Press Release: Welch Village Getting Serious about Ski Racing

The future is bright for ski racing at Welch Village thanks to the addition of new staff,  additional investments in the quality of coaching system, and the race slopes themselves.  Welch Village is already planning to modify their early season snowmaking efforts in order to target more of their powerful snowmaking capabilities towards steeper race type terrain.

Tammy Coyne, who has spent the last few seasons serving as assistant race director, is now the new race director at Welch Village.  Coyne brings extensive race management experience from her years spent in Michigan and at Buck Hill in MN.  She was the race director at Buck Hill for 10 seasons and brings valuable expertise and knowledge which will enable Welch Village to attract more racers and race events in the years to come.  Coyne is eager to build Welch Village's NASTAR program, adult race leagues, and High School Invitational race.

Brianna Berg is now Welch Village's new USSA Head Coach.  Berg spent one season racing USSA at Welch Village and 3 seasons at Afton Alps.  She was a FIS racer and participated in the 2003 J1/J2 Junior Olympics.  Berg raced in college for the Northern Michigan Ski Team in 2005 and 2006.  In 2005, she qualified for the USCSA individual nationals and in 2006 her team qualified for nationals as a team.   For the past 5 years, she has been the head coach of the Northfield High School Alpine Team.  Berg is now a full-time coach at Welch Village serving as head coach for the USSA team and the new Race Academy Program.

The new Welch Race Academy, a program under the new SkiLink Performance Center™, will make it's debut in 2014/15 and will introduce a new standard of race coaching in the region.  As a PMTS™ Racer Development licensed program, the Race Academy will aim to build  "World Cup" type ski movements in every athlete using movement based drills and skier alignment methods.  The program's goal is to use smaller coach to athlete ratios than typical race programs.   Coaches will mix free ski drills, gate section drills, full course sets, and time trials in order to maximizeresults for each athlete and provide more individual attention. The program will also incorporate a great deal of video analysis enabling coaches to focus on how each athlete's movements create speed and efficiency on race day.

Welch Village is hoping that mother nature helps this fall in enabling them to concentrate more snowmaking efforts towards getting race hills like Lookout and Dan's Dive open sooner than in year's past.  When cold temperatures arrive this fall, Welch Village's snowmaking crew will be ready.  In fact, for the first time in many years, a Thanksgiving Race Camp is planned for the weekend of Nov. 29-30. If weather permits, this will allow all Welch Village guests to enjoy steeper terrain as early as possible.

Registration for the D-team, USSA team, and the new Race Academy opens on October 1st.  Registration for all race programs can be done via the Online Store.

New Shop Taking Shape

It's not as sexy as a new chairlift or new slopes but it's a huge improvement nonetheless.  Our new state-of-the-art maintenance shop is really taking shape this week as rafters are being set with a crane and the building will soon be partially enclosed.  You will see in the pictures below that the new road to Madd Jaxx also continues to take shape.  The leaves are beginning to show signs of turning down here and we will begin moving snowguns around very soon.  If you are planning to attend the Hoigaard's Tent Sale this weekend stop by and say hi at our booth.  

 

Breaking News: Big Sky, Grand Targhee, and Lutsen programs finalized for 2014/15

We are pleased to announce that we have finalized our Member Benefit Programs with our partner resorts:  Big Sky, Montana - Grand Targhee Resort, WY - Lutsen Mountains, MN.  We are proud to offer our members benefits at these resorts and we thank our resort partners for offering exclusive opportunities like this for our season pass holders.

To view the full Big Sky Exclusive Package offers Click Here.  The benefits at Targhee and Lutsen will be virtually the same as recent years.

In a couple of weeks, we will release a new fall lineup of season pass options which will enable you to take advantage of all Member Benefits including exclusive offers at our partner resorts, exclusive discounts on lift tickets and rental for your guests, and more.  Watch for our new "Flex Passes" which will provide a series of flexible membership options to fit your life style and schedule.

Stay tuned for more information on our new fall passes as well as fall events, D-Team Picnic, Ski Swap, and more! 

Impressive

Here are some pictures taken today from the construction site of our new state-of-the-art Maintenance Shop.  This building looks more and more impressive my the day.  For the first time, you will see the 5 ton jib crane.  The block walls are complete for the most part.  We are hoping to start the framing process next week. Still anticipating completion this fall.  Winter is getting closer, we can feel it.

MSAA Conference & Trade Show

I was in Boyne, Michigan this past week... part of a group of five Welch Village management members attending the Midwest Ski Areas Association conference and trade show.  This is an annual event where ski area staff from across the Midwest come together to learn, network, socialize, and prepare for yet another winter season that is just around the corner.  The Boyne Michigan area is truly special this time of the year and the staff at the resort did an excellent job hosting this event.  This year's conference offered a variety of interesting and educational sessions on all topics relating to ski area operations.  Personally, I learn the most at these events from talking with ski area operators from across the Midwest region and learning how they run the businesses, what their seasons were like, what's new for them at their areas etc.  This year, I learned the most from the operators of Perfect North Slopes in Indiana, Cascade Mountain in Wisconsin, and Crystal Mountain in Michigan.  Specifically, I was impressed at how these ski resorts train and manage their staff in customer service across all the departments. I feel we do a pretty good job at this at Welch Village but there are always opportunities for growth.  The event also provides a chance to learn about the latest in equipment & technology from industry suppliers.  Below is a collection of photos taken during the week.  

We at the Village like to say that this event marks the unofficial start to the winter season for us.  We hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of summer.  We are busy getting ready for our 50th season and are looking forward to serving you for 50 more.

Tim Parker(Rossignol) with a passionate sales pitch to Joe Yasis (Afton Alps)

 Our preferred snow cat, Piston Bully

 The latest portable snowmaking units from SMI and Techno Alpin

 The latest snowcat from Prinoth

 Keynote Address from President of National Ski Areas Association, Michael Berry

 Rob Walz from Cascade Mt. in a session about staff management & guest service

 The Welch Team: (Left to Right) Leigh Nelson, Nate Lindholm, Stephanie Prink, Chris Walch, and yours truly

 Steph and Nate just before their Zip Line Adventure

 Sunset over Deer Lake during the final evening of the conference

 Enjoying the sunset with Grandpa Leigh

New Shop Construction

Construction efforts with our new maintenance facility are in full swing.  Footings and the foundation have been poured and the crew is now installing the block wall of the first floor this week.  The exterior of the building is starting to take shop already which is pretty exciting.  This is going to be an impressive building. Stay tuned for more updates as the building takes shape.  Have a happy and safe 4th of July. 

P.S. Don't Forget - Our annual July 1st Lift Ticket Sale is tomorrow.

PRESS RELEASE: Ground Breaking of New state-of-the-art Maintenance Facility

Today, we held a ground breaking ceremony for our new state-of-the-art maintenance facility project.  Below is a Press Release written by Welch Village Founder, President, and Owner, Leigh Nelson:

PRESS RELEASE

Goodhue County granted a building permit on June 5 to Welch Village Ski Area, Inc., for construction of a state-of-the-art maintenance facility for the resort. Two buildings are included in the plan, one to house portable equipment for snow making and grooming, and the other for routine maintenance and for major repair of machinery and vehicles needed to provide superior slope conditions for a supreme alpine experience.

Welch Village will celebrate its 50th year of operation through the 2014-2015 season ahead, and the new maintenance facility confirms the commitment the resort has made to continually upgrade equipment, slopes and infrastructure to enhance the ski experience for its guests. At present the resort has over 200 high tech snow making units, pumps over 5000 GPM of water for snow production, has nine chairlifts serving 60 slopes, and has a large learning center with a carpet lift.

The new maintenance facility will be equipped with a hydraulic lift system, high tech tools and test devices, and a computer based spare part system assuring dependable performance of key equipment. Accessabilty to the slopes, and to the county highway system will enable fast response to slope needs, and ready and safe delivery of fuel and other supplies. The original shop facility will be dismantled and moved to the recreational bike trail in the Cannon Valley.

A ground breaking ceremony for the new maintenance complex will be staged on Thursday June 12, at 10 AM at the resort.on the fill bed site where the buildings are to be located. Coffee and a sweet will follow in the chalet, with a short presentation on the 50 year history of the resort and the ski industry.