Wausau, Wisconsin

(ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006)

THE MOMENT MY SON Zach carves his snowboard into a glade of trees between two expert runs at Granite Peak ski area in Wausau, Wisconsin, I know there’s no use shouting to watch out for rocks. He’s aiming for them.

He’s "jibbing, " which, in snowboarder parlance, means goofing around on whatever obstacle happens to be available. In these glades, granite boulders partially covered in snow are the obstacles of choice for my almost-15-year-old son, the product of expert snowboarding instruction, organized competition and too many hours of Winter X Games broadcasts. If he happens to bound off a boulder out of control and at the wrong angle in this forest of maples and oaks, well, Zach never complains about wearing a helmet.

I wear a helmet, too. It’s a precaution in case some slight imperfection in Granite Peak’s groomed runs causes me to tumble off these rental skis. I’m an experienced skier, but with my aging knees and advanced view of mortality, there’s no chance I’ll follow Zach into the trees, here or anywhere else.

Fortunately, this 700-foot peak, which offers concentration-breaking views of Wisconsin’s north country, provides plenty of smooth snow for me and just enough terrain park and incidental challenges for Zach. And in that, Granite Peak represents what Midwest ski resorts have worked hard to become: welcoming destinations for snow riders of all skill levels.

Midwest downhill resorts often suffer unfair comparisons to their larger cousins in the Rockies, Sierras and New England. Yes, ski runs here are generally shorter. Perhaps because of that, Heartland slopes try harder. At most Midwest resorts, you’ll find friendly and attentive instructors and other staff, an abundance of fast lifts, extensive snowmaking, night skiing, state-of-the-art terrain parks (many featuring half-pipes), affordable food and lift tickets that typically cost less than half of those in other regions.

Related Links: