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
Getting Into Ski Shape
You don’t want to call it quits early on your first day of skiing because your sore thighs and legs are screaming after just a few runs. A preseason ski conditioning workout can help you ski better, stay out longer and have more fun.
Here’s a quick, general overview of how to train for skiing:
• Boost muscle power. Strengthen the areas that get worked the most: your quads, glutes, hamstrings and hips.
• Focus on balance. Work your core and the muscles around your hips, which in turn helps provide stability to injury-prone areas such as the knees.
• Build endurance. Condition your body so you don’t have to call it a day before you really want to.
• Bump up your cardio. Complement this exercise plan with cardio activity such as hiking, biking or interval training to get your lungs and heart pumping.
Before beginning any training plan, check with your doctor or certified training professional. – from REI Expert Advice
A great big thank you to the CMSC for its wonderful seminar at the Sheraton O’Hare Hotel...
great ideas with new and exciting expectations for 2027, but wait, we will start and finish 2026 first:
November is a “get ready” month; check your equipment, boots, skis and bindings, poles, gloves, etc. Don’t be afraid to try on those boots and walk around in them for a while. Do they still fit, or have your feet grown? Go to a local ski shop and see if there is anything more comfortable.
Next, exercise those legs! I know you’ve been going on the club’s bike rides, hikes and walks, but you may need to do more to prepare your body for skiing all day. We want to take some action shots on the slopes with lots of smiles.
Counting down to ski season …
Both of our 2026 ski trips are full and have waitlists. You do not have to pay anything to be on the waitlist.
Big Sky • Jan. 4–11 • $2,700
Space is still available on our first ski trip of 2026 – Jan. 4-11 to Big Sky. This is not just a ski trip, but a trip to Montana, where there are so many things to do aside from skiing. There is dog sledding, ice skating, winter fishing, hiking, sleigh rides, snow shoeing, retail therapy, and even bowling in the picturesque city.
The mountains alone are overwhelming, and there is a gondola that can take you to the top so you can see and feel the spectacular aura of the surroundings.
There are still a few full packages left for this lovely, seven-night stay at the great Huntley Lodge, a ski-in/ski-out hotel with great accommodations and a cozy fireplace near the lobby.
Trip Includes:
• Round-trip bus transfers, including tips, from the Bozeman airport to Huntley Lodge
• 7 nights’ lodging (two queen beds per room)
• Full daily breakfast buffet • Midweek dinner party
• Price: $2,700, double occupancy
• Flights: We are flying Delta; times will be posted in the November Life.
Payment schedule: $2,700, or a deposit of $2,000, with the remaining $700 due Oct. 15.
Or to register by mail: Send a deposit check, a trip coupon and a copy of the ID you will be using at the airport (if it is a driver’s license, it must be a REAL ID, with a star in the upper right corner) to:
Sally Borchardt • Vagabond Ski & Social Club W216N5531 Adamdale Drive • Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Lift tickets: use your IKON pass, or Adult (3+ days): $150/day; Seniors (3+ days): $130/day
Questions? Call Sally at (262) 349-9359.
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.
Ski racing
Your Vagabond Ski Team begins the race season Sunday, Jan. 4, at Sunburst. Spectators are encouraged to come out and watch the team in action, along with a trophy presentation after the race. Several people have joined our club after experiencing a race day.
Metropolitan Milwaukee Ski Council Senior Racing has 14 races scheduled over seven dates this winter. About 40 skiers compete in one of four non-gender classes based on skill level. Two different courses are run for each race, and the times are combined. Awards are presented in each class at each race. Awards are also given in each class at the end of the season. The Vagabonds will again compete against three other teams, with the fastest four men and two women counting for each team.
Prepare for next season by starting an exercise program focused on your legs. Make sure your equipment is up to date. Get your skis sharpened and your bindings checked.
We practice on Monday and Wednesday nights at Sunburst. We always have room on the team for new people of any age or ability. Every year, skiers as young as 21 join the club to compete on the race team.
Please note: to race on the team, you need to be a current member of the Vagabonds; go to VagabondSkiClub.com if you need to renew your membership. Once you have joined (or re-joined), you should receive information in the first half of November from the ski race team.
For more information, contact MMSCSR Chairman Al Lemke at (414) 688-2938 or aklemke2993@gmail.com or visit MMSCSR.com.
MMSC Senior Race Schedule
Jan. 4 – Sunburst
Jan. 11 – Sunburst
Jan. 18 – Sunburst
Jan. 24 – Holy Hill
Jan. 31 – Holy Hill
Feb. 7 – Sunburst
Feb. 15 – Sunburst
Practices: 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at Sunburst
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.
Is there a star on your license?
If you are flying within the U.S. after May 7, 2025, you will need a “Real ID” as an added security measure. Wisconsin began issuing Real ID driver licenses several years ago, so you may have received one the last time you renewed; it would have a star in the upper right corner.
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 even after the deadline. But you would need to use a passport at the airport.
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.