GOING DOWNHILL SINCE 1954
The founding members established the club's charter in 1954. No one can remember if the club had a President during the first three years of its existence. Today, we have over 200 current club members, and have expanded our club's activities to all four seasons. The board of directors adopted a club slogan a few years after to reflect the club’s beginnings. This logo also reflects what we like to do. Hence the slogan "Going downhill since 1954" was born.
Our membership has grown from a few local fledgling pioneers to members from all over the United States. The success of our club is threefold. First, the dedication of our officers and directors to improve and promote the club. Second, the club has reportedly one of the lowest membership dues in the United States. Third, the camaraderie of our club members ranks as one of the members’ highest ideals. Our members' backgrounds are many and varied, just like our skiing abilities. However, one thing you can always count on, we look for the first snow, and look forward to each year's ski season.
At first, the club's ski trips consisted of plodding up to Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, MI with our wooden skis, leather lace-up boots and bamboo poles. Today, we still go to Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands. However, we now embrace snow boarders (riders) and skiers (two-trackers) with the traditional and the latest high tech equipment (shaped skis, boot warmers, two way radios, and thin graphite poles).
In spite of everything, the old days (1960's), at the Harbor Inn in Harbor Springs, MI was very good. Our members had their resolve tested with snow blowing through the windows at the Inn and cold, refreshing showers in morning. However, the "new" days are just as exciting. Things like the cost of new equipment cost of daily lift passes, the latest "cool" fashions, lodging and the slopes continue challenge our club's membership.
Our club currently sponsors one local Midwest ski trip per month (January through March). We host weekend and days trips in Jan, Feb and March to the slopes in Michigan or Canada. Our "big Western" trip has included destinations like, Whistler, Lake Tahoe, Lake Louise / Banff, Snowbird/Alta, Breckenridge, Summit County in Colorado, France and Austria. We wrap up our season with an annual Spring trip to Winter Park, Colorado. The club has been taking 60 to 90 skiers of all ages to Winter Park (WIP) by Amtrak to enjoy the snow and powder before the ski season ends. And, sometimes the BCSC "bunny brigade" is on the slopes handing out candy when this trip occurs around Easter. The "bunny brigade" has become quite popular at WIP and has been a good ambassador for the club. Check the club's newsletter and ski trip web pages in this site for this year's trips and other club information.
