Have you noticed all the helmets on the slopes lately? Visit the hills or peruse the rest of the BOYNE website and you’ll see them everywhere. Boyne Country Sports listed their Facebook topic of the week as “Helmet or No Helmet?”.  The responses were plenty and all but one (who was going for a laugh) were HELMET!

Not too long ago, even hats were considered too constricting.  People went sans hats, or wore little headbands so they could let their mullets and feathered do's fly free. 

Helmets were out of the question. They were heavy, limited your field of vision, made it tough to hear. Plus, they looked really dorky.  Not exactly a winning combination- unless you were getting shot out of a cannon.

So what changed?  Are we a new generation of sissies and dweebs with no hair pride?

Try one of these new lids on for yourself and it will quickly be clear that a lot has changed. Helmets are the way to go.

Like Wearing Nothing
The first thing you’ll notice is that there isn’t much to notice. Snow helmets are lightweight and have well-designed fitting systems that make it is easy to forget you’re wearing anything. Field of vision is completely unobstructed and you can hear clear as a bell.

Warm But Not Stuffy
Wind-tunnel design and improved venting systems give you a range of climate control options other than just “put it on/take it off”. Modern snow helmets cycle air through the helmet, keeping everything comfy and fresh. Open some vents and it’s cool as a bike helmet. Close them and everything is toasty warm.

Accessory Containment
Clips for goggle straps help keep the “most lost snow accessory” from disappearing as easily.  Some models come equipped with audio hookups built directly into the ear pads. Just plug in your MP3 and go.  For the seriously digital, blue tooth models eliminate wires.

Statement Maker
Now, looking in the mirror you’ll notice the palette of styles and colors makes helmets the newest fashion statement.  Black, white, pink, nuclear lime, patterned, brimmed, brimless, take your pick. It’s also the ultimate billboard for expressing individuality and personal freedom. Where better to put your favorite stickers?

A Growing Trend
The move to helmets is only going to grow. Some resorts are beginning to mandate helmets for all children in ski school programs.  (BOYNE doesn’t require them, but strongly encourages helmet use and rents them for $10/Day.) Lawmakers are increasingly proposing ski helmet bills. Fortunately, no ski helmet laws exist in the U.S. and for good reason.

Laws and policies may soon turn out to be moot points. Word is getting out that helmets are the most comfortable and sensible headwear option on the slopes.  Bigger still, helmets have assumed cool status. 

Ready for one of your own?  Visit any Boyne Country Sports location or hit SkiGolf.com today. If not, consider this a good stock tip from your friend at the shop.

-JJ

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

Welcome to the longest days of the year. There’s no better time to enjoy 36.
Is there anything better?  Maybe 54.  All this daylight makes it possible AND, if you’re hip to this little secret you just might have enough in the tank to go for it.

Secret, you say?

Yep.
 
Well, not really, but since so few people do this it seems like a secret.

The secret is shoes. 
A pair that fits great is good.  Two pair that fit great are better.
The second pair is the key to hitting round two and beyond feeling fresh and revived. After 18 holes, cool clean socks and fresh shoes are as invigorating as a shower.

You don’t have to break the bank. Boyne Country Sports has closeouts on high-end, fully waterproof models running from $49.99.  If you aren’t near a store, you can order men's or ladies' from our online partner SkiGolf.com. They’ll ship them to you for free.

So take care of those ponies. Your playing partners will find you annoyingly chipper when you tee up for the afternoon round- provided that they survive the olfactory assault when you change.

If you’re going for 54, just repeat the process, or put on your morning pair after they've had a chance to breathe for a few hours. The difference is pure magic.

-JJ

When the temps dip a little bit you see who really “wants it” out here.  It’s easy to read the weather report and pack it in straight away, but if you were out on the hills yesterday you would have met a bunch of happy souls who would cheerfully tell you how wrong that would be.  You’d also be looking at conditions that backed them up.

It's not that all of these people are tougher, smarter or more dimwitted than the stay-ins.  They just know the secret password.

Secret, you ask? 

Yup.  But it's not really a secret.  It's as plain as the cloth on their face.  And the word is BALACLAVA.

Wha?

Balaclava!

Sounds like that Greek pastry that looks so good next to my coffee on cold mornings. And this little number is just as sweet.  Basically it is a modernized and renamed version of that classic fashion statement people used to call the “snowmobile mask”.  Remember? It was the "IT Look" with the ninjas and bank robbers everywhere.

Today’s version  is made of micro fleece that breathes well and is thin enough to easily fit under helmets and zipped up collars. Boyne Country Sports has loads of these babies. They are sure to help you stretch a day and get a full lift-tickets worth.  At the end you’ll be sporting a warm smile that people will feel, even if they can’t see it.

-JJ

If you have a golfer in your life that plays the Titleist Pro V1 or ProV1X you might want to briskly head up to your favorite golf shop and buy all that you can carry. A Delaware District Court Judge has just issued a permanent injunction barring the Accushnet company (owner of Titleist) from selling Pro V's beyond 2008.

Callaway Golf has claimed for years now that the Pro V ball was based on a design patent obtained by Top Flite (owned by Callaway). Here are the details
I would expect appeals, but you might want to load up on a few just in case. 

I'll keep tabs on things and let you know if there are any developments. 

-JJ