Podcast appearances and mentions of Crystal Mountain

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Thank you for your support of independent ski journalism.WhoPhill Gross, owner, and Mike Solimano, CEO of Killington and Pico, VermontRecorded onJuly 10, 2025About KillingtonClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Phill Gross and teamLocated in: Killington, VermontYear founded: 1958Pass affiliations: Ikon Pass: 5 or 7 combined days with PicoReciprocal partners: Pico access is included on all Killington passesClosest neighboring ski areas: Pico (:12), Saskadena Six (:39), Okemo (:40), Quechee (:44), Ascutney (:55), Storrs (:59), Harrington Hill (:59), Magic (1:00), Whaleback (1:02), Sugarbush (1:04), Bromley (1:04), Middlebury Snowbowl (1:08), Arrowhead (1:10), Mad River Glen (1:11)Base elevation: 1,165 feet at Skyeship BaseSummit elevation: 4,142 feet at top of K-1 gondola (hike-to summit of Killington Peak at 4,241 feet)Vertical drop: 2,977 feet lift-served, 3,076 hike-toSkiable Acres: 1,509Average annual snowfall: 250 inchesTrail count: 155 (43% advanced/expert, 40% intermediate, 17% beginner)Lift count: 20 (2 gondolas, 2 six-packs, 4 high-speed quads, 5 fixed-grip quads, 2 triples, 1 double, 1 platter, 3 carpets - view Lift Blog's inventory of Killington's lift fleet; Killington plans to replace the Snowdon triple with a fixed-grip quad for the 2026-27 ski season)History: from New England Ski HistoryAbout PicoClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Phill Gross and teamLocated in: Mendon, VermontYear founded: 1934Pass affiliations: Ikon Pass: 5 or 7 combined days with KillingtonReciprocal partners: Pico access is included on all Killington passes; four days Killington access included on Pico K.A. PassClosest neighboring ski areas: Killington (:12), Saskadena Six (:38), Okemo (:38), Quechee (:42), Ascutney (:53), Storrs (:57), Harrington Hill (:55), Magic (:58), Whaleback (1:00), Sugarbush (1:01), Bromley (1:00), Middlebury Snowbowl (1:01), Mad River Glen (1:07), Arrowhead (1:09)Base elevation: 2,000 feetSummit elevation: 3,967 feetVertical drop: 1,967 feetSkiable Acres: 468Average annual snowfall: 250 inchesTrail count: 58 (36% advanced/expert, 46% intermediate, 18% beginner)Lift count: 7 (2 high-speed quads, 2 triples, 1 doubles, 2 carpets - view Lift Blog's inventory of Pico's lift fleet)History: from New England Ski HistoryWhy I interviewed themThe longest-tenured non-government ski area operator in America, as far as I know, is the Seeholzer family, owner-operators of Beaver Mountain, Utah since 1939. Third-generation owner Travis Seeholzer came on the pod a few years back to trace the eight-decade arc from this dude flexing 10-foot-long kamikaze boards to the present:Just about every ski area in America was hacked out of the wilderness by Some Guy Who Looked Like That. Dave McCoy at Mammoth or Ernie Blake at Taos or Everett Kircher at Boyne Mountain, swarthy, willful fellows who flew airplanes and erected rudimentary chairlifts in impossible places and hammered together their own baselodges. Over decades they chiseled these mountains into their personal Rushmores, a life's work, a human soul knotted to nature in a built place that would endure for generations.It's possible that they all imagined their family name governing those generations. In the remarkable case of Boyne, they still do. But the Kirchers and the Seeholzers are ski-world exceptions. Successive generations are often uninterested in the chore of legacy building. Or they try and say wow this is expensive. Or bad weather leads to bad financial choices by our cigar-smoking, backhoe-driving, machete-wielding founder and his sons and daughters never get their chance. The ski area's deed shuffles into the portfolio of a Colorado Skico and McCoy fades a little each year and at some point Mammoth is just another ski area owned by Alterra Mountain Company.It's tempting to sentimentalize the past, to lament skiing's macro-transition from gritty network of founder-kingpin fifes to set of corporate brands, to conclude that “this generation” just doesn't have the tenacity of a Blake or a McCoy. But the America where a fellow could turn up with a dump truck and a chainsaw and flatten raw forest into a for-profit business with minimal protest is gone. Every part of the ski ecosystem is more regulated, complicated, and expensive than it's ever been. The appeal of running such a machine - and the skillset necessary to do so - is entirely different from that of sculpting your own personal snow Narnia from scratch. We will always have family-owned ski areas (we still have hundreds), and an occasional modern founder-disruptor like Mount Bohemia's Lonie Glieberman will materialize like a new X-man. But ski conglomerates have probably always been inevitable, and are probably largely the industry's future. They are best suited, in most cases, to manage, finance, and maintain the vast machinery of our largest ski centers (and also to create a ski landscape in which not all ski area operators are Some Guy Who Looked Like That).Killington demonstrates this arc from rambunctious founder to corporate vassal as well as any mountain in the country. Founded in 1958 by the wily and wild Pres Smith, the ski area's parent company, Sherburne Corp., bought Sunday River, Maine in 1973 and Mount Snow, Vermont in 1977. The two Vermont mountains became S-K-I in 1984, bought five more ski areas, and merged with four-resort LBO in 1996 to become the titanic American Skiing Company. Unfortunately ASC turned out to be skiing's Titanic, and one of the company's last acts before dissolution was to sell Killington and Pico to Utah-based Powdr in 2007.The Beast had been tamed, at least on paper. Corporate ownership of some sort felt as stapled to the mountain as Killington's 3,000 snowguns. And mostly, well, it didn't matter. Other than Powdr's disastrous attempts to shorten the resort's famously long seasons, Killington never lost its feisty edge. Over the decades the ski area modernized, masterplanned, and shed skier volume while increasing its viability as a business. Modern Killington wasn't the kingdom of a charismatic and ever-present founder, but it was a pretty good ski area.And then, suddenly, shockingly, Powdr sold both Killington and Pico last August. And they didn't sell the ski areas to Vail or Alterra or Boyne or to anyone who owned any ski areas at all. Instead, a group of local investors - led by Phill Gross and Michael Ferri, longtime Killington homeowners who ran a variety of non-ski-related businesses - bought the mountains. After 51 years as part of a multi-mountain ownership group, Killington (its relationship to neighboring Pico notwithstanding), was once again independent.It was all so improbable. Out-of-state operators had purchased five of Vermont's large ski areas in recent years: Colorado-based Vail Resorts bought Stowe in 2017, Okemo in 2018, and Mount Snow in 2019; Denver-based Alterra claimed Sugarbush in 2019; and Utah-based Pacific Group Resorts added Jay Peak to their small portfolio in 2022. Very few ski areas have ever entered the corporate matrix and re-emerged as independents. Grand Targhee, Wyoming; Waterville Valley, New Hampshire; and Mountain Creek, New Jersey (technically owned by multimountain operator Snow Partners) are exceptions spun off from larger companies. But mostly, once a larger entity absorbed a ski area, it stays locked in the multimountain universe forever.So what would this mean? For the largest and busiest mountain in the eastern United States to be independent? Did this, along with Powdr's intentions to sell Mount Bachelor (since rescinded), Eldora (sale in process), and Silver Star (no update), mark a reversal in the consolidation trend that had gathered 30 percent of America's ski areas under the umbrella of a multi-mountain operator? Did Killington's group of wealthy-but-not-Bezos-wealthy investors set an alternate blueprint for large-mountain ownership, especially when considered alongside the sale of Jackson Hole to a similar group the year before? Had the Ikon Pass – that harbinger of mass-market pass domination that had forced the we-better-join-them sales of Crystal Mountain, Washington and Sugarbush – inadvertently become a reliable revenue pipeline that made independence more viable? And would Killington, well-managed and constantly improving, backslide under cowboy owners who want to Q-Burke the place in their image?We're a year in now, and we have some clarity on these questions, along with two new chairlifts (Superstar this year, Snowdon next), 1,000 new snowguns, a revitalized Skyeship Gondola, and progressing plans on the East's first true ski village. Locals seem happy, management seems happy, the owners seem happy. Easy enough, Gross points out in our interview, when winter hits deep like the last one did. But can we keep the party going indefinitely? It was time for a check-in.What we talked aboutA strong first winter under independent ownership; what spring skiing off Canyon lift told us about the importance of Superstar; “it's an incredibly complex operation”; letting the smart people do their jobs; Killington's surprise spin-off from a multi-mountain operator; “our job is to keep the honeymoon going”; Superstar's six-pack upgrade; why six-packs are probably Killington's lift-upgrade future; why Pico is demolishing the Bonanza lift for a covered carpet; why Superstar won't have bubbles; where bubbles might make sense in a future lift; why ski areas can no longer run snowmaking under newly constructed chairlifts; why Superstar is a Doppelmayr machine after Killington installed a brand-new Leitner-Poma six at Snowdon in 2018; long- and short-term Superstar impacts to Killington's long season; long-term thoughts around early-season walkway access to North Ridge; Skyeship Gondola upgrades, including $5 million in new cabins; what 1,000 new snowguns means in practice; why Killington sold the Wobbly Barn; considering Killington as a business and investment; how Killington is a different financial beast from other Vermont ski areas; how close Killington was to going unlimited on Ikon Pass; Phill's journey to buying Killington; Devil's Fiddle and why sometimes things that don't make sense financially make sense anyway; “we want to own this for generations to come”; a village layout and timeline update – “we want to make sure that this is something that's additive to the ski experience” even if you don't own within it; “Great Gulf wants this [village] to be competitive for the western resorts”; “we don't want to change what Pico is”; how piping water over from Killington has reinvigorated and stabilized Pico; why Killington and Pico remained on Ikon Pass post-sale and probably will for the foreseeable future; is Ikon helping big ski areas stay independent?; Killington's steady rise in lift ticket prices; future lift upgrades and why the Snowdon Triple is next up for a replacement.What I got wrong* File “opinionation” under LOL I'm Dumb Talking Is Hard* I said that former Killington owner Powdr had “just sold” Eldora, but that's not accurate: in July, the town of Nederland, Colorado, announced their intent to purchase the ski area. The sales process is ongoing.Podcast NotesOn previous Killington podsOn Gross' purchase of Killington and PicoOn ANSI chairlift standardsWe get a bit in the weeds with a reference to “ANSI standards” for chairlifts. ANSI is the American National Standards Institute, a nonprofit organization that sets voluntary but widely adopted standards for everything from office furniture to electrical systems to safety signage in the United States. The ANSI standard for lifts, according to a blog post describing the code's 2022 update, is “developed by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), [and] establishes standard requirements for the design, manufacture, construction, operation, and maintenance of passenger ropeways.” On Killington's long seasonsKillington often opens in October (though it has not done so since 2018), and closes in June (three straight years before a deliberately truncated 2024-25 season to begin demolition of the Superstar chair). List of Killington open and close dates since 1987-88.On Win Smith and Killington and SugarbushOn Killington's villageThe East needs more of this:On Killington's peak lift ticket pricesPer New England Ski History:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier radio show and podcast. Co-hosts John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are celebrating 10 years of traveling the great state of Michigan.On this episode:Michael Hensley of Michigan's Thumbcoast tells listeners about several spooky Port Huron events, including the Murder & Mayhem Trolley Tours, classic films and more through Port Huron Museums.Gonzo and Amy check in with one of Michigan's best hamburger stands, Hamburger Mikey in Muskegon.We hear from two Ferris State University professors about what students are learning about the Michigan hospitality industry..And their good friend Brittney Primeau at Crystal Mountain Resort talks about the scenic chairlift rides where visitors can see the fall colors in four different counties at the top of a ski hill.Behind the Mitten airs on 22 radio stations across the state of Michigan every weekend. Learn more at amyandgonzo.com.

In this episode of "Behind the Mitten," host John Gonzalez sits down with Brittney Primeau from Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan, to explore the exciting activities awaiting visitors this fall. From scenic hikes to vibrant festivals, discover the best ways to enjoy the season at this stunning resort. Plus, get an exclusive scoop just for our listeners: Crystal Mountain is introducing indoor golf this winter for the first time!Tune in for all the details and start planning your perfect autumn getaway.Learn more at crystalmountain.com.Follow the latest adventures of Behind the Mitten by following their Facebook Page.

We were joined by Julie Oatman who is in charge of Group Sales at Crystal Mountain. She told us about the Holiday parties and special events you can host at Crystal Mountain. Brittany Primeau then joined us again to fill us in on some of the upcoming cool events they're having at Crystal Mountain, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain. He and Huge talked about some of the great things you can experience at Crystal Mountain, talked about the Ski season being just around the corner, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Ryder Cup, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. During that time, he and Huge talked all about the Ryder Cup, gave their thought's on how everyone on both sides have been playing, and much more. In our second hour, we were joined by PGA Rules Official Mark Wilson so we could get his thought's on day one of the Ryder Cup. We were then joined by John Maakaron from Sports Illustrated and the Detroit Sports Podcast. He and Huge previewed Sunday's game against Browns. We were then joined by Julie Oatman who is in charge of Group Sales at Crystal Mountain. She told us about the Holiday parties and special events you can host at Crystal Mountain. Brittany Primeau then joined us again to fill us in on some of the upcoming cool events they're having at Crystal Mountain, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Ryder Cup, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. During that time, he and Huge talked all about the Ryder Cup, gave their thought's on how everyone on both sides have been playing, and much more. In our first hour, we were also joined by Dan Hasty who is the voice of the West Michigan Whitecaps. He and Huge talked about the Tigers winning last night, gave their opinions on if they'll get to the Playoffs, and more. We were then joined by Bill Hobson from Michigan Golf Live so we could get his thought's on day one of the Ryder Cup. We wrapped up the hour talking with Andrea Argy who runs the Crystal Spa, and Brittany Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. They told us about some of the great things you can experience at the Spa, filled us in on their upcoming "Fall Spa Days," and more. In our second hour, we were joined by PGA Rules Official Mark Wilson so we could get his thought's on day one of the Ryder Cup. We were then joined by John Maakaron from Sports Illustrated and the Detroit Sports Podcast. He and Huge previewed Sunday's game against Browns. We were then joined by Julie Oatman who is in charge of Group Sales at Crystal Mountain. She told us about the Holiday parties and special events you can host at Crystal Mountain. Brittany Primeau then joined us again to fill us in on some of the upcoming cool events they're having at Crystal Mountain, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by PGA Professional Jimmy Wisinski so we could get his thought's on day one of the Ryder Cup. We were then joined by our Baseball Insider Greg Heeres so we could get his thought's on the path moving forward for the Detroit Tigers, as well as the Lions/Browns on Sunday. We wrapped up the show talking with John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain. He and Huge talked about some of the great things you can experience at Crystal Mountain, talked about the Ski season being just around the corner, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Ryder Cup, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. During that time, he and Huge talked all about the Ryder Cup, gave their thought's on how everyone on both sides have been playing, and much more. In our second hour, we were joined by PGA Rules Official Mark Wilson so we could get his thought's on day one of the Ryder Cup. We were then joined by John Maakaron from Sports Illustrated and the Detroit Sports Podcast. He and Huge previewed Sunday's game against Browns. We were then joined by Julie Oatman who is in charge of Group Sales at Crystal Mountain. She told us about the Holiday parties and special events you can host at Crystal Mountain. Brittany Primeau then joined us again to fill us in on some of the upcoming cool events they're having at Crystal Mountain, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We wrapped up the hour talking with Andrea Argy who runs the Crystal Spa, and Brittany Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. They told us about some of the great things you can experience at the Spa, filled us in on their upcoming "Fall Spa Days," and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Ryder Cup, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. During that time, he and Huge talked all about the Ryder Cup, gave their thought's on how everyone on both sides have been playing, and much more. In our first hour, we were also joined by Dan Hasty who is the voice of the West Michigan Whitecaps. He and Huge talked about the Tigers winning last night, gave their opinions on if they'll get to the Playoffs, and more. We were then joined by Bill Hobson from Michigan Golf Live so we could get his thought's on day one of the Ryder Cup. We wrapped up the hour talking with Andrea Argy who runs the Crystal Spa, and Brittany Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. They told us about some of the great things you can experience at the Spa, filled us in on their upcoming "Fall Spa Days," and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textWhat happens when tracking apps meant to keep your children safe become tools for insurance companies to monitor driving habits? This episode kicks off with a startling revelation about Life360 that parents of teen drivers won't want to miss, complete with a crucial tip on disabling the insurance reporting feature while preserving the app's family tracking capabilities.Adam takes us behind the scenes of his recent transit conference at Crystal Mountain, where professional development seamlessly blended with charity golf tournaments and networking. Between playful accusations of tournament cheating and serious discussions about the state of public transit funding, the conversation reveals how industry gatherings balance work and play—a perfect metaphor for the podcast itself.The heart of this episode centers around the upcoming Bourbon Country Burn event in Kentucky, where cycling meets bourbon appreciation in a festival atmosphere. Adam and Michael enthusiastically detail their plans for VIP bourbon tastings with legendary figures like Freddie Johnson of Buffalo Trace, while revealing fascinating insights about international bourbon distribution. The Japanese version of Blanton's, with its distinctive red box and unique horse stopper, serves as a gateway to understanding how American spirits travel globally before sometimes returning through secondary markets.Perhaps the most charming segment features Michael's deep dive into 1920s slang terminology that connects to the podcast's vintage-inspired logos. From "bee's knees" and "cat's pajamas" to prohibition-era terms like "giggle water" and "juice joint," these linguistic time capsules provide both entertainment and cultural context. The hosts particularly champion bringing back "moxie" as a descriptor for the determination and spirit that characterizes both their cycling adventures and approach to life.Whether you're a bourbon enthusiast, cycling advocate, or simply enjoy conversational podcasts that blend humor with unexpected knowledge, this episode delivers a perfect blend of practical information and entertaining banter. Listen in, and you might just find yourself using "You're on the trolley now!" in your next conversation. Support Jersey StoreSupport the showAdam and Michael's friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life's twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember,It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride!https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisurehttps://cyclingmenofleisure.com/https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

In our final hour, we played Bill's earlier conversation with George Blaha in regards to the start of the Michigan State Football season. We were then joined by Michigan Tech's Head Football Coach Dan Mettlach. He talked about the guys he wants to recruit for his team, talked about the season ahead, and more. We were then joined by Alma College's Head Football Coach Jason Couch so we could hear about his team. Northwood University's Head Football Coach Dustin Beurer then joined us to fill us in on his team before the season starts. We were then joined by John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain. He and Huge talked about some of the great things you can experience at Crystal Mountain, talked about the Ski season being just around the corner, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with the one and only Lomas Brown. He and Huge talked about our Detroit Lions and the start of the season next weekend, talked about the teams strengths and weaknesses, discussed expectations for the season, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain. He and Huge talked about some of the great things you can experience at Crystal Mountain, talked about the Ski season being just around the corner, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, the start of the College Football season, and more. We kicked off the show talking about the Tigers as we were joined by Greg Heeres. He and Huge talked about the loss to the A's last night, gave their thought's on how the pitching has been, talked about their concerns, and more. We were then joined by George Blaha who is the voice of MSU Football. He filled us in on what he's seen from Jonathan Smith and the team in the off-season, talked about some of the key players on the team, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Brittany Primeau who is the Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. She and Huge talked about the amazing Fall golf they have to offer talked about their "Labor Day Live" event happening this weekend, and much more. In our second hour we were joined by Saginaw Valley's Head Football Coach Ryan Brady. He talked about what the off-season was like for him and his team, talked about some of the standout players they've got on the team, and much more. We were then joined by Calvin University Football's Head Coach Trent Figg. He talked about year one for his team, talked about how recruiting has gone for him, told us about some of the things they've overcome, and more. We were then joined by former Piston Lindsey Hunter. He talked about how the new job as Sparta's Head Varsity Basketball Coach is going, talked about his foundation, and more. We were then joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf. He and Huge talked about how nice their courses are right now, talked about the learning center, the Ryder Cup, and more. In our final hour, we played Bill's earlier conversation with George Blaha in regards to the start of the Michigan State Football season. We were then joined by Michigan Tech's Head Football Coach Dan Mettlach. He talked about the guys he wants to recruit for his team, talked about the season ahead, and more. We were then joined by Alma College's Head Football Coach Jason Couch so we could hear about his team. Northwood University's Head Football Coach Dustin Beurer then joined us to fill us in on his team before the season starts. We were then joined by John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain. He and Huge talked about some of the great things you can experience at Crystal Mountain, talked about the Ski season being just around the corner, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with the one and only Lomas Brown. He and Huge talked about our Detroit Lions and the start of the season next weekend, talked about the teams strengths and weaknesses, discussed expectations for the season, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, the start of the College Football season, and more. We kicked off the show talking about the Tigers as we were joined by Greg Heeres. He and Huge talked about the loss to the A's last night, gave their thought's on how the pitching has been, talked about their concerns, and more. We were then joined by George Blaha who is the voice of MSU Football. He filled us in on what he's seen from Jonathan Smith and the team in the off-season, talked about some of the key players on the team, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Brittany Primeau who is the Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. She and Huge talked about the amazing Fall golf they have to offer talked about their "Labor Day Live" event happening this weekend, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Brittany Primeau who is the Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. She and Huge talked about the amazing Fall golf they have to offer talked about their "Labor Day Live" event happening this weekend, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf. He and Huge talked about how nice their courses are right now, talked about the learning center, the Ryder Cup, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined Chris MacInnes who is the President at Crystal Mountain. She talked about what makes Crystal Mountain so special, talked about the Scholarship Invitational and what it's all about, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Brandon Dean who is the Assistant Golf Professional at Crystal Mountain, and Brittany Primeau who is the Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. Brandon told us about some of the things they offer at their Training Center, Brittany talked about some of their upcoming events, told us about "America's Summer Golf Capital," and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout our second hour, we were joined by Jeff Risdon from Lions Wire and Draft Wire. During that time, he and Huge talked about the Detroit Lions and how they played in the Hall of Fame game last week, talked about where they want to see improvement, gave their thought's on the backup QB situation, previewed tonight's game against the Falcons, talked about some of the players we should see in that game, talked about some of the positive storylines surrounding the Lions, and so much more. We wrapped up the second hour talking with Chris MacInnes who is the President at Crystal Mountain. She talked about what makes Crystal Mountain so special, talked about the Scholarship Invitational and what it's all about, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. We were joined by Dan Petry in our first hour so we could talk about the Detroit Tigers. He and Huge talked about what they expect in the series against the Angels, gave their thought's on what the team needs to do to bounce back, and more. We were then joined by Jake Butt from the Big Ten Network. He and Huge looked ahead to the start of the College Football season, gave their thoughts on how Michigan and Michigan State will be this year, talked about the rest of the Big Ten, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Brandon Dean who is the Assistant Golf Professional at Crystal Mountain, and Brittany Primeau who is the Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. Brandon told us about some of the things they offer at their Training Center, Brittany talked about some of their upcoming events, told us about "America's Summer Golf Capital," and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our final hour, we were joined by Lomas Brown who is one of the voices of our Detroit Lions. He and Huge talked about some of the storylines surrounding the Lions, gave their thought's on the backup QB situation, talked about some of the players they'll be keeping an eye on tonight, and more. We were then joined by Chris Castellani from the "Chris & Company" Podcast. He gave us his thought's on why the Tigers have been struggling so much lately, gave his thought's on what changes need to be made, talked about the series with the Angels, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain and Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf. John talked about the impact of the Crystal Mountain Scholarship Fund and Invitational and more. Mark talked more about the Invitational happening this weekend, some of the events surrounding it, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. We were joined by Dan Petry in our first hour so we could talk about the Detroit Tigers. He and Huge talked about what they expect in the series against the Angels, gave their thought's on what the team needs to do to bounce back, and more. We were then joined by Jake Butt from the Big Ten Network. He and Huge looked ahead to the start of the College Football season, gave their thoughts on how Michigan and Michigan State will be this year, talked about the rest of the Big Ten, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Brandon Dean who is the Assistant Golf Professional at Crystal Mountain, and Brittany Primeau who is the Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. Brandon told us about some of the things they offer at their Training Center, Brittany talked about some of their upcoming events, told us about "America's Summer Golf Capital," and more. Throughout our second hour, we were joined by Jeff Risdon from Lions Wire and Draft Wire. During that time, he and Huge talked about the Detroit Lions and how they played in the Hall of Fame game last week, talked about where they want to see improvement, gave their thought's on the backup QB situation, previewed tonight's game against the Falcons, talked about some of the players we should see in that game, talked about some of the positive storylines surrounding the Lions, and so much more. We wrapped up the second hour talking with Chris MacInnes who is the President at Crystal Mountain. She talked about what makes Crystal Mountain so special, talked about the Scholarship Invitational and what it's all about, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by Lomas Brown who is one of the voices of our Detroit Lions. He and Huge talked about some of the storylines surrounding the Lions, gave their thought's on the backup QB situation, talked about some of the players they'll be keeping an eye on tonight, and more. We were then joined by Chris Castellani from the "Chris & Company" Podcast. He gave us his thought's on why the Tigers have been struggling so much lately, gave his thought's on what changes need to be made, talked about the series with the Angels, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain and Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf. John talked about the impact of the Crystal Mountain Scholarship Fund and Invitational and more. Mark talked more about the Invitational happening this weekend, some of the events surrounding it, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by John Melcher who is the CEO at Crystal Mountain and Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf. John talked about the impact of the Crystal Mountain Scholarship Fund and Invitational and more. Mark talked more about the Invitational happening this weekend, some of the events surrounding it, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today and tomorrow we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mitch Lyons from Mitch Lyons Wealth. During that time, he and Huge discussed the Detroit Tigers and how poorly they've been playing, gave their thought's on the Detroit Lions after that Hall of Fame game, Mitch told us how he can help you with your retirement, and much more. In our first hour, we were joined by Ben Bosscher from 100.9 the Mitt in the Great Lakes Bay Region. He gave us his thought's on what the Tigers need to do to fix things, talked about what Scott Harris should've done at the trade deadline, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Brittany Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. She filled us in on some of the cool events they'll be hosting this Summer, including the Scholarship Invitational, told us about some of the things they offer outside of Golf, and more. In our second hour, we were joined by Dan Hasty who is the voice of the West Michigan Whitecaps. He and Huge talked about the slump that the Tigers have been in, gave their thoughts on if they can still win the AL Central, talked about possible Minor Leaguers being called up, and more. We were then joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. He filled us in on Crystal Mountain's Learning Center, talked about how he can help you with your Golf game, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by Nate Wangler who is another one of the voices of the West Michigan Whitecaps. He and Huge talked about what the Tigers really need to do to get back on track, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with Chris and Kim Pickell who are the Founders of the Crystal Scholarship Foundation. They filled us in on why they got this started, talked about how the scholarships help their employees and children, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Chris and Kim Pickell who are the Founders of the Crystal Scholarship Foundation. They filled us in on why they got this started, talked about how the scholarships help their employees and children, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today and tomorrow we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mitch Lyons from Mitch Lyons Wealth. During that time, he and Huge discussed the Detroit Tigers and how poorly they've been playing, gave their thought's on the Detroit Lions after that Hall of Fame game, Mitch told us how he can help you with your retirement, and much more. In our final hour, we were joined by Nate Wangler who is another one of the voices of the West Michigan Whitecaps. He and Huge talked about what the Tigers really need to do to get back on track, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with Chris and Kim Pickell who are the Founders of the Crystal Scholarship Foundation. They filled us in on why they got this started, talked about how the scholarships help their employees and children, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. He filled us in on Crystal Mountain's Learning Center, talked about how he can help you with your Golf game, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today and tomorrow we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mitch Lyons from Mitch Lyons Wealth. During that time, he and Huge discussed the Detroit Tigers and how poorly they've been playing, gave their thought's on the Detroit Lions after that Hall of Fame game, Mitch told us how he can help you with your retirement, and much more. In our second hour, we were joined by Dan Hasty who is the voice of the West Michigan Whitecaps. He and Huge talked about the slump that the Tigers have been in, gave their thoughts on if they can still win the AL Central, talked about possible Minor Leaguers being called up, and more. We were then joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. He filled us in on Crystal Mountain's Learning Center, talked about how he can help you with your Golf game, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Brittany Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. She filled us in on some of the cool events they'll be hosting this Summer, including the Scholarship Invitational, told us about some of the things they offer outside of Golf, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today and tomorrow we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and more. Throughout the entire show, we were joined by Mitch Lyons from Mitch Lyons Wealth. During that time, he and Huge discussed the Detroit Tigers and how poorly they've been playing, gave their thought's on the Detroit Lions after that Hall of Fame game, Mitch told us how he can help you with your retirement, and much more. In our first hour, we were joined by Ben Bosscher from 100.9 the Mitt in the Great Lakes Bay Region. He gave us his thought's on what the Tigers need to do to fix things, talked about what Scott Harris should've done at the trade deadline, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Brittany Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing at Crystal Mountain. She filled us in on some of the cool events they'll be hosting this Summer, including the Scholarship Invitational, told us about some of the things they offer outside of Golf, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman as they take you on a journey through the Great Lakes State in this week's episode of Behind the Mitten. From scenic road trips to year-round adventures, there's something for everyone!Nick Nebonne of Pure Michigan talks about Scenic Drives & Road TripsDiscover the beauty of Michigan's highways, from the historic West Michigan Pike to the hidden gems of the UP. Whether it's the Tunnel of Trees or the Sunrise Coast, these drives are perfect for any season.Brittney Buti Primeau of Crystal MountainExperience the magic of Crystal Mountain, a year-round destination in Thompsonville offering everything from skiing and the Alpine Slide to garden tours and art parks. It's the perfect base for exploring Northern Michigan.Jordan Peck of Treetops Resort Golf & DiningTee off at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan, known for its stunning courses and breathtaking fall colors. Don't miss their progressive fall dinners, offering culinary delights amidst spectacular vistas.Steve Hoke of HastingsEnjoy live music in the heart of Hastings with community concerts, kids' shows, and Friday night features. It's a vibrant scene you won't want to miss!Tune in to catch all these exciting segments and more!#BehindTheMitten #ExploreMichigan #CrystalMountain #TreetopsResort #HastingsLive 

This is the Michigan Golf Live Radio July 26th edition featuring Crystal Mountain Resort - A Northern Michigan Beauty Join us for an up close look at Crystal Mountain golf, fun, and life enjoyed by guests and residents from all across America...and listen in for your chance to win a 4-some on the Betsie Valley course! ---------------- MGL 24/7 Listener Hotline - (989) 272-2383 - we want to hear from you! Subscribe to the MGL/FGN Podcast Watch our videos on YouTube  

We kicked off the final hour with Bill's earlier conversation with Andy Dirks in regards to our Detroit Tigers. Bill then talked about the MHSAA East vs. West game happening this weekend, and gave shout-outs to all of the players that will be taking part. We wrapped up the show talking with Stephanie Jennings, who is the Michigan PGA. They talked about the Michigan PGA Women's Open happening this weekend at Crystal Mountain, talked about the growth of the game of Golf with Women, discussed some of the other great Women's Tournament's around Michigan, Mark Fenech joined us again to talk about the impact of next week's Women's Open, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Golf, and so much more. We kicked off the show talking with Andy Dirks who is part of the Detroit Tigers broadcast team. He and Huge talked about how the series against the Pirates, talked about last night's loss, discussed the strengths and weaknesses of this team, and more. We were then joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. He filled us in on the Michigan PGA Women's Open they're hosting next week, talked about what it takes to get ready for it, and more. We were then joined by Dan Heiss who is the Superintendent at Crystal Mountain. He talked about his passion for maintaining Crystal Mountains courses, talked about what goes into getting them ready for a PGA event, and more. In our second hour, we were joined by former Major Leaguer John Vander Wal about the Tigers. He and Huge gave their thought's on last night's loss to the Pirates, talked about what they really like about this team as well as what needs improvement, and more. We were then joined by another one of our Tigers insiders Greg Heeres. He and Huge talked about how the pitching has looked with this Tigers team, talked about how great Skubal has looked, and more. We were then joined by Danielle Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. She filled us in on some of the cool events they'll be hosting this Summer, including an awesome 4th of July celebration, and more. We wrapped up the hour with a "Moving Ferris Forward" interview as Huge spoke with Ferris State University President Dr. Bill Pink. He and Huge talked about the FSU Football team getting some great recognition, talked about the importance of being a student athlete, and more. We kicked off the final hour with Bill's earlier conversation with Andy Dirks in regards to our Detroit Tigers. Bill then talked about the MHSAA East vs. West game happening this weekend, and gave shout-outs to all of the players that will be taking part. We wrapped up the show talking with Stephanie Jennings, who is the Michigan PGA. They talked about the Michigan PGA Women's Open happening this weekend at Crystal Mountain, talked about the growth of the game of Golf with Women, discussed some of the other great Women's Tournament's around Michigan, Mark Fenech joined us again to talk about the impact of next week's Women's Open, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Stephanie Jennings, who is the Michigan PGA. She and Huge talked about the Michigan PGA Women's Open happening this weekend at Crystal Mountain, talked about the growth of the game of Golf with Women, discussed some of the other great Women's Tournament's around Michigan, Mark Fenech joined us again to talk about the impact of next week's Women's Open, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. He filled us in on the Michigan PGA Women's Open they're hosting next week, talked about what it takes to get ready for it, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Danielle Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. She filled us in on some of the cool events they'll be hosting this Summer, including an awesome 4th of July celebration, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Dan Heiss who is the Superintendent at Crystal Mountain. He talked about his passion for maintaining Crystal Mountains courses, talked about what goes into getting them ready for a PGA event, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Golf, and so much more. We kicked off the show talking with Andy Dirks who is part of the Detroit Tigers broadcast team. He and Huge talked about how the series against the Pirates, talked about last night's loss, discussed the strengths and weaknesses of this team, and more. We were then joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain. He filled us in on the Michigan PGA Women's Open they're hosting next week, talked about what it takes to get ready for it, and more. We were then joined by Dan Heiss who is the Superintendent at Crystal Mountain. He talked about his passion for maintaining Crystal Mountains courses, talked about what goes into getting them ready for a PGA event, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, the House vs. NCAA, and much more. We kicked off the show talking with former Major Leaguer John Vander Wal about the Tigers. He and Huge gave their opinions on the Tigers being the best team in Baseball, John told us about the weaknesses he's seen on this team, talked about the comeback of Javy and Tork, and more. We were then joined by Jeff Risdon from Lions Wire and Draft Wire so he could update us on what he's seen at OTAs this week. He talked about some of the things he's liked, things that need work still, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain, and Danielle Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. Mark and Danielle told us about their 36 holes of Golf they have to offer, talked about what they have outside of Golf, told us about their stay and play packages, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain, and Danielle Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. Mark and Danielle told us about their 36 holes of Golf they have to offer, talked about what they have outside of Golf, told us about their stay and play packages, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our second hour we were joined by we were joined David Gregory who is a Lawyer and NFLPA Certified Sports Agent for Bullrush Sports. During that time, he and Huge talked about where the NCAA vs. the House case is currently at, talked about it possibly being passed tonight, NIL/pay for play, talked about how things will legally be enforced, and more. We were then joined by Tim Staudt from Staudt on Sports in Lansing. He gave us his thought's on the House vs. NCAA case, talked about how he thinks MSU will handle it, discussed the changing landscape of College Sports, and more. We were then joined by Chris MacInnes who is one of the owners at Crystal Mountain. She talked with us about the development and planning at Crystal Mountain, talked about the great team and teamwork they have there, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Chris MacInnes who is one of the owners at Crystal Mountain. She talked with us about the development and planning at Crystal Mountain, talked about the great team and teamwork they have there, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our final hour, we were joined by Jeremy Reisman from Pride of Detroit so he could fill us in on what he saw at OTAs this week. He told us about the jump that Jamo has taken in the off-season, talked about what comes after OTAs, talked about their expectations for the season, and more. We were then joined by Hall of Fame Beat Writer Tom Gage to get his thought's on how the Tigers have been playing. He told us about what he's liked, what still needs a little work, and more. We were then joined by Karyn Thorr, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Crystal Mountain. She and Huge talked about the awesome vibe up at Crystal Mountain, she told us about their accommodations and other amenities, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with Mark Fenech about the Golf Learning Center, what different options they have to offer, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Karyn Thorr, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Crystal Mountain. She and Huge talked about the awesome vibe up at Crystal Mountain, she told us about their accommodations and other amenities, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with Mark Fenech about the Golf Learning Center, what different options they have to offer, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the beautiful Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville. Throughout the show, we were joined by some of the great folks from Crystal Mountain so they could tell us about everything they have to offer you. We were also joined by some of our other guests to talk about the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, the House vs. NCAA, and much more. We kicked off the show talking with former Major Leaguer John Vander Wal about the Tigers. He and Huge gave their opinions on the Tigers being the best team in Baseball, John told us about the weaknesses he's seen on this team, talked about the comeback of Javy and Tork, and more. We were then joined by Jeff Risdon from Lions Wire and Draft Wire so he could update us on what he's seen at OTAs this week. He talked about some of the things he's liked, things that need work still, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Mark Fenech who is the Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain, and Danielle Primeau, who is their Director of Marketing. Mark and Danielle told us about their 36 holes of Golf they have to offer, talked about what they have outside of Golf, told us about their stay and play packages, and more. In our second hour we were joined by we were joined David Gregory who is a Lawyer and NFLPA Certified Sports Agent for Bullrush Sports. During that time, he and Huge talked about where the NCAA vs. the House case is currently at, talked about it possibly being passed tonight, NIL/pay for play, talked about how things will legally be enforced, and more. We were then joined by Tim Staudt from Staudt on Sports in Lansing. He gave us his thought's on the House vs. NCAA case, talked about how he thinks MSU will handle it, discussed the changing landscape of College Sports, and more. We were then joined by Chris MacInnes who is one of the owners at Crystal Mountain. She talked with us about the development and planning at Crystal Mountain, talked about the great team and teamwork they have there, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by Jeremy Reisman from Pride of Detroit so he could fill us in on what he saw at OTAs this week. He told us about the jump that Jamo has taken in the off-season, talked about what comes after OTAs, talked about their expectations for the season, and more. We were then joined by Hall of Fame Beat Writer Tom Gage to get his thought's on how the Tigers have been playing. He told us about what he's liked, what still needs a little work, and more. We were then joined by Karyn Thorr, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Crystal Mountain. She and Huge talked about the awesome vibe up at Crystal Mountain, she told us about their accommodations and other amenities, and more. We wrapped up the show talking with Mark Fenech about the Golf Learning Center, what different options they have to offer, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is a reader-supported publication (and my full-time job). To receive new posts and to support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.WhoChris Cushing, Principal of Mountain Planning at SE GroupRecorded onApril 3, 2025About SE GroupFrom the company's website:WE AREMountain planners, landscape architects, environmental analysts, and community and recreation planners. From master planning to conceptual design and permitting, we are your trusted partner in creating exceptional experiences and places.WE BELIEVEThat human and ecological wellbeing forms the foundation for thriving communities.WE EXISTTo enrich people's lives through the power of outdoor recreation.If that doesn't mean anything to you, then this will:Why I interviewed himNature versus nurture: God throws together the recipe, we bake the casserole. A way to explain humans. Sure he's six foot nine, but his mom dropped him into the intensive knitting program at Montessori school 232, so he can't play basketball for s**t. Or identical twins, separated at birth. One grows up as Sir Rutherford Ignacious Beaumont XIV and invents time travel. The other grows up as Buford and is the number seven at Okey-Doke's Quick Oil Change & Cannabis Emporium. The guts matter a lot, but so does the food.This is true of ski areas as well. An earthquake here, a glacier there, maybe a volcanic eruption, and, presto: a non-flat part of the earth on which we may potentially ski. The rest is up to us.It helps if nature was thoughtful enough to add slopes of varying but consistent pitch, a suitable rise from top to bottom, a consistent supply of snow, a flat area at the base, and some sort of natural conduit through which to move people and vehicles. But none of that is strictly necessary. Us humans (nurture), can punch green trails across solid-black fall lines (Jackson Hole), bulldoze a bigger hill (Caberfae), create snow where the clouds decline to (Wintergreen, 2022-23), plant the resort base at the summit (Blue Knob), or send skiers by boat (Eaglecrest).Someone makes all that happen. In North America, that someone is often SE Group, or their competitor, Ecosign. SE Group helps ski areas evolve into even better ski areas. That means helping to plan terrain expansions, lift replacements, snowmaking upgrades, transit connections, parking enhancements, and whatever built environment is under the ski area's control. SE Group is often the machine behind those Forest Service ski area master development plans that I so often spotlight. For example, Vail Mountain:When I talk about Alta consolidating seven slow lifts into four fast lifts; or Little Switzerland carving their mini-kingdom into beginner, parkbrah, and racer domains; or Mount Bachelor boosting its power supply to run more efficiently, this is the sort of thing that SE plots out (I'm not certain if they were involved in any or all of those projects).Analyzing this deliberate crafting of a natural bump into a human playground is the core of what The Storm is. I love, skiing, sure, but specifically lift-served skiing. I'm sure it's great to commune with the raccoons or whatever it is you people do when you discuss “skinning” and “AT setups.” But nature left a few things out. Such as: ski patrol, evacuation sleds, avalanche control, toilet paper, water fountains, firepits, and a place to charge my phone. Oh and chairlifts. And directional signs with trail ratings. And a snack bar.Skiing is torn between competing and contradictory narratives: the misanthropic, which hates crowds and most skiers not deemed sufficiently hardcore; the naturalistic, which mistakes ski resorts with the bucolic experience that is only possible in the backcountry; the preservationist, with its museum-ish aspirations to glasswall the obsolete; the hyperactive, insisting on all fast lifts and groomed runs; the fatalists, who assume inevitable death-of-concept in a warming world.None of these quite gets it. Ski areas are centers of joy and memory and bonhomie and possibility. But they are also (mostly), businesses. They are also parks, designed to appeal to as many skiers as possible. They are centers of organized risk, softened to minimize catastrophic outcomes. They must enlist machine aid to complement natural snowfall and move skiers up those meddlesome but necessary hills. Ski areas are nature, softened and smoothed and labelled by their civilized stewards, until the land is not exactly a representation of either man or God, but a strange and wonderful hybrid of both.What we talked aboutOld-school Cottonwoods vibe; “the Ikon Pass has just changed the industry so dramatically”; how to become a mountain planner for a living; what the mountain-planning vocation looked like in the mid-1980s; the detachable lift arrives; how to consolidate lifts without sacrificing skier experience; when is a lift not OK?; a surface lift resurgence?; how sanctioned glades changed ski areas; the evolution of terrain parks away from mega-features; the importance of terrain parks to small ski areas; reworking trails to reduce skier collisions; the curse of the traverse; making Jackson more approachable; on terrain balance; how megapasses are redistributing skier visits; how to expand a ski area without making traffic worse; ski areas that could evolve into major destinations; and ski area as public park or piece of art.What I got wrong* I blanked on the name of the famous double chair at A-Basin. It is Pallavicini.* I called Crystal Mountain's two-seater served terrain “North Country or whatever” – it is actually called “Northway.”* I said that Deer Valley would become the fourth- or fifth-largest ski resort in the nation once its expansion was finished. It will become the sixth-largest, at 4,926 acres, when the next expansion phase opens for winter 2025-26, and will become the fourth-largest, at 5,726 acres, at full build out.* I estimated Kendall Mountain's current lift-served ski footprint at 200 vertical feet; it is 240 feet.Why now was a good time for this interviewWe have a tendency, particularly in outdoor circles, to lionize the natural and shame the human. Development policy in the United States leans heavily toward “don't,” even in areas already designated for intensive recreation. We mustn't, plea activists: expand the Palisades Tahoe base village; build a gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon; expand ski terrain contiguous with already-existing ski terrain at Grand Targhee.I understand these impulses, but I believe they are misguided. Intensive but thoughtful, human-scaled development directly within and adjacent to already-disturbed lands is the best way to limit the larger-scale, long-term manmade footprint that chews up vast natural tracts. That is: build 1,000 beds in what is now a bleak parking lot at Palisades Tahoe, and you limit the need for homes to be carved out of surrounding forests, and for hundreds of cars to daytrip into the ski area. Done right, you even create a walkable community of the sort that America conspicuously lacks.To push back against, and gradually change, the Culture of No fueling America's mountain town livability crises, we need exhibits of these sorts of projects actually working. More Whistlers (built from scratch in the 1980s to balance tourism and community) and fewer Aspens (grandfathered into ski town status with a classic street and building grid, but compromised by profiteers before we knew any better). This is the sort of work SE is doing: how do we build a better interface between civilization and nature, so that the former complements, rather than spoils, the latter?All of which is a little tangential to this particular podcast conversation, which focuses mostly on the ski areas themselves. But America's ski centers, established largely in the middle of the last century, are aging with the towns around them. Just about everything, from lifts to lodges to roads to pipes, has reached replacement age. Replacement is a burden, but also an opportunity to create a better version of something. Our ski areas will not only have faster lifts and newer snowguns – they will have fewer lifts and fewer guns that carry more people and make more snow, just as our built footprint, thoughtfully designed, can provide more homes for more people on less space and deliver more skiers with fewer vehicles.In a way, this podcast is almost a canonical Storm conversation. It should, perhaps, have been episode one, as every conversation since has dealt with some version of this question: how do humans sculpt a little piece of nature into a snowy park that we visit for fun? That is not an easy or obvious question to answer, which is why SE Group exists. Much as I admire our rough-and-tumble Dave McCoy-type founders, that improvisational style is trickier to execute in our highly regulated, activist present.And so we rely on artist-architects of the SE sort, who inject the natural with the human without draining what is essential from either. Done well, this crafted experience feels wild. Done poorly – as so much of our legacy built environment has been – and you generate resistance to future development, even if that future development is better. But no one falls in love with a blueprint. Experiencing a ski area as whatever it is you think a ski area should be is something you have to feel. And though there is a sort of magic animating places like Alta and Taos and Mammoth and Mad River Glen and Mount Bohemia, some ineffable thing that bleeds from the earth, these ski areas are also outcomes of a human-driven process, a determination to craft the best version of skiing that could exist for mass human consumption on that shred of the planet.Podcast NotesOn MittersillMittersill, now part of Cannon Mountain, was once a separate ski area. It petered out in the mid-‘80s, then became a sort of Cannon backcountry zone circa 2009. The Mittersill double arrived in 2010, followed by a T-bar in 2016.On chairlift consolidationI mention several ski areas that replaced a bunch of lifts with fewer lifts:The HighlandsIn 2023, Boyne-owned The Highlands wiped out three ancient Riblet triples and replaced them with this glorious bubble six-pack:Here's a before-and-after:Vernon Valley-Great Gorge/Mountain CreekI've called Intrawest's transformation of Vernon Valley-Great Gorge into Mountain Creek “perhaps the largest single-season overhaul of a ski area in the history of lift-served skiing.” Maybe someone can prove me wrong, but just look at this place circa 1989:It looked substantively the same in 1998, when, in a single summer, Intrawest tore out 18 lifts – 15 double chairs, two platters, and a T-bar, plus God knows how many ropetows – and replaced them with two high-speed quads, two fixed-grip quads, and a bucket-style Cabriolet lift that every normal ski area uses as a parking lot transit machine:I discussed this incredible transformation with current Hermitage Club GM Bill Benneyan, who worked at Mountain Creek in 1998, back in 2020:I misspoke on the podcast, saying that Intrawest had pulled out “something like a dozen lifts” and replaced them with “three or four” in 1998.KimberleyBack in the time before social media, Kimberley, British Columbia ran four frontside chairlifts: a high-speed quad, a triple, a double, and a T-bar:Beginning in 2001, the ski area slowly removed everything except the quad. Which was fine until an arsonist set fire to Kimberley's North Star Express in 2021, meaning skiers had no lift-served option to the backside terrain:I discussed this whole strange sequence of events with Andy Cohen, longtime GM of sister resort Fernie, on the podcast last year:On Revelstoke's original masterplanIt is astonishing that Revelstoke serves 3,121 acres with just five lifts: a gondola, two high-speed quads, a fixed quad, and a carpet. Most Midwest ski areas spin three times more lifts for three percent of the terrain.On Priest Creek and Sundown at SteamboatSteamboat, like many ski areas, once ran two parallel fixed-grip lifts on substantively the same line, with the Priest Creek double and the Sundown triple. The Sundown Express quad arrived in 1992, but Steamboat left Priest Creek standing for occasional overflow until 2021. Here's Steamboat circa 1990:Priest Creek is gone, but that entire 1990 lift footprint is nearly unrecognizable. Huge as Steamboat is, every arriving skier squeezes in through a single portal. One of Alterra's first priorities was to completely re-imagine the base area: sliding the existing gondola looker's right; installing an additional 10-person, two-stage gondola right beside it; and moving the carpets and learning center to mid-mountain:On upgrades at A-BasinWe discuss several upgrades at A-Basin, including Lenawee, Beavers, and Pallavicini. Here's the trailmap for context:On moguls on Kachina Peak at TaosYeah I'd say this lift draws some traffic:On the T-bar at Waterville ValleyWaterville Valley opened in 1966. Fifty-two years later, mountain officials finally acknowledged that chairlifts do not work on the mountain's top 400 vertical feet. All it took was a forced 1,585-foot shortening of the resort's base-to-summit high-speed quad just eight years after its 1988 installation and the legacy double chair's continued challenges in wind to say, “yeah maybe we'll just spend 90 percent less to install a lift that's actually appropriate for this terrain.” That was the High Country T-bar, which arrived in 2018. It is insane to look at ‘90s maps of Waterville pre- and post-chop job:On Hyland Hills, MinnesotaWhat an insanely amazing place this is:On Sunrise ParkFrom 1983 to 2017, Sunrise Park, Arizona was home to the most amazing triple chair, a 7,982-foot-long Yan with 352 carriers. Cyclone, as it was known, fell apart at some point and the resort neglected to fix or replace it. A couple of years ago, they re-opened the terrain to lift-served skiing with a low-cost alternative: stringing a ropetow from a green run off the Geronimo lift to where Cyclone used to land.On Woodward Park City and BorealPowdr has really differentiated itself with its Woodward terrain parks, which exist at amazing scale at Copper and Bachelor. The company has essentially turned two of its smaller ski areas – Boreal and Woodward Park City – entirely over to terrain parks.On Killington's tunnelsYou have to zoom in, but you can see them on the looker's right side of the trailmap: Bunny Buster at Great Northern, Great Bear at Great Northern, and Chute at Great Northern.On Jackson Hole traversesJackson is steep. Engineers hacked it so kids like mine could ride there:On expansions at Beaver Creek, Keystone, AspenRecent Colorado expansions have tended to create vast zones tailored to certain levels of skiers:Beaver Creek's McCoy Park is an incredible top-of-the-mountain green zone:Keystone's Bergman Bowl planted a high-speed six-pack to serve 550 acres of high-altitude intermediate terrain:And Aspen – already one of the most challenging mountains in the country – added Hero's – a fierce black-diamond zone off the summit:On Wilbere at SnowbirdWilbere is an example of a chairlift that kept the same name, even as Snowbird upgraded it from a double to a quad and significantly moved the load station and line:On ski terrain growth in AmericaYes, a bunch of ski areas have disappeared since the 1980s, but the raw amount of ski terrain has been increasing steadily over the decades:On White Pine, WyomingCushing referred to White Pine as a “dinky little ski area” with lots of potential. Here's a look at the thousand-footer, which billionaire Joe Ricketts purchased last year:On Deer Valley's expansionYeah, Deer Valley is blowing up:On Schweitzer's growthSchweitzer's transformation has been dramatic: in 1988, the Idaho panhandle resort occupied a large footprint that was served mostly by double chairs:Today: a modern ski area, with four detach quads, a sixer, and two newer triples – only one old chairlift remains:On BC transformationsA number of British Columbia ski areas have transformed from nubbins to majors over the past 30 years:Sun Peaks, then known as Tod Mountain, in 1993Sun Peaks today:Fernie in 1996, pre-upward expansion:Fernie today:Revelstoke, then known as Mount Mackenzie, in 1996:Modern Revy:Kicking Horse, then known as “Whitetooth” in 1994:Kicking Horse today:On Tamarack's expansion potentialTamarack sits mostly on Idaho state land, and would like to expand onto adjacent U.S. Forest Service land. Resort President Scott Turlington discussed these plans in depth with me on the pod a few years back:The mountain's plans have changed since, with a smaller lift footprint:On Central Park as a manmade placeNew York City's fabulous Central Park is another chunk of earth that may strike a visitor as natural, but is in fact a manmade work of art crafted from the wilderness. Per the Central Park Conservancy, which, via a public-private partnership with the city, provides the majority of funds, labor, and logistical support to maintain the sprawling complex:A popular misconception about Central Park is that its 843 acres are the last remaining natural land in Manhattan. While it is a green sanctuary inside a dense, hectic metropolis, this urban park is entirely human-made. It may look like it's naturally occurring, but the flora, landforms, water, and other features of Central Park have not always existed.Every acre of the Park was meticulously designed and built as part of a larger composition—one that its designers conceived as a "single work of art." Together, they created the Park through the practice that would come to be known as "landscape architecture."The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

The Huge Show opens a Friday show on the road LIVE from Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan. We talk to John Vander Wal for an update on the red-hot Detroit Tigers, wondering who will be the odd man out when Matt Vierling and/or Parker Meadows return from injury. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Friday edition of The Huge Show, we are LIVE from Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan. We talk Tigers with John Vander Wal and Andy Dirks, Michigan Football/Sherrone Moore suspension with John U. Bacon, Clayton Sayfie, and the state of affairs in college athletics with our legal expert David Gregory. We also speak to the incredible faculty and staff at Crystal Mountain as golf season arrives in full swing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.