I don't often type while wearing ski boots. But after checking out this aerial photo my friend snapped with her cell phone a few hours ago - and looking at the forecast from Accuweather.com -   I figured I'd better start getting my feet used to the dark.

 Yeah, I'm one of those who might be caught in flip-flops when it's 35° out. In my book, they're three-season footwear. But, no longer – it's WINTER, and baby, it's cold outside!

Notice that beautiful little cloud of a snowstorm hanging over the Mountain? 

 I live five miles from Boyne Mountain and I've heard the guns roaring around the clock for a couple days. Looking at the forecast, I'd say the snowmaking crew will be piling up some serious overtime between now and the holidays. Low to mid twenties in the day and mid-teens at night for a far as the eye can see (or the meteorologist's eye, to be sure). Our patience with Mother Nature in November seems to be paying off . . .

 This will be one of those Decembers not to miss.

 Cary Adgate, BOYNE Ambassador of Skiing

photo credit: Deanne Jackson              pilot: Eric Jarema 

In case you've been thinking that it's too early to start thinking about skiing, take a look at what those of us who live near BOYNE are thinking. First, what we're going to do with all the stuff when it comes. And then about how we're going to play in it.

 And if you need more reasons to start thinking snow, check out what's going on this weekend in the Boyne Mountain Village. The first-ever Skitoberfest is going to be the party of the season - and there are dozens of reasons why you, your family, and your friends shouldn't miss it. For the whole scoop check it out HERE - but here are the top four things that interest me:

1) Fall food and drink. Brats, cider, and, for the adults in the crowd - beer! Some of Michigan's top micro brewers will be showing off their handiwork.

2) Snowsports Summit. Two presentations by recently retired U.S. Ski Team coach Greg Needell. Greg is 'the man' behind 'THE MAN', Olympic Gold medalist Ted Ligety, and Ted's rise to become one of the best technical ski racers in the world - find out how he did it, and what's the next trend in technique at the highest levels. Oh, and then there's this Simon Dumont guy who will be there. I'm told that the kid gets air like Tiger Woods plays a little golf. Find out how he does it. Find out WHY he does it!

3) New gear. This is a rare chance for consumers to be able to meet and talk with the manufacturers reps for the top snow sports equipment companies. Bend the skis, see what's new, and get the straight story on what it can do for you.

4) All the other stuff. OK this is a favorite because it means I don't have to cajole the rest of my family to come and spend the weekend with me. This time, it's the other way around. Artists, dancers, kids, and kids who are artists and dancers. A parade with golf carts that includes secret surprises? Makes me wonder what could be more surprising than a golf cart parade. MSU/UM on the big screen. Four (4), did I say FOUR, bands. Uh, well, so much other stuff that I won't even try to list it.

So pack up the car and come settle in for a fabulous weekend in the Village. Oh, and plan to sign up for your BOYNE Pass now - because a lot of the Skitoberfest offerings are free to passholders! Again, read all about it HERE.

Cary Adgate, BOYNE Ambassador of Skiing

I've always said that BOYNE is in the memory business.  That’s ahead of being snow farmers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, shop keepers, golf professionals, etc.
Nothing proves that more than the thousands of pictures taken by our guests every year. They snap it all into focus so much more clearly than the most painstakenly planned professional marketing pics. Because of that we're throwing a little contest:

Have a great photo of your best times at Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain to share?  If so, enter it in our Facebook Grand Prize photo contest happening now through August 16 on the Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain fan pages!  Simply post your favorite vacation photo on the Wall of our fan pages and be entered to win.

While visiting our Facebook pages, let fans know what you enjoy most about vacationing at BOYNE and checkout our upcoming events, deals, photos and videos.

Not yet a fan?  It’s easy, visit www.facebook.com/BoyneHighlands or www.facebook.com/BoyneMountain and click the green “Sign Up” icon in the upper left corner and away you go.

-JJ

The scene didn't make much sense: a professional skier, and admitted tennis hack speaking to the group at the new Boyne Mountain Tennis Academy. When I was first asked to speak, it didn't make much sense to me either.

At first, I wondered what in the world I might say to help people - some of them expert tennis players -  improve a skill I know little about. After some contemplation, I realized that my lifelong athletic adventures have perhaps qualified me to speak - certainly not about tennis technique - but about effective approaches to learning skills and preparing for competition. And then it hit me that the confidence I have in my approach to sporting success is not as much rooted in my career as an Olympic and World Cup skier, but rather in my experiences as a novice sportsman over the last few years.

During that time, I have undertaken the goal of becoming as proficient as possible at the game of soccer. I also jumped back into the sport of ski racing - a sport which is now far different from the sport I knew decades ago.

My success with learning these sports has made for really fun experiences - and I think the fun is a big part of what has generated some success. I am still far from being an expert, particularly in soccer, where I started from scratch. But regardless of one's proficiency in a discipline, I discovered that certain general strategies are universally effective - like keeping an open mind and a learning attitude, and a willingness to seek out and listen to the experts. A little bit of patience sprinkled in ensures that frustration does not stall the learning or the fun. The formula is really no different from the one that helped me during my professional career, and I have realized that it's virtually the same regardless of the discipline you're trying to master.

As I spoke to the group, it was gratifying for me to see coaches Bill Perlmutter and Larry Stark (former Michigan State University #1 singles player) nodding in agreement from time to time. When it comes to mastering difficult skills, it seems that there are indeed universal paths to success.

If tennis is your thing, you can't do any better than to open your mind to the expert coaches at the BMTA. As they pour in the knowledge, you'll be guaranteed to find a more competitive tennis game and a richer enjoyment of the sport. There are still two sessions with openings.

Boyne Mountain Tennis Academy 

 Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador

Ceilings too low in your living room to practice your golf swing? Local courses not open yet? Just not sure what to do with yourself? You could clean the garage - always tons of fun.

I've got the perfect solution for your problem. Check out this photo which I took about an hour ago.

If you need interpretation, you are looking at a handful of skiers and riders enjoying what is virtually their own private ski area. Because of the recent and upcoming cold nights, you can expect great snow conditions, lots of sunshine, and no waiting for anything. And did I mention that there are great lift and lodging deals now through the upcoming Easter weekend? Speaking of Easter, you can find out here about the Egg Hunt and other activities planned for the weekend at Boyne Mountain.

Great skiing and riding - fun activities - Avalanche Bay Waterpark - fantastic dining - best prices of the year. The garage can wait. Gather your gang and come up and put this awesome winter to bed properly . . .

Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador 

UPDATE: One more weekend of skiing and riding! Boyne Mountain will be open on April 18 - 19. Help us slide the 09 season into the history books. Toss something on the Barbie at the Halfway House and spruce up your spring break tan - that garage will just have to wait one more week.

The BOYNE Season Pass. Those of us who can get to Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain more than a few times a winter know what a great value that pass represents. There's skiing and riding, of course. And then all the other benefits like discounts on other BOYNE products. Then there's the convenience – just hang it around you neck and head for the hills - no daily transaction to deal with. This is especially important if your route to the lift doesn't happen to pass by a ticket window.

Ok, so there's all that. But my experience this week has revealed to me - or more correctly reminded me - what a fantastic bargain that pass is. My family and I are spending this week in Salt Lake City. Being tourists, shopping, we'll see an MLS soccer game, AND by the way, we are enjoying some of the best skiing of our lives. You see, we have been skiing at  Brighton Ski Resort which has received the better part of four feet of new snow in the last week. Steep tree skiing in deep powder. Rolling intermediate groomers. Zero lift lines. Just a 30 minute drive up from the city. And all we had to do was present our BOYNE Passes to receive our daily lift tickets at no charge.

No question, if you can take advantage of even a small portion of the benefits available, the BOYNE Season Pass is an incredible bargain. I haven't even mentioned places like Sunday River, Loon Mountain, Sugarloaf, and Big Sky! And between now and April 30th it's even better. I won't explain it in this space - just click here to see what I mean.

 Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador 

I'm always interested in what ski businesses do to promote the sport. I know what they should do. They should produce inspiring stuff which communicates what resort life feels like. For people who have never skied or boarded, what it feels like when you slide away from the lift and down the slope, tethered to nothing but gravity — and for the experienced who have drifted away from the sport, how technology has changed the rules in their favor.

So I occasionally peek around the web at the promotional writing, photography, and video content on the websites of equipment manufacturers and ski resorts. There is some really good stuff out there — stuff that excites even a somewhat jaded ski carver like me. But the stuff I like is more about communicating the feeling you get when you do the sport right (right being a highly flexible term), and not so much yada yada about the facts and figures of the product. I mean, a guy standing in front of the halfpipe, saying "this is our halfpipe" loses my attention right there — even if it is a pretty cool halfpipe. I want to feel the feeling — the magic — the fantasy — that we resort people experience as we are dropping vertical feet by the hundreds and thousands, and sharing it with our friends without needing to say a word.

Which brings me to a shameless plug for our own video offerings. We recently found this seventeen-year-old kid who has a camera and a laptop and who enjoys playing with visual images. He is a storyteller. Most importantly though, he understands what it means to experience a resort — from skiing & riding, to friends and hot tubbing, to good food and just hanging out waiting for the next cool thing to happen. He doesn't have anything to sell, just stories to tell. And you never know what to expect. Check them out here.

Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador  

Wow - can we have another one of these sooner than the 100th? Like - how about the 65th - or 70th? If this sounds like begging, you are understanding me perfectly.

Saturday night, the Kircher family and the Boyne Mountain staff and management outdid themselves.

Everett Kircher must be proud. And I think Tom Symons is smiling, too.

I can't remember an event when people were so obviously enjoying themselves. And so much going on. Live mannequins in period ski garb. A perfect book documenting the legacy being celebrated. Great food. Awesome music & dancing. Bathing beauties out of the 50's by the poolside and skaters on the rink. A majestic torchlight parade and killer fireworks. And a house full of fun people - old friends of Boyne and new ones - creating a memory that they will still be talking about when the 100th comes around.

Oh, and Warren Miller was hanging around.

Yes, THAT Warren Miller.

Yours truly and son/budding filmmaker Sterling getting tips       >>>     from the master.

Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador