FROM 2009:

Fall is here, which means winter can't be far behind, and with winter comes the Ski & Snowboard Season! Get ready to kick off your season right at the 2nd annual Minnesota Ski & Snowboard Expo.

Come celebrate America's proud heritage of Winter Olympic heroes as this year's Expo focuses on Olympic glory while also providing skiers and snowboarders a huge economic boost just as the 2009-10 ski season gets underway.

Hoigaard's will again roll out the region's most impressive ski and snowboard sale (click here to see some of the deals they'll be offering) and resorts from around the region, US and Canada will offer their best pre-season savings on winter vacation packages, lift tickets and season passes.

Live acts, interactive exhibits and ongoing giveaways provide Expo visitors with non-stop entertainment. Plus... with every paid admission ticket you receive a free lift ticket to a local resort.*   Check out this video to see more of what it's all about.

*One lift ticket per expo ticket purchased, restrictions apply.

Entertainment & Activities

MIN Expo Highlights Banner

  • Olympic Freestyle Aerial Demonstration presented by Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area :Featuring the Spectacular Flying Ace Team of Olympic, National and International Freestyle Skiing and Trampoline Champions showcasing an intricate routine of airborne maneuvers, from single flips to triple twisting somersaults as well as the latest freestyle and freeride tricks, flips and twists on two trampolines. Featuring US Olympian and World Champion, Ryan St.Onge. Click the title link for the schedule.
  • 3rd Lair Action Sports Zone with Clinics, Skate Contest & Demos presented by Wild Mountain: Watch some of Minnesota’s hottest and most exciting extreme sport professionals as they rip up the Course-featuring a ½ vert pipe, rail and BMX jumps—in this all new non-stop, action-packed, high energy show with athletes on BMX bikes and skateboards. Click the title for a schedule. Minneapolis Massacre Best Trick Jam" Skateboard Contest  Starts at 2PM (see link for more details)
  • The EliTEAM Training Challenge presented by Lutsen Mountain: interactive fun area for kids, hosted by Olympic downhiller Doug Lewis. Children of all ages will be able to play and challenge themselves on an obstacle course and in various skills drills.
  • Welch Village Kids Snow Park and Learning Center
     
  • Buck Hill Inter-Active Play Area
     
  • The Snow Sliders Saloon

Great Deals & Olympic-Year Theme

Local, regional and Western ski areas, are set to participate. They'll be offering Expo-only specials on season passes, instructional programs and much more. Hoigaard's is again the exclusive retailer for the Expo and will be holding a huge pre-season sale with deals on equipment and apparel. There will be deep discounts of up to 70 percent on last year's equipment and apparel, along with big bargains on this year's gear and clothing.

 

Olympic athletes scheduled to appear throughout the three days of the consumer expo include:

  • Donna Weinbrecht, 1992 Olympic moguls skiing gold medalist, winner of 46 World Cup events (most ever by an American skier in any discipline) and U.S. Ski Hall of Famer.
  • Ryan St. Onge, current U.S. Ski Team member, reigning World Champion freestyle aerialist and gold medal contender for 2010 Winter Olympics.
  • Trace Worthington, two-time Olympian, winner of 37 World Cup freestyle skiing events, Minnesota native, TV commentator and U.S. Ski Hall of Famer.
  • Doug Lewis, 1985 World Championship bronze medalist downhiller, two-time Olympian, two-time national champion, TV host and U.S. Ski Hall of Famer.
  • Kris "Fuzz" Feddersen, three-time Olympic freestyle skier who also coached the 1998 U.S. Olympic freestyle team to two gold medals.

 

In addition to the non-stop entertainment and super deals, every paid attendee of the Expo will also receive a free value-season lift ticket to a local area and a subscription to SKI, Skiing or Transworld Snowboarding magazines.

 

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the MnSno group of ski areas and Hoigaard’s again and returning to Minneapolis for our second year,” said Bernie Weichsel of Massachusetts-based BEWI productions, which has been staging successful ski and snowboard expos nationwide for nearly 30 years. “It’s going to be exciting to have the Olympic athletes, and there will be fun and value for everyone.”