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The Official Michigan Winter Thread

490K views 8K replies 153 participants last post by  sabatoa 
#1 ·
Alright everyone since Summer is over, fall has just begun and we've already had our first rail jam of the year, it's time to start a new thread for the 10/11 winter.

Last year we had the "Southeast" michigan thread, but I think we should do all of Michigan. Sure, most of population lives in S/E michigan but we all ride the same resorts in the LP and even the UP if we get a chance, so we should have one thread to bring everyone together.

Cheers everyone we're probably only like 70 days from open resorts!
 
#2,253 ·
Mt Holly basically called it, they're opening tomorrow.

"With successful overnight efforts both Saturday night and Monday night, one more night should get us into the 2012/2013 season. We are targeting Wednesday, November 28th at 3pm as a possible opening date and time. That is...of course...barring unforseen natural disasters and subject to co-operation from mother nature overnight tonight. The number of open slopes and lifts will be posted by noon on Wednesday."​

I might be able to make that trip tomorrow. *might*

Baby momma picks up my wee one at 6pm, then it's an hour 15 mins to holly from my front door. If they're open to 9, is it worth it to drive for about 90 minutes of riding...?
 
#2,258 ·
Baby momma picks up my wee one at 6pm, then it's an hour 15 mins to holly from my front door. If they're open to 9, is it worth it to drive for about 90 minutes of riding...?
Depends how bad you're jonesin for it also considering you're heading to Boyne this weekend...

I'm unsure if I'd go there at 330 and leave by 7 or if I'd go there at 630 and stay till 9...
 
#2,265 · (Edited)
Shoot!!! 9 Oclock???? I don't get done till around 6:30-7. Holly's an hour n half from home, from work adds 20-30 min. to that. Not gonna spend the gas money for 60 min. riding. DAMN!!!!!

What time will PK be open til?? They were open till 10-11. Any word on Alpine. That's the closest to me besides Brighton. (to quote Dave,.. Mt Brightn,..?? BLECH!!!)

BTW, Im workin now and my 3G service is slow as fuck, thats why Im not able to check 4 myself right now. It's NOT that I'm a lazy SOB! ;)
 
#2,267 ·
PK's site say's they're open till 10!!! THAT might b worth the drive if I can get done a little early!!!! WOOHOOO!!! Won't b long B4 I get my fix now!!!

(...these "boarding DT's" are some VICIOUS Mutha's, ain't they???) :D
 
#2,270 ·
U got that right!!! Actually, I'm surprised, DaveZ & Sabatoa talk about goin' all that way for day trips!! That's a LOT of driving for a day's riding!!
(...that's either Supreme Dedication or evidence of "Certifiable" mental defects!!!)
:D ;) :laugh:

BTW; called Alpines snow line. They r reporting a "Tenative" plan to open tomorrow or Thurs. Afternoon session from 3 to 10! If they DO open, I think I'll try and hit there tomorrow since they're so much closer to me. Been wanting to check em out anyway.

SEEYA OUT THERE BOYS N GALS!!!!! WOOHOO, WINTERS HERE!!!!
 
#2,272 ·
Enjoy!!! :D. (...I'm savin' my sick days for Highland's demo day and for a long weekend up north sometime after it's been "Pukin'" snow!)

Have a blast tomorrow n say "Hi" to Leo if you 2 hook up!
 
#2,275 ·
#2,283 ·
^^^ I'm also a beginner in the park. I did explore all of the terrain parks at boyne mtn. last year and they had good variety of jibs/jumps for beginners like myself. I'm sure I won't be dissapointed at highlands this year. Looking forward to the halfpipe at highlands,but did have a blast on the boardercross course last year. I guess you can't have it all. :( I was a little disappointed at the amount of jibs/jumps for beginners at nubs nob though.
 
#2,284 ·
Looks like it will be Alpine today! (open 3-10) Hope I can get outta work early enough. Only had one stop yesterday, but it took 4 hours to get it done, (35,000 lbs of freight) and today they're going to be shipping 3 truckloads of the same.

If I can get called in early for their 1st load, I can maybe make AV early enough that if it "sucks"?,.. I can still shoot out to PK & ride till 10!!

Anybody from here that ends up goin' to AV or PK, if U see an "Old dude" with a beard, in Tan 'n' red burton pants, olive green jacket, riding an Arbor snowboard?,.. say hello!!
 
#2,286 ·
Caberfae's official statement on this weekend:

We have been making snow at every opportunity and will open the slopes on Friday, November 30th! Lift hours will be the following:

Friday: 3pm to 9pm
Saturday: 10am to 4:30pm
Sunday: 10am to 4:40pm

We expect to have two chairlifts open and possibly a surface tow (Shelter Double Chair, North Peak Quad Chair, Lollipop Surface Tow) servicing as many runs as possible, which may include Smiling Irishmen, Shelter, Ski Shop and Easy Street for Friday. We also may have Canyon & No. 1 ready by Friday, but if not, look for them to be added by Saturda
 
#2,287 ·
Well, looks like my hopes of getting off work early are not going to happen. Saw on Alpine's website that they've only got two runs open. Even a $20 for a lift ticket, I'm not sure that's worth the drive.

If anyone from this board is at Alpine and reads this, please post what the conditions are like! If it's really sucky there at Alpine Valley and you could let me know before 6 PM or so, maybe I'll try to get out to Pine knob.

Looks like this weekend's going to warm up around here, so riding this weekend will probably be a bust. Maybe I should just say the hell with trying to ride on one or two half ass covered runs around here the next few days, and instead Head to Cab Friday night or Saturday morning!!

Anyway, if somebody reads this before 6 or 7 o'clock tonight please post a report on Alpine or PK, thanks!!
 
#2,288 ·
I can't get out until Saturday, so I'm not giving up on the weekend yet for local riding. Likely I'll be at Mt. Holly for the day session, with my son (6) who'll be on the board for the first time. I love slushy conditions. (The big problem with slush this time of year is setting an edge and having it dig through the snow and into dirt.)
 
#2,295 · (Edited)
So? How'd it go? How were the various "locals" y'all hit yesterday?

It was,.. interesting to say the least @ Alpine last night. Here's how I did My first run of the year,..

I got there about 7:30, strapped in and headed to the top! The 2 runs they had were covered in hard packed "Iced Over Cement"! First go round,..? I crashed getting off the lift! (?????) Ok, obviously a bit rusty,.. got to the lip & started down,..
...crashed again less than 8 ft. from the top! :dunno: :eek: Got up,.. pointed the board downslope & 2/3 rd's of the way down,..? On my ASS again!!!! :dunno::dunno: WTF??

In hindsight,..? I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe ...a "sheet ice" covered Blue run was possibly not the very best choice for my shake down, inaugural 1st run of the season! :eek: ;) :laugh: Probably not the wisest choice for checking to see if I still had "My Chops" from end of last season! :laugh:

The good news,.. Those were the Only falls of the night & the only injury,..? My Pride!!!! :thumbsup: I moved over to the green run & hit it a couple of times to loosen up, check to see if any of my skills from last season remained. Once I got warmed up & shook the shakes outta' my calves. Everything went really well!! Went back to the Blue & showed it who's boss!! ;) All in all, I had fun, even if the snow conditions were more than a little frustrating!

So let's hear from the rest of you!! Who got out yesterday!? How'd-ja Do?? How were the other local hills?
 
#2,296 ·
The 2 runs they had were covered in hard packed "Iced Over Cement"! First go round,..? I crashed getting off the lift! (?????) Ok, obviously a bit rusty,.. got to the lip & started down,..
...crashed again less than 8 ft. from the top! :dunno: :eek: Got up,.. pointed the board downslope & 2/3 rd's of the way down,..? On my ASS again!!!! :dunno::dunno: WTF??
First couple years I snowboarded, and then after kind of hiatus during college, I was always *super* rusty on the first day of the season. It's like riding a bike, only you forgot how to ride the bike. Usually by the end of day 1 I was back in good shape though :)


Mt Holly -- I got there right about 3 (would've been earlier except I forgot my goggles and it was sunny so I went home to get them first. First few runs were icy. Not quite bulletproof, but really icy. After about 40 minutes they softened up a bit since there was some traffic on them. They had 3 total trails open and were only spinning the one high-speed quad chair, but it was never more than a 2-3 minute wait for a chair.

They had a few features set up: ride-on box about 1ft wide and maybe 10 ft long, a big corrugated redirect, and the shotgun rail. I was a bit hesitant to hit that rail on the first day but finally talked myself in to it, and it's just as smooth as I remember it from prior years. I had no major wipeouts but also didn't really try anything crazy yet :)
 
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