December has greeted skiers and snowboarders with a series of snow storms coast to coast. We are getting daily snow reports of feet of snow falling around the country from our resort partners. The New England and Midwest areas have enjoyed a banner start to the season while the west and Rockies are now getting pounded by a series of storms. This current series of storms and cold is providing areas the opportunity to open more and more terrain for skiers and snowboarders. Get out and enjoy the snow now!
In an effort to make it even easier to check out the best lift ticket and lodging offers for members, visit state specific pages highlighting resort lift ticket offers for members. We will keep updating these as new offers are available. New pages for
California,
Colorado,
New Hampshire,
New York,
Maine,
Pennsylvania,
Utah,
Vermont and
Wyoming make it easy to bookmark and check out new additions as you look for resorts, or lodging, in your local area or favorite destination.
BOOK TRAVEL ONLINE & SAVE at the MSC Travel Desk- The
MSC Travel Desk, currently is running two promotions for members. Our huge selection includes all major resort destinations with thousands of lodges and the best rates. This is a great time and way to plan your next winter ski and snowboard vacation.
- Registered receive additional discounts that are emailed once they are registered off any purchase of lift tickets tickets and attractions. Purchase lift tickets in advance for savings at resorts like Stowe, Keystone, Copper, Breckenridge, Winter Park and more.
- Members receive additional discounts via email off all Save Rate Hotel bookings . Book your next ski and snowboard vacation now at best rates. Literally thousands of hotels, condos & lodges available now for your next ski or snowboard trip.
Vacation packages at top resorts like Aspen, Vail, Killington, Whistler, Snowbird, Jackson Hole and more at the Travel Desk.
Holiday shopping is upon us! Find that special gift for someone on your holiday shopping list and don't forget yourself. Shop for gear, rentals and special service offers in the
Mountain Sports Club Marketplace. New offers, merchants and holiday offers now available.
Stay tuned and make sure to get your skis and boards tuned and ready at your local shop. Want to rent or demo skis? New shops have been added and offers updated. Mountain Sports Club continues to add new merchants and offers.
Spotlight on NEW resorts and merchants:
RESORTS:
- Ski Cooper in Colorado, daily lift ticket offers up to $9 off.
- Smugglers Notch in Northern Vermont has great snow and this weekend is a demo weekend for trying out new gear. Members receive $10 off lift tickets.
- Shawnee in Pennsylvania opening this weekend. New member lift ticket offers just posted.
- Monarch in Colorado opening this weekend with new snow...
LODGING:
MERCHANTS:
Join in the fun and and post your own reports, reviews, photos or videos on the skiing and riding at
http://www.mymountainsportsclub.com/. Upload your videos, photos and blogs and be eligible to win
free schwag each month.
Share the Mountain Sports Club values and features with friends and family.
Premium Memberships still available through the end of the month for only $10.95 each, use promotion code
dec07 when
registering. Promotion includes option of selecting
Freeskier or
Snowboard magazine subscription for one year included at this special rate.
Mountain Sports Club of North America would like to extend a huge
THANK YOU
to our partners:
Leedom Helmets
ZAPZ
Ski New Hampshire
SnowBoard
Freeskier
Be sure to add members@mountainsportsclub.com to your email address book to ensure delivery of emails.
Many happy turns to you, your family and friends,
Mountain Sports Club of North America
825 South Broadway, Suite 25
Boulder, CO 800305
303.554.6555
303.479.7082 fax
members@mountainsportsclub.com
The month of November winds down today as snow storms begin to make sure resorts coast to coast have snow. It was an early Thanksgiving this year and mixed start of the ski and snowboard around the country. The good news is more areas keep opening as the season really gets going.
New members discounts keep rolling in for shops, lift tickets, lodging and more.
Alaska
California
Colorado
Idaho
Maine
- Saddleback - Ski for ONLY $25! Save $15 on Mid-week lift, Non-holiday lift tickets!
- Shawnee Peak - Buy 1 Mid-week Lift Ticket get the 2nd FREE. Save $6 on an Adult Full Day. Save $3 on a Junior Full Day!
Montana
New Hampshire
- Cranmore - Dec. 21 Platinum Anniversary $3.30 Lift Tickets. Save $10 on an Adult Full Day. Save $5 on Senior/Teen/Youth Full Day. Save $5 on a Cranapalooza Night!
- King Pine - Buy 1 Lift Ticket, get the 2nd FREE!
- Pats Peak - Save $5 on any Mid-week Night lift ticket, Save $10 on any Mid-week Full Day, Save $5 on Weekend Full Day
- Tenney - Purchase a lift ticket Sunday, Monday, Thursday or Friday and get the 2nd ticket FREE!
- Whaleback - Buy 1 Lift Ticket, get the 2nd FREE!
- Wildcat - Save $10 on an Adult Full Day, FREE Group Lesson, Buy 1 Lift Ticket, get the 2nd FREE!
- Gunstock Mountain Resort - Great deals for members including 2 for 1 lift tickets.
New Mexico
New York
Nevada
Pennsylvania
Utah
- Snowbird, Park City, Brighton, Brian Head, Solitude, The Canyons - Search for additonal lift ticket saving swith our partner Liftopia.
- Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, Brighton, Park City, The Canyons - Purchase lift ticket packages at our Travel Desk.
Vermont
Wyoming
Canada
Not a Mountain Sports Club Member yet? Join and register now for only $9.95!
Use Promo Code combo07 and get a Premium membership including your choice of a year long magazine subscription from either: Freeskier of Snowboard - Offer valid until 12/31/07.
Update from Colorado....
The Thanksgiving holiday and a kick off to the ski and snowboard season is upon us. We are all looking for a week of snow and storms to get the more ski areas and terrain open. Fortunately a storm is bringing snow to the mountains for the holidays and weekend. Recently, we skied at
Arapahoe Basin on Monday as the kids had off from school for Veteran’s day.
Arapahoe Basin has just recently opened top to bottom skiing so we would take the two chairs and have a pretty good length top to bottom cruiser. It snowed lightly all day and the new snow provided some soft snow to carve turns on. We also took time to walk over to the top and take a peek at the terrain that will be serviced by the new Montezuma Chair into Montezuma Bowl. This new chair will usher in a new era, providing the area with 80% more skiable terrain. With a full variety of runs and access for everyone from cruisers to extreme access, A Basin will ski much differently from this point on.
The new chair is the most talked about addition, but the area just opened a new mid mountain base lodge – Black Mountain Lodge to accompany a more modest lodge at the top that opened last year. This came on the heels of a new building for rentals next to the ticket window. Given no one will mistake the experience for Beaver Creek, but Arapahoe Basin has taken a giant step forward improving the guest experience and open significant new terrain. This opening of the Montezuma Bowl has been eagerly awaited by locals skiing and riding at the Basin for years. Now Mountain Sports Club members can enjoy lift ticket savings by using the pre-purchase program in conjunction with Liftopia. Discounts vary but are currently available.
Loveland Ski Area was the second Colorado ski and snowboard resort to open this year and beat many of the resorts. Currently there are several chairs and runs open. With the high elevation, Northern exposure on many of the runs and significant snowmaking, they may be offering the best variety of terrain to ski and snowboard at this time of year. With easy access to the front range and limited terrain open at most resorts,
Loveland is our suggested skiing and snowboarding stop this weekend for Colorado skiers and riders heading to the slopes. Make sure to download your lift ticket discount at the Mountain Sports Club. This discount is off the early season rate and provides members with the best price on lift tickets for early season skiing and snowboarding.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort opened this past weekend and it is the start of the FREE lift tickets promotion. Yes just show up and the tickets are free. With millions of dollars of investment in new lifts and terrain the current ownership wants you to test the product. Can’t make the early season?
Make sure to use the single or multi day lift ticket discounts available to
Mountain Sports Club members. Savings start at $9 off per day on lift tickets in peak season.
Not a member yet?
Register and join today. Early season offer of one year membership and a one year subscription still available at only 19.95.
Use promo code mag07 and start saving today.
Traveling this Holiday Season? We have some great savings on lodging and packages for Mountain Sports Club Members no matter where your holiday plans take you! Book now for best rates and selection.
ColoradoDenver- Holiday Inn Lakewood - Arapahoe Basin Ski Package for only $119! Colorado Ski Package for 2 only $149!
Crested Butte
Monarch Mountain Steamboat Springs
Summit County - Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe BasinVail
New HampshireSki 93 - Cannon Mountain/Loon Mountain & Waterville Valley Resort- Colonel Spencer Inn - Save 10% on 2 night stays! Save 10%-20% on lodging when you bring a friend!
- Nordic Inn Condominium Resort - Save 10% on direct bookings!
- Royalty Inn - Save 10% on a 2 night weekend/holiday stay! Save 20% on any Mid-week stay! Save 20$ on Lift Tickets to Wildcat!
- Franconia Notch Vacations - Stay 2 Mid-week nights, get the 3rd night FREE! Stay 3 Mid-week nights, get the 4th night FREE! Save 10$ on Adult Lift Tickets when you purchase a ski package with your accomidations!
New YorkHunter/WindhamUtah
Park City
Vermont Killington/Pico WyomingJackson HoleAdditional lodges with package options are available using the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk - Book lodging, cars, airfare and complete packages at a discount. Choose from over 2000 properties and most major destinations. Members receive monthly promotion code for additional savings when booking through the Mountain Sports Club Travel desk.
Complete list of ticket list values here.
Not a member? Register and join now and start saving on lift tickets, lodging, shopping and more in the mountains.
The
Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk just posted and made available discounted lift tickets available for popular ski and snowboard destinations
Breckenridge and
Keystone Resort in Colorado.
Those purchasing tickets for will use the online booking engine at the Mounatin Sports Club. Lift ticket discounts are available throughout the year and include multi-day tickets. Keystone just opened last Friday November 2 for the season and Breckenridge is scheduled to opne for the ski and snowboard seaosn this Friday November 9, 2007.
Take advantage of great savings for skiers and snowboarders at the Mountain Sports Club.
Register today and start saving. Special blog price
only $9.95 includes your choice of a years subscription to either
Snowboard or
Freeskier. Use promo code
combo07 when purchasing your membership and save on your next ski and snowboard vacation or ski day.
Two exciting resort offers came into the offie today and have been posted on
Mountain Sports Club. We are pleased to see
Crested Butte Mountain Resort update the same offers from last year again for members. This was a popular program last winter that included a variety of savings from single day tickets to multiday tickets for skiers and snowboarding. Combine this with the early season Free Lift ticket promotion and millions of dollars in continued on mountain development and there are many reason to plan a trip to Crested Butte this winter. Book your lodging with
Peak Property Management and Real Estate for special savings and value on your ski vacation.
On the East Coast we welcome the venerable
Wildcat Mountain, located in New Hampshire, as a new resort partcipating in the Mountain Sports Club lift ticket dicount program. Located directly across from Mount Washington, Wildcat enjoys significant natural snowfall for skiing and snowboarding. Mountain Sports Club members will enjoy
2 for 1 lift tickets offers this winter at Wildcat Mountain.Be sure to
sign up now and take advantage of early season rates. Combo deal - premium membership and a one year's subscription to either
Freeskier or
Snowboard magazine for only $9.95. Offer valid through November 10, 2007. Use
promotion code Blog107 when purchasing membership.
Use it Once it's Paid for, Use it Often and Save Hundreds on Lift tickets, lodging, travel, shopping and more.
Mountain Sports Club members will enjoy even more exclusive savings this coming ski and snowboard season. Individuals, families and small groups of skiers and snowboarders will take advantage of our great values on lift tickets at popular ski resorts coast to coast.
Several of the new discounts just announced for this season include the following:
Daily lift tickets discounts now available for Mount Baldy, Monarch Mountain, Pats Peak, Shawnee Peak, Powderhorn, Diamond Peak, Cranmore and more being added weekly.
Join now and save. Premium memberships now only $9.95 and includes a one year magazine subscription to either Freeskier or Snowboard. Use your membership once and it is paid for, Use it often and save hundreds. Use promotion code - combo07
It’s that time of year again! The weather is getting chilly and ski season is drawing near. Ghosts and goblins are all about and
Mountain Sports Club has some
GRUESOME savings for our members. Get your reservations in soon and take advantage of these great lodging deals!
ColoradoDenverHoliday Inn Lakewood - 2 great ski packages available!
Monarch Mountain Circle R Motel - Salida near Monarch. Save up to 15% on weekends
Steamboat SpringsMountain Resorts Inc - Save up to 15%
Bristol Hotel - Save up to 15%
Storm Meadows - Save up to 15%
The Ranch at Steamboat - Save up to 15%
Summit County - Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe BasinSummit Cove - Keystone Save up to 20%
Hotel Frisco - Frisco Save up to 25%
Summit Mountain Rentals - Frisco & Breckenridge Save up to 20%
Frisco Mountain Rentals - Frisco Save up to 20%
Peak Property Management - Save up to 20%
Vail Apex Condominiums Save up to 15%
New Hampshire
Near Waterville Valley ResortColonel Spencer Inn - Save up to 15%
New York HunterScribner Hollow Lodge - Save up to 15%
Vermont Killington Cortina Inn & Resort - Save up to 50%
RutlandRamada Inn Suites- Save up to 50%
Wyoming Jackson HoleAlpenhof Lodge - Save up to 20%
Ski Butlers - NOW serving Jackson Hole!
British ColumbiaCrystal Lodge - Whistler/Blackcomb Save up to 25%
Additional lodges and packages options are available using the
Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk - Book
lodging, cars,
airfare and complete packages at a discount. Choose from over 2000 properties and most major destinations. Members receive monthly promotion code for additional savings when booking through the Mountain Sports Club Travel desk.
The following is a spotlight on lodges currently offering
Mountain Sports Club members discounts on direct booked lodging reservations.
Check out the savings up to 50% off.
Colorado Steamboat SpringsMountain Resorts Inc - Save up to 15%
Bristol Hotel - Save up to 15%
Storm Meadows - Save up to 15%
The Ranch at Steamboat - Save up to 15%
Colorado Resort Services - Save on direct bookings
Summit County - Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe BasinSummit Cove - Keystone Save up to 20%
P
ine Ridge Condominiums - Breckenridge Save on Direct Bookings
Big Horn Rentals - Frisco Save on Direct Bookings
Hotel Frisco - Frisco Save up to 25%
Summit Mountain Rentals - Frisco & Breckenridge Save up to 20%
Frisco Mountain Rentals - Frisco Save up to 20%
Mtn Managers - Frisco, Breckenridge, Keystone Save on Direct Bookings
Peak Property Management - Breckenridge Save on Direct Bookings
VailApex Condominiums Save up to 15%
Apex Holiday Inn Save up to 15%
Monarch Mountain
Circle R Motel - Salida near Monarch Save up to 15%
Sunlight/Glenwood Springs
Red Rooster Inn - Glenwood Springs, close to Sunlight and Aspen areas.
Crested Butte Mountain ResortPeak Property Management & Real Esate - Crested Butte Save on Direct Bookings
New HampshireNordic Inn Condominiums - Lincoln near Loon Mountain Save on Direct Bookings
Colonel Spencer Inn - Near Waterville Valley Resort Save up to 15%
WyomingAlpenhof Lodge - Jackson Hole Save up to 20%
UtahProspector Square - Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons Save on Direct Bookings
VermontCortina Inn & Resort - Killington Save up to 50%
Ramada Inn Suites - Rutland Save up to 50%
New YorkScribner Hollow Lodge - Hunter Save p to 15%
British Columbia - Canada
Crystal Lodge - Whistler/Blackcomb Save up to 25%
Additional lodges and packages options are available using the
Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk - Book
lodging, cars,
airfare and complete packages at a discount. Choose from over 2000 properties and most major destinations. Members receive monthly promotion code for additional savings when booking through the Mountain Sports Club Travel desk.
Boulder Colorado Last updated 09.01.07
In a sign truly indicative that the winter ski and snowboard season is not too far away both K2 and Atomic released their new sites live.
K2 re-launched an entirely new 2007-2008 website,
www.k2skis.com. The new site has a section for introducing new products and technologies in skis/ski systems, helmets, poles and other K2 gear. The K2 site features updated news and events, athlete interviews, video footage, entertaining downloads and much more.The athletes section has photos, interviews and videos. The news section gets updated throughout the season.
The all-new Culture section includes behind the scenes footage from K2 ad shoots, a mini site devoted to Doug Coombs, the Factory Team and the Alliance Team among other things. Check it out at
www.k2skis.com.Now try to win free gear. Atomic luanches with a Circus Contest 4 the New Atomic GearWorldwide Web. The prizes will be several pairs of Atomic’s new Hawx boots and Nomad skis will be given away to members of the skiing public starting who register to win. The new contest allows participants to enter their names in a series of drawings that will occur each week between October 15, 2007 and January 15, 2008.Twelve winners will come away with a pair of the organically-flexible Hawx boots and the über-light, super-stable Nomad skis. Atomic is promoting new technology for the 2007-08 ski season and expects the new products’ design for North American terrain will be a draw for US and Canadian skiers. Go to
hawxwinbig.com, and review two new products and their accompanying technical specifications while registering to win. Once the videos are viewed, the site visitor is eligible to enter his or her name into the drawing.
Rocky Mountain RV Campground - June 19, 2007
Well the way this was advertised it did not meet our expectations as a place to camp. Too close to houses and the Plethora of RV’s. While the WIFI would be nice if it worked faster than old dial up. It was so slow that it essentially did not work if you really need to log in and do something. We cannot say its views are by their selves so great given what is right next to us. Maybe we are too spoiled but we would not camp here again by choice. It does have clean bathrooms, showers and supplies. The laundry facilities and ability to re supply in town were nice. Two days was a little more civilization than we needed. One night to load up on last minute supplies would have worked better.
Boiling River Hot Springs
Boiling River located right before the entrance to Wyoming several miles into the North entrance was truly a treat. The parking lot is located right before the 45th parallel, exactly equidistant to the North Pole and the Equator. This easy access is about .5 miles walk on a clearly marked path. On the way, we saw several elk. A passerby thought they were moose, so much for general awareness of the local wild life. This particular set of hot springs are clearly marked and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in the family. The one entrance was pretty tricky with a rocky access and strong current. After a little scouting of the area we found an easier route into the pools that enabled us to get everyone from our 6 year old to the 11 year old in and enjoying the hot springs. If we were close enough, we would visit this spot every night. In the two nights we were close members of our party went each night.
During the first night there we met one of the local personalities, a gentlemen we called Jumbo for his big size. He was very friendly and full of advice. Come to find out he is a passionate Buffalo activist. This man had left his real world job on several occasions to spend time crusading for better treatment and protection of the free range Buffalo that make Yellowstone National Park there home. More on this particular issue will appear in a separate post. We ran into Chris aka Jumbo the next day working the crowds on our visit to Tower Falls.
Beaver Ponds Hike, Yellowstone National ParkThe Beaver Ponds hike is located a couple of hundred yards from the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotels and at the base of the parking lot for accessing the Mammoth Hot Springs.
This was as advertised in all the hiking books we had reviewed. 5 Miles total and a loop. Once we departed the base area we only saw one group of 3 people the entire trip. The hike starts out as a fairly steep climb, mostly in the shade. During the hike we saw several groups of elk, and a beaver at the first of the ponds. The balance of the wild life was several families of geese and ducks playing in the ponds. The walk out was through classic western sage scrub and offered a great view of the parking lot and Boiling River hike and access, as well as the town of Gardiner Montana. This was great hike and ended just North of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
We had an earlier hike around the Mammoth Hot Springs Trail from the lower base parking lot. See the
photo gallery of shots from this short and easily accessible hike.
Madison Campground
Immediately upon arrival we knew we were now enjoying the camping we had envisioned. Well run and full the campsites are bordered by a river surrounded by wilderness and lots of trees. The facilities are nice, but no showers. This fact was a plus with our 3 boys (11, 9 & 6) as for them camping should not entail having to take a shower regardless of how dirty they get. Our neighbors however (with 2 children our boys shortly had them engaged in a soccer game and then a game of pickle), who had been here for several days informed us of a well-guarded secret swimming hole. This unexpected treat would prove to be the daily bath for our boys and a great cooling off after each day of hiking and traipsing around various parts of Yellowstone Park. Once settled in we also discussed that the original plan of moving every 2 days was really a little over the top. Given we had the family environment, packing everything up and setting up camp again did not make the best use of precious time to relax and enjoy. The decision was made to try and stay for 5 nights and cancel the reservations at Yellowstone Lake (a cabin we had rented) and two nights at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It was agreed we would still visit every thing we wanted but not spend the extra packing up and reestablishing camp.
I wandered down to the office and a little to our surprise we were able to make this work, and even received a refund for the difference of the cost of the cabin to the campsite. This was a bonus and everyone agreed this was for the best and we had one completely happy set of campers.
Firehole Swimming Hole
This is a must visit during hot days. Located just about 2 miles south of the Madison junction with the main route headed south to Old Faithful. There are off limits cliffs that we saw had quite a bit of activity. On day two we did see park ranger providing a ticket to one who had not heeded the posted warnings. Given how cold the temperatures had recently been we were amazed at how warm yet refreshing the water was. Out of the 4 days camping in Madison Campgrounds we swam 2 of the days.
Monument Geyser
This hike located North of Madison campgrounds just before Norris Junction was advertised as moderate, but for the family proved to be a tad more difficult. A steep climb out that was dusty and with no shade. The effects of the massive fires were evident and I would venture to guess in about 5 years there will be a pretty good amount of shade on this hike. It does offer great views North. The reward on this hike was a unique view of the thermal geysers rumbling about as we got to the top. The chimney features of several geysers was a different feature we had not seen. Also, we saw absolutely no one on this hike. One note is this is listed as a one mile up and then one mile back, however several books had disputed the distance and stated its distance at 1.5 miles. I would definitely agree it is closer to 1.5 miles as opposed to .9 miles.
Beryl Geyser
An easy turn off the main drag between Norris and Madison. The deep blue water and this being a very active and bubbling geyser made this a nice short and easy access.
Often times it is said the anticipation and planning of the trip can be a highlight and delight unto itself. When we, the Siewierski clan, decided we would kick off the summer of 2007 with a family road trip north to Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding Teton Mountains and Jackson Hole it was the signal for me to start the planning process.
While I have been to Yellowstone on several occasions this will be a first time for my wife, Laura, and our three boys Jarid(11), Nicky(9) and Sam(6). The plan is unfolding where we will depart Boulder early Monday June 18 and head north via 1-25 to Bozeman Montana. We will spend the first night at the
Holiday Inn in Bozeman, as I have an early morning work meeting the next day on the 19th, with the ad agency Mercury for Travel Montana. We will be sure to post a lodging review for this property and others we visit as well as camp site updates.
While we are close to Bridger Bowl the plan calls for my wife to load supplies from the local grocery store before heading into the park. The first two nights we will spend in Gardiner, Montana at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The camp ground we have selected is the
Rocky Mountain RV Park. All listings make it seem like a great starting point. We hope to enjoy a float down the Yellowstone River one day, do some local fishing, get to the Mammoth Hot Springs and over to Roosevelt Tower while in of this area.
The balance of the trip will include two nights camping at the Madison Campground near geyser country and the west entrance of Yellowstone. This area is close to Big Sky Ski Resort. After exploring this region we will go to the Yellowstone Lake and stay in one of their cabins before heading to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone for 2 last nights of camping before we drop down to Teton Village and Jackson Hole for 3 nights. The end of the journey will be complete with creature comforts as we settle into the the delightful
Alpenhof Lodge. The comforts of a nice bed, rooms and showers will be welcome at that stage. Having meals served will also been a pleasant way to wind down at the end of this trip.
The following is a spotlight on lodges currently offering
Mountain Sports Club members discounts on direct booked lodging reservations. Check out the savings up to 50% off.
Colorado
Mountain Resorts Inc - Steamboat Springs
Bristol Hotel - Steamboat Springs
Storm Meadows - Steamboat Springs
The Ranch at Steamboat - Steamboat Springs
Colorado Resort Services - Steamboat Springs
Summit Cove - Keystone
Apex Condominiums - Vail
Apex Holiday Inn - Vail
Pine Ridge Condominiums - Breckenridge
Big Horn Rentals - Frisco
Hotel Frisco - Frisco
Summit Mountain Rentals - Frisco & Breckenridge
Frisco Mountain Rentals - Frisco
Mtn Managers - Frisco, Breckenridge, Keystone
Circle R Motel - Salida near Monarch
Red Rooster Inn - Glenwood Springs, close Sunlight and Aspen areas.
Peak Property Management & Real Esate - Crested Butte Mountain Resort
New HampshireNordic Inn Condominiums - Lincoln near Loon Mountain
Colonel Spencer Inn - Near Waterville Valley Resort
WyomingAlpenhof Lodge - Jackson Hole
Utah
Prospector Square - Park City
Vermont
Cortina Inn & Resort - Killington
Ramada Inn Suites - Rutland
New YorkScribner Hollow Lodge - Hunter
British Columbia - CanadaCrystal Lodge - Whistler/Blackcomb
Additional lodges and packages options are available using the
Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk - Book
lodging, cars,
airfare and complete packages at a discount. Choose from over 1400 properties and most major destinations. Members receive monthly promotion code for additional savings when booking through the Mountain Sports Club Travel desk.
Boulder Colorado Last updated 06.05.07
We are proud to announce a new partnership with Action Sports Interactive that increases our reach in the online marketplace of mountain sports enthusiasts.
The strategic alliance between Action Sports Interactive collection of winter sports sites and
Mountain Sports Club of North America will now provide those targeting the online mountain sports enthusiast a network audience opportunity.
The collection of sites currently in the network are:
SkiSite.com - Shops - Resort - Clubs – Reports
Find and Compare Everything Snow Sports. SkiSite is one of the largest and most popular snow
sports destination sites, with comprehensive guides and content on skiing and snowboarding,
including resorts, trail maps, web cams, ski clubs, and events, as well as the largest gear and
retail guide online covering thousands of local shops.
RealConditions.com - Real Reports From Skiers and Riders
The Real Scoop on the Snow. RealConditions provides detailed snow reports for
alpine and nordic skiers and snowboarders, including the first site that allows the
public to post their own snow reports.
ShredSite.com - Snow. Water. Asphalt.
ShredSite provides detailed information on people, places, and gear for everything
board related, including snowboarding, surfing, wakeboarding, and skateboarding.
MountainSportsClub.com - Mountains and everything to do in the mountains.
An online service providing ski and snowboard resort directories, online travel
booking, personalized coupons and user generated reviews. Users create My Mountain
Sports Club folder, post reviews and invite friends.
Why Mountain Action Network ? This is a question we have been asked.Reach active affluent mountain sports enthusiasts. In calendar year 2006 this network of sites
delivered over 7 million page views. Visitors to sites are increasing at a rate of over 70% year over
year.
• Social Networking Features – My MountainSportsClub, friends network, reviews and favorites.
• User Generated Content – across various touch points of the network.
• Print Support –Promotional magazine tie to enhance registrations and build membership base.
FreeSkier & Snowboard Magazines.
• Built-in Affinity Program – Hundreds of dollars of savings for registered users/members on lift
tickets, shopping, travel and more.
• Huge Retail Base – Retail network of partners driving traffic online through in store and online
promotions.
• Most Complete Retailer Guide For In-Store and Online Shopping –SkiSite.com dominates
organic listings in this space. These are people buying equipment to use on their next vacation and day trip to the mountains.
• Perfect Timing: Reach an Audience at Purchase Time – comprehensive content enables
consumers to find and compare everything, and then purchase immediately.
• Large, Active Opt-in Email Audience – Communicate via email to this targeted market with
sponsorship of 250,000 – 500,000 monthly emails in peak winter season. Monthly, category and seasonal sponsorships available. Call for details, availability and pricing.
On May Day, May 1 2007, Rebel Board Sports launched their new online store. This new online only retailer includes great deals and selection from all the top brands.
Purchase gear, snowboards, wakeboards, and clothing from the likes of Burton, Roxy, Billabong, Smith and more. Mountain Sports members Save 10% on thier initial purchase made by June 30, 2007. Click on this store links and proceed to store. Use
promotion code MSC2007 during checkout to redeem your shopping discount.
Everyone likes free gear and schwag. Our friends at Retail Concepts are kicking off a new site for snowboarders, skateboarders and action board sports fans at
www.RebelBoardSports.com.
Check them out and you can register to win FREE gear this month as they prepare to launch this new site. Currently they are giving away an
Adio Shaun White Skate Shoe this week. They have a site on
My Space where you can post comments and register to win. This site promises to have all the top brands from Burton, Billabong, Roxy, Spy and more.
We have worked with Retail Concepts, the parent company, since the launch of Mountain Sports Club and their other 3 stores -
Ski Chalet,
Sun and Ski Sports and
Ski Stop already offer Mountain Sports Club members great deals on gear and service. Look for new listings and deals from RebelBoardSports.com as they launch this new site.
Aww spring time. The skiing and riding are great, the mountian bikes are out, fly fisherman are getting into the water and kayakers and rafters are checking run off and waterflow. It is difficult to know where to start. But here are todays random thought and postings. It is this wide range of thoughts that have is the source of naming this round of blog postings as Mountain Musings.
Extended ski and snowboard season. The season started late in the east and midwest and I am getting daily reports of areas extending their ski and snowboard season(Camelback,
Hidden Valley, Pico & Aspen areas to name but a couple) as they now have truly the best skiing of the year. I spoke with an industry associate who skied Hunter yesterday and said it was fantastic. Send us posts and comments on who is extending their season and we will post the comments and update the blog. The sking will be great into April and May in certain parts of North America, so keep the skis and boards handy and get the skins ready for climbing deep into the summer.
On the new member benefits side we are pleased to announce
Peak Property and Real Estate are a new merchant in
Crested Butte offering members savings on direct bookings. Be sure to call them and use the discounted lift tickets available for members on your spring trip to Crested Butte.
In the Tahoe area
Kayak Tahoe is extending member savings with 2 for 1 rentals and 10% off Emerald Bay kayak tours. With 3 convenient locations and summer coming up quick this is a welcome new offer for our members. Look for more rafting and kayak offers and listings in the coming weeks and months.
One of the more
interesting article I have seen of late appeared today in the Boulder Daily Camera. This was a spotlight on how Pueblo in southern Colorado is quietly becoming a mountain bike hotbed.
Read for more details on this growing trail network and how it looks more like Utah and the desert than the plains. Let us know about any other places we need to cover as well.
Ready to sign up for a premium membership and start saving? Time to
register and use promotioin code
blog07 for a special half price one year memberhsip, now only $9.95.
The spring ski and snowboard season continues to be great across the country. It may have been an uneven start to the season in certain parts of North America but it certainly is in full swing still. We had the chance to ski at
Copper Mountain and
Loveland this past weekend. The snow started to soften around 10:30 - 11:00 but you had to pay attention to what direction the slope was facing (referred to as aspect of the slope in certain circles) as the angle of the sun significantly affected how soft different runs were.
Saturday was St Patrick's day and the base of
Copper Mountain was jamming. Not only had the mountain rocked all day, the village celebration was now about to kicking in by the time w made it to the bottom of the hill. Live music was being served up by the Samples a favorite son band from Boulder, Colorado. The sun was shining, the beer was flowing and smiles were everywhere. On days like this we savor spring and look forward to sqeezing out all the great spring days we possibly can go and ski or ride.
One reminder for this weekend and those heading out to the high country the next several months. The high bowls and peaks that were North facing at both areas still had soft silky winter snow from an earlier storm during the week. At Loveland we rode the Ridge chair and traversed high and far left to find the soft goods. It was about a 20 minute trek, but well worth the effort.
A couple of hot little spots we found this weekend were:
- Backcountry Brewery in downtown Frisco - We have beed here several times and the beer is always great. A selection of seasonal beers, a wide range from Pale ales, browns, great stout and prters microbrews and a full menu await anyone who enters. The surprise was on Friday night. A Friday night Happy Hour - $1 pints, and 2 for 1 appetizers. 4 of us had 3 appetizers and 4 rounds, we got out of the brewery with a $40 tab. That was one of the best evening happy hours I have seen in ski country on a Friday night in years.
- Farley's Chop House - Main Street Frisco Colorado. It had been years since I had eaten here, but I will be back sooner. We rolled in on Saturday night of St Patty's expecting a long wait. Surprise a seat and full menu at the bar as we walked in. Impressive menu with seafood, plenty of steaks and an affordable yet complete wine list. Both of us ordered the Lamb Tendorloin and it was excellent, this was served with a Cilantro/Sour Cream mashed potatoes which gave it a little of the green color for the day and offered a unique and flavorful potato serving. Not to be forgotten was a fantastic turkey and andouille sausage soup that was to die for. The food was very good and the atmosphere was enjoyable. We had expected a crowd and found Main Street Frisco and the two establishments we visited to be laid back and not over the top as I suspect was the case in some of the other the resort towns.
New merchants adding member benefits:
With spring time comes mountain run off and the rivers are filling up for rafting and kayak enthusiasts. We are pleased to announce we will be adding over 70 new rivers listings with members being able to book online raft, kayak, canoe trips, clinics, instruction and single to multi day vacations and outings. Book with our partner RiverRaftTrips.com and get to the river of your choice. Over 26 years of river experience, based in Boulder Colorado and booking with experienced outfitters all through the western United States.
Check out these new merchants and the savings they are extending to Mountain Sports Club members. Not a member, register now.
Gunstock Resort in New Hampshire announced early bird season pass rates for next year at deeply discounted rates. Season passes for only $299. Details available on
Mountain Sports Club and Gunstock sites.
Mountain Sports Club members also now save on daily lift tickets mid week the balance of this ski and snowboard season at
Gunstock. Offers are either a buy one day and receive the next day Free, or 2 for 1 depending on the midweek. Details and discounted coupons available at Mountain Sports Club for members. Not a member yet.
Register now for the balance of this year and all of next season for only $9.95 when you register and use the promotion code
blog07.
Each week more and more
mountain resorts,
lodges, shops and related merchants extend new and exclusive offers in the form of valuable discounts to Mountain Sports Club members. For more details on listing and promoting your store or business contact us at:
Mountain Sports Club
3360 Dover Drive
Boulder, CO 80305
303.829.1699
info@mountainsportsclub.comwww.mountainsportsclub.com
On Snow demos - Keystone Colorado Feb --- 2007
The winter ski and snowboard season is just really getting started when the process begins to reveal the next years product line. It all begins at the SIA - Snowsports Industries of America - annual trade show in Las Vegas in January. This year's kick off event was January 22 at The Mandalay Bay. The annual show has it all - parties, scantily clad models drawing attention to the new gear, clothing and must have accessories. Once you have spent 3 - 4 days looking at the new gear, drinking and gambling, it is off to mountains for round two which is the On Snow demos and testing.
This is where the work assignment gets good. This year's Western Regional show was held in
Keystone Resort in Colorado. Conditions were perfect for testing skis and snowboards. The past week had seen some new snow to freshen up the surface and we now had blue skies and sunshine for solid conditions. The beauty of this task is that there is so much good and great product being made by all the ski and snowboard companies.
It is difficult to go wrong if you match features and performance with what kind of terrain you are skiing and riding with your ability level. Make sure you pick the right model for what you will be skiing. My plan was to ski as many skis in 2 days as possible and get a feel for what brands and models were moving up and who was falling short. We all have our biases and this needs to taken into account as we pick winners and losers.
In addition to my testing, the listed conclusions here were based upon the sentiments of the team of product testers from Retails Concepts and others who I spent the several days with skiing and testing skis.
The two big winners by all accounts were Volkl and K2. All of us skied many skis in each of the lines. My personal favorite was the K2 line and specifically the Radical in a 174. This is a new version of the Apache model for next year and was responsive, stable and easy to turn in all conditions. The new Volkl Tiger Shark also made a huge impression and comes with the caveat, you better stay on this ski and be ready to ski it aggressively, or it will take you for a ride. This ski is not for the feint of heart.
The loser and biggest disappointment was from the Salomon collection. I tried 4 different models and they all were dead and simply did not ski well. No fluidity, not very stable and quite the disappointment.
Pleasant surprises and products/brands that appear to be making a move in the market were from Elan and Head. The Elan line with Magma technology was a fun, liveley and responsive ski. I will look to add this model in the Magma 12 to my quiver for next season.
Another pleasant and unexpected surprise was a new ski introduced by Palmer snowboards. The all mountain freeride ski was fun and will perform well in broken snow and powder. The tip has nice float and the ski as a whole was very fluid in hard and variable snow.
Dynastar - The Legend line and the 8800 were also winners. Rossignol skis also had a good buzz going. This is encouraging as the former power house has lost significant market share over the last 5 - 7 years. The skis were skiing well and it appears that Rossi may be on the way back.
On the boot side I tested one boot company - Dalbello. Boy was this a nice fitting and performing boot. They had purchased the Raichle technology and patents and have introduced this in their new boot line. I will be skiing the Dalbello Rampage next year.
My closing comment is - make sure you get to a demo day next year and test before you buy. Not only does it help you select just the right gear, it is an awful lot of fun.
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