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Skiing near Detroit

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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
Hey NS,

I just moved to Detroit, MI from Seattle and I'm looking at where I will be skiing this winter in the Michigan area. I will be in Detroit for two years and am wondering which place I should go to, I don't really know anything about the skiing community of Detroit or its hills. I know the hills are all about the same and there frequency for ice is common, so does it make that much of difference from one to another?

I have found four main resorts to choose from in the Detroit metro area

Mt. Brighton (which I have heard the most about)
Alpine Valley
Pine Knob
Mt. Holly

I live closer to Pine Knob and Mt. Holly. I'm mostly looking for the best park and what will give me the most bang for my buck while I'm out here. Any suggestions would be awesome and I hope to see you out on the hill this winter.

Jah Bless.
Aug 14 2012 12:27AM
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Crehm
Posts: 951 - Karma: 842
Holly has more features than alpine, but alpines are generally better imo.

Never been to PK but Brighton is not even worth your time.

I personally ride at Alpine, it has a fun park, but there is not much of a ski scene at all there.

Holly and PK both have good parks with alot more of a ski scene, i would recommend wherever you can get your pass cheaper/ whichever is closer.
Aug 14 2012 9:40AM
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Julian.F
Posts: 2738 - Karma: 1,281
IMO Holly is the best. I'm buying my past the minute i can which i believe is the 4th of next month. The pass is $460 and goes up like $30-$50 every month until . i can pay that off in like 11 trips. Theres a great group of people riding at Holly. I've skied at all 4 hills you mentioned and Holly is all around the best. They build a "superpark" at the end of february/beginning of march thats tons of fun and have a rail jam, big air and slope style comp. If you're looking to buy a pass, Holly is the place.
Aug 14 2012 10:49PM
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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
Thanks that helps, I just want to be at a place I can hit rails and make some homies. I don't know anybody out here and I don't know what the skiing community is like. Hope to see some fellow newschoolers. Mt. Brighton seems to far for me anyway.

Do all of these have night skiing? Is it that nice or is it just an ice bowl?
Aug 14 2012 11:38PM
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Julian.F
Posts: 2738 - Karma: 1,281
They all have night skiing yes. Its pretty much like east coast hard pack thats icy in the morning and later at night. All depends on the day. Ride holly and hang with my friends! how old are you?
Aug 15 2012 7:25AM
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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
I'm 22. I'm old. I just graduated college. Ya I would be down to shred with you guys!
Aug 15 2012 10:36AM
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Julian.F
Posts: 2738 - Karma: 1,281
Holly is the place for you my friend. There are a few older guys like you that are like 5 times a week as well.
Aug 15 2012 10:57AM
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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
Dope man I'll see you up there!
Aug 15 2012 3:41PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
As Julian said, Holly is pretty solid, but I like Pineknob much better.


I would go with the dual pass for Holly/PK. I did that last year, and it was nice being able to switch resorts. Pine knob defiantly stepped up their game last year with their parks. They had 5-10 more jibs than usual, and the jumps were decent compared to Holly.

Stay away from Brighton and Alpine IMO. Brighton has always sucked. I have been there twice and I never want to go back. Alpine is really tight if they are caught on a good year. They maintain their features the best, but last year from what I know, they were light years behind Pineknob and they didn't have a decent park up until mid January. If you want an idea from what features are at PK/Holly check out this edit:

<

Man-made in the Mitten from Jordan Gasper on Vimeo.


It sounds like you already know this, but you cant really expect much out of SE Michigan. The parks can be decent, but coming from the PNW, skiing here really is a drag compared to WA.

Cannonsburg is rad if you can make it up there a weekend or 2. Thats probably the best park in Michigan. They have so many jibs, and great jumps. Nubs and Boyne can be pretty sick to.

If you want pow, and gnarly skiing for Michigan, Make the trip up to Mt. Bohemia. Thats the closest your going to get to real skiing here in Michigan.


If you ever need some people to shred with at PK/Holly, throw me a PM!
Aug 15 2012 3:53PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
^ and i forgot to say. In the edit, some of it is shot at Crystal Mtn up north, and Colorado. However, the majority is PK and Holly. Defiantly get the dual pass. There are always people to shred with at both places. Holly typically has more people your age, but I didn't like their park as much as Pineknob's last year. Not to mention, PK has 3 decently sized parks, when holly only has 2!
Aug 15 2012 3:58PM
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Julian.F
Posts: 2738 - Karma: 1,281
Hey Jordan how do I get the dual pass? haven't seen anything on holly's site.
Aug 15 2012 5:34PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Should say somewhere on the season pass page. If u buy a pass for either resorts, its $150 extra for the dual pass. So around $600 for both resorts.
Aug 15 2012 5:47PM
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Julian.F
Posts: 2738 - Karma: 1,281
Alright thanks. I'd kinda be winging it though. I haven't skied PK in like 3-4 years
Aug 15 2012 6:10PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Do it. Im telling you, PK has gotten much better. Their parks are better than holly. I thought the same thing as you before the season, but I ended up skiing PK much more. If you get 20+ days, I would for sure go with the dual pass.
Aug 15 2012 10:33PM
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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
Cool thanks man! Sounds like the double pass is the way to go. I do plan on getting more than twenty days in. Ya I know it wont be the altitude of back home, but skiing is skiing. I just want to have snow under my feet. That is all that matters in the end. I liked your edit, I'll give you a shout before the season starts.
Aug 16 2012 9:49AM
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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
PS Did any of you see this?


Click for larger image

They are coming to Holly and PK in January.
Aug 16 2012 10:04AM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Yeah i saw that. Thats gonna be sick, especialy because PK/Holly is on a Friday and Saturday.
Aug 16 2012 10:09AM
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Julian.F
Posts: 2738 - Karma: 1,281
Yup. Can't wait.
Aug 16 2012 12:11PM
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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
Sorry for 21 questions, but how long should I expect the season to be?
Aug 16 2012 3:09PM
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Julian.F
Posts: 2738 - Karma: 1,281
last year kinda sucked like first week of december to second week of march. I remember second week of november to third week of april though.
Aug 16 2012 3:17PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
First week of december is when the lifts were turning. Didnt have a park till the holidays though. 2 years ago holly opened up with a small jib park the monday after thanksgiving
Aug 16 2012 5:15PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
Fuck yeah, I'll be at the Marquette day for sure
Aug 16 2012 8:34PM
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Stainr
Posts: 1186 - Karma: -1,150
PK By far is the best now days, i grew up on it but holy and alpine dont even compare anymore.
Aug 20 2012 11:43AM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Whaatttt? That's sick. Definitely will be checking that out.
Aug 20 2012 12:04PM
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Crehm
Posts: 951 - Karma: 842
fuck yeah! i will be at every single one in se michigan.
Aug 22 2012 7:51AM
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Shifties4Dayz
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 553
You're gay. Urban trip to GR? I found some real nice shit up there
Sep 4 2012 12:18PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Fuck you. Lets get it done for sure. I have a real easy semester in the winter so my weekends will typically be free.
Sep 4 2012 9:16PM
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brizz
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 74
Dexter Rutecki: These guys are good, Teej.
T.J. Burke: Yeah, but they're not from Detroit.

Sep 6 2012 8:36AM
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doitbig
Posts: 4818 - Karma: 315
always down to ride, feel free to PM me...although I do a majority of my down state riding at Brighton (which apparently doesn't have the best reputation on here), but I frequent PK, Alpine, Holly.

what I don't think has been mentioned is the possibility for trips up north. within 4.5 hours of Detroit there are plenty of great places to daytrip/spend the weekend at (Nubs, Boynes, Otsego on public days, ECT)
Sep 26 2012 7:55AM
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