The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast Podcast #122: Interview with Whitecap Mountains Owner & General Manager David Dziuban
A snowy Wisconsin winter; Whitecap’s unique trail footprint; the great Midwest ski factory; a single sentence in a Wilmot liftline that changed Dziuban’s life; a wild scheme to score a first job as a snowmaker at Plumtree, Illinois; turning down a job at Killington to work at scrappy Magic Mountain; Magic in the ‘80s; making Magic’s Timberside connection; Mt. Tom, Massachusetts; homemade snowmaking; Elk Mountain, the hidden gem of Pennsylvania; a rigged splice gone wrong; Whitecap, lost in the wilderness; first impressions of a run-down and lightly used Whitecap; the long and convoluted process of taking ownership of the resort; balancing personal trauma and loss with the mission of revitalizing the ski area; taming the local homeowners’ entitlement; fire levels the lodge; why Whitecap opened the next day and why it was so vital that it did; plans for a new lodge; Whitecap’s huge development potential; why the ski area hasn’t set up the new conveyor lift it purchased last year; snowmaking; assessing Whitecap’s unique lift fleet; where we could see a new lift at Whitecap; thoughts on the long chair (North Pole/South Pole); getting the CTEC lift running again; “I want to remain affordable to everybody”; why Whitecap launched a $295 (now $325) season pass and how that product has been selling; the surprise response from a one-day season passholder reciprocal deal with Mount Bohemia; thoughts on the Indy Pass and the Allied program; and that Whitecap aura.
"Stuart & David: Great podcast! The combination of the emotion, David’s passion, and the life, leadership, and perseverance lessons make this one standout. Your assessment about the special character and unique beauty of the Whitecap area is on the mark. I first skied Whitecap circa 1975 as a youngster and keenly recall the family friendly atmosphere, the rugged terrain, memorable Lake Superior views, and the feeling I could get lost in that place. I returned this past February on a spectacular bluebird Tuesday and those same feelings and memories came flooding back. The restored chairs on the old double chair by the wine hut with the beautiful varnished hardwood seats were evidence of the care being invested back into the facilities." - Scott
"I'm a Boho skier who went to Whitecap for the first time this winter and let me tell you, the place really is magical. It has the feel of almost a winter fairy tale. The skiing is fantastic (though not as long of runs as out most other places) as well as the snow. It's an easy place to get lost in, but not too lost. The lifts are slow, but beautiful (especially the one with wooden seats)." - Alex
"An instant classic. Definitely one of your all time top 5 podcasts; possibly number 1. Such a unique and interesting story. Looking forward to seeing what's in store for Whitecap in the future." - Conrad