snowdrifts - Eastern Pennsylvania Ski Council

PresiDent’s Message
Bob Smith, EPSC President
Snow Drifts is an annual newsletter put out by EPSC – the Eastern
Pennsylvania Ski Council – and is our opportunity to share with
YOU some of the exciting things going on this year. After enjoying
this edition of Snow Drifts, I’d like to invite you to visit our website,
www.easternpaskicouncil.org, for even more information about
EPSC, the benefits offered to clubs, and many of the events we run
throughout the year that would appeal to any skier or snowboarder. If you enjoy
the slopes and are not a member of a club, we urge you to use our website to
find one that best fits your needs. We also want to encourage the members in
existing ski clubs that are not part of this council to take a look at everything
EPSC can offer you, and contact us about membership. The discount lift ticket program is one of the most popular benefits that EPSC
has to offer members. We have access to unbelievable lift ticket prices for some
of the most popular ski resorts in the Poconos and throughout New England.
Our members also benefit from drastically-reduced lift ticket prices on designated
“Ski Council Appreciation Days” throughout the season at many of the most
popular resorts in New York and New England. Because EPSC membership also
includes admission into the National Ski Council Federation, you can find even
more savings on ski or snowboard equipment through a special link on our website. EPSC offers a Winter Carnival trip each year that includes races, happy hours, a
banquet dinner, and other great social opportunities. Many clubs invite members
from other clubs within the council to participate in their trips out west, to
New England, and even Europe. You can check our website for postings on available
trips, prices and details. If you are new to skiing or snowboarding, we have a free
lesson program that takes place on Monday evenings starting in January. The EPSC has partnered once again with PRW Travel Shows to provide an
amazing ski and snowboard expo, including the EPSC live and silent auction, on
November 2nd, 2014. Another exciting event that members participate in is
Council Day which features races on a NASTAR course. This is a family-friendly
day with reduced lift tickets and free racing for those who have a need for speed. Whatever your ski or snowboard needs are, I’m certain you will find a club in our
council that is right for you. We are here to grow the downhill ski and snowboard
community while offering great discounts to our members. I know that you will
be as excited to participate in our EPSC events as we are to host them!
CounCil Day every winter
EPSC’s “Council Day”, featuring the Council Cup Race, will
be held on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at Bear Creek Mountain
Resort in Macungie PA. This fun event, open to all members
of EPSC clubs, offers a discounted day on the slopes, use of
a banquet room all day,
and the oppor tunity to
run the NASTAR race
course for a club trophy.
Evolving from a race-specific club day that started way back in 1959, Council Day is
now open to all club members to come out and enjoy the day, whether they
race on a club team or just ski with EPSC for the day. The turnout since the change
has been great as people who would not have raced came out just to enjoy the
day on the slopes. Look for details on Council Day, as well as rules and registration
for the Council Race, on our website.
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Join a Club – why anD how?
We are so much more than “just a ski club” – our clubs
organize activities all year ’round! Meet new people and
enjoy family fun near your community. These clubs are
where local, active people get together and share their
love of the outdoors, and where lasting friendships
are made.
Each club has a page on EPSC’s site, designed to give
potential members an over view of the club and what
activities and trips they are organizing. Browse the list
of clubs to find one that interests you. Check out
their history and the latest news on trips, picnics, hikes
or happy hours scheduled. Most have links to their
own website for more information about their club.
And, most clubs have membership rates and applications
available on their websites, so joining is quick and easy!
The clubs in this Council offer much more than just an online community. Explore
our numerous clubs and drop in on a meeting or event. You’ll be glad you did!
EPSC is continually expanding its club base – if you already have a club formed
and would like to join our council, feel free to contact any officer or EPSC’s
Membership Chairperson, Jeff Geesaman, by emailing [email protected].
learn-to-ski PrograM every January
Each winter, all EPSC club members are able to
participate in the Council’s FREE Learn-to-Ski program,
which promotes the safe enjoyment of skiing and
provides newcomers an inexpensive way to learn the
sport. The instructors, members of EPSC clubs, are
certified instructors who volunteer their time to teach.
Council’s lesson program is
hosted each January at
Spring Mountain Ski Area.
Lessons are free; nightly
lift tickets and rentals are
offered at a substantial
discount. The program is
open ONLY to current
members of EPSC clubs.
In order for students to
develop the necessary skills
to handle all types of terrain and snow conditions,
lessons are held no matter
what the weather, as long
as the mountain is open!
Student skill levels range from those who have never
skied before to those making open parallel turns, and
students are grouped into classes based on ability levels.
So even “terminal intermediates” can benefit from these
lessons! Over the course of six Monday nights, our
students progress in a structured curriculum, building
skills and confidence from week to week.
Lesson registration forms are available each fall from
club Council reps or via EPSC’s website. Current club
membership cards must be shown, and participants
must sign in at the front lobby registration table prior
to each lesson. For over 25 years, lessons continue to
be held at Spring Mountain, 757 Spring Mount Road,
Schwenksville, PA. This season’s program begins on
Monday night, January 5, 2015.
NOTE: A similar lesson program for snowboarding is
offered if enough snowboard instructors volunteer! If
you are qualified to teach snowboarding, would like to
become an instructor, or are willing to be a lesson aide,
call JoAnne at 215-234-0358 for details.
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DisCount liFt tiCkets all season long
The Discount Lift Ticket program is open to all
members of EPSC clubs! Tickets are available for local
PA mountains as well as a few New England resorts.
Order tickets via our website by completing the userfriendly order form and e-mailing it to the address
provided. “The Ticket Guy” verifies your club
membership and gets the tickets to
you ASAP. The online order forms will
be available to council members by
December 1, 2014.
Many ski areas offer ‘Customer Appreciation Days’ with discounts on lodging and
food as well as great savings on lift tickets.
Keep close watch on our site throughout
the season as we continually update the
info on discounts as we receive it.
Discount tickets are for use by current EPSC club members ONLY.
Tickets are good only for the current season, so limit purchases to
what you are sure you can use. Return fees apply for all unused tickets, and the number of returns accepted is limited.
FeDeration beneFits for all members
EPSC is a proud member of the NSCF (National Ski
Council Federation) which currently has 28 councils across
the country under its umbrella. In turn, each ski club that is affiliated with EPSC
is also an NSCF member. What does that mean to you, the ski club member?
You also receive any benefits that the NSCF acquires for its members. Their website lists discounts available to you by simply showing your ski club membership
card indicating both EPSC and NSCF membership. (Details of these discounts are
in the password-protected Members Section.) www.skifederation.org
Sharing of information is also a large part of the value the NSCF brings to councils
and clubs. Members can see what other clubs and councils are doing, from ideas
to increase membership to samples of mission statements and by-laws for a
newly-formed club. Whether you are a ski club member or an officer of a club
or council, visit the NSCF website to see what is being done for organized skiing.
The NSAA is a trade association for ski area owners and operators, representing
325 alpine resorts and accounting for 90% of the skier/boarder visits nationwide.
NSAA analyzes and distributes industry statistics, is active in state and federal
government affairs, and provides educational programs and training materials on
a variety of industry issues and regulations. The association's
primary objective is to meet the needs of ski area owners and
operators nationwide and to foster, stimulate, and promote
growth in the industry. www.nsaa.org
One such promotion is the annual “Learn to Ski/Snowboard
Month” in January which encourages kids and adults to learn by
taking lessons from professional instructors. It also challenges
current skiers and snowboarders to improve their skills through
lessons. Ski and snowboard areas throughout the U.S. offer
free and reasonably-priced turnkey lesson programs during
January as part of this initiative.
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not your Parents’ ski Club
Too many people under the age of thirty say that although they love to ski or snowboard, and could use some discounts – joining a ski club is not for them. There seems
to be some misinformation when it comes to ski clubs today, and we want to set the
record straight. Face it, your generation may not be one of “joiners”, but hear us
out before you miss another great season full of crazy events, mind-blowing trips,
and life-long friendships.
Yes, you can’t ignore the fact that the majority of clubs do, on the surface, seem to
be of an older demographic – but not all of them. There are some clubs that cater to
the under-30 crowd! Realize that many clubs who have a large community of veteran
members also have a younger side group as well. In fact, some of the clubs with
younger members even have their own under-30 meet ups, trips that cater to a
smaller budget, and events that are geared to a younger person’s interests. Many of your friends aren’t skiers or riders, so getting them to the slopes is next to
impossible. But if you join a ski club, you’ll now have friends to ride the lifts and share
a beer with after a day of snowboarding. You don’t have to choose your friends or a
ski club — you can balance both. You may find that your snowboard friends become
friends outside the club, and those friends who were cracking on you for wanting to
spend the day on the slopes will soon be asking to tag along on your next adventure.
Those in college or recent grads are
on a budget these days, and a ski club
can save you lots of money on lift
tickets, equipment, trips, and yearround events. Dues are affordable
and will usually pay for themselves
with the first discount tickets you
buy. While you may find yourself
eager to participate in club trips and
events after you get to know other
Photos courtesy of
Sugarbush Resort,Vermont
members, most clubs have no
rules about mandatory participation — you decide for yourself which trips and events are
for you; if there are none, that is
fine too. Your membership in an
EPSC-member club allows you
to purchase lift tickets on your
own for resorts throughout the
Poconos, New York, and New
England. You can gather your
friends and create your own
trips, saving money on each.
Many clubs have members who do not participate in ski or snowboard-related activities.
A lot of clubs have very active off-the-slope schedules. Just because you don’t want
to go skiing doesn’t mean you won’t find tons of year-round activities that you do want
to participate in. Clubs tend to gear their activities around the interests of current
members, so join a club and share with them the types of activities you would like
to do. Clubs will arrange their trips and events around new needs, as more younger
members join. This is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor and help shape a
club to YOUR interests!
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Philly winter expo & ePsC auction
ADMISSION IS FREE!
Kick off the 2014-15 ski season at the PRW Philly
Winter Expo / EPSC Auction, Sunday, November 2,
2014, 2–5pm, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 260 Mall
Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA (located just behind the
King of Prussia Plaza mall area).
This FREE-admission event is open to the public and
all ski club members. Here is a great opportunity to
meet and talk to western, local, and European ski resort representatives, tour operators, and other winter sports vendors. Get the
latest information on your favorite ski resort – and it is FREE.
LIVE and SILENT AUCTIONS are happening throughout the day – vacation
packages, tickets, and gear are some of the many items up for bid. Be eligible for
door prize drawings just for attending! Remember, admission is FREE. For
more details on this event or to register, please visit the auction page of EPSC’s
website: www.easternpaskicouncil.org. Register early, because the first 150
people that do will receive a goodie bag with other free gifts inside.
Auction proceeds benefit EPSC-sponsored programs and charities. In 2013,
donations were made to the Penna Wounded Warriors, and to Staci Mannella
from New Jersey, and Tyler Carter from Reading PA, two local Para-Olympic
athletes in pursuit of Sochi gold.
winter Carnival … every January
Group travel adventures
for fun on and off the snow!
Each winter the EPSC organizes a “Winter Carnival”
trip that is open for ALL club members to participate.
These annual adventures include a welcome reception,
free NASTAR races, an on-mountain BBQ, après ski
mixers, and a banquet dinner with music and awards –
in addition to the usual lift tickets, transportation, and lodging. On “even years”,
we travel to a western destination; during “odd years”, we visit a resort on the east
coast. Here are details about the 2015 Winter Carnival:
Sugarbush,Vermont — January 22-25, 2015
Join us at the Sugarbush / Glen Ellen Ski Resort this January and enjoy a vacation
package where the fun and action never stop! EPSC clubs choose their own lodging
arrangements, and each of their packages also include motorcoach transportation,
three-day lift ticket, Friday race gate practice runs, welcome reception on Friday
evening with light appetizers and cash bar, fire-pit party Friday night celebrating
the “snow god Ullr” with hot cider and s’mores, Saturday NASTAR dual Giant
Slalom race, cocktail hour Saturday evening with light appetizers, and “Heroes
and Villains” themed costume banquet and awards ceremony at Saturday night’s
buffet dinner with DJ and dancing. Youths aged 7 to 17 and seniors over age 70
receive a discount on lift tickets. Kids six and under ski for free at Sugarbush.
For more information on the Winter Carnivals, check out EPSC’s website or
contact the Carnival Coordinators, Dave Schoneker at [email protected],
or Bob Smith at [email protected].
Future EPSC Winter Carnivals will take place at Big Sky, Montana in January 2016,
at Whiteface, New York in January 2017, and Breckenridge, Colorado in January 2018.
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ePsC web site … your online source for snowsports info!
The easiest way to find information on
ski and snowboard clubs in your area
is to visit our website, which features a
club finder map, club profiles, trips, event
updates, web pages, and so much more.
www.easternpaskicouncil.org
Under “EPSC Events”, learn about upcoming Winter Carnivals, off-season
activities, and the annual Philly Winter
Expo. Our Auction is part of the Expo,
and is a skier’s favorite for bidding on
new equipment and great trip deals from
resorts all over the country. Go to the
“Trips” page for details on club ski and
snowboard trips scheduled for 2014-15
to resorts in the US and Europe. Group
ski trips are famous for saving members
money and effort.
EPSC benefits are available to all who
belong to a member club. Find details
on our site about our Voucher Program
(discount lift tickets), appreciation days,
the Nat’l Ski Council Federation, equipment deals, and free local ski lessons.
EPSC members know, of course, the
best benefits are the friendships we
make! EPSC broadcasts items of special
interest to its members (trip updates,
resort and club news) via email. To receive these emails, send a request to
[email protected].
Take notice that every member club has
a page available to them on the EPSC
site to advertise activities or to provide additional info about their club.
Find all the events and club information
you are looking for — and some you
might not expect — take a look at the
EPSC website!
looking For …
Singles, couples, and families of all ages
interested in making new friends and
enjoying all the fun winter has to offer!
Why go it alone when you can share
your passion for winter sports with
others and save money at the same time?
These three photos courtesy
of Sugarbush Resort,Vermont.
Get the most “bang for your buck” this winter – join a local club!
saFety … for kids and grownups!
BE SAFE! Ski or ride
with a buddy. Watch
where you are going.
Pay attention to trail
signs so as not to get
in over your head on
a too-difficult slope.
If you find yourself over-matched by a
trail, take your skis or board off, and walk
up or down along the edge of the trail
(out of the way of others). Or, have
someone notify Ski Patrol to help you –
it’s better than getting hurt!
You will have more control and fewer injuries if you take lessons to get to the
next level of your sport. More advanced
skiers and riders need to be aware that
novices/beginners are unpredictable and
usually slower than you would expect.
The skier or rider BELOW has the right
of way, but a rider or skier should always
look uphill BEFORE making a turn or
changing a pattern. Be especially careful
when trails merge! If you don't watch,
you may be the one who gets hurt.
Review the Skiers’ Responsibility Code
with your children and any novices in
your party. Be sure everyone has a trail
map and knows where to meet later if
you get separated. Play it safe, and you
will ALL have fun!
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MeMber Clubs of eastern Pennsylvania ski Council
Alphorn Ski Association
www.alphornski.com
Meets 1st Wed. of month - New Hope, PA
President: Gerit Lewisch
[email protected]
Lancaster Ski Club
www.lancasterskiclub.net
Meets 3rd Thurs. of month - Manheim, PA
President: Brian Leatherman
717-471-7555 • [email protected]
Black Diamond Ski Club
www.blackdiamondskiclub.com
Meets 3rd Wed. of month - Bloomsburg, PA
President: Bruce Bowman
570-784-3616 • [email protected]
Mack Ski Club
www.mackskiclub.org
Meets 2nd Wed. of month - Allentown, PA
President: Rob Leiser
610-588-3399 • [email protected]
The Blazers Ski Club
www.blazersskiclub.org
Meets 2nd Tues. of month - Philadelphia, PA
President: Gail Bullock
267-972-7690 • [email protected]
Main Line Ski Club
www.mainlineskiclub.com
Meets 2nd Tues. of month - King of Prussia, PA
President: David Krahn
610-649-1026 • [email protected]
Blue Ridge Ski Club
Find Us On Facebook
Meets 1st Wed. of month: October - April
President: Kevin Vough
484-695-2977 • kvough@firstenergycorp.com
Merck Ski Association
www.ski-msa.org
Meets 2nd Thurs. of month - Locations vary
President: Stefanie Stoyanov • 610-755-2672
[email protected]
Boeing Ski Club
http://boeingskiclubpa.webs.com
President: Michael Wills
856-719-0893 • [email protected]
North Penn Ski Club
www.northpennskiclub.org
Meets 2nd Thursday of month - Colmar, PA
President: Suzanne Hartley
267-735-4987 • [email protected]
South Jersey Ski Club
www.sjskiclub.com • [email protected]
Meets 1st & 3rd Weds - Mount Laurel, NJ
President: Linda Holt • 856-662-1834 att 6
Susquehanna Ski & Snowboard Club
www.skissc.com
Meets 1st Tues. of month - Camp Hill, PA
President: Dyan Yingst
717-979-4152 • [email protected]
Tiroler Ski Club
www.tirolerskiclub.com
Meets 1st Tues. (see schedule) - Rockledge, PA
President: Phyllis Detwiler
732-567-6333 • [email protected]
NJ Ski & Snowboard Club
www.njskiandsnowboard.com
Meets 2nd Wed. of month - Bordentown, NJ
President: Dot Lehr • 609-760-7480
Trenton Ski Club
www.trentonskiclub.com
Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, Hamilton, NJ
President: Barbara Rooks
609-883-7021 • [email protected]
Buck Ridge Ski Club
www.buckridgeskiclub.org
Meets 2nd Wed. of month - Springfield, PA
President: Dan Aronson
215-643-7252 • [email protected]
Penguin Ski Club
www.penguinskiclub.com
Meets 1st Tues. of month - Feasterville, PA
President: Bill Degnan
215-497-9845 • [email protected]
Upper Bucks Ski Club
www.upperbucksskiclub.com
Meets 3rd Wed. of month - Perkasie, PA
President: Jeff Geesaman
215-538-0200 • [email protected]
Bucks County Ski Club
www.buckscountyskiclub.org
Meets 2nd Wed. of month - Plumsteadville PA
President: Russell Schuss
215-997-2287 • [email protected]
Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports, Inc.
www.centeronline.com
Contact president for dates and locations
President: Jeff McGinnis • 215-765-5118
jeff[email protected]
Weekday Skiers Club
www.weekdayskiers.org
Dover, DE
President: Peggy Anderson
302-242-4307 • [email protected]
Bucks Mount Ski & Snowboard Club
www.bucksmountskiclub.org
Meets 2 Weds/month - Langhorne, PA
President: Wayne C. MacMath
215-624-7751 • [email protected]
Philadelphia Ski Club
www.philadelphiaskiclub.org
Meets 2nd Tues. of month - Rockledge, PA
President: Mike Mazza
856-310-9241 • [email protected]
West Jersey Ski Club
www.westjerseyskiclub.org
Meets 1st Tues. of month - Eastampton, NJ
President: Oren Carrol
609-726-0282 • [email protected]
Fall Line Ski Club
www.FalllineSkiClub.org
Meets 1st & 3rd Tues - Pennsauken, NJ
President: Ralph Perrino
856-521-0206 • [email protected]
Ptarmigan Ski Club
www.ptarmiganskiclub.org
Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays - Allentown, PA
President: Mary Ann Bedics • 610-868-8008
[email protected]
Wilmington Ski Club
www.wilmski.org
Meets 2nd Wed. of month - Wilmington, DE
President: Ed Talarowski
302-995-0858 • [email protected]
Flying Dutchmen Ski Club
www.fdsc.org
Meets 1st and 3rd Thurs - Reading, PA
President: Bob Fehl
610-926-0475 • [email protected]
Scranton Ski Club
www.scrantonskiclub.com
Meets 1st & 3rd Thurs. - Scranton, PA
President: Shari Dudley-Miller • 570-760-3872
[email protected]
Wissahickon Ski Club
www.wissahickonskiclub.org
Meets 2nd Tues. of month - Conshohocken, PA
President: Matt Sabia
610-476-4324 • [email protected]
Huntingdon Valley Ski & Snowboard Club
www.huntingdonvalleyskiclub.com
Meets 1st and 3rd Thurs - Willow Grove, PA
President: Toby Ponnock
215-643-5658 • [email protected]
Ski Club of Delaware Valley
President: Ken Shaner • Location varies
610-836-2514 • [email protected]
Wyoming Valley Ski Club
Meets 2nd Thurs. of month - Mountaintop, PA
President: Lorna Lucarino
570-328-1806 • [email protected]
Brandywine Valley Ski Association
www.brandywinevalleyski.com
Meets 1st Wed. of month - Exton, PA
President: Dave Mertz
717-572-5689 • [email protected]
King of Prussia Ski Club
www.kopsc.com
Meets 3rd Tues. of month - Jeffersonville, PA
President: Brian Brady • [email protected]
Scan this QR
code to go
directly to the
EPSC website!
York Ski Club
www.yorkskiclub.org
Meets 3rd Tuesday of month - York, PA
President: Richard Resh
717-767-5951 • [email protected]