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Your bags are packed, skis are in the ski rack and boots and poles, well, they're in the trunk.
Winter is finally here, and you've decided it's time for a ski trip.
Welch Village, about an hour north of Winona, has been serving Midwestern skiers and snowboarders since 1965, and it celebrated its 40th anniversary in December. Since its opening, the resort has been visited by 3.5 million skiers.
In 1962, brothers Leigh and Clem Nelson purchased 250 acres of hills near their family home in Welch, Minn. Three years later, snowmaking began and two runs opened for the Christmas holidays.
Since that time, Leigh Nelson has become the majority stockholder at the resort, and a large expansion has taken place. Welch Village Resort now is one of the largest resorts in southern Minnesota, with 50 runs, 10 lifts and two base facilities.
The hill offers runs that appeal to any level of skier — long, winding greens, more difficult blues, steep or mogul covered black diamonds and terrain parks.
The resort has become one of the first in the Midwest to offer freestyle training in its ski school. The program, Learn-to-Freestyle, is open to beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. It consists of three tickets, lesson and rental packages, and the instruction will be geared toward teaching freestyle tricks. The goal is to help young people learn tricks properly and safely.
For those looking to perform their freestyle techniques, Welch Village has done an expansion of its terrain park, which offers a half-pipe, several jumps and slidable rails.
"Snowsports have had freestyle components since their inceptions. Now that our resort will be teaching freestyle, the excitement of freestyle skiing and snowboarding are more accessible than ever before," said John Ostberg, ski school director and 1975 World Ski Aerials champion.
To improve freestyle terrain, Welch Village is working with Planet Snow Tools, an Idaho-based company that designed the 2002 Winter Olympic half-pipe at Utah's Park City Resort.
"There has been nationwide growth in terrain parks, and the local interest of freestyle skiing and snowboarding is huge. With the help of Planet Snow Tools, local skiers and snowboarders will be able to experience world-class terrain park features," said Brad Larsen, Welch Village marketing manager.
"We are excited to embrace this movement," he said.
For the expert skier, Rock Face, rated double black diamond, has opened.
"Rock face has been an epic run for years, and now we are happy to make it available to a wider array of our skiing clientele," said Brad Larsen, marketing director.
From the entrance, the run appears benign, but it quickly changes to expert terrain.
At the crest of the hill is a 15-foot cliff. For those uninterested in the cliff, a steep grade awaits, which is more difficult due to the rocks that are covered with snow.
Even though access is easier, additional signing makes it clear that Rock Face is to be skied only by experts.
But skiers of all abilities will appreciate the 6,000-square-foot addition to the base lodge, Larsen said.
The $2 million expansion includes a new eating area and restrooms.
"It's awesome," Larsen said.
If You Go
What: Welch Village
Where: 26685 Hwy. 7, Welch, Minn., 15 minutes east of Red Wing, Minn., and 15 minutes southeast of Hastings, Minn.
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
Cost: All-day flex, $38 for adults, $33 for children ages 5 to 10; afternoon flex, after 2 p.m., $33 for adults, $28 for children ages 5 to 10; night (after 5 p.m.), $28 for adults, $23 for children ages 5 to 10; family, $69 for two people, $20 for each additional; ski and snowboard rental is available
Contact: (651) 258-4567, welchvillage@usinternet.com or www.welchvillage.com
Elsewhere
Additional downhill ski locations near Winona:
Minnesota:
Afton Alps Recreation Center, Hastings, (651) 436-5245 or 1-800-328-1328, www.aftonalps.com.
Buck Hill Ski Area, Burnsville, (952) 435-7174, www.buckhill.com.
Coffee Mill Ski Area, Wabasha, (651) 565-2777 or (651) 565-4544, www.coffeemillski.com.
Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area, Bloomington,(763) 694-7800, www.hylandski.com.
For more ski areas, check out www.travelwisconsin.com or www.exploreminnesota.com.
Wisconsin:
Cascade Mountain, Portage, 1-800-992-2SKI, www.cascademountain.com.
Mount La Crosse Ski & Snowboard, La Crosse,(608) 788-0044 or 1-800-426-3665, www.mtlacrosse.com.
Nordic Mountain, Mount Morris, 1-800-253-7266, www.nordicmountain.com.
Tyrol Basin Ski & Snowboard Area, Mount Horeb,(608) 437-4135, www.tyrolbasin.com.
Whitetail Ridge Ski Area, Fort McCoy, (608) 388-4498, 1-877-864-4969, www.mccoymwr.com
Autumn Grooms is a reporter with the La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune. She can be be reached at (608) 782-9710, ext. 357, or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
