Just Wanted to Share........

Here's a quick note. Know it's been a while since I blogged ........but........my mom passed away Monday after a weekend in the hospital. As some of you might know she and my dad started Fun Valley Ski Area in Montezuma in winter of 1970-71......which is what launched my interest in the industry and ultimately led to the creation of Seven Oaks. She will be missed.

Here are a couple of great pics taken this weekend after the fresh powder.

More later.......

Enjoy winter.........and your mother........

Temps are great right now.......

If you are a blogger, you are also probably a regular at Seven Oaks......and know that the weather tonight is supposed to be really sweeeet.

Colder temps coming but not horrible........should continue to be great snow....and I see some snow chances in the forecast too. Saw that in southern Iowa there is basically NO snow on the ground. You and I know we want to keep it white in Boone County.

Ski patrol had their annual chairlift evac refresher last Sunday. Everything went fine....as I said earlier, we have NEVER had to use it but sure want to be ready in the unlikely event we would have to.

I'll try to get more pics on soon.

Enjoy winter.......and we'll see you on the slopes.

Late Nite is CANCELLED & RESCHEDULED

The late nite for this Saturday night has been cancelled and rescheduled for a Saturday in February.....to be decided..........why??........cause it will be more fun if it's not so cold. Yep, the temps are going to be wonderful today tomorrow, and friday then go back to the cellar for Saturday night........so that's what we're doing.

Here are some happy folks...........

Learning, riding, tubing, laughing......

Enjoy Winter......it's Fun......

When I was in School....

When I was in school, (a hundred or so years ago) we didn't get to go learn a sport for life like skiing or snowboarding. Yesterday we had two schools on site.....plus the normal traffic. It was a beautiful day for playing on the snow.

There should be a lot of winter left this season so come to Seven Oaks....bring a friend, neighbor or family member that has never skied or boarded or tubed and Enjoy Winter with us!

Late Nite again this Saturday night.....

Winter is Fun

Happiness is...........

.......learning to ski and snowboard at Seven Oaks where the lessons are always free.....

Here's some random pics from this weekend. More pics tomorrow.

Winter is Fun.......

Quick update without pics

The snow groomed up beautiful this morning. Started at 5 am and got done about 9:45..........and then about 10 am.........when we opened...........the wind really picked up .........but only for about 30 to 40 minutes............then settled down to more of a breeze. Must have been a front coming thru that stirred things up for a little while. The snow was awesome..........really soft. Tried to push some snow above the two jumps in the park where the riders all check their speed and took it down to hard pack but the snow on the side where I was with the groomer was so deep and so powder I almost got stuck.........which isn't easy to do. So I didn't have much success but will try again.

Good group on hand enjoying Seven Oaks today. And we have the Late Nite at 9:30 tonight......fundraiser for the Cancer Society.........hope you can support them with your presence.

Did you notice the "no parking" signs on the fence immediately after you get off the new chairlift? Heard a few ask why those were there since there were no cars :) well .......the intent was to make a statement that we need the riders to strap in a little further away to avoid congestion for others unloading from the chair.

Had a nephew from Indianola come up today with his three kids. Oldest is considering Iowa State in a couple of years so I asked her to spend some time with our board instructor Morgan to get the low down on being an instructor at Seven Oaks while she is in college.........perfect.....for her, for her dad and for us.

Have about 5 birthday groups today...........if you don't know about it, you should check it out on our web as it is a really good deal and a novel idea for the young ones for their birthday party........ski, snowtube, rentals, lessons, pizza and pop........and when I am lucky they share their birthday cake with me!

Enjoy Winter........

We kinda lost a ski instructor

AJ has been an instructor for us the past three winter seasons but left us a week ago to spend three months studying abroad.........err.......down under as an ISU student.......majoring in....well, I don't remember......maybe majoring in fun! She was a good instructor, the staff enjoyed her and her pupils on the snow regularly commented to us at the end of the lesson what a great job she did.

well .......anyway, she's there and sent us an email...........here it is........

"Just wanted to say Hi from Australia. I have just settled into my place in Broadbeach Queensland after a wonderful week in Sydney. I hope all is going well there and I will send some pictures in the future that I promised to share with Rick. Its very sunny here and about 10minutes outside leaves me very red. The beach is beautiful and I will do some surfing for you all. take care and enjoy the snow!"


A.J. H

Have a great time AJ and we will look forward to the pics and the stories when .......if........you return.

we open Friday at 4.........as in tomorrow.

Enjoy Winter