What a winter. This one should shut up the old timers (ok, yes, like me) with their tired diatribes that always begin with, "You know, when I was a kid . . . " And it will give you young folks something to bore the grandkids with in 40 or 50 years - although, despite Al Gore's screeching, I think this winter is a sign of things to come.

Let's get financial for a second. In a more average year, a BOYNE Pass is a great bargain, especially if you have the ability to get out and use it frequently. This year it was an absolute steal - a person could have skied for pennies per hour if they wanted to. All this on snow that rated from very good to "it doesn't get any better". And it was great from late November until late April (you would have had to go to the western U.P. to ski as late as we did at Boyne Mountain). With late season extended night time hours and mid-week days that weren't part of the bargain when you bought your pass. Additionally, don't forget that along with having full run of the two biggest resorts in Michigan, you get free or deeply discounted skiing and riding (depending on which pass you buy) at world class resorts around the country like Big Sky, Montana and Sunday River, Maine.

Next year the pot is sweetening for Silver and Bronze Pass holders: gone are the blackout dates for skiing at Boyne Highlands! [Note to '07-'08 pass holders: you have through April 30 to save up to $50 dollars on next season' s pass.]  Find details here: BOYNE Season Passes   and here: FAQ

What's up for next year? Among other things, a continuation of upgrades to the snowmaking infrastructure which will further improve the quality, quantity, and duration of our winters (please refer back to the photo above, and to my January 24 post called "No 'Chance' of Snow", for proof of our ability to have winter when we want it.

Until later . . . check back once in awhile over the summer for news about all things snowsports at Boyne Resorts. 

 Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador

No, it's not the latest blight targeted for eradication by the ag scientists at Archer Daniels Midland. It happens to be the only possible downside to skiing on a day like today. As in, you hit the deck at speed whilst wearing only your ski boots, your sunglasses, and your bathing suit. Note the weather report below before diving in. This doesn't always happen in April, so take advantage!                              Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador

I think it's natural for humans to look forward to spring, with it's posies and warm breezes. And it is coming. But if the proverbial fat lady is singing to signal the end of winter, it's being blown back down her pipes as she carves it up at 35 mph here at Boyne Mountain.

Make no mistake, the kind of spring your brain is envisioning is not happening yet, not here. Well, the sunshine and long days are here, but the breezes, while mild in comparison to January, are still cool. The nights are still cold, giving us a primo sliding surface. Our huge snowpack is thus far undiminished. It's still a wall-to-wall tight-looped berber.

Ask yourself this: what is wallowing at home in denial going to get you? At best, you might get caught up with reading your periodicals - exciting. You'll mope around the house the whole weekend, thinking about and wishing for all the wonderful things that come with spring. And then on Monday (or the following Monday if your family is on spring break), you will check back here and see the pictures I'm going to post which show how awesome the sliding and suntanning were here at the Mountain. You'll see tan faces collecting all the fun in sight. And you'll notice that there aren't enough of them to create even the beginning of a lift line. Don't let this happen to you.

If all that wasn't enough to convince you, check this out:

super deal in April - FREE lift tickets with lodging!!!  Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador 

PS   I couldn't wait to show you the evidence - here's what it looked like this morning (Friday) at Boyne Mountain. Thanks to Jackie Lammert for carving an arc for me - and, no, she is not the Fat Lady.

Following up on my USA! USA! USA! post (in all of its unapologetic patriotism) from about three weeks ago. They did indeed do it - see graphic of final overall standings. Americans are double winners of the highest achievement in ski racing (yes, even bigger than an Olympic gold). It's happened only one other time in the history of the World Cup, with my former teammates Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney in 1983.

Bode became the anti-Bode this year, and, for perhaps the first time in his life, he skied to win. Didn't he always do that, you say? No, he has always skied as fast as he could, and there's a big difference.

From her quotes in the press, it sounds like Lindsey's success comes from a similar, if much smaller, mental shift. She now knows she can win when she cruises at 90% gas. That makes for a ski racer who is very hard to beat. 

 On top of this, Ted Ligety clinched the giant slalom event overall globe by winning the last two GS races. IMHO, this is the second most difficult alpine skiing feat to accomplish. Giant slalom requires a complete skier and Ted has proven he is the man right now.

The bragging goes on: of the twelve available World Cup globes (event globes for each of the five events, plus the overall for each gender), the USA brought home five! No other country won more than two, not even the powerhouse Austrian team. And keep in mind that two more titles were within close reach - Bode missed the downhill title by just a hair, and Lindsey was close to winning the super combined title. These were nothing short of phenomenal performances, and my heartfelt congratulations go out to the individuals who accomplished them.

Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador 

How cool is this? A lot can happen between now and March 16th when the crystal globes will be clinched, but things are looking pretty red, white & blue right now. They won't admit it but their tongues are dragging. But comfort should be taken in the fact that every one of the other overall contenders are experiencing the same thing. The physical fatigue is one issue. Jet lag on top of jet lag is another (they are back in Europe after a one-weekend round trip to British Columbia - a nine hour double time zone swing within a few days. Feeling sleepy at the top of a World Cup downhill course is a real health risk. And we haven't talked about mental fatigue . . . 

Beyond Bode and Lindsey, don't forget that Ted Ligety is within reach of the GS title as well. 

Follow the World Cup at skiracing.com or usskiteam.com

Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador

High, but not too steep. 

Don't overlook the Boyne Highlands experience when deciding where to settle in for the weekend, the week, or the season. The acres and acres of gentle terrain and beautiful grooming set the table for snowsports success. Sliding of all kinds here are friendly to all abilities and ages, whether you are on a board, a pair of boards, or a tube. There is something here for everyone in the family - and a lot for those of modest experience and ability. But that's not to say that the shredders and hot shots in your party will go unchallenged - there is some terrain for that, too.