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Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council

Chicago Week 2008 —

Breckenridge

By Teri & Mark Kinney

Saturday, March 29, 2008. Today 240 ski club members
representing 11 clubs from the Chicago Metropolitan Ski
Council came to Breckenridge, Colorado to start their fun ski
vacation known as Chicago Week. Travel went smoothly for
the groups and everyone was really excited to be here for
the 27th annual Chicago Week trip. Whoever said there
wouldn’t be enough snow should have been here! It was
snowing while some of the groups pulled into Breck! Lots of
us gathered at the Park Avenue Pub where we purchased our Peak 9 Restaurant, located at the
$uper $aver Discount Passes and our light up leis! Proceeds top of the Beaver Run chairlift.
from this fund raiser are for the Breckenridge Outdoor
Education Center (BOEC), but more about that later. It’s Tonight was the “Taste of Breck.” A lot of people turned
been a long day and I need to get some rest for the big wel- out despite the fact that is was snowing heavily.
come day tomorrow. Participants got their “passport” stamped at each location
on the beer or wine tour and then turned them in at the final
Sunday, March 30, 2008. We had to get up really early stop in exchange for raffle tickets. We had quite a few
today to get to breakfast on time. Breakfast was at the prizes and many happy winners. We also finished up the
Forest Room of the Village at Breck and they did a fantastic silent auction, bringing in about $1500.00 for the BOEC. It
job. Scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, muffins was fun to see everyone wearing their light up leis and hav-
and plenty of coffee. More than just the standard continen- ing a great time.
tal breakfasts that we sometimes get. Race registration was
a little crazy because we had to have two separate waivers, Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Today we skied at Vail and it was
one for Breckenridge and one for Keystone. But eventually fantastic. Some people decided to stay at Breck because of
everything got sorted out and off we went to explore the all the new snow, and I heard skiing was great there too. It
slopes of Breck. Sunday night was the welcome reception, took the buses awhile to get to Vail due to the weather –
where hungry CMSC participants finished off all the food in buses and trucks had to stop to put chains on – but once
45 minutes. How to practice portion control is a constant we arrived, it was great. We dedicated this ski day to Craig
issue and trip leader nightmare and this was no exception. Moon, former president of Ibex Ski Club, who passed away
The food was great, but only those who got there first and in January. Today is Craig’s birthday and our friend and
loaded up multiple plates got to taste it. The fund raiser for fellow skier was very much in our thoughts today. Our
BOEC continued to grow as we started our silent auction for après ski party was at Golden Peak Grille, and I don’t think
various items and Jeanne, Lori & Nancy sold more $uper anyone could complain there wasn’t enough food. They
$aver cards and more leis! just kept brining it out. Thanks to Viking Ski Shop for
sponsoring the beer at this party. The bus ride back to
Monday, March 31, 2008. Today we had our races at Breckenridge was a lot shorter than the ride in the morning.
Breckenridge. It was a little windy and we had some trou-
ble with snow (fresh powder!) blowing across the finish line Wednesday, April 2, 2008. Today was a day off for some
sensors. I had my best run ever in the first race, but didn’t people who went shopping, explored the town of
get a time! So I had to go back and do the green course Breckenridge and other activities like fly fishing. But a
again and of course I went slower the second time! Oh well, good many of us decided to take advantage of the great
it was a fun course and we had a great turn out. We went snow and the 6-day lift ticket and skied at Breck. Some of
over to Peak 7 in the afternoon and had a blast down all the the group went over to A-Basin. Hard to believe we only
blue cruising runs. We almost had the place to ourselves have two more days, it seems like we just arrived! Why do
and no lift line! Hooray for Spring skiing! these ski weeks go by so fast?

12 MIDWEST SKIER 2008/2009 DIRECTORY www.skicmsc.com