Snowboarding Forum - Snowboard Enthusiast Forums banner

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!
 
#2,647 ·
Damn,.. PK's been open since 10 am. Groomed & looking pretty good from the snow cams,.. AND THERE'S NOBODY THERE!!

Didn't see a single rider! Wish I had gone first thing! Maybe after work tonight?
 
#2,649 ·
Yeah,.. really like to avoid the "school" crowds. I do want to get out this week & make sure what happened with Sabatoa isn't gonna get in my head & start messing with me! Before we found out that it was a season ender & not a career ender, that he is likely to have a full recovery! I was pretty shook up!
 
#2,652 ·
Hello fellow Michigan riders. Obviously I am new here but wanted to say hello to you all. I'm west of Lansing but usually ride Caberfae or Crystal since my wife and I are originally from that area.

I am also a noob rider and only started a couple of years ago. I try to get out at least every other weekend (when weather/children/wife/other numerous responsibilities permit). I was stupid enough to hit Caberfae this past Sunday during the freezing rain they had and though it was pretty tricky riding, it was fast and fun.
 
#2,653 ·
Hey, welcome to the forum. I'm a Lansing rider and this was my third season. Caberfae was my go-to the first couple of years also. It was cheap and I had lots of fun there. I never made it out there this season though, I ended up buying a pass to Boyne so that's where I usually went.

If you or the kids are interested in park riding, check out Hawk Island Snowpark in Lansing. They have stuff for beginners through advanced riders.

Celebration Cinema is showing Art of Flight 3D for a one time showing in Grand Rapids, they'll only do it if their demand is met. Looks like they need 60 more people. If you're interested, reserve a spot. THey won't charge you if they don't meet the goal.

Tugg - The Art of Flight: 3D in Grand Rapids, MI on Thursday, January 24, 7:30pm
 
#2,656 ·
Thanks for the welcomes. Yeah I'm familiar with Hawk Island in general; I usually go there several times in the summer when I'm on my lunch break since I work in the general vicinity of it. Ironically, however, I haven't even seen the snow park setup. I was only going to start dabbling in park this year until a severe groin sprain from this fall has somewhat discouraged me from doing anything but cruising down the hill. I will check it out at some point this year though I'm sure.

I've gotten out to Crystal once this year a few days after Christmas and the riding was good. Caberfae I've hit twice and will be there again this weekend. One thing's for sure, any conditions going forward are going to kick the shit out of the ice I skated on this past Sunday.

I suppose I will go to Cannonsburg at least once, but we'll see. Doing Boyne Mountain and Nub's in early February and I'm positive I will be at Crystal and Caberfae a few more times before the season is out, so maybe I'll be able to meet up with some of you guys.
 
#2,657 ·
If I get outta work early enough, gonna get out to PK.

Hey Sabatoa, dont suppose that pass to Boyne is transferable, eh? ;) :D
(...nuthin' says "Friend" like trying to take advantage of anothers misfortune!)
:laugh::laugh::laugh: ;)

Hope u r feeling a bit better! :thumbsup:
 
#2,658 ·
Well Got a couple hours in at Pine Knob! Wasn't too bad. Nobody there!
Tonight put me @ 20 days riding for the season so far!

Not a bad feat at this point, what with all the warm weather & no snow I would really like to break 40 days for the entire season! :thumbsup:
 
#2,660 ·
Yeah we were there on the Thursday after Christmas (27th I think) and it actually wasn't that busy at all. I think there might have been a slight lull in the crowd before the weekend and after the holiday. By nighttime we basically had the first part of those runs to the right of the Clipper and Cheers all to ourselves, it was a good time. We are aiming for Feb 2nd to get up there again.
 
#2,662 ·
I imagine this weekend at Caberfae is going to be a shitfest since they don't charge holiday rates like Crystal does. I'm sure a lot of people will be thinking like us and go there instead of Crystal because it's just plain ridiculous to pay 69 bucks a ticket. Don't get me wrong, I like Crystal a lot, but I'm not paying those kind of rates for it.
 
#2,664 ·
You can buy Crystal's no-blackouts/season pass/unlimited or whatever they call it for $250 usually from March-June/July after which price increases a bit. I think right now it's $369 which still is a fair price if you ski or ride more than 5 or 6 days.

Included: 20% off lodging, I think there are pro-shop or tune-up discounts, 2 free lift tickets (to give to friends).

It's a no-brainer. I figure the 2 lift tickets I can give to my wife or a friend are worth $100+ which means my pass only cost me $125. Pays for itself in 3 days.
 
#2,665 ·
Yeah I almost bought a couple of those passes for me and the wife but we were shoring up a few debts at the time last spring and decided against it ultimately. This year I think I will just buck up and do it though.

I think the main reason Crystal gets away with the higher prices is because they cater to wealthier folks who come there for the resort atmosphere. Obviously Caberfae is a more local-friendly place and lacks many of those amenities, but it makes up for it in prices. That's my take on it anyways.

Given a choice between the two, I'd probably go to Crystal. However, I really like Caberfae for some reason aside from the lower prices.
 
#2,667 · (Edited)
I guess what I like about Crystal is the variety if you go during the day with the Ridge and North Face aside from the front runs. I agree though about the length of the rides and that's part of what I like about Caberfae. Plus when you get a nice fresh snow the place just feels awesome and quiet due to the lack of development (housing, etc) around the area. Smiling Irishman to Lower Canyon or down through the trees to Gum Drop are probably my favorite runs between the two ski areas combined.

And the view from the top of the North Peak is amazing.
 
#2,668 ·
I guess what I like about Crystal is the variety if you go during the day with the Ridge and North Face aside from the front runs. I agree though about the length of the rides and that's part of what I like about Caberfae. Plus when you get a nice fresh snow the place just feels awesome and quiet due to the lack of development (housing, etc) around the area. Smiling Irishman to Lower Canyon or down through the trees to Gum Drop are probably my favorite runs between the two ski areas combined.
Yeah I think you pretty much nailed it.

Both places sure turn into a circus on busy days though. Holy man.
 
#2,670 ·
Caberfae has so much opportunity to expand their terrain, but every year it seems like they just add more snow guns and widen a run. I choose it over Crystal, but I keep waiting for them to make some actual impressive improvements. They could at least add some more dirt to the end of run on the back side of South Peak, so it slopes back to the lift. I have no problem making it, but the majority of people can't cause you have to haul ass...just like you have to haul ass to make it back to North Peak from South. END RANT. Looking to make a trip somewhere during the week (taking a day off work) at some point in the next few weeks. Only been out once, and I am heading to Whistler at the end of Feb :yahoo: so I need to get out a couple more times.
 
#2,674 ·
Caberfae has so much opportunity to expand their terrain, but every year it seems like they just add more snow guns and widen a run. I choose it over Crystal, but I keep waiting for them to make some actual impressive improvements. They could at least add some more dirt to the end of run on the back side of South Peak, so it slopes back to the lift. I have no problem making it, but the majority of people can't cause you have to haul ass...just like you have to haul ass to make it back to North Peak from South. END RANT.
Shit, if you just look at the aerial views plastered all over their website there's a lot more that can be done with the North Peak too. And I've always wondered why they couldn't do more to improve the interlink between the North Peak and South Peak. Cut some more paths both ways or something. I dunno.

Just spoke with my mom during my lunch break; she lives about a half hour west of there and said they have a lot of nice fluffy new snow there and have for much of the week. Two more days bishes.

Sabatoa just read of your injury. Tough spot dude, tough spot. I've been nursing a groin sprain all winter but I've been lucky I've been able to ride through it thus far.
 
#2,672 ·
I had plans to the UP next week but that ain't happening, so I got Thurs & Fri off work.

Wife & kid will be out of town so I'll be riding Wednesday night thru Sunday, travelling one or two of those days as long as I can arrange to board my dog. Otherwise, Cannonsburg is about as far as I'd want to go on a day trip (2h each way).
 
#2,678 ·
Yeah, I'll be there tomorrow as well! Say hello! ...I was hoping to hit there tonight as well, but Too much to do, and I've been irresponsible as all hell lately to get that 20 days! (...It's been mostly "Quantity" as opposed to "Quality", but I'll take what I can get!!)
 
#2,681 · (Edited)
I might actually head out there Sun. too! If I do, I'll shoot you a text!
Can't get Quality, might as well go for Quantity!! ;)
(...snow that is, not the riding company! ) ;)
 
#2,683 ·
Yesterday @ Pine Knob was pretty good. The snow was decent and fast in the morning, Started slowing down around 1 as the temp. went up. Leo & I rode together till about 4 when he had to leave. I stayed till about 8!

They re-groomed between afternoon & pm sessions and the snow was Awesome afterward for about an hour-hour & half! Soft, fast groomers, sweet to carve! The itty bitty short Black Diamond run was a blast then! But Man, those skiers tear that shit up fast!!!

We were sort of disappointed that everybody else seemed to bail on PK yesterday!! Thought we were going to see a few of the new MWRF members out there! Oh well! (...your loss!) ;)

I was thinking about going out to PK again today, maybe hook up with DaveZ, but work approved my personal day for next Friday, so I'm doing a 3 day weekend at Highlands! I think I'm going to save my money for that! Hope Highlands gets a TON of lake effect this week!!!

Hey Dave, If I change my mind about heading out there today,.. what time you planning on being there? (...shit, I'm s-o-o-o irresponsible!) :D
 
Top