Ski Activities
Sally Borchardt
Payment Options for all events (unless otherwise noted):
1. Online Registration with Credit Card payment
2. In person with completed Event Coupon and credit card or check
3. By mail, send completed Event Coupon with check to Event Leader
Questions? Contact Trip Leader Joyce Szulc, 262-902-3248 or jszulc@wi.rr.com
Ski racing
Vagabond Dennis Novak has won three Class 3 races and placed among the top three finishers in four of the other six MMSC senior ski races this season. Norman Schlimbach, in Class 1, and Mark Regal, in Class 2, have each won two races for the Vagabond team. Other Vagabonds who have won at least one race are Eric VanWormer and Eric Regal in Class 1 and Mark Mueller in Class 4. Jan Vojta, who joined the Vagabonds in 1967, has been among the top three finishers in seven of the eight Class 4 races.
The Vagabonds compete against three other Metropolitan Milwaukee Ski Council teams. The final three race dates of the season are scheduled for Jan. 31 at Heiliger Huegel, Feb. 7 at Sunburst, and Feb. 15 at Sunburst.
Spectators are encouraged to come out and watch the skiers in action, along with trophy presentations after the races. The teams practice at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at Sunburst.
Vagabonds start ski season in Montana
A group of 17 Vagabonds started out 2026 with a weeklong ski trip to Big Sky. Despite getting in well after midnight, most of the skiers fueled up at the breakfast buffet Monday morning and then hit the slopes for a real treat: a couple of inches of fresh snow (weather that was repeated on five of the six days).
The new gondola near our Huntley Lodge accommodations was a convenient way to start the day, and the heated seats on some of the chair lifts were a comfort.
Skiers and non-skiers both had a chance to take the tram to the top of Lone Peak to experience the new Kircliff observatory, offering some majestic views. Half of the group took a day off from skiing to visit Yellowstone National Park and its wildlife, geysers and steamy, bubbly hot springs. The club’s next ski adventure is set for Feb. 7–14 at Aspen/ Snowmass.
Attention: Aspen/Snowmass trip participants
• The deadline to buy group lift tickets through the club (not the Ikon Pass) is Dec. 15. Go to VagabondSkiClub.com, click on Upcoming Events and find 2026 Aspen/Snowmass Group Lift Tickets. Pick the number of days and the type of ticket you wish to purchase and pay by credit card.
• If you are traveling with the group and have a United Airlines Mileage Plus number and/or a Known Traveler Number and haven’t done so already, please send that information to jszulc@wi.rr.com.
• If you paid a deposit for the trip, final payment is due Dec. 15. Invoices will be emailed to those with a balance. Please pay with your credit card.
• Questions? Contact Joyce Szulc at (262) 902-3248 or jszulc@wi.rr.com.
Join the wait list...
The club is still accepting waitlist registrations for the Feb. 7–14 ski trip to Aspen/Snowmass. No payment is required to sign up for the waitlist. All trip details are on the club website. Questions? Contact Joyce at jszulc@wi.rr.com or (262) 902-3248.
Oregon... April 8 – 13
The CMSC’s annual Spring Fling will be April 8-13 at Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. Price: $1,508. Contact Kevin Conlon at (708) 906-9517 or kconz1@aol.com.
Fee for no proper ID Starting Feb. 1
Travelers who arrive at the airport without a Real ID or passport will have to pay $45 to clear security. The fee is tied to a "modernized alternative identity verification system" called TSA Confirm.ID, for travelers who don't have valid identification. If your ID has a star in the upper right corner, it qualifies as a Real ID.
If you aren't sure if you have a Real ID, check trust.dot.state.wi.us/ecdl/home.do. Your license will still be valid without Real ID but you would need to use a passport at the airport.
Travel show
Our regional ski club, the Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council, will be at the Travel & Adventure Show on Feb. 21 and 22 at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Travel experts and celebrities will be there to help you find, personalize and book your next vacation.
For admission discounts, go to eventspass.com/event/2026chicagotas?pc=CMSCVIP or eventspass.com/ event/2026chicagotas?pc=CMSC26.
CMSC Ski Trip to Italy • Jan. 24 – Feb. 5
Join other CMSC club members Jan. 24 to Feb. 5 on a trip to Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, with an extension to Venice. Price is $3,397 double occupancy.
Act now if interested: Contact Randy Baustert at (847) 254-9396 or SkiWithRandy@aol.com. The CMSC website is SkiCMSC.com.
CMSC Spring Fling • Mt. BachelorApril 8–13
The CMSC’s annual Spring Fling will be April 8-13 at Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. The package includes five nights’ lodging at Riverhouse Lodge in Bend, with daily breakfast buffet and shuttles to the ski area.
Price: $1,508, double occupancy. Contact Kevin Conlon at (708) 906-9517 or kconz1@aol.com.
Donation to disabled skiers
The Vagabonds are donating $500 toward a new equipment trailer for the Southeastern Wisconsin Adaptive Ski Program. The organization provides ski lessons at Alpine Valley for people with disabilities.
The Vagabond Ski & Social Club is associated with the following organizations which promote skiing and snowboarding:
* Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council (CMSC), skicms.org
* National Ski Council Federation, skifederation.org
* Milwaukee Metropolitan Ski Council (MMSC), skimilwaukee.org
Visit their websites to learn more about these groups.
We are always looking for great photos of our members enjoying activities and you are our best source!
Send your photos to Joyce Szulc, jszulc@wi.rr.com, to post on the Vag Facebook page.