Signs of the Season: Thanksgiving Weekend

The goal at Nub's is to open Thanksgiving weekend, but mother nature doesn't always cooperate. That is the case this year. A nice tradition that has developed over the years is the lodge opens even if the slopes aren't ready. I think it started with the office and spread to the Guest Services building and General Store. Now you can even get some of your favorites from the kitchen and a drink from the bar the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Although skiing would be the best thing to do, eating curly fries comes in a close second!

Opening Day!

Usually I don't like the opening day of ski season. Mediocre snow and too many people on just a few hills. This year is going to be a bit different! Nub's Nob has received over 30 inches of natural snow so far this winter and will open with over 30 runs on Saturday, November 22! Ski ya' out there!

Chairtalk: Around the World

Nub's Nob is off to a great, possibly best, start! Most of the front and a few of the back hills are now open!

Today I was able to complete a modified* "Around the World" challenge. Around the World is where you ski every hill. To make it more interesting, you try to never take the same chairlift twice in a row. This screen shot from my Ski Tracks app shows how I got around. Obviously they are using a satellite picture from a different time of year!

*No black diamonds, glades, or race area for me. As Dad would say, I am acting my age!

Signs of the Season: Skunks

There is an old skiers' tale that the whiter the skunks are, the snowier the winter will be. Recently I was driving and saw a skunk so white that at first I thought it was a cat!

My schedule is turned in and the Nub's Nob Winter Sports School can start taking reservations. I will be instructing December 22, 27-28, 30-31, January 3-4, Saturdays through February 22, and then March 22. Ski you out there!

Why We Ski: Milestones

There are many significant birthdays: 16 to get your driver's license, 21 to purchase alcohol, 35 to be able to run for president. Although I am not rushing it, I look forward to turning 70. Skiers 70 and over can get free daily ski passes at Nub's Nob. Just come to the ticket window, show your ID, and away you go! If want to skip the first steps, you can spend $25.00 for an Unlimited Season Pass. While some local resorts raised the age for free passes to 80, I am thankful that Nub's Nob keeps it at 70. Now, I just have to wait 26 years!

By the way, the 70+ ticket is $22.50 and all season tickets are 10% off for one more day. Order now!

Signs of the Season: Last Day

It was a great year, but sure went fast. Here I am on the last day riding the purple chair. Nub's Nob closed with plenty of snow, but it is time to move on to spring and the activities that go along with it. I kind of feel like a super-hero giving up my powers and retiring to my secret identity. All the amazing things I can do as a skier and instructor have to go into hiding. Never fear, though, winter will return before you know it!

I want to thank everyone at Nub's Nob and the Winter Sports School for a great season. It was an honor to work with you. Also, thank you to all of my amazing lessons! I had so much fun and learned so much. I hope you did, too! Ski ya' next year!

Signs of the Season: Mardi Gras

After last year's had to be cancelled due to lack of snow, this year's Mardi Gras was going to be twice as great! I spent most of the day on Big Time helping with the Silly Slalom and Crazy Couples races. It was a lot of fun! Every kid racer received a prize and my friends Eric and Ali won the couples race. Many thanks to J. P. Adams, Chief of Course (of course)! My one suggestion for next year? Less inflatables! I think it took us two hours to pack everything up!

Back to Nature: Sunsets

This part of Michigan is know for great sunsets. I have certainly seen my share, but my favorites are from the ski hill. I managed to get out to Nub's Friday night, and it was another amazing view!

It may seem like the sun is setting on the season, but Nub's Nob still has four more weeks left. Right now I am only scheduled for Mardi Gras on March 23, but if there is interest I could meet a lesson during Spring Break, March 29 - April 7.

Signs of the Season: Sun on Smokey

Due to the tilt of the earth, the sun is low in the sky when Nub's Nob opens each year. The north facing front hills are in the shade all day, everyday, until the end of January. A sure sign that we are coming out of the dark is when Old Smokey starts to have sun from top to bottom. The sun makes it easier to see changes in the terrain, and checking your shadow is a good way to check your form. Enjoy!

Signs of the Season: Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Purple Chair! Last week Nub's Nob received 15 inches of snow and has been making snow like crazy.  We will be 100% open on Wednesday. Over Christmas week I am available for lessons December 26-28, and 30-31. Call soon for reservations! You can even call Christmas day. During the new year I will be out there every Saturday through March 2, and then back again March 23, for Mardi Gras.

Signs of the Season: A Chance to Say Goodbye

Probably the hardest part of the sudden end of last ski season was missing out on the chance to say goodbye. Goodbye to that last grilled cheese sandwich, goodbye to that last run down Smokey, and goodbye to friends. Unfortunately it took away a chance to say a final goodbye to Frank Couzens. My earliest memory of Frank is feeling disappointed to find out we weren't related. At that young age I seemed to be related to most of Grosse Pointe, and with a name like that, Frank had to be a relative, right? I don't know what his official title at Nub's Nob was, but the closest I can think of was Frank was our Skiing Ambassador. When I think of Frank I don't see him skiing: I see him shaking hands and talking skiing in the locker room, shaking hands and talking skiing in the lodge, and shaking hands and talking skiing at the bottom of the Nastar hill. Also, he was a master at stacking chairs. He kept the lines moving fairly, filled every chair, and made everyone feel privileged to be there. Thanks Frank.

We also missed the chance to say goodbye to master ski patroller Dan Somalski and former ski instructor and ski school director David "Zetti" Kondziela. I would have let Dan take me on a sled anywhere (even down Twilight!), and Zetti was an instructor and boss with an amazing sense of humor that fit into any situation. These three men gave back to the sport in levels I can only hope for and they will all be terribly missed.

Saturday is the annual Open House at Nub's Nob. Don't go for the discounted season pass, the lift rides, the ski swap, or even the free food (which are all great). Go to say hello to friends you haven't seen for seven months. You never know when you may miss the chance to say goodbye.

Signs of the Season: President's Day

It has been a strange winter. I think I have seen my lawn more than I have seen snow covering it. Thankfully that has not been the case at Nub's Nob. Thanks to the snow-making and grooming crews and the Pisten-Bully groomers it has been amazing skiing, as always.

President's Day for some reason feels like the beginning of the end of winter, but there are still seven more weeks of the ski season. Unfortunately for me, I am only instructing two more Saturdays: next weekend, February 25, and Mardi Gras, March 25. Things are going to be too busy at school next month for me to commit to any more days, so call the Winter Sports School if you want to get a lesson in with me before the end of the season.

Advice From the Purple Chair: Torchlight Parade

Are you looking for something for the whole family to do to celebrate the New Year that doesn't involve staying up to midnight? At 6:00 pm this evening will be the Nub's Nob New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade. Ski Patrol and instructors take two runs down the front hills holding road flares. It is a beautiful site!

I want to thank everyone for a great Christmas week, especially the snowmaking crew. Thanks to them we had the most hills with the best snow in Michigan to ski on! I will be back in the books January 14, and available for lessons each Saturday through March 3. Ski you then!

Signs of the Season: Christmas Week

Christmas week is off to a great start! There may not be snow at your house, but Nub's Nob had 29 hills open today. With a low tonight in the teens, you can bet they have the snowguns running on the remaining non-glade hills.

I had fun with four great lessons today. Time slots are filling up fast, so call if you want a lesson. I will be there through Friday.

Why We Ski: Magical Moments

There are many magical and beautiful moments involved with skiing. This morning I was struck by the beauty of the view from the parking lot. Every year there is that fear that we may experience a December like in the movie White Christmas: "Where's all the snow?" "We bring it indoors during the day." The view this morning took all my fears away. Everything was white, the snowguns were blowing all over the hill, and the lake effect snowflakes were falling! Glade skiing is not a possibility right now, but most of the other front and back hills are open or will be open tomorrow. To make Christmas even merrier, most of Pintail Peak will open Sunday!

Signs of the Season: Sunshine and Snowguns

It was a beautiful day at the ski hill today: the sun was shining and the snowguns were going! Most of the front hills are now open, and the guns were going full blast on the back and Pintail Peak. They have been going nonstop since yesterday and are still going tonight! Here's to cold weather!

Advice From the Purple Chair: Webcasts

Every Tuesday throughout the season Nub's Nob posts a webcast. You can find out all the latest news and maybe see a friend or two! This week you can find out that Nub's will be open Saturday and Sunday! My favorite part it the cute little Piston Bully pushing the title onto the screen.

Signs of the Season: Close, But Not Yet

Nub's Nob is looking good, but there just wasn't enough of a base to open this weekend. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have gone out in this rain anyway! The temperatures next week are looking much better for snowmaking, and I am hoping for at least half a dozen slopes next weekend, compared to the two or three there would have been today. Ski you soon!

Signs of the Season: Snowmaking

Earlier this week they were able to fire up the guns one morning, and tonight's low is forecast to be 24 degrees! Will this be enough for Thanksgiving? Probably not, but keep your eye on the webcam and conditions pages!

Signs of the Season: Contract

More preseason events keep happening! At the end of October the Winter Sports School had an instructor meeting, Tuesday was the start of snowmaking season (come on cold temperatures!), and I have handed in my contract for the year! You can now officially book lessons with me through ski school, and if you need a particular day or time it would be a good idea to do it right away. After thirteen years at my former "day job" of teaching elementary computers, I have been switched to teaching fourth grade. I love it, but it leaves me with a little less time. Until I see how things go, I had to cut a few days off of my usual ski teaching schedule. I hope this won't inconvenience people too much. I will be available December 23, 27-30, January 14, 21, and 28, February 4, 11, 18, and 25, and March 3 and 24. Ski you out there!