Published by the Midwest Sport/Ski Council | March 2024
Ikon Pass Reveals 2026-27 Price, New Resorts, and Access for Skiers. The Ikon Pass, one of the two biggest multi-mountain ski passes, is back on sale soon with new resorts, deals for younger skiers, and expanded Colorado access. More. Powder Indy Pass Adds 16 Partners, Launches Auto-Renewal Requirement for 2026-27 Sales. Indy Pass has added…
Have you ever gone to the Cafesjian Art Trust Museum in Shoreview? We attended an exhibit there on January 16th. It is an amazing little museum originally filled with works by the artist Chihuly donated by a private collector. New exhibits come and go but one room has a glass ceiling holding a full collection…
On January 2-4 the Winter Carnival returned to Giants Ridge after eight years and the 53 skiers from 4 Minnesota Ski clubs had a fabulous time. The Lodge at Giants Ridge had wonderful accommodations, food, and service. The 4-piece band and dance floor were a nice addition along with some dubious Karaoke singing later on…
Ski Patrol Strike Shuts Down Colorado’s Popular Telluride Resort Indefinitely. Telluride Ski Resort in Mountain Village, Colorado, was shuttered Dec. 27, with no date set for reopening, due to a labor dispute with the ski patrol union over wages. More. CBS News via Google Alerts Update: The Telluride website states the following on Sun. Jan.…
Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry is in the midst of a liability insurance crisis. Earlier this year, Safehold Special Risk, a major insurer for ski resorts, announced it would no longer provide coverage in the state. The decision stems from Oregon’s legal climate, where liability waivers are largely unenforceable following a series of lawsuits, leaving businesses…
Well, the Ullr schedule of hikes is ending along with the warm days of the Fall season. We’ve had more than a dozen hikes on the schedule since November 1st. Fall meetings are now being held at Joseph’s Grill in St. Paul. Our most recent speaker was Tom Warth, the founder of “Books for Africa”.…
The Ski Younger Now Classes have grown. The Ski Younger Class by Roger Wangen is now defined by: “Soft Skiing”- the effortless, low impact on the body, safe skiing for mature (Seniors) adults. It is the only class offered for Seniors in the metro area. it is the only program with 3 consecutive days of…
Will the Drought in the Northeast Curtail Snowmaking This Fall/Winter? Current drought conditions may affect the early season (November/early December). In a “normal” year, resorts might push snow guns aggressively or respond to brief cold snaps. In a drought year, they may have to ration water usage, being more selective about when and where to…
Best Ski Resorts For Early Season Snow. It’s never too early to start planning for the upcoming winter season, and that includes the popular time around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. ZRankings has put together an excellent guide to help you find the best snow during the holidays. More. OpenSnow Alterra Commits $400M to…
The Ullr summer picnics have come to an end. Weather was perfect for a rafting trip on the Mississippi River with Three Rivers Park District staff. A bike ride in Stillwater was cut down to only about 7 miles due to all the storm damaged trees preventing passage on the trail. We did return to…
Indy Reopens Sales, Launches Learn-to-Turn Pass. With the addition of dozens of new resorts, Indy Pass went back on sale to the public on Aug. 28, 2025. Indy halted sales of its 2025-26 pass in March after reaching its cap following a 10-day sales period. The company will also launch a new Learn-to-Turn pass that…
Whiteface Joins Mountain Collective for 2025-26 Season. Whiteface Mountain will join the Mountain Collective pass for the 2025-26 season, expanding the multi-resort pass’s Northeast footprint. The announcement marks the latest addition to the Mountain Collective’s lineup, which now includes 27 ski areas across five continents. More. SAM Winter Park, CO, $2 Billion Development Plan Clears…
Deer Valley’s $500M Expansion Adds 3,700 Acres, 17 Lifts, and One of the Largest Gondolas in U.S. Ski History. During the past two off-seasons, Deer Valley has been building 10 new lifts, adding 100 new runs and over 2,000 additional acres, effectively more than doubling the size of the historic resort. More. SnowBrains Winter Park,…
Ullrs’ popular monthly luncheons at Pittsburgh Blue, featuring prominent speakers, came to a close at the end of April. The summer picnics at Brookview Park in Golden Valley begin June 11th and continue monthly through August. The weather on March 21st was ideal for a drive down along the Mississippi River to Wabasha to visit…
U.S. Ski Areas Report 61.5M Skier Visits for 2024-25, Second Best Season on Record. U.S. ski areas reported a total of 61.5 million skier visits for 2024-25, a 1.7 percent year-over-year increase,according to preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). It was the second highest total since NSAA began tallying skier visits in…
Aspen Snowmass to Begin $80 Million Infrastructure Investments this Summer. Aspen Skiing Company has announced that it will be implementing several serious upgrades at Snowmass Mountain this summer. From dining area renovations to lift replacements and more, the total cost of these improvements is around $80 million. More. Freeskier Three Chairlifts to Be Installed This…
Ikon Pass Adds Ischgl and Others, Discontinues Base Plus Pass for 2025-26 Season. The 2025-26 Ikon Pass will introduce new resort access, expanded benefits, and a notable change to the pass lineup. More. SAM Arapahoe Basin Goes Full Ikon, As Season Pass Sales Begin. For the 2025-2026 season, the top headline is that Arapahoe Basin…
The Midwest Sport & Ski Council is returning “Summer Carnival” for 2025. This year the MSC is going to the “Heart” of the Brainerd Lakes area, Brezzy Point Resort on Pelican Lake. Summer Carnival 2025 has 3-days of activities planned, including pontoon excursions (additional cost), golf (additional cost), pickleball, hiking, and biking. Pontoon excursions are…
Women Ski Jumpers Win Equal Pay for First time at First Women’s World Cup in USA. For the first time in history, a Women’s World Cup ski jumping event was held on U.S. soil, marking a major milestone for the sport. The competition also made history by awarding equal prize money to female athletes for…
Colorado Lawmakers Revive SHRED Act in Congress in an Effort to Keep Ski Area Fees Flowing Locally. Colorado congressmen are taking another shot at keeping revenue from ski area fees in the local communities where resorts operate. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, reintroduced the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development, or SHRED Act,…
It has been 3 years since MSC Winter Carnival took place. Winter Carnival returned for 2025, January 9-12 at Snowriver Resort, Wakefield Michigan (ski areas include Jackson Creek and Black River Basin). The trip had over 50 participants that were from the affiliate MSC clubs of the MN Sitzmark, MN Ski Hawks Sports & Social…
Forest Service Budget Challenges Threaten Avalanche Center Operations Nationwide. Looming federal budget cuts have forced the Forest Service to institute a hiring freeze this fall for seasonal employees right as many avalanche centers are getting ready to bring on their winter workforce of experts. More. SnowBrains Park City Mountain Resort Ski Patrol Goes on Strike.…
The Midwest Sport & Ski Council (MSC) has launched the Winter 2024-25 ski trip calendar. The MSC is excited about bringing back both the day “Meet’n Ski” trip to Spirit Mountain recreation Area in Duluth and Winter Carnival 2025 to Wakefield Michigan. January 9-10, 2025 are the dates set for Winter Carnival 2025. Snowriver Resort,…
Ullrs have been busy with hiking and biking opportunities this fall as well as several social events. Our Holiday Social is December 4th and members are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. On December 11th, we will ski with The Yodelers Ski Club at Trollhaugen. A list of local skiing or…
Western Resorts Start Spinning Lifts. Several western ski areas have opened for the early season in recent days. More. SAM Paid Parking Implemented at Powder Mountain. Powder Mountain’s guests will be required to pay a parking fee on all weekends and holidays this upcoming season. More. Powder Homewood Suspends Operations for this Winter. Homewood Mountain…
It was a year to the weekend that “Summer Carnival 2024” was first in it’s plaining stages. Seasoned trip leaders Paul Benkufsky & Bryan Stadtler put the thoughts to paper. Summer Carnival 2024 main goal was to bring the Midwest Sport & Ski Council’s 13 affiliated clubs together. It was over 2 years since the…
Powdr to Sell Killington Resort / Pico Mountain, Put Mt. Bachelor, Eldora, and SilverStar Out to Bid. POWDR has agreed to sell Killington Resort and Pico Mountain to a group of local investors. The sale is expected to close this fall. Following news of the sale, sources report that POWDR also plans to put several…
Jackson Hole Announces New Sublette Lift For Next Season The resort is retiring the classic quad chair after 37 years of operation with a faster and more powerful detachable quad this summer. More. Powder Newsletter Major $3 Billion Expansion Project Proposed for Killington, VT. A Canadian company is looking to add more allure to the…
Indy Adds 10 Ski Areas, Will Reopen Limited Pass Sales. After adding 10 new ski areas to its roster for the 2024-25 season, Indy Pass released a limited number of passes starting July 1. More. SAM Windham Mountain Club, NY, Defines What Public Access Will Look Like in New Membership Model. This last season Windham…
Jackson Hole Announces New Sublette Lift For Next Season. The resort is retiring the classic quad chair after 37 years of operation with a faster and more powerful detachable quad this summer. More. Powder Newsletter Major $3 Billion Expansion Project Proposed for Killington, VT. A Canadian company is looking to add more allure to the…
Epic Pass Raises Prices, Adds Crans-Montana for 2024-25. Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass suite for 2024-25 has the unrestricted Epic Pass launching at $982 and the Epic Local pass retailing for $731, new highs for the products and about an 8 percent increase from last year, when they were $909 and $676, respectively. More. SAM Ikon…
The ULLR Spring and Summer calendar is busy with many events, both indoors and outdoors. There are lots of hiking opportunities at locations around the Twin Cities, also some interesting and educational social events. A Dakota History Tour and Exhibit at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Center is scheduled for March 7th and a Minnesota…
Indy Pass 2024-25 Pricing Flat, Adds 200-Resort Guarantee. Early-bird pricing for the 2024-25 Indy Pass will remain steady at $279 when it goes on sale March 1 to current and past passholders as well as people on last year’s waitlist, who can buy it for $329. Indy Pass currently has 185 independent resort partners, and…
Please Check Out these upcoming Events February Night Out Date: Friday Feb 16, 2024 Time: 5:00 PM Location: Hopkins VFW Friday, Feburary 16 is the next night out. Greg Thordson is hosting and will have two Tables. 651-697-4031 It will be at the American Legion Post 320 in Downtown Hopkins. 10 12th Ave S, Hopkins,…
Alterra to Acquire Arapahoe Basin. Alterra Mountain Company has entered into an agreement to purchase Arapahoe Basin from Dream Unlimited Corp. A-Basin will be Alterra’s 18th North American mountain destination. More. SAM Jackson Hole Sale Completed; Ski Area Will Stay in Local Hands. The sale of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) to a local…
Vail Resorts to Acquire Crans-Montana in Switzerland. Vail Resorts has entered into an agreement to acquire Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland from CPI Property Group (CPIPG), the majority owner of Remontées Mécaniques (French for “ski lifts”) Crans Montana Aminona (CMA) SA, which controls and operates all the resort’s lifts and supporting mountain operations, including four…
For forty-six years the MSC has offered Hearing Impaired children a chance to participate in the sport of skiing, and snowboarding was added in January, 2010. We will again offer the program of instruction to beginning and intermediate skiers/snowboarders in our area. It is a way that we can give someone else a chance to…
Late October Snow Primes the Pump for More Ski Area Openings. More North American ski areas are opening for the season after late-October snowstorms pummeled various regions this past week and cooler temps allowed other areas to fire up their snowmaking systems. Here is a rundown of some recent and soon-to-come opening dates. More. SAM…
Hello everyone. Below and attached is your October Newsbeat from the National Ski Council Federation. The NSCF Virtual Silent Auction is underway. Check out the many items available for bidding. Everyone can bid, so share with your ski buddies. Here’s the link. National Ski Council Federation Annual Fundraiser | Free Online Silent Auction Fundraisers | 32auctions…
Announcing our exciting 2024 western trips The Red Eyes are at it again. We are pleased to let you know that both of our 2024 ski trips are open for all with plenty of space still available. First up is our return after a break of 8 years to the largest ski area in…
Wow, it’s been awhile since I’ve been here. We had a wonderful cross -country ski weekend at the Cedar Valley Resort in Lanesboro, just south of Rochester. We enjoyed skiing, tubing, broom ball on the ice, many fabulous meals and lots of evening socializing. Our annual downhill ski trip was to South Lake Tahoe this…
Utah Dept. of Transportation Approves Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has released its final record of decision (ROD) to move forward with construction of a controversial eight-mile-long gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon. When complete, the gondola will feature a central station at the base of the canyon along with a…
The Ullr summer season got started with a biking kick-off ride in mid-May. More recently, 37 members went on the June 5-8 trip to Nisswa to bike the Paul Bunyan Trail and other trails around the lakes, to golf or just relax at the Good Ol’ Days Resort on Lower Cullen Lake. A few of…
New Upgrades Coming to Belleayre (NY), ORDA Releases Final Plan. A number of new capital upgrades including two new lifts and a 4,000-square-foot addition to the Longhouse Lodge are in the planning stages at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center after the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) released its 2023 Unit Management Plan Amendment…
Sitzmark of Minnesota is going to Steamboat Springs, CO – March 2nd to 9th, 2024. Join us for a Seven(7) day adventure to this Fantastic Ski resort. This will be a Fabulous trip at an outstanding price of $2,560/per person double occupancy, $4,120 single occupancy! Price includes round trip airfare (MSP to Steamboat-Hayden) and ground…
Sitzmark is going on a Ski and Sight seeing trip to Japan – Ski the Hakuba Valley ski resorts (7 nights) and sight seeing in Tokyo (3 nights) and surrounding areas. We have space for 30 people. The Double Occupancy price is $3,840 and the Single Occupancy price is $4,730. The Hakuba Valley is in…
Alterra Mountain Company to Acquire Schweitzer. Alterra Mountain Company has entered into an agreement to purchase Schweitzer, Idaho, from owner and developer MKM Trust. The transaction is expected to close later in 2023 and is subject to closing conditions such as regulatory approvals. More.SAM Little Cottonwood Gondola Gains Conditional Approval. The Wasatch Front Regional Council…
MSC skiers, save March 17 to 23, 2024 for a spring ski trip to Big Sky with the ULLR Ski, Bike and Social Club. ULLR trip chairs Maril Barnard and Kate Casserly are planning a trip that will check many of what skiers like on a ski trip: 5,850 total skiable acres 400 inches of…
How Western States Are Trying to Solve Ski Resort Traffic. State officials and ski resorts in the West are weighing solutions to mitigate crushing traffic up to the slopes, as population growth and a rise in outdoor recreation lure more people to the mountains. More. Axios via MSN News Indy Pass to Meter Growth After…
Alterra To Invest Nearly $500 Million This Year. Alterra Mountain Company plans a nearly $500 million capital investment program across its portfolio of destinations over the next year. That includes almost $400 million in lifts, snowmaking, summer adventures, additional guest amenities, and resort infrastructure; $50 million dedicated to employee housing; and $40 million for technology…
2023 First Quarter Recap: The weather so far in 2023 has not been very cooperative on many of the scheduled Ullr events. Most recently, our February 23rd General Meeting was cancelled due to the latest snowstorm. We did manage several outings, though. In January, Bill B. led a snowshoe outing at Gale Woods Farms in…
Vail Resorts to Launch Hands-Free Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket on New ‘My Epic’ App for the 2023/24 Winter Season. The new technology will allow guests to buy their pass or lift ticket online, activate and store it on their phone in the new My Epic app, put their phone in their pocket, and…
Sugarloaf Receives Approvals for West Mountain Expansion. Sugarloaf received key approvals from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to begin work on its massive, 450-acre West Mountain expansion, which will include a new a high-speed detachable quad, 12 new alpine trails with snowmaking, and a new real…
Important Precedent Set in Oregon Ski Area Ruling. Recreational use law was successfully used as a defense against a plaintiff seeking $1.5 million in a parking lot slip-and-fall claim against Hoodoo Ski Area in Oregon. Recreational use statutes limit the liability of landowners if they make their land available for recreation free of charge. More.…
Indy Pass Adds 12 Ski Areas, Including First in Eastern Canada. The Indy Pass has added 12 ski areas to its 2022-23 roster, including its first in eastern Canada, as well as three other Alpine partners, four cross-country resorts, and four Allied resorts. The additions bring the total number of participating resorts to 133. More.…
NATIONAL SKI COUNCIL FEDERATION NEWSBEAT OCTOBER 2022 Winter Park Resort to expand terrain this winter. Among a series of announced improvements, Winter Park Resort is opening new terrain for the 2022-23 ski season that the resort says will almost double its expert-only terrain over last season. More. Steamboat Pilot & Today Three More Ski Areas…
If You Have Been Away From the Norwegian Sport For A Few Decades, Welcome Back and S u r p r i s e !!!!! Remember the old days? Long stiff skis? Weighed a ton. Wearing yourself out to jump them into the air to change direction? It didn’t matter back then because we were…
Boy, we Traverskis have been busy! Every other month we join together to work at our local food pantry packing food for Southern Minnesota Channel One. Lots of fun and giving back to the community. Early in the summer, we gathered at a member’s farm in central Iowa for a relaxing Welcome Summer camp-out. We…
Ski Bunnies & Ski Bums! Summer activities have come and gone once again and it’s time to put our thoughts toward 2022- 2023 Yodelers Ski Season of fun! Yodelers Annual Fall Party was held at Joseph’s Restaurant in St. Paul on Wednesday, September 14th, and was attended by 61 skiers. There was much…
Start the Bidding… Our 5th Annual Virtual Auction is LIVE ♦ NSCF Newsbeat September 2022 ♦ Start the Bidding… Our 5th Annual Virtual Auction is LIVE By Joe Harvis on Sep 30, 2022 06:50 pm Our annual Silent Auction has begin. We have many items up for bid this year. Check them out.…
The Ullr Ski, Bike & Social Club had a very good summer with most of the approximately 28 scheduled bike rides taking place, some starting earlier to avoid biking during the hottest part of the day. There were three cancellations due to weather. We also had two multi-day events – Nisswa in early June with approximately…
THE SKINNER FAMILY CLOSES ON ACQUISITION OF BIG SNOW RESORT, MICHIGAN Big Snow Resort, Indianhead & Blackjack Names to be Phased Out Duluth, Minnesota (August 29, 2022) – Charles Skinner, Jr. has completed the acquisition of the Big Snow Resort from Art Dumke. The purchase includes the two historic UP ski areas of Indianhead and Blackjack,…
Hello fellow skiers and boarders. Hard to think about ski trips now at the middle of August. But if you want to go mountain skiing, now is the time to register for trips. Ski Hawks Ski and Social Club’s trip to Winter Park & Mary Jane is no exception. We are taking 30 ski lovers…
Vermont Ski Area Ditching Its Controversial Name. Suicide Six will become Saskadena Six to alleviate any negative impact the current name could have on visitors. More. Ski Magazine Keystone Bergman Bowl Restoration Approved, But Lift Will Not Open for 2022-23. Work on Keystone Resort’s Bergman Bowl Express will move forward after the U.S. Forest Service…
U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD ANNOUNCES MATT GNOZA AS FREESTYLE SPORT DIRECTOR ♦ Gunstock’s future uncertain after resort’s entire management team resigns ♦ The Best Time of Day to Fly to Avoid Cancellations, According to New Data ♦ U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD ANNOUNCES MATT GNOZA AS FREESTYLE SPORT DIRECTOR PARK CITY, UTAH (July 21, 2022)…
NSCF Newsbeat – July 2022 ♦ Top 10 Small Ski Resorts in North America for Powder Hounds ♦ The Best Ways to Gain Airport Lounge Access, Depending on How You Travel ♦ NSCF Newsbeat – July 2022 By jo_simpson on Jul 12, 2022 12:34 am You’ll be charged to visit Europe from 2023. The…
U.S. Ski Areas Report Record Visitation. U.S. ski areas saw a record 61 million skier visits for the 2021-22 season, an increase of 3.5 percent year over year, according to data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). More. SAM Quebec Skier Visits Up 3 Percent for Second Busiest Season of Last 10 Years.…
Parts of Utah’s Newest Ski Resort Could Open This Summer By Ian Wood | May 5, 2022 3:07 pm ET “So your activity during the day will be focused on the ski beach…your outdoor dining, watching the skiers come down, and really partaking. And then during the afternoon, it really shifts after après and goes to the…
Bode Miller Launches Peak Ski Company with Six New Ski Designs. Miller is launching a new venture, Peak Ski Company, a direct-to-consumer ski brand leading with a line of six all-mountain skis designed for skiers like you and me—which is to say, skiable by mortal enthusiasts. Miller is joined by co-founder Andy Wirth, most recently…
The Yodelers once again made their annual two trips to Aspen. Trip one began on January 15th with 25 Yodelers skiing the uncrowded slopes and enjoying temps in the 30s. Snow conditions were good and we received three-plus inches of snow on our last day to top off the trip. Some restaurants were closed and…
Let’s catch up, shall we? Traverski is still alive and kicking. We took a western trip to Sun Valley early in February. We had a great group of people and enjoyed some beautiful blue bird days. February 22nd, some of us had a wonderful weekend in Whalen, MN, near Lanesboro, to cross-county and snowshoe. We…
After nearly four years of planning, with a break in the middle due to Covid, the 2022 ULLR Big Sky Ski Trip actually happened! Compared to the attempted 2020 trip, Co-Chairs Nancy S. and Sharon M. saw smiles on the faces of 42 ULLRs who came on the 2022 trip to Big Sky. Thirty-two ULLRs…
[ GIANTS RIDGE BELOW ZERO IN 2022! FEBRUARY 18 – 20 Friday, 34 Yodelers jumped on the motorcoach headed to the Friendly Giant and the Quality Inn, downtown Virginia, MN, which became our home for 2 nights. Several nearby restaurants and watering holes offered good fun! Saturday, the day started out at minus…
The Midwest Sportster (formerly the Minnesota Skier) is the official publication of the Midwest Sport/Ski Council. It provides a forum for the clubs to share information about trips and other activities. It contains ads from the clubs and paid advertising from industry vendors, which provide information about trips, ski areas, lodging, transportation, and equipment. It was published every four months in newspaper format, and was changed to a three month electronic format in July 2017.
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