Resorts Looking Forward to Winter

Dec. 4, 2015

Given the warm November and December we’re experiencing, you can imagine the eagerness at places like Caberfae, Crystal Mountain, Boyne and other northern Michigan winter resorts. “Bring on winter, already!” But recent warm weather aside, winter is likely just days away, and area resorts can’t wait.

“We have 292 snow guns, all lined up and ready to go,” said Ben Doornbos of Nub’s Nob in Harbor Springs, who explained that, as long as the resort has 72 hours of cold weather, it can make enough snow to open.

“We have 292 snow guns, all lined up and ready to go,” said Doornbos, who explained that, as long as the resort has 72 hours of cold weather, it can make enough snow to open.

Nub’s Nob certainly isn’t alone. Caberfae near Cadillac boasts new guns and towers and Boyne spokeperson Erin Ernst said new equipment at both Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands will produce even more snow than previously.

“Our new Low-E guns are four times better than our previous model,” she said.

If snow is a given, pending cold weather, the resorts are all continually on the prowl for ways to entice customers.

“We have quite a bit of new — renovated base area, new ski lodge and rental equipment” — in addition to the snow guns, said Pete Meyer, manager at Caberfae, west of Cadillac. As the southernmost resort in the region, it might be thought of as the gateway to skiing and snowboarding.

“We are the first large resort as you come to northern Michigan,” he said.

Crystal Mountain is opening a new feature, the Backyard. The new ski and snowboard complex will offer a mix of beginner, intermediate and glades runs that take advantage of the natural banks, rises and rollers.

“The new terrain is going to be very cool,” said resort spokesperson Brian Lawson. “It’s unlike anything else. It’s in a draw between the ridge and north face.”

For those who want to take a break from the slopes, Crystal Spa’s new Sleep Massage offers the chance to catch a few winks between runs. Designed to create a state of deep relaxation, it combines what they call an elixir and energy mist while the massage focuses on the stress points of head and feet. You can even schedule additional naptime at the end of the service, all in the name of readying yourself for the slopes, of course.

At Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire and Mancelona, the beginner ski area on the north slopes of Schuss Mountain features the largest terrain-based beginner training area, including a 400-foot magic carpet lift. This year the resort will be adding a warming area, as well.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the annual White Pine Stampede, Shanty Creek is also opening a new Nordic Center, located near the Pinecone Trail head inside Schuss Mountain Village. It will utilize a new Tidd Tech groomer to improve trail conditions throughout the resort’s 4,500 acres.

Resort upgrades aren’t confined to the real world, though; they extend to the cyber world, as well. Doornbos says the new NubsNob.com is a boon to mobile users.

“We’ve been tracking mobile use and we see about 60 percent [of website visitors] are using mobile. We made it easier to see conditions and the layout is much better,” he said.

Rather than see its smaller size as a disadvantage, The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor sees it as a plus. It cites what it calls its uncrowded slopes, combined with familyfriendly terrain, making it “the best learning environment in northern Michigan for ski and snowboard instruction,” according to Tom Bartholemew, senior manager for outdoor recreation.

In fact, The Homestead and Crystal Mountain are among 120 ski areas around the country participating in an attempt to set the “Guinness Book of World Records” mark for largest ski and snowboard lesson. The event will take place Jan. 8 at 10am.

That’s just one example of how competing resorts do work together for the benefit of all.

“As an industry, we band together on a lot of initiatives to bring beginners to the sport, whether that’s kids or adults,” said Ernst.

Of course, the sport is not singular, not when you include cross-country skiing and snowboarding, even fatbiking. Ernst said snowshoeing is perhaps the fastest growing segment of all.

“There’s not the learning curve. You put them on and go trudge through the trails. You tend to see a lot more people getting into it,” she said.