Cary Adgate started ski racing at Boyne Mountain Resort in northern Michigan in 1961. Soon he was racing at an elite level, competing in contests all over world–even representing the United States in two Olympics, Innsbruck in 1976 and Lake Placid in 1980.

Adgate is Michigan’s most accomplished ski racer to date, and in 2003 he was named Boyne Resort’s ski ambassador. Additionally, in 2008 he was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, and in 2009 he became the program director and coach for Boyne Racing. Given his lengthy list of achievements and life-long dedication to skiing, we contacted Cary to get a list of his favorite elements of Boyne Mountain.

Here are a few of his favorite things about the resort:

Aspect of the resort:
For me, it has to be about the skiing–the combination of interesting and challenging terrain, superb snow quality and grooming, together with high speed lifts. I would have to head to the Rockies or the East Coast to get as much quality skiing as I can in a few hours at Boyne Mountain. I like all kinds of surfaces, but, coming from a racing background, carving on a quality hard-packed surface is my Holy Grail–and I can almost always find it at the mountain.The resort also offers the ability to create good ski conditions almost regardless of what Mother Nature provides in terms of weather. The photo below shows how the snowmaking crew can create their own snowstorm. That particular cloud was entirely manmade, and gave us the rare (for Michigan) opportunity to ski “above the clouds.”

Place on the mountain to ski on a pow day:
If it’s deep enough, I’ll head for the steepest terrain–Hemlock, Devil’s Dive, or the glade skiing off the top of the SuperBowl lift. On a spring day, as it warms up, I’ll start looking for some shaded stretches–like the south tree line on SuperBowl and the full length of North Boyne.

Favorite apres scene:
Pierson’s, in the center of the village, can be a challenge to wiggle your way into, but that’s what makes it my choice. If you have spent any time at all around the resort, it’s a given that you will run into (perhaps literally) friends and acquaintances. Great food, too.

Places to grab a bite:
In the base village, the Trophy Room is casual, pretty quick, and they make great pizza. If you’re on skis, the Eagle’s Nest gives you a panoramic view from the top of the mountain that adds to the tasty but basic fare. For a gourmet experience, I’ll pick Everett’s in the Mountain Grand Lodge every time. Everett’s has a great view of the clock tower and the slopes and, with the variety offered on the menu, it’s a sure thing that even my fussiest family members (and they know who they are) will come away satisfied.

What is it about your resort that makes it special to you?
The people. From the employees–like the lift ops, servers, desk personnel–to the customers, including weekenders and the local regulars, it’s very much like a large (very large!) family. Everybody seems to care about everybody else regardless of their main reason for being there–and the cool thing about this family is that it is always ready to adopt new members.

Photos courtesy of Cary Adgate and Boyne Mountain Resort