News from Gelandesprung Ski Club in Green Bay, WI

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  • 31 Mar 2024 10:58 AM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)


    March Newsletter (click here)

    Piette’s Post

    Our trip to Big White ended after last month’s Post was submitted.  Most of you know that I had to drop out of the trip at the last minute.  I would like to recognize and thank Heidi Janowski, Ron Quick and Kevin Klasen for providing great leadership for Big White.  The trip had significant challenges from the start.  Alaska Airlines altered the schedule for the Saturday group late in September.  The Friday flight was canceled 2 ½ days before departure.  Each of these changes created problems for our travelers.  Once people arrived, they were faced with poor weather throughout the week, with the exception of a bluebird day on Friday. 

    I received a number of comments from people regarding the issues.  Most of people that shared their thoughts with me were complimentary of the leaders and the entire group for making the best of situations that could not be controlled.  Some people compared the conditions to those that occur closer to the coast.  Although Big White is much further from the coast, this unusual event had a significant impact.  If we choose to select a trip to this region in the future, it is likely that we would be hundreds of miles further north. 

    I was also asked if we should have canceled the trip when airline issues arose.  The problem is that we sign contracts with the resorts well in advance of the trips.  For example, we signed a contract last summer to go to Beaver Creek March 1 to March 8, 2025.  The contracts include limited flexibility to drop condos and rooms based upon the number of days prior to the trip. It is also very difficult to find lodging for a group once we get within a year of the trip.

    Prior to joining the ski club to participate in trips, I learned to enjoy the simplicity of choosing what trips to go on, packing and writing a check for less money than I could travel on my own.  I have been on a couple of trips where conditions were not ideal.  But I have had amazing experiences as well.  The powder days I experienced at Breckenridge (48 inches), Aspen (25 inches), and last year in Salt Lake (100 inches) include three of the best powder trips I have been able to enjoy.  I also enjoy going to places I would never have gone on my own.  Lake Tahoe, Sun Peaks, Whitefish, and Banff are on that list for me.  Consequently, I remain committed to continuing to help our club meet the wishes of our members for great ski trips.  

    I do appreciate the feedback from everyone and the understanding of the situation by most of the people that reached out to me.  The Board is interested in your thoughts.  Please feel free to share your ideas by sending a note to me at President@gelandesprung.org.

    Finally, the trip to Searchmont is March 22- 24. Although the trip signup period is past, you could call us to see if a hotel room is available if you want to go.

    Tom Piette

  • 29 Feb 2024 5:13 PM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)


    February's Newsletter (click here)

    Piette’s Post

    As I write this, the trip to Big White with 71 people is closing on its final days.  The participants were challenged with travel issues and an atmospheric river hitting the west coast and flowing to the Okanogan region of Canada bringing warm weather, limited visibility, and light rain on multiple days of the trip.  I was challenged with missing the trip when I tested positive shortly before I was due at the bus stop. It came at a poor time for me but it would have been much worse for everyone if I was sick while on the trip.  Thank you to Heidi Janowski and Ron Quick for ensuring people had a good week in spite of the weather.  The trip story will be in the newsletter next month.

    Looking forward, we have a good trip to Searchmont coming up March 22 to March 24.  Searchmont is a favorite destination for our members due to the good terrain and the snow conditions we typically enjoy given the propensity for good storms off of Lake Superior.  I am happy to report that the sign-up is proceeding well and there will be a good number of people.

    During the signup period, we had a prospective new member to our club ask about the possibility that we would allow his 19-year-old son to join him on this trip.  The Board has decided to address this possibility during February.    The thought process is that we do want to remain a club for adults.  Eighteen-year-old people are adults that are able to join the military, have a full-time job in industry, get married, etc.  They are not allowed to legally purchase or consume alcoholic beverages in the United States, with limited exceptions. 

    Our club no longer supplies alcoholic beverages for our trips and other events.  Therefore, we will consider the issue.   It is not a given that this suggestion will result in a change to our by-laws that specify age 21 as a requirement for membership.  We have significant questions to address in order for this to happen.  It is possible that we would start with a trial approach this year by voting to approve a temporary rule to allow this approach on only the Searchmont trip this year.  We will only proceed with such a change if we are convinced that we have the right approach.  For example, adults are allowed to bring and consume alcoholic beverages on our trips.  We must never have an incident in which a member illegally supplies alcohol to someone that is 18, 19, or 20 years old.

    The Board is interested in your thoughts.  Please feel free to share your thoughts by sending a note to me at President@gelandesprung.org.

    Tom Piette

  • 31 Jan 2024 6:00 PM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)


    January's Newsletter (click here)

    Piette’s Post

    Happy New Year everyone. We are at that time of year where we expect snow and cold temperatures. As I’m writing this, I am asking where is that weather? These warm temperatures and rain are damaging the finances of our Midwest Ski areas including our favorites: Granite Peak, Snow River, Brule, Powderhorn and others. I suggest that at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, we all go outside and shout “We want snow!!!”. Perhaps someone will hear that and change the weather pattern. It’s either that or we write to the National Weather Service and ask them to forecast colder weather and snowfall instead of this weather.

    I am happy to say that we had a great turnout (55 people) for our Holiday Party on December 12. Everyone had a great time.  People are definitely excited about our ski season. We have 70 people that plan to go to Big White in a few weeks, the signups for Searchmont have been strong and we expect more people to sign up during January and February. 

    IMPORTANT:  For anyone on any of the winter trips this winter, you need to know that the pickup spot in Appleton has changed. Instead of a bus pickup at The Bar, The Northland Mall on Northland Avenue is the location. The pickup location will be in front of the old Shopko store between Kohls and Festival Foods. Park in the spaces closest to Northland Avenue.

    The Green Bay pickup will continue to be at The Woods. For all Gelandesprung and Sly Fox trips, drive westward into the parking lot and turn left (south) as far as possible and turn left (east) to park in the area close to the homes.

    The Big White trip is only a few weeks away. Details for travel information and information regarding Big White will be published and sent to all trippers no later than January 12. The Big White Pre-Trip Meeting will be at The Woods, 6:00 PM on January 23. The meeting will cover details of travel plans including any late changes. Additional information about Big White will be shared including information about the location of lodging, meeting spots, lifts, etc.

    The trip to Searchmont is departing March 22. Adam Hanson (Trip Leader) and Frank Wickham  (Assistant) are the leaders for this trip. This location is a longtime favorite. New owners have invested a lot of capital to establish a great lift system and no ski races are planned. Check details in the newsletter and join us!

    Trip teams have put in substantial time to prepare for this season. Let’s get out and have fun!

    Tom Piette

  • 31 Dec 2023 5:03 PM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)
    December's Newsletter (click here)

    Piette’s Post

    I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving with your family and friends and that your holiday season is off to a great start. With December here, many of us are ready to move to huge snowfalls and great skiing in the coming weeks.

    Our plans for winter activities are going great.  Our Christmas Party will be at the Woods at 7:00 PM Tuesday, December 12, after a short Board Meeting.  Although we do ask for a small donation, we’ll have some good food and prizes to celebrate the start of the ski season.  Gelandesprung covers a good portion of the total cost of this party.  Many prizes are contributed by our sponsors.  We will include short updates on our trips to Big White and Searchmont.  Come for the party and stay to enjoy time with your friends.  Please, RSVP to Mark Heintzkill at social@gelandesprung.org.  It’s always a fun time and I am looking forward to seeing our members.

    Planning for our trip to Big White is nearly complete.  We are pleased by the great response for this trip to the Okanagan region of British Columbia.  It takes more time to get there than some areas.  The payoff is the great skiing and boarding with less crowding on the slopes.   Adding to the adventure, we did add the day trip to Silver Star.  I expect that our bus to Silver Star will be full or nearly full by the time you read this message.

    The trip to Searchmont departing March 22, is in good hands this year.  Adam Hanson has agreed to lead the trip to a longtime favorite for the club and my personal favorite Midwest ski hill.  Improvements to the lift systems, through repairs and by replacing a couple of the old lifts, along with improvements of other amenities promise to make this a great trip.  Additionally, we chose this weekend, in part, because there are no races planned.  Signup forms can be found in our newsletter and we will have signup forms at the Christmas party (bring your checkbook). 

    Finally, I wish all of you a great Christmas, Hannukah, or other holiday and the Happiest New Year that you can imagine.

    Tom Piette

  • 30 Nov 2023 6:00 PM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)


    November's Newsletter (click here)

    Piette’s Post

     

    Happy November everyone.  I have two favorite times of the year for outdoor fun.  Clearly May through October can be great for cycling, golf and other outdoor activities.  Most of that is over, but ski season will be here in about a month.  In my view, there is no better sport than skiing and boarding in the mountains.  I treasure the time I spend with friends skiing the best runs in the Rocky Mountains.   Local skiing is great too.  As I write this, local ski areas are about a month away from opening.  I intend to be Granite Peak weekly throughout the winter to strengthen my legs and refine my skills.

    For me, now is the time to get ready by visiting the YMCA.  I was reminded today that the first day in spin class after a six-month hiatus is the hardest part.  But it is a part of the price of being ready to ski throughout the day at our trip to Big White January 26 to February 3.  Long ago, I used to train for a few weeks before a trip.  For whatever reason, it seems to take three months these days, maybe because I am over 55 years old this year.

    Our trip to Big White has grown beyond our initial limit of 64.  We still have limited room available for anyone that would like to join us.  Big White is far from the coast and is in the region of Canada that is known for great snow throughout the season.  And the price for the trip is as low as you are likely to see again, given the inflation we continue to experience.

    We announced the trip to Searchmont (near from March 22 to March 24, at the Fall Banquet.  Searchmont has been a favorite weekend destination for Gelandesprung for a long time.   I am happy to share that the owners have made great improvements to the lift systems since our last trip.  Searchmont now features three triple lifts and one quad.  The terrain is very good and the area is known for getting significant lake effect snow.  There is also Nordic skiing is also available.  The trip is open for signup.  See the flyer in the newsletter.

    Our Christmas party will be on December 12 this year.  Similar to recent years, we will have a buffet and ask for a small donation to help cover the cost.  Please review the information in the newsletter and RSVP to attend. 

    I hope to see you December 12, at our Christmas Party.

    Tom Piette

     


  • 31 Oct 2023 6:00 AM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)


    October's Newletter (click here)

    Piette's Post

    Isn’t it great to be enjoying some great fall weather as we enjoy paddling, cycling, golf, hiking and other outdoor activities!?  Yet, this time of year always gets us thinking about skiing and boarding down those mountain trails in the coming winter.  I couldn’t be more excited about the skiing experience we will have at Big White in January.  We’ll have the great snow and good weather of the Okanagan region of Canada to enjoy for a week.  If you have not signed up yet, we have one spot remaining that includes Friday to Friday transportation.  We also have limited hotel and condo availability for a few people willing to provide their own transportation.  You can pick a nice hotel or a luxury condo for your experience.  Both are true ski in/ski out and they are close enough to easily visit friends at either location. 

    The Fall Banquet is Friday, October 6.  Sign up today and join us at the Fall banquet on Friday, October 6.  We will have more news about Big White including a review of some of the amenities.  Scot Wederquist will also share information with you about the trip to Searchmont March 22 to March 24.  Searchmont has been a favorite destination for us for years.  The bus is usually full for that trip because of the great terrain and the good lake effect snow that the area receives.  The new owner has made significant improvements to the lift systems to enhance our skiing experience. 

    We received a lot of feedback during our spring banquet regarding a number of topics.  One question that we asked you was if you would prefer to have different food at The Woods during future banquets.  The survey results strongly supported changing the food.  Although we will have our typical menu at this banquet, we intend to make the change that you prefer at the Spring Banquet.  We will ask you to complete a short survey at this Fall Banquet to enable us to know what you would like to have based upon the choices available and the costs for the options.  So, show up and share your thoughts with your elected Board regarding our banquet food and other operations of your ski club.

    Finally, we had three great bike rides this summer.  Thank you to Frank & Shelly Wickham, Rita & Gary Delveaux, and Ron & Jackie Quick for your efforts to provide great bike rides and camaraderie to our members every year. 

    I hope to see you October 6,

    Tom Piette

  • 30 Sep 2023 6:00 PM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)

    September Newsletter (Click Here)

    Piette’s Post

    I hope you have had a great summer. We have a few activities that I want to bring to your attention as we head into autumn. 

    First, Skigroup’s on-line sign-up system has worked out great for us so far. I have heard compliments from our older members about how simple the system is to use.  Mistakes are easily resolved as well by calling Skigroup directly. 

    We will have a big group of skiers at Big White and we are closing in on the maximum number of people for our flights.  Sign up now if you want to join us.  See the newsletter for details. 

    Big White (and Sun Peaks) are in the Okanagan Valley.  Check out the Post about the valley at https://www.ski.com/blog/7-reasons-we-love-the-okanagan-ski-resorts/ . 

    We also have the Fall banquet coming up October 6.  Consistent with the results of our survey at the spring banquet, we are considering options for a different dinner or dinners.  Check the newsletter for more information.  We will also plan to start sign up for our Midwest trip at this meeting.

    The annual Quick Bicycle ride is scheduled for September 23.  It will depart from and return to Silarian Vineyards in Cato.  The ride will be similar terrain to previous rides.  It is always a ton of fun. Check out the newsletter for details on this as well.

    Finally, the full Board continues to meet at 6:00 PM the second Tuesday each month at The Woods.  Everyone is welcome at these meetings. 

    See you later,

    Tom


  • 31 Aug 2023 6:00 AM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)

    August Newsletter (Click Here)

    Piette’s Post

    I’m starting with a review of some of the significant topics covered in the survey people filled out during the Spring Banquet, then I will move on to new information regarding our trip to Big White.

    Survey Highlights:

    Everyone that attended the Spring Banquet was provided an opportunity to share their opinions and ideas by filling out a survey.  The response to this was very good.  Thank you to everyone for helping the full Board to understand your preferences.  I will briefly comment on several of the highlights, especially those related to skiing and other activities.  Pia Heldt will share other survey results at a later date.

    With respect to skiing, the preference for ski-in/ski-out lodging came through loud and clear by being the highest approval rating for any of the questions.  It is also clear from the survey that people love going back to places they like.  Sun Peaks and Telluride had the highest scores for favorite North American destinations.  Aspen, especially Snowmass, Lake Tahoe and Vail were close behind in the rankings.  Searchmont, Lutsen and Whitecap were identified as favorite locations in the Midwest.

    We also had a question about the food that is offered for our banquets.  Many people stated that they were okay with anything because the reason for attending is to see the people.  I agree.  Yet, 23 people favored a more upscale meal versus 6 people stating that they preferred we continue with the family style meals.  We will work with The Woods to identify alternatives as we go forward.

    Big White:

    It is to your advantage to stay current with our planning process for Big White. You may sign up online starting August 28th, and send your check in no sooner than September 1. The reason for having an early signup is to take advantage of the favorable exchange rate.  We will be posting significant information before the September newsletter comes out so that you will be ready for the signup.  A signup date will be approved at the next Board meeting.  The date will be quickly communicated to everyone via the web page (Gelandesprung.org) and the “Gelandesprung Ski Club” Facebook page.

    The final price for the trip will be announced a few days prior to the signup date.  Given that the exchange rate could change quickly, we will be more accurate with setting the correct price for the trip by waiting.  To help you plan, we set the maximum price at $2,200 for the base package of all travel, skiing and lodging, etc.  If the exchange rate does not change much between now and early September, we will be able to set a lower price.   Please read the information carefully.  You also need to verify that your passport will not expire before September 3, 2024.   If it does, you will need to apply to renew your passport immediately and you will probably need to expedite the renewal process. There is more information in this newsletter. 

    Finally, Big White and Sun Peaks are in the Okanagan Valley.  Check out the Post about the valley at https://www.ski.com/blog/7-reasons-we-love-the-okanagan-ski-resorts/ or at the Facebook page.  You may also access the link at Gelandesprung.org by clicking on the “Trips” button.

    Tom

  • 31 Jul 2023 6:00 PM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)

    July's Newsletter (Click here)

    Piette’s Post

    Summer is a great time for all of us to get outside and enjoy the summer playground we have in Wisconsin. Many of us enjoy water sports, cycling, pickleball, outdoor concerts, golf and other activities. These activities are a great way for us to stay in shape for the coming ski season. Get out and enjoy!

    We had our first member-sponsored cycling event June 10th, at the Wickham’s 11th Annual Bike Ride. We met at the Wickham estate prior to a start in Downtown Sturgeon Bay. The weather was perfect and the ride took us through 25 miles of the beautiful countryside. Our group enjoyed some great beverages and food at Kitty O’Reilly’s after the ride. As always, the Wickham’s hospitality was exceptional. Read more about the ride in the newsletter.

    July 19 will be a great day highlighted by Rita’s ride on the Fox River Trail from Voyager Park to Ledgestone Vineyards & Gnarly Cedar Brewery. This has also been going on for 10 years or more. It is a relatively short ride of only 8 miles to the Vineyard with a good group of your friends. Relaxing at the Vineyard and telling stories with our friends for a couple hours is the highlight of the ride. The trip back, in the dark if you stay late enough, is another great part of the day. Non-riders meet us at the vineyard as well. Read details about it in the newsletter. I hope to see you there! To quote a popular TV show, “winter is coming.” Staying active this summer will help our ski legs to be strong as we are skiing and boarding this winter.

    Finally, we plan to get more information to you this month regarding our trip to Big White next January. Watch for more information to appear on the website (gelandesprung.org) later in the month. Our sign-up period will be in later August or September. Also note the relatively low altitude that will minimize any altitude effects. See the trip teaser in the newsletter.

    Tom


  • 30 Jun 2023 6:00 PM | Gelandesprung Web Architect (Administrator)

    June's Newsletter (Click here)

    Happy June everyone.  Summer is here and it’s time to play golf, cycle, and think about next year’s skiing locations for all of us.  We are a ski & snowboard club so I’m starting with that.  Both the Western trip and Midwestern Trips are in the planning process at this time.  Ron Quick, Mike Bast and I just returned from the CMSC Trip Seminar.  We learned some good information for the benefit of our club.  I’ll discuss this next month.

    We have chosen Big White as the destination for our next Western adventure.  Although we expect an early sign-up period, a lot of work remains before we will be ready.  You will likely see the information first on our website sometime in July.  See the early teaser information below.  I can tell you that our travel agent told me that we would love the location.

    Scot Wederquist will lead the effort for the Midwest trip again this year.  The Midwest team will convene this month to work through the process to select and organize the trip.  We expect to have the trip planned later in the summer. 

    Now, let’s get back to summer!  We have a good lineup of summer activities for members and non-members that would like to join us.   

    The annual Wickham bike ride in Door County is coming up June 10 at 9:30 AM.  It is open to members and non-members.  You can review information for this in the newsletter.  You can also go to our website (Gelandesprung.org) and click on the “Events” button at the top of the page to review all upcoming events on the calendar or in the column to the left of the calendar.  Note that if you click on the Wickham 11th Annual Bike Ride, you will see details for the ride.

    RIta’s ride on the Fox River Trail to Ledgestone Vineyard and Brewery is scheduled for July 19.  This is pure fun for a short ride to the vineyard and a great visit with friends.  You may click on the button in the calendar for that information.

    Ron and Jackie’s ride will be scheduled later in the summer, likely in September.

    We stopped having the picnic after years of low attendance during the pandemic.  If this is an event you would like to see again, let me know at president@gelandesprung.org

    Have a great summer everyone!

    Tom


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GELANDESPRUNG MEANING ge·län·de·sprung a jump, usually over an obstacle, in which one plants both poles in the snow in advance of the skis, bends close to the ground, and propels oneself chiefly by the use of the poles.

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