Ausblick is open for the 2010 - 2011 ski season! The cold weather over the last 2 weeks has given our snowmaking crew the opportunity to lay down a base of over 2 feet of packed snow on our runs before we open them. Did you ever stop to think that this base of snow we make to open is the snow that we have left to ski on at the end of the season? Because we wait until conditions are right to make the best snow, we have the best skiing conditions in spring, and are usually the last ski area open in Southeastern Wisconsin. Ausblick typically closes for lack of members showing up and not for lack of snow to ski on.

Every year some members at the beginning of the season ask why Ausblick isn't open since the public ski hills in the area have opened. Part of the reason is what I mentioned above. We want to make our snow base the best possible, so we have great late season conditions. The public hills need to open to sell lift tickets. They will make snow as soon as the temperatures get below freezing, even if this means some of it might melt the next day from warmer temps or rain. Thus their snow base is made up of snow that has probably thawed then frozen again several times in the early season. This thaw/freeze cycle means their base is ice, and ice is what they will have left for the late season operations. Another big reason why Ausblick will not make snow until the temperatures drop well below freezing is that making snow at higher temperatures is more costly and produces poorer quality snow. We do not want to waste the dues our members' have paid by trying to make snow in warmer temps.

I want to thank all those who attended the two new member orientation meetings that were held the last 2 weeks at Ausblick. It was my pleasure to meet these new members who, after a wait, are very excited about this ski season at Ausblick.

Remember, you can always find out the status of the Hill by calling the Hill number 262-246-3090 to hear Dennis' daily message, or by checking the Ausblick website, www.ausblick.org for all Ausblick Club and Hill information.

In closing, I would like to thank Dennis Evinrude and all his staff, snowmaking, grooming, lift operations and office, as well as all our members, our ski patrol, our ski instructors and our Ausblick Ski Race Team for helping make Ausblick the best membership ski hill in the Midwest.

Happy Holidays to you and your families and enjoy the ski season.

The race team has been taking advantage of the early season snow in more ways than one. The Thanksgiving Copper Camp was attended by over 50 athletes and they enjoyed world class training on the best snow we have experienced in over 10 years.

The race season started for our USSA athletes with the first race at Brule.

Ausblick Ski Race Team dominated with 27 top 10 finishes and plenty of hardware. Our FIS athletes also faired well at the first race at Nubs Nob, MI with the highlight a men's sweep of the podium on Saturday as well as 3 women's top 10 finishes. Congratulations to all our athletes.

All of our upcoming events are listed on the calendar on our website
www.ausblickskiraceteam.com including our Christmas camp schedule starting 12/27 and the WJR racing schedule.

If you have any questions about the team please contact me at
rbourdo@ausblickskiraceteam.com.

Happy holidays,

Randy Bourdo

Ski Team President