasts can extend chilly fun until 9 p.m. on weekends…..

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Come On In, The Water’s Fine

By Rick Heinz, Editor, Midwest Skier Magazine
While representing my club at ski and snowboard shows, I’d frequently be asked by other people in their 20s, “What ages are your club members?” The truth they’re trying to dig up is that the majority of members are baby boomers. It is true for just about all the clubs, but it is not a reason to shy away.

Ski and snowboard clubs might not appear to be the idyllic social outlets for us millenials, but if you’re passionate about the sports, it is really the best way to enjoy them aside from moving out West. Clubs do all the hard work for you by getting lift tickets, plane tickets, lodging and ground transportation. They also save you money by taking advantage of group rates. Since clubs aren’t around to make a profit, the savings are passed down to the members.

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Skunk Hollow Ski and Snowboard Club

Travel with us as we visit Park City, Heavenly, Telluride and Vail this winter! As a warm-up we will also spend a short weekend at local favorites Cascade and Devil’s Head. Skunk Hollow Ski and Snowboard Club has organized trips and other activities for adventure-seeking men and women over 21 years of age for over 50 years. With membership hovering around 100, we are large enough to offer reasonably priced trips while small enough to allow each member an influential voice in where we go and what we do.

Membership spans all of Chicagoland as well as several other states. All ability levels are represented, so there is always somebody to share the slopes with. Between winter trips and during the summer months, our club remains social with parties, campouts, downtown excursions, dinners and concerts. Social events are largely influenced by our members’ input, so we have done and can do just about anything. Find out more by attending a meeting. We meet the second Thursday of each month at 8 p.m. at Boston Blackies in Arlington Heights.

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Oak Park Ski Club

The club, of course, pursues skiing, racing and snowboarding, but during the year sponsors many outdoor and indoor events. We’ve done excursions to Ravinia, ice cream socials in Park Ridge, scenic bicycle tours along Chicago’s lakefront and through various suburbs, and we target a “Bar of the Month” each month.

No description of activities would be complete without mention of the club’s proud asset in Michigan: its own year-round lodge, located in the Boyne Mountain ski and vacation area. Members and their families and friends who use the lodge are treated to a modern, fully-equipped kitchen and accommodations for 42 guests. This past year we skied Big Sky, Montana; Boyne Mountain, Michigan, and Nubs Nob, Michigan. This winter we’re headed for Vail, Lake Tahoe, and Midwestern destinations including our Lodge. Meetings are the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 8 p.m. at Champp’s Restaurant & Bar, 955 E. Golf Road in Schaumburg. Minimum age is 21 and the annual dues are $35.

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Steamboat Springs

By Vanessa Day

Nestled in Routt National Park in the northwest region of Colorado, Steamboat Springs is a classic ski town that has stayed true to its cultural roots. Humble beginnings as a ranching town have helped Steamboat maintain a small-town feel, while the state-of-the-art ski resort honors the town’s long history with the sport.

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Wilmot Mountain

By Vanessa Day

Located only an hour away from Chicago, Wisconsin’s Wilmot Mountain has been a much-frequented Midwest ski destination since its humble beginnings in 1938. As Wilmot Mountain grew in popularity, so did its reign as a successful ski resort, especially when it became one of the first to introduce “snowmaking.” Today, Wilmot is lovingly called the “Matterhorn of the Midwest” and hosts thousands of avid skiers and snowboarders looking to enjoy an entertaining day on the slopes.

Of course a lot has changed since the early days of skiing – still it’s easy to forget just how popular the sport was back then. If you’ve seen the Alfred Hitchcock film The Lady Vanishes which involves a trip to a European ski resort – the slopes are literally covered in skiiers. Now Wilmot is just as popular, though you’re unlikely to find it too crowded.

Ski technology has, of course, changed immensely since 1938, the other big difference is the improvement in Après-ski – in the old days skiiers probably went home for a hot cocoa and might listen to the phonograph and read a bit of Emerson before bed, while now it’s more likely to be a night on the town, or at least playing partypoker, checking facebook and watching DVDs. Wilmot still offers good skiing, however the night life has changed.

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Message from the President

The Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council president, Keith L. Fanta, shares recent updates and changes within the council. Fanta notes the advancements made towards promoting individual club members  through online search engine optimization tools, in order to help gain exposure to the public. To see this issue’s message from the President visit: CMSC Message

2009/2010 Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council Associate Members

The Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council (CMSC) has Associate Members across the country, ready to offer their assistance and expertise while planning your next ski group vacation. From resort contacts, to sports medicine professionals, to “where-to-get-your-gear,” Associate Members of the CMSC come from a vast array of disciplines.
No matter what your question, the Associate Members of the CMSC are always on hand to help make your next group ski excursion the best one yet. A comprehensive list of North American members can be found here: CMSC List

Boyne Mountain

Northern Michigan’s Boyne Resorts has become a mecca of Midwest winter sports destinations. Comprised of three resorts, ski enthusiasts will have plenty of turf to ski. Read more about this Midwest ski destination.

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Chiropractor Offers a Plan to Keep You in the Game

Dr. Rich Van Til’s offers easy suggestions that will prevent injury and help you stay in shape when taking to the slopes.

Find out what you should do to stay in shape.

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