Locals Take It For Granted

by cadgate 20. March 2009 08:53

The runaway leader for information requests through boyne.com in recent days revolve around whether there will be skiing and riding through the end of March and into the first part of April. In some cases, people ask whether we have skiing now! A quick glance at this photo which I snapped yesterday addresses that.

Not only do we have snow, but some - myself included - think that this is the best time to ski and ride. The list of reasons is long - and I have hit upon them many times here. Sunshine. Elbow room (not that that is ever much of a problem). Suntans. Carve-able snow. Did I mention that we get lots of sun this time of year?

I live in Boyne Falls, and I occasionally forget that many of our customers live and work in places a few mile south. You know, where the climate is just a little different. You are looking at brown golf courses and little piles of dirt where snowbanks used to be. We look at quite a different sight every day (again, reference photo). And virtually every year, we see a white hill until at least the middle of April.

So, for locals, snowsports is just a part of our natural consciousness until the first or second weekend in April. Some years longer. So, come and live the local life for a few days - you'll be happy you did.

Cary Adgate - BOYNE SnowSports Ambassador 


Snowsports | Terrain Parks | Adgate

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April 11. 2009 20:28

My family and I are "locals" and our oldest son just learned to ski this year (per a family friend) at the Mountain. HE LOVES IT! Unfortunately, it's expensive.Why doesn't the Mountain offer discounts to locals?
I don't think we, as "locals" take the area for granted.It's just too much money (equipment rental, lift tickets).
My husband was born and raised in Boyne Falls; half of his family has worked at the Mountain.Any perks or discounts for them? Nope.

msc

April 13. 2009 13:28

I think you missed my point - which was those of us here are aware of the late winter skiing opportunities, and that those who live further south have to make more effort to keep themselves informed about our snow conditions - not to mention that they must make a substantial drive (or flight) to take advantage of them.

Boyne Resorts have several programs which help locals (students in particular) afford skiing at our properties:

1) The Student Freeride Program offers very low cost lift passes to local students who maintain good grade point averages in school. Information can be found here: http://www.boyne.com/freeride/

2) The resort sponsors a "Learn to Ski' program with several of the surrounding schools including Boyne Falls, Boyne City, Concord Academy, East Jordan, Charlevoix, and Char-Em programs. The Boyne Falls school Thursday afternoon program has been in place for over 50 years.

3) Low cost season passes are available to kids through the Northern Michigan Ski Academy program: http://www.nmsa-zone.org/

4) The resort has supported local high school and middle school ski teams with training and racing space, and other benefits.

5) Complimentary lift privileges and other support is given to the Challenge Mountain program.

6) Active Boyne Resorts employees do receive substantial discounts on skiing and other offerings of the resort. I guess it goes without saying that it would be impractical for the resort to offer discounts to the thousands of past employees and their extended families.

In combination with the discounts and free programs outlined above (all available to locals only), I believe that locals are in a unique position to make even a full-price season pass be a very very good value. Simply by using it as much as much as possible, you are able to reduce your per-visit cost far below that of any person living a longer distance from the resort.

I hope you will explore all the options and come and take advantage of those which fit your needs.

Cary

Cary Adgate