I'm ready to Diva!!!!

[SuperMoe]

OK, I've got 4 lessons under my belt (LOL) and I'm ready to go. Hooked up with the local hotshot diva who works at my bike/ski store. Got myself some new gear, bought my boots last week, they felt really good when I wore them last weekend. I demoed a few pairs of skis, got a decent beginner/intermediate-type ski.

On Feb 15, we have a mid-winter break day. Our secretary (who grew up here and skis) has been giving my crap (jokingly) about learning to DH..."when we going, etc."

So, we made plans to go to a nearby ski area (which is a much more friendly beginner/intermediate place) and ski for the day. I'm kind of psyched because I'll be able to practice without the stress of narrow/steep trails that they call green and blue at my local hill. I've been able to do parallel turns (no wedgies for me) since the first day on our little flat hill and I'll finally be able to work on my edges and speed control in a nicer environment.

Except...I forgot to mention to my husband that I bought ski gear...but since I made my daughter try on the boots, etc...and she's ready to grow into them also...I guess he'll just have to deal with it.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Hooray! What's the destination?

 

[SueNJ]

Welcome to our world! Awesome that you got to try some skis out before buying a pair--that's definitely the way to go if at all possible. Have fun skiing mid-week!

 

[SuperMoe]

destination

The destination is Indianhead...which is in Wakefield MI (UP of Michigan)

https://www.indianheadmtn.com/

Here's the link if you have any interest. The lodge is at the top...you ski down, then you ride back up. It looks like fun, a variety of runs and my instructor said it would be a good one to check out. It's only about 80ish miles from here, makes a nice day trip.

I told my friend that I'd pay for the gas and drive if she provided the food. She's one of those hyper-organized people, good cook, etc. I'm thinking of her Tortellini salad, maybe some meatballs and various other goodies.

There's a bunch of small places like that around here...my neighbor and her kids ski, so I think we'll be heading out on the weekends with our kids for some little ski trips soon.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Been there! In fact, DH passed his Level 2 PSIA certification at Indianhead in 1977! Always enjoyed all the UP resorts: Indianhead, Blackjack, Powderhorn, Porcupine Mts, and just over the WI border, Whitecap. Great snow up there - can get mega-cold though!
(I lived in WI for 26 yrs)

 

[SuperMoe]

I plan on hitting all those places in the next few years. The Porkies are the closest to me, they offer 2 for 1 lift tickets, so that's probably where we'll take the kids the most. Most of the others are decent day trips, plus I have a good friend who lives in Ironwood, maybe we'll have to camp out on her floor.

Maybe your hubby and my instructor shared the same bottle that was hidden at the bottom of the hill. My instructor apparently has some fond memories of the place.

 

[num]

I've been looking at those super cheap one day sale events for the Porkies and Mt Bohemia passes, as the season pass would break even or be cheaper than one long weekend. What a deal! This year they didn't do the 99 dollars pass for just Porkies, but I believe the price for a Bohemia/Porkies combo pass was approx $129? I'd be all over it if I lived closer.

 

[SuperMoe]

passes

Yeah, I'll probably look into the Porkie pass for next year...our counselor has gotten it before and it's a good deal for the family. Bohemia is more of a backcountry/powder area, not for me yet, but I know alot of my students snowboard there because it's so close for them.

Darn, now that I've retired from coaching, I'm losing those extra $ that supported all my sports habits. I might have to pick up a summer coaching gig to support my new ski habit.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Yeah, I'll probably look into the Porkie pass for next year...our counselor has gotten it before and it's a good deal for the family. Bohemia is more of a backcountry/powder area, not for me yet, but I know alot of my students snowboard there because it's so close for them.

Darn, now that I've retired from coaching, I'm losing those extra $ that supported all my sports habits. I might have to pick up a summer coaching gig to support my new ski habit.

Summer job sounds like a plan! Bohemia is a relatively new place - wasn't in existence when I moved east. Have always had fun at Porkies, though - and on a bluebird day, unbeatable views of Lake Superior!! If you've got friends in Ironwood (crazy town!), time to start a-courtin'!

Listen, if you ever want to take a longer trip, I recommend Lutsen! Drive west to Duluth, up the coast an hour-plus, it's a remarkable drive (goes past the famous lighthouse and state park)---if this isn't identical to the Maine coast...!! (actually, it's even "cliffier" and rockier) Very nice resort, even has a gondola, which I believe they procured from Big Sky (not sure, don't quote me on that). Very, very enjoyable all around. I'm glad we made the effort to get up there one year when I was still Midwest-based.

 

[volklgirl]

You'll love Indianhead, but my favorite is still Blackjack, which coincidentally is for sale.....anybody got an extra $400,000 hanging out to invest in a ski area? If I did, I'd be all over it!

You'll also really like Porkies and Powderhorn. Make sure you get to Whitecap in Wisconsin someday too. Hubby has been wanting to do Bohemia for a couple of years now.....I'm ready now that I have my Karmas, so I think we're going to try to get up there this year.

 

[SuperMoe]

fun, fun, fun!

Hey, Volkl, if you come up, you should give me a buzz, would be fun to meet someone. But, I'm not joining you at Bohemia. I'll give you a list of names...students of mine you can Buzz on the hill when you go.:ROTF:

I'm going to put that stuff in the mail for you today or tomorrow, don't worry about postage, etc.

 

[TsuKata]

Ooh! I need to go to a place where the resort is at the top of the hill. Then, after I ski down, I'll have no choice but to take a lift back up.

(Yep, still afraid of chair lifts. Cross your fingers for me for this weekend.)

 

[SnowHot]

SuperMoe, I'm soooooooooooo excited for you!

Don't forget a TR!!!


TsuKata, I feel for you. I have a girlfriend who is afraid of chair lifts, and heights. Loves to ski but won't, because of the chair.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Ooh! I need to go to a place where the resort is at the top of the hill. Then, after I ski down, I'll have no choice but to take a lift back up.

(Yep, still afraid of chair lifts. Cross your fingers for me for this weekend.)

There are several in your general region besides Indianhead:
Chestnut Mountain, Galena, IL (not a bad drive for you)
Sundown - near Dubuque, IA
farther - the aforementioned Indianhead
sadly, the now defunct Wintergreen, west of Madison, WI

 

[Kano]

Ooh! I need to go to a place where the resort is at the top of the hill. Then, after I ski down, I'll have no choice but to take a lift back up.

(Yep, still afraid of chair lifts. Cross your fingers for me for this weekend.)

It's better now, TsuKata, but I still hook my arm over the chair's back as I sit down, and while it's not a death grip anymore I stil hold on! If there's a safety bar, I put it down too! On quads, I'm happier on the outside, where there's a handy upright to hold onto too!

And all my scariest chairs are less scary now, since I rode up a two-seater at Grand Targhee, with very low "armrests" and only a center pole, not two sides.

Bring a trusted soul along on those rides up -- someone you can count on NOT to play games to tease you!

Kano

 

[TsuKata]

My DH has been an angel with my crazy fear. He stood in line with me both times and both times, he's tried to keep my mind off of it. The first time, I got to the front and saw the chair itself and panicked and...well, I've never skied so fast without a hill as I did to get away. The second time, it was right after lunch (oops), and I started feeling sick and dizzy, so another zoom-ski-escape occurred.

So now, I did research, watched youtube videos of people getting off the lifts, practiced sitting on a chair and getting off a chair and skiing...all sorts of stuff. I think I'm prepped. Still, I may just have to try out Chestnut Mountain...I do think that if the lift were at the other end of the process, it'd be easier. No choice but to go!

But, apologies to moe for hijacking the thread...I'm so happy to have all these pieces of advice for my fear-conquering...but I didn't mean to steal thunder. So, yay for supermoe and good luck for this weekend!

 

[num]

TsuKata, the first fifteen days in December Chestnut Mountain does a deal with lift tickets priced based on the date. December first: one dollar lift tickets, December second: two dollar lift tickets, etc. so early December is a great time to check them out. Also, they have a beginner area that's for the next step after bunny hill and rope tow, that has a low, slow loading double chair, though I believe that has the base area at the bottom of the runs, as opposed to the main lifts which base up top. They've also got ski in ski out lodging which was 100/night when I went.

SuperMoe, I wish you lived around here! I actually use food to occaisionally bribe nonskier friends to drive me up to the hill, but it'd be great to do so with a diva.

 

[skihawk]

I've always wanted to go to Indianhead! DH and I might make a trip up there before the season ends!

I've also wanted to try Bohemia. We were planning on going with another couple. My friend's boyfriend has been there and assured the three of us that we would be fine. Unfortunately, he had to have surgery one week before we left because he had appendicitis. We cancelled our trip. During that time, my friend talked to his mom and she said that the runs there are really tough. Has anyone ever been to Bohemia? I know that it is not for beginners... and has some pretty difficult runs. I think I'll be ready for more of the ungroomed terrain next year!

My friend loves Ski Brule. I have not been there yet. Another hill on my list!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Be advised that Bohemia is, I believe, 100% natural snow dependent. Advance planning a trip there might be tricky. However, there is always the option of Porkies, which makes snow. Additionally, the on-mountain lodging/"yurts" seem to book up way ahead, if that's any help. Easier to stay in town? Cannot believe they offer snowcat skiing there, how cool is that?

A big caveat to lift-fearers with regard to Whitecap Mt in Montreal, WI: there is a peak-to-peak chairlift there that loads in both directions. Access is at base of both sides, with mid-point unloading at both sides. Note that MOST people unload BEFORE the crossover. I was green, didn't "get" why - until we started the journey.... ....I'm generally not afraid of heights, but THIS chair was WAY UP THERE. About the only other chair I'd experienced that was that high up off the ground at a certain point was the good old Millicent double at Brighton, UT!

Any other questions re: UP skiing, glad to answer what I recall. Again, for a mini-destination, the trek up to Lutsen is very worthwhile. As close to big-resort as you'll get in the Midwest. Lots of interesting terrain, gorgeous views overlooking Lake Superior. Totally worth the drive time. About 1k vertical.

 

[skihawk]

I was just looking at Lutsen online! I have family in Superior... so we may head up there. If not this season, then for sure next season.