Category: Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

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Ikon Group Sale Extended!

We have seven trips going on sale on September 26, and five of the destinations are on the Ikon Pass!

And, the Ikon Pass is still available through our Group Sale (sale has been extended). The sale gets you a modest discount off the pass, plus $50 off any Skican Group trip, including many of our HPSC trips.

Plus, you get a chance to win a refund equivalent to an Ikon Base Pass. We already have enough sales to refund SIX passes!

A final date has not yet been announced, but we are told the Group Sale will continue into October.

If you have questions, send them to Ikon coordinator, Russ Harding, at ikon@hpsc.ca

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Ikon Group Sale Pass continues…but not for long!!

Our Group Sale for Ikon Passes will be coming to an end on September 6 at 5pm. Lots of info here.

We have had a great response, and are poised to award a refund equivalent to an Ikon Base Pass to SIX lucky members!

The Ikon Pass can be used for unlimited skiing at Blue Mountain and Tremblant, with no blackouts.

If you have already purchased a 5×7 Pass for Blue, but are thinking maybe you would have been better off getting the Ikon Pass, note that you can get a full refund for the 5×7 by telling Blue the order number for your Ikon Pass. It’s easy!

The pass can be used on our trips as follows:

Blue Mountain Ikon Base Pass (unlimited)
save $69-$159 per day

Tremblant Ikon Base Pass (unlimited)
save $170-$365*

Killington Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $270**

Panorama Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $405

Japan Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $455

Val Gardena Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $680

Sun Valley Ikon Base PLUS (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $925***

Sun Peaks 1 Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $500

Sun Peaks 2 Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $455

Banff 1 Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $485

Banff 2 Ikon Base Pass (5 days), Ikon Pass (7 days)
save $515

*Tremblant prices are not yet published. Savings shown are from last season.

**Killington prices are not yet published. Savings shown are from last season.

***The Ikon Base Pass is not accepted at Sun Valley. You can purchase the Ikon Base Pass through our Group Sale, and then upgrade to the Ikon Base Plus through your Ikon Pass online account. Or, you can buy the full Ikon Pass through our Group Sale.

Contact me with any questions

Russ Harding

ikon@hpsc.ca

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Long Trips News

We were all heartbroken to see such devastation to such a beloved and iconic destination as Jasper, Alberta. Although many residents very sadly lost their homes, our tour operator has confirmed that there was no damage to the Crimson Hotel or the Marmot Basin ski resort. We firmly believe that it will help the town recover if tourism continues, and at this point plan to do our part by continuing with our trip to Jasper in March 2025. 

Spots have been added on the Panorama early start trip and optional Ski With the Pros course. Sign-up for the added spots and the rest of our Western Canada trips will be held on Thursday, September 26 at 8 pm sharp. Sign up for overnight bus trips on Thursday, October 24, also at 8 pm sharp. Check out our website for more information. Full details available later in the summer. You can’t beat the wide variety of HPSC trips. There truly is something for everyone! 

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Call for Instructors!

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 reimbursementTransportation to/from the hill
Cost offset on long trips when you teach/guide
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, 2024. 

Christine Bellerose
Director, Skiing and Snowboarding
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Long Trips Update

We were blown away by the response to our early sign-up for five of our long trips on June 20 with several trips selling out within minutes and waitlists forming.

We’ve been able to extend the deadline to sign up for Japan until July 15. For Japan, we have a terrific trip leader who has travelled to Japan numerous times. Don’t miss this unforgettable opportunity to travel to this bucket list destination and experience the legendary Japow snow! 

We were also able to add space on the Panorama early start trip and optional Ski WithThe Pros course. Unfortunately the Val Gardena, Club Med France, and Newfoundland trips are full and no further spots can be added.

Sign up nights for the rest of our amazing trips will be held on Thursday, September 26 for charters and Thursday, October 24 for overnight bus trips. Again this year, there will be two trips to HPSC favourites Sun Peaks (both to the popular Sun Peaks Grand Hotel), and two to the Banff Aspen Lodge, along with a March break trip to Jasper, Alberta.

Also not to be missed are four trips to our most popular destination, Mont Tremblant. Along with the usual December and March weekend Tremblant trips, there are two mid-week trips, one in February and one in March. HPSC returns this year to the Eastern Townships, Quebec Family Day, Lake Placid Combo trip (cross country / downhill) and the always popular Killington, Vermont. Check out our website for more information, full details available later in the summer. You can’t beat the wide variety of HPSC trips across a spectrum of price points. There truly is something for everyone!
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Long Trips Early Sign-Ups!

It’s coming… more early sign-ups for long trips will be happening at 8pm sharp on Thursday, June 20, 2024.  Available for early sign up will be Niseko JAPAN, Club Med FRANCE, Val Gardena ITALY, Newfoundland and one more trip that has just been announced: SKI WITH THE PROS in Panorama the first week of December.  With the exception of the newest trip, details are already available on the website for you to review.
  
You’ll need to be a current member to sign up on that night and will need to renew your membership for 2024/25 in September. If you were not a 2023/24 season member, sign up now and your membership will carry through for the full 2024/25 season. Many members have asked for earlier trip sign-ups and we have been able to arrange it. You can guarantee your spot on these trips that night by signing up and paying the HPSC $100 deposit. Aside from Japan, the rest of the tour operator deposits will be required later in the summer and final balances in the fall. Regular sign-up nights will happen in the fall for Sun Peaks, Banff and the overnight bus trips. Stay tuned for more details on these in SnoBiz.

As usual, the Club Med trip is all inclusive with all meals, drinks, flights, guides, and instruction. The Val Gardena trip to the Italian Dolomites also includes 3 nights in Munich, and during the 7 nights at the ski resort, half board (breakfast, appetizers, dinner). An information session will be held by Zoom for the Europe trips on Monday, June 17 at 8pm.  Please send an email to longtrips@hpsc.ca if you want to attend the call and the link will be sent to you. Details on Japan and NFLD are shown in the trip descriptions on the website and information calls were announced or have been held.  

Don’t miss your chance to guarantee a spot on these very special 75th anniversary destination trips!  Read the instructions on how to sign up and trip descriptions on the website and be logged onto the HPSC website at 8pm sharp, on Thursday, June 20, 2024 and sign up for the trip of your dreams!
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HPSC Snow School had another tremendous training and teaching season!



Let’s only remember the 406 classes taught, the many programs offered, the sooo popular Saturday races at Mount St Louis Moonstone. Your CSIA and CASI qualified instructors continued to train at Tremblant and in Ontario to bring you safe, productive and fun lessons.Our 51 ski and snowboard instructors want to thank all HPSC members for your enthusiastic participation in our daily trips lessons and Canadian overnight trips guidance.A few special instructor achievements deserve our warmest congratulations:

Laura Shepherd – full Level 3!
David Manning – Course conductor for Level 1 courses 
+ CSIA Ontario and National – HPSC Instructor of the year
Mike Romano – accepted in the Level 4 academy
Matt Diamond – CSIA (skiing) Level 2
Carmen Lopes – CASI (snowboarding) Level 2

We hope to see you all again in our lessons next winter!
 
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You asked and we listened!  By popular demand!  This is not a Club Med trip!

HPSC returns to Niseko, Japan for 2025 from Wednesday, January 8th to Sunday, January 19th. Pricing and sign-up details will be available soon. Once again, our trip leader will be a very experienced Japan traveller with skill in navigating the streets and subways of Tokyo.

Fact: Japan receives the world’s most snowfall! Why risk another ski season?

https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/travel/snowiest-places-on-earth-pictures

Experience 3 full days in Tokyo (4 nights) and experience the sights and bright lights of Tokyo, as well the exceptional food and service that Japan is renowned for. 

You’ll spend 5 days skiing in the Niseko area. IKON pass holders will have 5 days of free lift access with your pass at Niseko United resorts.

This trip is modular! If you want to stay longer in Japan and tour around, you can book a personal extension for this trip. You can use your airline points to book your airfare!We will be hosting 2 video calls in the next 2-3 weeks to answer questions and walk you through what to expect. We will have pricing information for the calls. Stay tuned!

If you are interested contact don.lefresne@gmail.com to get times and details for the calls.
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Long Trips

Thanks to everyone who made our 2023/24 season such a success! The Ikon Pass pricing will go up as of April 18, so we want to give you a sneak peak at our next season so you can purchase your pass at the best prices. Be sure to purchase your pass through the group website and be entered in the draw for a free pass. 

Our special 75th anniversary trip will be to the iconic ski resort of Sun Valley, Idaho from Jan 26 to February 2, 2025. This special 75th anniversary trip will require an Ikon Base Plus pass or a full Ikon pass. More details will be posted soon with instructions on how to ensure that if you purchase the full pass or Base+, your spot on the Sun Valley trip can be confirmed.   

Other amazing 2024/25 trips will be to Ikon Base pass destinations in the Dolomite region in Italy, and to HPSC favourites like Sun Peaks and Banff. At your request, there will be four trips to Mont Tremblant. More trips will announced when details are available but include a Club Med destination in France that is new to HPSC, and a return to Jasper in Alberta.Please keep reading SnoBiz over the next few months for news on next season’s trips including how and when you can sign up to lock in your spots on the trips of your dreams.
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Day Trips


The 2023/2024 downhill day trips season came to an end on Saturday, March 23 at MSLM. It was a great way to wrap up the season with a surprise cold week with some snow in Toronto and the ski resorts.

A huge thank you to the volunteer downhill day trips team! On a weekly basis, these are your volunteers who worked hard behind the scenes. We had 53 day trips planned for this season, and this team did all the work to coordinate them, even for the trips that didn’t run.

Saturday Trip Coordinator: Bishu Basuroy
Sunday Trip Coordinator: Michael Hardtke
Monday Trip Coordinator: Sheila Moshonas
Wednesday Trip Coordinator: Fran Burgess
Day Trips email inquiries: Jason Tsang
Bus Captain forms: Heidi Gay

Thank you to all club members who volunteered to be bus captains on all our day trips!

Thank you to Downhill Snow School and all instructors for organizing, teaching lessons and clinics, as well as the MSLM race series!

We had an unseasonably warm winter, but we still got quite a few weeks of trips with full registrations. I’m already looking forward to next season and hoping for a lot more snow and winter!