Author name: Mike Hollenbeck

First Day on Skis: Mountain Mike’s Best Advice (From the Boot Bench Up) I still remember my first wobbly slide off the magic carpet—gloves too tight, grin even tighter. Since then I’ve helped a lot of first-timers turn nerves into “one more run.” Here’s the no-fluff advice I wish I’d had on day one, with […]

KidzWorld: Tiny Rippers, Big Smiles — Here’s How We Get Kids Ski-Ready We’re about six weeks from first chair, and my stoke meter is already pinging. Last January I watched a 5-year-old go from cautious sidesteps to linking turns in one session and the proud little “did you see that?!” head tilt was everything. If

Two Months Out: My Real-World Ski Season Prep (a.k.a. The Annual Gear Excavation) I love this window before first chair. The air snaps a little, the garage smells faintly of old wax, and I get to play archaeologist with my winter bins. Last year I found one boot liner, three left gloves, and a fossilized

Leaf It to Us: SkyTour Chairlift in Fall Fall at Greek Peak is like nature showing off—and I’m here for it. If you’ve ever wanted to see the Finger Lakes dressed to the nines in red, orange, and gold, the SkyTour Chairlift is your ticket to the best view in town. I rode it last