Clarkston, MI 2011/2012 – The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) has produced a card that allows the holder to ski at 29 different Michigan ski areas this winter for just $189.  Called the MSIA White Gold Card, purchasers are entitled to ski one time at each of the participating ski areas during the 2011/2012 ski season.  Also included is one free ski tune-up (edge sharpen and wax) at participating MSIA ski retailers.

“The White Gold Card is an exceptional value,” says Steve Kershner, chairman of the MSIA and director of skiing for Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire.  “If you paid for a lift ticket at each of these ski areas and brought your skis in for a tune-up, you would be spending over $960.”

The card looks like a credit card, divided into squares.  Each ski area is assigned to a square and one square is designated for the ski tune-up.  The purchaser takes the White Gold Card to the ski area’s lift ticket window, where the square corresponding to that ski area is punched out.  White Gold Card skiers are allowed to ski one time at each ski area, midweek or weekend.  The card is valid for the entire ski season, except for December 24, 2011 through January 2, 2012.  The cards are non-refundable and non-transferable.  To get the tune-up, White Gold Card purchasers take their skis or boards to one of the over 40 participating ski shops.

MSIA developed the White Gold Card as a fundraising endeavor and limits its production to 400 cards.  “We’ve found from past years’ sales that they go quickly,” says Kershner.  He suggests that anyone interested in purchasing a card should do so as soon as possible.

To add a little excitement, MSIA has also created a challenge for White Gold Card participants.  “Anyone who uses the White Gold Card at all 29 Michigan ski areas will win a card for the 2012/2013 ski season,” Kershner announced.  He added that MSIA is hosting the challenge to encourage skiers to try all the great slopes in Michigan.  To win, White Gold Card holders must ski at all the ski areas and then send MSIA their punched-out White Gold Card accompanied by a used lift ticket from each of the ski areas.

Participating ski areas include:  Alpine Valley in White Lake; Apple Mountain in Freeland; Big Powderhorn Mountain of Bessemer; Bittersweet in Otsego; Blackjack Resort in Bessemer; Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs; Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls; Caberfae Peaks in Cadillac; Cannonsburg Ski Area in Cannonsburg; Cross-Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon; Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville; Hanson Hills in Grayling; Indianhead Mountain in Wakefield; Marquette Mountain in Marquette; Mont Ripley in Houghton; Mt. Bohemia in the Keweenaw Peninsula; Mt. Brighton in Brighton; Mt. Holly in Holly; Mt Zion in Ironwood; Muskegon Winter Sports Complex in Muskegon; Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs; Pine Knob in Clarkston; Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain; Shanty Creek in Bellaire; Snow Snake in Harrison; Swiss Valley Ski Area in Jones; The Homestead in Glen Arbor; Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles and Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

White Gold Cards will be sold at participating MSIA ski shops throughout the state from October through December, while supplies last.  MSIA shops offering the cards and the ski/snowboard tune-ups are:  Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus in Grand Rapids; Boyne Country Sports in Bloomfield Hills, Novi and Traverse City; Don Orr Ski Haus in Traverse City; Don Thomas Sporthaus in Birmingham; Lee’s Adventure Sports in Kalamazoo; Nichol’s Ski & Patio in Dearborn and Waterford; Outdoor Action Co. of Sylvan Lake; Reliable Sport & Ski Haus in Holland; Schummer’s Ski Shop in Gross Pointe Woods; The Ski Loft in Charlotte; The Stable of Saginaw in Saginaw; Sun & Snow Sports in Ann Arbor; and Swiss Valley Ski Shop in Jones.

Other shops that are offering the ski/snowboard tune-up are:  Boyne Country Sports stores in Boyne Falls, Harbor Springs and Petoskey; MC Sports Michigan stores in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Big Rapids, Brighton, Cadillac, Fort Gratiot, Gaylord, Grand Blanc, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lapeer, Marquette, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Muskegon, Petoskey, Portage, Traverse City; Goshen and Michigan City Indiana; Rossford Ohio; and Sun ‘N Snow Ski Shop in Cadillac.

The White Gold Cards can also be purchased online at www.goskimichigan.com.  For more information, visit www.goskimichigan.com or call MSIA at (248) 620-4448.