Author: HPSC Communications

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Trip Sign-up Night #3

Before you know it, Trip Sign-up #3 will be upon us–September 28! Eight Charter trips will begin sales. The first two charter trips sold out quickly! Be sure to review the materials, talk to your ski buddies, and make your decision in advance.

If you have your heart set on one or more of the trips, make sure you are 100% ready to go at 8:00 pm. Some of these trips will sell out promptly, even in as little as a few seconds! A couple destinations have always sold out super fast, so this year we have doubled up on trips to Sun Peaks and Banff.

If your favourite trip appears sold out, you can register for the Waitlist. This is especially important for trips that travel later in the season, since cancellations are more frequent at that time.

Consider your insurance options in advance, since this must be purchased at the time you make the initial trip payment. We are happy to announce that “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage will once again be available.

Note that your $100 deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE. So, please take this into consideration when signing up.

On Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 8:00 pm, the following Charter Trips will go on sale:

C3 Red Mountain, BC – Jan 21-28, 2024

C4 Sun Peaks-1, BC – Jan 27-Feb 3, 2024

C5 Panorama, BC – Feb 3-10, 2024

C6 Winter Park, CO – Feb 3-10, 2024

C7 Banff-1, AB – Feb 10-17, 2024

C8 Sun Peaks-2, BC – Feb 10-17, 2024

C9 Silver Star, BC – Mar 4-11, 2024

C10 Banff-2, AB – Mar 9-16, 2024 

Click here to go to the Long Trips page.

Our overnight bus trips will go on sale on October 26. Mark your calendars!

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President’s Message:  Our history and our future

This year represents the club’s 74th in operation We were founded in 1950 by a group of enthusiastic skiers who gathered at the High Park YMCA – which is where our name comes from. We are still a club of enthusiastic skiers (downhill and cross-country), snowboarders and snowshoers!  To learn more about our past, read the Short History of the Club on the website.  It is found in Club Documents under the About Us tab.  I personally love the Wolfman Jack story! 

This past weekend kicked off our 2023/24 season with a very well attended pub night at The Swan in Bloor West. It was great to catch up with old friends, as well as to speak with a number of new and potential members. 

Saturday was the first SkiFit session of the year – thank you to all who came out. It was fantastic to see the usual suspects as well as new members. SkiFit is open to everyone, including non-members – so if you know someone who is thinking of joining, this is a great way for them to get to know other members.  Or if you are a current member and want to meet fellow HPSCers, please come out. A big thank you to Karen Evans and John McHutchion for once again agreeing to lead the program this season. Registration opens each week on Tuesday for the following Saturday.   

The 2023 AGM will be conducted next Tuesday, September 19. We are again holding a hybrid meeting so you can attend in person at the National Yacht Club or via Zoom. The official notice went out in late August and registration is open. It is important that we achieve our quorum to ensure we are able to officially conduct the business of the club. Thank you for all those who have already registered, however, we currently do not have enough members registered to meet quorum and not everyone who registers ends up able to attend. If you cannot attend in person or virtually, please fill out the proxy form and send it to me prior to September 19 (see below).

As a reminder, at the AGM, we will also be holding the draw for the Ikon Pass rebate amongst those who purchased a pass through our group plan. Based on the sales in the program we will be able to draw four winners!

HPSC is a club with a fantastic history and what I feel is an outstanding future.  I sincerely believe our club is on the track for one of the best years we have had in recent memory!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

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President’s Message – A time of renewal!

Ever since childhood, Labour Day has indicated a change, a new season. While for most of us it is no longer a return to school, there is still a sense of renewal. Speaking of renewal, you should be receiving a message regarding renewing your HPSC membership shortly. This year our regular membership rate remains at $170 (plus HST).  However, if you renew by October 31 the rate is just $155 (plus HST).  

The coming weeks also represent a step up in club activities. September 8 is our next social event being held at The Swan in Bloor West.This is a free event and registration is open. The next day is the start of this season’s SkiFit program in High Park (registration opens September 5).  

Please also mark your calendar for the 2023 AGM on Tuesday, September 19 – we are again holding a hybrid meeting so you can be at the National Yacht Club in person or attend via Zoom. The official notice went out a couple of weeks ago and registration is open. Thank you for all those who have already registered. If you cannot attend in person or virtually, please fill out the proxy form and send to me prior to September 19. It is important that we achieve our quorum to ensure we are able to officially conduct the business of the club.   

The second of three Long Trip Sign up events was held on August 24 for the two Club Med trips. The Peisey Vallandry, France trip sold out within a couple of minutes, while there is still room on the end of season Charlevoix (Le Massif) trip. The remaining charter trips open for registration on Thursday, September 28, while the bus trips open on October 26.

One last thing, when you log into the HPSC website you will also notice a more streamlined setup. We hope that this new arrangement will be more intuitive for members and potential members. I want to thank our Director of Marketing, Rocco Romeo, for taking on this project, our new Director of IT, Peter Kovalchuk, for his expertise, and all of the other Directors for their input and comments. 

I am sincerely looking forward to seeing and speaking with members at our various activities this fall.  

Cheers!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

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2024 Charter Trips 

Japan (Tokyo and Niseko) – Jan 11-21 (Due to the popularity of this trip, which filled up within seconds, we will work on a trip for the 2025 season)

Peisey-Vallandry, France: Club Med – (Les Arcs/La Plagne Paradiski) – Jan 20-28

Red Mountain, BC: Josie Hotel – Jan 21-28

Sun Peaks, BC: Cahilty Lodge (hotel + kitchenette units) – Jan 27-Feb 3

Panorama, BC: Approach Hotel (new) – Feb 3-10

Winter Park, Colorado USA: Vintage Hotel – Feb 3-10

Banff, AB: Banff Aspen Lodge – Feb 10-17

Sun Peaks, BC: Grand Hotel – March 3-10

Silver Star, BC: (Cross Country or Downhill) – Vance Creek Condos – March 4-11

Banff, AB: Banff Aspen Lodge – MARCH BREAK – March 9-16

2024 Overnight Bus Trips

Mont Tremblant, QC: Holiday Inn – Dec 15-17, 2023 

Holiday Valley NY, USA: Microtel – Jan 12-14

Mont Tremblant QC: Holiday Inn – Feb 4-9

Gatineau /Ottawa XC: Holiday Inn – (FAMILY DAY WEEKEND) Feb 16-19 

Quebec City, QC: Manoir Victoria – (MARCH BREAK) March 10-15 

Killington, VT USA: Killington Grand – studio kitchenettes and hotel – March 17-22

Mont Tremblant, QC: Holiday Inn – March 22-24

Le Massif, QC: Club Med Charlevoix – March 24-29

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Club Med Trips Sign-up on August 24

Sign-up for our 2024 Club Med trips (Club Med Paradiski France and Club Med Charlevoix) is almost here!  

While membership renewal opens on September 1, if you were a member in the 2022/23 season, you will be able to log on and sign up August 24. But please note that you will need to renew your membership by the end of September in order to keep your spot on the trip. If you joined after March 1, 2023, your membership is already valid for the 2023/24 season.  

Before August 24, be sure to log on to the HPSC website and become familiar with the sign-up night procedures. Sign-up opens at 8 pm EDT sharp and some trips have been known to fill up within minutes.  

As noted below, the remaining charter trips will open for registration later in September and overnight bus trips in October.  

Detailed descriptions and pricing for most trips are already posted on the HPSC website

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President’s Message – How fast the summer goes!

It is hard to believe that the summer is already half over and soon we will be focusing on the upcoming ski season. In fact, even before membership opens for renewal on September 1, two of our trips open for registration (please see the article below).

As promised in the last SnoBiz, I want to share with you some of the highlights of the recent member survey. I first want to thank all of you who participated – your responses are very helpful in planning for the upcoming and future seasons. And I want to congratulate our two survey respondent draw winners, Joe Recupero and Don Williams.

I am happy to report that 97% of respondents say they are very (72%) or somewhat (25%) satisfied with their membership in High Park Ski Club!

This extremely positive result, however, does not mean that there are not areas where members did not suggest ways we could improve. One topic that came up in a lot of comments, was our mask mandate for last season. I am happy to announce that the board confirmed at our July meeting that the policy was only for the 2022/23 season, and barring any unforeseen public health emergencies, masks will be a personal choice during the upcoming season.

On another note, just to give you a heads up, our Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19 at The National Yacht Club. Official notification will be sent out at the beginning of September (at which time the registration module will be open on our website). Once again, we plan on running a hybrid meeting, allowing for members to participate remotely.

As we get closer, I am becoming more and more excited about the upcoming season, and truly feel that it will be one of the best for the club, as we return, as they used to say on TV, “to our regularly scheduled programming”.

Cheers!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

P.S. This is the last of our summertime SnoBiz newsletters. The next edition at the end of August will start our regular schedule of every two weeks.

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Calling all potential trip leaders!

The Long Trips Committee is looking for members interested in volunteering to lead trips for the 2023-2024 ski season.Interested members will receive formal training. Additionally, those new to trip leadership will be able to assist a more experienced leader before running a trip independently. Being a trip leader is a  rewarding experience and greatly appreciated by fellow members.

Aside from being an amazing opportunity to utilize and improve leadership skills, there are other significant benefits to being a trip leader. Trip leaders will be pre-registered on the trip without having to register on Trip Sign-up Night. A financial compensation will be awarded for the work involved, paid post–trip, partially reducing your travel costs. Interested members should apply to the Long Trips Committee indicating their three preferences from the trips list in today’s SnoBiz. Please send your message to: ephraim.fernandez@gmail.com and copy longtrips@hpsc.ca.
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Ever thought of becoming a ski instructor?

Hi everyone! Our downhill snow school is looking for enthusiastic snowboard and ski instructors for next season.

You will make friends for life, have a chance to help other members of the club to improve, and get access to a whole new world of development. Volunteer instructors also get some perks that help defray the cost of teaching, including:

  • Lift ticket or pass reimbursement
  • Transportation to/from the hill
  • Cost offset on long trips when you teach
  • Access to our great afternoon sessions, Tremblant training with level 4s, and instructor training reimbursement
  • Small stipend

…plus, we have a TON of fun on snow and off snow!

Qualifications to teach with us include one of the following: CSIA level 2+, OR CSIA level 1 + HPSC Instructor Training, OR CASI level 1+.

If you are keen to help your fellow members, have a good attitude, and have met these requirements, please reach out to me at downhillsnowschool@hpsc.ca to express interest and to get access to our application form. We are recruiting until August 30, 2023. 

Christine Bellerose
Director, Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding

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2024 Cross-Country Long Trips

We’ve got lots of great choices for our Cross-Country and Snowshoe members this coming year!

Featured Charter

  • Silver Star, BC – Cross-Country/Downhill Combo, Vance Creek Condos: March 4 to 11. This HPSC favourite has 105 km of XC ski trails where you can ski from the door. Snowshoeing and ice skating are also available.

Overnight Bus Trips

  • Ottawa-Gatineau – Holiday Inn: February 16 to 19 – Enjoy 200 kms of ski trails by daily HPSC coach or skate the Rideau Canal.
  • Tremblant, Combo trip – Holiday Inn: February 4-9 – Enjoy cross-country skiing at: Tremblant resort (12km), Domain St. Bernard, (32 km), P’tit Train du Nord (29 km), Tremblant National Park (43 km).
  • Quebec City, Combo trip – Stay at the lovely Manoir Victoria: March 10-15 (March Break) and enjoy the cross-country ski areas of Mt Ste. Anne (176 km), Le Massif (32 km), and Camp Mercier (70 km).

Other Charter trips where XC skiing is available:

You can sign up on any of the following downhill trips by choosing the ‘No Lifts’ option.

Note: Since they are not featured as XC trips, there may be no other cross-country skiers on these trips. These locations are best suited for members who are comfortable skiing on their own, in a small group, or plan to enjoy both downhill and cross-country skiing. Trail passes must be purchased by the member.

  • Red Mountain, BC – January 20-27 – 50 km of trails within a 25 minute walk from hotel, local shuttle available on some days (TBD)
  • Sun Peaks, BC 1 – January 27- February 3 – 30 km of ski trails, ski from the door and take the lift to the start of the cross-country trails
  • Winter Park Hotel Colorado, USA – February 3-10 – 200 km of ski trails at Snow Mountain Ranch and 120 km at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Note that these locations are a 20 – 40 minute drive away and would require a vehicle rental.
  • Banff, AB 1 – February 10 -17 – 13 km accessible from town of Banff. Rent a vehicle for other trails.

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Calling All Prospective Trip Leaders for the2023-2024 Snow Season!

The Long Trips Committee is looking for members interested in being considered for leadership positions on the long trips scheduled from January to April 2024. 

Over the past 7 decades, HPSC has refined the trip running process and experienced Trip Leaders (TLs)  will train and mentor new TLs. TLs receive partial compensation for their trip after all of their post-trip responsibilities are completed.

Successful TLs are members who have been on at least a few HPSC long trips and have an interest in leading a long trip. They are basically proficient in MS Word and Excel, have good attention to detail, are organized and communicate well. The TL is the face of HPSC and as an ambassador, performs a key function that helps define and maintain the HPSC brand.

Interested members should indicate their interest in an email sent to longtrips@hpsc.ca with a copy to ephraim.fernandez@gmail.com

The Long Trips Committee thanks all those members who consider leading a long trip and particularly all those members who apply this year.