Skiing near Detroit

boodizzle

boodizzle

Member
Hey NS,

I just moved to Detroit, MI from Seattle and I'm looking at where I will be skiing this winter in the Michigan area. I will be in Detroit for two years and am wondering which place I should go to, I don't really know anything about the skiing community of Detroit or its hills. I know the hills are all about the same and there frequency for ice is common, so does it make that much of difference from one to another?

I have found four main resorts to choose from in the Detroit metro area

Mt. Brighton (which I have heard the most about)

Alpine Valley

Pine Knob

Mt. Holly

I live closer to Pine Knob and Mt. Holly. I'm mostly looking for the best park and what will give me the most bang for my buck while I'm out here. Any suggestions would be awesome and I hope to see you out on the hill this winter.

Jah Bless.
 
Holly has more features than alpine, but alpines are generally better imo.

Never been to PK but Brighton is not even worth your time.

I personally ride at Alpine, it has a fun park, but there is not much of a ski scene at all there.

Holly and PK both have good parks with alot more of a ski scene, i would recommend wherever you can get your pass cheaper/ whichever is closer.
 
IMO Holly is the best. I'm buying my past the minute i can which i believe is the 4th of next month. The pass is $460 and goes up like $30-$50 every month until . i can pay that off in like 11 trips. Theres a great group of people riding at Holly. I've skied at all 4 hills you mentioned and Holly is all around the best. They build a "superpark" at the end of february/beginning of march thats tons of fun and have a rail jam, big air and slope style comp. If you're looking to buy a pass, Holly is the place.
 
Thanks that helps, I just want to be at a place I can hit rails and make some homies. I don't know anybody out here and I don't know what the skiing community is like. Hope to see some fellow newschoolers. Mt. Brighton seems to far for me anyway.

Do all of these have night skiing? Is it that nice or is it just an ice bowl?
 
They all have night skiing yes. Its pretty much like east coast hard pack thats icy in the morning and later at night. All depends on the day. Ride holly and hang with my friends! how old are you?
 
Holly is the place for you my friend. There are a few older guys like you that are like 5 times a week as well.
 
As Julian said, Holly is pretty solid, but I like Pineknob much better.

I would go with the dual pass for Holly/PK. I did that last year, and it was nice being able to switch resorts. Pine knob defiantly stepped up their game last year with their parks. They had 5-10 more jibs than usual, and the jumps were decent compared to Holly.

Stay away from Brighton and Alpine IMO. Brighton has always sucked. I have been there twice and I never want to go back. Alpine is really tight if they are caught on a good year. They maintain their features the best, but last year from what I know, they were light years behind Pineknob and they didn't have a decent park up until mid January. If you want an idea from what features are at PK/Holly check out this edit:

 
^ and i forgot to say. In the edit, some of it is shot at Crystal Mtn up north, and Colorado. However, the majority is PK and Holly. Defiantly get the dual pass. There are always people to shred with at both places. Holly typically has more people your age, but I didn't like their park as much as Pineknob's last year. Not to mention, PK has 3 decently sized parks, when holly only has 2!
 
Should say somewhere on the season pass page. If u buy a pass for either resorts, its $150 extra for the dual pass. So around $600 for both resorts.
 
Do it. Im telling you, PK has gotten much better. Their parks are better than holly. I thought the same thing as you before the season, but I ended up skiing PK much more. If you get 20+ days, I would for sure go with the dual pass.
 
Cool thanks man! Sounds like the double pass is the way to go. I do plan on getting more than twenty days in. Ya I know it wont be the altitude of back home, but skiing is skiing. I just want to have snow under my feet. That is all that matters in the end. I liked your edit, I'll give you a shout before the season starts.
 
PS Did any of you see this?

https://www.newschoolers.com/ns3/web/popups/viewimage.php?media=http://i47.tinypic.com/2vt4ahk.png

2vt4ahk.png&size=400x1000


They are coming to Holly and PK in January.
 
last year kinda sucked like first week of december to second week of march. I remember second week of november to third week of april though.
 
First week of december is when the lifts were turning. Didnt have a park till the holidays though. 2 years ago holly opened up with a small jib park the monday after thanksgiving
 
Fuck you. Lets get it done for sure. I have a real easy semester in the winter so my weekends will typically be free.
 
always down to ride, feel free to PM me...although I do a majority of my down state riding at Brighton (which apparently doesn't have the best reputation on here), but I frequent PK, Alpine, Holly.

what I don't think has been mentioned is the possibility for trips up north. within 4.5 hours of Detroit there are plenty of great places to daytrip/spend the weekend at (Nubs, Boynes, Otsego on public days, ECT)
 
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