Michigan's ski areas have kept busy over the summer making improve-ments and expansions to their facilities in order to increase the enjoyment of skiers and boarders this season. The areas have added tree runs, more conveyor lifts, enhanced terrain parks and halfpipes.
"Much of the emphasis in area improvements is centered around creating a fun family experince," says Mickey MacWilliams, executive director of Michigan Snoswports Industries Assn. (MSIA).
Wonder Carpet conveyor sys tems are the latest convenience for novice skiers and very young children. Like a flat escalator, the conveyor gently moves beginners up the slopes. "It's a great learn ing tool with easy loading and unloading so it makes a great first-time ski experience," says Mark Tibbits, Mt. Holly general manager and MSIA board mem ber. Bittersweet, Boyne High lands and Boyne Mountain, Crystal Mountain, Indianhead, Mt. Holly and Pine Knob have all recently installed conveyor lift systems. For the more experi-enced skiers and boarders, there are new terrain parks, halfpipes and glade runs. "These are espe-cially popular with teens and young adults," says MacWilliams
The following is a rundown of other news and improvements on the slopes and trails across Michigan. To find more infor-mation, get on the Web and visit www.goskimichigan.com, which is linked to each of these ski areas:
Alpine Valley of White Lake, 248-887-2180, added new ski and snowboard rental gear to its rental shop.
www.skialpinevalley.com
Apple Mountain of Free-land, 989-781-6789, purchased a new park Bully snow-grooming vehicle and enhanced its terrain park.
www.applemountain.com
You can hip hop all you want between the Upper Peninsula's Big Powderhorn Mountain in Bessemer, 906-932-4838, Blackjack in Bessemer and in Indianhead Mountain Resort in Wakefield, 906-229-5181, with the Hill Hopper lift ticket that enables purchasers to ski at all three mountains in two- three- or four-day increments. Hill hoppers can ski and ride at their choice of these three neighbor resorts or they can split the day to "hill hop" from one resort to the next. A limited quantity of the Hill Hopper passes can be purchased at an early season rate of $30 per day at www.bigsnow.com. As an added bonus, purchasers of an adult Hill Hopper ticket can receive one (1) free child Hill Hopper ticket for ages 12 and under.
Big Powderhorn celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with two new runs and expanded snowmaking to cover most of the mountain. The resort also added a third warming hut on its learn-to-ski beginner trail.
www.bigpowder.net
Bittersweet Ski Area of Otsego, 269-694-2820, added more snow guns and expanded and widened its terrain park. The area also purchased more skiing and snowboarding equipment for the rental shop.
www.skibittersweet.com
Blackjack Ski Resort of Bessemer, 906-229-5115, which is owned by Burton Snowboard group, has all new rental equip-ment and features a learn-to-ride snowboard program.
Boyne USA has introduced Olympian Cary Adgate as "Boyne USA Ski Ambassador." Boyne Highlands and Boyne Moun-tain, both 1-800-GO-BOYNE, expanded their beginner area terrain parks and added complete rail yards to their advanced terrain parks. Both ski areas also added glade skiing terrain and expanded and enhanced snowmaking capa-bilities. As an extra perk, skiers receive a complimentary sub-scription to SKI magazine with a season pass purchase.
Boyne Mountain is expected to open its much anticipated, $50-million Mountain Grand Lodge at the base of its slopes. The fa-cility is taking reservations now for late winter occupancy. Boyne Mountain will offer on-property kiddie snowmobile rides and adult snowmobile rental for off-prop-erty use.
Boyne Highlands is offering sled dog rides this season. The Highlands opened a new full-service on-hill restaurant called North Peak and expanded its cross-country ski trail to 40 km. www.boyne.com
Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort of Cadillac, 231-862-3000, created a new terrain park featuring tabletops and rails. The area has a new school program called "Peak Fitness Field Trips." www.caberfaepeaks.com
Cross Country Ski Head-quarters of Roscommon, 800-832-2663, built a sprint park on its Blizzard Trail.
www.cross-country-ski.com
Crystal Mountain of Thompsonville, 231-378-2000, expanded its learning area and installed two new Wonder Carpet conveyor lifts; one is 360 feet and the other 60 feet in length.
Crystal will once again con-struct a halfpipe, after a four-year hiatus. The pipe will be 300 feet long. Crystal expanded one of its terrain parks into a "Super Park" and added 19 new snowguns for the slopes.
The ski resort completed construction of The Cottages at Water's Edge: two- and three-bedroom units reminiscent of early 1900s-era northern Mich-igan cottages and cabins. They are located at the base of the slopes. There is a new 15-person outdoor hot tub that is part of the cottages' pool and water playground. www.crystalmountain.com
The Homestead of Glen Arbor, 231-334-5000, made a second terrain park that will include a slope-style course (with a row of jumps) for racing. The Homestead added a new event this year called "Holiday Wine Week-end," a weekend lodging package held Dec. 17-19, 2004, that in-cludes a wine tasting, a wine-maker's dinner and free skiing.
www.thehomesteadresort.com
Marquette Mountain in Marquette, 906-225-1155, is converting its race run to an FIS Men's Olympic Slalom Course and created a new race start area. For the 2004-2005 season, the area purchased more snow groomers and snowmaking equip-ment as well as increased equip-ment for the rental department. Marquette offers a discount to members of the military. www.marquettemountain.com
Mt. Bohemia in the UP's Keweenaw Peninsula, 906-487-9757, is holding a "Find Frankie the Friendly Porcupine" contest. Frankie, the mascot for Mt. Bohemia and Porcupine Moun-tain ski areas, has been kidnapped. On Feb. 19 there will be a $100,000 reward if any customer cracks the secret code that will free Frankie.
For black diamond skiers, Mt. Bohemia cut five new glade runs (ski slopes amidst the trees) for this season.
www.mtbohemia.com
In Southeast Michigan, Mt. Brighton Ski Area of Brighton, 810-229-9581, added features to both terrain parks including a c-box, a rainbow box and a rainbow rail. To enhance snow-grooming capabilities, the ski area purchased a Piston Bully snow groomer. In the rental department, they added 200 helmets, snow blades and other equipment.
Mt. Brighton added two teams to its high school boarder cross club (snowboard racing), which was formed last season. It is currently the only high school boarder cross club in the state of Michigan.
www.mtbrighton.com
Mt. Holiday of Traverse City, 231-938-2500, purchased a new snow groomer and made snowmaking improvements.
Mt. Holly of Holly, 248-634-8269, remodeled its entrance area and spruced up the lodge interior. The ski area also added two new snow guns to its arsenal of nearly 100 and increased its snowboard rental inventory by five percent.
www.skimtholly.com
Norway Mountain of Nor-way, 906-563-9700, purchased new groomers, widened runs and enlarged the terrain park. Norway provides tips and pointers to beginners and they provide a free seminar for everyone who buys season passes.
www.norwaymountain.com
Nubs Nob of Harbor Springs, 231-526-2131, opened two new expert-only gladed tree skiing areas, increasing the slope total to 49 and adding 15 skiable areas. Nubs Nob moved its expert halfpipe to some steeper terrain and lengthened it by 150 feet, making it a Superpipe arena. They excavated the 15-foot walls into the ground, added permanent snow guns on towers, added new lights to both sides of the pipe and put in a new handle tow to get boarders to the top.
www.nubsnob.com
Pine Knob of Clarkston, 248-625-0800, invested in lodge improvements such as replacing the roof, constructing new bath-rooms, installing new carpet and new beams and installing more benches and hooks.
www.skipineknob.com
Shanty Creek of Bellaire (northwest of Traverse City), 231-533-7066, has made numer-ous enhancements to its Schuss Mountain. They include adding additional lighting for night skiing, enlarging the halfpipe, creating an all-new children's area for ages three through five, improving the snowmaking system, upgrading the Schuss Mountain terrain garden and creating a gated terrain park area for added safety. Schuss will be open for Friday night skiing this year. Shanty Creek purchased helmets as well as new skiing and snowboarding equipment for the rental department.
www.shantycreek.com
Ski Brule of Iron River, 906-265-6754, built a new lodg-ing office and a new children's center with indoor activities includeing a mini playground with slide. The center is located adjacent to the rental center and walks right out to Gentle Ben, the beginner hill. Ski Brule also purchased more snowmaking equipment including a groomer and snow guns.
www.skibrule.com
Snow Snake of Harrison (near Mt. Pleasant), 989-539-6583, purchased a new snow groomer and enhanced snow-making. www.snowsnake. net
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