IPOS 2: Tyrol Basin

We started off the day looking for the best pow with local legend Paul Underwood. He’s lived in the Tyrol area since he was a baby when his parents moved him and his brother there. He’s 62 now and a Tyrol legend - he’s only missed nine days of skiing this season, but he’s so well known at Tyrol that they let him on the lifts before they’re open even though he hadn’t actually picked up his season pass from the office yet. Paul was in an accident as a teenager and when he recovered, he asked his doctor what the best thing for him to do was and his doctor said ‘go skiing.’ So he’s gone skiing just about every day since then. He and his brother took us around to some of Tyrol’s most challenging terrain which included a steep mogul run and some little fairytale-esc chutes in the woods which made for excellent photos. The powder was a little taste of home for this westerner as well as the excellent glade skiing and fun features. With it being a Monday, the snow stayed good well into the afternoon.

The alpine influence is clear here. | Izzy Lidsky photo.

Once we’d worked up an appetite, we stopped for a quick lunch. We’d been in Wisconsin long enough to know that fried cheese curds were a delicacy and they were served at just about every resort we went to. Despite the fresh snow, we still enjoyed our cheesy snack outside while watching the snow sprinkle down before returning to the hill.

Yes, the Midwest does get pow days. | Izzy Lidsky photos.

As late afternoon set in, Tyrol became busier and busier. As did many of the resorts we visited around the Midwest, Tyrol catered to the after school and work crowd with an extensive night skiing scene. We weren’t surprised to see a thriving park skiing scene at Tyrol as we had other places. Groups of kids swarmed onto B Lift to hit the many park features and big jumps Tyrol had and a liftie with light up speakers and rap music was stationed at the top to set the mood. Although with the fresh snow, things were a little slow, we still managed to find a few kids willing to huck themselves for us. Towards the end of the night, amongst pretty much all boys, we met one girl out skiing in the park. Her brother had taught her how to slide rails and a few tricks. Right before we packed up, she decided she wanted to throw a backflip for us. From where I was posted up next to the jump, I could hear her and all the boys howling like dogs right before she came skating through the park to gain enough speed. I watched as she landed it and heard as all her friends went wild from up above. It was a truly epic moment to watch a bunch of teenage boys hype up the one girl lapping the park. It’s no secret that the outdoor industry has long been male-dominated and to see such a show of support from kids warmed my heart.

A friendly reminder from management. | Izzy Lidsky photo.

Satisfied with our day on the hill, we headed to the chalet for a drink. Once an old dairy barn, the building still held its Wisconsin farm-style charm as did much of Tyrol Basin. We caught Tyrol just in time for their St. Patrick’s Day drink specials. It only took one caramel apple white Russian to warm me up enough for our last endeavor of the day.

The night park scene at Tyrol Basin is a sight to see. | Izzy Lidsky photos.

As the lights had turned off and the hill emptied out, we headed over to the snowcat barn. Tyrol’s snowmaking and grooming supervisor, Jared, met us there. Jared started off as a snowmaker with a love for riding in the park. He quickly learned to build features and before he knew it he was grooming too. In the early days, Jared and the other groomers would bring their boards out at 3 in the morning to ride everything they’d just built before anyone else could. Rumor has it that Tyrol Basin was the first resort to ever have a half pipe built during the 1989-90 season. After a brief hiatus, it was Jared that brought the pipe back.

When the lights turn off, the cats wake up. | Izzy Lidsky photo.

Our day had started off with fresh snow and ended watching Jared and the other snowcat operators carve long, zen garden-like lines through the remains of the powder so that when Paul, and all the other locals came out the next morning, the conditions were perfect.