Michigan Skier News

HEADLINES

  • DISCOVER MICHIGAN SKIING
  • BOYNE MOUNTAIN CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
  • ONE-PIECE NORDIC WALKING POLES

DISCOVER MICHIGAN SKIING -- JANUARY 2-31

Ski areas across Michigan have teamed up with Michigan McDonald’s restaurants to offer a fun and affordable program to learn to ski or snowboard. Called “Discover Michigan Skiing,” the program includes: a beginner lesson, ski or snowboard rental equipment and a beginner-area ski lift pass or cross-country trail pass.  Twenty-one ski facilities are offering the package, or their own similar version, which will be honored from January 2 through January 31, 2024.  Guests can choose to learn to downhill ski, cross-country or snowboard and the program is open to anyone seven years and older for downhill or cross-country skiing, 10 and up for snowboarding. The cost is $60, regardless of which option is chosen.  Some ski areas charge less.  They are noted on the web page. The lesson normally covers basic maneuvering on skis or snowboards, including stopping, turning, riding the lifts, and getting up from a fall.

To sign up, interested beginners must either fill out a Discover Michigan Skiing Voucher and then call the ski area they wish to visit for an appointment or register online. Program times differ from ski area to ski area.

Participating ski areas – Upper Peninsula: Big Powderhorn in Bessemer; Marquette Mountain in Marquette; Mont Ripley in Hancock; Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain; Ski Brule in Iron River; Snowriver Mountain Resort in Bessemer. Northwestern Lower Peninsula: Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls; Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon (cost: $40); Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville (offers a slightly different program); Mt. Holiday in Traverse City; Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs (offers a slightly different program); Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire (offers an additional learning program); The Highlands at Harbor Springs; The Homestead in Glen Arbor. North Central Lower Peninsula:  Forbush Corners in Frederic (cost: $45); Hanson Hills in Grayling; Treetops Resort in Gaylord. West Central Lower Peninsula: Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park in North Muskegon. Southwestern Lower Peninsula: Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles. Southeastern Lower Peninsula: Mt. Brighton in Brighton; Mt. Holly in Holly; Pine Knob in Clarkston.

Additional information on Discover Michigan Skiing is available goskimichigan.com/discover-michigan-skiing or by calling MSIA at (248) 620-4448.


BOYNE MOUNTAIN CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

Steeped in history and innovation, Boyne Mountain is marking this winter’s 75th anniversary with a show-stopping array of upgrades, attractions, and experiences building on its legacy as the premier winter destination of the Midwest.

 

Two New Chairlifts Make Their Debut This Winter

Boyne Mountain is debuting two new lifts this winter, replacements for Boyneland and Superbowl in its quest for the most advanced lift infrastructure in the Midwest.  The new lifts come on the heels of last winter’s opening of Disciples 8, the Midwest’s first eight-person chairlift.  Boyneland, a former triple located in the resort’s beginner area, is now a four-person Dopplemayr fixed grip chairlift that expands capacity and transports riders up-hill in under four minutes - half the former ride time.  The new lift has been realigned for easier access within the base area and smoother unloading for accessing the Boyneland slope.  The greater accessibility also allows Boyneland to become the gateway with quick and convenient access to the Disciples 8 lift, and family-friendly terrain within the Disciples Ridge area. 

The Superbowl lift, servicing expert-rated terrain on the south end of the slopes, has been replaced with a three-person Dopplemayr fixed grip chairlift – the fastest in the Midwest at 2.5m/s - for more fun-filled laps in this popular area.  The new lift was shifted downward to provide easier loading access and additional space at the top for an improved unloading experience. 

Both the new Boyneland and Superbowl lifts have loading conveyors, and RFID gates providing hands-free, direct-to-lift access to the slopes.

In total, Boyne Mountain now offers nine lifts and one covered conveyor servicing 65 runs and 415 skiable acres. 

 

New Covered Conveyor Lift

Another up-hill advancement at Boyne Mountain this winter is a new 400-foot Sunkid covered conveyor, which replaces the existing conveyor in the beginner area.  Say goodbye to chilly ascents and hello to speed and comfort with a fully enclosed tunnel that protects against the elements while transporting guests up the slopes.  The new Carpet, Estelle’s Way, was named after long-time Boyne Mountain ski instructor Ed Estelle who shared his passion for skiing for more than six decades and worked with every SnowSports Academy director in the resort’s history from Stein Eriksen to Wolfgang Russold.  The beginner area has also been revamped adding two new runs for double the fun featuring expanded learning terrain for new excitement at every turn.

 

Boyne Mountain Celebrates 75 Years

This winter, Boyne Mountain celebrates its 75th anniversary and invites guests to join in celebrating the milestone.  Kicking off the festivities, for 75 hours straight, skiers can hit the slopes to help raise funds for Challenge Mountain with a goal of raising $40,000 in honor of their 40th anniversary.  Skiing will commence on January 10 at 2 p.m. and continue non-stop until January 13 at 5 p.m.  Boyne Mountain is also planning a public party, a drone show, live musical acts throughout the weekend, snow sculptures, and much more.  For details on how you can participate in the 75 hours of skiing, and find out more about party plans, visit boynemountain.com.

 

Improved Snowmaking Efficiency, Miles of New Pipe, and New Cats

Significant upgrades in snowmaking have taken place throughout the slopes. Improvements include a new booster station to improve snowmaking efficiency; new stationary HKD snowmakers on Boyneland for added consistency and quality through the season; two new fully automatic fan guns positioned on Victor and within the base area; and miles of new pipe across the top and bottom of Ramshead, to and from the new booster station, and on McLouth; plus, a new valve house on North Boyne.  Boyne Mountain has also added two new snow cats to its fleet – a PistenBully 100 and PistenBully 400.  The smaller 100 cat allows the resort to better access tighter spaces around the base area, lifts, terrain and tubing parks, and cross country trails. 

 

Top Notch Tubing Park Gets A Glow Up

Already a popular pastime at Boyne Mountain Resort, the Top Notch Tubing Park is getting a glow up this winter with the addition of music and color changing LED lights, plus a new 530-foot covered Sunkid conveyor.  Feel the rush as you slide down the slopes to a symphony of beats and a spectrum of colors.  Like day tubing, this mesmerizing new experience is open to ages 5 and above.  Tickets can be purchased in one-hour increments, and advanced reservations are highly recommended.  Lanes can also be reserved for private parties.  For more information and ticket pricing, visit boynemountain.com.

 

In Other News

Boyne Mountain has a new fleet of cross country ski equipment serving the resort’s 35km of Nordic skiing.  A new Mountain Kids store is located inside the Boyne Country Sports location providing a full assortment of kids merchandise from jackets and pants to goggles and gloves.  Boyne Country Sports hardgoods area has also been revamped improving access to the slopes for demo equipment.

 

For more information about Boyne Mountain, including lodging reservations, lift and attraction tickets, passes, and more, visit boynemountain.com or call 866.759.1472. 


ONE-PIECE NORDIC WALKING POLES by Pete Edwards

One-Piece Nordic Walking Poles Radically Improve Balance, Stability, And Gait -- NO Longer Just For Athletes, Backpackers & Expert Skiers Deprived Of Snow!

 

Over 12 million Europeans are walking with special Nordic Ski Walking Poles (ALL ages and ALL fitness levels). This amazing new fitness activity turbocharges the typical walking regimen. Nordic Walking burns up to 40% more calories than regular walking. Using the correct length poles automatically improves walking posture. The correct length poles trick us into standing taller and help to radically reduce the stress to the shins, knees, hips, and back. Nordic Walking is ideal for athletes, kids, adults of all ages, and even folks with balance issues.

 

Every day, here at SKIWALKING.COM LLC and The American Nordic Walking System, we receive thank you emails and wonderful reviews from happy customers - including folks with bad/new knees, bad/new hips, back problems, balance, and other issues. One of our first customers asked if our walking poles would help improve her balance problems stemming from an inner ear issue. At the time, I wasn’t sure, but I did share with her several impressive success stories from individuals with knee, hip and/or back problems. By using the correct length poles, she was able to navigate even the roughest terrain with balance and security provided by the poles. She has been successfully using our Swix VIP Nordic Walking Poles for years now.

 

Nordic Walking’s winning combination of improved posture, and unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and shock absorbing benefits - helping many individuals to walk comfortably again. Nordic Walking Poles are helping individuals with balance issues, knee issues, hip issues, back issues (including those with rods in their back), weight issues, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),  diabetes, neuropathy, arthritis, bursitis, scoliosis, lumbar stenosis, fibromyalgia, post polio, osteoporosis, stroke recovery, cancer recovery and other limitations to walking. Nordic Walking poles are helping thousands of Americans get off the couch, successfully get outside, start walking safely, and effectively launch much-needed walking campaigns.

 

While hosting Nordic Walking at The Fitness Center in Traverse City, Michigan, I was introduced to Michelle Honer. Michelle had signed up to participate in one of my Ski Walking Classes. When she walked up the handicap ramp prior to the class with her cane, it was apparent that she had some balance issues. Michelle informed her classmates that she had MS. Our 1st Ski Walk was only a few blocks down and back. Within several weeks we were covering about 2 miles in one hour.

 

For seven prior years, Michelle had ridden an electric scooter in the Traverse City MS Walk. Michelle’s Nordic Walking Poles helped to enable her to walk the 5K (3.1 miles). Local newspapers and TV stations have covered her remarkable story.

 

"My special Nordic Walking poles have allowed me to walk taller, faster, further and with much more stability than with my cane. Their one-piece design is so much better than my old adjustable poles that broke unexpectedly at an extremely inconvenient time," says Michelle.

 

Michelle became an official Ski Walking Ambassador for SKIWALKING.COM and proudly wore her Ski Walking Shirt made of organic cotton while assisting at many of my Nordic Walking Clinics. Michelle’s success with the walking poles encouraged me to host free Nordic Walking Clinics at MS Support Group meetings. She suggested that I also contact the Jimmie Heuga Center in Colorado. The Heuga Center is dedicated to helping those with MS lead healthier and happier lives.

 

A few summers back we hosted free Nordic Walking Clinics and donated our SWIX Nordic Walking Poles to Wounded Warriors at Fort Carson in Colorado. Many of these American heroes came to our clinics using canes and walkers. One Wounded Warrior had just been released from his wheelchair. ALL found that using the correct length poles really did radically improve balance, stability, and gait. Our one-piece poles are much more stable then collapsible poles. 32 different lengths ensure a perfect fit.

 

We receive thank you letters and emails every day from super happy customers. Here are a couple of wonderful examples:

 

I just returned from a 14-day trip to London and Ireland. I was able to do almost everything using my walking poles or "walking sticks" as they call them in England and Ireland. I could not have considered this trip without my "walking sticks," and I am grateful for them. I hope all Parkinson's patients will be able to make use of "walking sticks."

Again, thanks for making my once in a lifetime adventure a reality.

Jean

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We've been Ski Walking every day, and I am truly amazed watching Linda with her new walking poles. If I didn't know that Linda had MS and the related gate problems that most MS patients have, I would not have believed it! She walks "normal" whatever that is? Your poles are great!

Howard

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My husband bought me your poles for my birthday last week. I LOVE them. I have MS and walk with a slight limp, and my balance is off sometimes. I am now walking in the park at a brisk walk every day for about 1 1/2 miles. Thank you so much. They make a big difference in my walking. I told him they are the best birthday present he has ever bought me. Thanks again.

Peggy

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It may sound like magic, but it is just good physics. The key is using "perfect length" Nordic Walking Poles. The perfect length poles actually trick us into walking with a super straight back - better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture, when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles, radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips, and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking. 

 

We recommend quality one-piece poles that won’t collapse unexpectedly. One-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles. Our one-piece poles are doctor recommended.  Adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles should NEVER be recommended to anyone with a balance issue. Hundreds of backpackers have tumbled when their telescoping poles unexpectedly collapsed, sometimes causing severe injuries. 

 

According to Nick Mahood, SWIX USA Nordic Walking Director, "Pete Edwards, the American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM LLC's owner/found/coach, has single-handedly introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Walking through his enthusiastic Nordic Walking clinics! I have no doubt that Edwards is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the USA! You can quote me on that!"

 

 

For more information, pictures, info on how to get started, and how to buy – please contact:

The American Nordic Walking System 

Website: WWW.SKIWALKING.COM

Email: GETFIT@SKIWALKING.COM

Phone: 231-334-3080