It's hard to believe we are almost to the middle of February. Man, this season is just flying by, and this is probably a good time to stop and remind everyone that Valentine's Day is this coming Monday, and always remember, happy wife, Ski for life!
Roller Coaster Weather
Mother nature seems to be dishing up some roller-coaster weather for the Midwest as temps will be dropping this weekend to then rise back up above freezing mid-week. Some places in the Midwest may even see some rain instead of snow, bummer.
Luckily we are scheduled to see some snow across much of the northern parts of the Midwest today into tomorrow.
And speaking of snow, resorts in the lower parts of the Midwest received a ton of that over the past couple of weeks. Last week my old stomping ground, Boston Mills, got over 16" of fresh snow on top of a foot they received the week prior - making for some rare Ohio powder days.
The Afton Tunnel is Back!
Over in the Twin Cities, we may be a little short on snow this season, but one thing we aren't short on is tunnel runs. That's right, Afton's tunnel is now open, and children (and some adults) across the Twin Cities couldn't be more excited! Of course, when we heard the news, Jack and I had to PBR lap it.
If you don't know where the Afton tunnel is, at the top of the triple chair in the highlands, take Dawn's Highland and stay to the skiers left. You will take a short path that will take you directly to the tunnel.
Winter Olympics are in Full Swing
The Winter Olympics are in full swing, and even though we are only halfway through the events, these winter Olympics have already offered up all kinds of headlines. Drama, injury, victory, defeat & surprise - it has been quite interesting to watch.
At the time I am writing this, the US has won ten medals, but the headline we should be talking about is Matt Hamilton.
This 32-year-old Madison Wisconsin native is a US curler and the poster child for Midwest Olympians. Look, we all know that Paula Motzan rips gates, and Nick Goepper can spin 16s with his eyes closed, but if I had to pick someone for an old fashion Midwestern case race, you know I'm going, Matt Hamilton. The Stash, The Hair, and The Nikes... It just says it all!
The Olympics will continue until Sunday, February 20th - here is the link to the entire schedule of events.
The Super Early Season Pass Sales Have Begun
The spring season pass sales have officially begun, with Trollaugen & Welch Village announcing their 2022/23 season passes available this week. For those unaware, every spring, the majority of Midwestern resorts deeply discount their season pass prices for the next year. On top of that, they usually offer discounted or even free skiing for the rest of this season.
That said, if you are planning on skiing a bunch next season - keep an eye on your local resorts page over the next few weeks to pick up the lowest season pass prices available.
Watch Out for the Indy Spring Pass
And speaking of passes, this is also a great time to give everyone a friendly reminder that the Indy Spring Pass will likely be launching in the coming weeks. Every spring, Indy Pass offers a heavily discounted spring pass that historically launches around the end of February or early March. This pass will get you two days at all of the Indy Pass resorts for the rest of the season, and last season, the price was only $149.
Always a great deal from Indy Pass, and if you plan on doing some spring skiing - keep an eye on their page for this great deal.
The Jerry Portal is Back!
The Superbowl is this weekend, and that only means one thing for Midwest skiers and riders - Hyland's field goal post will be making its return.
For those unaware, the Hyland Field goal post is one of the most iconic features across the Midwest Park scene. One of its biggest claims to fame is a viral video of Sullivan H on Instagram absolutely sending it but bonking off of it with one ski and a helmet flying into the air. The best part of the video, however, is the warcry he lets out after landing.
The field goal post typically makes a brief appearance around the Superbowl weekend, bringing out all of the Jerry's across the great Twin Cities but tends to quickly disappear due to… ah let's just say… children. So if you want a chance
So if you want a chance to fly through the uprights - head on over to Hyland Hills in the next few days.
Giants Ridge Park Team Wins SAM's Terrain Park Contest
This week, the Giants Ridge Park took home a victory, winning one of the three categories in Ski Area Managements Terrain Park Contest. Their firecracker feature took home the 2021 Bread and Butter category.
Resorts worldwide entered pictures, videos, and descriptions of their best park features for a chance to win a swag bag and a new rake from Area Snowparks. Congrats to the park crew over at Giants Ridge.
Crystal Mountain has Impressive Showing in "I Am A Snowmaker" Contest
And speaking of Ski Area Management, a couple of weeks ago, they announced the winner for the I Am A Snowmaker Video Contest. Although first place went to Boler Mountain, Michigan's own Crystal Mountain took at close second place -within 50 votes of the winner and with over 16,000 total votes this season - that's a very close second place.
If you haven't seen their video, be sure to check it out by clicking here.
Devil's Head Add Boarder/Skier Cross Course
Devils's head announced the addition of a border and skiercross course that is ready for you to rip. The course is located on the Cauldron run, and Devil's Head plans to have it up until the end of the season. Super fun and a great way to change up the terrain for those looking for something different.
The Midwest Mogul Tour Starts this Weekend!
And if you're looking for something different, last week we announced the Midwest Mogul Tour - an event that is something unique. We built these events to focus on fun rather than strictly competition. We will be having three stops across three states - Sundown Mountain in Iowa, Little Switzerland in Wisconsin, and Buck Hill in Minnesota.
We will be giving away several prizes during the events, but the series champion will win a grand prize package that includes a 2022/23 Indy Pass. The first stop is this weekend at Sundown, so if you want to learn more, head on over to our page www.midwestmogultour.com and we hope to see everyone out there!
When Will ____ Resort Close?!
Well, guys and gals, we are closing in on the last month of skiing and riding for many across the Midwest, and every season, we hear the same question… When will this resort or that resort be closing?
The honest answer is no one knows as it all depends on weather and when people stop showing up, but we do have data from last season that will help you get an idea. Click here to see last season's closing dates for the resorts across the Midwest.
Even though we had a rough spring last season, these dates will give you an idea of when to expect certain areas to start wrapping up the season. We will drop a link below to that post.
Next Week is the Final Holiday Weekend - Expect Lines!
And I want to wrap up with a reminder that we are edging closer to the final holiday weekend - Presidents day. This Holiday weekend will run from February 19th through the 21st, and it is just a good idea to expect lines and crowds at the majority of ski resorts across the Midwest.
If you plan to visit one of the bigger resorts, make sure to buy your tickets and lodging now, as they will likely sell out. If you're looking to avoid crowds - hope on our guide to find smaller off-the-beaten-path resorts, such as Bruce Mound, Coffee Mill, or The Porkies - as they will likely have much fewer crowds over this three day weekend.
But there you have it, your fix of Midwest ski news from the past couple of weeks. If you want to check out last week's episode, we will drop a link below. But until next time, I hope all of you have a great week, pray for snow, and I'll see you guys out there!