Podcast appearances and mentions of Crystal Mountain

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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  

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.

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 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.

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 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. 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

We talk to the incredible faculty and staff at Crystal Mountain about their beautiful golf course, eventful golf and ski seasons, and much more LIVE from Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan.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.

It's a hodgepodge this week on Behind the Mitten, with stories coming at you from all over Michigan.We start off the show with Angie Quinn, the executive director of the Michigan Legacy Art Park, which is located at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. We recently got to do a snowy hike through this very unique art experience, and interviewed Angie trailside afterwards. Spread out over thirty beautiful acres, the Art Park boasts two miles of hiking trails that take you around almost fifty different sculptures. The park has been leasing this space from the resort, but just last year Crystal donated the land to the organization permanently. It is a super cool way to experience art, you can enter the park from dawn to dusk, on foot, snowshoes or skis.Then we have a first on Behind the Mitten, as Amy interivews her husband Jerry Adams. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Jerry shares some of his former favorite haunts, and how they have changed over the years. With a daughter currently attending U of M, we visit regularly, and recently got to enjoy burgers and fries at Krazy Jim's Blimpie Burger, a favorite no matter when you graduated. We'll explain how to order these famous burgers, the key is to just answer the question.Next, we'll catch up with our friend Mike Laing, who co-owns two wineries with his brother Peter, Mawby Vineyards and Big Little Wjnes. From all-bubbly to traditional wines, the vineyards make some great liquids, including the super fun, and totally NA Safe Sex from Mawby, and sparkling non-alcoholic additin to their lineup. Learn more about Safe Sex:https://www.spreaker.com/episode/let-s-have-safe-sex-this-valentine-s-day-with-mawby-vineyards--64358477Finally, Brant Austin from Austin Brothers Beer Company in Alpena joins us again. The last time we had them on was a lifetime ago, pre-pandemic. They are celebrating ten years in business at the tip of the pointer here in Michigan, and brothers Blake and Brant couldn't be prouder. Honestly, so are we. This family moved from Californai after falling in love with Alpena on a Griswold-family road trip, and they've built a thriving local business in their adopted home town.

When change seems to be all we do, how do we manage it to our advantage? Listen in to a conversation from the fall with the Class of 2024-25 mentors and mentees. Looking for more? Read "Change Management" from the January 2025 issue of SAM.  Mentors: Kim Jones, Vice President and General Counsel, WinSport Olympic Park, Calgary, Alberta Karl Kapucinski, Chief Executive Officer, California Mountain Resort Company JR Murray, Chief Planning Officer, Mountain Capital Partners Karyn Thorr, Chief Operating Officer, Crystal Mountain, Mich. Brent Tregaskis, President & General Manager, Eldora Mountain Resort, Colo. Mike Unruh, Senior Vice President of Mountain Operations, Boyne Resorts Mentees: Josiah Akin, Maintenance and Rental Manager, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Ore. Christie Barbour, Lift Operations Manager, Whistler Blackcomb, BC Rob Hallowell, Innovative Environments Manager, Boreal Mountain Resort, Woodward Tahoe, Soda Springs, Calif. Ella Klott, Sales Manager, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo. Sarah Nutt, Assistant Patrol Director, Sunday River Resort, Maine Loryn Roberson, Director of Marketing and Communications, Loveland Ski Area, Colo. Tim Shannon, Director of Skier Services, The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain, Vt. Jenny Weaver, Health and Safety Manager, Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain, Calif. Jeremy Wildgoose, Director of Lodging, Schweitzer, Idaho Kyle Wilson, Snow Sports Director, Nordic Mountain, Wis. Rachel Wyckoff, Marketing Director, Shawnee Mountain, Pa. Expert Voice: Paul Thallner, Founder, High Peaks Group Thank you to our premiere sponsor, MountainGuard, for their support of this program. 

"Behind the Mitten" co-host, Amy Sherman talks cross-country skiing, activities at Crystal Mountain, crock pot French fries, and where to get the best winter cocktails on 1320 WILS and the Mike Austin Morning Show.Tune in to this weekend's show on all of our stations throughout Michigan to hear about our travels. In Lansing the show airs at 8 a.m. Saturdays on WILS-AM (1320).For a complete list of stations and times, go to amyandgonzo.com.

Ahead of a special appearance at Crystal Mountain, Mike Benton sets up the Jan. 11 matchup at Key Bank Center between the Seattle Kraken and Buffalo Sabres, including Friday practice comments from head coach Dan Bylsma and a conversation with Kraken TV host Ian Furness. 

In the final episode of 2024, the boys catch up on a variety of topics just before PowBot hits the road for a month-long ski adventure on the Powder Highway of Canada, including Trail Whisperer's story of driving the Powder Highway right as COVID hit in early 2020. The new snow reporter, Al Powcino, makes his debut with a wet and soggy forecast, Trail Whisperer presents the most compelling evidence yet that the Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption is linked to the last two years of record-breaking global warming, the boys discuss the 2024 word of the year, “Brain Rot”, and Trail Whisperer recounts his recent visit to San Diego chasing the massive surf swell. Pepper in a few Dope or Derps and 2024 is complete. Thanks to all our listeners for an awesome second season of Mind the Track! 3:00 – Artificial Intelligence and snow forecasting.5:50 – Christmas Day – Pow Day at Sugar Bowl, death cookies at Mount Rose and holiday traffic.8:20 – PowBot gets Trail Whisperer a Christmas gift – a bicycling book from Japan.11:00 – Dope or Derp? eSkimo – the ebike of backcountry skiing.15:50 – Dope or Derp? Christmas gifts and Christmas trees.21:10 – Sam and Trail Whisperer went to San Diego before Christmas to surf the big swell.27:30 – PowBot is about to embark on a road trip to the Powder Highway of Canada and going to the Meadow Hut with Golden Alpine Holidays.29:25 – Driving the Powder Highway, Trans-Canada Highway, Revelstoke, Kelowna, Golden.32:45 – Revelstoke and Kicking Horse – awesome mountains but no chairlift infrastructure.35:10 – Crystal Mountain in Washington.36:00 – Chairlift evacuation malfunctions at Heavenly, Telluride, Winter Park and France. What's the longest you've ever spent on a broken chairlift?41:00 – Golden Alpine Holidays and Meadow Hut in the Esplanade Range north of Golden.42:00 – Banff National Park – Amazing winter campground with 110V power and heated showers.44:10 – Dope or Derp? Driving and passing someone on a double yellow.48:20 – Oxford University Press Word of the Year – “Brain Rot”.50:15 – The Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption and it's effect on recent climate change. Scientists are beginning to acknowledge its effects on the suddenly warming climate.52:10 – Dr. Javier Vinos – author of Climate of the Past, Present and Future, a Scientific Debate, summarizes Hunga Tonga's effect on the rapid warming of the climate.58:10 – Mind the Track introduces the new Powderiffic Snow Report correspondent – Al Powcino!1:02:30 – Low tide snow conditions in Tahoe and Shasta Avalanche Center employees rescue a lost and frozen duck at 10,000 feet elevation and released it at a creek in town.1:05:00 – News – EXPLORE Act passed by Congress – legislation focused on improving outdoor recreation access, including BOLT Act - Bicycling on Long Distance Trails.1:08:50 – Outdoor recreation is a $1.2 trillion industry supporting 5 million jobs in the U.S.1:10:30 – Toyota takes every spot in vehicles most likely to last 250,000 miles or more, including the Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner and Highlander Hybrid.1:13:35 – New study shows staggering number of spinal cord injuries with mountain bikers.1:15:20 – Hoot Trail in Nevada City – continued drama about its future.1:23:25 – Trail Whisperer's story about driving the Powder Highway at the beginning of COVID.1:29:40 – On a musical note - @facemelts – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Osees, Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan.1:35:45 – Do you listen to music when you ski or ride your bike?1:39:30 – Thanks to all our listeners for an awesome 2024. Growing fast!

Send us a textJoin us for a thrilling conversation with Julian Carr, the legendary free skier and mastermind behind the Cirque Series. Discover how Julian's childhood hikes in Salt Lake City with his father sparked a lifelong passion for mountain sports, ultimately leading him to create the Cirque Series. Julian gives us an insider's look into how his frustration with traditional races lacking excitement and thoughtful course design led to the birth of this groundbreaking event. From spectacular mountain climbs to the electric après-ski atmosphere, the Cirque Series promises a unique experience for athletes and enthusiasts alike.Julian shares his transformative moment in Iceland that crystallized his vision for the Cirque Series, blending challenging courses with a party-like celebration. We explore the exciting partnership with La Sportiva and plans to expand the series to new heights and locations, like the anticipated races at Crystal Mountain and Cannon Mountain. His enthusiasm extends beyond mountain running, hinting at potential winter sports expansions and a commitment to elevating U.S. mountain running on the global stage through live streaming and media engagement.The conversation takes a deeper dive into the spirit of inclusivity and community that defines the Cirque Series. Julian talks about creating an event where professional athletes and recreational participants rub shoulders, united by their love of the mountains. We also get a sneak peek into future plans, including ski mountaineering races in Colorado and the much-anticipated episode with mountain running sensation Johnny Luna Lima. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about mountain sports and eager to witness Julian Carr's inspiring journey and ambitious vision.Julian Carr - https://www.instagram.com/juliancarr/?hl=enCirque Series - https://www.cirqueseries.com/

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Nov. 10. It dropped for free subscribers on Nov. 17. To receive future episodes as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoJohn Melcher, CEO of Crystal Mountain, MichiganRecorded onOctober 14, 2024About Crystal Mountain, MichiganClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: The Petritz FamilyLocated in: Thompsonville, MichiganYear founded: 1956Pass affiliations: Indy Pass & Indy+ Pass: 2 days, no blackoutsReciprocal partners: 1 day each at Caberfae and Mount Bohemia, with blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Caberfae (:37), Hickory Hills (:45), Mt. Holiday (:50), Missaukee Mountain (:52), Homestead (:51)Base elevation: 757 feetSummit elevation: 1,132 feetVertical drop: 375 feetSkiable Acres: 103Average annual snowfall: 132 inchesTrail count: 59 (30% black diamond, 48% blue square, 22% green circle) + 7 glades + 3 terrain parksLift count: 8 (1 high-speed quad, 3 fixed-grip quads, 2 triples, 2 carpets – view Lift Blog's inventory of Crystal Mountain's lift fleet)Why I interviewed himThe biggest knock on Midwest skiing is that the top of the hill is not far enough away from the bottom of the hill, and this is generally true. Two or three or four hundred vertical feet is not a lot of vertical feet. It is enough to hold little pockets of trees or jumps or a racer's pitch that begs for a speed check. But no matter how fun the terrain, too soon the lift maze materializes and it's another slow roll up to more skiing.A little imagination helps here. Six turns in a snowy Michigan glade feel the same as six turns in Blue Sky Basin trees (minus the physiological altitude strain). And the skillset transfers well. I learned to ski bumps on a 200-vertical-foot section of Boyne Mountain and now I can ski bumps anywhere. But losing yourself in a 3,000-vertical-foot Rocky Mountain descent is not the same thing as saying “Man I can almost see it” as you try to will a 300-footer into something grander. We all know this.Not everything about the lift-served skiing experience shrinks down with the same effect, is my point here. With the skiing itself, scale matters. But the descent is only part of the whole thing. The lift maze matters, and the uphill matters, and the parking matters, and the location of the lift ticket pick-up matters, and the availability of 4 p.m. beers matters, and the arrangement base lodge seating matters. And when all of these things are knotted together into a ski day that is more fun than stressful, it is because you are in the presence of one thing that scales down in any context: excellence.The National Ski Areas Association splits ski areas into four size categories, calculated by “vertical transportation feet per hour.” In other words: how many skiers your lifts can push uphill in an ideal hour. This is a useful metric for many reasons, but I'd like to see a more qualitative measurement, one based not just on size, but on consistent quality of experience.I spend most of my winter bouncing across America, swinging into ski areas of all sizes and varieties. Excellence lives in unexpected places. One-hundred-and-sixty-vertical-foot Boyce Park, Pennsylvania blows thick slabs of snow with modern snowguns, grooms it well, and seems to double-staff every post with local teenagers. Elk Mountain, on the other side of Pennsylvania, generally stitches together a better experience than its better-known neighbors just south, in the Poconos. Royal Mountain, a 550-vertical-foot, weekends-only locals' bump in New York's southern Adirondacks, alternates statuesque grooming with zippy glades across its skis-bigger-than-it-is face.These ski areas, by combining great order and reliable conditions with few people, are delightful. But perhaps more impressive are ski areas that deliver consistent excellence while processing enormous numbers of visitors. Here you have places like Pats Peak, New Hampshire; Wachusett, Massachusetts; Holiday Valley, New York; and Mt. Rose, Nevada. These are not major tourist destinations, but they run with the welcoming efficiency of an Aspen or a Deer Valley. A good and ordered ski day, almost no matter what.Crystal Mountain, Michigan is one of these ski areas. Everything about the ski experience is well-considered. Expansion, upgrades, and refinement of existing facilities have been constant for decades. The village blends with the hill. The lifts are where the lifts should be. The trail network is interesting and thoughtfully designed. The parks are great. The grooming is great. The glades are plentiful. The prices are reasonable. And, most important of all, despite being busy at all times, Crystal Mountain is tamed by order. This is excellence, that thing that all ski areas should aspire to, whatever else they lack.What we talked aboutWhat's new for Crystal skiers in 2024; snowmaking; where Crystal draws its snowmaking water; Peek'n Peak, New York; why Crystal is a good business in addition to being a good ski area; four-seasons business; skiing as Mother; what makes a great team (and why Crystal has one); switching into skiing mid-career; making trails versus clearcutting the ski slope; ownership decided via coinflip; Midwest destination skiing's biggest obstacle; will Crystal remain independent?; room to expand; additional glading opportunities; why many of Crystal's trails are named after people; considering the future of Crystal's lift fleet; why Crystal built a high-speed lift that rises just 314 vertical feet; why the ghost of the Cheers lift lives on as part of Crystal's trailmap; where Crystal has considered adding a lift to the existing terrain; that confusing trailmap; a walkable village; changes inbound at the base of Loki; pushing back parking; more carpets for beginners; Crystal's myriad bargain lift ticket options; the Indy Pass; why Crystal dropped Indy Pass blackouts; the Mt. Bohemia-Crystal relationship; Caberfae; Indy's ultimatum to drop Ski Cooper reciprocals or leave the pass; and why Crystal joined Freedom Pass last year and left for this coming winter.  Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewThe Storm's mission is to serve all of American lift-served skiing. That means telling the stories of ski areas in every part of the country. I do this not because I have to, but because I want to. This newsletter would probably work just fine if it focused always and only on the great ski centers of the American West. That is, after all, the only part of U.S. ski country that outsiders travel to and that locals never leave. The biggest and best skiing is out there, at the top of our country, high and snowy and with a low chance of rain.But I live in the East and I grew up in the Midwest. Both regions are cluttered with ski areas. Hundreds of them, each distinct, each its own little frozen kingdom, each singular in atmosphere and arrangement and orientation toward the world. Most remain family-owned, and retain the improvisational quirk synonymous with such a designation. But more interesting is that these ski areas remain tethered to their past in a way that many of the larger western destination resorts, run by executives cycled in via corporate development programs, never will be again.I want to tell these stories. I'm aware that my national audience has a limited tolerance for profiles of Midwest ski centers they will never ski. But they seem to be okay with about a half-dozen per year, which is about enough to remind the wider ski community that this relatively flat but cold and hardy region is home to one of the world's great ski cultures. The Midwest is where night-skiing rules, where blue-collar families still ski, where hunting clothes double as ski clothes, where everything is a little less serious and a little more fun.There's no particular big development or project that threw the spotlight on Crystal here. I've been trying to arrange this interview for years. Because this is a very good ski area and a very well-run ski area, even if it is not a very large ski area in the grand landscape of American ski areas. It is one of the finest ski areas in the Midwest, and one worthy of our attention.What I got wrong* I said that “I forget if it's seven or nine different tree areas” at Crystal. The number of glades labeled on the trailmap is seven.* I said Crystal had been part of Indy Pass “since the beginning or near the beginning.” The mountain joined the pass in May, 2020, ahead of the 2020-21 ski season, Indy's second.Why you should ski Crystal Mountain, MichiganCrystal's Loki pod rises above the parking lots, 255 vertical feet, eight trails down, steep on the front, gentler toward the back. These days I would ski each of the eight in turn and proceed next door to the Clipper lift. But I was 17 and just learning to ski and to me at the time that meant bombing as fast as possible without falling. For this, Wipeout was the perfect trail, a sweeping crescent through the trees, empty even on that busy day, steep but only for a bit, just enough to ignite a long sweeping tuck back to the chairs. We lapped this run for hours. Speed and adrenaline through the falling snow. The cold didn't bother us and the dozens of alternate runs striped over successive hills didn't tempt us. We'd found what we'd wanted and what we'd wanted is this.I packed that day in the mental suitcase that holds my ski memories and I've carried it around for decades. Skiing bigger mountains hasn't tarnished it. Becoming a better skier hasn't diminished it. Tuck and bomb, all day long. Something so pure and simple in it, a thing that bundles those Loki laps together with Cottonwoods pow days and Colorado bump towers and California trees. Indelible. Part of what I think of when I think about skiing and part of who I am when I consider myself as a skier.I don't know for sure what Crystal Mountain, Michigan can give you. I can't promise transformation of the impressionable teenage sort. I can't promise big terrain or long runs because those don't have them. I'm not going to pitch Crystal as a singular pilgrimage of the sort that draws western Brobots to Bohemia. This is a regional ski area that is most attractive to skiers who live in Michigan or the northern portions of the states to its immediate south. Read: it is a ski area that the vast majority of you will never experience. And the best endorsement I can make of Crystal is that I think that's too bad, because I think you would really like it, even if I can't exactly explain why.Podcast NotesOn Peek'n PeakThe most difficult American ski area name to spell is not “Summit at Snoqualmie” or “Granlibakken” or “Pomerelle” or “Sipapu” or “Skaneateles” or “Bottineau Winter Park” or “Trollhaugen,” all of which I memorized during the early days of The Storm. The most counterintuitive, frustrating, and frankly stupid ski area name in all the land is “Peek'n Peak,” New York, which repeats the same word spelled two different ways for no goddamn reason. And then there's the apostrophe-“n,” lodged in there like a bar of soap crammed between the tomato and lettuce in your hamburger, a thing that cannot possibly justify or explain its existence. Five years into this project, I can't get the ski area's name correct without looking it up.Anyway, it is a nice little ski area, broad and varied and well-lifted, lodged in a consistent little Lake Erie snowbelt. They don't show glades on the trailmap, but most of the trees are skiable when filled in. The bump claims 400 vertical feet; my Slopes app says 347. Either way, this little Indy Pass hill, where Melcher learned to ski, is a nice little stopover:On Crystal's masterplanCrystal's masterplan leaves room for potential future ski development – we discuss where, specifically, in the podcast. The ski area is kind of lost in the sprawl of Crystal's masterplan, so I've added the lift names for context:On Sugar Loaf, MichiganMichigan, like most ski states, has lost more ski areas than it's kept. The most frustrating of these loses was Sugar Loaf, a 500-footer parked in the northwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, outside of Traverse City. Sunday afternoon lift tickets were like $12 and my high school buddies and I would drive up through snowstorms and ski until the lifts closed and drive home. The place went bust around 2000, but the lifts were still standing until some moron ripped them out five years ago with fantasies of rebuilding the place as some sort of boutique “experience.” Then he ran away and now it's just a lonely, empty hill.On Michigan being “littered with lost ski areas”Michigan is home to the second-most active or semi-active ski areas of any state in the country, with 44 (New York checks in around 50). Still, the Midwest Lost Ski Areas project counts more than 200 lost ski areas in the state.On Crystal's backside evolution and confusing trailmapBy building pod after pod off the backside of the mountain, Crystal has nearly doubled in size since I first skied there in the mid-90s. The Ridge appeared around 2000; North Face came online in 2003; and Backyard materialized in 2015. These additions give Crystal a sprawling, adventurous feel on par with The Highlands or Nub's Nob. But the trailmap, while aesthetically pleasant, is one of the worst I've seen, as it's very unclear how the three pods link to one another, and in turn to the front of the mountain:This is a fixable problem, as I outlined in my last podcast, with Vista Map founder Gary Milliken, who untangled similarly confusing trailmaps for Mt. Spokane, Washington and Lookout Pass, Idaho over the past couple of years. Here's Lookout Pass' old and new maps side-by-side:And here's Mt. Spokane:Crystal – if you'd like an introduction to Gary, I'm happy to make that happen.On resort consolidation in the MidwestThe Midwest has not been sheltered from the consolidation wave that's rolled over much of the West and New England over the past few decades. Of the region's 123 active ski areas, 25 are owned by entities that operate two or more ski areas: Vail Resorts owns 10; Wisconsin Resorts, five; Midwest Family Ski Resorts, four; the Schmitz Brothers, three; Boyne, two; and the Perfect Family, which also owns Timberline in West Virginia, one. But 98 of the region's ski areas remain independently owned and operated. While a couple dozen of those are tiny municipal ropetow bumps with inconsistent operations and little or no snowmaking, most of those that run at least one chairlift are family-owned ski areas that, last winter notwithstanding, are doing very well on a formula of reasonable prices + a focus on kids and night-skiing. Here's the present landscape of Midwest skiing:On the consolidation of Crystal's lift fleetCrystal once ran five frontside chairlifts:Today, the mountain has consolidated that to just five, despite a substantively unchanged trail footprint. While Crystal stopped running the Cheers lift around 2016, its shadowy outline still appears along the Cheers To Lou run.Crystal is way out ahead of the rest of the Midwest, which built most of its ski areas in the age of cheap fixed-grip lifts and never bothered to replace them. The king of these dinosaurs may be Afton Alps, Minnesota, with 15 Hall chairlifts (it was, until recently, 17) lined up along the ridge, the newest of them dating to 1979:It's kind of funny that Vail owns this anachronism, which, despite its comic-book layout, is actually a really fun little ski area.On Crystal's many discounted lift ticket optionsWhile Crystal is as high-end as any resort you'll find in Michigan, the ski area still offers numerous loveably kitschy discounts of the sort that every ski area in the country once sold:Browse these and more on their website.On Indy Pass' dispute with Ski CooperLast year, Indy Pass accused Ski Cooper of building a reciprocal resort network that turned the ski area's discount season pass into a de facto national ski pass that competed directly with Indy. Indy then told its partners to ditch Cooper or leave Indy. Crystal was one of those resorts, and found a workaround by joining the Freedom Pass, which maintained the three Cooper days for their passholders without technically violating Indy Pass' mandate. You can read the full story here:On Bohemia and CaberfaeCrystal left Freedom Pass for this winter, but has retained reciprocal deals with Mount Bohemia and Caberfae. I've hosted leaders of both ski areas on the podcast, and they are two of my favorite episodes:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 73/100 in 2024, and number 573 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered how a smooth travel upgrade can contrast a chaotic flight experience? Join us as we catch up on our latest capers in Road Adventures with Cycling Men of Leisure. Michael lucks out with a rare two-seat row upgrade on his flight to Kansas, while Adam humorously bemoans his packed flight and the Starbucks-less airport. We also reveal the unexpected reason behind our show's delay—Adam's attendance at a stunning transit conference in Crystal Mountain, Michigan. Plus, we share a heartwarming listener message from Margaret, a fellow cyclist who loved our Brag recap. Get ready for a fascinating Listener Spotlight segment as we play detective and unravel the clues to uncover Missoula, Montana's rich history. From its origins as the Hellgate Trading Post to its firefighting legacy and vibrant craft beer culture, Missoula's story is a captivating journey. We initially guess Denver, Colorado, but thanks to listener input, we zero in on Missoula. The city's gold nugget legend and the role of the Missoula Smokejumpers add layers to its intriguing past. Big thanks to all our listeners for the engaging hints and history lessons!We also dive into the nitty-gritty of high-tech biking gear with a detailed review of Spingo inner tubes, sharing firsthand experiences of their resilience and practicality. Our adventures take us through scenic Michigan, navigating both logistical challenges and picturesque routes. From a quirky shopping escapade in Mackinac City to nostalgic moments on Mackinac Island, our journey is filled with laughter, playful pranks, and memorable encounters. We wrap up with a thrilling discussion on cryptids, adding a unique twist to our cycling tales. Buckle up for a ride packed with humor, history, and high-tech gear insights! We will be back Support the Show.Embarking on a journey of camaraderie that spans years, Adam and Michael have cultivated a deep friendship rooted in their mutual passion for cycling. Through the twists and turns of life, these two friends have pedaled side by side, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and good-natured teasing that only solidifies the authenticity of their bond. Their cycling escapades, filled with laughter and banter, are a testament to the enduring spirit of true friendship. Whether conquering challenging trails or coasting through scenic routes, Adam and Michael's adventures on two wheels are a testament to the joy found in the simple pleasures of life. If you're on the lookout for a podcast that captures the essence of friendship and the thrill of cycling, look no further. Join them on this audio journey, where they not only share captivating stories but also invite you to be a part of their cycling community. Get ready for a blend of fun tales, insightful discussions, and a genuine celebration of the joy that comes from embracing the open road on two wheels. This podcast is your ticket to an immersive and uplifting cycling-centric experience. and Remember,It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride!https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisurehttps://cyclingmenofleisure.com/http...