This page contains news, special offerings, and other items of interest from the MNYSC, member clubs, and other sources.
Discount Lift Tickets: Killington & Pico. MNYSC members are eligible for discounted lift tickets at these two resorts. The Killington ticket price is $117 and Pico $68, plus $15 handling fee. Killington blackout dates are 12/23 - 1/1; 1/13-15 (MLK); and 2/17-19 (Presidents' Day weekend). Pico has no blackout dates but is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Download the attached form and ordering instructions. MNYSC Voucher Form .
Whiteface Ski Club/Association Appreciation Days. Whiteface wants to show its appreciation to all of the Ski Councils and Ski Clubs by offering a great deal on a day (or more) on the slopes. December 7 & 8, 2023 (Thursday/Friday) - January 5, 2024 (Friday) - February 5, 2024 (Monday) -March 8, 2024 (Friday) - April 4 & 5, 2024 (Thursday/Friday). Simply come to Whiteface on any of the dates listed above, show your Ski Council or Club ID as well as a photo ID and get a lift ticket for only $59.
Catamount and Berkshire Mountains- 2023-2024 Ski Council Appreciation Program There are several Appreciation days this season featuring reduced lift ticket rates. (See attached document for dates and rates.) Appreciation Days To claim your discount, present the following at the ticked window: Valid Ski Club ID Card for 23-24 season, and Matching Photo ID.
Stratton Mountain Resort. The mountain offers discounted lift tickets and lodging to MNYSC club members. See the attached brochure for days and rates. Stratton Discounts
National Ski Coucil Federation Silent Auction. Thanks to all who participated in the auction. There are still items that did not receive a bid. If anyone is interested in that item, you can get it for the list price plus postage. Contact Mike Calerone (skimikec@aol.com) and he will work it out for you. NSCF Silent Auction .
Blister Summit-Crested Butte, CO The Blister Summit is an annual ski and snowboard event in Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado, where attendees can demo next year's gear from dozens of brands; ski and ride with pro athletes; learn about the latest tech and industry trends via nightly panel sessions, and more. Registration for the Blister Summit includes: 4-days of unlimited ski and snowboard demos, as well as ZipFit liners, Glade goggles and helmets, avalanche safety gear, and so much more. Here’s the full list of attending brands; Group ski and ride meetups with locals, photographers, and professional athletes (Cody Townsend, Elyse Saugstad, Angel Collinson, Hoji, McKenna Peterson, and others will all be joining attendees on the slopes!); Professionally guided backcountry tours; Apres, panel sessions, yoga, and more. Go to Blister Summit for more information.
Annual Ski and Inter-Club Racing Competition. Each year Metropolitan New York Ski Council runs ski and inter-club racing competition. The races will be held at Magic Mountain, VT on Feb. 3, 2024. The competition features both alpine and snowboard races. To ensure good participation, five events are offered: Main, Intermediate, Junior, Husband & Wife, and Snowboard. The competition draws serious racers and not so serious racers alike, and offers a wonderful opportunity for members of the Council's clubs to meet, to compete, to ski together and to celebrate at the après ski party where medals are awarded, and trophy winner results announced.
Vail Resorts to Launch Hands-Free Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket on New ‘My Epic’ App. for the 2023/24 Winter Season. The new technology will allow guests to buy their pass or lift ticket online, activate and store it on their phone in the new My Epic app, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands-free, via Bluetooth® technology designed for low energy usage. (Snowbrains)
50+ New Resorts, 23/24 Sales To Resume. The Indy Pass announced today more than 50 new Alpine and Nordic resorts have signed on for the 23/24 season, and limited quantities of passes will be released for sale starting on October 10. Sales will be handled through the waitlist process, which is open for registration. A list of new resorts and blackout dates will also be announced on October 10. This expansion pushes Indy Pass’s total to 170+ resorts across the Northern Hemisphere and further secures its standing as the fastest-growing multi-mountain pass in the world. Go to Indypass for registration and more information.
7 benefits of a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket If you’re longing to satisfy your snow-lust at the world-class ski hills of Banff and Lake Louise, we have good news for you! You’re spoilt for choice between three breathtaking local resorts – Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mt Norquay. Even better news? You can easily enjoy them all with one SkiBig3 Lift Ticket! Here are seven ways you can make the most of your SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and maximize your adventures on the slopes. Go to ski big 3 for more information.
SkiTalk SkiTalk.com provides ski reviews and discussion forums managed under the stewardship of Phil and Tricia Pugliese, two of the most respected and read reviewers and product testers in the snowsports industry. As the online ski community continues to grow, SkiTalk.com has been at the forefront of content creation, information, and traffic generation. SkiTalk evolved from Pugski.com's original tag line, "SkiTalk at a higher level." Go to www.skitalk.com for more information.
How El Niño could impact ski season. So long La Niña, hello El Niño. The NOAA in an update earlier this month about El Niño conditions wrote that it anticipates a greater than 95% chance of El Niño through January – March 2024. As Meteorologist Chris Tomer shared in his long-range forecast, the data suggest a drier than normal winter for most of the West. Yet it could still be a big winter for ski areas around Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, and in Colorado. Tomer forecasts a wetter than normal winter for the East, where most New England ski areas could see above above-normal snowfall. Go to www.onthesnow.com for more information.
High Fives High Fives focuses on preventing life-changing injuries and provides resources and hope if they happen. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization since 2009, High Fives has helped countless injured athletes and Veterans get back to doing what they love. The Foundation aims to be the leader of education and recovery of life-altering injuries in outdoor action sports including adaptive skiing and snowboarding. Support the program by visiting and purchasing merchadise from their store at High Fives.
Windham Mountain The old Windham Mountain is no more…so says the resort. In a pivot to try to move upscale, the upstate New York resort has rebranded as “Windham Mountain Club”. The move comes paired with upgraded restaurants and limits to ticket sales. The new dining options include an “Italian Alps-style” mid-mountain restaurant, an upgraded food court, and a new Mediterranean option at the base. The resort says lift tickets will be capped to provide “uncrowded” slopes, now requiring “2-day minimums” on peak days—however, it will still remain open to the public. Finally, the resort is introducing a revamped private members’ club offering. The club will include family programming, a spa and gym, and an exclusive restaurant called “The Windham”, among other things.Ironically, the resort previously made the decision to move away from requiring reservations for Ikon pass holders, which are eligible for either 5 or 7 days at the mountain this season. It’s unclear whether the 2-day lift access minimum will apply to Ikon visitors, or whether the reservation requirement will be reinstated at any point.
STRIDE Adaptive Sports Catamount and Jiminy Peak are desperately seeking Ski/Ride volunteers for this season. Free season/skiing passes for volunteers and their families. Go to Volunteer.
Smugglers'Notch and Stowe Connector Lift Plans Withdrawn. Plans for a proposed gondola connecting Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort have been withdrawn following initial disapproval from the Agency of Natural Resources,according to reporting by the News & Citizen. Stowe, owned by Vail Resorts,and privately held Smugglers’ Notch have reportedly been in discussions with Vermont state officials about building the 2,600-foot lift since 2017. (SAM)
Are Fortunes Changing for the American Ski Industry? An Analysis of 22/23 Trends revealed 10 Resorts Re-Opened & 3 Shut. A slight increase in resorts open for skiing and riding last season brought the total up to 480. That number is up from 473 the year before, and 462 in the 2020-2021 season following Covid shutdowns. What does this development mean for the future? (SnowBrains)