HPSC’s marketing and communications directors – both downhill skiers – tried their hand at cross-country last year! Photo cred: Heather Steel
It’s our annual tradition of introducing downhillers to the pain and joy of a sport that gives you an actual work out 😉 It’s Crossover Day!
Late return means beautiful light at the end of the day! This is why we ski! Photo cred: Heather Steel
We head to Scenic Caves where we’ll have plenty of opportunities for beginner lessons, guided snowshoeing, and a lovely wine and cheese party at the end of the day in the log cabin.
Scenic Caves is located in Collingwood and has a lovely set of ski and snowshoe trails along the escarpment. Beautiful views of Georgian Bay await, and take the opportunity to walk to the impressive Suspension Bridge!
Don’t miss it! While the trip is full, we’re hoping to make this a two bus party. Get yourself on the waitlist. If there’s enough people and conditions are good, we’ll send you all up!
The New Year means the ski season is moving into full swing with four HPSC alpine day trips scheduled each week (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday).
Caution – Don’t risk not getting on the daytrips you want. Sign up early and often!
The full January schedule is available for registration, so go in and book all of the daytrips you plan on going on. As we did last year, we are guaranteeing to run at least one bus (except due to extreme weather conditions) for all scheduled trips in January and February. A second bus will only be added if there is strong interest and we have filled the first bus, so it is best to sign up as soon as possible. Our club is growing quickly, which means more sold out buses, so sign up early and sign up often.
Alpine Daytrip highlights in January:
January 11 @ MSLM: Member Appreciation and Double Double Lessons. You can take lessons both morning and afternoon with our own HPSC Ski Instructors, and then stay for a special Pizza après event for HPSC Members only. This is a Member only trip. The bus will depart at 6:15pm allowing for additional time to socialize and get to know your fellow HPSC members.
January 25: Alpine/Nordic Cross-Over Day – Downhill skiers and boarders are encouraged to try out cross-country skiing or snowshoeing with our fellow Nordic HPSC members at Scenic Caves. At the end of the day is the annual Nordic Wine & Cheese event. Nordic skiers are encouraged to cross-over and try downhill or boarding for the day at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. As always, all HPSC members can take free lessons with our own qualified ski school instructors.
January 26@Blue Mountain:
National Ski and Snowboard Day and free HPSC Pizza Lunch. Join the HPSC Sunday@Blue Crew to celebrate
National Ski and Snowboard Day with one of our special pizza lunch events.
Also open for registration is the special members only day
trip to Holiday Valley on February 15.
This is the only daytrip we will be running over Family Day
weekend. No drive up option is available
for this trip.
Don’t delay and risk not getting on the daytrips you want . . . sign up early, and sign up often.
When there are extra spaces on the bus, members are allowed to show up (usually at 400/7 only) and ‘walk-on’ the bus.
However, there is a cost to this privilege – the club has reinstituted the $10 walk-on fee for all downhill daytrips to encourage members to not wait and to sign up before the regular deadline.
And in response to requests, you can now pay electronically when you walk-on.
Please follow the ‘walk-on’ procedure outlined below:
Check the Downhill Trip Status Page (link below) on the website to see if Walk-Ons will be allowed, and at what stops. If the status is No Walk-Ons it is because the bus has sold out . . . please do not try to be a special walk-on.
Allow all registered members to get on the bus first and find a seat. If you are at 400/7 please wait outside the bus until the Bus Captain indicates the number of available Walk-On seats.
Walk-On spots are on a first come, first service basis. We cannot have more people on the bus than the number of seats. If there are more potential walk-ons than available seats, please discuss amongst the other potential walk-ons and the bus captain a fair and equitable process.
When allowed on the bus, find a seat and store your gear appropriately (no boots in the overhead bin). The bus cannot leave until everyone has a seat and is seated. You can socialize with your friends when the bus gets underway.
The bus captain will make his/her announcements and will also state that the Walk-On module on the website and app is enabled (it will only be available when the bus is on the highway). At this point you can go online on your smart phone to either the Wild Apricot for Members App or to the HPSC website and go to the event for the trip that also says WALK ON in the title. You will be asked to pay for the Walk-On fee, your lift ticket option, and the bus fee (bus vouchers are not allowed for walk-ons). NOTE: You can still pay by cash if you choose.
When the Bus Captain comes around to check you in, please let them know what your lift ticket option is and show them your proof of payment (either from the app or the confirmation email).
Enjoy your day!! And remember to be back on the bus and in your seat at least 5 minutes prior to departure time. (If you are not coming back on the bus, please let the bus captain know at some point during the day.)
One of the privileges of being an HPSC Member is the ability to drive up to the resort on your own or with friends and still participate in lessons with our fantastic ski/boarding instructors. This privilege is not extended to any guests on trips. You can drive up together, but only members can participate in the free HPSC lessons. Only members and guests who are on the bus receive the group discount lift ticket.
As outlined in a previous post, if you want to drive up, we
require you to register so that the ski school is prepared for the right number
of students and have the correct number of instructors available.
Each downhill daytrip has a corresponding and separate Drive Up module. If you want to drive up to the resort you need to register on the SEPARATE Drive Up module and not the regular trip module. If you are being asked about your lift ticket option or bus pick up location, you are in the regular module. Please exit and find the one with Drive Up in the title.
Skiing with friends at Scenic Caves! Photo cred: Michael Connor
Interested in cross-country skiing or snowshoeing but don’t know where to start? Heard of our club but not sure it’s right for you? Just in time, we’ve got two opportunities for you to try us out!
Cross-country has two “test drive” trips coming up Jan. 5 (Scenic Caves) and Jan. 11 (Horseshoe Valley). For these trips, non-members can register for the website and give our club a try before they commit to becoming a member.
We might be biased, but we think our club is pretty awesome. We have more cross-country day trips than any other club based in the GTA (every Saturday and Sunday). We’ve got five pickup locations throughout the city (High Park, Davenport/Yonge, Eglington/Yonge, York Mills/Yonge, and Hwys 400/7). Our ski school has 22 certified instructors, meaning you can get quality lessons on every day trip. And we’ve got a busload of friendly people to travel and ski with every weekend. What’s not to love?
Guided snowshoeing at Scenic Caves last year. Photo cred: Michael Connor.
Jan. 5 we’re headed to Scenic Caves. This is one of the best ski and snowshoe destinations in Southern Ontario. There’s a variety of ski and snowshoe trails at varying levels of difficulty and beautiful views of Georgian Bay! We also have a lovely log cabin to hang out in when we’re not skiing or snowshoeing. There is guided snowshoeing offered on this trip.
Jan. 11 we’re headed somewhere a bit closer, Horseshoe Valley. Horseshoe has a lovely chalet and an extensive ski and snowshoe system through the Copeland Forest. It has a great teaching area if you’re taking lessons with us. There is guided snowshoeing offered on this trip.
You can choose to mope around for months complaining about the cold, or you can join us and learn to love winter! There’s nothing better than skiing or snowshoeing through quiet forests with all the trees covered in snow. If you try us out, we’re sure you’ll love it too.
To join us Jan. 5 at Scenic Caves, register here. To join us Jan. 11 at Horseshoe Valley, register here. You will pay for the bus ($30), group rate on rentals if necessary (prices vary by resort), and the group rate on the trail pass (prices vary by resort). Indicate if you would like to take lessons, as well as your preferred pick up location. Then show up at a pick up location on the day! (Note: it doesn’t have to be the one you indicated during registration). If the trip is full by the time you register, join the waitlist. There are always cancellations and we may add a second bus if there is enough interest.
Club members practicing on the teaching grid at Horseshoe Valley. Photo cred: Michael Connor.
Please visit hpsc.ca to learn about the club. If you have questions, please see the XC FAQ page. This blog has a lot of great information for new members – like what to expect on a daytrip, what to wear, and lessons, If you still have questions, email crosscountry@hpsc.ca.
Instructor Jean-Emile teaches offset during his Level 2 course at Hardwood. Photo cred: Michael Connor.
Our cross-country ski school is looking for enthusiastic skiers who want to become an instructor. Becoming an instructor involves passing a two-day CANSI Level 1 certification course. Our ski school can help you prepare for the course.
CANSI Level 1 tests skiers on diagonal stride, double poling, freeskate, one-skate, and wedge turns, as well as the ability to teach these techniques. Don’t be intimidated – it’s a Level 1 course, which means you do not have to be an Olympic level skier! You simply need to meet the “standard” and be able to teach the techniques to beginners. Our instructors can evaluate you to see if you meet the standard and what to work on to meet the standard. We can also arrange for you to shadow experienced instructors to get teaching experience. You can pass the course in classic only, or both classic and skate.
There is a Level 1 course scheduled for Southern Ontario on Jan. 18 and 19. If you aren’t ready for that, you can spend the season preparing and do the course the following year (or, when you are ready!).
Become an instructor, and you too can make your students pull each other with ropes. Photo cred: Michael Li.
Becoming an instructor is a wonderful way to pass on your love of skiing to new skiers and members, and there is nothing like teaching others to improve your own ski skills. One of our newer instructors, Yiuyin, says “…when I told the High Park ski school that I would like to improve my skills and be an instructor, the instructors not only helped me improve my sills, but also invited me for different training [events] in Ontario and BC. I finally got my Level 1 certification last season and have enjoyed teaching.”
Heather, our cross-country director, became an instructor in 2018 and says “the process of becoming an instructor really improved my own skiing, especially skate skiing. I had support from the more experienced instructors in the club and I spent a lot of time practicing (especially one-skate!). The course itself was a lot of fun and I enjoy helping beginners become a little more efficient on the trails, which hopefully helps them have more fun.”
We aim to help our members become instructors at minimal personal cost. Certification courses are fully covered over a period of three years (provided you teach with us over those three years). Instructors are reimbursed a certain amount for each lesson, and they get complimentary day trip fees on the trips they teach.
If interested, please contact xcskischool@hpsc.ca and we’ll connect you with our instructor development director.
HPSC’s 2018 Level 1 grad class! Photo cred: Heather Steel
It was a superb first day for our two buses to travel to Mount St Louis Moonstone on Saturday December 7! Sunny day, hero snow, lots of friends from High Park and many guests, skiers, snowboarders, beginners, experts. December 7th was also our first Test Drive trip of the season with over 25 guests checking out the club.
On the following Monday, December 9th, a group of dedicated skiers and boarders also initiated the Blue Mountain season for HPSC. Despite the light rain, it was a fantastic day! And a little après at the Irish Pub in the village to top off the day, as well as some seasonal music on the bus ride home.
There are still a number of trips scheduled before the New Year, including this coming weekend to Mount St Louis Moonstone on Saturday and Blue Mountain on Sunday. Our instructors will be back from their training weekend in Tremblant. So get your shopping done early and avoid the crazy crowds at the mall . . . come skiing instead! Â
After
Christmas and Boxing Day if you want to test out your new equipment sign up for
MSLM on December 28th or come on a special trip to Mansfield Ski Club on Monday
December 30th.
All of the January alpine daytrips are open for registration!
First day on skis for many of the group! Here we are at the top of the mountain all smiles in the snow. Photo cred: Heather Steel
Amazing early season snow, a huge trail system, mountain views, and top level coaches makes SilverStar’s XC Supercamps an unforgettable experience.
Break time after skiing to the sun at the top of the mountain! Photo cred: Heather Steel
This year, a group of HPSC members – including a number of instructors – got a kick start to their season from Nov. 30-Dec. 8. We participated in the week-long camp, from all-classic beginner to intermediate and advanced combo and advanced all-skate. A couple members even tried their hand at biathlon (the real deal…guns not frisbees!). There is something for everyone here.
Getting pointers from our coach on the trail. Photo cred: Heather Steel
Supercamp places you in small groups depending on your skill level, fitness, and goals. You are led by an experienced instructor (lots of level 4 instructors out in these parts!). Generally instruction takes place in the morning, followed by a hearty lunch, and then ski time with your group in the afternoon. The combo groups do two days classic, two days skate, and one day the choice of the group. They shuttle participants on two days to Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, which has a teaching stadium and beautiful trails. On the final day, we did a fun photo scavenger hunt to close out the week!
The video doesn’t lie! Photo cred: Heather Steel
Being with the same instructor for five days does wonders to improve your technique in a short time, and gives you lots to work on when you go back home and ski through the season. We highly recommend the camps if you want to become a more efficient skier and have a lot of fun doing it.
One of the best parts about SilverStar is taking the gondola up to the top of the mountain! It’s a rare treat for XC skiers to get a ride up! Photo cred: Heather Steel
Just in case you get lost on the way to champagne, we’ve created this handy map for you! Photo cred: Howard Gibson
While we are running 4 combo trips before Christmas, our first official XC-only trip is Dec. 28 at Scenic Caves. This is our annual New Year’s Eve Celebration, with bubbly in the log cabin at the end of the day.
Look at that view!
Scenic Caves has 27km of trail for classic and skate skiers and 10km of trail for snowshoers. There are trails from beginner to advanced. At the top of the escarpment, you’ll be rewarded with a lovely view of Georgian Bay and Collingwood, and there is a lovely log cabin to enjoy a hot chocolate with friends.
For snowshoers, you can walk to the famous Suspension Bridge, the longest in Ontario! On a clear day, according to Scenic Caves, you can see 10, 000 square kilometers.
This trip offers guided snowshoeing and regular lessons.
Each year your Downhill Daytrips team attempts to improve the overall process of trips. This year we have a couple of small tweaks to let you know about.
Liberty Village pick up: As previously announced, on two bus trips we will also have a pick-up location in Liberty Village on the west side of Lamport Stadium. Please see https://www.hpsc.ca/Day-Trip-Pick-Up-Locations
Cashless Buses: Starting this year, Bus Captains will no longer be responsible for collecting cash on the bus for walk-ons or any other money. Any money owed will be recorded and will be billed onto your HPSC account. You will need to pay the invoice prior to booking for another trip or paid event.
Dedicated Bin for Ski School InstructorsEquipment: We have always asked that you allow our Instructors to get off the bus first so that they can get started at arranging for ski assessments and lessons. However, most times they end up pulling off all of the skis from the bus to get to their own. We are requesting that all Ski Instructors put their skis in a dedicated marked Instructor bin (usually Bin 4). Members can put their equipment in any of the other available bins on the way to the resort. On the way home, all skis/boards etc. (including Instructors) should be in the bin for their desired drop off location as is currently done.  Â
Rowan’s Law – concussion protocol:– In Ontario there is a new law regarding concussion protocols for young adults that all sports programs and sports clubs (such as HPSC) must follow. All participants in HPSC (members and guests) 25 and younger must sign a waiver indicating an understanding of what they need to do in case of a possible concussion and ways to prevent concussions. This is the reason that in registration we are asking if you are 25 or younger – it is especially important when you register any guest on a trip that we know if they are under 26 so that we can get them to sign the additional Rowan’s Law waiver.
