The University of Seven Oaks

The University of Seven Oaks "Majors" in FUN!

• snow ski
• snowboard
• snow tube
• paintball
• tent camp
• hiking
• daily mt bike riding
• mt bike races
• full service canoe float
• full service kayak float
• full service tube float
• you-haul tubes
• friday after five
• facilities rentals for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, retirement parties, birthday parties, corporate meetings, corporate outings, trade shows, graduation parties, and.....

Getting ready for todays school group this morning from Nevada. Groomed before the storm yesterday as temps dropped and grooming again this morning.

We open at 4 this afternoon. Looks like it will be a lot nicer today and tonite than yesterday. Wow what a day it was yesterday. More snow in the five day forecast on two days. This weekend's temps look to be sweet.

Keep it White......

Few things to share with you

• We have decided to open at noon and close at 9 pm on Friday, February 15...........that's a couple weeks out.........February 15..........cause we know several schools are closed for one reason or another and we have a few groups already coming that day.
• We have put our season passes on sale effective now for the balance of this season. Those of you that don't have one, but are finding yourself skiing or riding pretty often should do the math. It won't take many visits to be money ahead......and it is good for the next Late Nite
• The next Late Nite is Saturday February 9..........at 9:30..........thinking we will have free pizza while it lasts.
• Snow coming today
• Snow coming Thursday
• Schools here Wednesday and Friday of this week.
• Friday after Five is this Friday.
• Closed today
• Open at 4 pm tomorrow......Wednesday

That's it.........Keep it White and we'll see you on the slopes.

It couldn't have been more....

....PERFECT this past weekend. Temps, wind, and snow conditions were awesome. Some areas got a little busy a couple hours........we apologize for that but I didn't see anyone NOT having fun. Certainly looking forward to next season already with the additional triple seat chair lift installed, more small snowboards in rental, hopefully more restrooms...... and we hope to have more snowtubes with another lane for tubing......making FOUR super chutes!

The Relay for Life benefit Late Niter was a good time last Saturday night. Hope those folks were pleased and willing to consider it again next season.

I have commented for several weekends now that I am just amazed with the percentage of visitors that go straight from rental to the beginner school yard........meaning for the most part ....they are about to learn a new sport for life.

Have school groups Monday (today), then Wednesday and again Friday of this week. Looks like the weather is going to be all over the map during the next seven days too. Really warm today (by the way we didn't even have melting in the parking lot to speak of yesterday) then turning colder with some snow and wind on Tuesday and finally leveling with great temps mid week and next weekend.

If anyone wants to buy a constrictor, give me a holler, I know a guy that has them...lots of them...even got to see him Saturday night for the first time this season. He travels the world as frequent as I travel to Seven Oaks!

Had a lot of birthday parties for kids from all over this weekend. I even had the chance of giving some of the birthday party little brothers, sisters and cousins their first chairlift ride (with parents).....and who knows they are probably going to be on the snow in a year or two. Start young!

Spent a lot of time in the park early Sunday morning working all the approaches and the landings. Joel said he was going to move some of them this week after it cools down again....to make them all fresh.

We have our last regularly scheduled Late Nite in two weeks, Saturday February 9.

Congratulations Nick on a successful rail jam in DSM Saturday night. (Nick is a passionate rider that gives lessons at Seven Oaks on weekends) (nice guy too) I'm sure it was nerve racking getting it scheduled, organized and all but having the first one under your belt will make the second one easier. Seven Oaks was pleased to supply a couple rails for the event. Thanks also to Ken (our ticket master and awesome boarder who used to instruct at Seven Oaks before he got stuck in the ticket window!) for helping Nick with the event. Here are a couple links to a video from the jam.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080127/VIDEO01/80127002

http://www.woi-tv.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=2135544&h1=Snowboarding%20in%20DSM&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=95634&LaunchPageAdTag=Homepage&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.woi-tv.com/&rnd=54086915

For those moms with small ones, we have a baby changing station that will be installed in the Women's restroom this week. We would put one in the Men's too if there was room. Hope it helps.

Have a great day and we will see you when we open Wednesday at 4. Oh yeah, and Keep it White!

Support the Relay for Life

Light snow again this morning. Todays temps will be great and tomorrow's temps will be perfect from what I see on the forecast. Relay for Life Late Nite fundraiser is tomorrow night. Friday after Five is tonite. We open at 4 today.

Looks like we may open early Friday February 15 cause a lot of schools are out and we are being asked to by a couple families and a scout group. Need your input. Will you come during the afternoon of February 15 if we open? Let us know.

What ------no comments on yesterdays photos. I was particularly fond of the tracks from top of drop zone....I thought it was a cool shot. Actually I thought the pics from the past two days were really good.

Large school group this morning. Everything is groomed and ready.

Joel and I are discussing the "spring splash"..........we would again like to hear from you if you have some ideas. Want to watch the pond skimming again in March?

I have a bunch of nieces, nephews and their kids from South Dakota, Illinois and Nebraska coming to spend the Presidents Day weekend on the snow. It's a family reunion......kinda. We have several families that now use Seven Oaks as their winter destination for a mini reunion.

Keep it White.......for another six weeks at least!

Well it's a Heat Wave!

Compared to this mornings wake up temps, this weekend is going to seem like tropical weather...I just hope without the tropical rain. In fact today's temps and tonight's temps will seem balmy compared to this morning. No schools today, thank goodness, but have a large school group tomorrow.

Open at 4 pm today and I am going to give that daily reminder of the Relay For Life Late Nite that will be starting at 9:30 pm THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!

Looking at the 15 day forecast looks good overall. Can you believe we are approaching the end of January already. Sure has been great to get all the fresh snow so regularly. We are going to have to start planning the "spring splash" with the pond skimming pretty soon as quickly as the days are marching by.

Here are a couple more pictures taken day before yesterday. Awesome shots!

Keep it White and we'll see you SOON

What do you think of this?

Ken (our ticket master) riding yesterday......

Joel (the GM) skiing yesterday.......

These could be YOUR tracks tonite......

Open today at 4 pm.........we left a lot of the powder for YOU.

Special Relay for Life Late Nite this Saturday night at 9:30 pm

It Keeps On Keepin On

The snow that is. Got another 6 to 7 inches yesterday into the early evening. All Powder too!
This weekend's conditions appear to be picture perfect.........new snow, freshly groomed (except the Eggbeater), sunshine and temps that are going to feel like summer compared to the recent temps!

Closed today but have a big Christmas party tonite with private use of the trails.

Open Wednesday at 4 pm.

This Saturday Night is a special Late Nite at Seven Oaks. Wasn't on the books but we teamed up with the Relay for Life people and have scheduled this special Late Nite as a fundraiser for that worthy cause. Same prices as our usual Late Nite BUT we are asking for a $5 donation from all the season pass holders at this one. Should be a good time. Be sure to tell your friends.

Also wanted to mention effective April the Friday After Five events will be held at Seven Oaks on the FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. More on that one as it develops.

sorry no new pics today so I will just sign off.

Keep it White..........so far it sure is working!