Kathleen Lavey

Lansing State Journal

Even if you don't see snow on the ground in your backyard today, Michigan's ski slopes already have a deep base and plenty of fun stuff planned for skiers and snowboarders.

Your top five things to know as you plan to hit the slopes:

1. The slopes are ready now. The season already is well under way, cranked up before Thanksgiving. That means plenty of base – up to 58 inches and counting at Nub's Nob in Harbor Springs, for example – and a season that will likely last longer than the typical 100 to 104 days. "We've already had some great sunny days of skiing and moderate temperatures compared to last year," said Ben Doornbos, spokesman for Nub's Nob.

2. Terrain parks are where it's at. The Nubs Nob terrain park was recently ranked among the top in the Midwest and No. 1 in Michigan by Transworld Snowboarding magazine. Treetops has opened a natural terrain park for experienced boarders. You'll also see more giant air cushions at terrain parks to give skiers and boarders a soft landing when they're practicing aerial tricks. "It's really neat and the kids really love it," said Barry Owens, general manager at Treetops Resort near Gaylord. Ski Brule in the Upper Peninsula also has an airbag this year. Crystal Mountain has added a beginners' terrain park.

3. Ride a zip line, slide on a tube or sleigh your way to dinner. Resorts are piling on other activities to keep non-skiing family members busy. For example, you can take a sleigh ride or cross-country ski to a gourmet dinner at Treetops, get a bird's eye view from new zip lines at Mt. Holiday near Traverse City and Crystal Mountain and expanded zip experiences at Boyne Mountain. Boyne Highlands and Shanty Creek have revamped snow-tubing areas. Treetops also is offering dogsled rides and even a chance to ride with a driver on a snow-grooming run.

4. Making and grooming snow. Most Michigan resorts continue to invest heavily in equipment to make sure that there's plenty of snow, and that it's perfect. "There's more and more snowmaking equipment and better and better groomers, so the conditions are always good," said Micki MacWilliams, executive director of the Michigan Snow Sports Industry Association. The key temp for making snow: 28 degrees. Nub's Nob has added 10 new snow guns – of its own patented design – bringing the total to 292. "We're very proud of our snowmaking and grooming and that certainly is really the heart and soul of our business," said Doornbos of Nub's Nob.

5. Never tried it?Now's the time. The Discover Michigan Skiing program discounts cross-country and downhill skiing at participating resorts. Get a downhill or snowboard lesson, equipment rental and lift pass for $35 or cross-country lesson, rental and pass for $20. Nearby ski areas that are participating in the program include Mt. Brighton, Mt. Holly and Pine Knob in southeastern Michigan and Cannonsburg near Grand Rapids. For a full list of resorts and the required voucher, go to www.goskimichigan.com.

Get info fast

For a one-stop look at Michigan ski information and links to snow conditions at resorts, go to the Michigan Snow Sports Industry Association's Web site: www.goskimichigan.com.