The Apres 70th Anniversary Snow Ball that we have planned for April 25 would be extraordinary, although we have to cancel it due to the events happening in our community and around the world. The refunds will be processed by our finance team volunteers within the next couple of weeks. We are looking forward to connecting with many of our members for Election night on-line on April 30. The Board of Directors will continue to communicate with the members the plan for the next season. We will plan a social event for us, when it will be safe to do so. Meanwhile, keep calm and carry on.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to extend our gratitude to you all for being members of our club and for your continuous support to the club’s mission.
This pic might look like it’s back from the future, but it’s real life. HSPC members Angela Johnson and Carolan Mackay, both knee injured skiers, tried ROAM Robotics Exoskeleton out on the Aspen long trip. The exoskeleton fits over your ski pants and supports up to 30% of your body weight. Angela, 17 days post meniscus tear surgery, tried the device and said: “I found I could ski the whole day and I know that it took a lot of the stress off my knee. It never encumbered my turns.” Carolan, 21 days post ACL tear injury, was also able to ski for a half day despite being told that her ski season was over. “I was so curious to try out the technology. Really, words can’t describe how surreal it was to have that feeling of a structure supporting and responding to you.” Both cyborg chicks found that the device was easy to ski in, almost to the point that you could forget about it. The only reminder was the backpack containing the batteries, computer, and a bladder that inflated the pneumatic pump because it made constant noise like a baby goat. The onsite ROAM rep, Brooke Pashley, took amazing care to make sure they understood the device and were able to gain confidence using it. She skied with them until they felt ready to ski on their own. Roam offers the exoskeleton for rent or purchase at several locations in the U.S. The rental and tryout fee is very reasonable. The exoskeleton is not just for injured skiers, but can also help skiers who just find that they don’t have the strength they used to have or perhaps didn’t hit the gym enough prior to their ski trip. www.roamrobotics.com @Roamrobotics
If you are having issues accessing the payment screen; like the screenshot to the right. I think the issue might be that you are running an older version of MacOS or Safari.
Work Around Please use Google Chrome, if you’re having issues.
There are just a few seats still open on our overnight and charter trips. If you are interested in a trip, add your name to the waitlist because cancellations happen from time to time, sometimes very close to departure.
NEW for the Lake Placid trip is an option for XC. Here is your chance to ski and snowshoe the Olympic Cross Country ski trails of Mt. Van Hoevenberg. See Lake Placid details on the website, Learn More https://hpsc.ca/event-3508545
1. Lake Placid, 1 seat left to match a male roommate, register NOW!
2. Tremblant March, 2 buses… what a party! There are still seats open although the Register button isn’t showing. The rooming needs to be sorted out so add your name to the waitlist for a seat.
3. Taos, 1 seat for a Male to match rooming.
If you need to cancel the trip, please review and follow long trips cancellation policy. Learn more https://blog.hpsc.ca/2020/01/long-trips-7/
Our ski trips are like trips back to the childhood, when someone takes care of everything and we are just having a blast and come back for dinner after playing in the snow with the red cheeks and big smiles… Our ClubMed trips definitely have it all to feel like a child on a snow carousel.
“Blossom of snow” – Social committee at crossover day promoting Apres 70th Anniversary “Snow Ball”
We had an interesting info sharing and discussions going on Facebook group about baby boomers and millennials and their impact on the declining ski industry. We are doing few things right as our clubs membership grew 20% compare to 2 years ago – after a freeze and a slow and steady decline. About 1/4 of our club are new members, it means that new generations come in while baby boomers are retiring from skiing. I did quick analysis of our new members demographics: about 40% of our new members represent generation X, 30% — millenials, generation X and we still have baby boomers joining our club – 30%. The face of our club is definitely getting younger, as French say when people look younger than their biological age: “We turn winters into springs!” We look pretty young for 70 year old club! We continue to welcome new members!
Social committee was at Scenic Caves for the crossover day and at MSLM for Members Appreciation Double Double Day. We have started the promotion of the Apres 70th Anniversary Season “Snow Ball’. The theme of the Ball is “turning the winter (snow) into the spring (cherry blossom in High Park), see the picture of Social committee with the “blossom of snow” accessories. There will be a beautiful “Snow Ball”- Waltz dance and many other traditions and surprises at the 70th celebration .
Tickets for Apres party (Awards ceremony, drink + dance) are on sale now for everyone. We are looking forward to greeting a lot of our new members at this event. We now have invited all volunteers to get discounted tickets for the formal dinner + drink + dance or Apres drink + dinner. We sincerely appreciate all volunteers contribution. Our club is a true social good miracle, managed by amazing people for amazing people. Tickets for dinner will go on sale for everyone on February 25.
#TBT A letter received by traditional mail: HPSC Archives
Due to a very infrequent serious cleaning, I have come across some pins that may be of interest to your club. My Dad’s (Tom Hatanaka, I believe he was… #007): 1. HPYSC pin – when HPSC was part of the HPYMCA; 2. 25th Anniversary pin. As a historical note, I believe I was the first and only member, who became a member at the age of 18, the only year Ontario’s drinking age was 18. This was passed by the board since my Dad, an original member, wanted to retire but wanted to be in one HPSC Ski School photo with me. Given that I had my Level 1, I had to pass the instructor Training to become a member of of Ski School, which I did. So my Dad taught one more year so we could go to Tremblant together in December. FYI, I subsequently got my PSIA Level 2 and taught in the kids program at Holimont Ski Club, Ellicotville, NY, so my kids could ski. Regards, Diane Ferguson.
Our club is managed by volunteers. We are looking for volunteers, who would be interested to grow into Directors roles for the next two years term (2020 – 2022) for the following teams:
Finance
Communications
We are happy to share that members have stepped forward to learn about both positions and to help out the club. If you are interested to join the teams please contact the current directors: https://hpsc.ca/Contact_Us Volunteer, contribute, connect…
After a bit of an up and down early January the HPSC season has
taken off with full buses to both Mount St. Louis and Blue Mountain, as well as
on the Wednesday trips. Thank you to all
of the members who have signed up for trips – and a big thank you to all the
new members who have jumped into the club with both feet.
With a growing membership, trips have been filling quickly. While the deadline for registering for weekend day trips is Thursday 6pm (Monday 6pm for Wednesday trips), with a lot of passionate new members, trips have been selling out before that point.
To ensure we are being fiscally responsible, we initially open enough spots for one bus and if all those spots are filled, a waitlist opens immediately. If it is decided that there is sufficient time and interest, spots for a second bus will be added. The waitlist helps to gauge if there is sufficient numbers for a second bus, and that the trip still breaks even.
Opening a second bus also means that we add additional pick up locations (Queen’s Quay; Liberty Village; Davenport/Yonge). All those on the waitlist will be added to the trip and be notified of their invoice. They will then have between 12 and 24 hours to pay their invoice (depending on how close to the registration deadline is). If they don’t pay, the spot will be cancelled. The bottom line is to ensure you get on the trip, you need to sign up early and often. And if the trip is full, add your name to the waitlist.
If you are interested in going on daytrip – even if it is in few weeks or next month, please register as soon as you can. This guarantees you don’t miss out on a day on the slopes you want to go on, it also lets us know that there may be enough interest for additional buses.
All trips until the beginning of March are open for registration. So sign up early and sign up often.
If you are doing the same things for a while – it’s time to try something new. Life is a constant change management. In any change – there are always new opportunities. Downhillers and boarders went to snowshoe and cross country skiing last weekend for our Annual traditional cross over day. Oh what fun! Snowshoeing is the fastest growing winter sport. It’s a very peaceful and the least expensive winter sport activity.
We are at the peak of the season right now, our overnight trips are departing, we are glad to see our members happy pictures posted on Facebook group. Our day trips are busy. Life is good with High Park Ski Club! Keep calm and ski or ride or snow shoe on!
Cancelling from a trip is no fun. You miss out on a great time and have to stay at home to deal with your injury, illness or whatever. Our cancellation policies have not changed in many years but they might not be familiar to new members. The policies were set up to be fair to all members and respect the financial responsibilities of the club.
The first step in cancelling is to notify the Trip Leader
in writing as soon as you decide. You must get a reply back from the TL
acknowledging your cancellation. This sets the ball rolling to find a replacement
for your seat and the amount of refund you’ll receive.
In all cases, the non-refundable $100 deposit is
non-refundable. This is the deposit you initially make to register for a trip.
Refund For Overnight Trips
The refund you’ll receive depends on the date you cancel.
If you cancel any time before 45 days from departure, you’ll get a full refund
of the Stage-2 payment. Between 45 and 8 days, the refund amount is the Stage-2
payment less $100… provided a replacement is found for your seat. Without a replacement
there is no refund. But it is rare that a replacement is not found because the very
next member to register becomes your replacement. So the earlier you cancel the
greater the likelihood of a replacement. Within 7 days, there is no refund at
all. Even if you are replaced in the last week there is no refund of any
amount. The policy is on the website click here
and applies to everybody without exception. Refunds will be returned to the
card used for payment and could take 2-3 weeks depending on the speed of your
own bank to credit it.
Refund For Charter Trips
Refund policies are set by the tour operators and not by
HPSC. Generally here is how they work. The first deposit of around $500 when
you registered is not refundable. Plus if you purchased cancellation insurance
from the tour operator, that payment is also not refundable. A cancellation after
the date for the balance payment, then the total amount of the trip is not
refundable. Each trip will have a different cancellation policy as listed in
the detailed description pages.
Insurance
HPSC has always strongly recommended that you have trip
insurance. Members are responsible for arranging their own trip cancellation and
medical insurance as the club cannot do it for you. Some members purchase an
annual policy, some purchase just for one trip and some rely on their credit
card benefits. Some members don’t buy any insurance feeling that they can
assume all the risk themselves.
Cancellation insurance allows you to be reimbursed if you
get sick or injured before the trip. Medical insurance covers if you get
injured during the trip. Keep in mind that the Ontario Government has stopped
paying for out of Province medical. If you are on a US trip, it is foolhardy to
go without insurance as a minor injury will be expensive, but a major injury will
cost thousands.
If you have to make an insurance claim, you can retrieve
your invoices from the website to attach to your claim form. Login, click on
your name, click on ‘Invoices and Payments’ and scroll down. If your insurance
company requires a letter from HPSC to justify the claim, just ask the TL and
it will be provided. All insurance claims must be made by the participant to their
own insurance company.
