White Gold Card Helps Skiers on a Budget

Michigan Snowsports Industries Association makes it possible to ski at 23 ski areas for just $189, and now White Gold Cards can be purchased online.

Called the MSIA White Gold Card, purchasers are entitled to ski one time at 23 participating ski areas across the state during the 2007/2008 ski season.  Purchasers are also entitled to one free ski tune-up (edge sharpen and wax) at participating MSIA ski retailers.

“The White Gold Card is an exceptional value,” says Steve Kershner, chairman of the MSIA and director of skiing for Shanty Creek in Bellaire.  “If you paid for a lift ticket at each of these ski areas and brought your skis in for a tune-up, you would be spending over $900.”

The card looks like a credit card, divided into squares.  Each ski area is assigned to a square and one square is designated for the ski tune-up.  The purchaser takes the White Gold Card to the ski area’s lift ticket window, where the square corresponding to that ski area is punched out.  White Gold Card skiers are allowed to ski one time at each ski area, midweek or weekend.  The card is valid for the entire ski season, except for December 24, 2007 through January 2, 2008.  The cards are non-refundable and non-transferable.  To get the

tune-up, White Gold Card purchasers take their skis or boards to one of the over 40 participating ski shops.

MSIA developed the White Gold Card as a fundraising endeavor and limits its production to 400 cards.  “We’ve found from past years’ sales that they go quickly,” says Kershner.  He suggests that anyone interested in purchasing a card should do so as soon as possible.

To add a little excitement, MSIA has also created a challenge for White Gold Card participants.  “The first person to use the White Gold Card at all 23 Michigan ski areas will win a card for the 2008/2009 ski season,” Kershner announced.  He added that MSIA is hosting the challenge to encourage skiers to try all the great slopes in Michigan.  To win, White Gold Card holders must ski at all the ski areas and then send MSIA their punched-out White Gold Card accompanied by a used lift ticket from each of the ski areas.

Participating ski areas include:  Alpine Valley in White Lake; Apple Mountain in Freeland; Bittersweet in Otsego; Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs; Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls; Caberfae Peaks in Cadillac; Cannonsburg Ski Area in Cannonsburg; Cross-Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon; Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville; Hanson Hills in Grayling; Marquette Mountain in Marquette; Mt. Bohemia in the Keweenaw Peninsula; Mt. Brighton in Brighton; Mt. Holly in Holly; Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs; Pine Knob in Clarkston; Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain; Shanty Creek in Bellaire; Snow Snake in Harrison; Swiss Valley Ski Area in Jones; The Homestead in Glen Arbor; Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles and Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

White Gold Cards will be sold at participating MSIA ski shops throughout the state from October through December, while supplies last.  MSIA shops offering the cards and the ski/snowboard tune-ups are:  Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus in Grand Rapids;  Boyne Country Sports in Bloomfield Hills and Novi;  Don Orr Ski Haus in Traverse City;  Don Thomas Sporthaus in Birmingham;  Lee’s Fun & Adventure in Kalamazoo;  Nichol’s Ski & Patio in Brighton, Dearborn and Waterford;  Reliable Sport & Ski Haus in Holland;  Schummer’s Ski Shop in Gross Pointe Woods;  The Ski Loft in Charlotte;  The Stable of Saginaw in Saginaw;  and Swiss Valley Ski Shop in Jones.  Other shops that are offering the ski/snowboard tune-up are Cannonsburg Ski Shop in Cannonsburg;  MC Sports in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Brighton, Cadillac, Fort Gratiot, Gaylord, Grandville, Grand Blanc, Grand Rapids, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lapeer, Marquette, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Muskegon, Portage, Traverse City and the Indiana cities of Fort Wayne, Goshen, Michigan City and Toledo;  Mt Brighton Hot Wax Café in Brighton;  Summit Sports in Birmingham, Brighton, East Lansing, Farmington Hills and Rochester Hills and Sun ‘N Snow Ski Shop in Cadillac and Sun & Snow Sports in Ann Arbor.

The White Gold Cards can also be purchased online at www.goskimichigan.com.  For more information, visit the website or  call MSIA at (248) 620-4448.

Download White Gold Card Order Form

If you would rather not pay online, you can download a White Gold Card Order Form to mail with you check for payment in full.