By paying an annual membership fee, a student becomes a member of the Blizzard Ski & Snowboard Club. They are then able to sign up and pay for weekly Saturday/Sunday trips to Wilmot or Alpine Valley. Membership assumes that a student is capable of making fundamental decisions and has the basic skills to follow directions. We expect mutual respect for our leadership team and other members. We need to work together, but many decisions are made independently. We work with our younger members and guide them through the day so that they acquire self-awareness and responsibility skills that they can apply to the rest of their life interactions. Membership fees are non-refundable. Our current membership fee is $175 per member. Our weekly trip fee is $175 and that is only payable the week of the selected trip(s). The weekly trip fee includes the Lift Ticket, the Lesson and the Bus Trip. If you have purchased an Epic pass or an Alpine season pass, please add that pass number to the student's profile. The reduced pass fee will automatically be used for your weekly trip fee.
Communication is handled primarily through email directly or through a mass-email provider, MailChimp. You can add your name to MailChimp by logging into the floating box on the website or from the eMail blast link under the "More Info" tab on the homepage Subscribe to emails
A day with Blizzard starts with a ski or snowboard lesson. Lessons are conducted in small groups divided by skill level. On their first day, each member, new and existing, must be classified at a certain skill level, A (beginner) through G (expert). From the beginning of each new season, we reclassify students to ensure they are in the safest level for their current ability.
Our lessons are 75 to 120 minutes long, and are taught by Level 2 or 3 PSIA Certified Instructors. These are the highest levels of instructor certification. The lessons are given on the various slopes of Wilmot Mountain and Alpine Valley which offer a variety of terrain for all skill levels. A Terrain Park is also available to adventurous teenagers and students who have reached the "D" level and above.
See more information on The Blizzard Program.
For the rest of the day, members have free time to spend with each other skiing and snowboarding. Wilmot and Alpine have a cafeteria with a few hot items for food selection. Members can eat in the Blizzard area or elsewhere on the property, but we recommend staying near our designated gathering point as we are secure there and adults are always present.
Wilmot’s slopes are monitored by lift operators, the Wilmot & Alpine Ski Patrols, and Blizzard’s several adult supervisors. There are also supervisors available at all times in the lodge. Blizzard has a designated area (called "The Blizzard Desk") that is available to our members. Our members are recognized by their Blizzard tags which should be on their person at all times. Any Wilmot or Alpine interaction with a Blizzard member is immediately reported back to our Supervisors. Supervisors come from our parents and Blizzard's extended family. So as your child(ren) have adventure, you can be a part of our volunteer team to help make the experience happen.
Blizzard members ride to and from the ski area in highway coach buses. They are equipped with a lavatory and DVD players.