| Downhill Ski School is pleased to welcome seven new instructors joining the roster for the 2023-24 season! Today we introduce you to Matt Dimond and Lisa Price. Watch for more announcements in subsequent issues of SnoBiz. |
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| Matt Dimond Very happy to have returned to High Park (2022/23 season) where I first started my ski journey with Peg Mc Phedran at Blue back in 2018. I was coming from 10 years of snowboarding. I decided last season I needed a bigger challenge than just skiing for myself and hoping for small improvements. So, I started on the instructor training development opportunities with CSIA and within HPSC ski school. I am looking forward to this next chapter in my ski journey as I continually develop my teaching skills to best serve the High Park club members. My home base hill now is Mount St Louis. My other activities on the snow are trying to get in a few days of XC skiing and snowshoeing when in Quebec. My off snow activities are mainly focused on stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and refining those skills with some novice races. I recently obtained a Paddle Canada Instructor certification.I look forward to connecting with High Park members every week. |
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| Lisa Price I am thrilled to be joining the High Park Snow School as a Ski Instructor this year. I recently achieved my L3 certification, and I am excited to share my skills and knowledge with the High Park Ski Club community. I have been skiing since my early teens and absolutely love the sport, the environment and meeting like-minded people who love to ski. Winter is my most favourite season!I have taught for many years at Devil’s Glen and Snow Valley. See you all very soon! |
Trip Sign-up #4 – Overnight BusTrips
Charter trip sign-up night was a great success with virtually all members getting onto the trip of their choice that night. Our strategy of doubling up on the most popular destinations and offering multiple trips on the same weeks worked.
Overnight bus trip sign-up night is coming on Thursday, October 26 at 8 pm sharp. As the bus company has just finalized pricing, we will be re-working and finalizing our prices for these trips this week. Don’t forget that you must be a member to sign up and participate on a trip, and be logged onto the HPSC website at 8 pm sharp for the best selection of trips. These trips have been set up as group travel with special rates for the types of rooms listed, so modifications are not allowed. As with charters, you can choose a ‘No Lifts’ option and single supplement (limited availability), however unlike charters there is NO price reduction if you do not take the group transportation to the destination (by luxury coach). Please read through all of the trip details in advance so that you make the choice that fits your needs. The $100 deposit guarantees your spot, but note that it is non-refundable once it is paid.
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 – 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
There are still a few spots left on some charters, so do not hesitate to sign up before they are gone!
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!
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
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
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. |
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
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.
Long Trips Announcement!
Start planning now to sign up for our exciting 2024 season! This year, to minimize charter trip waiting lists on the most popular weeks and destinations, there are multiple options. For overnight bus trips, we have a mix of weekend and midweek overnight trips, with something to please everyone.
A trip to Japan is also in the works. Please stay tuned for an early sign-up date once the trip details are finalized.
2024 Charter Trips
Japan (Tokyo and Niseko) – Jan 11-21 (TBC)
Peisey Vallandry, France – Club Med – (Les Arcs/La Plagne Paradiski) –
Jan 20-28
Red Mountain, BC – Josie Hotel – Jan 20-27
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
SilverStar, 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
Quebec City, QC – Manoir Victoria (ski Mont Ste Anne, Le Massif and Stoneham) – 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
Trip Sign-up Nights will be as follows:
Thursday, August 24 – Club Med Europe and Charlevoix
Thursday, Sepember 28 – Charters
Thursday, October 26 – Overnight bus trips
Ikon Pass Group Sale Extended!
Good news for any Ikon Pass procrastinators! Our Group Sale agreement (with our partner Skican) has been extended to May 5th!
If you are hesitant because you are recovering from an injury, or because you are worried you may not otherwise be able to use the pass next year, Ikon has a few different types of insurance:
Adventure Assurance lets you defer the value of your pass to the following year, so long as you defer before December 14, 2023. And it’s free and included with your pass purchase!
Pass Protection and Injury Insurance are also available. See link here for details.
Insurance is not available directly through the Group Sale. The Spot Insurance will need to be purchased directly with Ikon by calling their Customer Support Center at 888-365-IKON after you’ve purchased your pass through Skican. This can be done anytime before October 31 2023.
For further information or to participate in the Group Sale, contact Russ Harding at ikon@hpsc.ca.