Michigan Slopes Win Over Families With Kid-Friendly Specials

Clarkston, MI (Winter, 2008-2009) – Michigan ski areas want families to enjoy the sport of skiing and snowboarding, and they do their share to offer kid-friendly programs and discounts. Most ski areas offer reduced lift tickets for children and some even offer free skiing for certain ages. They also provide learn-to-ski programs, daycare and NASTAR racing. “Skiing is a great activity for kids, it gets them outside for fresh air and exercise,” says Steve Kershner, Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) chairman and director of skiing for Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire.

MSIA offers statewide programs that cater to children, including Discover Michigan Skiing, the association’s discounted learn-to-ski program and the “Cold is Cool” Ski & Snowboard Passport, which allows all fourth graders to ski free. For more information on MSIA’s programs and for quick links to all the ski areas, visit www.goskimichigan.com. Here’s a list of ski incentives offered for children at Michigan ski areas:

At Alpine Valley in White Lake, (248) 887-2180, www.skialpinevalley.com, children 5 years and under receive free beginner area tow tickets anytime and free lift tickets Monday through Friday, (non-holiday). On weekends and holidays, their lift tickets are $13. Alpine Valley offers Ski Carvers ski lessons and Snow Riders snowboard lessons on weekends and holidays. These sessions include a 90 minute lesson, lift ticket and rental equipment for $54 for Jr. Ski Carvers, (ages 4 to 5), and $64 for Ski Carvers, (ages 6 to 12) and Snow Riders, (ages 7 to 12). For an additional $20, children get a second session the same day with lunch included.

Apple Mountain in Freeland, (989) 781-6789, www.applemountain.com, allows children 6 and under to ski free and receive reduced rates on rental equipment when accompanied by a paying adult. The area also offers several programs every Saturday beginning in January. Apple Seeds Learn-to-Ski program is for youngsters ages 4 to 6, at 10 a.m. It costs $42 and includes a two-hour group lesson, lift ticket and rental equipment. For children 7 to 8 years old with demonstrated ability to ski or snowboard and ride the chairlift, Apple Mountain offers the Trailblazers’ Ski Program at 1 p.m. at a cost of $48 and the Trailblazers’ Snowboard program at 10 a.m. for $48. Both classes include a two-hour group lesson, lift ticket and rental equipment. Youngsters 7 to 10 with basic boarding skills can take Introduction to Terrain Park Boarding at 1 p.m. It is a two-hour group lesson that costs $30, not including lift ticket and rental pass. Class sizes are limited and pre-registration is required for the classes.

At Big Powderhorn of Bessemer in the Upper Peninsula, (906) 932-4838, www.bigpowderhorn.net, children 9 years and under ski free with a paying adult. This offer is limited to one child per adult.

At Bittersweet of Otsego, (269) 694-2820, www.skibittersweet.com, children 6 years old and under receive half-price lift tickets with the purchase of adult lift and rental passes.

Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs, and Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, 1-800-GO-BOYNE, www.boyne.com, have designated areas that are free of charge for beginner skiers and snowboarders of all ages, equipped with chairlifts and Wonder Carpet conveyor lifts. Boyne Highlands has the longest Wonder Carpet in the Midwest. Children 8 and under ski and ride free and ages 9 to 15 receive reduced lift ticket rates at both resorts.

At Cadillac’s Caberfae Peaks Ski and Golf Resort, (231) 862-3000, www.caberfaepeaks.com, children 8 years old and under ski and ride free with a paying adult.

At Cannonsburg Ski Area in Cannonsburg, (616) 874-6711, www.cannonsburg.com, children 6 years old and under receive free lift tickets and children ages 7 to 10 receive reduced lift tickets. Cannonsburg also offers the Mitey Mites program for children ages 4 through 12 on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It includes a ski/snowboard lesson, lift ticket, lunch and snack. Rental equipment is extra.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, 1-800-832-2663, www.cross-country-ski.com, offers a special $3 day pass anytime to youth 16 years and younger.

At Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, (231) 378-2000, www.crystalmountain.com, children ages 8 and under ski and/or sleep free, when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Children 9 to 15 ski at reduced rates.

Hanson Hills in Grayling, (989) 348-9266, www.hansonhills.org, has a free learn-to-ski program for third- and fourth-grade students. The local youth booster club sponsors the program which includes rental equipment, lessons and bussing after school to the ski area once a week for six weeks.

At Hickory Hills of Traverse City, (231) 947-8566, www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us, lift tickets are $1 off Sunday through Friday and $2 off Saturdays and Christmas break for children 12 and under.

The Homestead Resort of Glen Arbor, (231) 334-5000, www.thehomesteadresort.com, offers free lift tickets to children 8 years and younger when accompanied by a paying adult.

At Indianhead Mountain of Wakefield, (906) 229-5181, www.indianheadmtn.com, children ages 9 and under ski free with a paying adult.

At Marquette Mountain in Marquette, (906) 225-1155, www.marquettemountain.com, children 9 and under ski free with the purchase of adult lift tickets. Marquette Mountain offers Ski Wee Kid's Club twice a day on weekends. It's $25 for children ages 3 to 6 and $30 for children 6 to 10. The Clubs includes a lesson, lift ticket and rental equipment.

Mont Ripley of Houghton, (906) 487-2340, www.skimontripley.com, offers discount lift tickets for youth 18 and under. Mont Ripley has an after-school special for this age group which includes a 90-minute group lesson, rental package and lift ticket, all for $22.

At Mt. Brighton in Brighton, (810) 229-9581, www.mtbrighton.com, children 5 years of age and under, ski free with a full-paying adult.

Mt. Holiday of Traverse City, (231) 938-2500, www.mt-holiday.com, has a scholarship program providing a pre-arranged free lift ticket, lesson and rental for low-income children in the Traverse City and surrounding five-county area. It is a community-based program funded by donations. Mt. Holiday also works with other charitable organizations from around the state to provide snow sports opportunities for those that may never get a chance to participate otherwise.

Mt. Holly Ski Resort of Holly, (248) 634-8269, www.skimtholly.com, provides half-price lift tickets and ski rental equipment to children six and under. Mt. Holly has a student discount program for seventh through 12th grades, (3 p.m. to closing, Mon. through Fri., non-holiday) in combination with graduated lessons. During this time, student lift tickets are $15 and ski and snowboard rentals are $15. On Saturday afternoons in January and February, Mt. Holly offers the Kinder Sparks program for children 5 to 10 years old. Children must be signed up by 12:30 p.m. for the group lesson which costs $32. Daytime lift tickets for Kinder Sparks are $15 and rental equipment is $15.

Mt. Zion of Ironwood, (906) 932-4231, www.gogebic.cc.mi.us/aboutGCC/mtzion.shtm, offers a midweek discount, Tuesday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., in which children 16 and under receive a lift and rental equipment for $10.

Norway Mountain of Norway, (906) 563-9700, www.norwaymountain.com, lets children 9 and under ski free with a paying adult.

At Nub's Nob Ski Area in Harbor Springs, (231) 526-2131, www.nubsnob.com, children 8 years and under ski free with a paying adult and children 9 to 19 ski at reduced rates.

Pando Winter Sports Park of Rockford, (616) 874-8343, www.pandopark.com, lets children 5 and under ski free with a paying adult and offers reduced rates for ages 6 to 10.

Pine Knob Ski Resort of Clarkston, (248) 625-0800, www.skipineknob.com, offers half price lift tickets, season passes and rental equipment to children 6 years and under.

Pine Mountain Resort in Iron Mountain, (906) 774-2747, www.PineMountainResort.com, allows children 12 and under to ski free with a paying adult.

At Shanty Creek in Bellaire, (231) 533-7066, www.shantycreek.com, children 8 years and under ski free with a paying adult while juniors ages 9 to 12 ski and board at reduced rates. Value Season Lodging packages include free lift tickets for children. Shanty Creek encourages all past participants in MSIA's 4th Grade Passport Program to continue to ski and/or board. Past participants ages 12 and under receive 50% off the cost of an in-season youth pass. This may not be combined with any other offer.

Ski Brule in Iron River, (906) 265-6754, www.skibrule.com allows children 9 years old and under to ski and stay free with a paying adult.

At Snow Snake Mountain in Harrison, (989) 539-6583, www.snowsnake.net, children 6 years old and under receive free lift tickets with a paying adult.

At Swiss Valley Ski Area in Jones, (269) 244-8016, www.SkiSwissValley.com, children ages 5 and under receive a free lift ticket when accompanied by a paying adult. Children 6 to 12 receive discount rates on lift and ski rental equipment. Swiss Valley has its Junior Development Race Team, (JDT) for children 5 to 14 years of age, open to all levels of ability. Swiss Valley also offers Valley Kids learn to ski and snowboard program on weekends and holidays.

Timber Ridge in Gobles, (269) 694-9449, www.timberridgeski.com, allows children 7 years old and under to ski free with a full-paying adult. Children 8 to 11 ski and board at discounted rates.

At Treetops Resort in Gaylord (989) 732-6711, www.treetops.com, children 8 and under ski free with a paying adult.