john18061806I live up in Duluth Minnesota, used to live in Minneapolis, hit me up if you make a trip up there this winter to Spirit Mountain (my instagram name is the same as on here). They got a rope park, and the best jump line in Minnesota, plus more vertical drop than anything in the twin cities.
If you're in SLP though, I think getting a Hyland season pass is going to be the best for skiing often and meeting people. It's an absolutely tiny hill (150ft/50m of vert), the park is icy as shit, rutted out as shit, but there's tons of people there all the time to meet up and shred with. You could look into the Nybora freeski team that practices there, good way to make friends and hit private jumps.
I think Afton Alps has the best terrain park in the twin cities area, Wild Mountain slays it too, everybody loves Trollhaugen's park (for good reason), Elm Creek is a hidden gem. You should definitely check out those four places. Minnesota skiing is all about rails, we got killer rail parks but kind of lack in quality jumps.
Be prepared for a drastic change in ski terrain though, since you've been skiing Switzerland... Minesota has no mountains, just big hills. Not really any powder to go around, if you want that you have to drive 7 hours to Mount Bohemia. They get 300" per year of lake effect snow on a gnarly hill with 900ft/100m of vert.
Whatever u decide to do, just have fun out there!
1806 said it best. A Hyland season pass will run you ~$450, and you can use that ride ride Elm Creek for $5/day. Both are about 15-20 min from SLP.
Wild Mountain, Trollhaugen, and Afton Alps always have the best parts (my opinion) but will be a little farther of a drive.
Don't be shy and you'll have a hell of a season meeting tons of new people!
