rgunzalez

I actually went to Wilmot Saturday night, for my first Midwest snowboarding experience. I tried to keep my expectations as low as possible but was still pretty shocked. I really couldn't believe how small this place is. It takes a few minutes to get to the top of a run, and then you can bomb it down in like 15 seconds - I felt like a pro at this place.

Coverage was really thin and icy, just crusty leftover backyard snow overall. Most of the runs were totally bare and dry. I was kind of surprised they would even be open with conditions like this.

I almost want to say the experience was better than nothing but its tough.

There was some fun moments though:
- girl getting cracked and floored by the lift chair while rushing to join her friends last second
- seeing the ski patrol at this hill, just seemed like overkill to me, almost like mall security or something, but I guess someone has to do it - whatever that entails
- was kind of surprised how steep the ramp off the lift was, I had no problem with this but I can only imagine how bad I would've been wiping out if I was a beginner, this might have been because of how little snow pack there was
- the workers at both ends of the lift simply stopped patting the ground down with snow, so it made for quite an extra challenge trying to get off the lift on almost bare wood

I'll be checking out Alpine Valley next...

slyder

Alpine had better snow coverage. I was there most of the day Saturday. They did shut down as these warm temps are killing us. The lifts were being attended to but the loading area was a bit barren.
As the day progressed it got quite warm and slow on the snow. As you said though riding this was better than not riding. That was my first time out for the season as well.

__________________
Thanks
-Slyder

aloutris

I've been to Wilmot for my first few times skiing, and after I went to Alpine for the first time I never went to Wilmot again.
I'm not sure if they added a magic carpet now but when I was a beginner on the bunny hill at Wilmot it only had tow ropes and I think I almost died on several occasions.
Also I like Alpine's hills better in general.

jfergus7

I have not been able to get out yet this season due to work and kids but was really looking forward to finally getting out this Sunday. With tonights rain and the upcoming warm temps how bad do you think Wilmot will be? I am planning on going Sunday and they are saying temps by then will be back down in the upper 20's during the day. Just wondering if it is even worth it. As much as I would like to go somewhere else this weekend I just don't have the time for it.

rgunzalez

I was at Wilmot Sunday night between 9pm-11pm as I was itching to do any kind of riding after getting back from WA a few weeks ago.

It was COLD and windy, like 18 degrees, not sure how I found the motivation but still had a decent time just doing any kind of riding.

I must say that riding out here so far has been like ice-skating, I don't know if it's like this most of the time, but wow - you take a fall and you fricken pay!

I'm used to falling on my hands/wrists since my gloves have built-in wrist guards, but it seems like I've injured some bones in my hands, so will get that checked out tomorrow hopefully. Wrists seem fine thankfully. But I think I'm going to switch back to actual wrist/hand guards and pull gloves over them if I continue riding out here.

jfergus7

Heading to Wilmot in the morning. Anyone riding tomorrow?

scenicoverthere

I was at Wilmot on the 24th and as a beginner I thought it was ok. Worthwhile for someone new like me and I'll be going on a weekly basis to work on my technique w/o the crowds. Mostly because it's conveniently close to work and home.